bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of non-invasive detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory pathogens in exhaled breath condensate
Authors: Nwanochie Emeka , Linnes Jacqueline C
Published: March 2022

In 2019, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) emerged to cause high viral infectivity and severe respiratory illness in humans (COVID-19). Worldwide, limited pandemic mitigation strategies, including lack of diagnostic test availability, resulted in COVID-19 overrunning health systems and spreading throughout the global population. Currently, proximal respiratory tract (PRT) specimens such as nasopharyngeal swabs are used to diagnose COVID-19 because of their relative ease of collection and applicability in large scale screening. However, localization of SARS-CoV-2 in the distal respiratory tract (DRT) is associated with more severe infection and symptoms. Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) is a sample matrix comprising aerosolized droplets originating from alveolar lining fluid that are further diluted in the DRT and then PRT and collected via condensation during tidal breathing. The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in recent resurgence of interest in EBC collection as an alternative, non-invasive sampling method for the staging and accurate detection of SARS-CoV-2 infections. Herein, we review the potential utility of EBC collection for detection of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory infections. While much remains to be discovered in fundamental EBC physiology, pathogen-airway interactions, and optimal sampling protocols, EBC, combined with emerging detection methods, presents a promising non-invasive sample matrix for detection of SARS-CoV-2.
Morphology and corrosion behavior of ZnO passive films for galvanized steel applications: effects of anodizing parameters
Authors: Naing Thet Htet , Janudom Somjai , Mahathaninwong Narissara , Rachpech Vishnu , Karrila Seppo
Published: March 2022

In this study, anodic ZnO films have been potentiostatically fabricated on galvanized steel surfaces in mixed electrolytes of NaOH, KOH and Ca(OH)2. The anodization parameters were varied in the ranges: applied voltage 5–30 V, controlled temperature 5 °C–35 °C, and anodizing time 15–60 min. Effects of the anodizing parameters on the properties of anodic ZnO films deposited on galvanized steel were evaluated using x-ray diffractometer (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS), measurements of water contact angle (WCA) and anodic film thickness. In addition, the synergistic effect of parameter-dependent surface characteristics of anodic films on short-term and long-term corrosion resistant was also investigated. The results showed that all anodic films formed were composed of crystalline ZnO. Transparent colorless anodic films were deposited at 5 V whereas transparent yellowish films at 20 V. Black anodic ZnO films were developed at 10 V, and these serve as effective corrosion barriers that greatly improved (2–5 fold) the corrosion resistance of galvanized steel. Among them, the optimal protection was found in the black anodic ZnO film fabricated at 10 V under 25 °C for 30 min. It was found that surface chemistry, morphology, wettability, and film thickness were important for the longevity of an anodic film. The main aim of this study is to understand the anodization of galvanized steel, which can provide controllable surface properties and wettability to ZnO anodic films by manipulation of the anodizing parameters.
Retracted: Advances in chitosan biopolymer composite materials: from bioengineering, wastewater treatment to agricultural applications
Authors: Chadha Utkarsh , Bhardwaj Preetam , Selvaraj Senthil Kumaran , Kumari Kanak , Isaac Tassella Susanna , Panjwani Mahek , Kulkarni Kunal , Mathew Rhea Mary , Satheesh Ashly Mariam , Pal Anushka , Gunreddy Neha , Dubey Omika , Singh Shalu , Latha Srinivasan , Chakravorty Arghya , Badoni Badrish , Banavoth Murali , Sonar Prashant , Manoharan Manikandan , Paramasivam Velmurugan
Published: March 2022

Chitosan has become the most known and second abundantly available recyclable, non-hazardous and eco-friendly biopolymer after cellulose with several advantageous biomedical, agriculture, and wastewater treatment applications. As nanotechnology has progressed, researchers have begun incorporating chitosan-based carbon compounds into various compounds, elements, and carbonaceous materials to increase their efficiency and biocompatibility. Chitosan carbon compounds have also been used directly in many applications due to their inherent chelating and antibacterial features and the presence of customizable functional groups. This review widely discusses- the properties and synthesis of chitosan and chitosan composite. It also discusses the modification of chitosan with different compounds, metals, carbonaceous materials, and agriculture residues to allow their use on an industrial scale. Recent advances in the use of chitosan in biomedical, agro-waste management, agriculture, wastewater treatment, and a few other applications (such as food packaging, cosmetics, and the textile and paper sector) are briefly discussed. Furthermore, this analysis reveals that chitosan and its composite materials are potential, low-cost products for environmental clean-up that can be made with basic manufacturing procedures.
Could Majorana bosons exist in quantum systems?
Authors: Wogan Tim
Published: March 2022

According to researchers in the US, majorana bosons – hypothetical quasiparticles that are analogous to Majorana fermions – could exist in certain quantum systems.
“Triple Leidenfrost” effect spotted in two bouncing droplets
Authors: Jarman Sam
Published: March 2022

A new type of Leidenfrost effect that causes droplets of different liquids to bounce off each other when placed on a hot surface has been discovered by researchers in Mexico and France.
Researchers in limbo as Brexit science deal stalls
Authors: Allen Michael
Published: March 2022

The UK and the European Union have yet to sign an agreement for the UK to take part in the €95bn Horizon Europe research programme.
The silent problem
Authors: Durrani Matin
Published: March 2022

Why bullying and harassment in the workplace are increasingly being hushed up.
Smaller is better
Authors: McKenzie James
Published: March 2022

James McKenzie thinks that small modular nuclear reactors could help many countries to meet their “net-zero” emissions targets.
Metaphorical mix-up
Authors: Holmes Steve
Published: March 2022

A response to Alan Calverd’s letter “Weighty issue”, which discusses the difficulty of teaching centripetal force and not centrifugal force, and the definition of weight.
The technosignature researcher on the lookout for exo-civilizations
Authors: Appell David
Published: March 2022

Meet Sofia Sheikh, one of a handful of postdoctoral researchers who have specialized in the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. She talks to David Appell about strange signals, Star Trek, picking a tricky research field and the importance of mentorship.
A most improbable physicist
Authors: Appell David
Published: March 2022

David Appell reviews A Quantum Life: My Unlikely Journey from the Street to the Stars by Hakeem Oluseyi and Joshua Horwitz.
Branching out in your career
Authors: Hiscott Laura
Published: March 2022

Akihiro Kojima and Mike Lee are two of seven physicists who shared the 2022 Rank Prize for Optoelectronics for developing new materials for solar cells. They speak to Laura Hiscott about how they switched into different career areas long after doing the work that led to the award.
Ask me anything: Donna Strickland
Authors: Hiscott Laura
Published: March 2022

Donna Strickland is a professor and optical physicist at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. In 2018 she shared the Nobel Prize for Physics for her work developing the technique of “chirped pulse amplification”. This technique creates very short, high-energy laser pulses and has numerous applications across industry and medicine.
Error carried forward
Authors: Marshall David
Published: March 2022

No matter how hard you try, it seems almost impossible to get erroneous school physics exam questions corrected.
Geometrical postural optimisation of 7-DoF limb-like manipulators
Authors: Tiseo Carlo , Charitos Sydney Rebecca , Mistry Michael
Published: March 2022

Robots are moving towards applications in less structured environments, but their model-based controllers are challenged by the tasks’ complexity and intrinsic environmental unpredictability. Studying biological motor control can provide insights into overcoming these limitations due to the high dexterity and stability observable in humans and animals. This work presents a geometrical solution to the postural optimisation of 7-DoF limbs-like mechanisms, which are robust to singularities and computationally efficient. The theoretical formulation identified two separate decoupled optimisation strategies. The shoulder and elbow strategy align the plane of motion with the expected plane of motion and guarantee the reachability of the end-posture. The wrist strategy ensures the end-effector orientation, which is essential to retain manipulability when nearing a singular configuration. The numerical results confirmed the theoretical observations and allowed us to identify the effect of different grasp strategies on system manipulability. The geometrical method was numerically tested in thousands of configurations proving to be both robust and accurate. The tested scenarios include left and right arm postures, singular configurations, and walking scenarios. The proposed geometrical approach can find application in developing efficient and robust interaction controllers that could be applied in computational neuroscience and robotics.
RNAI-FRID: novel feature representation method with information enhancement and dimension reduction for RNA–RNA interaction
Authors: Kang Qiang , Meng Jun , Luan Yushi
Published: March 2022

Different ribonucleic acids (RNAs) can interact to form regulatory networks that play important role in many life activities. Molecular biology experiments can confirm RNA–RNA interactions to facilitate the exploration of their biological functions, but they are expensive and time-consuming. Machine learning models can predict potential RNA–RNA interactions, which provide candidates for molecular biology experiments to save a lot of time and cost. Using a set of suitable features to represent the sample is crucial for training powerful models, but there is a lack of effective feature representation for RNA–RNA interaction. This study proposes a novel feature representation method with information enhancement and dimension reduction for RNA–RNA interaction (named RNAI-FRID). Diverse base features are first extracted from RNA data to contain more sample information. Then, the extracted base features are used to construct the complex features through an arithmetic-level method. It greatly reduces the feature dimension while keeping the relationship between molecule features. Since the dimension reduction may cause information loss, in the process of complex feature construction, the arithmetic mean strategy is adopted to enhance the sample information further. Finally, three feature ranking methods are integrated for feature selection on constructed complex features. It can adaptively retain important features and remove redundant ones. Extensive experiment results show that RNAI-FRID can provide reliable feature representation for RNA–RNA interaction with higher efficiency and the model trained with generated features obtain better performance than other deep neural network predictors.
Transgene-design: a web application for the design of mammalian transgenes
Authors: Mühlhausen Stefanie , Hurst Laurence D
Published: March 2022

Transgene-design is a web application to help design transgenes for use in mammalian studies. It is predicated on the recent discovery that human intronless transgenes and native retrogenes can be expressed very effectively if the GC content at exonic synonymous sites is high. In addition, as exonic splice enhancers resident in intron containing genes may have different utility in intronless genes, these can be reduced or increased in density. Input can be a native gene or a commercially ‘optimised’ gene. The option to leave in the first intron and to protect or avoid other motifs is also permitted.

Availability and implementation

Transgene-design is based on a ruby for rails platform. The application is available at https://transgene-design.bath.ac.uk. The code is available under GNU General Public License from GitHub (https://github.com/smuehlh/transgenes).

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Glutathione deficiency decreases lipid droplet stores and increases reactive oxygen species in mouse oocytes
Authors: Malott Kelli F , Reshel Samantha , Ortiz Laura , Luderer Ulrike
Published: March 2022

Glutathione (GSH) is a tripeptide thiol antioxidant that has been shown to be important to overall reproductive health. Glutamate cysteine ligase, the rate-limiting enzyme in GSH synthesis consists of a catalytic and a modifier (GCLM) subunit. We previously showed that oxidative stress in the ovary and oocytes of Gclm−/− mice is associated with accelerated age-related decline in ovarian follicles and decreased female fertility due to preimplantation embryonic mortality. Mammalian preimplantation development is a highly regulated and energy-intensive process that primarily relies on coordination between lipid droplets (LDs) and mitochondria to maintain cellular homeostasis. In this study, we hypothesized that GSH deficiency in oocytes increases oxidative stress, leading to increased mitochondrial dysfunction and decreased LD consumption, thereby decreasing oocyte developmental competence. We observed that Gclm−/− oocytes have increased oxidative stress, primarily in the form of mitochondrial superoxide and decreased subcortical mitochondrial clusters. Further, Gclm−/− oocytes have decreased mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨm) compared with Gclm+/+. We surmise this is likely due to the decreased availability of LDs, as we observed a significant decrease in LD content in Gclm−/− oocytes compared with Gclm+/+. The decreased oocyte LD content is likely related to an altered serum lipidome, with Gclm−/− serum having relatively lower unsaturated fatty acids and triglycerides than that of Gclm+/+ and Gclm+/− females. Altogether these data support that decreased LDs and increased oxidative stress are primary drivers of decreased oocyte developmental competence in GSH-deficient oocytes.
Challenges and innovations in treating chronic and acute wound infections: from basic science to clinical practice
Authors: Ding Xiaotong , Tang Qinghan , Xu Zeyu , Xu Ye , Zhang Hao , Zheng Dongfeng , Wang Shuqin , Tan Qian , Maitz Joanneke , Maitz Peter K , Yin Shaoping , Wang Yiwei , Chen Jun
Published: March 2022

Acute and chronic wound infection has become a major worldwide healthcare burden leading to significantly high morbidity and mortality. The underlying mechanism of infections has been widely investigated by scientist, while standard wound management is routinely been used in general practice. However, strategies for the diagnosis and treatment of wound infections remain a great challenge due to the occurrence of biofilm colonization, delayed healing and drug resistance. In the present review, we summarize the common microorganisms found in acute and chronic wound infections and discuss the challenges from the aspects of clinical diagnosis, non-surgical methods and surgical methods. Moreover, we highlight emerging innovations in the development of antimicrobial peptides, phages, controlled drug delivery, wound dressing materials and herbal medicine, and find that sensitive diagnostics, combined treatment and skin microbiome regulation could be future directions in the treatment of wound infection.
Investigation of the Surface Properties of Hexagonal Boron Nitride and Boron Phosphate by Inverse Gas Chromatography at Infinite Dilution
Authors: Isik Birol , Ugraskan Volkan , Cakar Fatih , Yazici Ozlem
Published: March 2022

The boron-based ceramics namely hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and boron phosphate (BPO4) were synthesized and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. The surface properties of h-BN and BPO4 were examined by inverse gas chromatography method. The dispersive surface energy and the acidic-basic character of h-BN, and BPO4 surfaces were estimated by the retention time with probes such as n-hexane, n-heptane, n-octane, n-nonane, n-decane, acetone, ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, chloroform and tetrahydrofuran at infinite dilution region. The dispersive surface free energies calculated using both Schultz and Dorris–Gray methods, decreased linearly with increasing temperature. The specific adsorption free energy and the specific adsorption enthalpy corresponding to acid–base surface interactions were determined. By correlating with the donor and acceptor numbers of the probes, the acidic and the basic parameters of the h-BN and BPO4 were calculated. The values obtained for and parameters indicated that h-BN has a basic character, whereas BPO4 has an acidic character.
Real-World Incidence of Breakthrough Coronavirus Disease 2019 Hospitalization After Vaccination vs Natural Infection in a Large, Local, Empaneled Primary Care Population Using Time-to-Event Analysis
Authors: Pollock Benjamin D , Storlie Curtis B , Tande Aaron J , Sampathkumar Priya
Published: March 2022

We followed 106 349 primary care patients for 22 385 3099 person-days across 21 calendar months and documented 69 breakthrough coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) hospitalizations: 65/102,613 (0.06%) among those fully vaccinated, 3/11 047 (0.03%) among those previously infected, and 1/7,313 (0.01%) among those with both statuses. These data give providers real-world context regarding breakthrough COVID-19 hospitalization risk.
Cystatin C–based estimated GFR performs best in identifying individuals with poorer survival in an unselected Chinese population: results from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS)
Authors: Zhu Cheng , Zhang Han , Shen Ziyan , Chen Jing , Gu Yulu , Lv Shiqi , Li Yang , Zhu Bowen , Ding Xiaoqiang , Zhang Xiaoyan
Published: March 2022

Background

The decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) has been reported as a risk factor for mortality. However, it remains unclear which eGFR equation is most useful in predicting death in the general Chinese population.

Methods

The association was examined between eGFR and all-cause mortality using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study. Participants with complete data in 2011 and survival follow-up in 2013, 2015 and 2018 were included and analyzed in three separate cohorts, which included 8160, 8154 and 8020 participants, respectively. Logistic regression analyses, receiver operating characteristic curve, continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) were computed to compare the discriminative power of eGFR derived by abbreviated Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Chinese coefficient–modified MDRD (MDRD-CN), Japanese coefficient–modified MDRD (MDRD-JPN), CKD-EPIcr, Japanese coefficient–modified CKD-EPIcr (CKD-EPIcr-JPN), CKD-EPIcys, CKD-EPIcr-cys, CKD-EPIcr fit without race and CKD-EPIcr-cys fit without race.

Results

A decreased eGFR (<60 ml/min/1.73 m2) was significantly associated with increased mortality at 2 years no matter which eGFR equation was used (odds ratio ranged between 2.02 and 4.94, all P < 0.001). The association remained significant after adjusting multiple covariates when MDRD-CN, CKD-EPIcys or CKD-EPIcr-cys fit without race was used. CKD-EPIcys showed the highest discriminative power for mortality (area under the curve 0.744 ± 0.40) and outperformed other equations (all P < 0.001) except for CKD-EPIcr-cys. The overall risk classification was also improved when the CKD-EPIcys equation was adopted as indicated by continuous NRI and IDI. Similar results were observed at 4 and 7 years.

Conclusions

A decline in eGFR by all equations could predict poorer survival, among which the CKD-EPIcys equation showed the best discriminative power.
Impact of melatonin on periodontal ligament fibroblasts during mechanical strain
Authors: Schröder Agnes , Alefeld Annika , Forneck Anne , Spanier Gerrit , Deschner James , Proff Peter , Kirschneck Christian
Published: March 2022

Background

The endogenous hormone melatonin regulates the circadian rhythm and impacts on bone metabolism. As patient compliance to wear removable orthodontic appliances is generally higher at night, when melatonin release is increased, a boosting effect on tooth movement would be favourable for therapy, whereas an inhibiting effect would indicate daytime wear to be more therapy-effective. We hypothesize that melatonin has either a stimulating or impeding effect on the expression profile of periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLF) during simulated orthodontic compressive and tensile strain, which would suggest either an accelerating or inhibiting impact on orthodontic tooth movement in vivo.

Methods

PDLF were preincubated with melatonin for 24 h and then subjected to tensile or compressive strain to mimic tension and pressure sides in PDL. In addition, the selective melatonin MTNR1B-receptor antagonist 4P-PDOT was used. We investigated melatonin effects on collagen synthesis, expression of inflammatory and bone-remodelling genes/proteins by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays, and total collagen assays. PDLF-induced osteoclastogenesis was analysed in a coculture model by tartrate-resistant acid phosphatise (TRAP) staining.

Results

Expression of melatonin receptors in PDLF was not affected by compressive strain. Melatonin increased expression of inflammatory factors and elevated collagen synthesis during mechanical strain. Melatonin showed no effects on OPG or RANKL expression without mechanical strain, but increased RANKL gene expression during compression.

Conclusions

Expression of melatonin receptors by PDLF enable them to detect fluctuating melatonin concentrations in the periodontal ligament. Melatonin increased collagen synthesis and expression of inflammatory mediators, but had no effect on genes involved in bone remodelling. Therefore, we suggest that melatonin has no accelerating effect on PDLF-induced osteoclastogenesis.
Less revascularization in young women but impaired long-term outcomes in young men after myocardial infarction
Authors: Kerola Anne M , Palomäki Antti , Rautava Päivi , Kytö Ville
Published: March 2022

Aims

Female sex has previously been associated with poorer outcomes after myocardial infarction (MI), although evidence is scarce among young patients. We studied sex differences in cardiovascular outcomes after MI in young patients <55 years old.

Methods and results

Consecutive young (18–54 years) all-comer patients with out-of-hospital MI admitted to 20 Finnish hospitals (n = 8934, 17.3% women) in 2004–2014 were studied by synergizing national registries. Differences between the sexes were balanced by inverse probability weighting. The median follow-up period was 9.1 years (max 14.8 years). Young women with MI had more comorbidities at baseline, were revascularized less frequently, and received fewer evidence-based secondary prevention medications (P2Y12 inhibitors, renin–angiotensin signalling pathway inhibitors, statins, and lower statin dosages) after MI than young men. Long-term mortality or the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE; recurrent MI, stroke, or cardiovascular death) did not differ between the sexes in the unadjusted analysis. However, after baseline feature and treatment-difference adjustment, men had poorer outcomes after MI. Adjusted long-term mortality was 21.3% in men vs. 17.2% in women [hazard ratio (HR) 1.29; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.10–1.53; P = 0.002]. Cumulative MACE rate was 33.9% in men vs. 27.9% in women during follow-up (HR 1.23; 95% CI 1.09–1.39; P = 0.001). Recurrent MI and cardiovascular death occurrences were more frequent among men. Stroke occurrence did not differ between the sexes.

Conclusions

Young women were found to receive less active treatment after MI than young men. Nevertheless, male sex was associated with poorer long-term cardiovascular outcomes after MI in young patients after baseline feature adjustment.
The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Older Women in the Women’s Health Initiative
Authors: VoPham Trang , Harris Holly R , Tinker Lesley F , Manson JoAnn E , Meliker Jaymie R , Wassertheil-Smoller Sylvia , Shadyab Aladdin H , Saquib Nazmus , Anderson Garnet L , Shumaker Sally A
Published: March 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a health crisis of which older adults are a high-risk group for severe illness and mortality. The objectives of this article are to describe the methods and responses to a COVID-19 survey administered by the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) to assess the impact of the pandemic on older women.

Methods

WHI is an ongoing prospective cohort study that recruited 161 808 postmenopausal women from 1993 to 1998. From June 2020 to October 2020, participants in active follow-up were surveyed by mail, phone, or online to assess health and well-being, living situations, lifestyle, health care, and self-reported COVID-19 testing, treatment, and preventive behaviors.

Results

Of 64 061 eligible participants, 49 695 (average age 83.6 years ± 5.6) completed the COVID-19 survey (response rate 77.6%). Many participants reported very good or good well-being (75.6%). Respondents reported being very concerned about the pandemic (51.1%; more common in urban compared to rural areas), with 6.9% reporting disruptions in living arrangements and 9.7% reporting changes in medication access. Participants (54.4%) reported physical activity levels were much less or somewhat less compared to levels before the pandemic, and this was more pronounced in urban areas versus rural areas (55.3% vs 44.4%). Participants engaged in preventive behaviors including wearing a face mask (93.2%). A total of 18.9% reported testing for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), among whom 3.5% (n = 311) reported testing positive.

Conclusions

In this nationwide survey of older U.S. women, the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with impacts on health and well-being, living situations, lifestyle, health care access, and SARS-CoV-2 testing and preventive behaviors.
Mobility of Phosphine-Susceptible and -Resistant Rhyzopertha dominica (Coleoptera: Bostrichidae) and Tribolium castaneum (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) After Exposure to Controlled Release Materials With Existing and Novel Active Ingredients
Authors: Ranabhat Sabita , Zhu Kun Yan , Bingham Georgina V , Morrison William R
Published: March 2022

There is interest in developing controlled release materials (CRMs) with novel modes of action to improve resistance management. Long-lasting insecticide-incorporated netting (LLIN) with deltamethrin has been effectively used against stored-product pests. Here, we evaluated the efficacy of different CRMs (LLIN or packaging) with each of four active ingredients (AI) (deltamethrin, permethrin, indoxacarb, and dinotefuran) and compared them to control CRMs in reducing movement and increasing mortality of phosphine-susceptible and -resistant Rhyzopertha dominica and Tribolium castaneum. Adults were exposed for 0.5, 2, or 60 min, and movement was assessed immediately or after 24, or 168 h using video-tracking and Ethovision software. We recorded total distance and velocity traveled by adults. Finally, we tested higher rates of each AI on surrogate netting material (e.g., standardized-sized cheesecloth) and varied exposure time to obtain median lethal time (LT50) for each compound and susceptibility. Exposure to LLIN with deltamethrin significantly reduced the movement of both species compared to the other CRMs regardless of their susceptibility to phosphine. Deltamethrin was the most effective AI for both species, while dinotefuran and indoxacarb were the least effective for R. dominica and T. castaneum adults, respectively. Most AIs resulted in appreciable and approximately equivalent mortality at higher concentrations among phosphine-susceptible and -resistant strains. Our results demonstrate that CRMs can be an additional approach to combat phosphine-resistant populations of stored product insects around food facilities. Other compounds such as permethrin, dinotefuran, and indoxacarb are also effective against phosphine-resistant populations of these key stored product insects except indoxacarb for T. castaneum.
Inhibiting miR-466b-5p Attenuates Neonatal White Matter Injury by Targeting Lpar1
Authors: Xiao Dongqiong , Su Xiaojuan , Gou Xiaoyun , Huang Lingyi , Ying Junjie , Li Shiping , Zhao Fengyan , Mu Dezhi , Qu Yi
Published: March 2022

miR-466b-5p is aberrantly upregulated in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) after white matter injury (WMI). However, its roles in neonatal WMI pathogenesis are unknown. In this study, P3 rats were subjected to hypoxia-ischemia to establish a neonatal WMI model. A bioinformatic analysis was conducted to predict the possible target of miR-466b-5p as Lpar1. RT-PCR was performed to validate the expression of miR-466b-5p and Lpar1 mRNA. The miR-466b-5p antagomir was intracerebroventricularly administrated to inhibit miR-466b-5p; OPC differentiation, apoptosis, proliferation, and myelination were analyzed using immunofluorescence staining, western blotting, and electron microscopy. In addition, the behavioral performance of the rats was measured with the Morris water maze test. Sox10 expression and PLP trafficking were examined to elucidate the mechanism by which miR-466b-5p regulates WMI pathogenesis. We found that after inhibiting miR-466b-5p, the Edg2 protein was increased, OPC differentiation and myelinated axon formation were enhanced, and the rats’ behavioral performance was improved, whereas OPC proliferation and apoptosis were not affected. Furthermore, the expression of Sox10 was promoted while PLP trafficking was attenuated after miR-466b-5p inhibition. We conclude that miR-466b-5p is involved in the regulation of WMI pathogenesis, partly through the Lpar1/Edg2/Sox10 and Lpar1/Edg2/PLP signaling pathways.
Spatial patterns of a savanna palm treeBorassus aethiopumand its temporal variability
Authors: Traoré Amara Sidiki , Kouassi Kouadio Ignace , Koné Moussa , Gignoux Jacques , Barot Sébastien
Published: March 2022

The spatial distributions and associations of plant species in a stand can provide essential information about their dynamics. However, since tree spatial distribution and association depend on factors that operate at different scales, disentangling the effects of environmental heterogeneity and plant–plant interactions requires the choice of a suitable null model for spatial analysis. We analyzed the spatial distributions of the same savanna palm tree populations that were studied, the underlying hypothesis being that these distributions have changed in 20 years. To remove the effect of large-scale environmental heterogeneity, the inhomogeneous L-function under the heterogeneous Poisson null model was used. We showed: (i) unlike 20 years ago, adults had a regular distribution instead of an aggregated distribution in the grass savanna; (ii) although the spatial distribution of seedlings and juveniles was always aggregated, we observed a decrease in the size of the aggregates (intensities); (iii) except for juveniles, no other stages were associated with nutrient-rich patches, which was also different 20 years ago; (iv) we did not observe any particular difference in structure between two study sites, only that female palm trees were spatially associated with entire-leafed seedlings in the reserve while they were spatially independent in the rural area. Our study supports the hypothesis that the spatial distributions have partially changed, and that the management of spatial heterogeneity has improved and given more precision in the results.
Divergent effects of grazing versus mowing on plant nutrients in typical steppe grasslands of Inner Mongolia
Authors: Liu Jiayue , Li Lu , Ji Lei , Li Yanlong , Liu Jiaojiao , Li Frank Yonghong
Published: March 2022

Grazing and mowing are two major land use types in natural grasslands, which have intensive effects on nutrient cycling of grassland ecosystems by deposition of fecaluria nutrient versus removal of hay nutrient. Plant nutrients sensitively respond to the changes in nutrient cycling, while the information on the effects of diverse grazing versus mowing regimes on plant nutrients at different organs or levels are incomplete. A field experiment was conducted to compare the effects of continuous versus rotational grazing, and low versus high mowing frequencies on grassland ecosystems in a semiarid steppe of Inner Mongolia. Plant community characteristics and C, N and P concentrations of dominant species were determined across different managements. We found (i) plant community height and standing biomass significantly decreased with grazing intensity under both continuous and rotational grazing and under annual mowing. (ii) Plant shoot C concentration decreased, whereas N and P concentrations increased with grazing intensity in the two grazing regimes, while these concentrations showed no significant changes in response to the two mowing regimes. (iii) Plant community aboveground C, N and P pools significantly decreased with grazing intensity of both grazing regimes, but did not decrease with mowing frequency in the two mowing regimes. (iv) Plant root C, N and P concentrations showed little significant response to different grazing or mowing regimes, indicating a relatively bigger stability or slower response in plant root nutrients. Our study provides insights into the nutrient cycling in grazing and mowing grassland ecosystems from multiple perspectives.
The Role of C-Reactive Protein as a Triage Tool for Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Children
Authors: Jaganath Devan , Reza Tania F , Wambi Peter , Nakafeero Jascent , Kiconco Emma , Nanyonga Gertrude , Oumo Ernest A , Nsereko Moses C , Sekadde Moorine P , Nabukenya-Mudiope Mary G , Kato-Maeda Midori , Andama Alfred , Yoon Christina , Mohanty Swomitra , Wobudeya Eric , Cattamanchi Adithya
Published: March 2022

Background

C-reactive protein (CRP) has shown promise as a triage tool for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in adults living with the human immunodeficiency virus. We performed the first assessment of CRP for TB triage in children.

Methods

Symptomatic children less than 15 years old were prospectively enrolled in Kampala, Uganda. We completed a standard TB evaluation and measured CRP using a point-of-care assay. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of CRP to identify pulmonary TB in children using 10 mg/L and 5 mg/L cut-off points and generated a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to determine alternative cut-offs that could approach the target accuracy for a triage test (≥90% sensitivity and ≥70% specificity).

Results

We included 332 children (median age 3 years old, interquartile range [IQR]: 1–6). The median CRP level was low at 3.0 mg/L (IQR: 2.5–26.6) but was higher in children with Confirmed TB than in children with Unlikely TB (9.5 mg/L vs. 2.9 mg/L, P-value = .03). At a 10 mg/L cut-off, CRP sensitivity was 50.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 37.0–63.0) among Confirmed TB cases and specificity was 63.3% (95% CI, 54.7–71.3) among children with Unlikely TB. Sensitivity increased to 56.5% (95% CI, 43.3–69.0) at the 5 mg/L cut-off, but specificity decreased to 54.0% (95% CI, 45.3–62.4). The area under the ROC curve was 0.59 (95% CI, 0.51–0.67), and the highest sensitivity achieved was 66.1% at a specificity of 46.8%.

Conclusions

CRP levels were low in children with pulmonary TB, and CRP was unable to achieve the accuracy targets for a TB triage test.
Targetable IDH1 mutation identified in a rare case of pancreatic serous cystadenocarcinoma but not a series of serous cystadenomas
Authors: Zhang Yuxi , Hammonds Autumn , Tran-Harding Karen , Schaberg Kurt B , Nair Rashmi T , Wang Chi , Wu Yuanyuan , Pandalai Prakash K , Kolesar Jill , Kim Joseph , Cavnar Michael J
Published: March 2022

Serous cystadenocarcinoma (SCAC) of the pancreas is rare, with only 35 cases reported in the literature. We present a case of SCAC, comparing the clinical presentation, management and molecular features of this case to a series of serous cystadenoma (SCA), which may be a precursor. Compared with SCAs (n = 5), SCAC was larger (11.5 vs median 3.6 cm). The case of SCAC invaded the spleen and exhibited distant metastasis, a requirement for diagnosis since pathologic features are otherwise indistinguishable from SCA. VHL mutations have been reported in about half of SCA in the literature. Accordingly, we identified either somatic or germline VHL mutations in 3 of 5 SCAs (60%), yet no pathogenic mutation was identified in the SCAC. A somatic mutation in IDH1 was found in SCAC only. This has been associated with multiple malignancies, is targetable with the drug ivosidenib and should be studied as a progression factor in SCAC.
Global burden and trends of neglected tropical diseases from 1990 to 2019
Authors: Lin Yushi , Fang Kailu , Zheng Yang , Wang Hong-liang , Wu Jie
Published: March 2022

Background

An updated analysis of neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) from a global perspective is missing from the literature. We aimed to assess the global burden and trends of NTDs from 1990 to 2019.

Methods

Yearly incident case, mortality and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) data for NTDs were extracted from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019 (GBD 2019) based on global, regional, country, social development index (SDI), age and sex categories. The age-standardized rate (ASR) and number of incident cases, mortality and DALYs were computed from 1990 to 2019. The estimated annual percentage change (EAPC) in the ASR was calculated to quantify the changing trend.

Results

Globally, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and the number of incident cases of total NTDs increased between 1990 and 2019, whereas the age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR), mortality, age-standardized DALY rate and DALYs of total NTDs decreased. Although tropical Latin America, South Asia, Southeast Asia and Oceania had the highest ASIR for total NTDs in 2019, tropical Latin America was the only region to experience a decreasing trend in ASIR from 1673.5 per 100 000 in 2010 to 1059.2 per 100 000 in 2019. The middle, high-middle and high SDI regions experienced increasing ASIR trends between 1990 and 2019, whereas the low-middle SDI region remained stable, and the low SDI region presented a decreasing trend. Children and older adults were vulnerable to dengue, rabies and leishmaniasis (cutaneous and mucocutaneous). Females had a higher ASIR but a lower ASMR and age-standardized DALY rate than males.

Conclusions

NTDs still represent a serious problem for public health, and the increasing ASIR and incident cases globally may require more targeted strategies for prevention, control and surveillance, especially among specific populations and endemic areas.
A cautionary tale of Ly C escape fraction estimates from high-redshift galaxies
Authors: Bassett R , Ryan-Weber E V , Cooke J , Meštrić U , Prichard L J , Rafelski M , Iwata I , Sawicki M , Gwyn S , Arnouts S
Published: March 2022

Measuring the escape fraction, fesc, of ionizing, Lyman continuum (Ly C) radiation is key to our understanding of the process of cosmic reionization. In this paper, we provide a methodology for recovering the posterior probability distribution of the Ly C escape fraction, $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm PDF}$, considering both the observational uncertainties and ensembles of simulated transmission functions through the intergalactic medium (IGM). We present an example of this method applied to a VUDS galaxy at z = 3.64 and find $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm PDF}$ = 0.51$^{+0.33}_{-0.34}$ and compare this to the values computed assuming averaged IGM transmission with and without consideration of detection bias along average sightlines yielding $f_{\rm esc}^{\langle T \rangle }$ = 1.40$^{+0.80}_{-0.42}$ and $f_{\rm esc}^{\rm bias}$ = 0.82$^{+0.33}_{-0.16}$. Our results highlight the limitations of methods assuming average, smooth transmission functions. We also present MOSFIRE data for a sample of seven Ly C candidates selected based on photometric redshifts at z > 3.4, but find that all seven have overestimated photometric redshifts by Δz ∼ 0.2 making them unsuitable for Ly C measurements. This results likely due to a bias induced by our selection criteria.
Multimodal imaging of hemorrhagic transformation biomarkers in an ischemic stroke model.
Authors: Pushie M J , Messmer M , Sylvain N J , Heppner J , Newton J M , Hou H , Hackett M J , Kelly M E , Peeling L
Published: March 2022

Hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke has devastating consequences, with high mortality and poor functional outcomes. Animal models of ischemic stroke also demonstrate the potential for hemorrhagic transformation, which complicates biochemical characterization, treatment studies, and hinders poststroke functional outcomes in affected subjects. The incidence of hemorrhagic transformation of ischemic stroke in animal model research is not commonly reported. The postmortem brain of such cases presents a complex milieu of biomarkers due to the presence of healthy cells, regions of varying degrees of ischemia, dead and dying cells, dysregulated metabolites, and blood components (especially reactive Fe species released from lysed erythrocytes). To improve the characterization of hemorrhage biomarkers on an ischemic stroke background, we have employed a combination of histology, X-ray fluorescence imaging (XFI), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic imaging to assess 122 photothrombotic (ischemic) stroke brains. Rapid freezing preserves brain biomarkers in situ and minimizes metabolic artifacts due to postmortem ischemia. Analysis revealed that 25% of the photothrombotic models had clear signs of hemorrhagic transformation. The XFI and FTIR metabolites provided a quantitative method to differentiate key metabolic regions in these models. Across all hemorrhage cases, it was possible to consistently differentiate otherwise healthy tissue from other metabolically distinct regions, including the ischemic infarct, the ischemic penumbra, blood vessels, sites of hemorrhage, and a region surrounding the hemorrhage core that contained elevated lipid oxidation. Chemical speciation of deposited Fe demonstrates the presence of heme-Fe and accumulation of ferritin.
Pain descriptors and determinants of pain sensitivity in knee osteoarthritis: a community-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Vriezekolk Johanna E , Peters Yvonne A S , Steegers Monique A H , Blaney Davidson Esmeralda N , van den Ende Cornelia H M
Published: March 2022

Objectives

The aim was to explore pain characteristics in individuals with knee OA (KOA), to compare pain sensitivity across individuals with KOA, individuals with chronic back pain (CBP) and pain-free individuals (NP) and to examine the relationship between clinical characteristics and pain sensitivity and between pain characteristics and pain sensitivity in KOA.

Methods

We carried out a cross-sectional, community-based online survey. Two data sets were combined, consisting of Dutch individuals ≥40 years of age, who were experiencing chronic knee pain (KOA, n = 445), chronic back pain (CBP, n = 504) or no pain (NP, n = 256). Demographic and clinical characteristics, global health, physical activity/exercise and pain characteristics, including intensity, spreading, duration, quality (short-form McGill pain questionnaire) and sensitivity (pain sensitivity questionnaire), were assessed. Differences between (sub)groups were examined using analyses of variance or χ2 tests. Regression analyses were performed to examine determinants of pain sensitivity in the KOA group.

Results

The quality of pain was most commonly described as aching, tender and tiring–exhausting. Overall, the KOA group had higher levels of pain sensitivity compared with the NP group, but lower levels than the CBP group. Univariately, pain intensity, its variability and spreading, global health, exercise and having co-morbidities were weakly related to pain sensitivity (standardized β: 0.12–0.27). Symptom duration was not related to pain sensitivity. Older age, higher levels of continuous pain, lower levels of global health, and exercise contributed uniquely, albeit modestly, to pain sensitivity (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Continuous pain, such as aching and tenderness, in combination with decreased physical activity might be indicative for a subgroup of individuals at risk for pain sensitivity and, ultimately, poor treatment outcomes.
The Cross-Section of Cryptocurrency Returns
Authors: Borri Nicola , Shakhnov Kirill
Published: March 2022

At a given point in time, bitcoin prices are different on exchanges located in different countries, or against different currencies. While existing literature attributes the largest price differences to frictions, like market segmentation, trading platforms advertize how to execute trades based on this information. We provide a novel risk-based explanation of these price differences for a sample containing the most reputable exchanges and after accounting for all transaction costs and limitations to trade. Bitcoin prices for more expensive pairs are riskier because they depreciate more in bad times for cryptocurrency investors, when aggregate liquidity and investor sentiment are lower. (JEL G12, G14, G15, F31).
Market Timing and Predictability in FX Markets
Authors: Maurer Thomas A , Tô Thuy-Duong , Tran Ngoc-Khanh
Published: March 2022

We study the economic value of market timing in foreign exchange (FX) markets, that is, using information about the conditional Sharpe ratio to adjust the notional value of a conditionally mean–variance efficient currency portfolio. Our strategy trades more (less) aggressively when the conditional risk-return trade-off is more (less) favorable. This leads to a significant improvement in the out-of-sample unconditional Sharpe ratio, skewness, and maximum drawdown per 1% expected excess return. The strategy’s market timing predicts returns, volatility, and skewness in FX markets. Popular currency pricing factors do not explain the strategy’s high average excess returns. Our findings suggest that it is costly to impose leverage or risk (i.e., conditional volatility) limits or other inferior market timing policies when constructing currency trading strategies.