bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Digital morphology in hematology diagnosis and education: The experience of the European LeukemiaNet WP10
Authors: Zini Gina , Barbagallo Ombretta , Scavone Fernando , Béné Marie C. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractHematological diagnostics is based on increasingly precise techniques of cellular and molecular analysis. The correct interpretation of the blood and bone marrow smears observed under an optical microscope still represents a cornerstone. Precise quantitative and qualitative cytomorphological criteria have recently been codified by up‐to‐date guidelines for diagnosing hematopoietic neoplasms. Morphological analysis has found formidable support in digital reproduction techniques, which have simplified the circulation of images for educational or consultation purposes. From 2007 to 2019, the Working Group WP10 of European LeukemiaNet (ELN) used, in annual exercises, digital images to support training in cytomorphology and verify harmonization and comparability in the interpretation of blood and bone marrow smears. We describe the design, development, and results of this program, which had 741 participants in‐person or remotely, to which 2055 questions were submitted regarding the interpretation of cytomorphological images. We initially used circulation and presentation of digital microphotographs and then introduced a virtual microscopy (VM). Virtual slides were obtained using a whole slide imaging technique, similar to the one largely used in histopathology, to produce digitized scans of consecutive microscopic fields and reassembles them to obtain a complete virtual smear by stitching. Participants were required to identify cells in labeled fields of view of the virtual slides to obtain a morphological diagnosis. This work has demonstrated substantial improvements in diagnostic accuracy and harmonization with the VM technique. Between‐observer concordance increased from 62.5% to 83.0%. The integrity of the digitalized film image, which provides a general context for cell abnormalities, was the main factor for this outcome.
Implementation of the new EUR IVD regulation and relation with ISO15189 accreditation: Guidance is urgently required for haemostasis testing
Authors: Testa Sophie , Meijer Piet , Lasne Dominique , Mullier François 
Published: September 2022

AbstractOn May 26th 2017 the European Parliament and the Council of The European Union adopted the new regulation on in vitro diagnostic medical devices (IVDR)‐Regulation EU 2017/746‐planned to be applied from May 26th 2022 in substitution to the previous IVD directives (IVDD 98/79 EC). After several health and legal causes due to medical device malfunctions, the European Union (EU) extensively reviewed the previous regulatory, which had remained unchanged since 1998. Aim of the work is to analyse the effects of the new IVDR on the field of haemostasis and thrombosis testing with particular attention to specific clinical conditions. Clinical laboratories will mainly deal with three different situations: (1) Diagnostic test performed with IVDR products used according with clinical indication certified by manufacturers. (2) Diagnostic test performed with certified IVDR products without clinical validation. (3) Diagnostic test performed with reagents classified as Research Use Only (RUO). At present, only few clinical laboratories through different European countries have been prepared to the new IVDR, while many laboratories are not yet aware about crucial aspects of the new process that deeply involves laboratory medicine. In conclusion, each laboratory should be aware of the IVDR certification of the reagents/instruments used in its laboratory. There are several urgent needs regarding IVDR certification: studies about the clinical performance of haemostasis tests, guidelines for LDTs (definition and documentation), internal and external quality controls for the tests recommended/suggested in the guidance/guidelines and finally implementation and/or update of clinical and laboratory guidelines.
Rapid and visual detection of Staphylococcus aureus in milk using a recombinase polymerase amplification-lateral flow assay combined with immunomagnetic separation
Authors: Wang Ya-Lei , Zhang Xin , Wang Quan , Liu Peng-Xuan , Tang Wei , Guo Rong , Zhang Hai-Yang , Chen Zhao-Guo , Han Xian-Gan , Jiang Wei 
Published: September 2022

Abstract

Aims
The aim of this study was to develop a novel approach using lateral flow recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA-LF) combined with immunomagnetic separation (IMS) for the rapid detection of Staphylococcus aureus in milk.

Methods and results
Under optimum conditions, the average capture efficiency values for S. aureus strains (104 colony-forming units [CFU] per ml) was above 95.0% in PBST and ~80% in milk within 45 min with 0.7 mg immunomagnetic beads. The RPA-LF assay, which comprised DNA amplification via RPA at 39°C for 10 min and visualization of the amplicons through LF strips for 5 min, detected S. aureus within 15 min. The method only detected S. aureus and did not show cross-reaction with other bacteria, exhibiting a high level of specificity. Sensitivity experiments confirmed a detection limit of RPA-LF assay as low as 600 fg per reaction for the S. aureus genome (corresponding to approximately 36 CFU of S. aureus), which was about 16.7-fold more sensitive than that of the conventional polymerase chain reaction method. When RPA-LF was used in combination with IMS to detect S. aureus inoculated into artificially contaminated milk, it exhibited a detection limit of approximately 40 CFU per reaction.

Conclusions
The newly developed IMS-RPA-LF method enabled detection of S. aureus at levels as low as 40 CFU per reaction in milk samples without culture enrichment for an overall testing time of only 70 min.

Significance and Impact of the Study
The newly developed IMS-lateral flow RPA-LF assay effectively combines sample preparation, amplification and detection into a single platform. Because of its high sensitivity, specificity and speed, the IMS-RPA-LF assay will have important implications for the rapid detection of S. aureus in contaminated food.
Race, Nation, and Diaspora in the Southern Caribbean: Unsettling the Ethnic Conflict Model
Authors: Crosson J. Brent 
Published: September 2022

AbstractIn much of the southern Caribbean (i.e., Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana), ethno‐political tensions between numerically commensurable populations of South Asian and African diasporic populations have structured narratives of postcolonial conflict between an “African” and an “Indian” political party, setting the limits of national narratives. This article challenges this narrative on a number of points, drawing on oral histories and ethnographic research. I look at how the assumption of homogenous African and Indian groupings ignores important differences of class and political ideology that disrupt racial essentialism and create what I have called “altered solidarities.” I argue that dominant postcolonial frameworks of creole nationalism, state multiculturalism, and securitization in the Anglophone Caribbean have been unable to recognize these alternate solidarities in the region. [race, nationalism, diaspora, Caribbean, ethnic conflict]
Longitudinal study of the flash glucose monitoring system in type 1 diabetics: An mHealth ally in times of COVID‐19
Authors: Cervantes‐Torres Laura , Romero‐Blanco Cristina 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAims and objectivesThe aim of this study was to assess the effect of the FreeStyle Libre device implantation in adult type 1 diabetics in a Health Area of Castilla La Mancha (Spain) during the COVID‐19 pandemic.BackgroundFreeStyle Libre is a so‐called mHealth device that supports health care. During COVID‐1 confinement, diabetic patients could have improved their glycaemic monitoring thanks to these devices, although health care in these patients may have been limited due to confinement.MethodsA 12‐month longitudinal study in which a total of 206 type I diabetics participated, belonging to a single health area. Sociodemographic and analytical data and the Self Care Inventory Revised questionnaire (SCI‐R) were collected. STROBE checklist was followed.ResultsThe analysis showed differences related to the use of the sensor. After the study period, patients obtained better levels of basal glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin, creatinine, cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL. In addition, a significant increase in the total score of the SCI‐R questionnaire was observed after the use of the monitor (MD −7.77; 95% CI −10.43, −8.29). The same occurred with different SCI‐R items such as diet (MD ‐2.995; 95% CI −3.24, −2.57), glucose determination (MD −3.21; 95% CI −3.52, −2.91), medication administration (MD −2.58; 95% CI −2.53, −1.96) and hypoglycaemic episodes (MD −1.07; 95% CI −1.21, −0.93). In the analysis by groups, worse values of glycosylated haemoglobin and adherence to treatment (p < .05) were observed in overweight/obese subjects versus those with normal weight after one year of study.ConclusionThe use of flash monitoring is related to better adherence to most of the recommended habits in diabetes. Nevertheless, there seems to be no relationship with an improvement in physical exercise and preventive aspects of diabetes. A good nursing intervention to support physical exercise and the use of mHealth devices could improve the control of diabetic patients.Relevance to clinical practiceThe use of this mHealth device has shown positive results and reduced complications. Despite less contact with healthcare facilities due to the pandemic, type 1 diabetic patients have improved their blood results and adherence after using the device for one year. Nursing staff should focus on promoting physical activity and routine disease care in type 1 diabetics.
Encouraging resiliency through autoenrollment in supplemental flood insurance coverage
Authors: Conell‐Price Lynn , Kousky Carolyn , Kunreuther Howard 
Published: September 2022

AbstractFlooding is the most common and costly natural disaster, with losses escalating due to climate change. For millions of US homes exposed to flood risk, property‐level investments in flood resilience offer an attractive strategy to manage losses. But financing such investments remains a challenge. One option is to harness insurance. We use field data of residential flood insurance purchases from a private insurer that offered a supplemental policy (FloodReady) to cover the costs of rebuilding with flood‐resilient materials. We exploit a change in the default purchase option to estimate how default enrollment in FloodReady influences take‐up. We estimate that autoenrollment increases take‐up from 12% to 32%. This dramatic increase suggests that behavioral interventions can be used to improve the financial capacity of homeowners to reduce future flood losses. That said, the fact that most policyholders still actively opt‐out even under autoenrollments indicates the limits of default effects in this context. We discuss potential moderators and implications for default effects across settings.
F‐actin dynamics in midgut cells enables virus persistence in vector insects
Authors: Wang Hui , Liu Yan , Liu Wenwen , Wu Kongming , Wang Xifeng 
Published: September 2022

AbstractHemipteran insects that transmit plant viruses in a persistent circulative manner acquire, retain and transmit viruses for their entire life. The mechanism enabling this persistence has remained unclear for many years. Here, we determined how wheat dwarf virus (WDV) persists in its leafhopper vector Psammotettix alienus. We found that WDV caused the up‐regulation of actin‐depolymerizing factor (ADF) at the mRNA and protein levels in the midgut cells of leafhoppers after experiencing a WDV acquisition access period (AAP) of 6, 12 or 24 h. Experimental inhibition of F‐actin depolymerization by jasplakinolide and dsRNA injection led to lower virus accumulation levels and transmission efficiencies, suggesting that depolymerization of F‐actin regulated by ADF is essential for WDV invasion of midgut cells. Exogenous viral capsid protein (CP) inhibited ADF depolymerization of actin filaments in vitro and in Spodoptera frugiperda 9 (Sf9) cells because the CP competed with actin to bind ADF and then blocked actin filament disassembly. Interestingly, virions colocalized with ADF after a 24‐h AAP, just as actin polymerization occurred, indicating that the binding of CP with ADF affects the ability of ADF to depolymerize F‐actin, inhibiting WDV entry. Similarly, the luteovirus barley yellow dwarf virus also induced F‐actin depolymerization and then polymerization in the gut cells of its vector Schizaphis graminum. Thus, F‐actin dynamics are altered by nonpropagative viruses in midgut cells to enable virus persistence in vector insects.
Beyond ethnonationalism: Transnational mobilisation and framing in Kashmir's freedom movement
Authors: Spencer Dustie 
Published: September 2022

AbstractSince Indian Administered Kashmir's (IAK) ‘summer of unrest’ of 2010, greater attention towards the contemporary Kashmir azadi, or freedom, movement has led to more active transnational organising by Kashmiris studying abroad as well as other young people who sympathise with this movement. Indian political elites have predominately framed the azadi movement as a separatist movement. However, this perception had not been shared by many Kashmiris who argue the territory has never legally been a part of India. The perception of being a separatist movement from outside of Kashmir has also shifted with a growing body of literature documenting human rights abuses alongside raising awareness to an international community of activists, which has led to an evolution of the azadi movement into a movement for social justice and human rights. This has been facilitated by social media spaces and heterogeneous activist groups framing their movement as aligned with other social justice movements and anti‐discrimination campaigns. Framing the Kashmir self‐determination movement as a human rights issue appeals to a wider spectrum of non‐Kashmiri activists, especially those already involved in campaigns against the marginalisation of certain groups.
Myostatin inhibits insulin‐like growth factor 1–dependent citrate secretion and osteogenesis via nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase‐4 in a mouse mesenchymal stem cell line
Authors: Liu Xin‐Hua , Pan Jiang Ping , Bauman William A. , Cardozo Christopher 
Published: September 2022

AbstractCitrate is an indispensable component of bone. Reduced levels of citrate in bone and serum are reported in the elderly and in osteoporosis patients. Myostatin (Mstn) is implicated in skeletal homeostasis, but its effects on osteogenesis remain incompletely understood. Nox4 has critical roles in bone homeostasis. TGF‐β/Mstn‐associated Smad2/3 signaling has been linked to Nox4 expression. Insulin‐like growth factor (IGF‐1) has been shown to counteract many regulatory effects of Mstn. However, the crosstalk among Mstn, IGF‐1, and Nox4 is not well understood; the interactive effects of those factors on citrate secretion, osteogenic differentiation, and bone remodeling remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that osteogenic differentiation induced an IGF‐1–dependent upregulation of citrate secretion that was suppressed by Mstn. Inhibition of Nox4 prevented Mstn‐induced reduction of citrate secretion. In addition, Mstn reduced bone nodule formation; these changes were prevented by Nox4 inhibition. Moreover, Mstn increased the ratio of RANKL to OPG mRNAs to favor osteoclast activation. These results indicate that Mstn negatively regulates osteogenesis by increasing levels of Nox4, which reduced IGF‐1 expression, citrate secretion, and bone mineralization while also altering the RANKL to OPG ratio. These findings provide new and highly relevant insights into the osseous effects of myostatin.
X chromosome aneuploidies and schizophrenia: association analysis and phenotypic characterization
Authors: Kushima Itaru , Aleksic Branko , Kimura Hiroki , Nakatochi Masahiro , Lo Tzuyao , Ikeda Masashi , Arai Makoto , Hashimoto Ryota , Numata Shusuke , Okamura Yasunobu , Obara Taku , Inada Toshiya , Ozaki Norio 
Published: September 2022

AimThe aims of the present study were: (i) to examine the association between schizophrenia (SCZ) and 47, XXY or 47, XXX in a large case–control sample; and (ii) to characterize the clinical features of patients with SCZ with these X chromosome aneuploidies.MethodsTo identify 47, XXY and 47, XXX, array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) was performed in 3188 patients with SCZ and 3586 controls. We examined the association between 47, XXY and 47, XXX and SCZ in males and females separately using exact conditional tests to control for platform effects. Clinical data were retrospectively examined for patients with SCZ with X chromosome aneuploidies.ResultsOf the analyzed samples, 3117 patients (97.8%) and 3519 controls (98.1%) passed our quality control. X chromosome aneuploidies were exclusively identified in patients: 47, XXY in seven patients (0.56%), 47, XXX in six patients (0.42%). Statistical analysis revealed a significant association between SCZ and 47, XXY (P = 0.028) and 47, XXX (P = 0.011). Phenotypic data were available from 12 patients. Treatment‐resistance to antipsychotics and manic symptoms were observed in six patients each (four with 47, XXY and two with 47, XXX for both), respectively. Statistical analysis revealed that treatment‐resistance to antipsychotics, mood stabilizer use, and manic symptoms were significantly more common in patients with 47, XXY than in male patients without pathogenic copy number variations.ConclusionThese findings indicate that both 47, XXY and 47, XXX are significantly associated with risk for SCZ. Patients with SCZ with 47, XXY may be characterized by treatment‐resistance and manic symptoms.
Characterization, phylogenetic analyses and pathogenicity of Bipolaris setariae associated with brown stripe disease on sugarcane in Yunnan, China
Authors: Li Jie , Zhang Rongyue , Li Yinhu , Long Chaohua , Li Wengfeng , Shan Hongli , Lu Wenjie , Huang Yingkun 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBrown stripe disease is a severe foliar fungal disease of sugarcane worldwide and is widespread in all sugarcane planting areas in China. Brown stripe is a major disease that seriously affects the output and quality of the sugarcane industry in Yunnan Province, China's second‐largest sugar base, while the pathogen of this disease remains not yet fully understood. To address this, we isolated and identified the fungi associated with 68 leaf samples showing typical symptoms of brown stripe from 22 sugarcane varieties in different areas of Yunnan Province. A total of 113 isolates were obtained, which were morphologically similar. Of these, 64 representative isolates were sequenced for the internal transcribed spacer region (ITS), GAPDH and EF‐1α loci. All representative isolates grouped with the type strain of Bipolaris setariae in the phylogenetic trees inferred with individual and concatenated sequences of ITS, GAPDH and EF1‐α. Pathogenicity test results showed that B. setariae strains were able to induce typical symptoms of brown stripe. The results obtained in this study clarify that only B. setariae is associated with sugarcane brown stripe in Yunnan, China. It is recorded here for the first time as a pathogen causing sugarcane brown stripe in Yunnan, and it is able to infect many major cultivars and new varieties, posing a new threat to the sugar industry in Yunnan Province. In addition, these results provide the scientific basis for the future breeding of disease‐resistant varieties and effective prevention and control of sugarcane brown stripe disease.
Is cognitive conflict really effortful? Conflict priming and shielding effects on cardiac response
Authors: Bouzidi Yann S. , Gendolla Guido H. E. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractTwo experiments with N = 221 university students investigated the impact of primed cognitive conflict on effort assessed as cardiac response in tasks that were not conflict‐related themselves. Manifest cognitive conflict in cognitive control tasks is confounded with objective response difficulty (e.g., in incongruent Stroop task trials). This makes conclusions about the effortfulness of cognitive conflict itself difficult. We bypassed this problem by administrating pictures of congruent versus incongruent Stroop task stimuli as conflict primes. As predicted, primed cognitive conflict increased cardiac pre‐ejection period (PEP) responses in an easy attention task in Experiment 1. Accordingly, cognitive conflict itself is indeed effortful. This effect was replicated in an easy short‐term memory task in Experiment 2. Moreover, as further predicted, the primed cognitive conflict effect on PEP reactivity disappeared when participants could personally choose task characteristics. This latter effect corresponds to other recent evidence showing that personal action choice shields against incidental affective influences on action execution and especially on effort‐related cardiovascular response.
THE DESIGN OF EVOLUTIONARY ALGORITHMS: A COMPUTER SCIENCE PERSPECTIVE ON THE COMPATIBILITY OF EVOLUTION AND DESIGN
Authors: Jeavons Peter 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe effectiveness of evolutionary algorithms is one of the issues discussed in The Compatibility of Evolution and Design, where it is argued that such algorithms are only effective when stringent preconditions are met. This article considers this issue from the perspective of computer science. It explores the properties of problems that can be effectively solved by evolutionary algorithms, and the extent to which such algorithms need to be carefully adjusted. Although there are important differences between the study of evolutionary algorithms in computer science and the study of biological evolution, it is argued that the experience of computer science can help to strengthen the claim that evolutionary mechanisms generally require a considerable degree of fine‐tuning.
Tunable Roton-Like Dispersion Relation With Parametric Excitations
Authors: Cui Jian-Guo , Yang Tianzhi , Niu Mu-Qing , Chen Li-Qun 
Published: September 2022

Abstract
The band gap has been used to control the transmission features of acoustic/elastic waves. Roton-like dispersion relations show that the energy and momentum of acoustic waves are inversely proportional to each other at finite region. To modulate the band gap and obtain the unusual roton-like behavior, the Kapitza’s pendulums and nonlocal connection stiffness are introduced into the linear mass-spring periodic system. The frequency range with the roton-like behavior is modulated via the parametric excitation. Moreover, the dispersion relations show some fascinating phenomena (i.e., the negative/zero-group velocity) under special parameters, which indicate the potential application to control the transmission of acoustic/elastic waves and design a negative/zero-refraction or nonpropagating-vibration structure.