bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identification of Six Thiolases and Their Effects on Fatty Acid and Ergosterol Biosynthesis in
Aspergillus oryzae
Authors: Huang Hui , Niu Yali , Jin Qi , Qin Kunhai , Wang Li , Shang Yitong , Zeng Bin , Hu Zhihong
Published: February 2022

Thiolases, including thioase I and thiolase II, play important roles in lipid metabolism.
Aspergillus oryzae
, one of the most industrially important filamentous fungi, has been widely used for manufacturing oriental fermented food such as sauce, miso, and sake for a long time. In addition,
A. oryzae
has a high capability in production of high lipid content and has been used for lipid production.
Establishing
Butyribacterium methylotrophicum
as a Platform Organism for the Production of Biocommodities from Liquid C
1
Metabolites
Authors: Humphreys Jonathan R. , Hebdon Skyler D. , Rohrer Holly , Magnusson Lauren , Urban Chris , Chen Yi-Pei , Lo Jonathan
Published: February 2022

Acetogenic bacteria can fix single-carbon (C
1
) molecules. However, improvements are needed to overcome poor product titers.
Butyribacterium methylotrophicum
can naturally ferment C
1
compounds into longer-chained molecules such as butyrate alongside traditional acetate.
Aspergillus fumigatus
ffmA
Encodes a C
2
H
2
-Containing Transcriptional Regulator That Modulates Azole Resistance and Is Required for Normal Growth
Authors: Paul Sanjoy , Bowyer Paul , Bromley Michael , Moye-Rowley W. Scott
Published: February 2022

Infections associated with azole-resistant forms of the primary human pathogen
Aspergillus fumigatus
are associated with poor outcomes in patient populations. This makes analysis of the mechanisms underlying azole resistance of
A. fumigatus
a high priority.
The COMBAT-TB Workbench: Making Powerful Mycobacterium tuberculosis Bioinformatics Accessible
Authors: van Heusden Peter , Mashologu Ziphozakhe , Lose Thoba , Warren Robin , Christoffels Alan
Published: February 2022

While the reduction in the cost of WGS is making sequencing more affordable in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs), public health laboratories in these countries seldom have access to bioinformaticians and system support engineers adept at using the Linux command line and complex bioinformatics software. The COMBAT-TB Workbench provides an open-source, modular, easy-to-deploy and -use environment for managing and analyzingM. tuberculosisWGS data and thereby makes WGS usable in practice in the LMIC context.
Evaluation of Diagnostic Microbiology Capacity and Barriers in Testing for HIV and TB at Peripheral Hospital-Based Laboratories in Oyo-State, Nigeria
Authors: Bankole Oluwayomi T. , Ajayi IkeOluwapo O.
Published: February 2022

This study provided a snapshot knowledge of testing capabilities and commodity availability at state laboratories. The findings should inform the action of stakeholders to improve diagnostic microbiology capacity, consequently enhancing diagnostic measures in detecting human immunodeficiency virus and
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
.
Occurrence and Characteristics of
Mcr
s among Gram-Negative Bacteria Causing Bloodstream Infections of Infant Inpatients between 2006 and 2019 in China
Authors: Wu Lijuan , Xu Tingting , Ji Yang , Song Jingjie , Wang Feiling , Huang Junxi , Zhou Kai
Published: February 2022

Antimicrobial resistance, especially the spread of carbapenemase-producing
Enterobacteriaceae
(CPE), represents one of the largest challenges to One Health coverage of environmental, animal, and human sectors. Colistin is one of the last-line antibiotics for clinical treatment of CPE.
The Zinc Finger Transcription Factor BbCmr1 Regulates Conidium Maturation in Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Chen Jin-Feng , Tan Jun-Jie , Wang Jun-Yao , Mao A-Jing , Xu Xue-Ping , Zhang Yan , Zheng Xue-li , Liu Yu , jin Dan , Li Xian-Bi , Fan Yan-Hua
Published: February 2022

Conidium maturation is a pivotal event in conidial development and affects fungal survival ability under various biotic/abiotic stresses. Although many transcription factors have been reported to regulate conidial development, we know little about the molecular mechanism of conidium maturation.
Differential Antimicrobial Efficacy of Preservative-Free Contact Lens Disinfection Systems against Common Ocular Pathogens
Authors: Walters Rhonda , Campolo Allison , Miller Elise , McAnally Cindy , Gabriel Manal , Shannon Paul , Crary Monica
Published: February 2022

Understanding the most efficacious products will allow clinicians to best communicate to patients and consumers the safest products on the market to reduce adverse events, including microbial keratitis, during contact lens use.
A Feasible Alternative Strategy Targeting Furin Disrupts SARS-CoV-2 Infection Cycle
Authors: Mondal Tanmoy , Shivange Gururaj , Habieb Alaa , Tushir-Singh Jogender
Published: February 2022

Since its emergence in December 2019, COVID-19 has remained a global economic and health threat. Although RNA and DNA vector-based vaccines induced antibody response and immunological memory have proven highly effective against hospitalization and mortality, their long-term efficacy remains unknown against continuously evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants.
Screening for Highly Transduced Genes in Staphylococcus aureus Revealed Both Lateral and Specialized Transduction
Authors: Bowring Janine Zara , Su Yue , Alsaadi Ahlam , Svenningsen Sine L. , Parkhill Julian , Ingmer Hanne
Published: February 2022

Horizontal transfer of DNA between bacterial cells contributes to the spread of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes in human pathogens. For
Staphylococcus aureus
, bacterial viruses play a major role in facilitating the horizontal transfer.
New mechanism for forming thick granitic continental crust at Phanerozoic convergent margins
Authors: Lundstrom C.C. , Lin X. , Brueckel K. , Campe C. , Nan X. , Ortega K. , Akrie P. , Yu M. , Marshak S.
Published: February 2022

Phanerozoic continental subduction zones have produced thick continental crust composed almost entirely of granitoid plutons. While ideas about how plutons form have evolved from models that envisioned large, highly molten magma bodies, the exact processes involved remain debated. Geochronology and seismology have led to the view that plutons form by incremental emplacement; stacked sills represent one type of incremental model whereby granitoids grow top-down by sills underplating their predecessor. Still, many questions remain unanswered, including why sill-like contacts are not often seen in more mature plutons, why the mafic residuum is not observed with many granitoid plutons, why some plutons are compositionally zoned (and others are not), and why geochemical characteristics of intrusions systematically change during magmatic cycles.

Here, we propose a hypothesis for the construction of batholiths by amalgamation of plutons formed in a two-stage process. During stage 1, intermediate-composition sills underplate previous sills, forming a moving reaction zone mafic complex that produces a thickening granitoid as the process moves downward. The top of this mafic complex also releases a water-rich, low-temperature silicate liquid (LTSL), which begins ascent by reactive porous flow. During stage 2, the upward flux of LTSL further differentiates the overlying granitoids, increasing silica by 5%–10% and resulting in linear “mixing-like” behavior on Harker diagrams. Multiple plutons building downward in a magmatic cycle thicken the crust, leading to garnet gabbro mafic complexes forming at ~20 km depth. Their high density leads to delamination and net silicification of continental crust. The continuous flux of LTSL up through the arc crust can explain many geochemical spatial-temporal trends found in magmatic cycles, including Pb isotope evolution and increasing Fe3+, and provides a mechanism for addition of water to the upper crust, leading to sustained volcanism through time.
Late Miocene–Pliocene onset of fluvial incision of the Cauca River Canyon in the Northern Andes
Authors: Pérez-Consuegra N. , Hoke G.D. , Fitzgerald P. , Mora A. , Sobel E.R. , Glodny J.
Published: February 2022

The incision of kilometer-scale canyons into high-standing topography is often used to constrain the surface uplift history of mountain ranges, controlled by tectonic and geodynamic processes. However, changes in climate may also be responsible for canyon incision. This study deciphers the timing of incision of the ~2.5-km-deep Cauca River Canyon in the Central Cordillera of the Northern Andes using the cooling (exhumation) history of rocks from the canyon walls and a regional analysis of channel steepness in rivers. Ten bedrock samples and one detrital sample were collected on the eastern border of the canyon between 300 m and 2300 m of elevation. Bedrock and detrital AFT data yield ages from 50 to 38 Ma, while two bed-rock AHe ages from the valley bottom yield ages of 7–6 Ma. The AHe ages and inverse thermal history models reveal a previously unidentified late Miocene (ca. 7–6 Ma) pulse of exhumation that we interpret as the age of a single incision event that formed the Cauca River Canyon. We conclude that the Cauca River Canyon was carved as a response to rock uplift in the northern Central Cordillera and propagation of an erosion wave into the mountain range starting in the latest Miocene.
Combining retinal and choroidal microvascular metrics improves discriminative power for diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Tan Bingyao , Lim Nicole-Ann , Tan Rose , Gan Alfred Tau Liang , Chua Jacqueline , Nusinovici Simon , Cheung Chui Ming Gemmy , Chakravarthy Usha , Wong Tien Yin , Schmetterer Leopold , Tan Gavin
Published: February 2022

Purpose

To use optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters from both the retinal and choroidal microvasculature to detect the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Method

This is a cross-sectional case–control study. OCTA parameters from retinal vasculature, fovea avascular zone (FAZ) and choriocapillaris were evaluated from 3×3 mm2fovea-centred scans. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve were used to compare the discriminative power on the presence of diabetes mellitus (DM), the presence of DR and need for referral: group 1 (no DM vs DM no DR), group 2 (no DR vs any DR) and group 3 (non-proliferative DR (NPDR) vs proliferative DR (PDR)).

Results

35 eyes from 27 participants with no DM and 132 eyes from 75 with DM were included. DR severity was classified into three groups: no DR group (62 eyes), NPDR (51 eyes), PDR (19 eyes). All retinal vascular parameters, FAZ parameters and choriocapillaris parameters were strongly altered with DR stages (p<0.01), except for the deep plexus FAZ area (p=0.619). Choriocapillaris parameters allowed to better discriminate between no DM versus DM no DR group compared with retinal parameters (areas under the ROC curve=0.954 vs 0.821, p=0.006). A classification model including retinal and choroidal microvasculature significantly improved the discrimination between DR and no DR compared with each parameter separately (p=0.029).

Conclusions

Evaluating OCTA parameters from both the retinal and choroidal microvasculature in 3×3 mm scans improves the discrimination of DM and early DR.
Pushing for change: a qualitative study of the experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy
Authors: Davenport Margie H , Nesdoly Autumn , Ray Lauren , Thornton Jane S , Khurana Rshmi , McHugh Tara-Leigh F
Published: February 2022

Objectives

Athletes train and compete at the elite level during their reproductive years, yet sport policies that support pregnant athletes are lacking. The experiences of elite athletes during pregnancy are vastly under-represented, and such voices are needed to support evidence-informed policy. Thus, the purpose of this qualitative study was to describe the experiences of elite female athletes as they navigate pregnancy, and to identify sport policy considerations regarding participation during pregnancy.

Methods

Twenty athletes (mean age 35±5 years) who, within the last 5 years, had trained or competed at the elite level immediately prior to becoming pregnant were included. Data were generated via one-on-one semistructured interviews that were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed through a process of content analysis.

Results

The findings of this study are represented by one overarching message: mother versus athlete, and five main themes: (1) pregnancy planning and fertility, (2) pregnancy disclosure and discrimination, (3) training pregnant athletic bodies, (4) safety concerns, and (5) supportive network and equitable funding.

Conclusion

In-depth stories shared by participants highlight the many significant decisions athletes must make as they navigate pregnancy alongside elite sport participation. The shared experiences of pregnant athletes highlight clear challenges that should be considered in the development of sport policy and practices that are inclusive and supportive of female athletes.
Detection of ISUP ≥2 prostate cancers using multiparametric MRI: prospective multicentre assessment of the non-inferiority of an artificial intelligence system as compared to the PI-RADS V.2.1 score (CHANGE study)
Authors: Rouvière Olivier , Souchon Rémi , Lartizien Carole , Mansuy Adeline , Magaud Laurent , Colom Matthieu , Dubreuil-Chambardel Marine , Debeer Sabine , Jaouen Tristan , Duran Audrey , Rippert Pascal , Riche Benjamin , Monini Caterina , Vlaeminck-Guillem Virginie , Haesebaert Julie , Rabilloud Muriel , Crouzet Sébastien
Published: February 2022

Introduction

Prostate multiparametric MRI (mpMRI) has shown good sensitivity in detecting cancers with an International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade of ≥2. However, it lacks specificity, and its inter-reader reproducibility remains moderate. Biomarkers, such as the Prostate Health Index (PHI), may help select patients for prostate biopsy. Computer-aided diagnosis/detection (CAD) systems may also improve mpMRI interpretation. Different prototypes of CAD systems are currently developed under the Recherche Hospitalo-Universitaire en Santé / Personalized Focused Ultrasound Surgery of Localized Prostate Cancer (RHU PERFUSE) research programme, tackling challenging issues such as robustness across imaging protocols and magnetic resonance (MR) vendors, and ability to characterise cancer aggressiveness. The study primary objective is to evaluate the non-inferiority of the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve of the final CAD system as compared with the Prostate Imaging-Reporting and Data System V.2.1 (PI-RADS V.2.1) in predicting the presence of ISUP ≥2 prostate cancer in patients undergoing prostate biopsy.

Methods

This prospective, multicentre, non-inferiority trial will include 420 men with suspected prostate cancer, a prostate-specific antigen level of ≤30 ng/mL and a clinical stage ≤T2 c. Included men will undergo prostate mpMRI that will be interpreted using the PI-RADS V.2.1 score. Then, they will undergo systematic and targeted biopsy. PHI will be assessed before biopsy. At the end of patient inclusion, MR images will be assessed by the final version of the CAD system developed under the RHU PERFUSE programme. Key secondary outcomes include the prediction of ISUP grade ≥2 prostate cancer during a 3-year follow-up, and the number of biopsy procedures saved and ISUP grade ≥2 cancers missed by several diagnostic pathways combining PHI and MRI findings.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was obtained from the Comité de Protection des Personnes Nord Ouest III (ID-RCB: 2020-A02785-34). After publication of the results, access to MR images will be possible for testing other CAD systems.

Trial registration number

NCT04732156.
Changes in QTc interval after hydroxychloroquine therapy in patients with COVID-19 infection: a large, retrospective, multicentre cohort study
Authors: El Kadri Moutaz , Al Falasi Omar , Ahmed Rizwan , Al Awadhi Ahlam , Altaha Zainab , Hillis Amany , Panikkaveetil Basheer , Abdalla Sara , Ansel Benette Honey , Almubarak Adhba , Saifuddin Mohammed , Alattar Yousef , Oulhaj Abderrahim , AlKaabi Salem
Published: February 2022

Objective

To evaluate the extent of hydroxychloroquine-induced corrected QT (QTc) prolongation and its relation to COVID-19 infection severity and incidence of polymorphic ventricular arrhythmias and sudden arrhythmic deaths.

Design

A large-scale cohort study with retrospective analysis of baseline and on-therapy QT interval corrected using Bazett and Fridericia formulas.

Setting

A multicentre study involving eight secondary and tertiary care hospitals of the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company (SEHA), United Arab Emirates.

Participants

2014 patients consecutively admitted with PCR-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between 1 March 2020 and 1 June 2020.

Interventions

Treatment with hydroxychloroquine alone or in combination with azithromycin for at least 24 hours and with a baseline ECG and at least one ECG after 24 hours of therapy.

Main outcome measures

Maximal QTc interval prolongation and its relationship to clinical severity, polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and sudden arrhythmic death while on treatment.

Results

The baseline QTc(Bazett) was 427.6±25.4 ms and the maximum QTc(Bazett) during treatment was 439.2±30.4 ms (p<0.001). Severe QTc prolongation (QTc ≥500 ms) was observed in 1.7%–3.3% of patients (Fridericia and Bazett, respectively). There were no cases of polymorphic ventricular arrhythmia or hydroxychloroquine-related arrhythmic death. QTc prolongation was more pronounced in combination therapy compared with hydroxychloroquine alone (22.2 ms vs 11.0 ms, p<0.001) and in patients with higher COVID-19 clinical severity (asymptomatic: 428.4±25.4 ms, severe COVID-19 infection: 452.7±35.7 ms, p<0.001). The overall in-hospital mortality was 3.97% and deceased patients had longer on-therapy QTc(Bazett) than survivors (459.8±21.4 ms vs 438.4±29.9 ms, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The incidence of severe QTc prolongation with hydroxychloroquine was low and not associated with ventricular arrhythmia. The safety concerns surrounding the use of hydroxychloroquine may have been overestimated; however, caution should be exercised when using hydroxychloroquine in patients with risk factors for QT prolongation.
Incidence of venous thrombotic events and events of special interest in a retrospective cohort of commercially insured US patients
Authors: Weller Susan C , Porterfield Laura , Davis John , Wilkinson Gregg S , Chen Lu , Baillargeon Jacques
Published: February 2022

Objective

To estimate the US incidence of thrombotic events and related rare diagnoses.

Design

Claims-based retrospective cohort study of incidence.

Setting

US commercial health insurance administrative claims database.

Participants

Adults 25–64 years of age between 2015 and 2019 with a minimum of 12 consecutive thrombosis-free months of continuous enrolment beginning 2014 were selected.

Main outcomes

Age (10-year intervals) and sex stratum-specific incidence rates per 100 000 person-years were determined for venous thromboembolism (VTE), cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT) and other major venous thrombotic events, and events of special interest, including immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP), haemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) and heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT).

Results

Of 13 249 229 enrollees (half female/male), incidence of venous thromboembolic events (deep vein thrombosis (DVT), pulmonary embolism (PE), CVT or other major venous thrombotic conditions) was 247.89 per 100 000 person-years (95% CI: 245.96 to 249.84). Incidence of VTE was 213.79 with ICD codes alone (95% CI: 211.99 to 215.59) and 129.34 (95% CI: 127.95 to 130.75) when also requiring a filled anticoagulation prescription or an inferior vena cava (IVC) filter. Incidence was 6.37 for CVT (95% CI: 6.07 to 6.69), 26.06 for ITP (95% CI: 25.44 to 26.78), 0.94 for HUS (95% CI: 0.82 to 1.06) and 4.82 for HIT (95% CI: 4.56 to 5.10). The co-occurrence of CVT with either ITP or HIT (diagnoses within 14 days of one another) was 0.090 (95% CI: 0.06 to 0.13). Incidence tended to increase with age and was higher for women under 55. Incidence for CVT, HUS and CVT with ITP or HIT was higher for women in all age groups. Incidence of PE and CVT increased significantly over the 5-year period, while DVT rates decreased.

Conclusions

These results are the first US estimates for the incidence of thrombotic and rare events of interest in a large, commercially insured US population. Findings provide a critically important reference for determining excess morbidity associated with COVID-19 and more generally for vaccine pharmacovigilance.
FSTL1 promotes liver fibrosis by reprogramming macrophage function through modulating the intracellular function of PKM2
Authors: Rao Jianhua , Wang Hao , Ni Ming , Wang Zeng , Wang Ziyi , Wei Song , Liu Mu , Wang Peng , Qiu Jiannan , Zhang Lei , Wu Chen , Shen Hongbing , Wang Xuehao , Cheng Feng , Lu Ling
Published: February 2022

Objective

Follistatin-like protein 1 (FSTL1) is widely recognised as a secreted glycoprotein, but its role in modulating macrophage-related inflammation during liver fibrosis has not been documented. Herein, we aimed to characterise the roles of macrophage FSTL1 in the development of liver fibrosis.

Design

Expression analysis was conducted with human liver samples obtained from 33 patients with liver fibrosis and 18 individuals without fibrosis serving as controls. Myeloid-specific FSTL1-knockout (FSTL1M-KO) mice were constructed to explore the function and mechanism of macrophage FSTL1 in 3 murine models of liver fibrosis induced by carbon tetrachloride injection, bile duct ligation or a methionine-deficient and choline-deficient diet.

Results

FSTL1 expression was significantly elevated in macrophages from fibrotic livers of both humans and mice. Myeloid-specific FSTL1 deficiency effectively attenuated the progression of liver fibrosis. In FSTL1M-KOmice, the microenvironment that developed during liver fibrosis showed relatively less inflammation, as demonstrated by attenuated infiltration of monocytes/macrophages and neutrophils and decreased expression of proinflammatory factors. FSTL1M-KOmacrophages exhibited suppressed proinflammatory M1 polarisation and nuclear factor kappa B pathway activation in vivo and in vitro. Furthermore, this study showed that, through its FK domain, FSTL1 bound directly to the pyruvate kinase M2 (PKM2). Interestingly, FSTL1 promoted PKM2 phosphorylation and nuclear translocation, reduced PKM2 ubiquitination to enhance PKM2-dependent glycolysis and increased M1 polarisation. Pharmacological activation of PKM2 (DASA-58) partially countered FSTL1-mediated glycolysis and inflammation.

Conclusion

Macrophage FSTL1 promotes the progression of liver fibrosis by inducing M1 polarisation and inflammation based on the intracellular PKM2 reprogramming function of macrophages.
Gut microbiota composition is associated with SARS-CoV-2 vaccine immunogenicity and adverse events
Authors: Ng Siew C , Peng Ye , Zhang Lin , Mok Chris KP , Zhao Shilin , Li Amy , Ching Jessica YL , Liu Yingzhi , Yan Shuai , Chan Dream L S , Zhu Jie , Chen Chunke , Fung Adrian CH , Wong Kenneth KY , Hui David SC , Chan Francis KL , Tun Hein M
Published: February 2022

Objective

The gut microbiota plays a key role in modulating host immune response. We conducted a prospective, observational study to examine gut microbiota composition in association with immune responses and adverse events in adults who have received the inactivated vaccine (CoronaVac; Sinovac) or the mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2; BioNTech; Comirnaty).

Design

We performed shotgun metagenomic sequencing in stool samples of 138 COVID-19 vaccinees (37 CoronaVac and 101 BNT162b2 vaccinees) collected at baseline and 1 month after second dose of vaccination. Immune markers were measured by SARS-CoV-2 surrogate virus neutralisation test and spike receptor-binding domain IgG ELISA.

Results

We found a significantly lower immune response in recipients of CoronaVac than BNT162b2 vaccines (p<0.05).Bifidobacterium adolescentiswas persistently higher in subjects with high neutralising antibodies to CoronaVac vaccine (p=0.023) and their baseline gut microbiome was enriched in pathways related to carbohydrate metabolism (linear discriminant analysis (LDA) scores >2 and p<0.05). Neutralising antibodies in BNT162b2 vaccinees showed a positive correlation with the total abundance of bacteria with flagella and fimbriae includingRoseburia faecis(p=0.028). The abundance ofPrevotella copriand twoMegamonasspecies were enriched in individuals with fewer adverse events following either of the vaccines indicating that these bacteria may play an anti-inflammatory role in host immune response (LDA scores>3 and p<0.05).

Conclusion

Our study has identified specific gut microbiota markers in association with improved immune response and reduced adverse events following COVID-19 vaccines. Microbiota-targeted interventions have the potential to complement effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines.
Gut microbiota and obesity: an overview of microbiota to microbial-based therapies
Authors: Sheykhsaran Elham , Abbasi Amin , Ebrahimzadeh Leylabadlo Hamed , Sadeghi Javid , Mehri Samaneh , Naeimi Mazraeh Fariba , Feizi Hadi , Bannazadeh Baghi Hossein
Published: February 2022

The increasing prevalence of obesity and overweight is a significant public concern throughout the world. Obesity is a complex disorder involving an excessive amount of body fat. It is not just a cosmetic concern. It is a medical challenge that increases the risk of other diseases and health circumstances, such as diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and certain cancers. Environmental and genetic factors are involved in obesity as a significant metabolic disorder along with diabetes. Gut microbiota (GM) has a high potential for energy harvesting from the diet. In the current review, we aim to consider the role of GM, gut dysbiosis and significant therapies to treat obesity. Dietary modifications, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics compounds, using faecal microbiota transplant, and other microbial-based therapies are the strategies to intervene in obesity reducing improvement. Each of these factors serves through various mechanisms including a variety of receptors and compounds to control body weight. Trial and animal investigations have indicated that GM can affect both sides of the energy-balancing equation; first, as an influencing factor for energy utilisation from the diet and also as an influencing factor that regulates the host genes and energy storage and expenditure. All the investigated articles declare the clear and inevitable role of GM in obesity. Overall, obesity and obesity-relevant metabolic disorders are characterised by specific modifications in the human microbiota’s composition and functions. The emerging therapeutic methods display positive and promising effects; however, further research must be done to update and complete existing knowledge.
IQOS marketing strategies at point-of-sales: a cross-sectional survey with retailers
Authors: Bar-Zeev Yael , Berg Carla J , Khayat Amal , Romm Katelyn F , Wysota Chritina N , Abroms Lorien C , Elbaz Daniel , Levine Hagai
Published: February 2022

Background

The point-of-sale (POS) is adapting to marketing restrictions, societal changes and the inclusion of new products, such as heated tobacco products (eg, Philip Morris International’s (PMI) IQOS device and HEETS sticks). We aimed to assess (1) PMI’s influences on IQOS/HEETS POS marketing and (2) the implications of the new legislation (POS display ban and plain packaging) for retailers.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey of 43 IQOS/HEETS POS owners/managers in five Israeli cities assessed POS and participant characteristics, marketing strategies, attitudes towards IQOS, and POS implications of the legislation and COVID-19, including industry reactions. Bivariate analysis explored differences between POS selling of the IQOS device versus POS selling of HEETS only.

Results

A higher proportion of those carrying IQOS (n=15) (vs HEETS only) had special displays (100% vs 17.9%, p<0.001) and interacted with specific IQOS salespersons (73.3% vs 28.6%, p=0.013). Common promotions were financial incentives based on HEETS sales for retailers (37.5%) and price discounts on HEETS for customers (48.7%). Most indicated positive attitudes towards IQOS (72.1%; eg, ‘less harmful’), opposition to the legislation (62.7%), limited government assistance to implement the legislation (62.8%), and industry provision of display cases and/or signage to comply with the legislation (67.4%).

Conclusion

PMI uses similar tactics to promote IQOS at POS as they previously used for combustible products, including direct promotional activities with retailers, and circumvented legislation by using special displays and signage. Governments need to ban these measures and support retailers with clear practical guidance regarding the implementation of marketing restrictions at POS.
Warm Higgs–Starobinsky inflation
Authors: Samart Daris , Ma-adlerd Patinya , Channuie Phongpichit
Published: February 2022

In this work, we investigate the Higgs–Starobinsky (HS) model in the context of warm inflation scenario. The dissipative parameter as a linear form of temperature of warm inflation is considered with strong and weak regimes. We study the HS model in the Einstein frame using the slow-roll inflation framework. The inflationary observables are computed and then compared with the Plank 2018 data. With the sizeable number of e-folds and proper choices of parameters, we discover that the predictions of warm HS model present in this work are in very good agreement with the latest Planck 2018 results. More importantly, the parameters of the HS model are also constrained by using the data in order to make warm HS inflation successful.
Lax representation and bi-Hamiltonian structure of nonlinear Qiao model
Authors: Khater Mostafa M. A.
Published: February 2022

This paper explores accurate, stable, and novel soliton wave solutions of the nonlinear Qiao model. This model, which was derived in 2007, possesses a Lax representation and bi-Hamiltonian structure, where it is a second positive member in the utterly integrable hierarchy. The well-known generalized extended tanh-function method is employed to construct novel soliton wave solutions. The stable property of the obtained solutions is examined along with the Hamiltonian system’s characterizations. Furthermore, the accuracy of the obtained solutions is checked by comparing it with the model’s semi-analytical solutions that have been obtained by employing the variational iteration (VI) method. The obtained analytical and semi-analytical solutions are demonstrated through some distinct graphs to show more physical and dynamical behavior of the investigated model. The used analytical and semi-analytical schemes’ performance is checked to show if it is effective and powerful.
Dynamics of a stochastic staged progression model of HIV transmission with a hybrid switch
Authors: Liu Songnan , Dong Zhangyi , Xu Xiaojie
Published: February 2022

In this paper, we investigate the dynamics behavior of stochastic hybrid switching staged progression model for the transmission of HIV. The method used in this paper is Lyapunov functions analysis. We establish sufficient conditions for extinction of disease. Especially, we conclude that there is a stationary distribution for the stochastic system and it has ergodicity under appropriate conditions. Finally, some examples and their simulations are provided to illustrate the theoretical results.
Corticosteroid Injection for the Treatment of Trigger Finger: A Meta-Analysis of Randomised Control Trials
Authors: PATHAK Subodh Kumar , SALUNKE Abhijeet Ashok , MENON Prem Haridas , THIVARI Praveen , NANDY Kunal , Yongsheng CHEN
Published: February 2022

Background: The purpose of this meta-analysis is to provide an evidence-based overview of the effectiveness of corticosteroid injection for the treatment of stenosing tenosynovitis (trigger digits). We have analysed only randomised control trials (RCTs) which compared the effectiveness of corticosteroid injections with control injections.

Methods: The Cochrane Library, PubMed, Medline, Web of Science and Scopus were searched to identify relevant studies. The keywords for search in the database were (‘stenosing tenosynovitis’ OR ‘trigger finger’) AND injections. After screening titles and abstracts of these studies, full-text articles of studies that fulfilled the selection criteria were obtained. For the meta-analysis, we determined the pooled mean failure rate, odds ratio (OR), relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the risk of failure rate between the corticosteroid injection group and the control group through the random-effects model.

Results: Six RCTs were found that involved 368 participants. The corticosteroid injection group included 190 patients and 178 patients were included in the control group. The pooled estimate of successful treatment in the corticosteroid injections group was 63.68 ± 5.32% and that in the control group was 27.53 ± 11.52%. The pooled RR of treatment failure between the corticosteroid injection group and the control group was 0.49 (95% CI 0.40–0.60). The pooled OR of treatment failure between the corticosteroid injection group and the control group was 0.18 (95% CI 0.08–0.44). All the included studies reported either mild or no complications with corticosteroids or placebo injections.

Conclusions: In the treatment of stenosing tenosynovitis, the corticosteroid injections have better outcomes compared to the control injections and this meta-analysis provides significant evidence of the effectiveness of corticosteroid injection for stenosing tenosynovitis with minimal adverse effects.

Level of Evidence: Level II (Therapeutic)
A Systematic Review of the Outcomes of Microsurgical Toe Transfer for Metacarpal and Metacarpal-Like Hand Deformity
Authors: NAGRATH Nalin , DUGGAN Emily , THURLEY Neal , RODRIGUES Jeremy N.
Published: February 2022

Background: Thumb and multiple finger amputations may result in a metacarpal and a metacarpal-like hand deformity. Toe-to-hand transfer is a recognised treatment strategy for this deformity but has risks and is resource intensive. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic review of the outcomes of toe-to-hand transfer for traumatic metacarpal and metacarpal-like hand deformity in adult patients.

Methods: Multi-database searching with index and free text terms, duplicate standardised screening and extraction, and quality assessment was performed. The inclusion and exclusion criteria were prespecified. We included any randomised controlled trials, cohort studies, case-control studies, as well as interrupted time series, before and after intervention studies.

Results: Screening of 548 articles yielded 20 studies eligible that included 19 retrospective observational studies and one before and after intervention study. A total of 171 patients underwent 274 toe transfers for metacarpal and metacarpal-like hand deformity. No study compared toe-transfer to a control group or to a prosthesis. The before and after intervention study demonstrated significant improvement in activities of daily living, work, aesthetics and satisfaction. Additionally, no significant donor site morbidity occurred in the heterogenous sample. Outcomes from remaining studies at risk of bias suggest that those with a lesser severity of injury and at least two toe transfers score higher in functional tests and scoring systems.

Conclusions: There is limited confidence in the effectiveness of toe transfer for metacarpal and metacarpal-like hand deformity. The available evidence indicates that toe transfer(s) may restore acceptable function permitting activities of daily living, return to original or sedentary occupation and affords satisfaction.

Level of Evidence: Level III (Therapeutic)
An Anatomical Variant of the Palmar Cutaneous Branch of the Median Nerve: A Case Report
Authors: CHIEW Jean , SATKUNANANTHAM Mala , SECHACHALAM Sreedharan
Published: February 2022

There is a risk of injury to the palmar cutaneous branch of the median nerve (PCBMN) during a volar approach to the carpus or the distal radius. Anatomic variations of the PCBMN increase this risk. We report an anatomic variant of the PCBMN that coursed superficial and radial to the flexor carpi radialis (FCR), reinforcing the need for meticulous subcutaneous dissection to protect the nerve during a volar approach to the distal radius. In this case, identification of the PCBMN variant warranted a modified surgical approach, ulnar to the FCR instead of radial in order to avoid iatrogenic injury.

Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)
A review of Palaeolithic sites associated with gravel deposits in India
Authors: Kaur Anubhav Preet
Published: February 2022

Rivers and river-borne deposits have always been a major attraction for hominins as an important source of sustenance and settlements. Hence, fluvial deposits have long been an important source of evidence for early human occupation throughout the Old World. Apart from being an important palaeoclimatic marker, fluvial sequences have provided archaeologists with frameworks for correlation, along with Palaeolithic markers discovered within them. Moreover, given the influx of sediments eroded and deposited by Indian rivers, these could have acted as a centre of hominin activities. Palaeolithic research in India has been concentrated around some of its major river valleys, which have yielded a rich record of hominin occupation. So far, 305 Palaeolithic sites have been reported from a gravel context throughout the country, yielding Lower to Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic evidence. However, most of the derived evidence is secondary deposits and stands contested based on its contextuality. Nevertheless, its importance as a source of information about hominin activity cannot be underestimated. This review presents a provisional synthesis of all of the Indian Palaeolithic sites reported from gravel contexts, thereby presenting scope for future multidisciplinary research at these localities.
Quantized Tensor Neural Network
Authors: Gao Yuan , Yang Laurence T. , Zheng Dehua , Yang Jing , Zhao Yaliang
Published: February 2022

Tensor network as an effective computing framework for efficient processing and analysis of high-dimensional data has been successfully applied in many fields. However, the performance of traditional tensor networks still cannot match the strong fitting ability of neural networks, so some data processing algorithms based on tensor networks cannot achieve the same excellent performance as deep learning models. To further improve the learning ability of tensor network, we propose a quantized tensor neural network in this article (QTNN), which integrates the advantages of neural networks and tensor networks, namely, the powerful learning ability of neural networks and the simplicity of tensor networks. The QTNN model can be further regarded as a generalized multilayer nonlinear tensor network, which can efficiently extract low-dimensional features of the data while maintaining the original structure information. In addition, to more effectively represent the local information of data, we introduce multiple convolution layers in QTNN to extract the local features. We also develop a high-order back-propagation algorithm for training the parameters of QTNN. We conducted classification experiments on multiple representative datasets to further evaluate the performance of proposed models, and the experimental results show that QTNN is simpler and more efficient while compared to the classic deep learning models.
Cold Sintered LiMn2O4 for High-Rate Capability Electrodes
Authors: Nur Khushnuda , Roitzheim Christoph , Finsterbusch Martin , Bram Martin , Guillon Olivier
Published: February 2022

This study provides for the first time a detailed investigation of the cold sintering of LiMn2O4 (LMO). Aqueous based cold sintering aid facilitated densification of LMO at lower temperature range of 400 °C to 600 °C within a dwell time of merely 1 min to the relative density of 70%–80%, without any non—stoichiometry or the need of post annealing in air atmosphere. Connected porosity was observed in the cold sintered structure as confirmed by Mercury porosimetry and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Cold sintered and dry milled LMO delivered a specific discharge capacity of 121 mAh g−1 for the first discharge cycle at 0.1 C with an appreciably low capacity drop to 107 mAh g−1 at 15 C. In contrast, LMO powder, without any cold sintering treatment, provided merely 84 mAh g−1 at 0.1 C as initial discharge capacity and only 6 mAh g−1 at 2 C. This difference was interpreted as the removal/thinning of insulating Li2CO3 layer from the LMO particles after being cold sintered as confirmed by X-ray diffraction, thermal analysis and Raman spectroscopy.
Improving Sodium Storage Performance of Hard Carbon Anodes in Cyclic Ether Electrolytes by an Anion Receptor Additive
Authors: Lin Ya , Yang Chao , You Ya
Published: February 2022

The intrinsic ring-opening polymerization of five-membered cyclic ether induced by Lewis acid hinder its practical application as electrolyte solvents in sodium-ion batteries. In this work, we find that introducing tris (2,2,2-trifluoroethyl) borate (TTFEB), an anion acceptor additive, into cyclic ether-based electrolyte solution effectively inhibits its polymerization by tethering the PF6
− anion. In addition, a stable inorganics-rich SEI layer is formed in TTFEB-containing electrolyte solution, which ensures fast Na+ transport kinetics upon extensive cycles. As a result, the cycle stability and rate capability of HC anodes in 1,3-dioxolane-based electrolyte solutions are evidently improved by TTFEB additive. Our study paves the way for the application of cyclic ethers in sodium-ion batteries.
(Invited) Computing the Anisotropic Chemical Strain in Non-Stoichiometric Oxides for Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Li-Ion Battery Applications
Authors: Qi Yue , James Christine , Das Tridip , Nicholas Jason D. , Nation Leah , Sheldon Brian W.
Published: February 2022

Accurate characterization of chemical strain is required to study a broad range of chemical-mechanical coupling phenomena. By combining density functional theory (DFT) calculations and elastic dipole tensor theory, it is readily to predict the long-range chemical strain tensor and the chemical expansion coefficient tensor induced by dilute point defects in a crystal structure.

First, we demonstrate that, even in cubic CeO2-δ, both the short-range deformation surrounding an oxygen vacancy and the long-range chemical strain (or the expansion coefficient) are anisotropic. The origin of this anisotropy is the charge disproportionation between the four cerium atoms surrounding each oxygen vacancy (two become Ce3+ and two become Ce4+) when a neutral oxygen vacancy is formed. While the short-range deformation agrees with experimentally determined Ce-O bond lengths, the predicted maximum and average chemical strains successfully bound the variety of CeO2-δ chemical strain behavior previously reported in the literature. Normally, since there are six possible disproportionation configurations, the average chemical strain is isotropic. Only under an external bias, such as an applied electric field, the chemical strain can be oriented to show the anisotropic effect. This successfully explained the giant electrostriction effect reported in doped and un-doped CeO2-δ.

Next, we show strains induced by coupled vacancies in layered Li-intercalation compounds for battery applications. Li2MnO3 was investigated as Li-excess intercalation compounds containing Li2MnO3 need to be “activated” to deliver the high capacity. This activation process during the first delithiation cycle at a high voltage is believed to introduce oxygen vacancies into the system. Due to the large amount Li vacancy generated, a large number of defect configurations were sampled and the average chemical strain induced by Li vacancy concentration is obtained by Boltzmann average. Previously, we have demonstrated that it is energetically favorable to create a Li-O-Li vacancy dumbbell structure (VLi - VO - VLi) in Li2MnO3. The chemical strain of the vacancy dumbbell structure is smaller than the sum of the chemical strain of one Vo and two VLis. The chemical expansion coefficient averaged for the polycrystalline samples and the experimentally measured stress change provided a novel method to in situ track the irreversible chemical changes in Li-excess cathode materials.
Mechanical Basis of Nafion’s High-Frequency Inductive Impedance
Authors: Goyal Priyamvada , Monroe Charles W
Published: February 2022

Recent literature has highlighted how the coupling of electrochemical and mechanical phenomena can affect the way batteries and fuel cells perform [1, 2]. Local volume changes and stresses due to water transport play critical roles in the operation of polymer exchange membranes. A non-isobaric version of Newman’s concentrated-solution theory [3] was applied to study hydrated ionomers, in which mechanical effects intricately entangle the transport of material, momentum, and energy. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) provides a useful tool to study the most pronounced effects arising from this electrochemical/mechanical coupling in Nafion.

Nafion is relatively compressible, so changes in pressure affect the concentration of sulfonic acid; thus pressure gradients affect the voltage drop. Also, pressure diffusion can drive proton flux, directly coupling current with mechanical state. When AC signals are driven at low frequencies, these piezoelectric effects are minimal and the Warburg signature of water diffusion dominates the impedance. At higher frequencies, however, current oscillates too fast for the water concentration to respond. Pressure effects dominate the impedance. Strikingly, in this high-frequency regime the membrane can resonate, leading to divergent pressure impedances at a fundamental frequency and its harmonics. This resonance can be related to the speed of sound in the membrane. Above this speed, which is much higher than the characteristic diffusion speed, the signal is carried across the ionomer by elastic (mechanical) waves.

Inductive loops on the Nyquist plot, and corresponding peaks in the Bode plots, occur as a consequence of this electrochemical-mechanical coupling above the critical resonant frequency. Various mechanical characteristics can be associated with resistance (viscosity), capacitance (elastic modulus), and inductance (mass). A parametric study reveals how transport and mechanical properties affect the magnitudes and shapes of these impedance signatures. The model rationalizes the inductive responses seen experimentally in several recent high-quality Nyquist plots [4].

[1] A. Kusoglu and A.Z. Weber, Electrochemical/Mechanical Coupling in Ion-Conducting Soft Matter, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2015, 6(22), pp 4547-4552

[2] G. Bucci, Formulation of the Coupled Electrochemical-Mechanical Boundary-Value Problem, with Applications to Transport of Multiple Charged Species, Acta Mater., 2016, 104, pp 33-51

[3] P. Goyal and C.W. Monroe, New Foundations of Newman’s Theory for Solid Electrolytes: Thermodynamics and Transient Balances, J. Electrochem. Soc., 2017, 164(11), pp E3647-E3660

[4] B.P. Setzler and T.F. Fuller, A Physics-Based Impedance Model of Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells Exhibiting Low-Frequency Inductive Loops, J. Electrochem. Soc., 2015, 162(6), pp F519-F530