bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Standardised criteria for classifying the International Classification of Activities for Time-use Statistics (ICATUS) activity groups into sleep, sedentary behaviour, and physical activity
Authors: Liangruenrom Nucharapon , Craike Melinda , Dumuid Dorothea , Biddle Stuart J. H. , Tudor-Locke Catrine , Ainsworth Barbara , Jalayondeja Chutima , van Tienoven Theun Pieter , Lachapelle Ugo , Weenas Djiwo , Berrigan David , Olds Timothy , Pedisic Zeljko
Published: November 2019

Background

Globally, the International Classification of Activities for Time-Use Statistics (ICATUS) is one of the most widely used time-use classifications to identify time spent in various activities. Comprehensive 24-h activities that can be extracted from ICATUS provide possible implications for the use of time-use data in relation to activity-health associations; however, these activities are not classified in a way that makes such analysis feasible. This study, therefore, aimed to develop criteria for classifying ICATUS activities into sleep, sedentary behaviour (SB), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), based on expert assessment.

Method

We classified activities from the Trial ICATUS 2005 and final ICATUS 2016. One author assigned METs and codes for wakefulness status and posture, to all subclass activities in the Trial ICATUS 2005. Once coded, one author matched the most detailed level of activities from the ICATUS 2016 with the corresponding activities in the Trial ICATUS 2005, where applicable. The assessment and harmonisation of each ICATUS activity were reviewed independently and anonymously by four experts, as part of a Delphi process. Given a large number of ICATUS activities, four separate Delphi panels were formed for this purpose. A series of Delphi survey rounds were repeated until a consensus among all experts was reached.

Results

Consensus about harmonisation and classification of ICATUS activities was reached by the third round of the Delphi survey in all four panels. A total of 542 activities were classified into sleep, SB, LPA, and MVPA categories. Of these, 390 activities were from the Trial ICATUS 2005 and 152 activities were from the final ICATUS 2016. The majority of ICATUS 2016 activities were harmonised into the ICATUS activity groups (n = 143).

Conclusions

Based on expert consensus, we developed a classification system that enables ICATUS-based time-use data to be classified into sleep, SB, LPA, and MVPA categories. Adoption and consistent use of this classification system will facilitate standardisation of time-use data processing for the purpose of sleep, SB and physical activity research, and improve between-study comparability. Future studies should test the applicability of the classification system by applying it to empirical data.
Exploring the whole standard operating procedure for phage therapy in clinical practice
Authors: Cui Zelin , Guo Xiaokui , Feng Tingting , Li Li
Published: November 2019

We have entered the post-antibiotic era. Phage therapy has recently been given renewed attention because bacteriophages are easily available and can kill bacteria. Many reports have demonstrated successful phage treatment of bacterial infection, whereas some studies have shown that phage therapy is not as effective as expected. In general, establishment of a standard operating procedure will ensure the success of phage therapy. In this paper, the whole operating procedure for phage therapy in clinical practice is explored and analyzed to comprehensively understand the success of using phage for the treatment of bacterial infectious disease in the future. The procedure includes the following: enrollment of patients for phage therapy; establishment of phage libraries; pathogenic bacterial isolation and identification; screening for effective phages against pathogenic bacteria; phage formulation preparation; phage preparation administration strategy and route; monitoring the efficacy of phage therapy; and detection of the emergence of phage-resistant strains. Finally, we outline the whole standard operating procedure for phage therapy in clinical practice. It is believed that phage therapy will be used successfully, especially in personalized medicine for the treatment of bacterial infectious diseases. Hopefully, this procedure will provide support for the entry of phage therapy into the clinic as soon as possible.
Tempol improves neuroinflammation and delays motor dysfunction in a mouse model (SOD1G93A) of ALS
Authors: Chiarotto Gabriela Bortolança , Cartarozzi Luciana Politti , Perez Matheus , Biscola Natalia Perussi , Spejo Aline Barroso , Gubert Fernanda , França Junior Marcondes , Mendez-Otero Rosália , de Oliveira Alexandre Leite Rodrigues
Published: November 2019

Background

The development of new therapeutic strategies to treat amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is of utmost importance. The use of cyclic nitroxides such as tempol may provide neuroprotection and improve lifespan. We investigated whether tempol (50 mg/kg) presents therapeutic potential in SOD1G93A transgenic mice.

Methods

Tempol treatment began at the asymptomatic phase of the disease (10th week) and was administered every other day until week 14, after which it was administered twice a week until the final stage of the disease. The animals were sacrificed at week 14 (initial stage of symptoms—ISS) and at the end stage (ES) of the disease. The lumbar spinal cord of the animals was dissected and processed for use in the following techniques: Nissl staining to evaluate neuronal survival; immunohistochemistry to evaluate astrogliosis and microgliosis (ISS and ES); qRT-PCR to evaluate the expression of neurotrophic factors and pro-inflammatory cytokines (ISS); and transmission electron microscopy to evaluate the alpha-motoneurons (ES). Behavioral analyses considering the survival of animals, bodyweight loss, and Rotarod motor performance test started on week 10 and were performed every 3 days until the end-stage of the disease.

Results

The results revealed that treatment with tempol promoted greater neuronal survival (23%) at ISS compared to untreated animals, which was maintained until ES. The intense reactivity of astrocytes and microglia observed in vehicle animals was reduced in the lumbar spinal cords of the animals treated with tempol. In addition, the groups treated with tempol showed reduced expression of proinflammatory cytokines (IL1β and TNFα) and a three-fold decrease in the expression of TGFβ1 at ISS compared with the group treated with vehicle.

Conclusions

Altogether, our results indicate that treatment with tempol has beneficial effects, delaying the onset of the disease by enhancing neuronal survival and decreasing glial cell reactivity during ALS progression in SOD1G93A mice.
Cellular source of hypothalamic macrophage accumulation in diet-induced obesity
Authors: Lee Chan Hee , Shin Sung Hoon , Kang Gil Myoung , Kim Seongjun , Kim Jiye , Yu Rina , Kim Min-Seon
Published: November 2019

Background

Obese mice on a high-fat diet (HFD) display signs of inflammation in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), a critical area for controlling systemic energy metabolism. This has been suggested as a key mechanism of obesity-associated hypothalamic dysfunction. We reported earlier that bone marrow-derived macrophages accumulate in the ARC to sustain hypothalamic inflammation upon chronic exposure to an HFD. However, the mechanism underlying hypothalamic macrophage accumulation has remained unclear.

Methods

We investigated whether circulating monocytes or myeloid precursors contribute to hypothalamic macrophage expansion during chronic HFD feeding. To trace circulating myeloid cells, we generated mice that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) in their lysozyme M-expressing myeloid cells (LysMGFP mice). We conducted parabiosis and bone marrow transplantation experiments using these animals. Mice received an HFD for 12 or 30 weeks and were then sacrificed to analyze LysMGFP cells in the hypothalamus. Hypothalamic vascular permeability in the HFD-fed obese mice was also tested by examining the extravascular leakage of Evans blue and fluorescence-labeled albumin. The timing of LysMGFP cell entry to the hypothalamus during development was also evaluated.

Results

Our parabiosis and bone marrow transplantation experiments revealed a significant infiltration of circulating LysMGFP cells into the liver, skeletal muscle, choroid plexus, and leptomeninges but not in the hypothalamic ARC during chronic HFD feeding, despite increased hypothalamic vascular permeability. These results suggested that the recruitment of circulating monocytes is not a major mechanism for maintaining and expanding the hypothalamic macrophage population in diet-induced obesity. We demonstrated instead that LysMGFP cells infiltrate the hypothalamus during its development. LysMGFP cells appeared in the hypothalamic area from the late embryonic period. This cellular pool suddenly increased immediately after birth, peaked at the postnatal second week, and adopted an adult pattern of distribution after weaning.

Conclusions

Bone marrow-derived macrophages mostly populate the hypothalamus in early postnatal life and may maintain their pool without significant recruitment of circulating monocytes throughout life, even under conditions of chronic HFD feeding.
Codon usage patterns of LT-Ag genes in polyomaviruses from different host species
Authors: Cho Myeongji , Kim Hayeon , Son Hyeon S.
Published: November 2019

Background

Polyomaviruses (PyVs) have a wide range of hosts, from humans to fish, and their effects on hosts vary. The differences in the infection characteristics of PyV with respect to the host are assumed to be influenced by the biochemical function of the LT-Ag protein, which is related to the cytopathic effect and tumorigenesis mechanism via interaction with the host protein.

Methods

We carried out a comparative analysis of codon usage patterns of large T-antigens (LT-Ags) of PyVs isolated from various host species and their functional domains and sequence motifs. Parity rule 2 (PR2) and neutrality analysis were applied to evaluate the effects of mutation and selection pressure on codon usage bias. To investigate evolutionary relationships among PyVs, we carried out a phylogenetic analysis, and a correspondence analysis of relative synonymous codon usage (RSCU) values was performed.

Results

Nucleotide composition analysis usingLT-Aggene sequences showed that the GC and GC3 values of avian PyVs were higher than those of mammalian PyVs. The effective number of codon (ENC) analysis showed host-specific ENC distribution characteristics in both theLT-Aggene and the coding sequences of its domain regions. In the avian and fish PyVs, the codon diversity was significant, whereas the mammalian PyVs tended to exhibit conservative and host-specific evolution of codon usage bias. The results of our PR2 and neutrality analysis revealed mutation bias or highly variable GC contents by showing a narrow GC12 distribution and wide GC3 distribution in all sequences. Furthermore, the calculated RSCU values revealed differences in the codon usage preference of theLT-AGgene according to the host group. A similar tendency was observed in the two functional domains used in the analysis.

Conclusions

Our study showed that specific domains or sequence motifs of various PyV LT-Ags have evolved so that each virus protein interacts with host cell targets. They have also adapted to thrive in specific host species and cell types. Functional domains of LT-Ag, which are known to interact with host proteins involved in cell proliferation and gene expression regulation, may provide important information, as they are significantly related to the host specificity of PyVs.
Radiotherapy in metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer patients with oligo-progression during abiraterone-enzalutamide treatment: a mono-institutional experience
Authors: Valeriani Maurizio , Marinelli Luca , Macrini Serena , Reverberi Chiara , Aschelter Anna Maria , De Sanctis Vitaliana , Marchetti Paolo , Tronnolone Lidia , Osti Mattia Falchetto
Published: November 2019

Background

Some patients experience oligo-progression during androgen receptor targeted therapy (ARTT) treatments. This progression might not indicate a real systemic drug resistance, but a selective monoclonal resistance. With the aim to delay the start of new line treatments we treated oligo-progressive sites with radiotherapy.

Methods

From June 2011 to Febrary 2019, 29 consecutive metastatic castration resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) patients were submitted to radiotherapy for oligo-progression (1–3 sites) during ARTT for a total of 37 lesions treated. Thirty-one (83.8%) lesions were treated with conformal radiotherapy and 6 (16.2%) with stereotactic radiotherapy. After radiotherapy all patients continued ARTT.

Results

Median OS (calculated from ARTT start) was 46,6 months (range 4.4–97.5 months), 2 and 3-year OS were 82.8 and 70.7%, respectively. Median PFS was 18,4 months (range 4.4–45.3 months), 2 and 3-year PFS were 38.3 and 8.5%, respectively. Median overall duration of ARTT treatment was 14.8 months (range 4.4–45.3 months) and median duration of ARTT after radiotherapy was 4.6 months (range 1–33.8 months). Patients submitted to radiotherapy > 6 months from the start of ARTT presented a better PFS (p < 0.001) and a trend toward a better OS (p = 0.101). None patient presented RT and drug related toxicities.

Conclusions

Radiotherapy of oligoprogressive sites may prolong the duration of disease control under ARTT in mCRPC patients with a possible delay in the start of new line treatment. Patients progressing within 6 months from the start of ARTT did not benefit from this approach. More studies are necessary to confirm our results and to evaluate other prognostic factor in order to select patients with high benefit from this approach.
The free neurovascular transverse wrist crease flap for repairing soft tissue defects of the fingers: clinical outcomes of multiple centers
Authors: Fan Zhi-Qiang , Yu Bao-Fu , Zeng Qi , Cai Bo , Xia Guo-Ming , Huang Sheng-Hui
Published: November 2019

Background

Flap transplantation is often needed for soft tissue defects of the fingers that cannot be closed directly. Sensory reconstruction of the fingers is important for patients to recover feelings. In this study, we report clinical outcomes of using free neurovascular transverse wrist crease flap for repairing finger defects from multiple centers.

Methods

This case series includes 72 consecutive patients with finger defects between June 2013 and June 2016 from multiple centers. A neurovascular transverse free radial artery superficial palmar branch flap, named transverse wrist crease flap, was designed to reconstruct soft tissue defects of the fingers with microvascular anastomosis. When there were soft tissue defects of the fingers with digital nerve defect, end-to-end neurorrhaphy between the median palmar cutaneous branch and the digital nerves was also performed. The donor incision was sutured directly. All the patients were followed-up for more than 24 months.

Results

The soft tissue defects of the fingers were all completely covered with this free neurovascular transverse wrist crease flap, and the flaps in 71 patients survived completely without ischemia. Vascular crisis appeared in one case, and the wound healed gradually after changing wound dressing for nearly 1 month. Slight infections of wounds appeared in eight cases. There were no complications in the donor site, like infection and poor wound healing. At the last follow-up, the mean static two-point discrimination was 9.6 ± 2.4 mm on the injured finger and 4.5 ± 0.8 on the contralateral corresponding finger. The motion range of the distal interphalangeal joint and proximal interphalangeal joint on the injured finger were 72.5 ± 23.3% and 78.7 ± 32.5% of the contralateral corresponding finger, respectively. Patient self-evaluations were good in 53 cases and fair in 19 cases.

Conclusions

The results indicate that the free neurovascular transverse wrist crease flap is a good choice for repairing soft tissue defects of the fingers.

Level of evidence

Therapeutic IV
Kabuki syndrome: novel pathogenic variants, new phenotypes and review of literature
Authors: Shangguan Huakun , Su Chang , Ouyang Qian , Cao Bingyan , Wang Jian , Gong Chunxiu , Chen Ruimin
Published: November 2019

Objective

This study describes 5 novel variants of 7 KMT2D/KDM6A gene and summarizes the clinical manifestations and the mutational spectrum of 47 Chinese Kabuki syndrome (KS) patients.

Methods

Blood samples were collected for whole-exome sequencing (WES) for 7 patients and their parents if available. Phenotypic and genotypic spectra of 40 previously published unrelated Chinese KS patients were summarized.

Result

Genetic sequencing identified six KMT2D variants (c.3926delC, c.5845delC, c.6595delT, c.12630delG, c.16294C > T, and c.16442delG) and one KDM6A variant (c.2668-2671del). Of them, 4 variants (c.3926delC, c.5845delC, c.12630delG, and c.16442delG) in KMT2D gene and the variant (c.2668-2671del) in KDM6A gene were novel. Combining with previously published Chinese KS cases, the patients presented with five cardinal manifestations including facial dysmorphism, intellectual disability, growth retardation, fingertip pads and skeletal abnormalities. In addition, 29.5% (5/17) patients had brain abnormalities, such as hydrocephalus, cerebellar vermis dysplasia, thin pituitary and white matter myelination delay, corpus callosum hypoplasia and Dandy-Walker malformation.

Conclusion

In this report, five novel variants in KMT2D/KDM6A genes are described. A subset of Chinese KS patients presented with brain abnormalities that were not previously reported. Our study expands the mutational and phenotypic spectra of KS.
A comprehensive monocentric ophthalmic study with Gaucher disease type 3 patients: vitreoretinal lesions, retinal atrophy and characterization of abnormal saccades
Authors: Hopf Susanne , Pfeiffer Norbert , Liesenfeld Matthias , Mengel Karl-Eugen , Hennermann Julia B. , Schmidtmann Irene , Pitz Susanne
Published: November 2019

Background

The differentiation between Gaucher disease type 3 (GD3) and type 1 is challenging because pathognomonic neurologic symptoms may be subtle and develop at late stages. The ophthalmologist plays a crucial role in identifying the typical impairment of horizontal saccadic eye movements, followed by vertical ones. Little is known about further ocular involvement. The aim of this monocentric cohort study is to comprehensively describe the ophthalmological features of Gaucher disease type 3. We suggest recommendations for a set of useful ophthalmologic investigations for diagnosis and follow up and for saccadometry parameters enabling a correlation to disease severity.

Methods

Sixteen patients with biochemically and genetically diagnosed GD3 completed ophthalmologic examination including optical coherence tomography (OCT), clinical oculomotor assessment and saccadometry by infrared based video-oculography. Saccadic peak velocity, gain and latency were compared to 100 healthy controls, using parametric tests. Correlations between saccadic assessment and clinical parameters were calculated.

Results

Peripapillary subretinal drusen-like deposits with retinal atrophy (2/16), preretinal opacities of the vitreous (4/16) and increased retinal vessel tortuosity (3/16) were found. Oculomotor pathology with clinically slowed saccades was more frequent horizontally (15/16) than vertically (12/16). Saccadometry revealed slowed peak velocity compared to 100 controls (most evident horizontally and downwards). Saccades were delayed and hypometric. Best correlating with SARA (scale for the assessment and rating of ataxia), disease duration, mSST (modified Severity Scoring Tool) and reduced IQ was peak velocity (both up- and downwards). Motility restriction occurred in 8/16 patients affecting horizontal eye movements, while vertical motility restriction was seen less frequently. Impaired abduction presented with esophoria or esotropia, the latter in combination with reduced stereopsis.

Conclusions

Vitreoretinal lesions may occur in 25% of Gaucher type 3 patients, while we additionally observed subretinal lesions with retinal atrophy in advanced disease stages. Vertical saccadic peak velocity seems the most promising “biomarker” for neuropathic manifestation for future longitudinal studies, as it correlates best with other neurologic symptoms. Apart from the well documented abduction deficit in Gaucher type 3 we were able to demonstrate motility impairment in all directions of gaze.
OrthoFinder: phylogenetic orthology inference for comparative genomics
Authors: Emms David M. , Kelly Steven
Published: November 2019

Here, we present a major advance of the OrthoFinder method. This extends OrthoFinder’s high accuracy orthogroup inference to provide phylogenetic inference of orthologs, rooted gene trees, gene duplication events, the rooted species tree, and comparative genomics statistics. Each output is benchmarked on appropriate real or simulated datasets, and where comparable methods exist, OrthoFinder is equivalent to or outperforms these methods. Furthermore, OrthoFinder is the most accurate ortholog inference method on the Quest for Orthologs benchmark test. Finally, OrthoFinder’s comprehensive phylogenetic analysis is achieved with equivalent speed and scalability to the fastest, score-based heuristic methods. OrthoFinder is available at https://github.com/davidemms/OrthoFinder.
mPies: a novel metaproteomics tool for the creation of relevant protein databases and automatized protein annotation
Authors: Werner Johannes , Géron Augustin , Kerssemakers Jules , Matallana-Surget Sabine
Published: November 2019

Metaproteomics allows to decipher the structure and functionality of microbial communities. Despite its rapid development, crucial steps such as the creation of standardized protein search databases and reliable protein annotation remain challenging. To overcome those critical steps, we developed a new program named mPies (metaProteomics in environmental sciences). mPies allows the creation of protein databases derived from assembled or unassembled metagenomes, and/or public repositories based on taxon IDs, gene or protein names. For the first time, mPies facilitates the automatization of reliable taxonomic and functional consensus annotations at the protein group level, minimizing the well-known protein inference issue, which is commonly encountered in metaproteomics. mPies’ workflow is highly customizable with regards to input data, workflow steps, and parameter adjustment. mPies is implemented in Python 3/Snakemake and freely available on GitHub: https://github.com/johanneswerner/mPies/.

Reviewer

This article was reviewed by Dr. Wilson Wen Bin Goh.
Using imperfect data in predictive mapping of vectors: a regional example of Ixodes ricinus distribution
Authors: Ribeiro Rita , Eze Jude I. , Gilbert Lucy , Wint G. R. William , Gunn George , Macrae Alastair , Medlock Jolyon M. , Auty Harriet
Published: November 2019

Background

Knowledge of Ixodes ricinus tick distribution is critical for surveillance and risk management of transmissible tick-borne diseases such as Lyme borreliosis. However, as the ecology of I. ricinus is complex, and robust long-term geographically extensive distribution tick data are limited, mapping often relies on datasets collected for other purposes. We compared the modelled distributions derived from three datasets with information on I. ricinus distribution (quantitative I. ricinus count data from scientific surveys; I. ricinus presence-only data from public submissions; and a combined I. ricinus dataset from multiple sources) to assess which could be reliably used to inform Public Health strategy. The outputs also illustrate the strengths and limitations of these three types of data, which are commonly used in mapping tick distributions.

Methods

Using the Integrated Nested Laplace algorithm we predicted I. ricinus abundance and presence–absence in Scotland and tested the robustness of the predictions, accounting for errors and uncertainty.

Results

All models fitted the data well and the covariate predictors for I. ricinus distribution, i.e. deer presence, temperature, habitat, index of vegetation, were as expected. Differences in the spatial trend of I. ricinus distribution were evident between the three predictive maps. Uncertainties in the spatial models resulted from inherent characteristics of the datasets, particularly the number of data points, and coverage over the covariate range used in making the predictions.

Conclusions

Quantitative I. ricinus data from scientific surveys are usually considered to be gold standard data and we recommend their use where high data coverage can be achieved. However in this study their value was limited by poor data coverage. Combined datasets with I. ricinus distribution data from multiple sources are valuable in addressing issues of low coverage and this dataset produced the most appropriate map for national scale decision-making in Scotland. When mapping vector distributions for public-health decision making, model uncertainties and limitations of extrapolation need to be considered; these are often not included in published vector distribution maps. Further development of tools to better assess uncertainties in the models and predictions are necessary to allow more informed interpretation of distribution maps.
Sixteen practically solvable systems of difference equations
Authors: Stević Stevo
Published: November 2019

Closed-form formulas for general solutions to sixteen hyperbolic-cotangent-type systems of difference equations of interest are obtained, showing their practical solvability and completely solving a solvability problem for some concrete values of delays.
Global stability of an SEIR epidemic model where empirical distribution of incubation period is approximated by Coxian distribution
Authors: Kim Sungchan , Byun Jong Hyuk , Jung Il Hyo
Published: November 2019

In this work, we have developed a Coxian-distributed SEIR model when incorporating an empirical incubation period. We show that the global dynamics are completely determined by a basic reproduction number. An application of the Coxian-distributed SEIR model using data of an empirical incubation period is explored. The model may be useful for resolving the realistic intrinsic parts in classical epidemic models since Coxian distribution approximately converges to any distribution.
Correction to: Stochastic processes shape microeukaryotic community assembly in a subtropical river across wet and dry seasons
Authors: Chen Weidong , Ren Kexin , Isabwe Alain , Chen Huihuang , Liu Min , Yang Jun
Published: November 2019

Following publication of the original article [1], the authors reported an error in Figure 1 and a text on page 13. In Figure 1, some areas are missing and the correct figure is presented here. On page 13, the sentence should be updated to the following (change has been indicated in bold italics).
DNA repair deficiency and senescence in concussed professional athletes involved in contact sports
Authors: Schwab Nicole , Grenier Karl , Hazrati Lili-Naz
Published: November 2019

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) leads to diverse symptoms including mood disorders, cognitive decline, and behavioral changes. In some individuals, these symptoms become chronic and persist in the long-term and can confer an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease and dementia diagnosis later in life. Despite the severity of its consequences, the pathophysiological mechanism of mTBI remains unknown. In this post-mortem case series, we assessed DNA damage-induced cellular senescence pathways in 38 professional athletes with a history of repeated mTBI and ten controls with no mTBI history. We assessed clinical presentation, neuropathological changes, load of DNA damage, morphological markers of cellular senescence, and expression of genes involved in DNA damage signaling, DNA repair, and cellular senescence including the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Twenty-eight brains with past history of repeated mTBI history had DNA damage within ependymal cells, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. DNA damage burden was increased in brains with proteinopathy compared to those without. Cases also showed hallmark features of cellular senescence in glial cells including astrocytic swelling, beading of glial cell processes, loss of H3K27Me3 (trimethylation at lysine 27 of histone H3) and lamin B1 expression, and increased expression of cellular senescence and SASP pathways. Neurons showed a spectrum of changes including loss of emerin nuclear membrane expression, loss of Brahma-related gene-1 (BRG1 or SMARCA4) expression, loss of myelin basic protein (MBP) axonal expression, and translocation of intranuclear tau to the cytoplasm. Expression of DNA repair proteins was decreased in mTBI brains. mTBI brains showed substantial evidence of DNA damage and cellular senescence. Decreased expression of DNA repair genes suggests inefficient DNA repair pathways in this cohort, conferring susceptibly to cellular senescence and subsequent brain dysfunction after mTBI. We therefore suggest that brains of contact-sports athletes are characterized by deficient DNA repair and DNA damage-induced cellular senescence and propose that this may affect neurons and be the driver of brain dysfunction in mTBI, predisposing the progression to neurodegenerative diseases. This study provides novel targets for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers, and represents viable targets for future treatments.
Fruiting phenology and nutrient content variation among sympatric figs and the ecological correlates
Authors: Huang Yu-Ting , Lee Ya-Fu , Kuo Yen-Min , Chang Sing-Yi , Wu Chia-Ling
Published: November 2019

Background

Figs are key resources for tropical frugivores and display unique fruiting patterns. While monoecious figs support both seeds and wasp rearing, dioecious plants perform the tasks separately and produce seeded figs in smaller asynchronous crops. Thus dioecious females, compared to monoecious figs, may afford to invest more efforts to maximize seediness, or increase fruit pulp, water content, and nutrient rewards to attract frugivores for better seed dispersal. Yet size variation among and within fig species in either breeding system may lead to complicated resource allocation. We assessed fruiting phenology, measured fig morphological traits, and analyzed fig nutrient contents of the monoecious Ficus caulocarpa and F. subpisocarpa and the dioecious F. ampelas and F. irisana in a sympatric tropical forest to investigate species differences and size effects on fig functional traits and their ecological correlates.

Results

All four species fruited nearly year-round. Monoecious figs’ inter-tree asynchronous crops had high peak mature crop sizes over much shorter fruiting periods than dioecious figs. Among trees, F. subpisocarpa and F. irisana were greater in fig-size and size variation, F. caulocarpa and F. ampelas comparatively displayed large variation in fig compositions. As fig size increased, water contents gradually increased in large-fig species, but seediness with a decreasing trend in small-fig species. Dioecious figs had lower pulp-seed ratio but tended to have higher water contents than monoecious figs, particularly within a similar size range. Dioecious figs also had higher carbohydrates, whereas monoecious figs contained higher fiber and lipid contents.

Conclusions

Our study revealed species differences in certain fig functional traits that were correlated with fig size or their breeding systems, with substantial inter-tree variation. This partially supported the predictions regarding their fruiting strategies of aiding seed dispersal by frugivores, yet suggests a fruiting plasticity of individual trees subject to environmental constraints and their biotic interactions.
Enlarging smaller images before inputting into convolutional neural network: zero-padding vs. interpolation
Authors: Hashemi Mahdi
Published: November 2019

The input to a machine learning model is a one-dimensional feature vector. However, in recent learning models, such as convolutional and recurrent neural networks, two- and three-dimensional feature tensors can also be inputted to the model. During training, the machine adjusts its internal parameters to project each feature tensor close to its target. After training, the machine can be used to predict the target for previously unseen feature tensors. What this study focuses on is the requirement that feature tensors must be of the same size. In other words, the same number of features must be present for each sample. This creates a barrier in processing images and texts, as they usually have different sizes, and thus different numbers of features. In classifying an image using a convolutional neural network (CNN), the input is a three-dimensional tensor, where the value of each pixel in each channel is one feature. The three-dimensional feature tensor must be the same size for all images. However, images are not usually of the same size and so are not their corresponding feature tensors. Resizing images to the same size without deforming patterns contained therein is a major challenge. This study proposes zero-padding for resizing images to the same size and compares it with the conventional approach of scaling images up (zooming in) using interpolation. Our study showed that zero-padding had no effect on the classification accuracy but considerably reduced the training time. The reason is that neighboring zero input units (pixels) will not activate their corresponding convolutional unit in the next layer. Therefore, the synaptic weights on outgoing links from input units do not need to be updated if they contain a zero value. Theoretical justification along with experimental endorsements are provided in this paper.
Technology-enhanced assessment visualization for smart learning environments
Authors: Ferreira Hiran , de Oliveira Guilherme P. , Araújo Rafael , Dorça Fabiano , Cattelan Renan
Published: November 2019

In Smart Learning Environments, students need to be aware of their academic performance so they can self-regulate their learning process. Likewise, the teaching process can also be improved if instructors are able to supervise the progress of students, both individually and globally, and anticipate proper pedagogical strategies. Thus, effective Student Models, capable of identifying and predicting the level of knowledge of students, are a key requirement in modern educational systems. In this article, we revisit OSM-V, an Open Student Model with Information Visualization capabilities that allow students and instructors to assess performance-related information in educational systems. We detail its architecture and how it was integrated into Classroom eXperience, a Smart Learning Environment with multimedia capture capabilities. We also present extended results from experiments that evaluate both the perception of utility and behavioral changes in students who used OSM-V, showing that it can positively impact students’ learning and positively influence their study habits.
The added diagnostic value of complementary gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI to 18F-DOPA-PET/CT for liver staging in medullary thyroid carcinoma
Authors: Puhr-Westerheide Daniel , Cyran Clemens C. , Sargsyan-Bergmann Josef , Todica Andrei , Gildehaus Franz-Josef , Kunz Wolfgang G. , Stahl Robert , Spitzweg Christine , Ricke Jens , Kazmierczak Philipp M.
Published: November 2019

Background

A high proportion of patients with advanced stages of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) present with liver metastasis metastases. The aim of our study was to investigate the added diagnostic value of complementary gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI to 18F-DOPA-PET/CT for liver staging in MTC.

Methods

Thirty-six patients (14 female, median age 55 years) with histologically confirmed MTC undergoing gadoxetic acid-enhanced liver MRI within 1 month of matching contrast-enhanced 18F-DOPA-PET/CT between 2010 and 2016 were selected for this IRB-approved retrospective study. 18F-DOPA-PET/CT and multiparametric MRI data sets were read consecutively and liver lesions were categorised on a 5-point Likert scale (1–definitely benign; 2–probably benign; 3–intermediate risk for metastasis; 4–probably metastasis; 5–definitely metastasis). It was noted if gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI detected additional, 18F-DOPA-PET/CT-occult metastases (category 5) or if gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI allowed for a definite classification (categories 1 and 5) of lesions for which 18F-DOPA-PET/CT remained inconclusive (categories 2–4). Follow-up PET/CT and MRI examinations were used as a reference standard.

Results

A total of 207 liver lesions (18F-DOPA-PET/CT 149, MRI 207; 152 metastases, 37 benign cysts, 18 hemangiomas) were analysed. Fifty-eight additional lesions were detected by MRI, of which 54 were metastases (median diameter 0.5 cm [interquartile range 0.4–0.7 cm]) occult on 18F-DOPA-PET/CT. MRI allowed for a definite lesion classification (categories 1 and 5) in 92% (190/207) whereas 18F-DOPA-PET/CT allowed for a definite lesion classification in 76% (113/149). MRI lead to a change in lesion categorisation in 14% (21/149).

Conclusion

Gadoxetic acid-enhanced MRI allows for a more precise liver staging in MTC patients compared to 18F-DOPA-PET/CT alone, particularly for 18F-DOPA-negative metastases and lesions < 1 cm.
Adenocarcinoma of the duodenum arising from Brunner’s gland resected by partial duodenectomy: a case report
Authors: Mochizuki Tetsuya , Fujikuni Nobuaki , Nakadoi Koichi , Nakahara Masahiro , Tanabe Kazuaki , Yonehara Shuji , Noriyuki Toshio
Published: November 2019

Background

Duodenal carcinoma originating in Brunner’s gland is rare. Herein, we report a case of duodenal carcinoma arising from Brunner’s gland in a 63-year-old man.

Case presentation

On diagnostic imaging, the lesion presented as a non-invasive carcinoma; the patient also had uncontrolled diabetes and liver cirrhosis. Hence, we decided to perform partial duodenectomy to reduce operative stress. Pathological examination revealed that the tumor consisted of tissue from Brunner’s gland. Additionally, the carcinoma cells were strongly positive for Mucin-6 protein, which is an epithelial marker of Brunner’s gland. The patient’s post-operative course was uneventful, and he has been well for 2 years after the surgery.

Conclusions

This a rare case of an adenocarcinoma arising from Brunner’s gland of the duodenum that was resected by duodenectomy.
Limb girdle muscular dystrophy: a case report initially presenting to an outpatient musculoskeletal physiotherapy clinic with spinal pain and functional weakness
Authors: O’Shea Simon , Jenkins Thomas M.
Published: November 2019

Background

The term limb girdle muscular dystrophy (LGMD) describes a group of genetic muscular disorders that require specialist input from neurologically trained clinicians. The plethora of potential symptoms of this heterogenous group can result in patients presenting initially to musculoskeletal (MSK) physiotherapists.

Case presentation

The following case report highlights the presentation of a 21 year old female attending with 2 years of spinal pain and an unusual pattern of weakness, namely when rising from a sitting position the hips were abducted and then internally rotated. Formal testing in clinic revealed no isolated weakness initially despite the odd functional movements. There were no neural limb pains and no upper or lower motor neuron concerns on testing. There were no other health concerns. Some gains were reported with recent physiotherapy strengthening exercises and these were persisted with but proved ineffective overall. The Biopsychosocial model was used judiciously to explore alternative pathologies and led to appropriate investigations, onward referral, diagnosis and appropriate management of LGMD. Extensive atrophy of the spinal muscles was evident on imaging which was not particularly identified within the physiotherapy testing process in the earlier stages. Creatine kinase levels were also significantly raised.

Conclusions

Being mindful of this novel presentation in musculoskeletal clinics may well aid future, similar cases to be identified. The case highlights the importance of looking at the functional impact as opposed to traditional testing methods especially in the early stages of such conditions.
Comparison of serum amylase level between dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor and GLP-1 analog administration in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Okada Junichi , Yamada Eijiro , Niijima Yawara , Okada Shuichi , Yamada Masanobu
Published: November 2019

We monitored serum amylase level in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) prescribed either dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor or GLP-1 analog (GLP-1 group) as monotherapy. Patients were treated for a 36-month period. All subjects were non-smoker and did not take any alcoholic beverages. Forty-nine patients were prescribed DPP4is (DPP4i group), and 9 patients were prescribed GLP-1 analogs (GLP-1 group). The median of serum amylase levels in DPP4is group was 73 U/mL and the median of serum amylase levels in GLP-1 analog group was 76. Thus, there was no statistical significance between the two groups. However, the increased serum amylase levels in the three patients were observed only in the DPP4is group. One strength of the current study is that the serum amylase level was consistently measured in all subjects, and those subjects had been treated with either DPP4is or GLP-1 analogs as monotherapy. The incidence of elevated serum pancreatic amylase levels beyond normal range was calculated as 6.12% in the DPP4is group although the frequency was 0% in the GLP-1 analog group. Measurement of serum amylase consistently might have clinical meaning to catch the onset of pancreatitis and minimize the side effects due to DPP4is and GLP-1 analogs.
Usefullnes of atherogenic indices and Ca-LDL level to predict subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with psoriatic arthritis?
Authors: Tecer Duygu , Sunar Ismihan , Ozdemirel Ali Erhan , Tural Rabia , Kucuksahin Orhan , Sepici Dincel Aylin , Ataman Sebnem
Published: November 2019

Background

To investigate the link between carbamylated low-density lipoprotein (ca-LDL), atherogenic index of plasma (AIP), atherogenic coefficient (AC), Castelli’s risk indices I and II (CRI I and II) and subclinic atherosclerosis in psoriatic arthritis (PsA).

Methods

Thirty-ninepatients and 19 age, sex, body mass index matched healthy controls were included. Insulin resistance (IR) was assessed with homeostasis of model assessment-IR (HOMA-IR). Carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was measured at both common carotid arteries and mean CIMT was calculated.

Results

The mean age was 49.50 ± 11.86 years and 64.1% were females in PsA group. In the PsA group, CIMT and HOMA-IR were significantly higher (p = 0.003,p = 0.043, respectively). AIP, AC, TG/HDL, CRI-1, CRI-2 and ca-LDL levels were similar between groups. In PsA group, CIMT was positively correlated with HOMA-IR, TG/HDL and AIP. Although ca-LDL was positively correlated with serum amyloid A (r = 0.744,p < 0.001), no correlation was detected between ca-LDL and CIMT (r = 0.215,p = 0.195). PsA patients with IR tended to have higher ca-LDL levels than patients without IR, but this difference lacked statistical significance (33.65 ± 26.94, 28.63 ± 28.06, respectively,p = 0.237).

Conclusions

A significant increase in CIMT was seen in PsA patients without clinically evident cardiovascular disease or any traditional atherosclerosis risk factors. CIMT was correlated with HOMA-IR, TG/HDL and AIP.
Mitral valve replacement after transcatheter aortic valve implantation in a patient with rheumatic heart disease and prior Ross procedure: a case report
Authors: Algarni Khaled D. , Arafat Amr A.
Published: November 2019

Background

Reoperations are required frequently after the Ross procedure in rheumatic patients. The use of transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) in those patients could decrease the risk of future open procedure; however, the outcome may be affected by the concomitant mitral valve disease, and subsequent mitral reoperation may distort the implanted aortic valve.

Case presentation

We present a female patient who had a beating mitral valve replacement after valve-in-valve TAVI in a patient with prior Ross procedure. Weaning from cardiopulmonary bypass was difficult, and the patient needed extra-cardiac membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and intra-aortic balloon pump because of right ventricular dysfunction. The right ventricular dysfunction could be due to the concomitant coronary artery disease or air embolism during the beating mitral valve surgery. Recovery was gradual, and the patient was discharged after 33 days. Pre-discharge echocardiography showed a maximum gradient of 9 mmHg on the aortic valve and mild paravalvular leak.

Conclusions

Mitral valve replacement in a patient with prior TAVI and the Ross procedure was feasible; it decreased the operative risk and did not distort the implanted aortic valve.
La influencia del aprendizaje-servicio en el desarrollo de competencias en sostenibilidad en estudiantes universitarios
Authors: Cebrián Gisela , Fernández Mónica , Fuertes Maria Teresa , Moraleda Álvaro , Segalàs Jordi
Published: November 2019

INTRODUCCIÓN. El objetivo de esta investigación ha sido indagar sobre la influencia de la metodología de aprendizaje-servicio en el desarrollo de competencias en sostenibilidad de los estudiantes de las titulaciones de Educación (Primaria, Infantil y Social) de tres universidades espa- ñolas (UIC, UAM y USAL). MÉTODO. Se utilizó una muestra de 129 alumnos universitarios del curso académico 2017-2018. Se llevó a cabo un estudio preexperimental mediante pretest-postest con grupos naturales, sin grupo control, con la finalidad de valorar el desarrollo de competencias en sostenibilidad de los estudiantes que cursaron cinco asignaturas impartidas mediante la estrategia didáctica aprendizaje-servicio. RESULTADOS. Los resultados de este estudio indican que el aprendizaje-servicio ha contribuido a mejorar la comprensión y conocimiento de la sostenibilidad, así como las interrelaciones entre las dimensiones social, ambiental y económica en los cinco casos de estudio. También, se demuestra cómo el uso del aprendizaje-servicio promueve el desarrollo del saber cómo, habilidades prácticas asociadas a la acción. DISCUSIÓN. Se pone en evidencia que el aprendizaje-servicio incide significativamente en el aprendizaje de la competencia en sostenibilidad asociada a la contextualización del conocimiento y el establecimiento de relaciones entre las dimensiones social, ambiental y económica de la sostenibilidad. De los tres niveles de dominio-adquisición de competencias: saber, saber cómo y saber hacer, se observa que el aprendizaje-servicio tiene un impacto mayor en el saber cómo, hecho que se atribuye a la propia metodología que ahonda en la praxis y aplicación del conocimiento teórico en contextos reales. Las asignaturas específicas en sostenibilidad son las que más contribuyen al aprendizaje de competencias en sostenibilidad. Además de integrar las competencias en el currículum de manera holística, es necesario incluir asignaturas específicas en sostenibilidad.