bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DINAMIKA PENELITIAN KEPATUHAN WAJIB PAJAK
Authors: Oksidea Jauzaa Azahroo Oksidea , Yhoga Heru Pratama  , Sri Ayemi  , Fransiskus Vilisianus Sales
Published: May 2024

This study explores the compliance of taxpayers in Indonesia from 2013 to 2023 by mapping research published in national scientific journals. The research methodology involves a thorough literature review, examining articles with the keyword "taxpayer compliance" on scientific journal websites. The population consists of articles on taxpayer compliance, and the sample is selected based on criteria such as keyword relevance, completeness, clarity, and online accessibilityThe mapping of journal names aims to categorize articles, facilitating information on journal consistency in publishing content related to taxpayer compliance. The findings reveal continuous publications on taxpayer compliance in scientific journals throughout the years, with 2017 dominating the articles. E-Jurnal Akuntansi emerges as the most prolific journal in publishing these articles. The prevalent research method is quantitative, with awareness of taxpayers being the most commonly studied variable. Implications of the study include recognizing E-Jurnal Akuntansi and Jurnal Akuntansi as promising channels for future researchers and the potential for more varied and in-depth results through the use of qualitative methods. The study also highlights the predominance of primary data sources and suggests the exploration of alternative sources such as observation and interviews for richer and more realistic data.
AMERİKALILAR ARASI İNSAN HAKLARI MAHKEMESİ KARARLARINDA TATMİN
Authors: Özdemir Omca
Published: May 2024

Devletlerin diğer bir devletin uluslararası hukuka aykırı eyleminden doğan zararlarının onarılması yöntemlerinden biri olarak uygulanagelen tatmin, zaman içerisinde, devletlerin insan hakları ihlallerinden doğan zararların onarımı süreçlerinin de bileşeni haline gelmiştir. Amerikalılar Arası İnsan Hakları Mahkemesi, Amerika İnsan Hakları Sözleşmesi’nin 63. maddesinin kendisine sunduğu geniş yetkiyi uluslararası sorumluluk hukuku içtihatları ile de güçlendirerek insan hakları ihlallerinden doğan zararların onarımında güçlü ve yaratıcı bir içtihat yaratmıştır. Mahkeme, insan hakları hukukunun özgül ihtiyaçları kapsamında yorumlayarak, çeşitlendirerek ve uygulayarak tatminin insan hakları hukukuna yerleşmesinde önemli bir rol oynamıştır. Mahkemenin bu bakımdan insan hakları hukukuna katkısı, tatminin ihlallerin ikrarı ve insan onuruna bağlılık ifadeleri ile insan onuruna saygıyı içeren sosyal normların güçlendirilmesinde, kendisinin tatmin içtihadından önce insan hakları hukukunda hakim onarım yöntemi olan tazminata kıyasla işlevsel oluşundan kaynaklanmaktadır. Zira tatmin, ihlallerin gerçekleştiği sosyal ortamın dışında bulunan ve devletin topluma müdahale araçlarından yoksun olan uluslararası mahkemelerin, insan haklarına dayalı bir hukuksal ve toplumsal düzenin ihlaller gerçekleşmeden sağlanmasına dayanak olacak sosyal çevrenin inşasına desteğinin tazminata kıyasla etkili bir aracıdır. Sosyal çevreye dönük bu tür katkıların yaygınlaşması ve genişletilmesi, insan hakları mahkemelerinin artan iş yükleriyle başa çıkmaları bakımından da anlamlı sonuçlara yol açabilecektir.
Preventing Nurse Burnout In New Graduates
Authors: Gordon Shan , Thurmond Janice
Published: May 2024

Nurses comprise most of the healthcare workforce, and addressing burnout among newly graduated nurses could help alleviate it. This DNP project aimed to prevent nurse burnout among newly graduated nurses through an educational program about nurse burnout and methods to decrease it. A survey design was used to test the relationship between job stress and burnout in newly employed nurses. A presentation was given to newly hired nurses during their orientation period. It defined nurse burnout and discussed methods to decrease or prevent burnout. Nineteen recently graduated nurses were included. Participants were asked to complete the Perceived Stress Scale and Burnout Self-Test surveys after the presentation and at 30-, 60-, and 90-days using Survey Monkey. An ANOVA table was used to compare the results. New graduates perceived no stress before employment. Thirty days after hire, their ability to handle stress decreased, while the probability of their burnout rate increased. Sixty days after working, new graduates’ stress marginally increased while their ability to handle stress did not change, indicating their likelihood of burnout did not change. Therefore, their potential for burnout did not increase because their ability to handle stress did not change. Finally, after ninety days of employment, the graduate’s responses declined, making that data insignificant. Helping new graduate nurses develop coping skills to deal with transitioning to practice and learning pre-emptive strategies to lessen the effect of burnout will aid them in mitigating their symptoms of burnout and help maintain a vital workforce.
A Syntactical Analysis of Christian Teaching According to James 1:16-27
Authors: Chia Philip Suciadi
Published: May 2024

The book of James reveals three purposes of Christian’s tribulation. First, it comes from the present argument: let his endurance have a perfect result which is you become mature and complete, and lack of nothing (1:4). The second purpose derives from the future argument: blessed the one who endures in the tribulation. Because, after these things, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him (1:12). The last purpose uses the past argument: He gave us birth with his true word so that we might become the first fruit amongst his all creations. This article analyses the second and the last purpose through a syntactical analysis.
Strategies in product engineering of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes: unveiling the mechanisms underpinning the promotive effects of mesenchymal stem cell-derived exosomes
Authors: Jiang Yudong , Lv Hanning , Shen Fuguo , Fan Lei , Zhang Hongjun , Huang Yong , Liu Jia , Wang Dong , Pan Haile , Yang Jianhua
Published: May 2024

Articular cartilage injuries present a significant global challenge, particularly in the aging population. These injuries not only restrict movement due to primary damage but also exacerbate elderly degenerative lesions, leading to secondary cartilage injury and osteoarthritis. Addressing osteoarthritis and cartilage damage involves overcoming several technical challenges in biological treatment. The use of induced mesenchymal stem cells (iMSCs) with functional gene modifications emerges as a solution, providing a more stable and controllable source of Mesenchymal Stem Cells (MSCs) with reduced heterogeneity. Furthermore, In addition, this review encompasses strategies aimed at enhancing exosome efficacy, comprising the cultivation of MSCs in three-dimensional matrices, augmentation of functional constituents within MSC-derived exosomes, and modification of their surface characteristics. Finally, we delve into the mechanisms through which MSC-exosomes, sourced from diverse tissues, thwart osteoarthritis (OA) progression and facilitate cartilage repair. This review lays a foundational framework for engineering iMSC-exosomes treatment of patients suffering from osteoarthritis and articular cartilage injuries, highlighting cutting-edge research and potential therapeutic pathways.
Effect of Ducrosia anethifolia methanol extract against methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa biofilms on excision wound in diabetic mice
Authors: Almuhanna Yasir
Published: May 2024

Background

Ducrosia anethifolia is an aromatic desert plant used in Saudi folk medicine to treat skin infections. It is widely found in Middle Eastern countries.

Methods

A methanolic extract of the plant was prepared, and its phytoconstituents were determined using LC-MS. In-vitro and in-vivo antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of the methanolic extract were evaluated against multidrug-resistant bacteria. The cytotoxic effect was assessed using HaCaT cell lines in-vitro. Diabetic mice were used to study the in-vivo antibiofilm and wound healing activity using the excision wound method.

Results

More than 50 phytoconstituents were found in the extract after LC-MS analysis. The extract exhibited antibacterial activity against both the tested pathogens. The extract was free of irritant effects on mice skin, and no cytotoxicity was observed on HaCaT cells with an IC50 value of 1381 µg/ml. The ointment formulation of the extract increased the healing of diabetic wounds. The microbial load of both pathogens in the wounded tissue was also reduced after the treatment. The extract was more effective against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) than MDR-P. aeruginosa in both in vitro and in vivo experiments. Further, skin regeneration was also observed in histological studies.

Conclusions

The results showed that D. anethifolia methanol extract supports wound healing in infected wounds in diabetic mice through antibacterial, antibiofilm, and wound healing activities.
Unraveling the adaptive strategies of Mycoplasma hominis through proteogenomic profiling of clinical isolates
Authors: Pobeguts Olga V. , Galaymina Maria A. , Sikamov Kirill V. , Urazaeva Diana R. , Avshalumov Alexander S. , Mikhailycheva Maria V. , Babenko Vlad V. , Smirnov Igor P. , Gorbachev Alexey Yu.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Mycoplasma hominis (M. hominis) belongs to the class Mollicutes, characterized by a very small genome size, reduction of metabolic pathways, including transcription factors, and the absence of a cell wall. Despite this, they adapt well not only to specific niches within the host organism but can also spread throughout the body, colonizing various organs and tissues. The adaptation mechanisms of M. hominis, as well as their regulatory pathways, are poorly understood. It is known that, when adapting to adverse conditions, Mycoplasmas can undergo phenotypic switches that may persist for several generations.

Methods

To investigate the adaptive properties of M. hominis related to survival in the host, we conducted a comparative phenotypic and proteogenomic analysis of eight clinical isolates of M. hominis obtained from patients with urogenital infections and the laboratory strain H-34.

Results

We have shown that clinical isolates differ in phenotypic features from the laboratory strain, form biofilms more effectively and show resistance to ofloxacin. The comparative proteogenomic analysis revealed that, unlike the laboratory strain, the clinical isolates possess several features related to stress survival: they switch carbon metabolism, activating the energetically least advantageous pathway of nucleoside utilization, which allows slowing down cellular processes and transitioning to a starvation state; they reconfigure the repertoire of membrane proteins; they have integrative conjugative elements in their genomes, which are key mediators of horizontal gene transfer. The upregulation of the methylating subunit of the restriction-modification (RM) system type I and the additional components of RM systems found in clinical isolates suggest that DNA methylation may play a role in regulating the adaptation mechanisms of M. hominis in the host organism. It has been shown that based on the proteogenomic profile, namely the genome sequence, protein content, composition of the RM systems and additional subunits HsdM, HsdS and HsdR, composition and number of transposable elements, as well as the sequence of the main variable antigen Vaa, we can divide clinical isolates into two phenotypes: typical colonies (TC), which have a high growth rate, and atypical (aTC) mini-colonies, which have a slow growth rate and exhibit properties similar to persisters.

Discussion

We believe that the key mechanism of adaptation of M. hominis in the host is phenotypic restructuring, leading to a slowing down cellular processes and the formation of small atypical colonies. This is due to a switch in carbon metabolism and activation the pathway of nucleoside utilization. We hypothesize that DNA methylation may play a role in regulating this switch.
Regional climate change: consensus, discrepancies, and ways forward
Authors: Shaw Tiffany A. , Arias Paola A. , Collins Mat , Coumou Dim , Diedhiou Arona , Garfinkel Chaim I. , Jain Shipra , Roxy Mathew Koll , Kretschmer Marlene , Leung L. Ruby , Narsey Sugata , Martius Olivia , Seager Richard , Shepherd Theodore G. , Sörensson Anna A. , Stephenson Tannecia , Taylor Michael , Wang Lin
Published: May 2024

Climate change has emerged across many regions. Some observed regional climate changes, such as amplified Arctic warming and land-sea warming contrasts have been predicted by climate models. However, many other observed regional changes, such as changes in tropical sea surface temperature and monsoon rainfall are not well simulated by climate model ensembles even when taking into account natural internal variability and structural uncertainties in the response of models to anthropogenic radiative forcing. This suggests climate model predictions may not fully reflect what our future will look like. The discrepancies between models and observations are not well understood due to several real and apparent puzzles and limitations such as the “signal-to-noise paradox” and real-world record-shattering extremes falling outside of the possible range predicted by models. Addressing these discrepancies, puzzles and limitations is essential, because understanding and reliably predicting regional climate change is necessary in order to communicate effectively about the underlying drivers of change, provide reliable information to stakeholders, enable societies to adapt, and increase resilience and reduce vulnerability. The challenges of achieving this are greater in the Global South, especially because of the lack of observational data over long time periods and a lack of scientific focus on Global South climate change. To address discrepancies between observations and models, it is important to prioritize resources for understanding regional climate predictions and analyzing where and why models and observations disagree via testing hypotheses of drivers of biases using observations and models. Gaps in understanding can be discovered and filled by exploiting new tools, such as artificial intelligence/machine learning, high-resolution models, new modeling experiments in the model hierarchy, better quantification of forcing, and new observations. Conscious efforts are needed toward creating opportunities that allow regional experts, particularly those from the Global South, to take the lead in regional climate research. This includes co-learning in technical aspects of analyzing simulations and in the physics and dynamics of regional climate change. Finally, improved methods of regional climate communication are needed, which account for the underlying uncertainties, in order to provide reliable and actionable information to stakeholders and the media.
Association between physical health and neurocognition in first-episode schizophrenia
Authors: Poole Luke G. , Ude Andrew A. , Perdue Hannah M. , Bourque Jonathon R. , Sarwani Amber P. , Dhruve Aman P. , Alderman Brandon L.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Impaired cognition is a core feature of schizophrenia that is evident early in the first episode and is frequently accompanied by compromised physical health. Although physical health confers benefits to cognition, it remains unclear whether physical activity, body mass index (BMI) and cardiorespiratory fitness are associated with neurocognition in first episode schizophrenia patients. The purpose of this study was to examine differences in stimulus categorization and motor response selection processes between first-episode schizophrenia patients compared to age-matched controls and explore associations between physical health and these stages of information processing.

Methods

Fourteen young adult patients receiving care following a first episode of psychosis and a matched sample of nonpsychiatric controls completed a visual oddball task from which the P3 and LRP (lateralized readiness potential) event-related potential (ERP) components were extracted to assess stimulus categorization and response selection processes, respectively. Physical activity, aerobic fitness, and BMI were correlated with ERP measures.

Results

Compared with controls, patients had lower physical activity levels and longer P3 and LRP latencies. Regardless of stimulus probability, patients had reduced accuracy and slower reaction times relative to controls. In patients, marginal associations were found between physical activity and P3 difference waveform amplitude, and BMI was negatively associated with parent P3 waveform amplitude.

Discussion

The present findings suggest that cognitive impairment in first-episode schizophrenia spans both stimulus- and response-related stages of information processing, and may be targeted through physical activity interventions.
Radiofrequency catheter ablation for re-do procedure after single-shot pulmonary vein isolation with pulsed field ablation for paroxysmal atrial fibrillation: case report
Authors: Yang Xinyan , Lin Mingjie , Zhang Yan , Wang Juntao , Zhong Jingquan
Published: May 2024

Background

Catheter ablation is frequently used to manage recurrent atrial fibrillation (AF) resistant to drug therapy, with pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) as a key tactic. Pulsed field ablation (PFA) has emerged as an innovative technology for PVI but poses challenges for redo procedures.

Case presentation

We report on a 73-year-old female patient who experienced recurrent AF after initial successful PVI using a novel PFA technology and subsequently underwent radiofrequency catheter ablation during a repeat intervention. The reconnection of pulmonary veins was discovered primarily in the anterior region of the right superior PV and the superior portion of the left superior PV. An anatomically-based segmental approach and larger circumferential PVI, followed by additional linear ablations at non-PV trigger sites, proved decisive in preventing further recurrence of atrial tachycardia.

Conclusion

While PFA exhibits promise as a secure and efficient modality for PVI, it necessitates excellent contact quality to ensure lasting results. For patients experiencing AF recurrences post-PFI, expanded strategies incorporating both comprehensive PVI and linear ablations at targeted non-PV sites might enhance treatment outcomes.
Cardiopulmonary determinants of reduced exercise tolerance in Fabry disease
Authors: De Marco Oriana , Gambardella Jessica , Bianco Antonio , Fiordelisi Antonella , Cerasuolo Federica Andrea , Buonaiuto Antonietta , Avvisato Roberta , Capuano Ivana , Amicone Maria , Di Risi Teodolinda , Riccio Eleonora , Spinelli Letizia , Pisani Antonio , Iaccarino Guido , Sorriento Daniela
Published: May 2024

Fabry disease (FD), also known as Anderson-Fabry disease, is a hereditary disorder of glycosphingolipid metabolism, caused by a deficiency of the lysosomal alpha-galactosidase A enzyme. This causes a progressive accumulation of glycosphingolipids in tissues and organs which represents the main pathogenetic mechanism of FD. The disease is progressive and multisystemic and is characterized by early symptoms and late complications (renal, cardiac and neurological dysfunction). Fatigue and exercise intolerance are early common symptoms in FD patients but the specific causes are still to be defined. In this narrative review, we deal with the contribution of cardiac and pulmonary dysfunctions in determining fatigue and exercise intolerance in FD patients.
Association between dietary inflammation index and female infertility from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey: 2013-2018
Authors: Qi Jie , Su Yujie , Zhang Huanhuan , Ren Yanan
Published: May 2024

Objective

To investigate the relationship between dietary inflammatory index (DII) scores and infertility in US adults aged 18 to 45.

Methods

Data were gathered from the 2013-2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In total, 3496 women were included in the study. To examine the relationship between DII, EDII and infertility, a weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis using continuous factors or categorical variables grouped by quartiles was conducted. Using subgroup analysis stratified based on DII and infertility features, the association between DII and infertility has been further studied. In order to determine whether there was a nonlinear relationship between DII and infertility, restricted cubic spline (RCS) analysis was carried out.

Results

For statistical analysis, a total of 3496 individuals — 367 patients with infertility and 3129 persons without infertility — were included. A multivariable logistic regression study revealed a positive relationship between DII and infertility. A significant difference in subgroup analysis was shown in age group and race, although RCS analysis demonstrated nonlinear relationship between the DII and infertility.

Conclusion

For participants aged 18-45 years, higher DII scores were positively correlated with infertility. In addition, anti-inflammatory diets might improve infertility outcomes.
A leading-edge scenario in the phylogeography and evolutionary history of East Asian insular Taxus in Taiwan and the Philippines
Authors: Kuo Hao-Chih , Schoneman Travis , Gao Lian-Ming , Gruezo William Sm. , Amoroso Victor B. , Yang Yang , Yang Kuo-Cheng , Chien Ching-Te , Möller Michael , Wang Chun-Neng
Published: May 2024

The cool temperate origin of gymnosperm Taxus species in East Asia is specifically diverse and widespread. Certain lineages have managed to extend their distribution further south to subtropical and tropical islands such as Taiwan and the Philippines. To address questions including whether these insular lineages, recently identified as T. phytonii, have become genetically distinct from each other and from their continental relatives, and when and how they colonized their residing islands, we sampled over 11 populations, covering 179 Taxus individuals from Taiwan and the Philippines. Using four cpDNA and one nuclear marker, we showed in population genetic and genealogical analyses that the two insular lineages were genetically distinct from each other and also from other continental Taxus and that they represented each other’s closest relative. Estimated with the coalescent-based multi-type tree (MTT) analyses, we inferred an origin of Taiwanese T. phytonii more ancient than 2.49 Mya and that of Philippine T. phytonii more ancient than 1.08 Mya. In addition, the divergence demographic history revealed by both MTT and isolation with migration (IM) analyses indicated the presence of recent post-split migrations from a continental taxon, T. mairei, to Taiwanese T. phytonii, as well as from Taiwanese T. phytonii to Philippine T. phytonii. Overall, this study suggests Taiwan as a stepping stone through which the temperate-origin yew trees can extend their distributions to tropical regions such as the Philippines.
Associations of dietary factors with gastric cancer risk: insights from NHANES 2003–2016 and mendelian randomization analyses
Authors: Zhang Yigang , Wang Sen , Li Qingya , Liu Hongda , Xuan Zhe , Li Fengyuan , Li Zheng , Xia Yiwen , Jiang Tianlu , Xu Penghui , Fang Lang , Wang Linjun , Zhang Diancai , Xu Hao , Yang Li , Xu Zekuan
Published: May 2024

Background: Gastric cancer (GC) continues to be one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths globally. Diet significantly influences the incidence and progression of GC. However, the relationship between dietary intake and GC is inconsistent.

Methods: A study was conducted with adults who participated in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) from 2003 to 2016 to investigate possible associations between 32 dietary factors and GC. To further detect potential causal relationships between these dietary factors and the risk of GC, a two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was conducted. The primary method employed was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) analysis, and its results were further validated by four other methods.

Results: Of the 35,098 participants surveyed, 20 had a history of GC. Based on the results of weighted logistic multivariate analysis, it was observed that there was a positive correlation between total fat intake [odds ratio (OR) = 1.09, 95% confidence interval (CI): (1.01–1.17), p = 0.03] and GC as well as negative association of dietary monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) intake [OR = 0.83, 95% CI: (0.76–0.92), p < 0.001]. Further evaluations of the odds of GC across the quartiles of dietary MUFAs showed that the top quartile of total MUFA intake was associated with a lower likelihood of GC in three different models [model1: OR = 0.03, 95% CI: (0.00–0.25), p < 0.01; model2: OR = 0.04, 95% CI: (0.00–0.38), p = 0.01; model3: OR = 0.04, 95% CI: (0.00–0.40), p = 0.01]. For the MR analyses, genetic instruments were selected from the IEU Open GWAS project; IVW analysis showed that GC risk was not associated with MUFAs [OR = 0.82, 95% CI: (0.59–1.14), p = 0.23] or the ratio of MUFAs to total fatty acids [OR = 1.00, 95% CI: (0.75–1.35), p = 0.98]. Similar results were observed when using the other MR methods.

Conclusion: The NHANES study revealed that consuming MUFAs was linked to a lower risk of GC, although the results of MR analyses do not provide evidence of a causal relationship. Additional research is therefore necessary to clarify these findings.
Greenhouse gas reduction in a medium-duty compression ignition engine with optimization for B20
Authors: Kim Taemin , Boehman André L.
Published: May 2024

Soy-based biodiesel can reduce well-to-wheels greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions per unit energy (i.e., gCO2e/MJ) by 66%–72% as compared to the petroleum-based diesel fuel with currently adopted agricultural and industrial practices. Biodiesel can reduce particulate matter and carbon monoxide emissions with a manageable degree of increase in NOx emissions. From the perspective of GHG emissions reduction per unit travelling distance (i.e., gCO2e/mile), the application of B20 in compression ignition engines without the adjustment in engine control unit (ECU) settings will not extract the best carbon emissions reduction that B20 could achieve. Optimizing the engine control settings permits re-calibration to achieve the maximum brake fuel conversion efficiency (BFE) based on comprehensive understanding on the impact of both “fuel” and “ECU calibration” on BFE and other criteria pollutant emissions. The maximum GHG emissions reduction with B20 application is experimentally measured with the optimized ECU calibration, thus providing the understanding of the combined impact of biodiesel fuel and calibrations on engine performance and emissions. Six steady operating modes were considered, that can be combined to estimate the US federal test procedure BFE and emissions over the Federal Test Protocol (FTP) 75 cycle. Combined with the weight factors to simulate the EPA FTP 75 cycle from these 6 “mini-map” test points, 0.53% improvement in the energy requirement per unit traveling distance (i.e., MJ/mile) is achieved for B20 with the final ECU calibration, in addition to the degree of GHG emissions reduction on a “gCO2e/MJ” basis from the use of B20 blend of soy biodiesel of ∼12.5% reduction in gCO2e/MJ, for a total GHG emissions reduction of 13%.
Time to maximum amplitude of thromboelastography can predict mortality in patients with severe COVID-19: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Zhong Lincui , Lin Qingwei , He Longping , Liu Dongmei , Zhu Lin , Zeng Qingbo , Song Jingchun
Published: May 2024

Objective

To predict mortality in severe patients with COVID-19 at admission to the intensive care unit (ICU) using thromboelastography (TEG).

Methods

This retrospective, two-center, observational study involved 87 patients with PCR-and chest CT-confirmed severe COVID-19 who were admitted to at Wuhan Huoshenshan Hospital and the 908th Hospital of Chinese PLA Logistic Support Force between February 2020 and February 2023. Clinic demographics, laboratory results, and outcomes were compared between those who survived and those who died during hospitalization.

Results

Thromboelastography showed that of the 87 patients, 14 were in a hypercoagulable state, 25 were in a hypocoagulable state, and 48 were normal, based on the time to maximum amplitude (TMA). Patients who died showed significantly lower α angle, but significantly longer R-time, K-time and TMA than patients who survived. Random forest selection showed that K-time, TMA, prothrombin time (PT), international normalized ratio (INR), D-dimer, C-reactive protein (CRP), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and total bilirubin (Tbil) were significant predictors. Multivariate logistic regression identified that TMA and CRP were independently associated with mortality. TMA had a greater predictive power than CRP levels based on time-dependent AUCs. Patients with TMA ≥ 26.4 min were at significantly higher risk of mortality (hazard ratio 3.99, 95% Confidence Interval, 1.92–8.27, p < 0.01).

Conclusion

TMA ≥26.4 min at admission to ICU may be an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality for patients with severe COVID-19.
Gut yeast diversity of Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under different dietary conditions
Authors: Yu Man , Li Yang , Ji Jingyuan , Lei Yonghui , Sun Yanfei
Published: May 2024

Yeast is one of the important symbiotic flora in the insect gut. However, little is known about the gut yeast in Helicoverpa armigera (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) under various dietary conditions. The composition and function of the intestinal yeast community also remain unclear. In this research, we explored the composition of yeast microorganisms in H. armigera larvae under different feeding environments, including apple, pear, tomato, artificial diet (laboratory feeding), Urtica fissa, Helianthus annuus, and Zinnia elegans (wild environment) using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that a total of 43 yeast OTU readings were obtained, comprising 33 yeast genera and 42 yeast species. The yeast genera with a total content of more than 5% were Hanseniaspora (36.27%), Moesziomyces (21.47%), Trichosporon (16.20%), Wickerhamomyces (12.96%) and Pichia (6.38%). Hanseniaspora was predominant when fed indoors with fruits, whereas Moesziomyces was only detected in the wild group (Urtica fissa, Helianthus annuus, Zinnia elegans) and the artificial diet group. After transferring the larvae from artificial diet to apple, pear and tomato, the composition of intestinal yeast community changed, mainly reflected in the increased relative abundance of Hanseniaspora and the decreased abundance of Trichosporon. Simultaneously, the results of α diversity index indicated that the intestinal yeast microbial diversity of H. armigera fed on wild plants was higher than that of indoor artificial feeding. PCoA and PERMANOVA analysis concluded that there were significant differences in the gut yeast composition of H. armigera larvae on different diets. Our results confirmed that gut yeast communities of H. armigera can be influenced by host diets and may play an important role in host adaptation.
Synergistic antibacterial effects of closantel and its enantiomers in combination with colistin against multidrug resistant gram-negative bacteria
Authors: Ding Tongyan , Guo Zeyu , Fang Liangxing , Guo Wenying , Yang Yuxi , Li Yafei , Li Xiarong , He Limin
Published: May 2024

Drug combinations and repurposing have recently provided promising alternatives to cope with the increasingly severe issue of antibiotic resistance and depletion of natural drug molecular repertoires that undermine traditional antibacterial strategies. Closantel, an effective adjuvant, reverses antibiotic resistance in gram-negative bacteria. Herein, the combined antibacterial enantioselectivity of closantel is presented through separate enantiomer studies. Despite yielding unexpected differences, two closantel enantiomers (R, S) increased colistin activity against gram-negative bacteria both in vitro and in vivo. The fractional inhibitory concentration indices of R-closantel and S-closantel combined with colistin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Escherichia coli ranged from 0.0087 to 0.5004 and from 0.0117 to 0.5312, respectively. This difference was further demonstrated using growth inhibition assays and time-killing curves. Mechanistically, a higher intracellular concentration of R-CLO is more effective in enhancing the antimicrobial activity of combination. A mouse cutaneous infection model confirmed the synergistic stereoselectivity of closantel. This discovery provides novel insights for developing precision medication and containment of increasing antibiotic resistance.
Two novel Raoultella species associated with bleeding cankers of broadleaf hosts, Raoultella scottia sp. nov. and Raoultella lignicola sp. nov.
Authors: Brady Carrie , Crampton Bridget , Kaur Sundeep , Maddock Daniel , Kile Helene , Arnold Dawn , Denman Sandra
Published: May 2024

Seventeen Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterial strains were isolated from bleeding cankers of various broadleaf hosts and oak rhizosphere soil in Great Britain. The strains were tentatively identified as belonging to the genus Raoultella based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), based on four protein-encoding genes (fusA, leuS, pyrG, and rpoB), separated the strains into three clusters within the Raoultella genus clade. The majority of strains clustered with the type strain of Raoultella terrigena, with the remaining strains divided into two clusters with no known type strain. Whole genome sequencing comparisons confirmed these two clusters of strains as belonging to two novel Raoultella species which can be differentiated phenotypically from their current closest phylogenetic relatives. Therefore, two novel species are proposed: Raoultella scottia sp. nov. (type strain = BAC 10a-01-01T = LMG 33072T = CCUG 77096T) and Raoultella lignicola sp. nov. (type strain = TW_WC1a.1T = LMG 33073T = CCUG 77094T).
Study on the correlation of supplementation with L-citrulline on the gastrointestinal flora and semen antifreeze performance of ram
Authors: Fan Chen , Aihemaiti Aikebaier , Fan Aoyun , Dilixiati Airixiati , Zhao Xi , Li Zhuo , Chen Changzheng , Zhao Guodong
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Cryopreservation of semen can give full play to the reproductive advantages of male animals. However, in actual production, due to the poor frost resistance of sheep semen and the low conception rate, the promotion of sheep frozen semen is greatly hindered. Therefore, it is urgent to improve the frost resistance of semen to improve the quality of frozen semen. At present, most studies on improving the quality of frozen semen are based on the improvement of semen dilutions, and few studies on improving the freezing resistance of ram semen by feeding functional amino acids.

Methods

Therefore, 24 Turpan black rams were divided into high antifreeze group (HF) and a low antifreeze group (LF) Each of these groups was further randomly divided into control and experimental subgroups. The control subgroup was fed a basal diet, while the experimental subgroup received an additional 12 g/d of L-Cit supplementation based on the control group for a duration of 90 days.

Results

The results showed that Following L-Cit supplementation, the experimental group demonstrated significantly elevated sperm density and VSL (Velocity of straight line), T-AOC, GSH-Px, and NO levels in fresh semen compared to the control group (P < 0.01). After thawing, the experimental group exhibited significantly higher levels of T-AOC, GSH-Px, and NO compared to the control group (P < 0.01). Additionally, the HFT group, after thawing frozen semen, displayed significantly higher HK1 protein expression compared to the control group. The number of spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and sperm cells in the HFT group was significantly higher than that in the HFC group. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that Candidatus_Saccharimonas, Staphylococcus, Weissella, succinivbrionaceae_UcG_002, and Quinella were significantly enriched in the rumen of the HFT group, while Ureaplasma was significantly enriched in the HFC group. In the duodenum, Clostridiales_bacterium_Firm_14, Butyrivibrio, and Prevotellaceae_NK3831_group were significantly enriched in the HFT group, whereas Desulfovibrio and Quinella were significantly enriched in the HFC group.

Discussion

Under the conditions employed in this study, L-Cit supplementation was found to enhance the intestinal flora composition in rams, thereby improving semen quality, enhancing the antifreeze performance of semen, and promoting the development of testicular spermatogenic cells.
Precise microbiome engineering using natural and synthetic bacteriophages targeting an artificial bacterial consortium
Authors: Tanaka Tomoki , Sugiyama Ryoga , Sato Yu , Kawaguchi Manami , Honda Kohsuke , Iwaki Hiroaki , Okano Kenji
Published: May 2024

In natural microbiomes, microorganisms interact with each other and exhibit diverse functions. Microbiome engineering, which enables bacterial knockdown, is a promising method to elucidate the functions of targeted bacteria in microbiomes. However, few methods to selectively kill target microorganisms in the microbiome without affecting the growth of nontarget microorganisms are available. In this study, we focused on the host-specific lytic ability of virulent phages and validated their potency for precise microbiome engineering. In an artificial microbiome consisting of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas putida, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum, the addition of bacteriophages infecting their respective host strains specifically reduced the number of these bacteria more than 102 orders. Remarkably, the reduction in target bacteria did not affect the growth of nontarget bacteria, indicating that bacteriophages were effective tools for precise microbiome engineering. Moreover, a virulent derivative of the λ phage was synthesized from prophage DNA in the genome of λ lysogen by in vivo DNA assembly and phage-rebooting techniques, and E. coli-targeted microbiome engineering was achieved. These results propose a novel approach for precise microbiome engineering using bacteriophages, in which virulent phages are synthesized from prophage DNA in lysogenic strains without isolating phages from environmental samples.
Anti-inflammatory activities of novel heat shock protein 90 isoform selective inhibitors in BV-2 microglial cells
Authors: Smith Amanda G. , Kliebe Valentin M. , Mishra Sanket , McCall Ryan P. , Irvine Megan M. , Blagg Brian S. J. , Lei Wei
Published: May 2024

Heat shock protein 90 (Hsp90) is a family of chaperone proteins that consists of four isoforms: Hsp90α, Hsp90β, glucose-regulated protein 94 (Grp94), and tumor necrosis factor type 1 receptor-associated protein (TRAP1). They are involved in modulating the folding, maturation, and activation of their client proteins to regulate numerous intracellular signaling pathways. Previous studies demonstrated that pan-Hsp90 inhibitors reduce inflammatory signaling pathways resulting in a reduction of inflammation and pain but show toxicities in cancer-related clinical trials. Further, the role of Hsp90 isoforms in inflammation remains poorly understood. This study aimed to determine anti-inflammatory activities of Hsp90 isoforms selective inhibitors on the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced inflammation in BV-2 cells, a murine microglial cell line. The production of inflammatory mediators such as nitric oxide (NO), interleukin 1 beta (IL-1β), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) was measured. We also investigated the impact of Hsp90 isoform inhibitors on the activation of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2), and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs). We found that selective inhibitors of Hsp90β reduced the LPS-induced production of NO, IL-1β, and TNF-α via diminishing the activation of NF-κB and Extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK) MAPK. The Hsp90α, Grp94, TRAP1 inhibitors had limited effect on the production of inflammatory mediators. These findings suggest that Hsp90β is the key player in LPS-induced neuroinflammation. Thereby providing a more selective drug target for development of medications involved in pain management that can potentially contribute to the reduction of adverse side effects associated with Hsp90 pan inhibitors.
Post-transcriptional regulation and subcellular localization of G-protein γ7 subunit: implications for striatal function and behavioral responses to cocaine
Authors: Pelletier Oliver B. , Brunori Gloria , Wang Yingcai , Robishaw Janet D.
Published: May 2024

The striatal D1 dopamine receptor (D1R) and A2a adenosine receptor (A2aR) signaling pathways play important roles in drug-related behaviors. These receptors activate the Golf protein comprised of a specific combination of αolfβ2γ7 subunits. During assembly, the γ7 subunit sets the cellular level of the Golf protein. In turn, the amount of Golf protein determines the collective output from both D1R and A2aR signaling pathways. This study shows the Gng7 gene encodes multiple γ7 transcripts differing only in their non-coding regions. In striatum, Transcript 1 is the predominant isoform. Preferentially expressed in the neuropil, Transcript 1 is localized in dendrites where it undergoes post-transcriptional regulation mediated by regulatory elements in its 3′ untranslated region that contribute to translational suppression of the γ7 protein. Earlier studies on gene-targeted mice demonstrated loss of γ7 protein disrupts assembly of the Golf protein. In the current study, morphological analysis reveals the loss of the Golf protein is associated with altered dendritic morphology of medium spiny neurons. Finally, behavioral analysis of conditional knockout mice with cell-specific deletion of the γ7 protein in distinct populations of medium spiny neurons reveals differential roles of the Golf protein in mediating behavioral responses to cocaine. Altogether, these findings provide a better understanding of the regulation of γ7 protein expression, its impact on Golf function, and point to a new potential target and mechanisms for treating addiction and related disorders.
Fusion inception and transformer network for continuous estimation of finger kinematics from surface electromyography
Authors: Lin Chuang , Zhang Xiaobing
Published: May 2024

Decoding surface electromyography (sEMG) to recognize human movement intentions enables us to achieve stable, natural and consistent control in the field of human computer interaction (HCI). In this paper, we present a novel deep learning (DL) model, named fusion inception and transformer network (FIT), which effectively models both local and global information on sequence data by fully leveraging the capabilities of Inception and Transformer networks. In the publicly available Ninapro dataset, we selected surface EMG signals from six typical hand grasping maneuvers in 10 subjects for predicting the values of the 10 most important joint angles in the hand. Our model’s performance, assessed through Pearson’s correlation coefficient (PCC), root mean square error (RMSE), and R-squared (R2) metrics, was compared with temporal convolutional network (TCN), long short-term memory network (LSTM), and bidirectional encoder representation from transformers model (BERT). Additionally, we also calculate the training time and the inference time of the models. The results show that FIT is the most performant, with excellent estimation accuracy and low computational cost. Our model contributes to the development of HCI technology and has significant practical value.
PointAS: an attention based sampling neural network for visual perception
Authors: Qiu Bozhi , Li Sheng , Wang Lei
Published: May 2024

Harnessing the remarkable ability of the human brain to recognize and process complex data is a significant challenge for researchers, particularly in the domain of point cloud classification—a technology that aims to replicate the neural structure of the brain for spatial recognition. The initial 3D point cloud data often suffers from noise, sparsity, and disorder, making accurate classification a formidable task, especially when extracting local information features. Therefore, in this study, we propose a novel attention-based end-to-end point cloud downsampling classification method, termed as PointAS, which is an experimental algorithm designed to be adaptable to various downstream tasks. PointAS consists of two primary modules: the adaptive sampling module and the attention module. Specifically, the attention module aggregates global features with the input point cloud data, while the adaptive module extracts local features. In the point cloud classification task, our method surpasses existing downsampling methods by a significant margin, allowing for more precise extraction of edge data points to capture overall contour features accurately. The classification accuracy of PointAS consistently exceeds 80% across various sampling ratios, with a remarkable accuracy of 75.37% even at ultra-high sampling ratios. Moreover, our method exhibits robustness in experiments, maintaining classification accuracies of 72.50% or higher under different noise disturbances. Both qualitative and quantitative experiments affirm the efficacy of our approach in the sampling classification task, providing researchers with a more accurate method to identify and classify neurons, synapses, and other structures, thereby promoting a deeper understanding of the nervous system.
Artificial intelligence to enhance prehospital stroke diagnosis and triage: a perspective
Authors: Wolcott Zoe C. , English Stephen W.
Published: May 2024

As health systems organize to deliver the highest quality stroke care to their patients, there is increasing emphasis being placed on prehospital stroke recognition, accurate diagnosis, and efficient triage to improve outcomes after stroke. Emergency medical services (EMS) personnel currently rely heavily on dispatch accuracy, stroke screening tools, bypass protocols and prehospital notification to care for patients with suspected stroke, but novel tools including mobile stroke units and telemedicine-enabled ambulances are already changing the landscape of prehospital stroke care. Herein, the authors provide our perspective on the current state of prehospital stroke diagnosis and triage including several of these emerging trends. Then, we provide commentary to highlight potential artificial intelligence (AI) applications to improve stroke detection, improve accurate and timely dispatch, enhance EMS training and performance, and develop novel stroke diagnostic tools for prehospital use.