bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Human cerebral spheroids undergo 4-aminopyridine-induced, activity associated changes in cellular composition and microrna expression
Authors: Parmentier Thomas , James Fiona M. K. , Hewitson Elizabeth , Bailey Craig , Werry Nicholas , Sheridan Steven D. , Perlis Roy H. , Perreault Melissa L. , Gaitero Luis , Lalonde Jasmin , LaMarre Jonathan
Published: June 2022

Activity-induced neurogenesis has been extensively studied in rodents but the lack of ante mortem accessibility to human brain at the cellular and molecular levels limits studies of the process in humans. Using cerebral spheroids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), we investigated the effects of 4-aminopyridine (4AP) on neuronal activity and associated neurogenesis. Our studies demonstrate that 4AP increases neuronal activity in 3-month-old cerebral spheroids while increasing numbers of new neurons and decreasing the population of new glial cells. We also observed a significant decrease in the expression of miR-135a, which has previously been shown to be decreased in exercise-induced neurogenesis. Predicted targets of miR-135a include key participants in the SMAD2/3 and BDNF pathways. Together, our results suggest that iPSC-derived cerebral spheroids are an attractive model to study several aspects of activity-induced neurogenesis.
Cell radiolabeling with acoustophoresis cell washing
Authors: Adler Stephen S. , Nyong Emmanuel C. , Glabman Raisa A. , Choyke Peter L. , Sato Noriko
Published: June 2022

Labeling immune cells with zirconium-89 (89Zr)-oxine has become a viable method to track cells in vivo by PET in various pre-clinical animal models and in clinical applications. Currently, 89Zr-oxine cell labeling is performed manually, which requires a highly trained specialist and is prone to human error. As the first phase in developing a fully automated radiolabeling system to address this problem, we assess the use of acoustophoresis cell washing to replace the centrifugal cell washing used in the current 89Zr-oxine cell radiolabeling procedure. To accomplish this, a cell radiolabeling procedure was developed in which two steps requiring a centrifuge to wash cells were replaced using acoustophoresis cell washing methods. The process was tested using murine EL4 lymphoma and T cells. The centrifuge cell labeling procedure was used as a control to compare the acoustophoresis cell washing procedure. The acoustophoresis method produced radiolabeled cells with similar properties to the centrifugal method when comparing labeling efficiency, labeled specific activity, efficacy of removing unbound 89Zr-oxine from the suspension, cell viability measured using annexin V/propidium iodide staining and activation function. This suggests that acoustophoresis cell washing can be used in the design of an automated benchtop, good manufacture practice-qualified acoustophoresis cell radiolabeling device.
Processing of fMRI-related anxiety and information flow between brain and body revealed a preponderance of oscillations at 0.15/0.16 Hz
Authors: Pfurtscheller Gert , Blinowska Katarzyna J. , Kaminski Maciej , Rassler Beate , Klimesch Wolfgang
Published: June 2022

Slow oscillations of different center frequencies and their coupling play an important role in brain-body interactions. The crucial question analyzed by us is, whether the low frequency (LF) band (0.05–0.15 Hz) or the intermediate frequency (IMF) band (0.1–0.2 Hz) is more eminent in respect of the information flow between body (heart rate and respiration) and BOLD signals in cortex and brainstem. A recently published study with the LF band in fMRI-naïve subjects revealed an intensive information flow from the cortex to the brainstem and a weaker flow from the brainstem to the cortex. The comparison of both bands revealed a significant information flow from the middle frontal gyrus (MFG) to the precentral gyrus (PCG) and from brainstem to PCG only in the IMF band. This pattern of directed coupling between slow oscillations in the cortex and brainstem not only supports the existence of a pacemaker-like structure in brainstem, but provides first evidence that oscillations centered at 0.15/0.16 Hz can also emerge in brain networks. BOLD oscillations in resting states are dominating at ~ 0.08 Hz and respiratory rates at ~ 0.32 Hz. Therefore, the frequency component at ~ 0.16 Hz (doubling-halving 0.08 Hz or 0.32 Hz) is of special interest, because phase coupled oscillations can reduce the energy demand.
Gut microbiome profiles and associated metabolic pathways in patients of adult-onset immunodeficiency with anti-interferon-gamma autoantibodies
Authors: Hsieh Hui-Shan , Gong Yu-Nong , Chi Chih-Yu , Hsieh Sen-Yung , Chen Wei-Ting , Ku Cheng-Lung , Cheng Hao-Tsai , Lin Lyndsey , Sung Chang Mu
Published: June 2022

Autoantibodies against interferon-gamma (AutoAbs-IFN-γ) can cause the immunodeficiency condition following various opportunistic infections. Gut microbiota can affect the human immune system in many ways. Many studies have shown that gut dysbiosis was associated with some immune diseases, such as autoimmune diseases and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, while its relationship at anti-IFN-γ AAbs remains unknown. We aimed to identify the anti-IFN-γ AAbs specific microbiome and the possible association with immunodeficiency. We profiled fecal microbiome for two cohorts of forty subjects, including seven patients with anti-IFN-γ AAbs and 33 individuals with competent immune. The study shows that patients with anti-IFN-γ AAbs have characterized the gut microbiome and have lower alpha diversity indexes than healthy controls (HC). There are significant differences in the microbiome structure at both the family and genera level between the two cohorts. The anti-IFN-γ AAbs cohort featured some microbiome such as Clostridium, including the possible opportunistic pathogen and fewer genera including Bacteroides, Ruminococcus, and Faecalibacterium, some of them with possible immune-related genera. The PICRUSt2 pathway demonstrated the decreased abundance of some immune-related pathways and one potential pathway related to the immune alternations in the anti- IFN-γ AAbs cohort. This was the first study to examine the gut microbiome characteristics in patients with anti-IFN-γ AAbs. It could be involved in the pathogenesis of anti-IFN-γ AAbs and contribute to the derived immune condition in this disease. This could lead to new strategies for treating and preventing patients suffering from this disease.
Fossorial adaptations in African mole-rats (Bathyergidae) and the unique appendicular phenotype of naked mole-rats
Authors: Montoya-Sanhueza Germán , Šaffa Gabriel , Šumbera Radim , Chinsamy Anusuya , Jarvis Jennifer U. M. , Bennett Nigel C.
Published: June 2022

Life underground has constrained the evolution of subterranean mammals to maximize digging performance. However, the mechanisms modulating morphological change and development of fossorial adaptations in such taxa are still poorly known. We assessed the morpho-functional diversity and early postnatal development of fossorial adaptations (bone superstructures) in the appendicular system of the African mole-rats (Bathyergidae), a highly specialized subterranean rodent family. Although bathyergids can use claws or incisors for digging, all genera presented highly specialized bone superstructures associated with scratch-digging behavior. Surprisingly, Heterocephalus glaber differed substantially from other bathyergids, and from fossorial mammals by possessing a less specialized humerus, tibia and fibula. Our data suggest strong functional and developmental constraints driving the selection of limb specializations in most bathyergids, but more relaxed pressures acting on the limbs of H. glaber. A combination of historical, developmental and ecological factors in Heterocephalus are hypothesized to have played important roles in shaping its appendicular phenotype.
Chemical transformation of a long-chain alkyl organosulfate via heterogeneous OH oxidation: a case study of sodium dodecyl sulfate
Authors: Madeleine Ng Sze In , Ng Kwan Hung , Felix Yeung Pui Wo , Xu Rongshuang , So Pui-Kin , Huang Yuanlong , Yu Jian Zhen , Choi Chun Kit K. , Steve Tse Ying-Lung , Chan Man Nin
Published: June 2022

Sodium dodecyl sulfate undergoes heterogeneous oxidation by hydroxyl radicals, and its reactivity is enhanced when ammonium ions are present in aerosols.
Effect of joining temperature on the interconnection zone and electrical resistance of Ag/n-Mg2Si and Ag/n-Mg2Sn contacts
Authors: Deshpande Radhika , Tumminello Silvana , Ayachi Sahar , Mueller Eckhard , de Boor Johannes
Published: June 2022

1. Study of the Ag contacted n-type Mg2X (X = Si, Sn) TE materials. 2. Successful correlation of the observed phases at the n-Mg2X/Ag interconnection zones with the thermodynamically favorable phases. 3. Calculation of the electrical contact resistances.
Design, synthesis and biological evaluation of light-driven on–off multitarget AChE and MAO-B inhibitors
Authors: Paolino Marco , Rullo Mariagrazia , Maramai Samuele , de Candia Modesto , Pisani Leonardo , Catto Marco , Mugnaini Claudia , Brizzi Antonella , Cappelli Andrea , Olivucci Massimo , Corelli Federico , Altomare Cosimo D.
Published: June 2022

We report a small library of cinnamic acid-inspired isomeric compounds with light-driven on–off multitarget activity against AChE and MAO-B, enzymatic targets related to Alzheimer's disease.
Higher-order assembly of BSA gold nanoclusters using supramolecular host–guest chemistry: a 40% absolute fluorescence quantum yield
Authors: Maity Anjan , Kumar Atul
Published: June 2022

We report highly emissive higher-order assembled structures of BSA gold nanoclusters using the supramolecular host–guest chemistry of cucurbit[7]uril. It exhibits 40% absolute fluorescence quantum yield.
Anticancer half-sandwich Ir(iii) complex and its interaction with various biomolecules and their mixtures – a case study with ascorbic acid
Authors: Masaryk Lukáš , Orvoš Jakub , Słoczyńska Karolina , Herchel Radovan , Moncol Ján , Milde David , Halaš Petr , Křikavová Radka , Koczurkiewicz-Adamczyk Paulina , Pękala Elżbieta , Fischer Róbert , Šalitroš Ivan , Nemec Ivan , Štarha Pavel
Published: June 2022

An anticancer azo bond-containing half-sandwich Ir(iii) complex oxidizes ascorbate to dehydroascorbate, and ascorbate recovers in the presence of reduced glutathione.
Air-stable chiral mono- and dinuclear dysprosium single-molecule magnets: steric hindrance of hexaazamacrocycles
Authors: Zhao Chen , Zhu Zhenhua , Li Xiao-Lei , Tang Jinkui
Published: June 2022

Two pairs of air-stable chiral Dy-SMMs were constructed using different sterically hindered hexaazamacrocycles as equatorial ligands, leading to a nuclearity increase from 1 to 2.
Alkali metal partial substitution-induced improved second-harmonic generation and enhanced laser-induced damage threshold for Ag-based sulfides
Authors: Zhou Wenfeng , Geng Ming , Yan Mei , Suen Nian-Tzu , Liu Wenlong , Guo Sheng-Ping
Published: June 2022

Two new pentanary sulfides LiAgIn2GeS6and NaAgIn2GeS6were derived from parent Ag2In2GeS6viaLi and Na partial substitution of Ag element, and their SHG efficiencies and LIDT intensities enhanced concurrently.
Experimental and theoretical investigation on the ORR activity of AgVO3
Authors: Nubla Karuvatta , Puthiyaparambath Muhammed Fasil , Chatanathodi Raghu , Sandhyarani N.
Published: June 2022

An experimental and theoretical investigation of the oxygen reduction activity of AgVO3 nanorods is reported, which indicates the promising catalytic activity of AgVO3.
Thermo- and near infrared light-induced reversible multi-shape memory materials for actuators and sensors
Authors: Xie Xi , Xu Xu , Zhu Qixuan , Lu Shaorong , Li Yuqi , Bai Yongkang
Published: June 2022

Smart materials with reversible shape transformation have drawn enormous interest for their potential applications in various fields.
Recent breakthroughs in nanostructured antiviral coating and filtration materials: a brief review
Authors: Dahanayake Madushani H. , Athukorala Sandya S. , Jayasundera A. C. A.
Published: June 2022

Types of antiviral nanofilters and coatings and their applications.
Poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized 3D covalent organic frameworks as solid-state polyelectrolytes
Authors: Wu Miaomiao , Huang Hongrui , Xu Bingqing , Zhang Gen
Published: June 2022

Poly(ethylene glycol)-functionalized three-dimensional COFs with 3D channels were successfully constructed for ion conduction in different directions, which achieves a high ionic conductivity of 3.6 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 260 °C.
Kinetic mechanism on elemental mercury adsorption by brominated petroleum coke in simulated flue gas
Authors: Xiao Yi , Tian Li , Liu Xiuyun
Published: June 2022

A waste byproduct of petroleum coke was obtained as a precursor modified with bromine for elemental mercury capture from simulated flue gas on a bench scale fixed-bed reactor.
A study of the mechanical properties of the NEPE binders by molecular dynamic simulations and experiments
Authors: Shi La , Ren Li , Li Yang , Fu Xiaolong , Meng Saiqin , Wang Jiangning
Published: June 2022

The mechanical properties of NEPE binders were performed well with combining simulations and experiments.
Modelling of energy transition as an optimization problem: is it possible to achieve energy transition in France without renewable energy research?
Authors: Riondet L. , Kpanou F. , Sawadogo M.
Published: June 2022

To illustrate the energy transition concept and its associated stakes, we used the mathematical optimization formalism and designed a toy-model applied to the French energy system. This approach is not predictive but lays on four pedagogical scenarios considering industrial capacity and resources limitation, and recycling process to characterise a field of possibilities. Thus, productivity limit and lifetime of solar panels emerge as crucial factors in the short term. Massive recycling process seems to delay material scarcity effect to long term. In contrast, increasing demand remains a significant burden to energy production sustainability.
Wenn Männer Vater werden – Transitionsprozesse
Authors: Kranz Florence
Published: June 2022

Das erste Kind zu bekommen, verändert nicht nur das Leben der Mütter entscheidend. Auch für Väter ist diese Erfahrung mit einem tiefgreifenden Wandel verbunden. Das betrifft sowohl ihre sozialen Rollen als auch Betätigungen und Interaktionen mit dem persönlichen Umfeld. Bisher ist allerdings wenig darüber bekannt, wie Väter diesen Transitionsprozess erleben. Das wollte Tarah Schweizer ändern und widmete ihre Masterarbeit diesem Thema.
Ganzheitlich, umfassend und individuell – Ergotherapeutische Beratung bei rheumatoider Arthritis
Authors: Laube Melanie
Published: June 2022

Menschen mit rheumatoider Arthritis haben vielfältige und vor allem unterschiedliche Beschwerden und Einschränkungen. Bei einer ergotherapeutischen Schulung nach den Gelenkschutzprinzipien sollten Ergotherapeut*innen betätigungsorientiert vorgehen und gemeinsam mit Klient*innen nach individuellen Lösungen suchen.
Softball Pitching Propulsion and Performance Differences According to
Body Fat Percentage
Authors: Friesen Kenzie B , Oliver Gretchen D
Published: June 2022

Softball pitchers with a high body-fat percentage (bf%) can often be
successful, despite the heightened risk of injury associated with high
bf%. Given the importance of propulsion during pitching, those with high
bf% may have an advantage performance-wise. Therefore, the purpose of
this study was to examine the differences in ground reaction force (GRF)
development between two groups of pitchers: those with a high-fat percentage
(≥32 bf%) and a healthy-fat percentage (<32
bf%). Thirty-two female high-school softball pitchers
(1.70±.06 m, 76.09±17.50 kg,
15±1 yrs) completed dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA)
scans. GRF data were collected during pitch propulsion via a force plate, pitch
speed was captured using a radar gun, BMI was calculated from pitcher height and
mass, and fat free mass index (FFMI) and fat mass index (FMI) were calculated
using DEXA data and pitcher height. Multivariate analysis of variance revealed
pitcher group GRFs differed significantly (F3,30=3.45,
p=.030). Univariate follow-up analyses showed healthy bf%
pitchers presented greater weight-normalized peak medial GRF
(F1,30=7.17, p=.012). BMI and FFMI were positively
associated with pitch speed while bf% and FMI were negatively associated
with pitch speed. While pitchers can be successful and carry excess bf%,
results indicate potential performance disadvantages associated with having an
increased bf%.
Risk Factors Associated with Malignant Transformation of Astrocytoma: Competing Risk Regression Analysis
Authors: Tunthanathip Thara , Sangkhathat Surasak , Kanjanapradit Kanet
Published: June 2022

Background Malignant transformation (MT) of low-grade astrocytoma (LGA) triggers a poor prognosis in benign tumors. Currently, factors associated with MT of LGA have been inconclusive. The present study aims to explore the risk factors predicting LGA progressively differentiated to malignant astrocytoma.

Methods The study design was a retrospective cohort study of medical record reviews of patients with LGA. Using the Fire and Gray method, the competing risk regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with MT, using both univariate and multivariable analyses. Hence, the survival curves of the cumulative incidence of MT of each covariate were constructed following the final model.

Results Ninety patients with LGA were included in the analysis, and MT was observed in 14.4% of cases in the present study. For MT, 53.8% of patients with MT transformed to glioblastoma, while 46.2% differentiated to anaplastic astrocytoma. Factors associated with MT included supratentorial tumor (subdistribution hazard ratio [SHR] 4.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–19.10), midline shift > 1 cm (SHR 8.25, 95% CI 2.18–31.21), and nontotal resection as follows: subtotal resection (SHR 5.35, 95% CI 1.07–26.82), partial resection (SHR 10.90, 95% CI 3.13–37.90), and biopsy (SHR 11.10, 95% CI 2.88–42.52).

Conclusion MT in patients with LGA significantly changed the natural history of the disease to an unfavorable prognosis. Analysis of patients' clinical characteristics from the present study identified supratentorial LGA, a midline shift more than 1 cm, and extent of resection as risk factors associated with MT. The more extent of resection would significantly help to decrease tumor burden and MT. In addition, future molecular research efforts are warranted to explain the pathogenesis of MT.
Treatment Dilemma of Latrogenic Pseudoaneurysm of the Intracavernous Internal Carotid Artery in Young Girl Following Transnasal Transsphenoidal Surgery: A Case Report
Authors: Sharma Amit K. , Jagetia Anita , Singhal Ghanshyam D , Bodeliwala Shaam , Srivastava Arvind K. , Singh Daljit
Published: June 2022

Epistaxis following transnasal transsphenoidal (TNTS) removal of pituitary adenoma can be massive and life-threatening. The intracranial source of bleeding is usually the intracavernous segment of the internal carotid artery (ICA) or adjacent branches. Injury to the cavernous ICA can lead to pseudoaneurysm (PA) or fistula formation. Management of PA is different from saccular aneurysms. A timely diagnosis and adequate management can restore vessel integrity and prevent associated morbidity. A young patient of growth hormone-secreting pituitary adenoma, who underwent microscopic TNTS excision of the tumour, presented with massive epistaxis. Pseudoaneurysm of the cavernous ICA was initially not seen on computed tomography angiography and was later diagnosed on digital subtraction angiography. The attempted management of PA with coils without stent could not stop aneurysm recurrence. The management of such complicated PAs is discussed, and a literature review is done regarding epistaxis in growth hormone secreting adenoma.
Patient Prosthesis Mismatch
Authors: Singh Rashmi , Kapoor Poonam Malhotra , Prakash Mohit
Published: June 2022

Concept of patient prosthesis mismatch came into existence from 1978 onward when Rahimtoola first defined it as “mismatch can be considered to be present when the effective prosthetic valve area, after insertion into the patient, is less than that of a normal human valve.” Patient prosthesis mismatch produces higher than expected pressure gradient through normally functioning valve. Since insertion of first ball caged mechanical valve in descending aorta by Dr. Charles Hufnagel in 1952, prosthetic valve had undergone tremendous improvement in terms of valve design, hemodynamics, durability, and thrombogenicity. Despite these marked changes in valve design, prosthetic valves are still subjected to inherent complications.
Postoperative Mortality in Surgically Treated Infective Endocarditis Patients and Its Correlation with EuroSCORE I
Authors: Anand Amit , Singh Sarvesh Pal , Sahu Manoj , Hote Milind Padmakar , Singh Ummed , Reddy Pradeep Ramakrishnan
Published: June 2022

Introduction Even after advances in medical and surgical treatment, infective endocarditis is associated with substantial morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to evaluate postoperative mortality in surgically treated infective endocarditis patients and its correlation with the European System for Cardiac Operative Risk Evaluation (EuroSCORE) I.

Methods This retrospective observational study included 43 patients treated surgically for infective endocarditis, between 2014 and 2019, at a tertiary care center. Mortality in surgically treated infective endocarditis patients was determined in terms of frequency (%). Patients were divided into two groups—survivors and nonsurvivors (died within 30 days of surgery). Mean EuroSCORE I of survivors and nonsurvivors was compared using the unpaired t-test with equal variance. A correlation was sought between mortality and EuroSCORE I as well. The prediction ability of EuroSCORE I for mortality was determined by the area under receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results Out of 43 patients who underwent surgery for infective endocarditis,11 patients (25.58%) died. Mean EuroSCORE I was 15.90 ± 2.02 in nonsurvivors and 7.84 ± 3.19 in survivors. EuroSCORE I was significantly higher in nonsurvivors (p < 0.05). The area under curve value was 0.9744 (p < 0.001), thus showing that EuroSCORE I predicts mortality in surgically treated infective endocarditis patients.

Conclusion The 30-day mortality in patients who underwent surgery for infective endocarditis was 25.58%. There is a significant correlation between EuroSCORE I and mortality. A EuroSCORE I value >14 predicts mortality in surgically treated infective endocarditis patients with sensitivity and specificity of 90.91 and 90.63%, respectively.
Outcome of Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia in Children Post Cardiac Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Singh Dharmraj , Sahu Manoj Kumar , Singh Sarvesh Pal , Singh Ummed , Choudhary Shiv , Pandey Shivam
Published: June 2022

Background Ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is a serious complication in post congenital cardiac repair in children leading to high morbidity and mortality. We conducted this study with an aim to determine incidence, risk factors, and mortality of VAP in pediatric cardiac surgical patients.

Methodology This prospective observational study included 371 children aged less than 12 years who underwent elective cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease from March 2020 to September 2021. Patients were categorized into two groups: those with VAP and without VAP.

Results Out of 371 patients, 67 patients (18%) developed VAP. The VAP incidence density was 36.3 episodes per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days. Age less than 1 year (p <0.001), prolonged preoperative hospital stay (odds ratio: 2.25; 95% CI:1.11–4.52; p = 0.007), and higher RACHS1 (risk adjustment in congenital heart surgery) category, prolonged invasive mechanical ventilation (p <0.001), delayed sternal closure, tracheostomy, reintubation, use of uncuffed ET tube, and peritoneal dialysis were associated with higher incidence of VAP. Total 86 tracheal samples were taken. Most frequently isolated microorganisms were Acinetobacter baumannii (43%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (23%). Antibiotic resistance was alarming as Acinetobacter and Klebsiella species were highly resistant to commonly used broad spectrum antibiotics like cephalosporins, aminoglycosides, and carbapenems.

Conclusion VAP incidence in our study was 18% and VAP incidence density was 36.3 per 1,000 mechanical ventilation days. Patients with VAP had higher mortality (32%) as compared with patients without VAP (12%).
Legitimacy and procedural justice: how might stratospheric aerosol injection function in the public interest?
Authors: Grasso Marco
Published: June 2022

The success of stratospheric aerosol injection (SAI) in limiting global heating requires the inclusion and maintenance of the political ideals of legitimacy and procedural justice. Without them, the prospects are slim that this institution can be developed and operated in the public interest in such a way that it will protect and promote social well-being by minimising climate-related harm. Long-term legitimacy and procedural justice are crucial to several sensitive features of SAI. They relate to openness, inclusivity, and independence in dealing both with external issues of concern to stakeholders representing the general public and with internal issues concerning agents directly involved in SAI. This article begins by outlining notions of legitimacy and procedural justice and the criteria appropriate for SAI. Then it investigates how the indications provided by the related standards and the consequent morally sound governance options advanced might warrant that SAI is not distorted in such ways that it serves the vested interests of private parties. Finally, the article outlines two recommendations for ensuring that legitimacy and procedural justice in SAI are achieved and maintained over time, so that it can work continuously in the public interest.
Connecting the bonds that lead to multicellularity
Authors: Piccone Ashley
Published: June 2022

Reformable bonds between cells attach and detach through time, whereas non-reformable bonds are permanent. The difference between the two could have important consequences for evolution.
Customizable conductive nanocomposites for use in wearable electronics
Authors: Thompson Avery
Published: June 2022

Nanocomposite materials combine the strength and flexibility of a polymer matrix with the conductivity of filler material
Temperature dependence of luminescence characteristics of LYSO:Ce scintillator under x-ray excitation
Authors: Yan Weipeng , Li Binkang , Duan Baojun , Song Guzhou , Song Yan , Ma Jiming
Published: June 2022

Temperature dependence of the luminescence characteristics of Lu1.84Y0.16SiO5:Ce (LYSO:Ce) scintillator was investigated under x-ray excitation. The luminescence decay time, light yield, radioluminescence (RL) spectra, spatial resolution, and luminescence homogeneity from 300 to 550 K are experimentally examined with multiple x-ray facilities. The results show that the decay time and light output of the LYSO:Ce scintillator will decrease from 42 to 1.89 ns and from 32 000 to 1120 photons/MeV with a temperature increase from 300 to 550 K, respectively. The RL spectrum experiments demonstrate that the spectrum peak will move from 414 to 426 nm when adjusting the temperature from 300 to 550 K. The spatial resolution experiments show that the spatial resolution is hardly affected and can reach as high as 2.5 lp/mm when increasing the temperature from 300 to 550 K, and the luminescence homogeneity remains unchanged with increase in temperature. The experimental results provide important information for the radiation imaging application of the LYSO:Ce scintillator.
Optical parametric wideband frequency modulation
Authors: Ishimura Shota , Takahashi Hidenori , Tsuritani Takehiro , Suzuki Masatoshi
Published: June 2022

Various types of photonic applications, such as sensing and communication, require the generation of wideband optical frequency-modulated (FM) signals. However, generating a wideband FM signal beyond the electrical bandwidth limitation of optical modulators is difficult. Here, we propose a method to increase the bandwidths of optical FM signals by using the cascaded four-wave-mixing (FWM) process and show its potential in two applications. We first demonstrate 11-fold bandwidth expansion of frequency-modulated continuous-wave signals (from 5 to 55 GHz), beyond the optical modulator bandwidth. Next, we demonstrate the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) enhancement for analog communication. The SNR of an analog signal can be increased by ∼12.8 dB using the proposed method. These results show the potential of the proposed method for sensing and communication applications. In addition, the proposed concept opens new possibilities in parametric FWM applications.
An adaptive direction-assisted test for microbiome compositional data
Authors: Zhang Wei , Liu Aiyi , Zhang Zhiwei , Chen Guanjie , Li Qizhai
Published: June 2022

Motivation

Microbial communities have been shown to be associated with many complex diseases, such as cancers and cardiovascular diseases. The identification of differentially abundant taxa is clinically important. It can help understand the pathology of complex diseases, and potentially provide preventive and therapeutic strategies. Appropriate differential analyses for microbiome data are challenging due to its unique data characteristics including compositional constraint, excessive zeros and high dimensionality. Most existing approaches either ignore these data characteristics or only account for the compositional constraint by using log-ratio transformations with zero observations replaced by a pseudocount. However, there is no consensus on how to choose a pseudocount. More importantly, ignoring the characteristic of excessive zeros may result in poorly powered analyses and therefore yield misleading findings.

Results

We develop a novel microbiome-based direction-assisted test for the detection of overall difference in microbial relative abundances between two health conditions, which simultaneously incorporates the characteristics of relative abundance data. The proposed test (i) divides the taxa into two clusters by the directions of mean differences of relative abundances and then combines them at cluster level, in light of the compositional characteristic; and (ii) contains a burden type test, which collapses multiple taxa into a single one to account for excessive zeros. Moreover, the proposed test is an adaptive procedure, which can accommodate high-dimensional settings and yield high power against various alternative hypotheses. We perform extensive simulation studies across a wide range of scenarios to evaluate the proposed test and show its substantial power gain over some existing tests. The superiority of the proposed approach is further demonstrated with real datasets from two microbiome studies.

Availability and implementation

An R package for MiDAT is available at https://github.com/zhangwei0125/MiDAT.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
DeepLUCIA: predicting tissue-specific chromatin loops using Deep Learning-based Universal Chromatin Interaction Annotator
Authors: Yang Dongchan , Chung Taesu , Kim Dongsup
Published: June 2022

Motivation

The importance of chromatin loops in gene regulation is broadly accepted. There are mainly two approaches to predict chromatin loops: transcription factor (TF) binding-dependent approach and genomic variation-based approach. However, neither of these approaches provides an adequate understanding of gene regulation in human tissues. To address this issue, we developed a deep learning-based chromatin loop prediction model called Deep Learning-based Universal Chromatin Interaction Annotator (DeepLUCIA).

Results

Although DeepLUCIA does not use TF binding profile data which previous TF binding-dependent methods critically rely on, its prediction accuracies are comparable to those of the previous TF binding-dependent methods. More importantly, DeepLUCIA enables the tissue-specific chromatin loop predictions from tissue-specific epigenomes that cannot be handled by genomic variation-based approach. We demonstrated the utility of the DeepLUCIA by predicting several novel target genes of SNPs identified in genome-wide association studies targeting Brugada syndrome, COVID-19 severity and age-related macular degeneration.

Availability and implementation

DeepLUCIA is freely available at https://github.com/bcbl-kaist/DeepLUCIA.

Supplementary information

Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Adrenergic signaling regulation of macrophage function: do we understand it yet?
Authors: Freire Beatriz Marton , de Melo Filipe Menegatti , Basso Alexandre S
Published: June 2022

Macrophages are immune cells that are widespread throughout the body and critical for maintaining tissue homeostasis. Their remarkable plasticity allows them to acquire different phenotypes, becoming able either to fight infection (M1-like, classically activated macrophages) or to promote tissue remodeling and repair (M2-like, alternatively activated macrophages). These phenotypes are induced by different cues present in the microenvironment. Among the factors that might regulate macrophage activation are mediators produced by different branches of the nervous system. The regulation exerted by the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) on macrophages (and the immune system in general) is becoming a subject of increasing interest, indeed a great number of articles have been published lately. Catecholamines (noradrenaline and adrenaline) activate α and β adrenergic receptors expressed by macrophages and shape the effector functions of these cells in contexts as diverse as the small intestine, the lung, or the adipose tissue. Activation of different subsets of receptors seems to produce antagonistic effects, with α adrenergic receptors generally associated with pro-inflammatory functions and β adrenergic receptors (particularly β2) related to the resolution of inflammation and tissue remodeling. However, exceptions to this paradigm have been reported, and the factors contributing to these apparently contradictory observations are still far from being completely understood. Additionally, macrophages per se seem to be sources of catecholamines, which is also a subject of some debate. In this review, we discuss how activation of adrenergic receptors modulates macrophage effector functions and its implications for inflammatory responses and tissue homeostasis.
P07 PCT-targeted ward rounds to reduce inappropriate antibiotic prescribing in medical admissions with suspicion of respiratory tract infections
Authors: Hearsey Daniel , Powell Neil
Published: June 2022

Background

Lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) are a common reason for antibiotics with unnecessary antibiotic prescribing common because of the difficulties differentiating viral, bacterial and non-infectious mimics of LRTIs (e.g. heart failure) due to similar clinical signs and symptoms.1 Studies of procalcitonin (PCT)- guided antimicrobial stewardship in managing RTI (including community-acquired pneumonia, hospital-acquired pneumonia, ventilator-associated pneumonia, acute bronchitis, exacerbation of asthma and sepsis with a suspected respiratory tract infection) in various healthcare settings (primary care, emergency departments, hospital wards and ICUs) have shown it to reduce antibiotic exposure and antibiotic associated side effects without impacting treatment failure, hospital length of stay or negatively impacting on mortality.2 PCT-guided antibiotic stewardship aims to augment clinical decision-making. We wanted to see whether we could use PCT-guided stewardship to safely stop antibiotics in patients with an RTI diagnosis in those with low severity disease and where bacterial infection looks an unlikely cause for the presenting symptoms.3

Methods

An automated daily Excel report sent via e-mail to the antimicrobial pharmacists identified patients with a PCT result and presented the date and levels for PCT, CRP, WBC, any prescribed antibiotics and ward location. Patients with a serum PCT level (<0.25 μg/L) and prescribed respiratory antibiotics were reviewed by one of the antimicrobial pharmacists. All available pathology and radiological results were reviewed on the ward with the patient's clinical signs and symptoms and illness acuity to determine the likelihood of a bacterial cause for symptoms and the risk of early antibiotic cessation. Cases were discussed with the medical team and antibiotics stopped if consensus was achieved. Mortality at 30 days was collected retrospectively for all patients.

Results

Between June 2020 and January 2022, 120 patients with low PCT and on respiratory antibiotics were reviewed. Antibiotics were stopped in 40 patients (33%). Two patients in the early antibiotic cessation group died within 30 days, both of not infectious causes. By comparison, 11 patients in the continuation group died within 30 days.

Conclusions

Pharmacist-delivered PCT ward rounds in patients with a clinical suspicion of respiratory infections successfully reduced inappropriate antimicrobial prescribing without negatively impacting 30 day mortality.
P10 Biomarker Driven Antifungal Stewardship in Acute Leukaemia (BioDriveAFS)—a multicentre randomized controlled trial to assess clinical and cost effectiveness
Authors: Taynton Thomas , Parker Adwoa , Flett Lydia , Laycock Joanne , Newman Joanne , Fairhurst Caroline , Hope William , Lillie Patrick , Tharmanathan Puvanendran , Corbacho Belén , Sheard Laura , Hilton Andrea , Gandhi Shreyans , Gray Hannah , Guise Tracey , Sneddon Jacqui , Torgerson David , Allsup David , Barlow Gavin
Published: June 2022

Background

The BioDriveAFS trial aims to investigate whether a biomarker-based antifungal stewardship strategy is superior to a prophylactic antifungal strategy, including existing standard of care, in reducing antifungal therapy use in patients with acute leukaemia, without impacting health-related quality of life at 12 months. The trial will be commencing in the UK in 2022 and aims to recruit 500 patients across 40 sites. We hypothesized that a biomarker-led monitoring approach would be non-inferior to the standard of care approach utilizing antifungal prophylaxis.

Patients and methods

Patients diagnosed with acute leukaemia who are planned to have intensive chemotherapy will be randomly allocated to one of two arms. The biomarker arm will consist of twice-weekly galactomannan and β-d-glucan until the end of intensive chemotherapy; positive biomarker results, neutropenic fever non-responsive to broad-spectrum antibacterials, or clinical suspicion will lead to investigation for potential invasive fungal infection as per international guidelines. Patients with proven or probable invasive fungal infection (IFI), as per the consensus definitions, will receive therapeutic antifungals, whereas those with possible or no IFI will have antifungals withheld. The control arm consists of local standard-of-care antifungal prophylaxis, including mould-active, without regular biomarker monitoring.

Results

Primary outcome measures are exposure to therapeutic antifungal therapy and patient quality of life at 12 months versus baseline. Secondary outcome measures include total antifungal exposure, adverse events and complications, proven and probable IFI and treatment outcome, overall survival, all-cause mortality and IFI-related mortality. Resource use to determine cost-effectiveness and antifungal resistance in fungi will also be measured.

Funding

The trial is funded by the National Institute for Health Research Health Technological Assessment Programme (NIHR132674) and supported by BSAC.
P15 What is the value of direct-from-blood culture ASTs in the study of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics during bacteraemia?
Authors: Akbi Samar , Ahmed Nassim , Aggoune Nadjet , Zerouki Ali
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To evaluate the results obtained with direct-from-blood culture antimicrobial susceptibility tests (ASTs) for the study of bacterial susceptibility to antibiotics during bacteraemia.

Material and methods

This was a prospective study in which 124 direct ASTs were performed directly from positive blood cultures according to the CLSI technique using Mueller–Hinton CHROMagar Orientation medium. Twenty-one antibiotics were tested. The resulting diameters were read after 8 h and 18 h of incubation and interpreted according to the CLSI breakpoints. Thus, a standard AST was performed and interpreted for all isolated strains according to CLSI recommendations. The results were analysed by calculating the rates of categorical agreements (CA) and disagreements represented by minor errors (mE), major errors (ME) and very major errors (VME).

Results

One hundred and twenty-four strains were isolated, including Escherichia coli (26; 20.97%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (25; 20.16%) and SCN (21; 16.94%). More than half of the isolates (69; 55.65%) were MDR bacteria. It was found that the overall percentage CA (%CA) obtained at 18 h (94.43%) was higher than the one obtained at 8 h (87.32%). Disagreement rates obtained at 8 h and 18 h remain acceptable. The best %CA was obtained with non-fermenting GNB (98.74%) and the lowest with Staphylococcus species (90.70%). For Enterobacteriaceae, an excellent overall %CA (94.32%) was found at 18 h with 96.3% for CTX, 95.38% for ETP, 95.31% for CRO and 92.19% for MEM. Lower rates were noted with IPM (88.71%), CAZ (87.5%) and CIP (85.71%); due to mE for CAZ (12.5%) and mE and ME for IPM (9.68% mE; 1.85% ME) and CIP (12.7% mE; 3.23% ME). Particular attention should be given to clindamycin and teicoplanin tested with Staphylococcus species as they record low categorical agreements at 8 h and 18 h.

Conclusions

The encouraging results obtained at 18 h suggest a possible future implementation of the direct-from-blood culture AST as a routine technique for studying susceptibility to antibiotics during bacteraemia. However, the standard AST remains the reference technique.
Validation of RapidChek®Campylobacter Test System for the Detection of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari in Poultry Samples: AOAC Performance Tested MethodSM 052201
Authors: Gonzalez Verapaz , Juck Gregory , Sutzko Meredith , Muldoon Mark T
Published: June 2022

Background

Campylobacter is one of the leading causes of human bacterial gastroenteritis worldwide. Campylobacter infections are most often associated with the consumption of raw milk, undercooked poultry, and contaminated water.

Objective

The RapidChek®Campylobacter test system (PTM number 052201) was validated for the detection of Campylobacter jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari in raw ground chicken, chicken carcass rinse, and turkey carcass sponges.

Methods

The method uses a proprietary enrichment medium. Following aerobic enrichment, an immunochromatographic test strip is inserted into the tube containing the enrichment, developed for 20 min, and interpreted. Campylobacter-inoculated food samples were tested by the method, as well as the USDA/FSIS cultural reference method; Isolation and Identification of Campylobacter jejuni/coli/lari from Poultry Rinse, Sponge and Raw Product Samples MLG 41.04. The candidate method was also confirmed by an alternative cultural method. The RapidChek method was tested with 50 Campylobacter strains comprised of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari, and 30 non-target strains.

Results

A total of 80 low-level spiked samples were tested by both methods in the study. The candidate method yielded 49 presumptive positives: all presumptive results were confirmed culturally. The reference method produced a total of 41 confirmed positive results. No difference between the alternate confirmation method and reference confirmation method was observed. Probability of detection analysis demonstrated no significant differences in the number of positive samples detected by the candidate method and cultural reference method. The RapidChek method detected all 50 Campylobacter strains and none of the 30 non-target strains, including Campylobacter spp. other than C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari.

Conclusion

The candidate method performed as well as the reference method in the detection of C. jejuni, C. coli, and C. lari in raw ground chicken, chicken carcass rinse, and turkey carcass sponges.

Highlights

Aerobic enrichment of selected matrixes for 48 h yielded reliable presumptive results for Campylobacter.
Frameless stereotactic brain biopsy and external ventricular drainage placement using the RONNA G4 system
Authors: Raguž Marina , Dlaka Domagoj , Orešković Darko , Kaštelančić Anđelo , Chudy Darko , Jerbić Bojan , Šekoranja Bojan , Šuligoj Filip , Švaco Marko
Published: June 2022

Robot-assisted stereotactic procedures are among the latest technological improvements in neurosurgery. Herein, to the best of our knowledge, we report a first external ventricular drainage (EVD) placement using the RONNA G4 robotic system preformed together with brain biopsy, all in one procedure. A patient was presented with progressive drowsiness, cognitive slowing, poor mobility and incontinent. Magnetic resonance imaging brain scans revealed multicentric process located in the basal ganglia right with extensive vasogenic edema and dilatated ventricular system. Using the RONNAplan software two trajectories were planned: one for brain biopsy on the left side and one for EVD implantation on the right side; the procedures went without complications. The RONNA G4 robotic system is an accurate neurosurgical tool for performing frameless brain biopsies and EVD placement. Further studies are needed in order to enroll a larger patient sample and to calculate the possible placement deviation, and to perform the comparison with other robotic systems.
Intussusception in the ascending colon caused by cecal chronic diverticulitis: a case report
Authors: Oyama Tabito , Akagi Tomonori , Etoh Tsuyoshi , Shiroshita Hidefumi , Amano Shota , Fujishima Hajime , Kawano Yoko , Kono Yohei , Suzuki Kosuke , Ninomiya Shigeo , Shibata Tomotaka , Ueda Yoshitake , Shiraishi Norio , Inomata Masafumi
Published: June 2022

Although intussusception in adults generally results from malignant tumors and polyps, intussusception caused by chronic diverticulitis is extremely rare. We present the case of a 59-year-old man treated with steroids and biopharmaceuticals at the Department of Dermatology for psoriasis vulgaris. Cecal diverticulitis frequently recurred, for which he was treated during follow-up. This time, endoscopy showed a circumferential stenosis in the ascending colon, and computed tomography showed the appearance of a target sign in the right colon. As a result, the patient was preoperatively diagnosed as having intussusception of the ascending colon triggered by diverticulitis of the cecum and underwent laparoscopic right colectomy. Pathological findings of the specimen revealed multiple diverticulitis of the cecum. Therefore, we thought that the intussusception was caused by chronic inflammation of the diverticula and surrounding fibrosis. Among intussusception in adults, chronic diverticulitis should be considered as a target of surgical treatment on rare occasions.
External jugular vein aneurysm presenting as submandibular neck mass
Authors: Saleem Matthew I , Tham Tristan , Diaz Anise M , Keating Patrick , Georgolios Alexandros
Published: June 2022

External jugular vein aneurysms presenting as neck masses is very rare in the literature. This case report presents an 80-year-old female, who was referred to the office due to an incidental finding of a left submandibular neck mass. The patient presented to her primary care physician initially complaining of bilateral intermittent ear pain that was present for several years. After extensive workup, the patient was diagnosed with a left external jugular vein aneurysm. When asymptomatic, this rare condition can be followed safely on an outpatient basis. Vascular surgery consultation should also be considered.