Nevin Manimala

J Plant Physiol. 2022 Mar 26;272:153686. doi: 10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153686. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

The color of plant leaves can be assessed qualitatively by color charts or after processing of digital images. This pilot study employed a novel pocket-sized sensor to obtain the color of plant leaves. In order to assess its performance, a color-dependent parameter (SPAD index) was used as the dependent variable, since there is a strong correlation between SPAD index and greenness of plant leaves. A total of 1,872 fresh and intact leaves from 13 crops were analyzed using a SPAD-502 meter and scanned using the Nix™ Pro color sensor. The color was assessed via RGB and CIELab systems. The full dataset was divided into calibration (70% of data) and validation (30% of data). For each crop and color pattern, multiple linear regression (MLR) analysis and multivariate modeling [least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO), and elastic net (ENET) regression] were employed and compared. The obtained MLR equations and multivariate models were then tested using the validation dataset based on r, R², root mean squared error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE). In both RGB and CIELab color systems, the Nix™ Pro color sensor was able to differentiate crops, and the SPAD indices were successfully predicted, mainly for mango, quinoa, peach, pear, and rice crops. Validation results indicated that ENET performed best in most crops (e.g., coffee, corn, mango, pear, rice, and soy) and very close to MLR in bean, grape, peach, and quinoa. The correlation between SPAD and greenness is crop-dependent. Overall, the Nix™ Pro color sensor was a fast, sensible and an easy way to obtain leaf color directly in the field, constituting a reliable alternative to digital camera imagery and associated image processing.

PMID:35381493 | DOI:10.1016/j.jplph.2022.153686

Neural Netw. 2022 Mar 23;151:34-47. doi: 10.1016/j.neunet.2022.03.022. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Rapid advancements in deep learning have led to many recent breakthroughs. While deep learning models achieve superior performance, often statistically better than humans, their adoption into safety-critical settings, such as healthcare or self-driving cars is hindered by their inability to provide safety guarantees or to expose the inner workings of the model in a human understandable form. We present MoËT, a novel model based on Mixture of Experts, consisting of decision tree experts and a generalized linear model gating function. Thanks to such gating function the model is more expressive than the standard decision tree. To support non-differentiable decision trees as experts, we formulate a novel training procedure. In addition, we introduce a hard thresholding version, MoËT_h, in which predictions are made solely by a single expert chosen via the gating function. Thanks to that property, MoËT_h allows each prediction to be easily decomposed into a set of logical rules in a form which can be easily verified. While MoËT is a general use model, we illustrate its power in the reinforcement learning setting. By training MoËT models using an imitation learning procedure on deep RL agents we outperform the previous state-of-the-art technique based on decision trees while preserving the verifiability of the models. Moreover, we show that MoËT can also be used in real-world supervised problems on which it outperforms other verifiable machine learning models.

PMID:35381441 | DOI:10.1016/j.neunet.2022.03.022

Eur J Paediatr Neurol. 2022 Mar 16;38:33-46. doi: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.02.004. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To investigate, in spastic motor-type cerebral palsy, the association between 1) the location and extent of brain lesions and numerous psychological outcomes; 2) the laterality of brain lesions and performance of verbal-related cognitive functions.

METHODS: The semi-quantitative scale for MRI (sqMRI) was scored for 101 children with cerebral palsy. Non-verbal and verbal proxy intelligence quotients (IQ), word reading, spelling, numerical operations skills, executive functioning, and psychological adjustment were assessed. Relationships between global and regional sqMRI scores and clinical scores were examined. The best multivariable linear regression model for each outcome was identified using the Bayesian Information Criteria. Regional sqMRI scores, gross motor functioning, manual ability, and epilepsy status were considered for inclusion as covariables. Where sqMRI scores made statistically significant contributions to models of verbal-related functioning, data were reanalysed including these sqMRI scores’ laterality index. Verbal-related outcomes were compared between participants with left-sided versus bilateral brain lesions.

RESULTS: Medial dorsal thalamus and parietal lobe lesions significantly accounted for poorer verbal proxy-IQ. Left-hemisphere lateralization of temporal lobe lesions was associated with poorer verbal proxy-IQ. Participants with bilateral lesions performed significantly better than those with unilateral left-sided lesions in verbal cognitive functions. Controlling for epilepsy diagnosis, participants with ventral posterior lateral thalamus lesions presented with better Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function scores, although within the normal range. sqMRI scores were not significantly associated with some psychological outcomes or these only bordered on significance after accounting for relevant control variables.

CONCLUSION: The laterality of early-life lesions influences the development of verbal-related cognitive functions.

PMID:35381411 | DOI:10.1016/j.ejpn.2022.02.004

World Neurosurg. 2022 Apr 2:S1878-8750(22)00428-4. doi: 10.1016/j.wneu.2022.03.134. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Despite advances in gender equity, the paucity of women neurosurgeons remains. In Germany, women accounted for only 24% of the specialists who completed their neurosurgical training in 2019. We sought to explore the perceptions of medical students in Germany towards a neurosurgical career, focusing on gender-specific differences.

METHODS: A digital 26-item questionnaire with a Likert 4-point scale and open-ended questions was distributed to the German Medical School student bodies. Data was analyzed to determine statistically significant intra-group variability between women and men.

RESULTS: 210 medical students participated in the survey. Women and men were equally interested in brain pathologies (38% vs. 47%, strongly agreed), whereas interest in neurosurgery was significantly greater in men (12% vs. 26%, strongly agreed). Men were less likely to believe that women neurosurgery residents would face inequality at work. They were also less likely to support a gender quota in neurosurgery. Yet, both women and men were convinced that a rise in the number of women would positively impact the field. No gender-dependency was seen in students’ strive for success and prestige. Men felt discouraged from pursuing neurosurgery because they feared an unpleasant work environment whereas women were concerned about neurosurgery not being family-friendly. Regardless of gender, the greatest factor deterring students from neurosurgery was poor work-life balance.

CONCLUSION: Awareness must be raised concerning gender inequity and discrimination in our specialty. A multifaceted approach is imperative to develop neurosurgery into a profession where gender no longer hinders access to training and success in the field.

PMID:35381382 | DOI:10.1016/j.wneu.2022.03.134

Photodiagnosis Photodyn Ther. 2022 Apr 2:102844. doi: 10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.102844. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

AIM: The present study aims to compare and evaluate radiographic and clinical parameters along with salivary proinflammatory cytokine profiles (IL-1β – and IL-6) in obese with peri-implantitis.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Obese and non-obese participants in the present study were 80. The nonobese and obese participants were scrutinized based on inclusion and exclusion criteria. All participants both obese and non-obese were subjected to full mouth mechanical debridement (MD). A single session of Photodynamic therapy (PDT) was provided to all obese participants. Clinical peri-implant parameters peri-implant plaque index (PIPI), Peri-implant bleeding on probing (PIBoP), peri-implant probing depth (PIPD) were assessed at baseline, three months, and six months. Marginal bone loss (MBL) was also assessed. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to check the levels of IL-1β – and IL-6 in unstimulated whole saliva samples. All the parameters were assessed using the Kruskal Wallis test and analysis of variance (ANOVA). Overall characteristics were assessed using descriptive statistics. SPSS software was used for statistical analysis.

RESULTS: Clinical baseline periodontal parameters PIPI, PIBoP, PIPD, and MBL in non-obese participants were significantly lower compared to group I obese participants at baseline (p < 0.05). At 3 months follow-up PDT adjunct to MD in group 1 obese participants PIPI and PIPD were significantly lower compared to MD alone in non-obese participants PIP1 and PIPD. At 6 months follow up, non-obese participants with peri-implantitis treated with MD demonstrated PIPI and PIPD significantly lower compared to obese participants treated with PDT adjunct to MD CONCLUSION: : PDT adjunctive to MD enhanced periodontal parameters i.e., peri-implant probing depth, peri-implant plaque index, and peri-implant bleeding on probing in obese with peri-implantitis. Moreover, obese individuals with peri-implantitis demonstrated high levels of proinflammatory cytokines IL-1β and IL-6 than control.

PMID:35381370 | DOI:10.1016/j.pdpdt.2022.102844

Microbes Infect. 2022 Apr 2:104976. doi: 10.1016/j.micinf.2022.104976. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

One of the most urgent needs worldwide is to vaccinate against SARS-CoV-2 as many people as possible. We evaluated humoral response to Comirnaty vaccine in Thalassemia Major patients (TM). We measured SARS-CoV-2-specific antibodies against Spike protein in 57 TM patients and 58 healthy blood donors (HBD). TM and HBD subjects revealed a homogeneous serological response to the Comirnaty (Mean±SD; TM=1917,21±1384,49; HBD=2039,81±1064,44; p=0,5884). No statistically significant differences were observed among two groups. Interestingly, we observed in 73.3% of asplenic patients Ab-S titres above 800 BAU, whereas only in 26% of non splenectomized patients showed Ab-S titres above 800 BAU). This differences were statistically significant p< 0.039. Further measurement on other Ab types was needed for better understanding humoral response to Comirnaty.

PMID:35381359 | DOI:10.1016/j.micinf.2022.104976

J Ren Nutr. 2022 Apr 2:S1051-2276(22)00058-9. doi: 10.1053/j.jrn.2022.03.004. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between fluid overload (FO) evaluated by a new FO indicator, the bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) derived whole-body extracellular to intracellular water ratio (ECW/ICW) and sarcopenia in maintenance hemodialysis (MHD) patients.

METHODS: A multicenter, cross-sectional study included 3320 adult MHD patients was conducted in XX from June 1, 2020 to September 30, 2020. The diagnosis of sarcopenia was based on the Asian Working Group’s definition of sarcopenia (AWGS). Multiple logistic regression models, stratified analyses and interactive analyses were conducted.

RESULTS: A total of 3196 participants were included in the final analysis. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 36.2% in the total population. Prevalence of sarcopenia was increased with increasing quartiles of ECW/ICW (18.1%, 33.3%, 37.8% and 55.4% for the first, second, third and fourth quartiles, respectively). Increased ECW/ICW was significantly associated with sarcopenia. The association remained statistically significant even after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, dialysis vintage, C-reactive protein (CRP) and various medical histories. The ORs were 2.11 (1.41,3.14), 1.83 (1.22,2.76) and 3.45 (2.21,5.39) for ECW/ICW quartiles 2-4, respectively (P for trend＜0.001). The interaction analysis showed that history of diabetes had an interactive role in the association between ECW/ICW and sarcopenia (P for interaction = 0.034). The association stably existed across subgroups and was more prominent in older patients, those with higher BMI and a history of diabetes.

CONCLUSIONS: Elevated ECW/ICW was associated with increased sarcopenia risk independent of BMI, prealbumin, CRP and other potential confounders in MHD patients. The association was more prominent in older patients and those with higher BMI and a history of diabetes, suggesting that controlling volume balance may help to reduce the occurrence of sarcopenia in these populations.

PMID:35381328 | DOI:10.1053/j.jrn.2022.03.004

J Ethnopharmacol. 2022 Apr 2:115251. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2022.115251. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Gastritis can lead to ulcers and the development of gastric cancer. The rhizome of Atractylodes macrochepala Koidz. (Asteraceae), a traditional Chinese medicinal herb, is prescribed for the treatment of gastric disorders, hepatitis and rheumatism. Its bio-active compounds are considered to be particularly effective in this regard. However, the molecular processes of the herb’s anti-inflammatory activity remain obscure. This study elucidates a mechanism upon which an ethanolic extract of this herb (Am-EE) exerts anti-inflammation effects in RAW264.7 macrophage cells (RAW cells) stimulated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment and HCl Ethanol-stimulated gastritis rats.

AIM OF THE STUDY: To investigate the anti-gastritis activities of Am-EE and explore the mode of action.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Ethanol (95%) was used to prepare Am-EE. The quality of the extract was monitored by HPLC analysis. The in vivo effects of this extract were examined in an HCl Ethanol-stimulated gastritis rat model, while LPS-stimulated RAW cells were used for in vitro assays. Cell viability and nitric oxide (NO) production were observed by MTT and Griess assays. Real-time PCR was used to examine mRNA expression. The PGE₂ ELISA kit was employed to detect prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂). Enzyme activities and protein contents were examined by immunoblotting. Luciferase reporter gene assays (LRA) were employed to observe nuclear transcription factor (NF)-κB activity. The SPSS (SPSS Inc., Chicago, Illinois, United States) application was used for statistical examination.

RESULTS: HPLC analysis indicates that Am-EE contains atractylenolide-1 (AT-1, 1.33%, w/w) and atractylenolide-2 (AT-2, 1.25%, w/w) (Additional Figure. A1). Gastric tissue damage (induced by HCl Ethanol) was significantly decreased in SD rats following intra-gastric application of 35 mg/kg Am-EE. Indistinguishable to the anti-inflammation effects of 35 mg/kg ranitidine (gastric medication). Am-EE treatment also reduced LPS-mediated nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) production. The mRNA and protein synthesis of inducible cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 and NO synthase (iNOS) was down-regulated following treatment in RAW cells. Am-EE decreased NF-κB (p50) nuclear protein levels and inhibited NF-κB-stimulated LRA activity in RAW cells. Lastly, Am-EE decreased the up-regulated levels of phosphorylated IκBα and AKT proteins in rat stomach lysate and in LPS challenged RAW cell samples.

CONCLUSION: Our study illustrates that Am-EE suppresses the Akt/IκBα/NF-κB pathway and exerts an anti-inflammatory effect. These novel conclusions provide a pharmacological basis for the clinical use of the A. macrocephala rhizome in the treatment and prevention of gastritis and gastric cancer.

PMID:35381310 | DOI:10.1016/j.jep.2022.115251

Immunol Lett. 2022 Apr 2:S0165-2478(22)00039-6. doi: 10.1016/j.imlet.2022.03.006. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Mass spectrometry proteomics has become an important part of modern immunology, making major contributions to understanding protein expression levels, subcellular localizations, posttranslational modifications, and interactions in various immune cell populations. New developments in both experimental and computational techniques offer increasing opportunities for exploring the immune system and the molecular mechanisms involved in immune responses. Here, we focus on current computational approaches to infer relevant information from large mass spectrometry based protein profiling datasets, covering the different steps of the analysis from protein identification and quantification to further mining and modelling of the protein abundance data. Additionally, we provide a summary of the key proteome profiling studies on human CD4⁺ T cells and their different subtypes in health and disease.

PMID:35381305 | DOI:10.1016/j.imlet.2022.03.006

Environ Pollut. 2022 Apr 2:119132. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119132. Online ahead of print.

ABSTRACT

Plume chasing is cost-effective, measuring individual, on-road vehicular emissions. Whereas, wake-flow-generated turbulence results in intermittent, rapid pollutant dilution and substantial fluctuating concentrations right behind the vehicle being chased. The sampling duration is therefore one of the important factors for acquiring representative (average) concentrations, which, however, has been seldom addressed. This paper, which is based on the detailed spatio-temporal dispersion data after a heavy-duty truck calculated by large-eddy simulation (LES), examines how sampling duration affects the uncertainty of the measured concentrations in plume chasing. The tailpipe dispersion is largely driven by the jet-like flows through the vehicle underbody with approximate Gaussian concentration distribution for x ≤ 0.6h, where x is the distance after the vehicle and h the characteristic vehicle size. Thereafter for x ≥ 0.6h, the major recirculation plays an important role in near-wake pollutant transport whose concentrations are highly fluctuating and positively shewed. Plume chasing for a longer sampling duration is more favourable but is logistically impractical in busy traffic. Sampling duration, also known as averaging time in the statistical analysis, thus has a crucial role in sampling accuracy. With a longer sampling (averaging) duration, the sample mean concentration converges to the population mean, improving the sample reliability. However, this effect is less pronounced in long sampling duration. The sampling accuracy is also influenced by the locations of sampling points. For the region x > 0.6h, the sampling accuracy is degraded to a large extent. As a result, acceptable sample mean is hardly achievable. Finally, frequency analysis unveils the mechanism leading to the variance in concentration measurements which is attributed to sampling duration. Those data with frequency higher than the sampling frequency are filtered out by moving average in the statistical analyses.

PMID:35381304 | DOI:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119132