Archaea are widespread in marine sediments and play important roles in the cycling of sedimentary organic carbon. However, factors controlling the distribution of archaea in marine sediments are not ...well understood. Here we investigated benthic archaeal communities over glacial-interglacial cycles in the northern South China Sea and evaluated their responses to sediment organic matter sources and inter-species interactions. Archaea in sediments deposited during the interglacial period Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 1 (Holocene) were significantly different from those in sediments deposited in MIS 2 and MIS 3 of the Last Glacial Period when terrestrial input to the South China Sea was enhanced based on analysis of the long-chain n-alkane C
31
. The absolute archaeal 16S rRNA gene abundance in subsurface sediments was highest in MIS 2, coincident with high sedimentation rates and high concentrations of total organic carbon. Soil Crenarchaeotic Group (SCG;
Nitrososphaerales
) species, the most abundant ammonia-oxidizing archaea in soils, increased dramatically during MIS 2, likely reflecting transport of terrestrial archaea during glacial periods with high sedimentation rates. Co-occurrence network analyses indicated significant association of SCG archaea with benthic deep-sea microbes such as
Bathyarchaeota
and
Thermoprofundales
in MIS 2 and MIS 3, suggesting potential interactions among these archaeal groups. Meanwhile,
Thermoprofundales
abundance was positively correlated with total organic carbon (TOC), along with n-alkane C
31
and sedimentation rate, indicating that
Thermoprofundales
may be particularly important in processing of organic carbon in deep-sea sediments. Collectively, these results demonstrate that the composition of heterotrophic benthic archaea in the South China Sea may be influenced by terrestrial organic input in tune with glacial-interglacial cycles, suggesting a plausible link between global climate change and microbial population dynamics in deep-sea marine sediments.
Natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is an aggressive malignancy with unique epidemiological, histological, molecular, and clinical characteristics. It occurs in two pathological forms, ...namely, extranodal NKTCL (ENKTCL) and aggressive NK leukemia, according to the latest World Health Organization (WHO) classification. Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection has long been proposed as the major etiology of lymphomagenesis. The adoption of high-throughput sequencing has allowed us to gain more insight into the molecular mechanisms of ENKTCL, which largely involve chromosome deletion and aberrations in Janus kinase (JAK)-signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/PD-ligand 1 (PD-L1) pathways, as well as mutations in tumor suppressor genes. The molecular findings could potentially influence the traditional chemoradiotherapy approach, which is known to be associated with significant toxicity. This article will review the latest molecular findings in NKTCL and recent advances in the field of molecular diagnosis in NKTCL. Issues of quality control and technical difficulties will also be discussed, along with future prospects in the molecular diagnosis and treatment of NKTCL.
We conducted a statistical study and developed a machine learning model to triage COVID-19 patients affected during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in Hong Kong based on their medical records and ...test results (features) collected during their hospitalization. The correlation between the values of these features is studied against discharge status and disease severity as a preliminary step to identify those features with a more pronounced effect on the patient outcome. Once identified, they constitute the inputs of four machine learning models, Decision Tree, Random Forest, Gradient and RUSBoosting, which predict both the Mortality and Severity associated with the disease. We test the accuracy of the models when the number of input features is varied, demonstrating their stability; i.e., the models are already highly predictive when run over a core set of (6) features. We show that Random Forest and Gradient Boosting classifiers are highly accurate in predicting patients’ Mortality (average accuracy ∼99%) as well as categorize patients (average accuracy ∼91%) into four distinct risk classes (Severity of COVID-19 infection). Our methodical and broad approach combines statistical insights with various machine learning models, which paves the way forward in the AI-assisted triage and prognosis of COVID-19 cases, which is potentially generalizable to other seasonal flus.
To investigate the seasonal variation of disease onset and presentation in an ethno-geographically homogeneous cohort of patients with anti-MDA5 positive dermatomyositis (DM).
This was a ...multi-centered, retrospective cohort study. Adult Chinese anti-MDA5 positive DM patients were identified from the Hong Kong Myositis Registry and the Clinical Data Analysis and Reporting System from 2015 to 2020. Equal number of IIM patients without anti-MDA5 antibody were selected as controls. Line blot immunoassay was used to detect the autoantibodies. The onset of disease, presenting clinical features and subsequent complications were analyzed for any seasonality.
A total of 110 patients with anti-MDA5 positive DM were studied. The mean age at diagnosis was 53.0 ± 12.3 years and the mean follow-up duration was 20.6 ± 23.1 months. Two third of the patients (66%) had the clinically amyopathic phenotype. Most patients (86%) had interstitial lung disease (ILD) and 42% developed rapidly progressive ILD (RP-ILD). The mortality was 40% and the commonest cause was RP-ILD. Chi-square test showed significantly less patients had symptom onset in July to September. However, no particular seasonal pattern was observed in the anti-MDA5 negative IIM controls. RP-ILD occurred more frequently in patients with disease onset in October to December. Anti-MDA5 positive DM patients with disease onset in warmer months (April to September) were more likely to have clinical muscle involvement.
Apparent seasonal patterns were noted in our ethno-geographically identical anti-MDA5 positive DM patients, but not in IIM patients in general. Certain environmental factors, particularly infection, might be implicated.
PURPOSE:To compare tear osmolarity (TO) and other dry eye parameters in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients with or without secondary Sjogren syndrome (sSS).
METHODS:Consecutive patients with RA were ...divided into a sSS group and no-sSS group using conventional diagnostic criteria by rheumatologists using symptomatology, Schirmer test score, and anti-Ro or anti-La autoantibody status. The TO, Ocular Surface Disease Index, dry eye disease (DED) parameters such as tear breakup time (TBUT) and corneal staining score and the systemic inflammatory markers erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were compared. Correlation analyses between TO and the DED parameters and inflammatory markers were also performed.
RESULTS:A total of 42 cases with mean age 54.8 ± 12.3 were included, with 12 patients (29%) having sSS and 30 (71%) without sSS. TO was increased in both groups (329 ± 20 and 319 ± 25 mOsm/L, respectively), but no statistically significant difference was found between the 2 groups (P = 0.126). RA with sSS had significantly shorter TBUT, higher corneal staining score, and ESR CRP levels (P < 0.05). TO did not correlate with the Schirmer test score, but had significant positive correlations with age, corneal staining score, ESR, and CRP levels, and a significant negative correlation with TBUT.
CONCLUSIONS:TO was increased in RA patients with or without sSS. There was no significant correlation between TO and the Schirmer test score, and the physician could not use TO to diagnose sSS. However, TO correlated well with both DED parameters (TBUT and corneal staining score) and systemic inflammatory markers (ESR and CRP).
Background
To report a case series of early postoperative complications following combined accelerated corneal crosslinking (CXL) and trans-epithelial technique in keratoconus.
Case presentations
...Eleven eyes underwent accelerated trans-epithelial CXL (18 mW/cm
2
for 5 min). Seven eyes (64%) developed complications in the first week postoperatively. Five eyes had large epithelial defects, and two eyes were complicated with diffuse punctate epithelial erosions. Early transient stromal haze was seen in eyes with epithelial complications. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography showed a faint demarcation line in six eyes (55%) with epithelial complications.
Conclusion
A significant number of eyes developed epithelial complications shortly after combined accelerated trans-epithelial CXL, which defeated the benefits of leaving the epithelium intact.
•Dual radar performs better than single radar in classification.•Random forest with predetermined statistical features yielded 0.887 accuracy.•Deep learning classifiers doesn't not necessarily ...perform better.
Sleep posture monitoring is an essential assessment for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. The objective of this study is to develop a machine learning-based sleep posture recognition system using a dual ultra-wideband radar system. We collected radiofrequency data from two radars positioned over and at the side of the bed for 16 patients performing four sleep postures (supine, left and right lateral, and prone). We proposed and evaluated deep learning approaches that streamlined feature extraction and classification, and the traditional machine learning approaches that involved different combinations of feature extractors and classifiers. Our results showed that the dual radar system performed better than either single radar. Predetermined statistical features with random forest classifier yielded the best accuracy (0.887), which could be further improved via an ablation study (0.938). Deep learning approach using transformer yielded accuracy of 0.713.
SYNOPSIS:This 1-year prospective study demonstrated that the Tenon’s layer reposition approach of trabeculectomy could achieve zero leakage rate, minimal rate of transient hypotony without ...compromising the surgical outcome.
PURPOSE:The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of a Tenon’s layer reposition approach of trabeculectomy.
METHODS:A prospective, noncomparative case series of 30 eyes of 30 Chinese patients with mixed types of glaucoma who underwent fornix-based trabeculectomy combined with intraoperative mitomycin C application. During the conjunctival flap closure, the Tenons’ layer was identified, separated, and anchored on to the sclera surface with 8/0 vicryl, followed by conjunctival closure with 10/0 nylon as a separate layer. All patients were followed up for 1 year. Assessment including intraocular pressure (IOP), vertical cup-disc ratio measurement, best-corrected visual acuity, and visual field examination were performed before and after the operation. Qualified and complete success was defined as IOP of ≤21 mm Hg in 2 consecutive visits with or without medication, respectively. Outcomes were evaluated using scattered plot and Kaplan-Meier survival curve.
RESULTS:Twenty-one eyes (70%) and 28 eyes (93.3%) achieved complete and partial success at 1 year, respectively. There was a significant reduction of IOP (28.5±9.6 to 15.5±2.6 mm Hg, P<0.001) and medication use (4.4±0.9 to 0.8±1.2 bottles/eye, P<0.001). There were no significant changes in best-corrected visual acuity, vertical cup-disc ratio, and visual field indices. No wound leak was identified throughout the study. The procedure did not induce significant astigmatic change. Other postoperative complications, including 2 eyes (6.7%) with transient hypotony and 1 eye (3.3%) required cataract surgery, were of relatively low rate.
CONCLUSION:The Tenon’s layer reposition approach of performing trabeculectomy is a safe and efficacious procedure for Chinese subjects with different types of glaucoma.
Purpose The abolishment of the wine tax in Hong Kong has led to increased wine consumption and increased demand for wine-related professionals, such as sommeliers. Yet the importance of sommeliers’ ...value-adding performance in the context of upscale Chinese restaurants has not been examined. To address this gap, the SERVQUAL framework is adopted to examine the influence of sommeliers’ service quality (SQ) on customer satisfaction (CS) and loyalty in the context of upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong.
Design/methodology/approach The survey method is used to collect data from 302 units of the population of interest, partial least square-structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) is used to test the links between constructs.
Findings Four of the seven dimensions of sommeliers’ service quality, namely, empathy, tangibles, credibility and assurance, have a significant positive impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty, whereas the impact of perceived value and responsiveness on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty is positive but only marginally significant. Reliability has a weak and non-significant impact on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty.
Research limitations/implications Examining a small number of upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong limits generalisation of the findings to other contexts. Replication of the research in different contexts will enhance generalizability. In terms of implications, the discussion highlights the importance of sommeliers’ service performance on customers’ SQ perceptions SQ, CS and loyalty, all of which are important variables for restaurateurs.
Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study of the influence of the quality of sommelier’s SQ on CS and loyalty in upscale Chinese restaurants in Hong Kong. Given the lack of attention to this service role in the literature, the study contributes theory from which further understanding can develop.
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