bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Urine metabolites for the identification of Onchocerca volvulus infections in patients from Cameroon
Authors: Wewer Vera , Peisker Helga , Gutbrod Katharina , Al-Bahra Mazen , Menche Dirk , Amambo Ngongeh Glory , Fombad Fanny F. , Njouendou Abdel Jelil , Pfarr Kenneth , Wanji Samuel , Hoerauf Achim , Dörmann Peter
Published: August 2021

Background

The tropical disease onchocerciasis (river blindness), caused by Onchocerca volvulus filarial nematodes, is targeted for elimination by mass treatment with nematocidal and antimicrobial drugs. Diagnosis of O. volvulus infections is based on counts of skin-borne microfilariae, but additional diagnostic tools, e.g. worm- or host-derived small RNAs, proteins or metabolites, are required for high-throughput screening. N-acetyltyramine-O,β-glucuronide (NATOG) was suggested as a biomarker for onchocerciasis but its viability as diagnostic tool has been challenged.

Methods

We performed a screening program of urine samples from individuals from Cameroon infected with O. volvulus, Loa loa, Mansonella perstans or a combination thereof. Urine metabolites were measured by liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Principle component analysis (PCA) revealed that onchocerciasis causes complex changes of the urine metabolome.

Results

The mean NATOG content was elevated in urine of O. volvulus-infected compared with non-infected individuals, but NATOG levels showed considerable variation. However, 13.8% of all O. volvulus-infected individuals had high NATOG levels never reached by individuals without filarial infections or only infected with L. loa or M. perstans. Therefore, the identification of individuals with high NATOG levels might be used to screen for the elimination of onchocerciasis after mass drug application. Additional metabolites, including a compound identified as cinnamoylglycine, had high PC1/PC2 loadings in the data set. Mean levels of cinnamoylglycine were increased in O. volvulus-infected individuals, and 17.2% of all O. volvulus individuals had elevated cinnamoylglycine levels not reached by the controls.

Conclusions

On an individual level, NATOG alone had poor discriminative power distinguishing infected from non-infected individuals. However, 13.8% of all O. volvulus-infected individuals had NATOG levels never reached by individuals without filarial infections or infected with only L. loa or M. perstans. Discrimination of O. volvulus infections from controls or individuals suffering from multiple infections was improved by the measurement of additional metabolites, e.g. cinnamoylglycine. Thus, measuring a combination of urine metabolites may provide a way to assess onchocerciasis on the population level. This provides the possibility to design a strategy for large-scale onchocerciasis epidemiological screening programs based on urine rather than invasive techniques.

Graphical abstract
When a rare simultaneous infection simulates a local extension of a rectal cancer: a case report
Authors: Baba Hicham , Fassi Fihri Jawad , Ramraoui Mohammed Essaid , Elguazzar Ahmed , Zeroual Ahmed , Lahkim Mohammed , El Khader Ahmed , Achour Abdessamad , El Barni Rachid
Published: August 2021

Background

Actinomycosis is a rare chronic infection caused by Actinomyces. The abdominopelvic localization of this pathology makes preoperative diagnosis extremely exceptional. The following report is the case of a patient treated for adenocarcinoma of the middle rectum associated with mesorectal actinomycosis. The diagnosis of actinomycosis was made postoperatively.

Case presentation

A 69-year-old Caucasian male patient was admitted for rectal bleeding. Clinical and paraclinical assessment revealed a middle rectum adenocarcinoma with local extension in the mesorectum. The patient underwent an anterior resection of the rectum by laparotomy after neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy. Postoperative follow-up was simple. Pathological study of the specimen noted complete sterilization of the rectal adenocarcinoma and the presence of large foci of suppurative necrosis containing actinomycotic grains in the mesorectum.

Conclusion

Abdominopelvic actinomycosis is a rare pathology and has therefore rarely been dealt with. This issue can lead to unnecessary and mutilating surgery. We report an exceptional coincidence of rectal adenocarcinoma and mesorectal actinomycosis mistaken for mesorectal extension of the cancer.
Transplantation of human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells to treat premature ovarian failure
Authors: Shareghi-oskoue Oldouz , Aghebati-Maleki Leili , Yousefi Mehdi
Published: August 2021

As one of the problems and diseases for women before 40 years, premature ovarian failure (POF) could be characterized by amenorrhea, low estrogen levels, infertility, high gonadotropin levels, and lack of mature follicles. Causes of the disease involve some genetic disorders, autoimmunity diseases, and environmental factors. Various approaches have been employed to treat POF, however with limited success. Today, stem cells are used to treat POF, since they have the potential to self-repair and regenerate, and are effective in treating ovarian failure and infertility. As mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) could simultaneously activate several mechanisms, many researchers consider MSC transplantation to be the best and most effective approach in cell therapy. A good source for mesenchymal stem cells is human umbilical cord (HUCMSC). Animal models with cyclophosphamide are required for stem cell treatment and performance of HUCMSC transplantation. Stem cell therapy could indicate the levels of ovarian markers and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor. It also increases ovarian weight, plasma E2 levels, and the amount of standard follicles. Herein, the causes of POF, effective treatment strategies, and the effect of HUCMSC transplantation for the treatment of premature ovarian failure are reviewed. Many studies have been conducted in this field, and the results have shown that stem cell treatment is an effective approach to treat infertility.
A simplified approach for determination of urinary ethyl glucuronide by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
Authors: Ghosh Shayani , Jain Raka , Singh Satpal , Rao Ravindra , Mishra Ashwani Kumar , Jhanjee Sonali
Published: August 2021

Urinary ethyl glucuronide (EtG), an alcohol biomarker, plays an essential role in monitoring alcohol abstinence and relapse during treatment for alcohol dependence. Detection of this biomarker has become a routine in many clinical and forensic laboratories over the last few years. Most previously published methods commonly use hyphenated chromatographic techniques along with extensive extraction procedure before analysis. This work aimed to develop and validate an electron impact ionization mode gas chromatography–mass spectrometry method to measure ethyl glucuronide levels in human urine. For its determination, urine samples were dried under a gentle stream of nitrogen, derivatized with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl) trifluoroacetamide, incubated, and injected into the instrument. The analysis was performed using single quadrupole gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) technology and validation was performed according to the guidelines of the German Society of Toxicology and Forensic Chemistry (GTFCh). The linearity of urinary EtG was obtained in the range of 30–5000 ng/ml with a correlation coefficient (r) above 0.999. The extraction recoveries exceeded 80%, and the obtained inter-day and intra-day precisions were below 15%. The achieved limit of detection was 10 ng/ml and limit of quantification achieved was 30 ng/ml. The electron ionization gas chromatography–mass spectrometry technique proves to be a feasible option for determining EtG in human urine when other sophisticated techniques are unapproachable. This method provides a good sensitivity and proves to be cost-effective, robust, and advantageous for both clinical as well as forensic settings.
High resolution melting analysis and detection of Leishmania resistance: the role of multi drug resistance 1 gene
Authors: Abadi Maryam Fekri Soofi , Moradabadi Alireza , Vahidi Reza , Shojaeepour Saeedeh , Rostami Sara , Rad Iman , Dabiri Shahriar
Published: August 2021

Background

Pentavalent antimonial compounds are currently used to treat leishmaniasis and resistance to these drugs is a serious problem. Multidrug resistance protein is an efflux pump of the cell membrane that expels foreign compounds. This study designed to evaluate the mutations in the multi-drug resistance 1 (MDR1) gene, in biopsy specimens ofLeishmania tropica, with high resolution melting (HRM) method. In this experimental study, genomic DNA was extracted from 130 patients with skin leishmaniasis. Then, nucleotide changes were investigated throughout the gene using HRM and sequencing methods. The samples categorized in 5 groups by differences in the melting temperature (Tm).

Result

The nucleotide changes analysis showed that 61% of the samples of different groups that were unresponsive to drug had mutations in the MDR1 gene, which were also confirmed by the sequencing method. These mutations can be one of the factors responsible for non-responsiveness to the treatment.

Conclusion

According to the findings, it seems that mutation in MDR1 gene could be responsible for drug resistance to pentavalent antimonial compounds. Furthermore, HRM method can be used to diagnose drug resistance in leishmaniasis. It is also recommended that further studies be done regarding the importance of drug resistance in theleishmaniaaffected patients.
Terahertz absorption characteristics of guar gum determined via microfluidic technology
Authors: Zhang Feng-Xuan , Wang Guo-Yang , Huang Hai-Yun , Chen Meng-Han , Zhang Si-Jia , Su Bo , Zhang Cun-Lin
Published: August 2021

The vibrational energy levels of many biomolecules correspond to the terahertz band; thus, terahertz technology can be used to identify these substances. Moreover, as the biological activity of most biomolecules can be observed only in aqueous solution, the characteristics of such biomolecules must be studied in aqueous solution. In this study, a simple microfluidic chip, a temperature control device and a strong electric field device were designed to study the terahertz absorption characteristics of guar gum for different temperatures, concentrations and electric field exposure durations, thus enabling the use of terahertz technology to analyse the characteristics of guar gum.
Direct comparison of non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulant versus warfarin for stroke prevention in non-valvular atrial fibrillation: a systematic review and meta-analysis of real-world evidences
Authors: Waranugraha Yoga , Rizal Ardian , Syaban Mokhamad Fahmi Rizki , Faratisha Icha Farihah Deniyati , Erwan Nabila Erina , Yunita Khadijah Cahya
Published: August 2021

Background

To overcome the several drawbacks of warfarin, non-vitamin K antagonist oral anticoagulants (NOACs) were developed. Even though randomized controlled trials (RCTs) provided high-quality evidence, the real-world evidence is still needed. This systematic review and meta-analysis proposed to measure the safety and efficacy profile between warfarin and NOACs in non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) patients in preventing stroke.

Results

We collected articles about the real-world studies comparing warfarin and NOACs for NVAF patients recorded in electronic scientific databases such as Embase, ProQuest, PubMed, and Cochrane. The pooled hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using the generic inverse variance method. A total of 34 real-world studies, including 2287288 NVAF patients, were involved in this study. NOACs effectively reduced the stroke risk than warfarin (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.69 to 0.87;p< 0.01). Moreover, NOACs effectively lowered all-cause mortality risk (HR 0.71; 95% CI 0.63 to 0.81;p< 0.01). From the safety aspect, compared to warfarin, NOACs significantly reduced major bleeding risk (HR 0.68; 95% CI 0.54 to 0.86;p< 0.01) and intracranial bleeding risk (HR 0.54; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.70;p< 0.01). However, NOACs administration failed to decrease gastrointestinal bleeding risk (HR 0.78; 95% CI 0.58 to 1.06;p= 0.12).

Conclusions

In NVAF patients, NOACs were found to be more effective than warfarin at reducing stroke risk. NOACSs also lowered the risk of all-cause mortality, cerebral hemorrhage, and severe bleeding in NVAF patients compared to warfarin.
De-fencing: Notes on the Cultural Ecosystem of the Commons in the Post-15M Spanish State
Authors: Álvarez-Blanco Palmar
Published: August 2021

What do we learn when we study the historical connections between the political sphere—events that make headlines—and the politics of daily life? What role have self-managed communities of practice and their networks played in the socioeconomic, political, and cultural transformations in post-15M Spain? Have they exhausted their potential, or have they just scratched the surface of their capabilities? This reflection illustrates some preliminary observations on the ecosystem of the commons and its communities of practice in post-15M Spain. It responds to some of these expansive and yet pressing questions offering initial answers based on structured interviews and participant observation of community members in forty-six self-managed communities of practice in Spain.
Impaired aerobic capacity and premature fatigue preceding muscle weakness in the skeletal muscle Tfam-knockout mouse model
Authors: Chatel Benjamin , Ducreux Sylvie , Harhous Zeina , Bendridi Nadia , Varlet Isabelle , Ogier Augustin C. , Bernard Monique , Gondin Julien , Rieusset Jennifer , Westerblad Håkan , Bendahan David , Gineste Charlotte
Published: August 2021

Mitochondrial diseases are genetic disorders that lead to impaired mitochondrial function, resulting in exercise intolerance and muscle weakness. In patients, muscle fatigue due to defects in mitochondrial oxidative capacities commonly precedes muscle weakness. In mice, deletion of the fast-twitch skeletal muscle-specific Tfam gene (Tfam KO) leads to a deficit in respiratory chain activity, severe muscle weakness and early death. Here, we performed a time-course study of mitochondrial and muscular dysfunctions in 11- and 14-week-old Tfam KO mice, i.e. before and when mice are about to enter the terminal stage, respectively. Although force in the unfatigued state was reduced in Tfam KO mice compared to control littermates (wild type) only at 14 weeks, during repeated submaximal contractions fatigue was faster at both ages. During fatiguing stimulation, total phosphocreatine breakdown was larger in Tfam KO muscle than in wild-type muscle at both ages, whereas phosphocreatine consumption was faster only at 14 weeks. In conclusion, the Tfam KO mouse model represents a reliable model of lethal mitochondrial myopathy in which impaired mitochondrial energy production and premature fatigue occur before muscle weakness and early death.
The radiation doses and radiation protection on the endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography procedures
Authors: Takenaka Mamoru , Hosono Makoto , Hayashi Shiro , Nishida Tsutomu , Kudo Masatoshi
Published: August 2021

Although many interventions involving radiation exposure have been replaced to endoscopic procedure in the gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary fields, there remains no alternative for enteroscopy and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), which requires the use of radiation. In this review, we discuss the radiation doses and protective measures of endoscopic procedures, especially for ERCP. For the patient radiation dose, the average dose area product for diagnostic ERCP was 14–26 Gy.cm², while it increased to as high as 67–89 Gy.cm² for therapeutic ERCP. The corresponding entrance skin doses for diagnostic and therapeutic ERCP were 90 and 250 mGy, respectively. The mean effective doses were 3– 6 mSv for diagnostic ERCP and 12–20 mSv for therapeutic ERCP. For the occupational radiation dose, the typical doses were 94 μGy and 75 μGy for the eye and neck, respectively. However, with an over-couch-type X-ray unit, the eye and neck doses reached as high as 550 and 450 μGy, with maximal doses of up to 2.8 and 2.4 mGy/procedure, respectively.

A protective lead shield was effective for an over couch X-ray tube unit. It lowered scattered radiation by up to 89.1% in a phantom study. In actual measurements, the radiation exposure of the endoscopist closest to the unit was reduced to approximately 12%. In conclusion, there is a clear need for raising awareness among medical personnel involved endoscopic procedures to minimise radiation risks to both the patients and staff.
HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS PERPETRATED BY STATE AGENTS IN MILITARY OCCUPATIONS: ANALYSIS OF THE INCURSION OF INTERNATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS LAW TO THE NORMATIVE TERRITORY OF THE ARMED CONFLICTS
Authors: Guerra Sidney Cesar Silva , Nagle Luz E. , Silva Ádria Saviano Fabricio da
Published: August 2021

This article aims to revisit the interrelationship between International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL), in honour of their respective normative scopes and in order to carry out an analysis of their complementary or supplementary application, towards the construction of a more appropriate tool for the protection of human beings in extreme situations, as it occurs during armed conflicts. This is because, amid the multifaceted vulnerabilities that accumulate in today's conflicts, it is essential to provide the most effective source of protection - proportional to the demands for protection that are manifested today, particularly in military occupations around the world, whose occurrence will be the focus of this research. As for the method of approach concerning the logical basis of the investigation, the hypothetical-deductive method was selected, insofar as the corroboration or falsification of the main hypothesis about the effective complementary and harmonious application of IHRL will be tested to cases of human rights violations in International Armed Conflicts in the military occupation modality. Given this framework, the core of this work lies in the understanding of the praxis for the complementary application of both aspects in armed conflicts, considering not only International Human Rights Law as lex generalis, but their effective overlap to the detriment of International Humanitarian Law, when it is most beneficial to human protection in the cases of Military Occupations.
Byzantium and Russia. The status of the sovereign as a reflection of political culture (late IX-early XVI century)
Authors: Kazancev Dmitriy
Published: August 2021

The monograph is devoted to the history of medieval Russian and Byzantine teachings about the power of the sovereign and the reflection of these doctrinal ideas in the practice of public administration of the two peoples. The phenomena of the power of the sovereigns of the Byzantine Empire, Ancient Russia and the Moscow state are investigated and compared, and an attempt is made to answer the question of what is common and different in the foundations of the organization of power of these three states. The Byzantine influence on the political culture of Russia is still a subject of controversy, and therefore it is especially important to analyze the achievements of historical and legal science in this area for a reasoned discussion.
For students and teachers, as well as anyone interested in national and world history.
Model of the settlement system of the future
Authors: Packevich Alla
Published: August 2021

The textbook is devoted to the issues of understanding the laws in the evolution of human consciousness and the formation of a pyramid of human values. For this purpose, the study analyzes the periodization of spatial structures and attempts to reproduce the logic of the process of consciousness development. The place of man in the system of cosmic evolution, the understanding of the process of transition from passive and unconscious human participation in evolution to active and conscious are comprehended. Brief information about the principles of the formation of the structure of space and the organization of systems of populated places is presented.
Meets the requirements of the federal state educational standards of higher education of the latest generation.
It is intended for students of all forms of education of educational institutions of secondary vocational and higher education in the field of training "Architecture" , as well as for all those interested in the problems of territorial development.
Highlighting the latest research: August 2021
Authors: Palmer Sarah Jane
Published: August 2021

Sarah Jane Palmer presents a selection of recently published articles of interest to nurses working in cardiovascular nursing. The aim of this roundup is to provide a brief overview of the research papers selected. A full reference is provided for those who wish to look at the research in further detail.
Preventing medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI)
Authors: Hitchcock Jan , Haigh David A , Martin Nuria , Davies Siân
Published: August 2021

Medical adhesive-related skin injury (MARSI) is an overlooked and underestimated problem. While awareness of this issue is growing, it is not fully understood by health professionals in a variety of clinical settings. Medical adhesive products are often applied and removed incorrectly, which, albeit unintentionally, causes skin damage. In many cases, MARSI should be considered a preventable injury. Organisations should have processes in place to educate health professionals in acute and community facilities in preventing MARSI; these processes should include the use of products that help to prevent these injuries, including medical adhesive removers. This article will explore this topic and relate it to the most recent consensus document.
The effect of calcar femoral neck plating on vascularity of the femoral head and neck
Authors: Kubik Jeremy F. , Bornes Troy D. , Klinger Craig E. , Dyke Jonathan P. , Helfet David L.
Published: August 2021

Aims

Surgical treatment of young femoral neck fractures often requires an open approach to achieve an anatomical reduction. The application of a calcar plate has recently been described to aid in femoral neck fracture reduction and to augment fixation. However, application of a plate may potentially compromise the regional vascularity of the femoral head and neck. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of calcar femoral neck plating on the vascularity of the femoral head and neck.

Methods

A Hueter approach and capsulotomy were performed bilaterally in six cadaveric hips. In the experimental group, a one-third tubular plate was secured to the inferomedial femoral neck at 6:00 on the clockface. The contralateral hip served as a control with surgical approach and capsulotomy without fixation. Pre- and post-contrast MRI was then performed to quantify signal intensity in the femoral head and neck. Qualitative assessment of the terminal arterial branches to the femoral head, specifically the inferior retinacular artery (IRA), was also performed.

Results

Quantitative MRI revealed a mean reduction of 1.8% (SD 3.1%) of arterial contribution in the femoral head and a mean reduction of 7.1% (SD 10.6%) in the femoral neck in the plating group compared to non-plated controls. Based on femoral head quadrant analysis, the largest mean decrease in arterial contribution was in the inferomedial quadrant (4.0%, SD 6.6%). No significant differences were found between control and experimental hips for any femoral neck or femoral head regions. The inferior retinaculum of Weitbrecht (containing the IRA) was directly visualized in six of 12 specimens. Qualitative MRI assessment confirmed IRA integrity in all specimens.

Conclusion

Calcar femoral neck plating at the 6:00 position on the clockface resulted in minimal decrease in femoral head and neck vascularity, and therefore it may be considered as an adjunct to laterally-based fixation for reduction and fixation of femoral neck fractures, especially in younger patients. Cite this article: Bone Jt Open 2021;2(8):611–617.
Near-Earth space balloon-based multi-band airglow imager optic design
Authors: Wang Zhanchao , Huang Min , Sun Yan , Tao Tao , Qian Lulu , Zhang Guifeng , Zhao Baowei , Han Wei , Wang Guangming , Zhao Yixin
Published: August 2021

As a common tracer in the atmosphere, airglow can be used as an important means to study the interaction between the lower atmosphere, near space, and ionosphere. In the near-Earth space, the high-altitude balloon can realize long time flight, which makes the airglow detection realize both high range resolution and time resolution. In this paper, a balloon-based multi-band airglow imager is designed, which can observe OI (557.7 nm), Na (589.3 nm), OI (630.0 nm), and OH (720–910 nm) with annular field of view (30° inner ring and 80° outer ring), and its resolution is 500 m at 250 km. The multi-band airglow imager designed in this paper is equipped in the payload cabin and raised to above 30 km for flat flying for more than 6 h. The experimental results show that the imager worked normally, and airglow images were photographed and stored; the optical system can stand the harsh environment in the near space. The multi-band airglow imager designed in this paper will take part in other near-space exploration tasks in the future and obtain corresponding results.
Performance enhancement of an ultrafast all-fiber laser based on an InN saturable absorber using GRIN coupling
Authors: Monroy L. , Soriano-Amat M. , Esteban Ó. , Monroy E. , González-Herráez M. , Naranjo F. B.
Published: August 2021

Indium nitride (InN)-based semiconductor saturable absorbers have previously shown advantages for application in near-IR fiber lasers due to their broad modulation depth, ultrafast nonlinear response and thermal stability. However, up to now all demonstrated saturable absorber elements based on InN (either transmissive or reflective) have shown limited performance due to poor coupling and insertion losses. We present here a simple mode-locking device based on a GRIN-rod lens in conjunction with an InN semiconductor saturable absorber mirror (SESAM) for its use in a passively mode-locked all-fiber laser system operating at telecom wavelengths. Our results demonstrate that this coupling element ensures not only a compact, turnkey and alignment-free design but also a highly-stable optical femtosecond pulse train. The reduction of insertion losses (3.5 dB) enables the generation of 90-fs ultrafast pulses with an average power of 40 mW and up to 7 nJ of pulse energy without the need for additional amplification.
Luminous efficacy enhancement for LED lamps using highly reflective quantum dot-based photoluminescent films
Authors: Yu Binhai , Lu Zhou , Liang Guanwei , Yuan Yikai , Wang Hong , He Jinqing , Yang Shu
Published: August 2021

In this study, a strongly reflective and photoluminescent (PL) poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) quantum dot (QD) hybrid nanofiber (PQHN) structure is introduced to enhance the luminous efficacy of QD-phosphor hybrid white light-emitting diodes (QD-WLEDs). As the thickness of PQHN film increases, the PL is found to continuously increase, exhibiting a maximum peak intensity at 120 μm, which is 1.92 times that at 12 μm, and showing the highest diffuse reflectance of 94.4% at 640 nm. Consequently, while using the QD-WLEDs, the PQHN structure achieves a 53.8% improvement in luminous flux compared with the traditional structure under a similar correlated color temperature (CCT) of 3,540 K, achieving a high luminous efficacy of 202.11 lm W-1 for QD-WLEDs. In addition, the maximum deviation of the CCT is only 11 K when the current is changed from 50 to 950 mA, demonstrating good stability. Therefore, the PQHN films have great potential in lighting systems as a hybrid functional film including light conversion and reflectance.
Propagation dynamics and radiation forces of autofocusing circle Bessel Gaussian vortex beams in a harmonic potential
Authors: Wang Haonan , Sun Chao , Tu Jialong , Zhen Weiming , Deng Dongmei
Published: August 2021

In this paper, the circle Bessel Gaussian vortex beams (CBGVBs) are introduced in a harmonic potential for the first time, whose autofocusing properties are explored by theoretical analysis as well as numerical simulation. According to the dimensionless linear (2+1)D Schrödinger equation, we numerically simulate the transmission trajectories of different topological charges of the off-axis vortices and the positions, the intensity and the phase distributions, the maximum transmission intensity, the center of mass, the energy flow, and the angular momentum. The simulation results show that the periodically autofocusing CBGVBs can flexibly adjust the position, the intensity, and the focus points by controlling the parameters. By increasing the number of off-axis vortices and adjusting the position of off-axis vortices, the transmission trajectory and the intensity of the CBGVBs can be controlled. Furthermore, we notice that the larger the slope of the curve where the combined force of the scattering force and the gradient force is 0, the particles are more likely to be trapped.
Broadly tunable, intracavity injection-seeded, hybrid optical parametric oscillator
Authors: Wei Junxiong , Chaitanya Kumar S. , Ebrahim-Zadeh M.
Published: August 2021

We report a novel, to the best of our knowledge, approach for injection seeding of pulsed optical parametric oscillators (OPOs), which can provide spectral control over the full tuning range. Bandwidth reduction down to single-mode operation is realized across the pulsed tuning range by deploying a hybrid design, where a continuous-wave (cw) OPO injection seeds the pulsed OPO in a single composite cavity. By exploiting two identical MgO-doped periodically poled lithium niobate crystals, the hybrid OPO provides signal pulses with a single-frequency linewidth as narrow as 7.2 MHz across 1510–1677 nm. The effect of cw injection seeding on pulsed OPO operation is also confirmed by reduced rise time, increased pump depletion, major reduction in threshold, and substantial enhancement in output power and extraction efficiency.
Simulation of statistically accurate time-integrated dynamic speckle patterns in biomedical optics
Authors: James Edward , Powell Samuel , Munro Peter
Published: August 2021

The simulation of statistically accurate time-integrated dynamic speckle patterns using a physics-based model that accounts for spatially varying sample properties is yet to be presented in biomedical optics. In this Letter, we propose a solution to this important problem based on the Karhunen–Loève expansion of the electric field and apply our method to the formalisms of both laser speckle contrast imaging and diffuse correlation spectroscopy. We validate our technique against solutions for speckle contrast for different forms of homogeneous field and also show that our method can readily be extended to cases with spatially varying sample properties.
Optical spatiotemporal differentiator using a bilayer plasmonic grating
Authors: Xu Chenyuan , Wang Yilun , Zhang Cheng , Dagens Beatrice , Zhang Xinliang
Published: August 2021

As a key element in wave-based analog computation, optical differentiators have been implemented to directly perform information processing, such as edge detection and pulse shaping, in both spatial and temporal domains. Here, we propose an optical spatiotemporal differentiator, which simultaneously performs first-order spatial and temporal differentiation in transmission by breaking the mirror symmetry of a subwavelength bilayer metal grating. The spatial and temporal performance of the plasmonic differentiator is evaluated numerically using the output field profiles of an optical beam and pulse envelope, showing resolutions of

∼

2

µ

m

and

∼

50

f
s

, respectively. Moreover, the function of spatiotemporal differentiation is demonstrated with input flat-top pulse fields. The proposed optical differentiator has potential applications in ultra-compact real-time optical multifunctional computing systems and parallel signal processing.
Dpp and Hedgehog promote the glial response to neuronal apoptosis in the developing Drosophila visual system
Authors: Velarde Sergio B. , Quevedo Alvaro , Estella Carlos , Baonza Antonio
Published: August 2021

Damage in the nervous system induces a stereotypical response that is mediated by glial cells. Here, we use the eye disc of Drosophila melanogaster as a model to explore the mechanisms involved in promoting glial cell response after neuronal cell death induction. We demonstrate that these cells rapidly respond to neuronal apoptosis by increasing in number and undergoing morphological changes, which will ultimately grant them phagocytic abilities. We found that this glial response is controlled by the activity of Decapentaplegic (Dpp) and Hedgehog (Hh) signalling pathways. These pathways are activated after cell death induction, and their functions are necessary to induce glial cell proliferation and migration to the eye discs. The latter of these 2 processes depend on the function of the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway, which is activated by Dpp signalling. We also present evidence that a similar mechanism controls glial response upon apoptosis induction in the leg discs, suggesting that our results uncover a mechanism that might be involved in controlling glial cells response to neuronal cell death in different regions of the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
A modular approach for modeling the cell cycle based on functional response curves
Authors: De Boeck Jolan , Rombouts Jan , Gelens Lendert
Published: August 2021

Modeling biochemical reactions by means of differential equations often results in systems with a large number of variables and parameters. As this might complicate the interpretation and generalization of the obtained results, it is often desirable to reduce the complexity of the model. One way to accomplish this is by replacing the detailed reaction mechanisms of certain modules in the model by a mathematical expression that qualitatively describes the dynamical behavior of these modules. Such an approach has been widely adopted for ultrasensitive responses, for which underlying reaction mechanisms are often replaced by a single Hill function. Also time delays are usually accounted for by using an explicit delay in delay differential equations. In contrast, however, S-shaped response curves, which by definition have multiple output values for certain input values and are often encountered in bistable systems, are not easily modeled in such an explicit way. Here, we extend the classical Hill function into a mathematical expression that can be used to describe both ultrasensitive and S-shaped responses. We show how three ubiquitous modules (ultrasensitive responses, S-shaped responses and time delays) can be combined in different configurations and explore the dynamics of these systems. As an example, we apply our strategy to set up a model of the cell cycle consisting of multiple bistable switches, which can incorporate events such as DNA damage and coupling to the circadian clock in a phenomenological way.
Diffusion enables integration of heterogeneous data and user-driven learning in a desktop knowledge-base
Authors: Konopka Tomasz , Ng Sandra , Smedley Damian
Published: August 2021

Integrating reference datasets (e.g. from high-throughput experiments) with unstructured and manually-assembled information (e.g. notes or comments from individual researchers) has the potential to tailor bioinformatic analyses to specific needs and to lead to new insights. However, developing bespoke analysis pipelines from scratch is time-consuming, and general tools for exploring such heterogeneous data are not available. We argue that by treating all data as text, a knowledge-base can accommodate a range of bioinformatic data types and applications. We show that a database coupled to nearest-neighbor algorithms can address common tasks such as gene-set analysis as well as specific tasks such as ontology translation. We further show that a mathematical transformation motivated by diffusion can be effective for exploration across heterogeneous datasets. Diffusion enables the knowledge-base to begin with a sparse query, impute more features, and find matches that would otherwise remain hidden. This can be used, for example, to map multi-modal queries consisting of gene symbols and phenotypes to descriptions of diseases. Diffusion also enables user-driven learning: when the knowledge-base cannot provide satisfactory search results in the first instance, users can improve the results in real-time by adding domain-specific knowledge. User-driven learning has implications for data management, integration, and curation.
Queuine, a bacterial-derived hypermodified nucleobase, shows protection in in vitro models of neurodegeneration
Authors: Richard Patricia , Kozlowski Lucie , Guillorit Hélène , Garnier Patrice , McKnight Nicole C. , Danchin Antoine , Manière Xavier
Published: August 2021

Growing evidence suggests that human gut bacteria, which comprise the microbiome, are linked to several neurodegenerative disorders. An imbalance in the bacterial population in the gut of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients has been detected in several studies. This dysbiosis very likely decreases or increases microbiome-derived molecules that are protective or detrimental, respectively, to the human body and those changes are communicated to the brain through the so-called ‘gut-brain-axis’. The microbiome-derived molecule queuine is a hypermodified nucleobase enriched in the brain and is exclusively produced by bacteria and salvaged by humans through their gut epithelium. Queuine replaces guanine at the wobble position (position 34) of tRNAs with GUN anticodons and promotes efficient cytoplasmic and mitochondrial mRNA translation. Queuine depletion leads to protein misfolding and activation of the endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response pathways in mice and human cells. Protein aggregation and mitochondrial impairment are often associated with neural dysfunction and neurodegeneration. To elucidate whether queuine could facilitate protein folding and prevent aggregation and mitochondrial defects that lead to proteinopathy, we tested the effect of chemically synthesized queuine, STL-101, in several in vitro models of neurodegeneration. After neurons were pretreated with STL-101 we observed a significant decrease in hyperphosphorylated alpha-synuclein, a marker of alpha-synuclein aggregation in a PD model of synucleinopathy, as well as a decrease in tau hyperphosphorylation in an acute and a chronic model of AD. Additionally, an associated increase in neuronal survival was found in cells pretreated with STL-101 in both AD models as well as in a neurotoxic model of PD. Measurement of queuine in the plasma of 180 neurologically healthy individuals suggests that healthy humans maintain protective levels of queuine. Our work has identified a new role for queuine in neuroprotection uncovering a therapeutic potential for STL-101 in neurological disorders.
Prognosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with cognitive and behavioural changes based on a sixty-month longitudinal follow-up
Authors: Ye Shan , Jin Pingping , Chen Lu , Zhang Nan , Fan Dongsheng
Published: August 2021

Objective

Approximately 50% of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients have cognitive and behavioural dysfunction in varying degrees and forms. Previous studies have shown that cognitive and behavioural changes may indicate a poor prognosis, and cognitive function gradually deteriorates over the course of disease, but the results of different studies have been inconsistent. In addition, there are relatively limited long-term follow-up studies tracking death as an endpoint. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical prognostic characteristics of ALS patients with cognitive behavioural changes through long-term follow-up in a cohort.

Methods

A total of 87 ALS patients from 2014 to 2015 in the Third Hospital of Peking University were selected and divided into a pure ALS group, an ALS with behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (ALS-bvFTD) group, and an ALS with cognitive and behaviour changes group. All patients were followed up for 60 months. The main end point was death and tracheotomy.

Results

There was no significant difference in survival curve between pure ALS and ALS with cognitive and behavioural change group, but the survival time of ALS-bvFTD group was significantly lower than the other two groups (P < 0.001). For those who was followed up to the endpoint, the survival time of the ALS-bvFTD group was significantly shorter than that of the pure ALS group (t = 5.33, p < 0.001) or the ALS with cognitive and behaviour changes group (t = 4.25, p < 0.001). The progression rate of ALS Functional Rating Scale–Revised (FRS-R) scores from recruitment to endpoint was significantly faster in the ALS-bvFTD group than in the pure ALS group (z = 2.68, p = 0.01) or the ALS with cognitive and behavioural changes group (z = 2.75, p = 0.01). There was no significant difference in survival time (t = 0.52, P = 0.60) or FRS-R score progression rate (z = 0.31, p = 0.76) between the pure ALS group and the ALS with cognitive and behavioural changes group. The total Edinburgh Cognitive and Behavioural Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Screen (ECAS) score was positively correlated with survival time (r = 0.38, p = 0.01).

Conclusion

ALS-bvFTD patients have shorter survival time. The total ECAS score may be correlated with survival time.
Circulating Myeloperoxidase (MPO)-DNA complexes as marker for Neutrophil Extracellular Traps (NETs) levels and the association with cardiovascular risk factors in the general population
Authors: Donkel Samantha J. , Wolters Frank J. , Ikram M. Arfan , de Maat Moniek P. M.
Published: August 2021

Introduction

Neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) are DNA scaffolds enriched with antimicrobial proteins. NETs have been implicated in the development of various diseases, such as cardiovascular disease. Here, we investigate the association of demographic and cardiovascular (CVD) risk factors with NETs in the general population.

Material and methods

Citrated plasma was collected from 6449 participants, aged ≥55 years, as part of the prospective population-based Rotterdam Study. NETs were quantified by measuring MPO-DNA complex using an ELISA. We used linear regression to determine the associations between MPO-DNA complex and age, sex, cardio-metabolic risk factors, and plasma markers of inflammation and coagulation.

Results

MPO-DNA complex levels were weakly associated with age (log difference per 10 year increase: -0.04 mAU/mL, 95% confidence interval [CI] -0.06;-0.02), a history of coronary heart disease (yes versus no: -0.10 mAU/mL, 95% CI -0.17;-0.03), the use of lipid-lowering drugs (yes versus no: -0.06 mAU/mL, 95% CI -0.12;-0.01), and HDL-cholesterol (per mmol/l increase: -0.07 mAU/mL/, 95% CI -0.12;-0.03).

Conclusions

Older age, a history of coronary heart disease, the use of lipid-lowering drugs and higher HDL-cholesterol are weakly correlated with lower plasma levels of NETs. These findings show that the effect of CVD risk factors on NETs levels in a general population is only small and may not be of clinical relevance. This supports that NETs may play a more important role in an acute phase of disease than in a steady state situation.
Who are the ‘social Darwinists’? On dispositional determinants of perceiving the social world as competitive jungle
Authors: Radkiewicz Piotr , Skarżyńska Krystyna
Published: August 2021

The naive social Darwinism, also called the Competitive Jungle Belief (CJB), according to the theory of the Dual-Process Motivational (DPM) model, is recognized as an expanded perceptual scheme acting as a cognitive mediator between deep individual characteristics and the area of socio-political attitudes and ideologies. This article aims to show the individual differences that can be dispositional characteristics to believe in the Competitive Jungle scheme’s principles. The presented studies’ main theoretical question is to find out whether the CJB bases on positive "individual resources" or rather some psychological deficits. In an extensive survey study, including four random-representative samples of adults Poles (with N ranging from 624 to 853 respondents), we tested the predictive power of the five categories of variables: 1) attachment styles; 2) Big Five personality traits; 3) Dark Triad of personality; 4) basic human values and 5) moral judgments. The results showed the psychological profile of social Darwinists as clearly dysfunctional in terms of personal life quality. They express characteristics like admiration for power and desire to dominate, pursue one’s goals at all costs, exploitative attitude towards people, and hostility. On the other hand, they reveal a fearful style in close relations with others and have low self-esteem and low self-sufficiency. From the societal perspective, such beliefs make up a vision of social life that is unfavorable for building a cooperative, helpful, and relatively egalitarian society. The supreme idea that only those who do not sympathize with others and are ready to use them can be successful and survive is far from the principles of liberal democracy.
Paramedic interactions with the packaging of medications and medical supplies: Poor package design has the potential to impact patient outcomes
Authors: Lee Jiyon , Cash Rebecca E. , Crowe Remle P. , Hong Hyokyoung G. , Panchal Ashish R. , Silk Kami , Helmker Marvin , Bix Laura
Published: August 2021

Background

Settings where Emergency Medical Services (EMS) are provided to stabilize patients and transport them to locations better equipped to provide comprehensive care, “prehospital settings,” are not frequently considered when designing packaged products. Packaging design is an understudied area, potentially impacting both healthcare provider behavior and patient outcomes. Our objectives were to: 1) describe difficulties associated with packaging in prehospital settings 2) investigate the coping strategies used by paramedics when difficulties occurred, and 3) assess the potential impacts these difficulties had on patient care.

Methods

An online, cross-sectional survey was distributed via email using the National EMS Certification database maintained by the National Registry of Emergency Medical Technicians (NREMT) to a random sample of nationally-certified paramedics. Eligible respondents were aged 18 and older, employed as paramedics and had administered care in a prehospital setting within the previous 12 months. Survey items explored difficulties experienced and coping strategies used when difficulty was encountered identifying or opening medications and/or medical supplies. Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were calculated to analyse responses for trends.

Results

Of the 12,000 emails sent, 1,912 participants responded (response rate = 16%). After removing respondents who had not administered care within the past 12 months and partial surveys, data from 1,702 respondents were analysed. Nearly 20% of all respondents reported that they had experienced difficulties identifying (21.1%) or opening (20.5%) medications and identifying (17.0%) or opening (23.4%) medical supplies within the past year. Between 1.2% (identifying a medication) and 3.0% (opening supplies) of those included in the analysis indicated that reported difficulties had negatively impacted patient care. Common coping strategies reported to deal with difficulty opening included partner assistance, tool use (scissors, pens, and knives), and the use of teeth, all potential pathways for the transmission of microbes, conceivably further impacting outcomes.

Conclusion

More thoughtfully designed packaging for prehospital settings has the potential to benefit both EMS providers and the patients that they care for.