bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can exercise training promote better sleep and reduced fatigue in people with chronic stroke? A systematic review
Authors: Tai Daria , Falck Ryan S. , Davis Jennifer C. , Vint Zackari , Liu‐Ambrose Teresa
Published: June 2022

Poor sleep and chronic fatigue are common in people with chronic stroke (i.e. ≥ 6 months post‐stroke). Exercise training is a viable, low‐cost therapy for promoting sleep and reducing fatigue; however, the effects of exercise on sleep and fatigue in people with chronic stroke are unclear. Thus, we conducted a systematic review ascertaining the effects of exercise on sleep and fatigue in people with chronic stroke. We systematically searched EMBASE, MEDLINE, AgeLine, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, SCOPUS, and reference lists of relevant reviews for articles that examined the effects of exercise on sleep or fatigue in chronic stroke. Search results were limited to adults ≥ 18 years, randomized controlled trials, non‐randomized trials, and pre–post studies, which were published in English and examined the effects of exercise on sleep or fatigue in people with chronic stroke. We extracted study characteristics and information on the measurement of sleep and fatigue, and assessed study quality and risk of bias using the CONSORT criteria and Cochrane risk‐of‐bias tool, respectively. We found two studies that examined the effects of exercise on sleep, and two that examined the effects of exercise on fatigue. All studies reported positive effects of exercise training on sleep and fatigue; however, there were concerns of bias and study quality in all studies. There is preliminary evidence that exercise promotes sleep and reduces fatigue in people with chronic stroke; however, the extent to which exercise impacts these health parameters is unclear.
Hepatitis B virus X gene impacts on the innate immunity and immune‐tolerant phase in chronic hepatitis B virus infection
Authors: Chang Kai‐Chi , Chua Huey‐Huey , Chen Ya‐Hui , Tsuei Daw‐Jen , Lee Mei‐Hui , Chiang Cheng‐Lun , Jeng Yung‐Ming , Wu Jia‐Feng , Chen Huey‐Ling , Hsu Hong‐Yuan , Ni Yen‐Hsuan , Chang Mei‐Hwei
Published: June 2022

Background and Aims

The immunologic features involved in the immune‐tolerant phase of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) virus (HBV) infection are unclear. The hepatitis B virus X (HBx) protein disrupts IFN‐β induction by downregulating MAVS and may destroy subsequent HBV‐specific adaptive immunity. We aimed to analyse the impacts of genetic variability of HBx in CHB patients on the immune‐tolerant phase during long‐term follow‐up.

Methods

Children with CHB in the immune‐tolerant phase were recruited and followed longitudinally. HBx gene sequencing of infecting HBV strains was performed, and the effects of HBx mutations on the immune‐tolerant phase were assessed. Restoration of the host immune response to end the immune‐tolerant phase was investigated by immunoblotting, immunostaining, ELISA and reporter assays of MAVS/IFN‐β signalling in liver cell lines, patient liver tissues and the HBV plasmid replication system.

Results

A total of 173 children (median age, 6.92 years) were recruited. Patients carrying HBx R87G, I127V and R87G + I127V double mutations exhibited higher cumulative incidences of immune‐tolerant phase breakthrough (p = .011, p = .006 and p = .017 respectively). Cells transfected with HBx R87G and I127V mutants and pHBV1.3‐B6.3 replicons containing the HBx R87G and I127V mutations exhibited statistically increased levels of IFN‐β, especially under poly(I:C) stimulation or Flag‐MAVS cotransfection. HA‐HBx wild‐type interacted with Flag‐MAVS and enhanced its ubiquitination, but this ability was diminished in the R87G and I127V mutants.

Conclusions

HBx suppresses IFN‐β induction. R87G and I127V mutation restored IFN‐β production by preventing MAVS degradation, contributing to curtailing the HBV immune‐tolerant phase in CHB patients.
Presence of Southeast Pacific blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) off South Georgia in the South Atlantic Ocean
Authors: Rojas‐Cerda Constanza , Buchan Susannah J. , Branch Trevor A. , Malige Franck , Patris Julie , Hucke‐Gaete Rodrigo , Staniland Iain
Published: June 2022

The Southeast Pacific (SEP) or Chilean blue whale population is largely distributed between Northern Chilean Patagonia and the Eastern Tropical Pacific. Off South Georgia (SG), the majority of blue whales caught were Antarctic blue whales, but recent genetic and acoustic records indicate the possible presence of SEP individuals. To assess the presence of SEP blue whales off SG, we carried out new analyses of acoustic data previously reported as containing pygmy blue whale song and analyzed the length frequencies from 20th century catch data. The month of acoustic data reported to contain the presumed pygmy blue whale song was examined (August 2006), and 13 days were found to have songs which visually and quantitatively matched SEP2 songs from Northern Chilean Patagonia. The fundamental frequency of SEP2 song off SG, however, was not in line with the predicted frequency shift trend of the SEP2 songs in the SEP. A mixture analysis of lengths in historic whaling catches indicated that 3.3% of the catches from SG could be SEP blue whales, although this declined to 0.6%, 95% CI [0.0, 2.6] when fit to nonrounded lengths. Our results suggest that any SEP blue whales off SG are likely rare vagrants, at the edge of an endangered population.
The Efficacy of Incidental Attention to Formulaic and Nonformulaic Forms in Focus on Form
Authors: Gholami Leila
Published: June 2022

Focus on form (FonF) studies have predominantly addressed its effectiveness in improving learners’ syntactic, lexical, orthographic, and phonological knowledge. Extending the scope of this line of research to formulaic FonF practices, this study investigates the relative effectiveness of incidental FonF targeting formulaic versus nonformulaic forms through (successful) uptake rate and individualized posttests. Formulaic forms refer to collocation, idiom, lexical bundle, and compound, whereas nonformulaic forms refer to grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and spelling. A total of 551 focus‐on‐form episodes (FFEs) with formulaic foci, and 874 instances of FFEs with nonformulaic foci were identified in 30 hours of teacher–learner interactions in English‐as‐a‐foreign‐language classes. FFEs with formulaic and nonformulaic foci (n = 446) were used as the basis for developing individualized test items. This study found that learners produced (successful) uptake more often following FFEs with formulaic foci than nonformulaic ones, while they performed less successfully on the individualized immediate and delayed posttests in the case of formulaic‐oriented FFEs. Based on the regression analyses, the occurrence of successful uptake following FFEs with formulaic foci was not found to be a significant predictor of learners’ retention of target forms on the individualized posttests.
Verbascum zerdust (Scrophulariaceae), a new species from Bitlis province (Turkey) belonging to section Bothrosperma
Authors: Firat Mehmet
Published: June 2022

Verbascum zerdust Fırat (Sect. Bothrosperma Murb.), is described as a new species from Bitlis province, Turkey. From a morphological point of view, the new species appears to be similar to Verbascum ponticum (Boiss.) Kuntze and Verbascum bornmuellerianum Hub.‐Mor., but it differs from both in several morphological features including plant height, indumentum, leaf and flower size, filament indumentum, seed and pollen morphology. A comprehensive description of the new species illustrated with detailed photographs, distribution map, habitat and ecology, vernacular name and IUCN conservation status is provided.
Gas exchange analysers exhibit large measurement error driven by internal thermal gradients
Authors: Garen Josef C. , Branch Haley A. , Borrego Isaac , Blonder Benjamin , Stinziano Joseph R. , Michaletz Sean T.
Published: June 2022

Portable gas exchange analysers provide critical data for understanding plant‐atmosphere carbon and water fluxes, and for parameterising Earth system models that forecast climate change effects and feedbacks.

We characterised temperature measurement errors in the Li‐Cor LI‐6400XT and LI‐6800, and estimated downstream errors in derived quantities, including stomatal conductance (gsw) and leaf intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci).

The LI‐6400XT exhibited air temperature errors (differences between reported air temperature and air temperature measured near the leaf) up to 7.2°C, leaf temperature errors up to 5.3°C, and relative errors in gsw and Ci that increased as temperatures departed from ambient. This caused errors in leaf‐to‐air temperature relationships, assimilation–temperature curves and CO2 response curves. Temperature dependencies of maximum Rubisco carboxylation rate (Vcmax) and maximum RuBP regeneration rate (Jmax) showed errors of 12% and 35%, respectively. These errors are likely to be idiosyncratic and may differ among machines and environmental conditions. The LI‐6800 exhibited much smaller errors.

Earth system model predictions may be erroneous, as much of their parametrisation data were measured on the LI‐6400XT system, depending on the methods used. We make recommendations for minimising errors and correcting data in the LI‐6400XT. We also recommend transitioning to the LI‐6800 for future data collection.
A seed dispersal effectiveness framework across the mutualism–antagonism continuum
Authors: van Leeuwen Casper H. A. , Villar Nacho , Mendoza Sagrera Irene , Green Andy J. , Bakker Elisabeth S. , Soons Merel B. , Galetti Mauro , Jansen Patrick A. , Nolet Bart A. , Santamaría Luis
Published: June 2022

Many angiosperms rely on vertebrates for seed dispersal via gut passage, an interaction that has been traditionally classified as a mutualism. The seed dispersal effectiveness (SDE) framework provides a mechanistic approach to evaluate evolutionary and ecological characteristics of animal‐mediated seed dispersal, by synthesising the quantity and the quality of the dispersal that a plant species receives from each of its animal dispersers. However, the application of the SDE framework has been largely restricted to plant–frugivore interactions, whereas animal‐mediated seed dispersal results from plant–disperser interactions that cover a continuum from pure mutualisms to antagonisms. This biases ecological and evolutionary knowledge on plant–disperser interactions. Here, we propose an extended SDE framework (‘eSDE') that allows comparing plant–disperser interactions in the full mutualism–antagonism continuum ranging from pure mutualisms (frugivores) to conditional mutualisms (scatter‐hoarding granivores and folivores) and antagonisms (pure granivores). We present the eSDE framework, and use examples to illustrate how it can be applied to compare effectiveness among plant–disperser interaction types. Our initial comparison based on available data suggests that vertebrate species differ more in the number of seeds they deposit away from the mother plant (quantity), than in the effects such dispersal processes have on seed fate (quality). Scatter‐hoarding granivores provide the most effective dispersal due to high removal rates, closely followed by frugivores due to high deposition rates. Folivores and pure granivores provide low quantity dispersal, but of high and moderate quality, respectively. These early comparative insights illustrate the necessity and usefulness of more standardized data collection protocols, for which we provide recommendations. Applying the eSDE framework can reveal broad‐scale patterns across and within plant–disperser interaction types, which will advance our evolutionary understanding of plant–animal interactions. This will provide new insights into the consequence of anthropogenic impacts on vertebrate‐mediated seed dispersal in a world in which plant–animal interactions are increasingly threatened.
Discovery of MIRAGE syndrome
Authors: Narumi Satoshi
Published: June 2022

Since the first report in 2009, whole exome sequencing has become the most effective and efficient research tool in human genetics. MIRAGE syndrome is a novel single‐gene disorder discovered through whole‐exome sequencing for pediatric patients with adrenal insufficiency of unknown etiology, and is caused by de novo heterozygous variants in SAMD9. MIRAGE syndrome was initially discovered as a systemic disease affecting multiple systems, including hematopoietic, immune, endocrine, and gastrointestinal systems but later studies revealed a subset of patients with myelodysplastic syndrome as the sole manifestation. In addition, pathogenic variants in SAMD9L, a paralog gene of SAMD9, were reported to cause an inherited disorder of the hematopoietic system and central nervous system, called ataxia‐pancytopenia syndrome. This article reviews the history of MIRAGE syndrome from its discovery to the proposal of SAMD9/SAMD9L syndromes, and discusses directions for future research.
Population health assessment project: An innovative strategy for teaching principles of epidemiology
Authors: Keen Diane L. , Steppe Johnathan D. , White Mary Katherine , Blake Barbara J.
Published: June 2022

Public health nurses (PHNs) use principles of epidemiology in their work with communities; however, teaching these concepts at the baccalaureate level can be challenging. To reinforce the epidemiologic concepts taught in the classroom, two nursing faculty in our baccalaureate nursing program developed a population health project that allows students to explore concepts of epidemiology within the context of a population health concern. This article describes how the project provides students with a realistic opportunity to research the health issue. As a part of the project, students collect and analyze data about the health concern at the county, state, and national level. The project also requires students to identify local agencies who provide services for people who are impacted by the health issue and describe their role and function within the community. Furthermore, students discuss the roles and responsibilities of nurses in managing the population health concern under investigation. In doing so, students recognize how epidemiology informs population level nursing care. If nursing students understand epidemiological concepts, they will be better prepared to educate the communities they serve after graduation when a population health crisis, such as the recent COVID‐19 pandemic, occurs.
A statistical method for analyzing agglomeration zones of co‐location between diverse facilities on a street network
Authors: Morioka Wataru , Kwan Mei‐Po , Okabe Atsuyuki , McLafferty Sara L.
Published: June 2022

Many geographic studies examined the spatial relationships between store locations that promote urban growth through agglomeration effects. One of the key relationships is co‐location, the spatial proximity among different types of facilities within a specific distance. To analyze co‐location with statistical inference, several studies have employed the cross K function method. However, the ordinary cross K function method is likely to be unsuitable because it assumes a continuous and homogeneous two‐dimensional plane, while stores are usually located on a street network. Another drawback is that it does not directly specify how the distances between different types of stores influence their mutual attraction over space, referred to as the agglomeration zone in this article. To address these limitations, this article develops a new statistical method named the incremental network dual K function. The usefulness of the method is illustrated by an empirical analysis of store locations in a central area of Tokyo.
Endothelial biomarkers as predictors for haemodialysis need in severe leptospirosis patients (Weil's disease)
Authors: Meneses Gdayllon Cavalcante , de Carvalho Gomes Pedro Eduardo Andrade , Galdino Gabriela Studart , Bezerra Gabriela Freire , de Souza Santos Ranieri Sales , Martins Alice Maria Costa , da Silva Junior Geraldo Bezerra , Libório Alexandre Braga , Pires Neto Roberto da Justa , Daher Elizabeth De Francesco
Published: June 2022

Objective

To investigate the prediction ability of vascular injury biomarkers for haemodialysis requirement in patients with severe leptospirosis.

Methods

Prospective study with severe leptospirosis patients hospitalised in Fortaleza, Brazil. Blood samples were collected hospital admission to quantify vascular injury biomarkers: syndecan‐1, ICAM‐1, VCAM‐1, angiopoietin‐2 and FGF‐23. Two groups were evaluated according to haemodialysis requirement during hospital stay.

Results

Twenty‐seven patients were included, with a mean age of 39 ± 18 years. 88.9% were males. 53.8% needed haemodialysis and presented higher levels on hospital admission of syndecan‐1 (572 [300–811] vs. 263 [106–421] ng/ml; p = 0.03), angiopoietin‐2 (1.52 [0.72–2.72] vs. 0.63 [0.4–1.38] ng/ml; p = 0.01), and FGF‐23 (291 [56–2031] vs. 10 [10–806] pg/ml; p = 0.021). Syndecan‐1 showed significant correlation with creatinine (r = 0.546; p = 0.05) and total bilirubin levels (r = 0.534; p = 0.013) on hospital admission. Angiopoietin‐2 showed significant correlation with creatinine levels (r = 0.513; p = 0.009) on hospital admission and with number of haemodialysis sessions (r = 0.406; p = 0.049). No significant correlation was found with FGF‐23. Regarding prognostic performance, combined syndecan‐1 and angiopoietin‐2 levels had a better ability to predict haemodialysis need in patients with severe leptospirosis (AUC‐ROC = 0.744 [95% CI: 0.545–0.943] p = 0.035).

Conclusion

Syndecan‐1 and angiopoietin‐2 were associated with haemodialysis need in patients with severe leptospirosis and may be useful to improve therapeutic approach and reduce mortality.
Effects of homoeologous exchange on gene expression and alternative splicing in a newly formed allotetraploid wheat
Authors: Zhang Zhibin , Xun Hongwei , Lv Ruili , Gou Xiaowan , Ma Xintong , Li Juzuo , Zhao Jing , Li Ning , Gong Lei , Liu Bao
Published: June 2022

Homoeologous exchange (HE) is a major mechanism generating post‐polyploidization genetic variation with important evolutionary consequences. However, the direct impacts of HE on gene expression and transcript diversity in allopolyploids without the intertwined evolutionary processes remain to be fully understood. Here, we analyzed high‐throughput RNA‐seq data of young leaves from plant groups of a synthetic allotetraploid wheat (AADD), which contained variable numbers of HEs. We aimed to investigate if and to which extent HE directly impacts gene expression and alternative splicing (AS). We found that HE impacts expression of genes located within HE regions primarily via a cis‐acting dosage effect, which led to significant changes in the total expression level of homoeologous gene pairs, especially for homoeologs whose original expression was biased. In parallel, HE also influences expression of a large number of genes residing in non‐HE regions by trans‐regulation leading to convergent expression of homoeologs. Intriguingly, when taking the original relative homoeolog expression states into account, homoeolog pairs under trans‐effect are more prone to manifesting a convergent response to the HEs whereas those under cis‐regulation tended to show further exacerbated subgenome‐biased expression. Moreover, HE‐induced quantitative, largely individual‐specific, changes of AS events were detected. Similar to homoeologous expression, homoeo‐AS events under trans‐effect were more responsive to HE. HE therefore exerts multifaceted immediate effects on gene expression and, to a less extent, on individualized transcript diversity in nascent allopolyploidy.
Position of the ammodile and the origin of Gerbillinae (Rodentia): Out of the Horn of Africa?
Authors: Kostin Danila S. , Martynov Aleksey A. , Lebedev Vladimir S. , Zemlemerova Elena D. , Gromov Anton R. , Lavrenchenko Leonid A.
Published: June 2022

Gerbillinae is the second largest subfamily (after Murinae) in the Muridae family comprising ~16 genera and more than a hundred species. Phylogenetic relationships among the main taxa of gerbils are still not fully understood. In particular, a major issue is the phylogenetic position of the monotypic genus Ammodillus (endemic to the Horn of Africa), which according to morphological data may be one of the earliest offshoots from the gerbilline stem; however, its precise affiliations have been unknown due to the lack of genetic data. Here, by means of a multilocus dataset including one mitochondrial and five nuclear markers, we for the first time elucidated phylogenetic placement of Ammodillus and provided the most complete tribal phylogeny of Gerbillinae to date. Phylogenetic reconstructions robustly supported Ammodillus as a sister taxon to all other living gerbillines and suggested that the separation of the ammodile lineage dates back to the Middle/Late Miocene boundary (~11.7 Mya). The results are consistent with subdivision of the subfamily into four tribes: monotypic Ammodillini, Gerbillini (including Taterillus), Desmodilliscini (including Pachyuromys) and Gerbillurini. In the light of the new data, we discuss possible scenarios of Gerbillinae origin, highlight Ammodillus as a relatively ancient—albeit morphologically advanced—lineage that has never gained diversity and propose the term ‘ancient singleton’ for a taxon with a persistently low diversification rate.
Reviewer Acknowledgements for Journal of Education and Training Studies, Vol. 10, No. 3
Authors: Smith Robert
Published: June 2022

Journal of Education and Training Studies (JETS) would like to acknowledge the following reviewers for their assistance with peer review of manuscripts for this issue. Many authors, regardless of whether JETS publishes their work, appreciate the helpful feedback provided by the reviewers. Their comments and suggestions were of great help to the authors in improving the quality of their papers. Each of the reviewers listed below returned at least one review for this issue.Reviewers for Volume 10, Number 3 Alphonce John Amuli, ADEM, TanzaniaChris Mutseekwa, Bindura University of Science Education, ZimbabweFathia Lahwal, Elmergib University, LibyaFroilan D. Mobo, Philippine Merchant Marine Academy, PhilippineHassan Shaaban, Atomic energy Authority, EgyptIntakhab Khan, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi ArabiaJohn Cowan, Edinburgh Napier University, UKJonathan Chitiyo, University of Pittsburgh Bradford, USAKendall Hartley, University of Nevada, USAMichail Kalogiannakis, University of Crete, GreeceMinh Duc Duong, Thai Nguyen University, VietnamMuhammad Haris Effendi-Hasibuan, Universitas Jambi, IndonesiaNan Thin Zar No, Chindwin Technological University, MyanmarNiveen M. Zayed, MENA College of Management, JordanRichard H. Martin, Mercer University, USARichard Penny, University of Washington Bothell, USARima Meilita Sari, STKIP Al-Washliyah, IndonesiaSadia Batool, Karakoram International University, PakistanSamah El-Sakka, Suez University, EgyptSandro Sehic, Oneida BOCES, USASarah Nabih Nasif, October University, EgyptSelloane Pitikoe, University of Eswatini, Eswatini Robert SmithEditorial AssistantOn behalf of,The Editorial Board of Journal of Education and Training StudiesRedfame Publishing9450 SW Gemini Dr. #99416Beaverton, OR 97008, USAE-mail 1: jets@redfame.comE-mail 2: jets@redfame.orgURL: http://jets.redfame.com
Bacteroides
fight fatty liver
Authors: VanHook Annalisa M.
Published: June 2022

Sphingolipids from commensal bacteria transit to the liver and normalize lipid accumulation in a mouse model of hepatic steatosis.
Characterization of Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Shigella sonnei in Spain: Expanding the Geographic Distribution of Sequence Type 152/CTX-M-27 Clone
Authors: López-Cerero Lorena , Stolz Emilio , Pulido Marina R. , Pascual Alvaro
Published: June 2022

We describe the first occurrence in Spain of community cases of CTX-M-27-producing
Shigella sonnei
sequence type 152 (ST152), resistant to quinolones and azithromycin. The cases included adult males and also one pediatric case. The isolates were clustered together with an Australian isolate and differed from other outbreak-causing strains in England by more than 50 alleles. They carried the
bla
CTX-M-27
gene on an 83-Kb F2:A-:B- plasmid, similar to that found in a British isolate.
Analysis of the Plasmid-Based
ts
Allele of
PA0006
Reveals Its Function in Regulation of Cell Morphology and Biosynthesis of Core Lipopolysaccharide in Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Yang Zhili , Zhang Zengping , Zhu Jiaqi , Ma Yunhao , Wang Jianxin , Liu Jianhua
Published: June 2022

Microbial essential genes encode nondispensable function for cell growth and therefore are ideal targets for the development of new drugs. Essential genes are readily identified using transposon-sequencing technology at the genome scale.
Role of an FNIP Repeat Domain-Containing Protein Encoded by Megavirus Baoshan during Viral Infection
Authors: Xia Yucheng , Cheng Huanyu , Bian Wenya , Wang Weiyun , Zhu Mengqi , Zhong Jiang
Published: June 2022

Megavirus baoshan encodes 82 FNIP proteins, more than any other reported mimiviruses. Their genetic and transcriptional features suggest that they are important for virus infection and adaption.
Phage Cocktails Constrain the Growth of
Enterococcus
Authors: Wandro Stephen , Ghatbale Pooja , Attai Hedieh , Hendrickson Clark , Samillano Cyril , Suh Joy , Dunham Sage J. B. , Pride David T. , Whiteson Katrine
Published: June 2022

Due to the rise in antibiotic resistance,
Enterococcus
infections are a major health crisis that requires the development of alternative therapies. Phage therapy offers an alternative to antibiotics and has shown promise in both
in vitro
and early clinical studies.
Guts of the Urban Ecosystem: Microbial Ecology of Sewer Infrastructure
Authors: Roguet Adélaïde , Newton Ryan J. , Eren A. Murat , McLellan Sandra L.
Published: June 2022

Sewer infrastructure is a relatively new habitat comprised of thousands of kilometers of pipes beneath cities. These wastewater conveyance systems contain large reservoirs of microbial biomass with a wide range of metabolic potential and are significant reservoirs of antibiotic resistant organisms; however, we lack an adequate understanding of the ecology or activity of these communities beyond wastewater treatment plants.
Investigating the Sensitivity of Nasal or Throat Swabs: Combination of Both Swabs Increases the Sensitivity of SARS-CoV-2 Rapid Antigen Tests
Authors: Goodall Barbara L. , LeBlanc Jason J. , Hatchette Todd F. , Barrett Lisa , Patriquin Glenn
Published: June 2022

This quality project demonstrates that combining the results of nasal and throat swabs or using a combined single swab of the throat and nares resulted in increased detection of SARS-CoV-2 using a rapid antigen test, in an asymptomatic population. Importantly, no false positives were detected, and over 90% of people were willing to perform the combination swab.
Little Utility of Fungal Blood Cultures in Surgical and Burn Intensive Care Units
Authors: Babb Jacqueline , Clark Audra , Gaffney Donna , Abdelfattah Kareem , Prokesch Bonnie C.
Published: June 2022

This study demonstrates that regular aerobic and anaerobic blood culture sets are sufficient in detecting the most common causes of fungemia, and thus, sending fungal blood cultures for patients in surgical and burn intensive care units is not a good use of resources.
High Sensitivity and NPV for BinaxNOW Rapid Antigen Test in Children at a Mass Testing Site during Prevalent Delta Variant Period
Authors: Sun Kristie J. , Vaeth Mary Jane E. , Robinson Matthew , Elhabashy Maryam , Gupta Ishaan , Purekal Sophia , Hammershaimb E. Adrianne , Peralta Ria , Mitchell Asia , Foyez Maisha , Johnson J. Kristie , Ficke James R. , Manabe Yukari C. , Campbell James D. , Callahan Charles W. , Locke Charles F. , Kantsiper Melinda ,   CONQUER COVID Consortium, Siddiqui Zishan K. , Fink Jeffrey , Mitchtalik Henry , Eid Shaker M. , Wagner Lee Ann , Phillips Mark
Published: June 2022

The BinaxNOW rapid antigen COVID-19 test had a sensitivity of nearly 92% in both symptomatic and asymptomatic children when performed at a high-throughput setting during the more transmissible delta variant dominant period. The test may play an invaluable role in asymptomatic screening and keeping children safe in school.
Intramuscularly Administered Enterotoxigenic
Escherichia coli
(ETEC) Vaccine Candidate MecVax Prevented H10407 Intestinal Colonization in an Adult Rabbit Colonization Model
Authors: Upadhyay Ipshita , Lauder Kathryn L. , Li Siqi , Ptacek Galen , Zhang Weiping
Published: June 2022

An effective ETEC vaccine would prevent hundreds of millions of diarrhea clinical cases and save nearly 100,000 lives annually. MecVax, a protein-based injectable multivalent ETEC vaccine candidate, has been shown for the first time to induce functional antibodies against both ETEC enterotoxins (STa, LT) produced by all ETEC strains and seven ETEC adhesins (CFA/I, CS1 to CS6) expressed by ETEC strains causing a majority of ETEC diarrhea clinical cases and the moderate-to-severe cases.
Language matters: representations of ‘heart failure’ in English discourse—a large-scale linguistic study
Authors: Demmen Jane , Hartshorne-Evans Nick , Semino Elena , Sankaranarayanan Rajiv
Published: June 2022

Aims

Heart failure (HF) has a lower public profile compared with other serious health conditions, notably cancer. This discourse analysis study investigates the extent to which HF is discussed in general contemporary English, UK parliamentary debates and the ways in which HF is framed in discussions, when compared with two other serious health conditions, cancer and dementia.

Methods

The Oxford English Corpus (OEC) of 21st century English-language texts (2 billion words) and the UK Hansard Reports of parliamentary debates from 1945 to early 2021 were used to investigate the relative frequencies, contexts and use of the terms ‘heart failure’, ‘cancer’ and ‘dementia’.

Results

In the OEC, the term ‘heart failure’ occurs 4.26 times per million words (pmw), ‘dementia’ occurs 3.68 times pmw and ‘cancer’ occurs 81.96 times pmw. Cancer is talked about 19 times more often than HF and 22 times more often than dementia. These are disproportionately high in relation to actual incidence: annual cancer incidence is 1.8 times that of the other conditions; annual cancer mortality is two times that caused by coronary heart disease (including HF) or dementia.

‘Heart failure’ is used much less than ‘cancer’ in UK parliamentary debates (House of Commons and House of Lords) between 1945 and early 2021, and less than ‘dementia’ from 1990 onwards. Moreover, HF is even mentioned much less than pot-holes in UK roads and pavements. In 2018, for example, ‘pot-hole/s’ were mentioned over 10 times pmw, 37 times more often than ‘heart failure’, mentioned 0.28 times pmw. Discussions of HF are comparatively technical and formulaic, lacking survivor narratives that occur in discussions of cancer.

Conclusions

HF is underdiscussed in contemporary English compared with cancer and dementia and underdiscussed in UK parliamentary debates, even compared with the less-obviously life-threatening topic of pot-holes in roads and pavements.
Role of ionic concentration in the kinetic attachment of kaolinite and sand
Authors: Won Jongmuk , Burns Susan E.
Published: June 2022

Clay particle deposition in porous media is critical in many geotechnical applications that rely on filtration. The deposition of particles in the filter medium can result in clogging, which causes a reduction in the hydraulic conductivity of the filter medium. Particle attachment and detachment are a function of the interaction energy between clay particles and the filter bed material, which is frequently sand. These mechanisms are governed by the size of the clay particles as well as the solution chemistry. Batch kinetic adsorption tests were carried out to investigate the impact of ionic strength on the attachment of kaolinite to silica sand grains. Significant attachment of kaolinite was observed as ionic strength of the pore fluid increased and as the size of silica particles decreased. The short-term deposition of clay particles was not sensitive to ionic strength; however, in contrast, long-term deposition was a strong function of ionic strength.
Gamma convergence and renormalization group: Two sides of a coin?
Authors: Dell’Antonio G. F.
Published: June 2022

We discuss, both from the point of view of Gamma convergence and from the point of view of the renormalization Group, the zero range strong contact interaction of three non-relativistic massive particles. Formally, the potential term is $$ g (\delta (x_3-x_1) + \delta (x_3 -x_2)), \;\, g < 0 $$

g
(
δ

(

x
3

-

x
1

)

+
δ

(

x
3

-

x
2

)

)
,

g
<
0

and is the limit $$ \epsilon \rightarrow 0$$

ϵ
→
0

of approximating potentials $$ V_\epsilon (|x_i -x_3|) = \epsilon ^{-3} V ( \frac{|x_i - x_3|}{\epsilon }) $$

V
ϵ

(
|

x
i

-

x
3

|
)

=

ϵ

-
3

V

(

|

x
i

-

x
3

|

ϵ

)

, $$ V( x) \in L^1(R^3) \cap L^2 (R^3) $$

V

(
x
)

∈

L
1

(

R
3

)

∩

L
2

(

R
3

)

. The presence of a delta function in the limit does not allow the use of standard tools of functional analysis. In the first approach (European Phys. J. Plus 136-363, 2021), (European Phys. J. Plus 1136-1161, 2021), we introduced a map $$\mathcal{K}$$
K
, called Krein Map , from $$L^2 (R^9) $$

L
2

(

R
9

)

to a space (Minlos space) $$\mathcal{M}$$
M
) of more singular functions. In $$ { \mathcal M}$$
M
, the system is represented by a one parameter family of self-adjoint operators. In the topology of $$L^2 (R^9)$$

L
2

(

R
9

)

, the system is an ordered family of weakly closed quadratic forms. By Gamma convergence, the infimum is a self-adjoint operator, the Hamiltonian H of the system. Gamma convergence implies resolvent convergence (An Introduction to Gamma Convergence Springer 1993) but not operator convergence!. This approach is variational and non-perturbative. In the second approach, perturbation theory is used. At each order of perturbation theory, divergences occur when $$ \epsilon \rightarrow 0$$

ϵ
→
0

. A finite renormalized Hamiltonian $$H_R$$

H
R

is obtained by redefining mass and coupling constant at each order of perturbation theory. In this approach, no distinction is made between self-adjoint operators and quadratic forms. One expects that $$ H = H_R $$

H
=

H
R

, i.e., that “renormalization” amounts to the difference between the Hamiltonian obtained by quadratic form convergence and the one obtained by Gamma convergence. We give some hints, but a formal proof is missing. For completeness, we discuss briefly other types of zero-range interactions.
A Hierarchical Framework for Spares-Driven Maintenance Tasks’ Reviewing, Planning and Scheduling
Authors: Manzini Riccardo , Accorsi Riccardo , Ferrari Emilio , Gallo Andrea , Penazzi Stefano
Published: June 2022

This paper explores the impacts of reviewing the time to replace of spare parts under the lenses of reliability- and cost-based optimization with the attempt to reduce the cost of a maintenance plan within a harshly constrained maintenance tasks’ scheduling problem. A hierarchical procedure for a robust reliability prediction and scheduling of maintenance tasks is introduced to this purpose.

This study takes inspiration from real applications of the preventive maintenance (PM) scheduling process on high-throughput packing and manufacturing lines counting hundreds of functional groups and thousands of components subject to failures and replacements. We investigate the role and the criticality of data entry in the not polynomial (NP)-hard cost-based and reliability-based scheduling problem proposed by Manzini et al. (R. Manzini, R. Accorsi, T. Cennerazzo, E. Ferrari and F. Maranesi, The scheduling of maintenance. A resource-constraints mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) model, Comput. Ind. Eng. 87 (2015) 561–568).

The proposed reliability-based analysis aids the setting of proper time to failures for spare parts and combines with an analytical single-component and cost-based model to set which maintenance tasks are the most sensitive to the overall cost reduction of a maintenance plan.
The OARF Benchmark Suite: Characterization and Implications for Federated Learning Systems
Authors: Hu Sixu , Li Yuan , Liu Xu , Li Qinbin , Wu Zhaomin , He Bingsheng
Published: June 2022

This article presents and characterizes an Open Application Repository for Federated Learning (OARF), a benchmark suite for federated machine learning systems. Previously available benchmarks for federated learning (FL) have focused mainly on synthetic datasets and use a limited number of applications. OARF mimics more realistic application scenarios with publicly available datasets as different data silos in image, text, and structured data. Our characterization shows that the benchmark suite is diverse in data size, distribution, feature distribution, and learning task complexity. The extensive evaluations with reference implementations show the future research opportunities for important aspects of FL systems. We have developed reference implementations, and evaluated the important aspects of FL, including model accuracy, communication cost, throughput, and convergence time. Through these evaluations, we discovered some interesting findings such as FL can effectively increase end-to-end throughput. The code of OARF is publicly available on GitHub.

1
SM22α cell-specific HIF stabilization mitigates hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung injury
Authors: Ito Reiji , Barnes Elizabeth A. , Che Xibing , Alvira Cristina M. , Cornfield David N.
Published: June 2022

Though survival rates for preterm infants are improving, the incidence of chronic lung disease of infancy, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), remains high. Histologically, BPD is characterized by larger and fewer alveoli. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) may be protective in the context of hyperoxia-induced lung injury, but the cell-specific effects of HIF expression in neonatal lung injury remain unknown. Thus, we sought to determine whether HIF stabilization in SM22α-expressing cells can limit hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung injury. We generated SM22α-specific HIF-1α-stabilized mice ( SM22α-PHD1/2−/− mice) by cross-breeding SM22α-promotor-driven Cre recombinase mice with prolyl hydroxylase PHD1flox/flox and PHD2flox/flox mice. Neonatal mice were randomized to 21% O2 (normoxia) or 80% O2 (hyperoxia) exposure for 14 days. For the hyperoxia recovery studies, neonatal mice were recovered from normoxia for an additional 10 wk. SM22α-specific HIF-1α stabilization mitigated hyperoxia-induced lung injury and preserved microvessel density compared with control mice for both neonates and adults. In SM22α-PHD1/2−/− mice, pulmonary artery endothelial cells (PAECs) were more proliferative and pulmonary arteries expressed more collagen IV compared with control mice, even under hyperoxic conditions. Angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) mRNA expression in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) was greater in SM22α-PHD1/2−/− compared with control mice in both normoxia and hyperoxia. Pulmonary endothelial cells (PECs) cocultured with PASMC isolated from SM22α-PHD1/2−/− mice formed more tubes and branches with greater tube length compared with PEC cocultured with PASMC isolated from SM22α-PHD1/2+/+ mice. Addition of Ang2 recombinant protein further augmented tube formation for both PHD1/2+/+ and PHD1/2−/− PASMC. Cell-specific deletion of PHD1 and 2 selectively increases HIF-1α expression in SM22α-expressing cells and protects neonatal lung development despite prolonged hyperoxia exposure. HIF stabilization in SM22α-expressing cells preserved endothelial cell proliferation, microvascular density, increased angiopoietin-2 expression, and lung structure, suggesting a role for cell-specific HIF-1α stabilization to prevent neonatal lung injury.
Exploring antiviral and anti-inflammatory effects of thiol drugs in COVID-19
Authors: Khanna Kritika , Raymond Wilfred W. , Jin Jing , Charbit Annabelle R. , Gitlin Irina , Tang Monica , Werts Adam D. , Barrett Edward G. , Cox Jason M. , Birch Sharla M. , Martinelli Rachel , Sperber Hannah S. , Franz Sergej , Duff Thomas , Hoffmann Markus , Healy Anne Marie , Oscarson Stefan , Pöhlmann Stefan , Pillai Satish K. , Simmons Graham , Fahy John V.
Published: June 2022

The redox status of the cysteine-rich SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein (SARS-2-S) is important for the binding of SARS-2-S to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), suggesting that drugs with a functional thiol group (“thiol drugs”) may cleave cystines to disrupt SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. In addition, neutrophil-induced oxidative stress is a mechanism of COVID-19 lung injury, and the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of thiol drugs, especially cysteamine, may limit this injury. To first explore the antiviral effects of thiol drugs in COVID-19, we used an ACE-2 binding assay and cell entry assays utilizing reporter pseudoviruses and authentic SARS-CoV-2 viruses. We found that multiple thiol drugs inhibit SARS-2-S binding to ACE2 and virus infection. The most potent drugs were effective in the low millimolar range, and IC50 values followed the order of their cystine cleavage rates and lower thiol p Ka values. To determine if thiol drugs have antiviral effects in vivo and to explore any anti-inflammatory effects of thiol drugs in COVID-19, we tested the effects of cysteamine delivered intraperitoneally to hamsters infected with SARS-CoV-2. Cysteamine did not decrease lung viral infection, but it significantly decreased lung neutrophilic inflammation and alveolar hemorrhage. We speculate that the concentration of cysteamine achieved in the lungs with intraperitoneal delivery was insufficient for antiviral effects but sufficient for anti-inflammatory effects. We conclude that thiol drugs decrease SARS-CoV-2 lung inflammation and injury, and we provide rationale for future studies to test if direct (aerosol) delivery of thiol drugs to the airways might also result in antiviral effects.
Characterization of a flexible AAV-DTR/DT mouse model of acute epithelial lung injury
Authors: Griesser Eva , Schönberger Tanja , Stierstorfer Birgit , Wyatt Hannah , Rist Wolfgang , Lamla Thorsten , Thomas Matthew James , Lamb David , Geillinger-Kästle Kerstin
Published: June 2022

Animal models are important to mimic certain pathways or biological aspects of human pathologies including acute and chronic pulmonary diseases. We developed a novel and flexible mouse model of acute epithelial lung injury based on adeno-associated virus (AAV) variant 6.2-mediated expression of the human diphtheria toxin receptor (DTR). Following intratracheal administration of diphtheria toxin (DT), a cell-specific death of bronchial and alveolar epithelial cells can be observed. In contrast to other lung injury models, the here described mouse model provides the possibility of targeted injury using specific tropisms of AAV vectors or cell-type-specific promotors to drive the human DTR expression. Also, generation of cell-specific mouse lines is not required. Detailed characterization of the AAV-DTR/DT mouse model including titration of viral genome (vg) load and administered DT amount revealed increasing cell numbers in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL; macrophages, neutrophils, and unspecified cells) and elevation of degenerated cells and infiltrated leukocytes in lung tissue, dependent of vg load and DT dose. Cytokine levels in BAL fluid showed different patterns with higher vg load, e.g., IFNγ, TNFα, and IP10 increasing and IL-5 and IL-6 decreasing, whereas lung function was not affected. In addition, laser-capture microdissection (LCM)-based proteomics of bronchial epithelium and alveolar tissue revealed upregulated immune and inflammatory responses in all regions and extracellular matrix deposition in infiltrated alveoli. Overall, our novel AAV-DTR/DT model allows investigation of repair mechanisms following epithelial injury and resembles specific mechanistic aspects of acute and chronic pulmonary diseases.
Secretory phospholipase A2 expression and activity in preterm clinical chorioamnionitis with fetal involvement
Authors: De Luca Daniele , Foligno Silvia , Autilio Chiara , Vivanti Alexandre , Vandekerckhove Melanie , Martinovic Jelena , Raschetti Roberto , Guillot Loïc , Touqui Lhousseine
Published: June 2022

Secretory phospholipase A2 (sPLA2) regulates the first step of inflammatory cascade and is involved in several pathological processes. sPLA2 also plays a role in preterm labor and parturition, since they are triggered by inflammatory mediators such as prostaglandins. Interestingly, chorioamnionitis (i.e., the presence of intrauterine inflammation) is also often associated with preterm birth. We aimed to verify if chorioamnionitis with fetal involvement modifies sPLA2 activity and expression profile in mothers and neonates delivered prematurely. We collected maternal plasma and amniotic fluid, as well as bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from preterm neonates born to mothers with or without clinical chorioamnionitis with fetal involvement. We measured concentrations of sPLA2 subtype-IIA and -IB, total enzyme activity, and proteins. Urea ratio was used to obtain epithelial lining fluid concentrations. Enzyme activity measured in maternal plasma ( P < 0.001) and amniotic fluid ( P < 0.001) was higher in chorioamnionitis cases than in controls. This was mainly due to the increased production of sPLA2-IIA, as the subtype -IB was present in a smaller amount and was similar between the two groups; sPLA2-IIA was increased in epithelial lining fluid ( P = 0.045) or increased, although without statistical significance, in maternal plasma ( P = 0.06) and amniotic fluid ( P = 0.08) of chorioamnionitis cases. Cytokines that are known to increase sPLA2-IIA expression (TNF-α and IL-1β) or whose expression was increased by sPLA2-IIA (IL-8) were higher in histologically confirmed chorioamnionitis [TNF-α ( P = 0.028), IL-1β ( P < 0.001), and IL-8 ( P = 0.038)]. These data represent the basis for future studies on sPLA2-IIA inhibition to prevent deleterious consequences of chorioamnionitis and preterm birth.
Nanocomposite Building Materials in Modern Architectural Design
Authors: Li XuHui , Zhao Yi
Published: June 2022

Architecture is the precipitation of history, not only the embodiment of technical level but also the inheritance of history and culture. Excellent architecture contains high historical value and emotional factors, and it continues to deepen over time. Nanotechnology is a new technology that was born in the late 1980s and is emerging. It mainly refers to the study of the laws of motion and interactions of electrons, atoms, and molecules in the composition system of matter in the range of 0.1 to 100 nm. Nanomaterials have special properties and structures, and the composite materials made of them have the effect of strengthening and toughening the polymer by virtue of their high‐quality strength and toughness. Therefore, the aim of this text is to explore the application of nanocomposite building materials in modern architectural design and analyze the advantages and development trends of new building materials. The method in this paper is to use the method of experimental comparison to analyze the performance improvement effect of nanocomposite building materials on the current main building materials of concrete. By establishing a model to study the impact on the shrinkage and mechanical properties of cement‐based materials, it can also improve the environmental performance and comprehensive evaluation of building materials. Corresponding conclusions are drawn through data comparison. When the amount of nanocomposite building materials is 1.5%, the chemical shrinkage value of the cement paste will increase by 58.2%, and the shrinkage strain will increase by 15.3%. When the fly ash content is 20%, the chemical shrinkage value of cement paste is reduced by 30.5%, and the shrinkage strain of concrete is reduced by 8.8%. Therefore, adding nanocomposite building materials to cement‐based materials can promote cement hydration, optimize pore structure, and to a certain extent can make up for the shortcomings of mineral admixtures and achieve better improvement effects.