bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of metabolomics in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Luo Guanfa , Wang Shuai , Lu Wen , Ju Wei , Li Jianhong , Tan Xiao , Zhao Huiting , Han Wei , Yang Xihu
Published: February 2024

Background

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is a prevalent malignancy affecting the head and neck region. The prognosis for OSCC patients remains unfavorable due to the absence of precise and efficient early diagnostic techniques. Metabolomics offers a promising approach for identifying distinct metabolites, thereby facilitating early detection and treatment of OSCC.

Objective

This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in metabolic marker identification for early OSCC diagnosis. Additionally, the clinical significance and potential applications of metabolic markers for the management of OSCC are discussed.

Results

This review summarizes metabolic changes during the occurrence and development of oral squamous cell carcinoma and reviews prospects for the clinical application of characteristic, differential metabolites in saliva, serum, and OSCC tissue. In this review, the application of metabolomic technology in OSCC research was summarized, and future research directions were proposed.

Conclusion

Metabolomics, detection technology that is the closest to phenotype, can efficiently identify differential metabolites. Combined with statistical data analyses and artificial intelligence technology, it can rapidly screen characteristic biomarkers for early diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis evaluations.
USP14 promotes the cancer stem‐like cell properties of OSCC via promoting SOX2 deubiquitination
Authors: Liu Chang , Zhou Shijie , Tang Wei
Published: February 2024

Objective

USP14 (Ubiquitin‐specific‐processing protease 14) is a deubiquitinating enzyme with oncogenic effects in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). This study aims to identify new substrates of USP14 and elucidate their role in modulating cancer stem‐like cells (CSCs) in OSCC.

Materials and Methods

Bioinformatics prediction and docking were performed using UbiBrowser 2.0 and HDOCK, respectively. OSCC cell lines and patient‐derived cells were used for experimental validation, employing co‐immunoprecipitation, cycloheximide chase assays, and tumor sphere formation to evaluate the effects of USP14 on SOX2 stability, ubiquitination, and CSC phenotypes.

Results

USP14 upregulation was associated with worse overall survival and progression‐free interval in OSCC. USP14 interacted with SOX2 with its ubiquitin carboxyl‐terminal hydrolase domain. USP14 knockdown impaired SOX2 stability by increasing its polyubiquitination. Ectopic overexpression of wild‐type USP14, but not the hydrolase‐deficient‐mutant USP14C114A, enhanced SOX2 stability by reducing polyubiquitination. USP14 knockdown suppressed OSCC cell proliferation, colony formation, and tumor sphere formation in vitro and tumor growth in vivo. However, the reduction of CSC markers following USP14 knockdown was mitigated by overexpressing SOX2. These findings were verified in OSCC patient‐derived CSC cells.

Conclusion

This study revealed a USP14‐SOX2 axis regulating the CSC properties of OSCC.
‘A random assembly of geometric forms’: Thing Theory in J. G. Ballard's and Ray Bradbury's short stories
Authors: Tereszewski Marcin
Published: February 2024

Thing Theory is a relatively new field of research, developed largely by Bill Brown on the basis of an already existing new materialist movement with roots reaching back to Martin Heidegger's interrogation of the ontology of things in ‘Das Ding’. Focusing on the interconnectedness of objects, their modes of being and irreducible ‘thingness’, as well as the agency objects are shown to exert when freed from the constraints of a subject‐centred perspective, this article presents a reading of three short stories by J. G. Ballard and Ray Bradbury which showcase how such issues are navigated in narrative form. Of particular interest for this article is the subject–object relationship, and the notion of ‘thingness’ as developed in Thing Theory in relation to the unique role accorded to the environment and inanimate objects in J. G. Ballard's and Ray Bradbury's selected works of fiction. It will be shown that a common theme connecting these works is the presence of a confrontation with the external world as it exists outside the definitions imposed on it by human subjects.
Myoglobin deficiency impairs maximal oxygen uptake and exercise performance: a lesson from Mb−/− mice
Authors: Zoladz Jerzy A. , Grandys Marcin , Smeda Marta , Kij Agnieszka , Kurpinska Anna , Kwiatkowski Grzegorz , Karasinski Janusz , Hendgen‐Cotta Ulrike , Chlopicki Stefan , Majerczak Joanna
Published: February 2024

Myoglobin (Mb) plays an important role at rest and during exercise as a reservoir of oxygen and has been suggested to regulate NO• bioavailability under hypoxic/acidic conditions. However, its ultimate role during exercise is still a subject of debate. We aimed to study the effect of Mb deficiency on maximal oxygen uptake () and exercise performance in myoglobin knockout mice (Mb−/−) when compared to control mice (Mb+/+). Furthermore, we also studied NO• bioavailability, assessed as nitrite (NO2−) and nitrate (NO3−) in the heart, locomotory muscle and in plasma, at rest and during exercise at exhaustion both in Mb−/− and in Mb+/+ mice. The mice performed maximal running incremental exercise on a treadmill with whole‐body gas exchange measurements. The Mb−/− mice had lower body mass, heart and hind limb muscle mass (P < 0.001). Mb−/− mice had significantly reduced maximal running performance (P < 0.001). expressed in ml min−1 in Mb−/− mice was 37% lower than in Mb+/+ mice (P < 0.001) and 13% lower when expressed in ml min−1 kg body mass−1 (P = 0.001). Additionally, Mb−/− mice had significantly lower plasma, heart and locomotory muscle NO2− levels at rest. During exercise NO2− increased significantly in the heart and locomotory muscles of Mb−/− and Mb+/+ mice, whereas no significant changes in NO2− were found in plasma. Our study showed that, contrary to recent suggestions, Mb deficiency significantly impairs and maximal running performance in mice.

image

Key points

Myoglobin knockout mice (Mb−/−) possess lower maximal oxygen uptake () and poorer maximal running performance than control mice (Mb+/+).

Respiratory exchange ratio values at high running velocities in Mb−/− mice are higher than in control mice suggesting a shift in substrate utilization towards glucose metabolism in Mb−/− mice at the same running velocities.

Lack of myoglobin lowers basal systemic and muscle NO• bioavailability, but does not affect exercise‐induced NO2− changes in plasma, heart and locomotory muscles.

The present study demonstrates that myoglobin is of vital importance for and maximal running performance as well as explains why previous studies have failed to prove such a role of myoglobin when using the Mb−/− mouse model.
Characterizing Drop-Wall Interactions of Engine Fuels at Engine-Relevant Conditions Using Smoothed Particle Hydrodynamics
Authors: Patwary Mohammad F. F. , Isik Doruk , Kong Song-Charng , Mayhew Eric , Kim Kenneth S. , Kweon Chol-Bum M.
Published: February 2024

In an internal combustion engine, interactions of fuel droplets and heated walls can significantly affect the combustion process and engine performance. The formation and characteristics of secondary droplets from drop-wall interactions are functions of various factors such as fuel properties, impact velocity, ambient conditions, and wall temperature. Understanding the impact behavior is important to optimize the distribution of the fuel-air mixture for efficient and clean combustion and to develop a comprehensive spray-wall interaction model. In this study, three-dimensional smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations are performed to investigate the interactions of fuel droplets with a heated wall at atmospheric and elevated pressures over a range of Weber numbers (We). The SPH model is validated using available experimental data. Secondary atomization is characterized by using size distributions for different fuels. The resulting droplets vary in size, where secondary droplets are mostly below 7 μm in diameter. Following these cases, this paper qualitatively describes the impact process and proposes empirical correlation relating the mean secondary droplet size to ambient pressure in the film-boiling regime. Postimpingement vaporization characteristics are also analyzed and compared for fuels with drastically different vapor pressures.
Experimental Study of the Impact of Ethanol Content on Partially Premixed Combustion With Ethanol-Gasoline Blends
Authors: Gainey Brian , Gandolfo John , Lawler Benjamin
Published: February 2024

As ethanol production increases and the demand for gasoline in spark ignition engines decreases over the next few decades, the use of these fuels in compression ignition systems is expected to increase. This raises the question of how much ethanol-in-gasoline is the right blend for compression ignition. This work experimentally studied E10, E30, E50, E75, and E100 in a split injection partially premixed compression ignition strategy. It was found that, separately, the cool flame reactivity of E10 and the high cooling potential of E75 and E100 enable heat release rate control in partially premixed combustion. E30 and E50 did not show the same control authority. E30 performed the worst due to having a small amount of cool flame reactivity and a low cooling potential. It was found that NOx emissions were not significantly impacted by ethanol content, but the smoke emissions were. E100 produced near zero smoke, but all the ethanol-gasoline blends produced some smoke. When 20% of the fuel was injected during the mid-dle of the compression stroke, E10, E30, E50, and E75 all produced low, but nonzero smoke emissions. When the second injection was moved near top dead center, the smoke emissions of E75 stayed low but the smoke emissions of E10, E30, and E50 all rose to a filter smoke number greater than 0.3. These results indicate that low- and high-ethanol content gasolines are both viable paths forward for partially premixed combustion systems, but medium-ethanol content gasolines should be avoided.
The KID Study (Kids Interacting With Dogs): Piloting a Novel Approach for Measuring Dog-Facilitated Youth Physical Activity
Authors: Chase Colleen J. , Burkart Sarah , Potter Katie
Published: February 2024

Background: Two-thirds of children in the United States do not meet the National Physical Activity Guidelines, leaving a majority at higher risk for negative health outcomes. Novel, effective children’s physical activity (PA) interventions are urgently needed. Dog-facilitated PA (e.g., dog walking and active play) is a promising intervention target, as dogs support many of the known correlates of children’s PA. There is a need for accurate methods of quantifying dog-facilitated PA. Purpose: The study purpose was to determine the feasibility and acceptability of a novel method for quantifying the volume and intensity of dog-facilitated PA among dog-owning children. Methods: Children and their dog(s) wore ActiGraph accelerometers with a Bluetooth proximity feature for 7 days. Additionally, parents logged child PA with the family dog(s). Total minutes of dog-facilitated PA and percentage of overall daily moderate to vigorous PA performed with the dog were calculated. Results: Twelve children (mean age = 7.8 ± 2.9 years) participated. There was high feasibility, with 100% retention, valid device data (at least 4 days ≥6-hr wear time), and completion of daily parent log and questionnaire packets. On average, dog-facilitated PA contributed 22.9% (9.2 min) and 15.1% (7.3 min) of the overall daily moderate to vigorous PA for children according to Bluetooth proximity data and parent report, respectively. Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated the feasibility of utilizing an accelerometer with a proximity feature to quantify dog-facilitated PA. Future research should use this protocol with a larger, more diverse sample to determine whether dog-facilitated PA contributes a clinically significant amount toward overall PA in dog-owning youth.
After-School Activities of Japanese Elementary School Children: Comparison of Children Who Attend Lessons and Cram Schools With Those Who Do Not
Authors: Kojima Yasuo
Published: February 2024

Background: This study examined the after-school activities of Japanese elementary school children in which little information is available for understanding the process by which participation in organized activities leads to the decrease in children’s independent mobility. Methods: One thousand eight hundred and twenty-four mothers of elementary school children participated in an online survey. The mothers responded to the questions on the number of lessons (or cram schools) their children attended weekdays, as well as their children’s behavior after classes, and parents providing transportation when their children go out to play. Results: The proportion of children attending lessons and/or cram schools increased as their grades progressed. A significant interaction existed between the degree of parental transportation and grade in terms of whether or not the children attended lessons and/or cram schools. Parental involvement included pick up or drop-off for a large percentage of younger children without lessons, whereas the degree of parental involvement was greater for older children attending lessons. In other words, parents of children without attending lessons or cram schools tended to allow children to engage in independent activities when they reached the higher grades, whereas parents of children who frequently attended lessons and cram schools tended to remain involved in transporting their children, even when they reached the higher grades. Conclusions: The results suggested that the participation of children in organized activities leads to a routine of parental pickup and/or drop-off, which renders difficult the facilitation of opportunities for children to independently participate in play activities.
Common Wrist-Extensor Tendon and Pectoralis Muscle Stiffness in Healthy Recreational Tennis Players
Authors: Day Joseph M. , Merriman Harold
Published: February 2024

Context: Imbalances in upper-extremity soft tissue stiffness may play a role in the development of shoulder and elbow musculoskeletal injuries in tennis players. Ultrasound shear wave elastography provides quantifiable and specific data regarding muscle stiffness. The purpose of this study was to compare tendon and muscle stiffness in healthy tennis players to nontennis players. Design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: The shear wave modulus, measured in kilopascals, was obtained for the dominant pectoralis major, pectoralis minor, and common wrist-extensor tendon using 2-dimensional shear wave elastography ultrasound imaging (GE Logiq S8, L9 linear transducer). Independent t test was run to compare age, body mass index, and the activity index score between both groups. Within-day intrarater reliability was assessed using a within-examiner intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC [3, 1]) with 95% confidence intervals. A multivariate general linear model was run to compare the mean differences between the tennis and nontennis players for each of the soft tissues. Results: Twenty-six individuals (13 tennis players and 13 nontennis players) were recruited. Within-day ICCs were very good (ICC > .78 for the pectoralis musculature) and excellent (ICC > .94 for the common wrist extensor). Common extensor tendon stiffness was significantly higher in tennis players compared to nontennis players (mean difference = 114.8 [61.8], confidence interval, −22.8 to 252.5 kPa for the dominant arm [P = .039]). Mean pectoralis major and minor stiffness differences were not significant (P > .214). Conclusions: Common wrist-extensor stiffness in healthy recreational tennis players is higher than those who do not play tennis. Therefore, clinicians may need to facilitate a greater soft tissue stiffness response with resistance training when rehabilitating recreational tennis players as compared to those not playing tennis. Additional normative data on a larger sample of recreational tennis players should be collected.
Poachers turned gamekeepers in T cells
Authors: Foley John F.
Published: February 2024

The efficacy of therapeutic T cells is enhanced by incorporating mutations associated with autoimmunity or lymphoma.
A population pharmacokinetic model for posaconazole intravenous solution and oral powder for suspension formulations in pediatric patients with neutropenia
Authors: Winchell Gregory , de Greef Rik , Ouerdani Aziz , Fauchet Floris , Wrishko Rebecca E. , Mangin Eric , Bruno Christopher , Waskin Hetty
Published: February 2024

The objective of this study was to support posaconazole dose regimens in pediatric patients aged ≥2 years, using a population pharmacokinetic (PK) approach with data from a phase 1b study (NCT02452034). A one-compartment model with first-order absorption was fit to pharmacokinetic data from 144 participants aged 2 to 17 years, who were administered posaconazole as intravenous (IV) and powder for oral suspension (PFS) formulations, or IV only, at dosing regimens of 3.5, 4.5, and 6 mg/kg. The influence of demographic and clinical factors on pharmacokinetic parameters was evaluated using a stepwise forward inclusion/backward exclusion procedure. The final model simulated posaconazole exposure in patients aged 2 to <7 and 7 to 17 years at dosing regimens of 4.5, 6, and 7.5 mg/kg. Plasma concentration data following IV and PFS administration were well-described by a one-compartment model with first-order absorption and estimated bioavailability, where clearance and volume were subject to allometric scaling by body weight. The 6-mg/kg dosing regimen achieved the pharmacokinetic target (90% of the pediatric population having an average steady-state plasma concentration of ≥500 and <2,000 ng/mL) for both age groups, regardless of whether patients received IV and PFS or IV only. In a virtual adolescent population (body weight >40 kg), the 300 mg/day posaconazole tablet was also predicted to achieve the pharmacokinetic target and remain within a safe range of exposure. These data informed a weight-based nomogram for PFS dosing to maximize the number of pediatric patients achieving the pharmacokinetic target across weight bands, while also maintaining a favorable benefit/risk profile.
Bactericidal and sterilizing activity of novel regimens combining bedaquiline or TBAJ-587 with GSK2556286 and TBA-7371 in a mouse model of tuberculosis
Authors: Li Si-Yang , Tyagi Sandeep , Soni Heena , Betoudji Fabrice , Converse Paul J. , Mdluli Khisimuzi , Upton Anna M. , Fotouhi Nader , Barros-Aguirre David , Ballell Lluís , Jimenez-Navarro Elena , Nuermberger Eric L.
Published: February 2024

The combination of bedaquiline, pretomanid, and linezolid (BPaL) has become a preferred regimen for treating multidrug- and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB). However, treatment-limiting toxicities of linezolid and reports of emerging bedaquiline and pretomanid resistance necessitate efforts to develop new short-course oral regimens. We recently found that the addition of GSK2556286 increases the bactericidal and sterilizing activity of BPa-containing regimens in a well-established BALB/c mouse model of tuberculosis. Here, we used this model to evaluate the potential of new regimens combining bedaquiline or the more potent diarylquinoline TBAJ-587 with GSK2556286 and the DprE1 inhibitor TBA-7371, all of which are currently in early-phase clinical trials. We found the combination of bedaquiline, GSK2556286, and TBA-7371 to be more active than the first-line regimen and nearly as effective as BPaL in terms of bactericidal and sterilizing activity. In addition, we found that GSK2556286 and TBA-7371 were as effective as pretomanid and the novel oxazolidinone TBI-223 when either drug pair was combined with TBAJ-587 and that the addition of GSK2556286 increased the bactericidal activity of the TBAJ-587, pretomanid, and TBI-223 combination. We conclude that GSK2556286 and TBA-7371 have the potential to replace pretomanid, an oxazolidinone, or both components, in combination with bedaquiline or TBAJ-587.
Genome sequence of
Arthrobacter globiformis
phage MaGuCo
Authors: Diggins Amanda E. , Gubitose Mary G. , Hinrichsen Elijah G. , Jones Patrick T. , Kearns Brian S. , Lord Caitlynn E. , Parsons Mary T. , Pitt Rachel A. , Woods Isabella A. , Zarakotas Teagan R. , Wilkes Beth M.
Published: February 2024

MaGuCo is a temperate phage isolated from soil collected in Alton, NH, USA, using
Arthrobacter globiformis
. Its genome is 43,924 base pairs long and contains 63 protein-encoding genes, 44 of which were assigned putative functions. MaCuGo is assigned to cluster AZ2 based on gene content similarity to actinobacteriophages.
Multidrug resistance plasmids commonly reprogram the expression of metabolic genes in
Escherichia coli
Authors: Hall Rebecca J. , Snaith Ann E. , Thomas Matthew J. N. , Brockhurst Michael A. , McNally Alan
Published: February 2024

Multidrug-resistant
Escherichia coli
is a leading cause of global mortality. Transfer of plasmids carrying genes encoding beta-lactamases, carbapenamases, and colistin resistance between lineages is driving the rising rates of hard-to-treat nosocomial and community infections. Multidrug resistance (MDR) plasmid acquisition commonly causes transcriptional disruption, and while a number of studies have shown strain-specific fitness and transcriptional effects of an MDR plasmid across diverse bacterial lineages, fewer studies have compared the impacts of different MDR plasmids in a common bacterial host. As such, our ability to predict which MDR plasmids are the most likely to be maintained and spread in bacterial populations is limited. Here, we introduced eight diverse MDR plasmids encoding resistances against a range of clinically important antibiotics into
E. coli
K-12 MG1655 and measured their fitness costs and transcriptional impacts. The scale of the transcriptional responses varied substantially between plasmids, ranging from >650 to <20 chromosomal genes being differentially expressed. However, the scale of regulatory disruption did not correlate significantly with the magnitude of the plasmid fitness cost, which also varied between plasmids. The identities of differentially expressed genes differed between transconjugants, although the expression of certain metabolic genes and functions were convergently affected by multiple plasmids, including the downregulation of genes involved in L-methionine transport and metabolism. Our data show the complexity of the interaction between host genetic background and plasmid genetic background in determining the impact of MDR plasmid acquisition on
E. coli
.

IMPORTANCE

The increase in infections that are resistant to multiple classes of antibiotics, including those isolates that carry carbapenamases, beta-lactamases, and colistin resistance genes, is of global concern. Many of these resistances are spread by conjugative plasmids. Understanding more about how an isolate responds to an incoming plasmid that encodes antibiotic resistance will provide information that could be used to predict the emergence of MDR lineages. Here, the identification of metabolic networks as being particularly sensitive to incoming plasmids suggests the possible targets for reducing plasmid transfer.
Functional characterization of RhuB as a second TonB2-dependent hemin receptor in
Riemerella anatipestifer
CH-1
Authors: Wang Mengying , Wang Siyi , Wang Mingshu , Zhu Dekang , Jia Renyong , Chen Shun , Zhao Xinxin , Yang Qiao , Wu Ying , Zhang Shaqiu , Huang Juan , Liu Mafeng , Cheng Anchun
Published: February 2024

In the previous study, it was shown that
Riemerella anatipestifer
(
R. anatipestifer
, RA), a pathogen in ducks and some other birds, encodes a hemin uptake system. The
R. anatipestifer
hemin uptake receptor RhuR is a TonB2-dependent hemin transporter. However, it remains unclear whether
R. anatipestifer
encodes additional TonB-dependent hemin transporters. Herein, we demonstrated that
R. anatipestifer
hemin uptake receptor B (RhuB) of
R. anatipestifer
CH-1 (RA CH-1) was negatively regulated by iron and mediated by the Fur protein, and knocking out
rhuB
damaged the ability of RA CH-1 to utilize iron from duck hemoglobin (Hb) but not that from duck serum. Moreover, the ability to use iron from Hb was restored by the expression
rhuB in trans
. Furthermore, the RhuB of RA CH-1 is a membrane protein, and recombinant RhuB could bind hemin at a 1:1 molar ratio
in vitro
. Compared to that of Δ
tonB1
Δ
rhuR
, the ability of Δ
tonB1
Δ
rhuR
Δ
rhuB
to utilize hemin was impaired; meanwhile, compared to that of Δ
tonB2
Δ
rhuR
, the hemin utilization ability of Δ
tonB2
Δ
rhuR
Δ
rhuB
was not affected, indicating that RhuB is a TonB2-dependent receptor. Compared to Δ
rhuB
,
ΔrhuBΔrhuA
did not affect hemin utilization. However, compared to Δ
rhuA
,
ΔrhuBΔrhuA
had reduced ability to utilize hemin, suggesting that RhuA relies on RhuB for its activity. Finally, the deletion of
rhuB
did not affect the virulence of RA CH-1. These results suggested that RhuB encodes a TonB2-dependent hemin receptor. The characterization of the second TonB-dependent receptor in
R. anatipestifer
enriches our understanding of the hemin uptake system of this bacterium.

IMPORTANCE

Iron is essential for the survival of most bacteria, and hemin of hemoglobin can serve as an important iron source. In our previous studies, we showed that
R. anatipestifer
CH-1 encodes a TonB2-dependent hemin receptor RhuR, which is involved in hemin uptake. The deletion of
rhuR
did not abolish hemin utilization by RA CH-1. We hypothesized that additional hemin uptake systems exist in this bacterium. In this study, we identified the second TonB2-dependent hemin receptor RhuB in RA CH-1 through hemin utilization, protein localization, and hemin-binding experiments. The duck infection model showed that the deletion of
rhuB
did not affect the virulence of RA CH-1. This study is not only important for further understanding the hemin utilization mechanism of
R. anatipestifer
, but also for enriching the hemin uptake transporters of gram-negative bacteria.
Detection of
Salmonella enterica
and
Listeria monocytogenes
in alternative irrigation water by culture and qPCR-based methods in the Mid-Atlantic U.S.
Authors: Acheamfour Chanelle L. , Parveen Salina , Gutierrez Alan , Handy Eric T. , Behal Sara , Kim Donghyun , Kim Seongyun , East Cheryl , Xiong Ray , Haymaker Joseph R. , Micallef Shirley A. , Rosenberg Goldstein Rachel E. , Kniel Kalmia E. , Sapkota Amy R. , Hashem Fawzy , Sharma Manan
Published: February 2024

Alternative irrigation waters (rivers, ponds, and reclaimed water) can harbor bacterial foodborne pathogens like
Salmonella enterica
and
Listeria monocytogenes
, potentially contaminating fruit and vegetable commodities. Detecting foodborne pathogens using qPCR-based methods may accelerate testing methods and procedures compared to culture-based methods. This study compared detection
of S. enterica and L. monocytogenes
by qPCR (real-time PCR) and culture methods in irrigation waters to determine the influence of water type (river, pond, and reclaimed water), season (winter, spring, summer, and fall), or volume (0.1, 1, and 10 L) on sensitivity, accuracy, specificity, and positive (PPV), and negative (NPV) predictive values of these methods. Water samples were collected by filtration through modified Moore swabs (MMS) over a 2-year period at 11 sites in the Mid-Atlantic U.S. on a bi-weekly or monthly schedule. For qPCR, bacterial DNA from culture-enriched samples (
n
= 1,990) was analyzed by multiplex qPCR specific for
S. enterica
and
L. monocytogenes
. For culture detection, enriched samples were selectively enriched, isolated, and PCR confirmed. PPVs for qPCR detection of
S. enterica
and
L. monocytogenes
were 68% and 67%, respectively. The NPV were 87% (
S. enterica
) and 85% (
L. monocytogenes
). Higher levels of qPCR/culture agreement were observed in spring and summer compared to fall and winter for
S. enterica
; for
L. monocytogenes
, lower levels of agreement were observed in winter compared to spring, summer, and fall. Reclaimed and pond water supported higher levels of qPCR/culture agreement compared to river water for both
S. enterica
and
L. monocytogenes
, indicating that water type may influence the agreement of these results.

IMPORTANCE

Detecting foodborne pathogens in irrigation water can inform interventions and management strategies to reduce risk of contamination and illness associated with fresh and fresh-cut fruits and vegetables. The use of non-culture methods like qPCR has the potential to accelerate the testing process. Results indicated that pond and reclaimed water showed higher levels of agreement between culture and qPCR methods than river water, perhaps due to specific physiochemical characteristics of the water. These findings also show that season and sample volume affect the agreement of qPCR and culture results. Overall, qPCR methods could be more confidently utilized to determine the absence of
Salmonella enterica
and
Listeria monocytogenes
in irrigation water samples examined in this study.
The Polarization Jet/SAID and Plasma Irregularities of Different Scales
Authors: Sinevich A. A. , Chernyshov A. A. , Chugunin D. V. , Miloch W. J. , Mogilevsky M. M.
Published: February 2024

Results are presented from a study of the internal small-scale structure of the polarization jet/SAID using data from different satellites. The minimum size of irregularities and the typical internal composition of a stratified subauroral ion drift (SSAID) are confirmed. A two-peak structure is found that contains two large strata of the polarization jet/SAID. A shift in latitude is shown for the strata of electron density and temperature, relative to each other.
Unintentional injury deaths associated with sport and recreation in Québec, Canada, 2006–2019
Authors: Richard Philippe , Lahiri-Rousseau Judith , Phimmasone Jonathan , Belley-Ranger Emilie , Sylvain-Morneau Jérémie , Gagne Mathieu , Perron Paul-André , Goulet Claude
Published: February 2024

Objectives

This study examined trends in the frequencies and rates of deaths associated with unintentional injuries in sport and recreation in Québec, Canada, for the period January 2006–December 2019.

Methods

In this descriptive retrospective study, data were extracted from the database of the Bureau du coroner du Québec. Incidence rates were calculated using participation data from the Étude des blessures subies au cours de la pratique d’activités récréatives et sportives au Québec (ÉBARS) and Canadian census population data. Poisson regression was used to investigate changes in death rates over the 14-year period by estimating incidence rate ratios.

Results

There were 1937 unintentional injury deaths and the population-based death rate was 1.72 per 100 000 person-years. The participation-based rate was 1.40 per 100 000 participant-years, considering the 24 matching activities in both ÉBARS’ editions. Using both population-based and participation-based denominators, separate analyses consistently showed declining death rates in non-motorised navigation and cycling. Deaths related to all-terrain vehicles, snowmobiles, swimming, cycling, motorised navigation and non-motorised navigation activities accounted for 80.2% of all deaths. Drowning was documented as a cause of death in 39.3% of all fatalities. Males represented 86.8% of all deaths, with males aged 18–24 years and 65 and over having the highest rates.

Conclusion

The death rates of unintentional injury deaths associated with non-motorised navigation and cycling declined, from January 2006 to December 2019. The characteristics and mechanisms of drowning deaths and fatalities that occurred in activities associated with higher death frequencies and rates need to be further investigated.
Solvatochromism of a saddle-distorted cationic Zn(II)-porphyrin complex
Authors: Ochiai Hidemi , Ishizuka Tomoya , Tanaka Hiro , Shiota Yoshihito , Yoshizawa Kazunari , Kojima Takahiko
Published: February 2024

A saddle-distorted and cationic Zn(II)-porphyrin complex was revealed to exhibit solvatochromism in organic solvents, depending on the donor numbers. The color change was derived from the alteration of the HOMO-LUMO gap caused by the distortion of the porphyrin mean plane due to solvent coordination.
Improving Semi-Supervised Text Classification with Dual Meta-Learning
Authors: Li Shujie , Yuan Guanghu , Yang Min , Shen Ying , Li Chengming , Xu Ruifeng , Zhao Xiaoyan
Published: February 2024

The goal of semi-supervised text classification (SSTC) is to train a model by exploring both a small number of labeled data and a large number of unlabeled data, such that the learned semi-supervised classifier performs better than the supervised classifier trained on solely the labeled samples. Pseudo-labeling is one of the most widely used SSTC techniques, which trains a teacher classifier with a small number of labeled examples to predict pseudo labels for the unlabeled data. The generated pseudo-labeled examples are then utilized to train a student classifier, such that the learned student classifier can outperform the teacher classifier. Nevertheless, the predicted pseudo labels may be inaccurate, making the performance of the student classifier degraded. The student classifier may perform even worse than the teacher classifier. To alleviate this issue, in this paper, we introduce a dual meta-learning (
DML
) technique for semi-supervised text classification, which improves the teacher and student classifiers simultaneously in an iterative manner. Specifically, we propose a meta-noise correction method to improve the student classifier by proposing a Noise Transition Matrix (NTM) with meta-learning to rectify the noisy pseudo labels. In addition, we devise a meta pseudo supervision method to improve the teacher classifier. Concretely, we exploit the feedback performance from the student classifier to further guide the teacher classifier to produce more accurate pseudo labels for the unlabeled data. In this way, both teacher and student classifiers can co-evolve in the iterative training process. Extensive experiments on four benchmark datasets highlight the effectiveness of our DML method against existing state-of-the-art methods for semi-supervised text classification. We release our code and data of this paper publicly at https://github.com/GRIT621/DML.
Exploiting Physical Referent Features as Input for Multidimensional Data Selection in Augmented Reality
Authors: Perelman Gary , Serrano Marcos , Dubois Emmanuel
Published: February 2024

Embedding data into the physical environment using augmented reality (AR) is a practical approach for data visualization as it offers a large and flexible display space on or around the physical referent, i.e., the physical object to which the data is related. Yet, current interaction in such context is often performed using cumbersome dedicated devices, tiring mid-air gestures, or awkward on-body input. In this article, we investigate the use of the physical referent itself as a support for input interaction with an embedded space-time cube (STC) representation. Hence, we first identify the most promising mappings between the physical features of the referent (edges, faces, corners) and the STC dimensions. Then, we design three data selection techniques using the physical referent and compare them to mid-air gestures when performing selection tasks on the STC. Overall, our work demonstrates that using the physical referent to support input interaction with embedded data representations is an efficient and comfortable approach for data selection in standing and sitting situations.
Implementation of Frugal Innovation Approach in Moroccan Industry through the Development of a New Frugal System
Authors: Karroumi Bilal , Sedqui Abdelfettah
Published: February 2024

To keep pace with economic growth in an environment marked by globalization, competition, and the significant magnitude of market requirements, companies must be dynamic to adapt quickly to new demands. This dynamism must be achieved through frugal projects aimed at achieving better performance with fewer resources. In line with this vision, we have proposed a new frugal innovation approach to develop a new concept of machines to meet the requirements of Smart Automation, which is the main element of the transformation plan defined by our company as a strategy for the coming years. This strategy aligns with the direction set by Morocco for the second generation of the Industrial Acceleration Plan 2021–2025. This work serves to introduce the objectives of the second‐generation Industrial Acceleration Plan in Morocco, describe a company transformation strategy with an emphasis on the Smart Automation component and its context, explain frugal innovation applications within our organization and their outcomes, and outline the project and frugal innovation approach perspectives in Morocco. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the newly proposed and implemented concept of frugal innovation, illustrated in a cost reduction of 59.7% compared with the manual process, of less than 56.3% compared with the existing semi‐automatic process, and of less than 36.8% compared with the fully automatic process and in the improvement of quality by a reduction in customer complaints of 72.7% and in the scrap rate percentage of 0.2%. This has been achieved by providing cost‐effective solutions in our competitive automotive environment. These results reinforce the importance of the approach in its global application.
TABLE 1 from Genomic Characterization and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Peritoneal Metastases from the AACR GENIE Biopharma Collaborative Colorectal Cancer Registry
Authors: Sanz-Garcia Enrique , Brown Samantha , Lavery Jessica A. , Weiss Jessica , Fuchs Hannah E. , Newcomb Ashley , Postle Asha , Warner Jeremy L. , LeNoue-Newton Michele L. , Sweeney Shawn M. , Pillai Shirin , Yu Celeste , Nichols Chelsea , Mastrogiacomo Brooke , Kundra Ritika , Schultz Nikolaus , Kehl Kenneth L. , Riely Gregory J. , Schrag Deborah , Govindarajan Anand , Panageas Katherine S. , Bedard Philippe L.
Published: February 2024

Clinical and pathologic characteristics of the study cohort
FIGURE 3 from Genomic Characterization and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Peritoneal Metastases from the AACR GENIE Biopharma Collaborative Colorectal Cancer Registry
Authors: Sanz-Garcia Enrique , Brown Samantha , Lavery Jessica A. , Weiss Jessica , Fuchs Hannah E. , Newcomb Ashley , Postle Asha , Warner Jeremy L. , LeNoue-Newton Michele L. , Sweeney Shawn M. , Pillai Shirin , Yu Celeste , Nichols Chelsea , Mastrogiacomo Brooke , Kundra Ritika , Schultz Nikolaus , Kehl Kenneth L. , Riely Gregory J. , Schrag Deborah , Govindarajan Anand , Panageas Katherine S. , Bedard Philippe L.
Published: February 2024

PFS from initiation of first-line cancer-directed regimen (A, PM vs. non-PM; B, PM only vs. PM and other sites vs. non-PM; C, stage IV: PM only vs. PM and other sites vs. non-PM; D, stage I–III with later development of distant metastasis: PM vs. non-PM).
FIGURE 1 from Genomic Characterization and Clinical Outcomes of Patients with Peritoneal Metastases from the AACR GENIE Biopharma Collaborative Colorectal Cancer Registry
Authors: Sanz-Garcia Enrique , Brown Samantha , Lavery Jessica A. , Weiss Jessica , Fuchs Hannah E. , Newcomb Ashley , Postle Asha , Warner Jeremy L. , LeNoue-Newton Michele L. , Sweeney Shawn M. , Pillai Shirin , Yu Celeste , Nichols Chelsea , Mastrogiacomo Brooke , Kundra Ritika , Schultz Nikolaus , Kehl Kenneth L. , Riely Gregory J. , Schrag Deborah , Govindarajan Anand , Panageas Katherine S. , Bedard Philippe L.
Published: February 2024

Flowchart of patient selection from GENIE BPC colorectal cancer registry.
Correlation between electrical conductivity in saturated paste extracts and different diluted extracts (1/2.5, 1/5) of coarse-textured soils
Authors: Bakhti Dahman , Oustani Mabrouka , Halilat Mohamed Taher , Zemour Hafidh , Khadoumi Amar , Belhouadjeb Fathi Abdellatif
Published: February 2024

Soil salinity poses a significant challenge to agricultural productivity, necessitating precise measurement methods. Rather than relying on complex determinations like saturated paste extracts (ECe), a practical alternative involves assessing soil salinity through the Electrical Conductivity (EC) of soil-water extracts. This simplified yet reliable method is crucial for understanding the impact of soil salinity on agricultural yields. To improve accuracy in representing soluble salts relevant to plant growth, the conversion of EC from soil water extracts to ECe becomes pivotal.In an experimental study, a clear relationship was sought between the Electrical Conductivity (EC) of saturated paste extracts (ECe) and the ratios found in soil-water extracts (1/2.5 and 1/5). Fifty samples of coarse-textured soil were collected from the Djamâa palm grove in Sidi Yahia village, located in the Oued Righ region within the Djamaa Zone. The analysis of the collected data revealed compelling findings, indicating a robust and statistically significant correlation between values obtained from ECe and those derived from EC1/2.5 and EC1/5 (correlation coefficient of R = 0.93 and 0.91, at a significance level of P = 0.05). These results highlight the promising potential of accurately estimating ECe in coarse-textured soils by employing EC1/2.5 and EC1/5, paving the way for streamlining assessment methodologies for soil salinity. This study not only elucidates the correlation between conductivity measures but also proposes a practical means to estimate soil salinity more efficiently. The findings contribute to informed decision-making in agricultural practices within the Northern Sahara's Djamâa palm grove and similar regions, offering valuable insights for sustainable soil management.
Sex Differences in Coronary Inflammation and Atherosclerosis Phenotypes in Response to Imaging Marker of Stress-Related Neural Activity
Authors: Dai Neng , Tang Xianglin , Weng Xinyu , Cai Haidong , Zhuang Jianhui , Yang Guangjie , Zhou Fan , Wu Ping , Liu Bao , Duan Shaofeng , Yu Yongfu , Guo Weifeng , Ju Zhiguo , Zhang Longjiang , Wang Zhenguang , Wang Yuetao , Lu Bin , Shi Hongcheng , Qian Juying , Ge Junbo
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND:

Sex-specific differences in coronary phenotypes in response to stress have not been elucidated. This study investigated the sex-specific differences in the coronary computed tomography angiography-assessed coronary response to mental stress.

METHODS:

This retrospective study included patients with coronary artery disease and without cancer who underwent resting
18
F-fluorodexoyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography and coronary computed tomography angiography within 3 months.
18
F-flourodeoxyglucose resting amygdalar uptake, an imaging biomarker of stress-related neural activity, coronary inflammation (fat attenuation index), and high-risk plaque characteristics were assessed by coronary computed tomography angiography. Their correlation and prognostic values were assessed according to sex.

RESULTS:

A total of 364 participants (27.7% women and 72.3% men) were enrolled. Among those with heightened stress-related neural activity, women were more likely to have a higher fat attenuation index (43.0% versus 24.0%;
P
=0.004), while men had a higher frequency of high-risk plaques (53.7% versus 39.3%;
P
=0.036). High amygdalar
18
F-flourodeoxyglucose uptake (B-coefficient [SE], 3.62 [0.21];
P
<0.001) was selected as the strongest predictor of fat attenuation index in a fully adjusted linear regression model in women, and the first-order interaction term consisting of sex and stress-related neural activity was significant (
P
<0.001). Those with enhanced imaging biomarkers of stress-related neural activity showed increased risk of major adverse cardiovascular event both in women (24.5% versus 5.1%; adjusted hazard ratio, 3.62 [95% CI, 1.14–17.14];
P
=0.039) and men (17.2% versus 6.9%; adjusted hazard ratio, 2.72 [95% CI, 1.10–6.69];
P
=0.030).

CONCLUSIONS:

Imaging-assessed stress-related neural activity carried prognostic values irrespective of sex; however, a sex-specific mechanism linking psychological stress to coronary plaque phenotypes existed in the current hypothesis-generating study.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT05545618.
Angiography-Derived Index of Microcirculatory Resistance to Define the Risk of Early Discharge in STEMI
Authors: Scarsini Roberto , Kotronias Rafail A. , Della Mora Francesco , Portolan Leonardo , Andreaggi Stefano , Benenati Stefano , Marin Federico , Sgreva Sara , Comuzzi Alberto , Butturini Caterina , Pesarini Gabriele , Tavella Domenico , Channon Keith M. , Garcia Garcia Hector M. , Ribichini Flavio , Banning Adrian P. , De Maria Giovanni Luigi
Published: February 2024

BACKGROUND:

Patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction but no coronary microvascular injury are at low risk of early cardiovascular complications (ECC). We aim to assess whether nonhyperemic angiography-derived index of microcirculatory resistance (NH-IMR
angio
) could be a user-friendly tool to identify patients at low risk of ECC, potentially candidates for expedited care pathway and early hospital discharge.

METHODS:

Retrospective analysis of 2 independent, international, prospective, observational cohorts included 568 patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. NH-IMR
angio
was calculated based on standard coronary angiographic views with 3-dimensional-modeling and computational analysis of the coronary flow.

RESULTS:

Overall, ECC (a composite of cardiovascular death, cardiogenic shock, acute heart failure, life-threatening arrhythmias, resuscitated cardiac arrest, left ventricular thrombus, post-ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction mechanical complications, and rehospitalization for acute heart failure or acute myocardial infarction at 30 days follow-up), occurred in 54 (9.3%) patients. NH-IMR
angio
was significantly correlated with pressure/thermodilution-based index of microcirculatory resistance (r=0.607;
P
<0.0001) and demonstrated good accuracy in predicting ECC (area under the curve, 0.766 [95% CI, 0.706–0.827];
P
<0.0001). Importantly, ECC occurred more frequently in patients with NH-IMR
angio
≥40 units (18.1% versus 1.4%;
P
<0.0001). At multivariable analysis, NH-IMR
angio
provided incremental prognostic value to conventional clinical, angiographic, and echocardiographic features (adjusted-odds ratio, 14.861 [95% CI, 5.177–42.661];
P
<0.0001). NH-IMR
angio
<40 units showed an excellent negative predictive value (98.6%) in ruling out ECC. Discharging patients with NH-IMR
angio
<40 units at 48 hours after admission would reduce the total in-hospital stay by 943 days (median 2 [1–4] days per patient).

CONCLUSIONS:

NH-IMR
angio
is a valuable risk-stratification tool in patients with ST-segment–elevation myocardial infarction. NH-IMR
angio
guided strategies to early discharge may contribute to safely shorten hospital stay, optimizing resources utilization.