bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant growth regulation and the rebound effect when prohexadione calcium is applied to fairway‐height annual bluegrass and creeping bentgrass swards
Authors: Husiny Jaber , Ficht Alexandra , Watson John R. , Lyons Eric M.
Published: March 2023

Plant growth regulators (PGRs) are commonly used to manage turfgrass growth on golf courses. Growing degree day (GDD) models predict the need for reapplication of PGRs, such as trinexapac‐ethyl (TE) resulting in a potential loss of regulation. Optimal GDD models for application of prohexadione calcium (PC), a late‐stage gibberellin inhibitor, on fairway‐height turfgrasses are currently unknown. The effect of PC and TE on plant growth and stand health were evaluated in two separate seasons on mixed stands of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) and annual bluegrass (Poa annua L.) maintained at 9‐mm height at the Guelph Turfgrass Institute. Five treatments (control, PC 2.8 g 100 m−2 [0.09 oz 1000 ft−2], PC 5.6 g 100 m−2 [0.18 oz 1000 ft−2], PC 8.4 g 100 m−2 [0.27 oz 1000 ft−2], and TE 8.0 mL 100 m−2 [0.26 fl oz 1000 ft−2]) were applied based on a label rate GDD schedule. Plant clipping dry weight (DW), visual color ratings and normalized difference vegetative index (NDVI) were assessed. Most PC and TE treatments effectively reduced DW and had a positive effect on visual color and NDVI. A relationship was observed between PC application rates, suggesting that higher application rates allow for greater regulation of plant growth. Rebound effects or periods of excess growth, occurred when reapplication intervals exceeded 350 GDD and had an average of thermal time greater than 21.0 GDD over a 10‐day period. Using optimal GDD models for PC will assist in the effective regulation of turfgrass growth and improved stand health.
How to Develop a Grant Writing Course for Undergraduate Students
Authors: Oxford Julia Thom , Smith Diane B. , Yarnell Tracy , Jorcyk Cheryl L.
Published: March 2023

Grant writing is an important skill to develop, allowing students to envision solutions to issues that impact their local, regional, and global communities. Additionally, grant writing, like other research‐associated activities, can improve student success in and out of the classroom. Grant writing can help students understand the alignment between research activities and a “big picture” understanding of the common good and societal impact of the research. Grant writing can improve students’ ability to articulate the significance and broader impacts of research. Faculty mentors can play a major role in grant writing activities by helping to guide undergraduate students through the process. A course‐based approach can help instructors who mentor students in research by providing scaffolding and scheduling tools. This article provides an overview of a grant writing course used as an efficient and effective way for undergraduate students to be guided through the grant proposal writing process with a greater potential for positive outcomes. We discuss why undergraduate students should learn how to write grant proposals, the advantages of teaching grant writing in a course‐based format, time management, learning outcomes, and ways to assess student learning. © 2023 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Transition Metal‐free Selenium‐mediated Aryl Amines via Reduction of Nitroarenes
Authors: Capperucci Antonella , Clemente Martina , Cenni Alessio , Tanini Damiano
Published: March 2023

A scalable and operationally simple on water seleno‐mediated reduction of nitroarenes to the respective aryl amines with NaBH4 is described. The reaction proceeds under transition metal‐free conditions and is promoted by the formation of Na2Se, which is the effective reducing agent involved in the mechanism. This mechanistic information enabled the development of a mild NaBH4‐free protocol for the selective reduction of nitro derivatives bearing labile moieties, including nitrocarbonyl compounds. The selenium‐containing aqueous phase can be successfully reused up to four reduction cycles, thus further improving the efficiency of the protocol disclosed.
LBAA: A novel load balancing mechanism in cloud environments using ant colony optimization and artificial bee colony algorithms
Authors: Mohammadian Vahid , Navimipour Nima Jafari , Hosseinzadeh Mehdi , Darwesh Aso
Published: March 2023

Recently, cloud computing has been recognized as an effective paradigm for offering an on‐demand platform, software services, and an efficient infrastructure to cloud clients. Due to the exponential growth of cloud tasks and the rapidly increasing number of cloud users, scheduling and balancing these tasks among involved heterogeneous virtual machines becomes an Non‐deterministic Polynomial hard (NP‐hard) optimization problem considering significant constraints, such as high rate of resource usage, low scheduling time, and low implementation cost. Therefore, various meta‐heuristic algorithms have been widely used to tackle the issue. The current paper proposes a novel load balancing mechanism using the ant colony optimization and artificial bee colony algorithms, called LBAA, which aims to balance the load division among systems in data centers. The simulation outcomes confirm that our algorithm outperforms previous works regarding response time, imbalance degree, makespan, and resource utilization up to 25%, 15%, 12%, and 10%, respectively.
Utilizing ChatGPT to help students with disabilities
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: March 2023

ChatGPT is a hot topic in many industries, including higher education. Therefore, I decided to ask ChatGPT a few questions about supporting students with disabilities. This column is for informational purposes and does not reflect an endorsement of ChatGPT. Answers have been edited for length.
Make the intake meeting an inroad to a less stressful college transition
Authors: Hamblet Elizabeth C.
Published: March 2023

Transition happens to the whole family. I wish I could remember which colleague provided this gem, which I think is a helpful guiding principle for disability services offices. In this series of three articles, I've suggested ways to partner with Admissions and to organize your website to soothe families’ anxieties — all with the goal of helping students make a smooth college transition. In this last article, I'll discuss how the intake meeting can also present opportunities to do this.
Review SPPO guidance concerning photos and videos
Authors: Lyerly Eric
Published: March 2023

A photo or a video of a student can be an education record subject to the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act. The Student Privacy Policy Office has created FAQs to describe the responsibilities of colleges and universities concerning photos and videos (https://bit.ly/2r3snS7).
Feast to famine: Sympatric predators respond differently to seasonal prey scarcity on thelow Arctictundra
Authors: Warret Rodrigues Chloé , Roth James D.
Published: March 2023

Resource fluctuation is a major driver of animal movement, influencing strategic choices such as residency vs nomadism, or social dynamics. The Arctic tundra is characterized by strong seasonality: Resources are abundant during the short summers but scarce in winters. Therefore, expansion of boreal‐forest species onto the tundra raises questions on how they cope with winter‐resource scarcity. We examined a recent incursion by red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) onto the coastal tundra of northern Manitoba, an area historically occupied by Arctic foxes (Vulpes lagopus) that lacks access to anthropogenic foods, and compared seasonal shifts in space use of the two species. We used 4 years of telemetry data following 8 red foxes and 11 Arctic foxes to test the hypothesis that the movement tactics of both species are primarily driven by temporal variability of resources. We also predicted that the harsh tundra conditions in winter would drive red foxes to disperse more often and maintain larger home ranges year‐round than Arctic foxes, which are adapted to this environment. Dispersal was the most frequent winter movement tactic in both fox species, despite its association with high mortality (winter mortality was 9.4 times higher in dispersers than residents). Red foxes consistently dispersed toward the boreal forest, whereas Arctic foxes primarily used sea ice to disperse. Home range size of red and Arctic foxes did not differ in summer, but resident red foxes substantially increased their home range size in winter, whereas home range size of resident Arctic foxes did not change seasonally. As climate changes, abiotic constraints on some species may relax, but associated declines in prey communities may lead to local extirpation of many predators, notably by favoring dispersal during resource scarcity.
Gender‐specific prevalence and trend of heart failure in China from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Peng Xiaodong , Wang Jue , Li Jiangtao , Li Yukun , Wang Xuesi , Liu Xinmeng , Meng Fanchao , Li Linling , Lin Rong , Liu Nian , Ma Changsheng
Published: March 2023

Aims

Heart failure (HF) is one of the leading causes of the global burden of disability and mortality. However, the comprehensive epidemic status of HF in China is unclear. Notably, the gender‐specific survey for HF prevalence is lacking. The present study aimed to analyse the gender‐specific prevalence and temporal trend of HF in China and explore the attributable aetiology and risk factors.

Methods and results

The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2019 was used to evaluate the age‐standardized prevalence and years lived with disability of HF in China by gender. The temporal trend of HF and attributable risk factors were analysed by Joinpoint regression models from 1990 to 2019. The total age‐standardized prevalence rate of HF steadily decreased over the past two decades from 1079.4 to 1032.8 per 100 000 individuals. Since 2017, the prevalence trend of HF has significantly increased [annual percentage change (APC) of 2.72 for females and 0.61 for males, P < 0.05]. In 2019, the age‐standardized rate of HF prevalence in females surpassed that of males, and hypertensive heart disease was the leading cause of HF for females (42.65% of cases) and males (41.19% of cases). From 2017 to 2019, high systolic pressure contributed to most cases of HF‐related hypertensive heart disease, with an APC of 2.68 for females and 0.48 for males (P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Although HF prevalence has steadily decreased over the past two decades, an increasing trend has occurred since 2017, especially for females. The leading cause of HF was hypertensive heart disease. Metabolic risks, particularly high systolic pressure, consistently contribute to the prevalence of heart diseases leading to HF. Promoting HF screening and controlling metabolic risks at the population level are imperative. Gender differences in HF prevalence should be considered.
Brain lesion locations associated with secondary seizure generalization in tumors and strokes
Authors: Nordberg Janne , Schaper Frederic L. W. V. J. , Bucci Marco , Nummenmaa Lauri , Joutsa Juho
Published: March 2023

Structural brain lesions are the most common cause of adult‐onset epilepsy. The lesion location may contribute to the risk for epileptogenesis, but whether specific lesion locations are associated with a risk for secondary seizure generalization from focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures, is unknown. We identified patients with a diagnosis of adult‐onset epilepsy caused by an ischemic stroke or a tumor diagnosed at the Turku University Hospital in 2004–2017. Lesion locations were segmented on patient‐specific MR imaging and transformed to a common brain atlas (MNI space). Both region‐of‐interest analyses (intersection with the cortex, hemisphere, and lobes) and voxel‐wise analyses were conducted to identify the lesion locations associated with focal to bilateral tonic–clonic compared to focal seizures. We included 170 patients with lesion‐induced epilepsy (94 tumors, 76 strokes). Lesions predominantly localized in the cerebral cortex (OR 2.50, 95% C.I. 1.21–5.15,p = .01) and right hemisphere (OR 2.22, 95% C.I. 1.17–4.20,p = .01) were independently associated with focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures. At the lobar‐level, focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures were associated with lesions in the right frontal cortex (OR 4.41, 95% C.I. 1.44–13.5,p = .009). No single voxels were significantly associated with seizure type. These effects were independent of lesion etiology. Our results demonstrate that lesion location is associated with the risk for secondary generalization of epileptic seizures. These findings may contribute to identifying patients at risk for focal to bilateral tonic–clonic seizures.
Cognitive activity at work and the risk of dementia
Authors: Martin‐Bassols Nicolau , de New Sonja C. , Johnston David W. , Shields Michael A.
Published: March 2023

Dementia prevalence is projected to rise steeply in coming decades, producing tremendous burdens on families, and health and social services. Motivated by the need for further robust evidence on modifiable risk factors, we investigate the relationship between cognitive activity at work and later‐life dementia. Using data from the US Health and Retirement Study matched to the O*NET occupational database, we find that a one standard deviation increase in the cognitive activity associated with one's longest held occupation is associated with a 0.9 percentage point reduction in (predicted) dementia, or a 24% reduction relative to the mean. This relationship is consistently found across model specifications and robustness tests. When controlling for individual fixed‐effects we find that the association between dementia and work cognitive activity increases with age. Overall, our results provide some evidence in support of the inclusion of cognitive activity at work as a recognized modifiable risk factor for dementia.
Repeat transcranial Doppler ultrasound imaging in Kuwaiti children with sickle cell disease after a 10‐year interval: A prospective, cohort study
Authors: Asbeutah Akram M. , Zahra Akmal M. , Al‐Abboh Hanan , AlMajran Abdullah A. , Adekile Adekunle
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Transcranial Doppler imaging (TCDI) of the cerebral arteries is the method of choice to predict patients with sickle cell disease (SCD) at risk for stroke. This study reports TCDI follow‐up of cerebral blood flow in a cohort of Kuwaiti children with SCD after a 10‐year interval.

Methods

Twenty‐one pediatric patients with SCD, aged 16.0 ± 1.6 years were initially studied when they were aged 6.5 ± 1.2 years. TCDI scanning was carried out using a phased‐array transducer of 1–3 MHz through the trans‐temporal window. Peak systolic velocity (PSV), end‐diastolic velocity (EDV), time‐averaged mean of the maximum velocity (TAMMV), resistive index (RI), and pulsatility index (PI) were obtained in the anterior and posterior Circle of Willis vessels.

Results

The follow‐up indices were mostly lower than in the initial study although they remained within the normal range in all the arteries. TAMMV was less than 170 cm/s, and PSV did not exceed 200 cm/s in all vessels. The initial and follow‐up TAMMV (mean ± SD) were: 77.3 ± 20.9 and 71.6 ± 9.9 in the terminal internal carotid artery, 94.3 ± 25.8 and 82 ± 18.2 in the middle cerebral artery, 76.6 ± 25.6 and 70.6 ± 10.7 in the anterior cerebral artery, and 59.1 ± 15.8 and 63.9 ± 8.5 in the posterior cerebral artery, respectively. The mean differences between the old and follow‐up data for RI, and PI were statistically significant (p < 0.05).

Conclusions

Kuwaiti patients with SCD appear to be largely protected from cerebral artery vasculopathy in childhood.
Research progress of neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy in nonhuman primate models
Authors: Guan Yi‐Huan , Zhou Hong‐Su , Luo Bo‐Yan , Hussain Sajid , Xiong Liu‐Lin
Published: March 2023

Neonatal hypoxic‐ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is one of the important complications of neonatal asphyxia, which not only leads to neurological disability but also seriously threatens the life of neonates. Over the years, animal models of HIE have been a research hotspot to find ways to cope with HIE and thereby reduce the risk of neonatal death or disability in moderate‐to‐severe HIE. By reviewing the literature related to HIE over the years, it was found that nonhuman primates share a high degree of homology with human gross neural anatomy. The basic data on nonhuman primates are not yet complete, so it is urgent to mine and develop new nonhuman primate model data. In recent years, the research on nonhuman primate HIE models has been gradually enriched and the content is more novel. Therefore, the purpose of this review is to further summarize the methods for establishing the nonhuman primate HIE model and to better elucidate the relevance of the nonhuman primate model to humans by observing the behavioral manifestations, neuropathology, and a series of biomarkers of HIE in primates HIE. Finally, the most popular and desirable treatments studied in nonhuman primate models in the past 5 years are summarized.
Antibodies to Hepatitis B core antigen prevalence study in Kazakhstan
Authors: Savchuk Tatyana , Grinvald Yelena , Ali Mohamed , Sepetiene Ramune , Saussakova Saniya , Zhangazieva Kuralay , Imashpayev Dulat , Abdrakhmanova Saniya
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Kazakhstan is being considered medium‐endemic for Hepatitis B virus infection (HBV). HBV remains transmissible by direct exposure to infected blood or organic fluids. This cross‐sectional study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of anti‐HBcore and the risk factors impacting positive anti‐HBcore markers among donors at Scientific‐Production Center of Transfusiology, Ministry of Healthcare of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Materials and Methods

The samples taken from blood donors were tested for anti‐HBcore, by the chemiluminescence immunoassay method on the Architect i2000SR (Abbott). In case of positive anti‐HBcore, the blood samples were further tested for anti‐HBs on the Architect i2000SR (Abbott). Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) indicators were tested by kinetic method on the Biosystems A25 analyzer. Statistical analysis was conducted using R software (version 4.1.1, 2021).

Results

Five thousand seven hundred and nine people aged 18–66 years included in the study, the proportion of men and women was 68.17% and 31.83%, respectively. The average age of the participants was 35.7 ± 10.57 years. The prevalence of anti‐HBcore among donors was 17.2% (983). Among participants with elevated ALT (170), this marker was determined in 23%, and for donors with normal levels of ALT (5539)−17%. Participants with positive anti‐HBcore scores were on average older (41.8 vs. 34.4 years, p < .001) and Kazakhs (88.7% vs. 83.0%, p < .001) by nationality than study participants with negative results of anti‐HBcore.

Conclusions

Anti‐HBcore prevalence in Kazakhstan (17.2%) compared with other countries (Croatia 7%, France 7%, Germany 9%, Iran 16%, Malaysia 20%, respectively) remains above average. Given the prevalence of HBV and risk factors, it is recommended to include an additional anti‐HBcore marker in the mandatory screening of donated blood in the Kazakhstan Republic and improve preventive measures to prevent HBV transmission by blood transfusions.
NCR negative group 3 innate lymphoid cell (NCR−ILC3) participates in abnormal pathology of lung in cigarette smoking‐induced COPD mice
Authors: Chu Shuyuan , Ma Libing , Yang Xia , Xiao Bo , Liang Yaxi , Zheng Shaojie , Li Linqiao
Published: March 2023

Background

Natural cytotoxicity receptor negative innate lymphoid cell (NCR−ILC3) involves into mucosal homeostasis, inflammation regulation and tissue remodeling. The proportion of NCR−ILC3 is increased in the lung of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there's still few understandings on the role of NCR−ILC3 in COPD pathogenesis.

Methods

COPD mice were induced by cigarette smoking. The pathology in lung was detected in histology. The frequency of NCR−ILC3 (CD3‐CD45+RORγt+NkP46‐) from murine lung was detected using flow cytometry. IL‐17+RORγt+ double positive cells in lung were assessed by double immunofluorescence staining. The protein expressions of epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, namely E‐cadherin and Vimentin, were assessed using immunohistochemistry staining and western blotting.

Results

The frequency of NCR−ILC3 in lung was higher in COPD group than controls. The IL‐17+RORγt+ cells in lung from COPD mice were more than controls. E‐cadherin expression was decreased but Vimentin expression was increased in lung of COPD mice, when compared with controls. The frequency of NCR−ILC3 in lung tissues were positively correlated with mean linear intercept in lung, destructive index in lung and EMT, respectively.

Conclusions

NCR−ILC3 could contribute to emphysema and EMT in lung of cigarette smoking‐induced COPD, which will provide further understanding on COPD pathogenesis of immune response.
High‐throughput screening and biological display technology: Applications in molecular imaging
Authors: Luo Renli , Liu Hongguang , Cheng Zhen
Published: March 2023

Molecular imaging plays important roles in many fields, including disease diagnosis, therapeutic efficacy evaluation, intraoperative imaging guidance, drug metabolism monitoring, and patient selection for appropriate treatment. As a key component, the targeting ligand determines the specificity, affinity, and in vivo performance of molecular imaging probes. In this review, high‐throughput screening and biological display platforms for the discovery of ligands applicable to molecular imaging are briefly reviewed. Basic information on ligand development for molecular imaging is first introduced, followed by a presentation of various selection platforms and typical or iterative cases. The features, advantages, limitations, and application scope of screening and display platforms are compared and discussed. Last, a basic selection strategy and a perspective for protein‐based ligands are provided.
GNA11 Variants Identified in Patients with Hypercalcemia or Hypocalcemia
Authors: Howles Sarah A. , Gorvin Caroline M. , Cranston Treena , Rogers Angela , Gluck Anna K. , Boon Hannah , Gibson Kate , Rahman Mushtaqur , Root Allen , Nesbit M. Andrew , Hannan Fadil M. , Thakker Rajesh V.
Published: March 2023

Familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia type 2 (FHH2) and autosomal dominant hypocalcemia type 2 (ADH2) are due to loss- and gain-of-function mutations, respectively, of the GNA11 gene that encodes the G protein subunit Gα11, a signaling partner of the calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR). To date, four probands with FHH2-associated Gα11 mutations and eight probands with ADH2-associated Gα11 mutations have been reported. In a 10-year period, we identified 37 different germline GNA11 variants in >1200 probands referred for investigation of genetic causes for hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia, comprising 14 synonymous, 12 noncoding, and 11 nonsynonymous variants. The synonymous and noncoding variants were predicted to be benign or likely benign by in silico analysis, with 5 and 3, respectively, occurring in both hypercalcemic and hypocalcemic individuals. Nine of the nonsynonymous variants (Thr54Met, Arg60His, Arg60Leu, Gly66Ser, Arg149His, Arg181Gln, Phe220Ser, Val340Met, Phe341Leu) identified in 13 probands have been reported to be FHH2- or ADH2-causing. Of the remaining nonsynonymous variants, Ala65Thr was predicted to be benign, and Met87Val, identified in a hypercalcemic individual, was predicted to be of uncertain significance. Three-dimensional homology modeling of the Val87 variant suggested it was likely benign, and expression of Val87 variant and wild-type Met87 Gα11 in CaSR-expressing HEK293 cells revealed no differences in intracellular calcium responses to alterations in extracellular calcium concentrations, consistent with Val87 being a benign polymorphism. Two noncoding region variants, a 40bp-5'UTR deletion and a 15bp-intronic deletion, identified only in hypercalcemic individuals, were associated with decreased luciferase expression in vitro but no alterations in GNA11 mRNA or Gα11 protein levels in cells from the patient and no abnormality in splicing of the GNA11 mRNA, respectively, confirming them to be benign polymorphisms. Thus, this study identified likely disease-causing GNA11 variants in <1% of probands with hypercalcemia or hypocalcemia and highlights the occurrence of GNA11 rare variants that are benign polymorphisms. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
The Importance of Recent Prevalent Fracture Site for Imminent Risk of Fracture – A Retrospective, Nationwide Cohort Study of Older Swedish Men and Women
Authors: Axelsson Kristian F. , Litsne Henrik , Lorentzon Mattias
Published: March 2023

There is limited evidence regarding which fracture types carry the highest risk for subsequent fracture. The aim of this study was to investigate how the risk of imminent fracture depends on index fracture site. This nationwide retrospective cohort study utilized national registers in Sweden to determine the risk of fracture according to recent (≤2 years) index fracture site and according to an old (>2 years) prevalent fracture compared with the risk observed in controls without a fracture. All Swedes 50 years or older between 2007 and 2010 were included in the study. Patients with a recent fracture were designated a specific fracture group depending on the type of previous fracture. Recent fractures were classified as major osteoporotic fracture (MOF), including fractured hip, vertebra, proximal humerus, and wrist, or non-MOF. Patients were followed until December 31, 2017, censored for death and emigration, and the risk of any fracture and hip fracture was assessed. A total of 3,423,320 persons were included in the study, 70,254 with a recent MOF, 75,526 with a recent non-MOF, 293,051 with an old fracture, and 2,984,489 persons with no previous fracture. The median time of follow-up for the four groups was 6.1 (interquartile range [IQR] 3.0–8.8), 7.2 (5.6–9.4), 7.1 (5.8–9.2), and 8.1 years (7.4–9.7), respectively. Patients with a recent MOF, recent non-MOF, and old fracture had a substantially increased risk of any fracture (hazard ratio [HR] adjusted for age and sex 2.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.08–2.14; HR 2.24, 95% CI 2.21–2.27; and HR 1.77, 95% CI 1.76–1.78, respectively) compared with controls. All recent fractures, MOFs, and non-MOFs, as well as older fractures, increase the risk of subsequent fracture, suggesting that all recent fractures should be included in fracture liaison services and that case-finding strategies for those with older fractures may be warranted to prevent subsequent fractures. © 2023 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).
Analytical performance evaluation of Lumipulse® SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen assay in 392 asymptomatic patients
Authors: Petruzziello Arnolfo , Sabatino Rocco , Catapane Livia Anna , De Falco Carmela , Petti Antonella , Tripaldelli Elena , Loquercio Giovanna , Annecchiarico Angela , Salzillo Angela , Caradonna Eugenio , Maggi Paolo
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection is one of the current public health care challenges. The main strategy adopted to prevent the spread of infection is the rapid identification of COVID‐19‐positive subjects. The aim of this study was to compare the performance of Lumipulse® antigen immunoassay with the real‐time RT‐PCR, the gold standard for the diagnosis of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection, in a strictly selected asymptomatic population.

Materials and Methods

A total of 392 consecutive oro‐nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from patients with no symptoms related to COVID‐19 at the Emergency Department of AORN Sant'Anna e San Sebastiano, Caserta, Italy to evaluate the analytical performance of Lumipulse® SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen compared to qualitative real‐time RT‐PCR in asymptomatic patients.

Results

Lumipulse® SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen assay shows an overall agreement rate of 97% with a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 98%, with a PPV and NPV of 97%. The sensitivity varies according to the cycle threshold (Ct)‐value reaching 100% and 86% with 15 < Ct < 25 and Ct ≥ 25, respectively. The ROC analysis yielded an AUC value of 0.98, suggesting that the antigen test may accurately detect SARS‐CoV‐2.

Conclusion

Our data showed that Lumipulse® SARS‐CoV‐2 antigen assay might be an efficient tool in the identification and limitation of SARS‐CoV‐2 transmission in large asymptomatic populations.
Non‐Invasive prenatal testing with rolling circle amplification: Real‐world clinical experience in a non‐molecular laboratory
Authors: Saidel Matthew L. , Ananth Uma , Rose Donna , Farrell Cara
Published: March 2023

Background

Non‐invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) using cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) circulating in maternal blood provides a sensitive and specific screening technique for common fetal aneuploidies, but the high cost and workflow complexity of conventional methodologies limit its widespread implementation. A unique rolling circle amplification methodology reduces cost and complexity, providing a promising alternative for increased global accessibility as a first‐tier test.

Methods

In this clinical study, 8160 pregnant women were screened on the Vanadis system for trisomies 13, 18, and 21, and positive results were compared to clinical outcomes where available.

Results

The Vanadis system yielded a 0.07% no‐call rate, a 98% overall sensitivity, and a specificity of over 99% based on available outcomes.

Conclusion

The Vanadis system provided a sensitive, specific, and cost‐effective cfDNA assay for trisomies 13, 18, and 21, with good performance characteristics and low no‐call rate, and it eliminated the need for either next‐generation sequencing or polymerase chain reaction amplification.
Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer MRI: Capability for Predicting Therapeutic Effect of Chemoradiotherapy on Non‐Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients
Authors: Ohno Yoshiharu , Yui Masao , Yamamoto Kaori , Takenaka Daisuke , Koyama Hisanobu , Nagata Hiroyuki , Ueda Takahiro , Ikeda Hirotaka , Ozawa Yoshiyuki , Toyama Hiroshi , Yoshikawa Takeshi
Published: March 2023

Background

Amide proton transfer (APT) weighted chemical exchange saturation transfer CEST (APTw/CEST) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has been suggested as having the potential for assessing the therapeutic effect of brain tumors or rectal cancer. Moreover, diffusion‐weighted imaging (DWI) and positron emission tomography fused with computed tomography by means of 2‐[fluorine‐18]‐fluoro‐2‐deoxy‐D‐glucose (FDG‐PET/CT) have been suggested as useful in same setting.

Purpose

To compare the capability of APTw/CEST imaging, DWI, and FDG‐PET/CT for predicting therapeutic effect of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) on stage III non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients.

Study Type

Prospective.

Population

Eighty‐four consecutive patients with Stage III NSCLC, 45 men (age range, 62–75 years; mean age, 71 years) and 39 women (age range, 57–75 years; mean age, 70 years). All patients were then divided into two groups (Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors [RECIST] responders, consisting of the complete response and partial response groups, and RECIST non‐responders, consisting of the stable disease and progressive disease groups).

Field Strength/Sequence

3 T, echo planar imaging or fast advanced spin‐echo (FASE) sequences for DWI and 2D half Fourier FASE sequences with magnetization transfer pulses for CEST imaging.

Assessment

Magnetization transfer ratio asymmetry (MTRasym) at 3.5 ppm, apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), and maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax,) on PET/CT were assessed by means of region of interest (ROI) measurements at primary tumor.

Statistical Tests

Kaplan–Meier method followed by log‐rank test and Cox proportional hazards regression analysis with multivariate analysis. A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Progression‐free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) had significant difference between two groups. MTRasym at 3.5 ppm (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.70) and SUVmax (HR = 1.41) were identified as significant predictors for PFS. Tumor staging (HR = 0.57) was also significant predictors for OS.

Data Conclusion

APTw/CEST imaging showed potential performance as DWI and FDG‐PET/CT for predicting the therapeutic effect of CRT on stage III NSCLC patients.

Level of Evidence

2

Technical Efficacy

Stage 1
The presence of resistance‐associated mutations in reverse transcriptase gene is associated with cerebrospinal fluid HIV‐1 escape: A multicentric retrospective analysis
Authors: Trunfio Mattia , Pinnetti Carmela , Arsuffi Stefania , Bai Francesca , Celani Luigi , D'Ettorre Gabriella , Vera Jaime H. , D'Arminio Monforte Antonella , Focà Emanuele , Ghisetti Valeria , Bonora Stefano , Antinori Andrea , Calcagno Andrea
Published: March 2023

Higher risk of cerebrospinal fluid escape (CVE) has been associated with the use of specific antiretroviral (ARV) classes, such as protease inhibitors. We assessed whether archived resistance‐associated mutations (RAMs) can mediate this relationship by identifying patients treated with incompletely active antiretroviral regimens. A retrospective multicentric study on 282 adult people with HIV on antiretroviral therapy (ART) and available historical plasma genotype resistance testing (HGRT) for reverse transcriptase (RT) and protease genes between 2001 and 2021. The odds ratio for demographic, clinic‐, and ART‐related variables and CVE was estimated by multivariable modeling. HGRT‐adjusted central nervous system effectiveness penetration (CPE) score was computed in modeling the risk. Median age, plasma VL, and CD4 count were 49 years, <50 copies/mL, and 310 cells/μL. CVE was detected in 51 participants (17.0%). No difference in CVE prevalence was observed according to ART type, number of ARVs or ARV classes. Participants with CVE had more frequently plasma (52.9% vs. 32.1%, p = 0.005) and CSF RAMs in RT (n = 63, 57.1% vs. 28.6%, p = 0.029), but not in protease gene. The presence of plasma RAMs in RT associated with increased odds of CVE in adjusted analyses (aOR 3.9, p < 0.001) and in models restricted to plasma viral load ≤50 copies/mL (n = 202; aOR 4.3, p = 0.003). CVE risk decreased by 40% per each point increase in HGRT‐adjusted CPE score in multivariable models (p < 0.001). Rather than the type of ARV classes or of ART regimens, functional mono or dual regimens caused by the presence of RAMs affecting ART components may explain the majority of cases of CVE.
Clinical performance of a newly developed domestic urine‐based HPV test for cervical cancer screening in China
Authors: Xu Hui‐Fang , Zhao Xue‐Lian , Zhao Shuang , Hu Shang‐Ying , Zhang Xun , Zhao Fang‐Hui , Qiao You‐Lin
Published: March 2023

Although urine‐based human papillomavirus (HPV) detection is promising in cervical cancer screening, it has not yet been well‐developed. Women aged 30–65 were invited to participate in the current study to provide one urine and two paired vaginal samples. Urine was detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)‐based HPV test (urine‐based HPV test). Two vaginal samples were tested by careHPV and GenPlex® HPV genotyping assay, respectively. Women with vaginal HPV positive were called back for colposcopy and biopsied if clinically indicated. The consistency was 79.0% (κ = 0.563) and 80.5% (κ = 0.605) between the urine‐based HPV test, careHPV test, and GenPlex® HPV genotyping assay. Against CIN2 detection, the careHPV test showed 77.4% sensitivity, and 71.0% specificity, while the GenPlex® HPV genotyping assay had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 58.7%. For urine‐based HPV test, the corresponding rates were 96.8% and 58.7%. Moreover, no significant differences were observed between the urine‐based HPV test and careHPV test (p = 0.3395) and GenPlex® HPV genotyping assay (p = 0.338). The newly developed urine‐based HPV test demonstrated acceptable consistency and comparable clinical performance with referenced HPV tests for vaginal samples. Therefore, urine‐based HPV detection could be a useful alternative for women with difficulties to access cervical cancer screening.
“The two voices,” or more? Music and gender from myth and conquests to the neurosciences
Authors: Majno Maria
Published: March 2023

Music is a unique phenomenon, constantly eliciting interest from a variety of viewpoints, several of which intersect the universal trait of musicality with sex/gender studies and the neurosciences. Its unparalleled power and physical, social, aesthetic, as well as cognitive, emotional and clinical ramifications make it a specially promising terrain for studies and reflections on sex and gender differences and their impact. This overview wishes to enhance awareness of such issues, also fostering an interdisciplinary exchange between the natural sciences, the humanities, and the arts. Over the centuries, different associations of music with the feminine gender have contributed to a pendulum between progressive recognition and stereotypical setbacks requiring to be overcome. Against this backdrop, music‐related neurophysiological and psychological studies on sex and gender specificities are reviewed in their multiple approaches and results, exposing or questioning differences in structural, auditory, hormonal, cognitive, and behavioral areas, also in relation to abilities, treatment, and pedagogy. Thus, the bridging potential of music as universal yet diverse language, art, and practice, recommends its gender‐aware integration into education, protective endeavors, and therapeutic interventions, to promote equality and well‐being.
One‐kilometre monthly air temperature and precipitation product over the Mongolian Plateau for 1950–2020
Authors: Xin Ying , Yang Yaping , Chen Xiaona , Yue Xiafang , Liu Yangxiaoyue , Yin Cong
Published: March 2023

The fragile ecological environment of the Mongolian Plateau (MP) is sensitive to climate change. It is necessary to fully understand the temperature and precipitation changes on the MP to ensure regional sustainable development. Most existing studies are conducted based on station observations which suffer from sparse distribution and limited spatial representativeness and cannot perfectly represent the climatic conditions of the whole region. By contrast, the long‐term, spatially continuous reanalysis products offer new opportunities for MP climate change research. However, the coarse spatial resolution and large uncertainties of reanalysis data limit their applicability to provide reliable climate information at finer scales. Within the delta downscaling framework, we downscale and correct the state‐of‐the‐art European Centre for Medium‐range Weather Forecasts ReAnalysis 5 land portion (ERA5‐Land) using a high‐resolution WorldClim reference climatology and generate a long‐term (1950–2020) 1‐km monthly air temperature and precipitation downscaled dataset. During the downscaling process, the results obtained by nearest neighbour, bilinear and bicubic interpolation methods are evaluated and compared. Air temperature result of bilinear method and precipitation result of nearest neighbour method, which have the best accuracy, are taken as the final downscaled data. The evaluation shows that the downscaled data has acceptable accuracy (overall MBE = −0.41°C, Corr = 0.997, RMSE = 1.51°C for air temperature, and MBE = 1.58 mm·month−1, Corr = 0.747, RMSE = 24.24 mm·month−1 for precipitation), and outperforms the original ERA5‐Land and widely used Climatic Research Unit (CRU) data. In addition, the downscaled data can also provide accurate and detailed temperature and precipitation change trends over the MP. With fine spatial resolution, long‐time span and good spatial continuity, the downscaled air temperature and precipitation will be a useful data source to explore climate change over the MP.
A Case of HPV+ Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Perigeniculate Area and Middle Fossa
Authors: Hamberis Alexandra O. , Gidumal Sunder , Fan Caleb J. , Khorsandi Azita , Schwam Zachary G. , Wanna George B.
Published: March 2023

Herein we present an unusual case of a primary HPV+ perigeniculate, extra‐axial middle fossa skull base tumor and our management thereof. Laryngoscope, 133:3158–3160, 2023
Under‐ice plankton community response to snow removal experiment in bog lake
Authors: Socha Ellie , Gorsky Adrianna , Lottig Noah R. , Gerrish Gretchen , Whitaker Emily C. , Dugan Hilary A.
Published: March 2023

Although previously overlooked, winter is now seen as a period of significant biological activity in the annual cycle of north‐temperate lakes. Research suggests a future of reduced ice cover duration and altered snow conditions could significantly change the functioning of aquatic ecosystems. This study seeks to explore the possible repercussions of changing ice and snow dynamics on aquatic biological communities, particularly at lower trophic levels. To explore plankton community responses to changing under‐ice light conditions, we performed a whole‐lake manipulation by removing all of the snow from the surface of a north temperate bog lake in northern Wisconsin. Over three winters, samples were collected under ice in the study lake, South Sparkling Bog. The first winter, 2018–2019, served as a reference year during which snow was not removed from the lake and was followed by two subsequent winters of snow removal during 2019–2020 and 2020–2021. Data collected included phytoplankton and zooplankton abundances and taxa, chlorophyll a, dissolved organic carbon, light, Secchi depth, and ice and snow thickness. In our snow removal years, increased light availability in the water column shifted the phytoplankton community from low‐biomass, mixed community of potential mixotrophs, unicellular cyanobacteria and Chlorophytes to dominance by photoautotrophs, and rotifer zooplankton densities increased. Ice condition, specifically the thickness of white ice vs. black ice, was a major driver in the magnitude of change between years. This research improves our understanding of how plankton communities might respond to climate‐change driven shifts in winter dynamics for north temperate systems.
Analysis of an integro‐differential model for bulk continuous crystallization with account of impurity feeding, dissolution/growth of nuclei and removal of product crystals
Authors: Makoveeva Eugenya V. , Ivanov Alexander A.
Published: March 2023

In this study, the theory of continuous crystallization from a supersaturated solution is developed, taking the concentration‐dependent fines dissolution, product removal, and feed supply rates into account. These rates make it possible to control the operation mode of the crystallizer and obtain the required supersaturation of the solution, the desired crystal‐size distribution in the supersaturated liquid, and the necessary crystal removal rate of the product. The steady‐ and unsteady‐state solutions of model equations are found analytically. It is shown that the non‐stationary crystal‐size distributions approach the stationary distribution with increasing time. The theory developed is the basis for investigating the linear and nonlinear stability of the crystallizer with allowance for the concentration‐dependent fines dissolution, product removal and feed supply rates.
Recovering discrete delayed fractional equations from trajectories
Authors: Conejero J. Alberto , Garibo‐i‐Orts Òscar , Lizama Carlos
Published: March 2023

We show how machine learning methods can unveil the fractional and delayed nature of discrete dynamical systems. In particular, we study the case of the fractional delayed logistic map. We show that given a trajectory, we can detect if it has some delay effect or not and also to characterize the fractional component of the underlying generation model.
Existence and stability of traveling wavefronts for a three‐species Lotka–Volterra competitive‐cooperative system with nonlocal dispersal
Authors: Yang Zheng‐Jie , Zhang Guo‐Bao , He Juan
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this work is to investigate the existence and stability of traveling wavefronts for a three‐species competitive‐cooperative system with nonlocal dispersal. By applying monotone iteration method combining with a pair of suitable super‐ and sub‐solutions, we establish the existence of traveling wavefronts. The nonexistence of traveling wavefronts is obtained by a contradiction argument. Finally, by using the weighted energy method together with the comparison principle, we prove that the traveling wavefronts with relatively large speeds are exponentially stable as perturbation in some exponentially weighted spaces, when the difference between initial data and traveling wavefronts decays exponentially at negative infinity, but in other locations, the initial data can be very large.
Oleanolic Acid Inhibits SCD1 Gene Expression to Ameliorate Fructose‐Induced Hepatosteatosis through SREBP1c‐Dependent and ‐Independent Mechanisms
Authors: Yao Ling , Wang Meng , Zhang Jun , Luo Xianqin , Yuan Chunlin , Bai Ruojun , Wang Tongzhuang , Xi Yumeng , Li Chunli , Ke Dazhi , Yamahara Johji , Li Yuhao , Yi Yongfen , Wang Shang , Wang Jianwei
Published: March 2023

Scope

The mechanisms of oleanolic acid (OA) regulating hepatic sterol regulatory element‐binding protein (SREBP) 1c/stearoyl‐CoA desaturase (SCD) 1 pathway to ameliorate fructose‐induced hepatosteatosis are investigated.

Methods and results

Rats treated with 10% w/v fructose solution are co‐administered by OA for 5 weeks, and then sacrifice after fasting for 14 h. OA reverses the fructose‐induced increase in hepatic triglyceride (TG) content and downregulates Scd1 mRNA expression. However, two upstream transcription factors, ChREBP and SREBP1c, remain at normal levels with or without fructose and/or OA. In vivo and in vitro studies using SREBP1c−/− mice and HepG2 cell models show that OA also inhibits SCD1 gene overexpression and high hepatic TG levels induced by fructose. On the other hand, in SCD1−/− mice, when the fructose diet is supplemented with high levels of oleic acid (OLA) to compensate for the deficiency of SCD1, OA inhibits hepatic SREBP1c and lipogenic gene expression and reduces hepatic OLA (C18:1) production to improve fructose and/or OLA induced liver lipid deposition. Furthermore, OA promotes PPARα and AMPK to enhance fatty acid oxidation in fructose + OLA‐fed SCD1−/− mice.

Conclusion

OA may inhibit SCD1 gene expression to ameliorate fructose‐induced hepatosteatosis through SREBP1c‐dependent and ‐independent mechanisms.