bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex immune microenvironment of chordoma: a road map for future treatment
Authors: Niu Hua-Qing , Zheng Bo-Yv , Zou Ming-Xiang , Zheng Bo-Wen
Published: June 2024

Background

Chordoma, a rare bone tumor, presents limited treatment options and patients typically exhibit poor survival outcomes. While immunotherapy has shown promising results in treating various tumors, research on the immune microenvironment of chordomas is still in its early stages. Therefore, understanding how the immune microenvironment of chordomas influences the outcomes of immunotherapy is crucial.

Methods

We employed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), bulk RNA-seq, CellChat, gene set variation analysis, as well as calculation of immune features to further dissect the complex immune microenvironment of chordoma.

Results

Previous research by van Oostet alargued that compared with other sarcomas, chordomas typically exhibit an immunologically “hot” microenvironment, a conclusion with which we concur based on their research findings. Additionally, the authors suggest that T cell-mediated immunotherapy is feasible for the majority of chordomas. However, we are inclined to categorize them as an immune-excluded phenotype according to the latest classification methods, rather than persisting with the concepts of “cold” and “hot”. Unlike them, we explored immune infiltration scores (IS), T lymphocyte scoring (TLS), and human leucocyte antigen class I (HLA-I) using Bulk RNA-seq data from 126 chordoma patients and found that higher IS, TLS, and higher HLA-I expression were associated with poorer patient prognosis. Additionally, CellChat analysis of scRNA-seq results from six chordoma patients revealed no direct interaction between T cells and tumor cells.

Conclusions

These findings suggested that the efficacy of T cell-based immunotherapy may be limited or even ineffective for patients with chordoma.
Circulating receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) levels predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC)
Authors: Iuliani Michele , Simonetti Sonia , Cristofani Leonardo , Cavaliere Silvia , Cortellini Alessio , Russano Marco , Vincenzi Bruno , Tonini Giuseppe , Santini Daniele , Pantano Francesco
Published: June 2024

Background

Receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) can directly promote tumor growth and indirectly support tumor immune evasion by altering the tumor microenvironment and immune cell responses. This study aimed to assess the prognostic significance of soluble RANKL in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving programmed cell death 1 (PD1)/programmed death-ligand 1 (PDL1) checkpoint inhibitor therapy.

Methods

Plasma RANKL levels were measured in 100 patients with advanced NSCLC without bone metastases undergoing monotherapy with PD1/PDL1 checkpoint inhibitors. To establish the optimal cut-off value, we used the Cutoff Finder package in R. Survival curves for four distinct patient groups, according to their RANKL and PDL1 levels (high or low), were generated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared with the log-rank test. The Cox regression model calculated HRs and 95% CIs for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results

The optimal RANKL cut-off was established at 280.4 pg/mL, categorizing patients into groups with high or low RANKL levels. A significant association was observed between increased RANKL concentrations and decreased survival rates at 24 months, only within the subgroup expressing high levels of PDL1 (p=0.002). Additionally, low RANKL levels in conjunction with elevated PDL1 expression correlated with improved PFS (median 22 months, 95% CI 6.70 to 50 vs median 4 months, 95% CI 3.0 to 7.30, p=0.009) and OS (median 26 months, 95% CI 20 to not reached vs median 7 months, 95% CI 6 to 13, p=0.003), indicating RANKL’s potential as an indicator of adverse prognosis in these patients. Multivariate analysis identified RANKL as an independent negative prognostic factor for both PFS and OS, regardless of other clinicopathological features.

Conclusion

These results highlight the prognostic and predictive value of RANKL specifically in patients with high PDL1 expression.
Assessing water position through distributed temperature sensing using Rayleigh-based optical frequency-domain reflectometry: a laboratory feasibility study
Authors: Acharya Ashis , Tanimura Daiki , Zhang Chao , Ito Fumihiko , Sakaki Toshihiro , Komatsu Mitsuru , Doi Issei , Kogure Tetsuya
Published: June 2024

This study demonstrates the ability of the Rayleigh-based phase-noise compensated optical frequency-domain reflectometry (PNC-OFDR) sensing method to monitor the distributed temperature field with an ultra-short data acquisition period of 2 ms, a spatial resolution of 2 cm, and a temperature resolution of 0.1 °C. A heating cable (H-cable) was embedded within a cylindrical concrete mortar specimen and subjected to various heating powers. A sensing optical cable (temperature measurement cable) was placed adjacent to the H-cable to monitor the temperature distribution continuously. Two water-holding boxes were installed along the specimen at two positions to retain water. The study’s results indicated that the PNC-OFDR technique demonstrated a high sensitivity to even small temperature changes, enabling it to pinpoint water locations at two distinct points accurately. The research determined the minimal heating power required to successfully locate the water positions. The magnitude of the heating power exerted a significant impact on the temperature change. Three distinct phases of temperature increment were observed for a given heating period: rapid, fast, and gentle increase. The insights gained from this study have the potential to be applied in natural fields, allowing for the detection of groundwater and seepage phenomena in vulnerable slopes.
A simplified method for predicting load–displacement curve with pipeline upward movement
Authors: Zeng Hui , Lin Xing-Tao , Chen Xiangsheng
Published: June 2024

The bending and damage suffered by the pipelines during the upward movement depend largely on the displacement of the pipe and the damage degree of the surrounding soil. According to the failure mechanism of the surrounding soil caused by the upward movement of pipelines, this paper described the shear plane development of the uplifting load–displacement curve (LDC) across varying phases. However, the existing LDC model is not able to accurately calculate the change in overlying load during pipeline upward. Hence, to precisely determine the uplifting load of the pipeline, a composite power-exponential function (CPEF) is proposed. Additionally, modifications have been made to the calculation formula for the residual uplifting load. The proposed CPEF comprises four parameters: a, b, c, and d. To verify the validity of the proposed CPEF model, the experimental results are compared with the calculated results of the proposed CPEF, which show that the proposed CPEF model can well predict the entire process of uplifting load changes on the pipeline during the upward movement process. Finally, the influence of parameters on the LDC calculated by CPEF under the same conditions was analyzed by varying the parameters of CPEF.
Compactness of supermassive dark objects at galactic centers
Authors: Virbhadra K.S.
Published: June 2024

We define compactness of a gravitational lens as the scaled closest distance of approach (i.e., r0/ M) of the null geodesic giving rise to an image. We model 40 supermassive dark objects as Schwarzschild lenses and compute compactness of lenses (determined by the formation of the first-order relativistic image). We then obtain a novel formula for the compactness of a lens as a function of mass to the distance ratio ( M/ Dd) and the ratio of lens–source to the observer–source distances ( Dds/ Ds). This formula yields a very important result: Just an observation of a relativistic image would give an incredibly accurate upper bound to the physical compactness (the ratio of the radius to mass) of the lens without having any knowledge of mass of the lens, angular source position, and observer–source and lens–source distances. Similarly, we show that the observation of the second-order relativistic image would give a lower value of upper bound to the physical compactness. These results, though obtained for supermassive dark objects at galactic centers, are valid for any object compact enough to give rise to relativistic images.
Background gravitational waves as signature of the adiabatic expansion of a black body that represents the dark universe
Authors: Cruz Cláudio Nassif , Amaro de Faria Jr. A.C.
Published: June 2024

We propose a toy model of a spherical universe made up of an exotic dark gas with temperature T in thermal equilibrium with a black body in adiabatic expansion. Each particle of this exotic gas mimics a kind of particle of dark energy represented by the vacuum energy, being quantized into virtual particles with extremely small masses that form such gas representing the own tissue of the expanding space–time governed by a negative pressure whose origin is the equation of state of vacuum, i.e., p = −ρ, where ρ is the vacuum energy density. So, each vacuum particle occupies a tiny area of space so-called Planck area [Formula: see text], which represents the minimum area of the whole space–time given by the spherical surface with area [Formula: see text], where RH is the Hubble radius. We realize that such spherical surface is the surface of the black body for representing the dark universe as if it were the surface of an expanding balloon. Thus, we are able to derive the law of universal gravitation, thus leading us to understand the cosmological anti-gravity. We estimate the very small order of magnitude of the cosmological constant and the acceleration of expansion of the dark sphere. In this toy model, as the dark universe can be thought of as a large black body, when we obtain its power and frequency of emission of radiation, we find very low values. We conclude that such radiation and frequency of the black body made up of dark energy is a background gravitational wave with very low frequency in the order of 10−17Hz due to the slight stretching of the fabric of space–time.
A Comprehensive Survey on Biclustering-based Collaborative Filtering
Authors: G. Silva Miguel , C. Madeira Sara , Henriques Rui
Published: June 2024

Collaborative Filtering (CF) is achieving a plateau of high popularity. Still, recommendation success is challenged by the diversity of user preferences, structural sparsity of user-item ratings, and inherent subjectivity of rating scales. The increasing user base and item dimensionality of e-commerce and e-entertainment platforms creates opportunities, while further raising generalization and scalability needs. Moved by the need to answer these challenges, user-based and item-based clustering approaches for CF became pervasive. However, classic clustering approaches assess user (item) rating similarity across all items (users), neglecting the rich diversity of item and user profiles. Instead, as preferences are generally simultaneously correlated on subsets of users and items, biclustering approaches provide a natural alternative, being successfully applied to CF for nearly two decades and synergistically integrated with emerging deep learning CF stances. Notwithstanding, biclustering-based CF principles are dispersed, causing state-of-the-art approaches to show accentuated behavioral differences. This work offers a structured view on how biclustering aspects impact recommendation success, coverage, and efficiency. To this end, we introduce a taxonomy to categorize contributions in this field and comprehensively survey state-of-the-art biclustering approaches to CF, highlighting their limitations and potentialities.
A Survey of General-purpose Polyhedral Compilers
Authors: Thangamani Arun , Loechner Vincent , Genaud Stéphane
Published: June 2024

Since the 1990s, many implementations of polyhedral compilers have been written and distributed, either as source-to-source translating compilers or integrated into wider-purpose compilers. This article provides a survey on those various available implementations as of today, 2024.

First, we list and describe most commonly available polyhedral schedulers and compiler implementations. Then, we compare the general-purpose polyhedral compilers using two main criteria—robustness and performance—on the PolyBench/C set of benchmarks.
Brain Connectivity Networks Constructed Using MRI for Predicting Patterns of Atrophy Progression in Parkinson Disease
Authors: Basaia Silvia , Agosta Federica , Sarasso Elisabetta , Balestrino Roberta , Stojković Tanja , Stanković Iva , Tomić Aleksandra , Marković Vladana , Vignaroli Francesca , Stefanova Elka , Kostić Vladimir S. , Filippi Massimo
Published: June 2024

The structural and functional organization of the brain connectome constructed using MRI showed the potential to predict atrophy progression in patients with early-stage, mild Parkinson disease.
Assessing the degree of hepatic ischemia-reperfusion injury using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling of sodium fluorescein disposition in ex vivo machine-perfused livers
Authors: Monti Christopher E. , Hong Seung-Keun , Audi Said H. , Lee Whayoung , Joshi Amit , Terhune Scott S. , Kim Joohyun , Dash Ranjan K.
Published: June 2024

We developed a computational model of sodium fluorescein (SF) biliary excretion in ex vivo machine perfusion and used this model to assess changes in model parameters associated with the activity of MRP2, a hepatocyte membrane transporter, in response to increasing warm ischemia time. We found a significant decrease in the parameter value describing MRP2 activity, consistent with a role of decreased MRP2 function in ischemia-reperfusion injury leading to decreased secretion of SF into bile.
Synergistic Effects of Icariin and Extracellular Vesicles Derived from Rabbit Synovial Membrane‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Osteochondral Repair via the Wnt/β‐Catenin Pathway
Authors: Tang Dongming , Tang Wang , Chen Huanqing , Liu Donghua , Jiao Feng
Published: June 2024

Objectives. Osteochondral defects (OCDs) are localized areas of damaged cartilage and underlying subchondral bone that can produce pain and seriously impair joint function. Literature reports indicated that icariin (ICA) has the effect of promoting cartilage repair. However, its mechanism remains unclear. Here, we explored the effects of icariin and extracellular vesicles (EVs) from rabbit synovial‐derived mesenchymal stem cells (rSMSCs) on repairing of OCDs. Materials and Methods. Rabbit primary genicular chondrocytes (rPGCs), knee skeletal muscle cells (rSMCKs), and rSMSCs, and extracellular vesicles derived from the latter two cells (rSMCK‐EVs and rSMSC‐EVs) were isolated and identified. The rPGCs were stimulated with ICA, rSMSC‐EVs either separately or in combination. The rSMCK‐EVs were used as a control. After stimulation, chondrogenic‐related markers were analyzed by quantitative RT‐PCR and western blotting. Cell proliferation was determined by the CCK‐8 assay. The preventative effects of ICA and SMSC‐EVs in vivo were determined by H&E and toluidine blue staining. Immunohistochemical analyses were performed to evaluate the levels of COL2A1 and β‐catenin in vivo. Results. In vitro, the proliferation of rPGCs was markedly increased by ICA treatment in a dose‐dependent manner. When compared with ICA or rSMSC‐EVs treatment alone, combined treatment with ICA and SMSC‐EVs produced stronger stimulative effects on cell proliferation. Moreover, combined treatment with ICA and rSMSC‐EVs promoted the expression of chondrogenic‐related gene, including COL2A1, SOX‐9, and RUNX2, which may be via the activation of the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. In vivo, combined treatment with rSMSC‐EVs and ICA promoted cartilage repair in joint bone defects. Results also showed that ICA or rSMSC‐EVs both promoted the COL2A1 and β‐catenin protein accumulation in articular cartilage, and that was further enhanced by combined treatment with rSMSC‐EVs and ICA. Conclusion. Our findings highlight the promising potential of using combined treatment with ICA and rSMSC‐EVs for promoting osteochondral repair.
A Random Field Model of Multipoint Bouncing Loads and Its Applications
Authors: Xiong Jiecheng , Chen Jun
Published: June 2024

In existing load models, the crowd bouncing load is often simplified as a single‐point excitation; moreover, these models lack data support from crowd bouncing experiments. Inspired by the random field models widely adopted in seismic ground motion fields, a random field model for crowd bouncing loads was established in this research. The bouncing frequency, time lag, and amplitude of the coherence function were modeled to quantify the crowd synchronization; an auto‐power spectral density (PSD) model from the author’s previous study was adopted for an individual bouncing load. The values of these parameters were obtained based on data from a crowd bouncing experiment involving 48 test subjects on the first day and 42 test subjects on the second day, in which the trajectories of reflective markers fixed at the clavicle of every test subjects were simultaneously recorded using three‐dimensional motion capture system. Based on the PSD matrix of the crowd bouncing loads as simulated by the proposed random field model, the structural acceleration can be analyzed using random vibration analysis in the frequency domain. The established random field model and spectral analysis framework can be adopted to evaluate the vibrating performances of lightweight and high‐strength structures. Moreover, the established load model is also the basis of structural vibration control.
Prediction of the Flight Dynamics of Maneuvering Multirotor Aircraft
Authors: Barcelos Devin , Bramesfeld Götz , Waslander Steven
Published: June 2024

A simulation environment is presented that predicts the flight trajectory of a maneuvering multirotor aircraft using a purely physics‐based approach without the need for a priori flight test data. The flight dynamics model determines the motion of the aircraft based on the total loads and commanded motor speeds. The aerodynamic loads of the rotors are predicted using a modified blade element momentum theory (BEMT)–based approach that considers nonuniform inflow conditions at the rotor discs. In addition, the aerodynamic loads of the remaining aircraft components are estimated using a load decomposition. Flight test data of an AscTec Pelican quadcopter were used to evaluate the prediction quality by comparing it with the vehicle tracks recorded in flight tests. As the flight changes from hover, the present approach shows significant prediction improvements over a simple KΩ2 approach. Specifically, when comparing the number of successful prediction timesteps into the future, the BEMT‐based approach showed, on average, 44.4% longer successful predicting for positional velocities and 85.3% longer for predicting body rates. In addition to its numerical accuracy, the simulation environment is computationally efficient and thus ideal for design studies of flight controllers. The codes associated with the simulation environment are open source.
Evidences of Gonadal Impairment and Growth Acceleration in Barbonymus gonionotus Fed Papaw Seed: Sustainable Green Alternatives for Energy Portioning
Authors: Suman Upendra , Waikhom Gusheinzed , Singh Soibam Khogen , Mangang Yumnam Abungcha , Debbarma Reshmi , Biswas Pradyut , Das Pronob , Singh Soibam Basanta
Published: June 2024

Growth stagnation in early‐maturing fish is a concern for higher fish productivity and may be regulated with reproductive arrest using phytochemicals. In this line, the study attempts to improve the growth of silver barb, Barbonymus gonionotus, through dietary pawpaw (Carica papaya) seed (PS) supplemented diets during a 60‐day trial (30‐days of feeding PS, followed by a 30‐day recovery period). Four levels of PS at 0, 2, 4, and 6 g kg−1 diet were added to a commercial feed (32% crude protein) and fed to advanced fingerlings (19.08 ± 0.02 g) at 3% body weight, which forms the experimental groups, designated as control, T1, T2, and T3. Subsequent alterations in growth (% weight gain and specific growth rate), reproduction (gonadosomatic index (GSI) and gonadal histology), and physiological function (haematology and stress biomarkers, viz., cortisol and glucose) were examined at the end of the experiment. Observations noted at the end of the trial showed significantly (P < 0.05) enhanced growth in groups fed 2 g kg−1, but not significantly with control. GSI showed an extreme reduction in all groups as the level of supplementation increased with the lowest being noted in T3. Sex change was observed in T2 and T3, wherein only male populations were noticed. Gonadal histology demonstrates tissue‐level generation in T1, compared with control. Tissue alteration (atrophy and necrosis) was noticed in the T2 and T3. The haematological profile indicates a gradual decrease in erythrocyte and leucocyte counts, packed cell volume, and haemoglobin in the T2 and T3 groups, compared with the T1 and control groups (P < 0.05). Serum biochemistry followed a similar trend. The levels of blood glucose and cortisol were higher in T2 and T3 (P < 0.05) than in the control and T1. The overall findings from this study reveal that dietary PS supplementation at 2 g kg−1 can enhance the growth of silver barb; however, higher doses suppress both growth and reproductive function, resulting in subsequent disturbances in physiology. Further studies regarding the molecular mechanism of such an outcome warrant immediate investigation.
Crowding Perception Thresholds of Passengers in Urban Rail Transit: A Study of Differences in Spatiotemporal Dimensions
Authors: Lu Xia , Mao Baohua , Wang Min , Zhao Yixin , Tian Peining
Published: June 2024

This paper focuses on the differences in crowding perception among different types of passengers in trains, aiming to optimize passenger experience and improve the level of service of urban rail transit. Based on data from a passenger survey on the Beijing subway, this paper introduces the concept of Crowding Perception Threshold (CPT) and analyzes the principle of passenger spatiotemporal crowding. Considering factors such as gender, age, travel purpose, and standing density of passengers, the paper constructs a quantitative model of crowding perception using the ordered logit model and proposes a method for classifying the level of service accordingly. The study results indicate that the CPTs for all types of passengers range from 91.8% to 101.6%, with the females, elderly individuals, and noncommuters showing greater sensitivity to crowding. In the temporal dimension, all types of passengers have higher CPTs during peak hours than during off‐peak hours, influenced by passengers’ crowding expectations. In the spatial dimension, the level of service for most types of passengers is considered crowded at standing densities of 6‐7 pax/m2 during peak hours, while the level of service for all types of passengers is deemed to be very crowded at 8 pax/m2, at which point additional passengers are not recommended.
Incidence of Carbapenem‐Resistant Gram‐Negative Bacterial Infections in Critically Ill Patients with COVID‐19 as Compared to Non‐COVID‐19 Patients: A Prospective Case‐Control Study
Authors: Aretha Diamanto , Rizopoulou Sotiria , Leonidou Leonidia , Kefala Sotiria , Karamouzos Vasilios , Lagadinou Maria , Spiliopoulou Anastasia , Marangos Markos , Fligou Fotini , Kolonitsiou Fevronia , Paliogianni Fotini , Assimakopoulos Stelios F.
Published: June 2024

Introduction. Critically ill COVID‐19 patients hospitalized in intensive care units (ICU) are immunosuppressed due to SARSCoV‐2‐related immunological effects and are administered immunomodulatory drugs. This study aimed to determine whether these patients carry an increased risk of multi‐drug resistant (MDR) and especially carbapenem‐resistant Gram‐negative (CRGN) bacterial infections compared to other critically ill patients without COVID‐19. Materials and Methods. A prospective case‐control study was conducted between January 2022 and August 2023. The ICU patients were divided into two groups (COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19). Differences in the incidence of CRGN infections from Klebsiella pneumoniae, Acinetobacter spp., and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were investigated. In addition, an indicator of the infection rate of the patients during their ICU stay was calculated. Factors independently related to mortality risk were studied. Results. Forty‐two COVID‐19 and 36 non‐COVID‐19 patients were analyzed. There was no statistically significant difference in the incidence of CRGN between COVID‐19 and non‐COVID‐19 patients. The infection rate was similar in the two groups. Regarding the aetiological agents of CRGN infections, Pseudomonas aeruginosa was significantly more common in non‐COVID‐19 patients (p = 0.007). COVID‐19 patients had longer hospitalisation before ICU admission (p = 0.003) and shorter ICU length of stay (LOS) (p = 0.005). ICU COVID‐19 patients had significantly higher mortality (p < 0.001) and sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (p < 0.001) compared to non‐COVID‐19 patients. Μortality secondary to CRGN infections was also higher in COVID‐19 patients compared to non‐COVID‐19 patients (p = 0.033). Male gender, age, ICU LOS, and hospital LOS before ICU admission were independent risk factors for developing CRGN infections. Independent risk factors for patients’ mortality were COVID‐19 infection, obesity, SOFA score, total number of comorbidities, WBC count, and CRP, but not infection from CRGN pathogens. Conclusions. The incidence of CRGN infections in critically ill COVID‐19 patients is not different from that of non‐COVID‐19 ICU patients. The higher mortality of COVID‐19 patients in the ICU is associated with higher disease severity scores, a higher incidence of obesity, and multiple underlying comorbidities, but not with CRGN infections.
Advancements in Model Parameter Estimation for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells via Enhanced Artificial Hummingbird Algorithm
Authors: Shaheen Abdullah M. , Alassaf Abdullah , Alsaleh Ibrahim , El-Fergany Attia A.
Published: June 2024

Fuel cells (FCs) have garnered significant attention due to their versatile applications, but their nonlinear characteristics pose challenges in the modeling process. This research presents a unique enhanced artificial hummingbird algorithm (EAHA) aimed at identifying the seven unknown parameters of the proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) stack by utilizing their experimental datasets. To accomplish this, the objective is to achieve accurate current/voltage (I/V) curves where a cost function is defined using the aggregation of quadratic deviations (AQD) between the measured dataset points and the appropriate model‐based estimations. The presented EAHA combines several territorial foraging techniques with a linear regulating mechanism. The performance of the conventional AHA is compared with the suggested EAHA using three commonly employed PEMFC modules. Furthermore, a comparative analysis is conducted against previously published methodologies and newly developed optimizers such as the equilibrium optimizer (EO), social networking search (SNS) technique, slim mold algorithm (SMA), heap‐based optimizer (HBO), and African vultures optimization (AVO) technique. The findings are compared to existing methodologies and other state‐of‐the‐art optimizers, providing valuable insights into the efficacy of the proposed approach. For the 250 W PEMFC stack, the proposed EAHA shows improvements of 2.966%, 6.493%, 1.491%, 7.080%, 1.131%, and 2.875% over AHA, AVO, EO, HBO, SMA, and SNS, respectively, depending on the mean AQD values. Similar findings are attained for the other two stacks. For example, for the test case of the BCS 500 W PEMFCs stack, the proposed EAHA demonstrates improvements of 64.228%, 82.859%, 66.140%, 81.156%, 46.302%, and 71.635% over AHA, AVO, EO, HBO, SMA, and SNS, respectively.
Subcutaneous Trastuzumab: An Observational Study of Safety and Tolerability in Patients With Early HER2‐Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Otoya Iris , Valdiviezo Natalia , Morante Zaida , Calle Cindy , Ferreyra Yomali , Huarcaya-Chombo Norma , Polo-Mendoza Gabriela , Castañeda Carlos , Vidaurre Tatiana , Neciosup Silvia P. , Calderón Mónica J. , Gomez Henry L.
Published: June 2024

Purpose: In Peru, breast cancer (BC) stands as the most predominant malignancy neoplasm among women. Trastuzumab has marked a significant milestone in the management of this disease. It has been shown to improve prognosis in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)–expressing female patients, but its repercussions and efficacy are yet to be analyzed in a context with limited resources.

Methods: The study population is made of woman patients aged 18 years and older diagnosed with HER2‐positive BC at Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Neoplásicas (INEN, Lima, Peru) during 2019–2021 and treated with at least one dose of subcutaneous trastuzumab. We reviewed medical records to register treatment characteristics, adverse events (AEs), disease progression, and survival status. We considered a median follow‐up time of 36 and 45 months for progression and survival status.

Results: The majority of patients were over 50 years old (54.29%). Tumor size averaged 19.7 ± 16.1 mm. Lymph nodes were present in 44.78% of patients. Most patients received adjuvant chemotherapy (63.8%) as first‐line treatment. Descriptive analyses of treatment outcomes revealed a 30% toxicity rate, primarily attributed to arthralgia (47.62%), followed by diarrhea, fatigue, and injection site reactions, with relatively lower discontinuation rates compared to larger scale studies. Differences in demographic, clinical, and treatment characteristics were not statistically significant concerning the emergence of AEs (p > 0.05). Progression appeared in nine patients, and the overall survival (OS) rate stood at 98.6% and 92.8%, respectively, during a median follow‐up of 36 and 45 months.

Conclusion: The research suggests that subcutaneous trastuzumab is comparable in effectiveness and safety to the intravenous administration. Regional‐specific studies may provide valuable insights into demographic factors influencing treatment outcomes in Peru or other countries. Furthermore, it could represent a more accessible alternative, potentially enhancing patient adherence and optimizing healthcare resource logistics.
Ritual-based religious dissemination in Taiwan: The connection between the religious and non-religious
Authors: CHI Wei-Hsian
Published: June 2024

This article delves into the evolution of Taiwanese popular religion amid the backdrop of social modernization. The emphasis on orthopraxy in Taiwanese popular religion offers a unique perspective on how religion adapts to modernization. It argues that the significance attributed to rituals in Taiwanese religions not only underscores a long-standing tradition but also serves as a fundamental aspect of popular religion. The materiality of rituals establishes heterogenous connections between the religious and non-religious, enabling popular religion to thrive and evolve in contemporary society. The study focuses on the ritual practice of ‘incense-offering pilgrimages’ by a local lay group, highlighting how the public visibility of deities is rooted in ritual observance rather than faith alone. Through detailed case studies, this article underscores the multifaceted ‘diversion connections’ between religious and non-religious domains.
High density polyethylene hybrid nanocomposites reinforced with carbon nanofiber and nanoclay
Authors: Samuel Jacob , Yussuf Abdirahman A , Al-Zufairi Rashed , Al-Banna Aseel , Al-Shammary Tahani , Abraham Gils
Published: June 2024

The influence of carbon nano fiber (CNF) along with organically modified nanoclay (OMMT) on the final properties of high density polyethylene (HDPE) hybrid nanocomposites has been investigated. The hybridized nanocomposites were prepared in a twin screw extruder by melt mixing to achieve better dispersion. The effect of nano fillers on the mechanical, thermal, rheological, and morphological properties has been reported. The incorporation of OMMT along with CNF slightly improved the mechanical properties of the resultant hybrid nanocomposite due to the good adhesion between the filler and matrix. On the other hand, as shown in DSC results, increasing reinforcing filler quantity has no significant influence on the thermal properties such as melting and crystallization temperatures. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) results have shown that increasing filler content in the hybrid nanocomposite matrix has enhanced drastically the thermal stability of the neat HDPE. Similarly, the rheological behavior of the hybrid system showed significant increase in the viscosity due to the synergetic effect. A marginal increase in moduli and complex viscosity was observed in the hybrid system, while loss tangent was found to be decreased due to the increase in the stiffness. The morphological features of nanocomposites were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The nanoscale images showed the well dispersion of filler nanoparticles without any prominent aggregation, which further indicates the compatibilizing ability of nanofillers within the HDPE matrix.
Serum Prealbumin as a Potential Predictive Factor for Age-Related Hearing Loss: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Xia Liang , Wang Tao , Chen Xiaoyan , He Yemeng , Zhou Lin , Lin Quanran , Wang Ying , Feng Yanmei , Shi Haibo , Qian Di
Published: June 2024

Objectives: Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) is a complex disease associated with the interaction of multiple factors. Furthermore, indicators of liver function represent the body’s metabolic, immune, and repair abilities. This study investigated correlations between liver function and ARHL. Methods: A total of 107 patients with ARHL and 107 age- and sex-matched healthy volunteers were included. Linear correlations, logistic regression, and receiving operator characteristic curves were used to assess the associations between liver function and ARHL. Results: Serum prealbumin (PAB) levels were significantly lower in the ARHL group compared to the control group. Logistic regression analysis indicated that low PAB levels may be an independent risk factor for ARHL. The ARHL was divided into 2 groups according to the degree of hearing loss (moderately severe-to-profound and mild-to-moderate); the median ages in the 2 groups were 70.48 and 66.85 years, respectively, with the difference being significant. Age was an independent risk factor for moderately severe-to-profound ARHL, as shown by the logistic regression analysis. Conclusions: Lower PAB levels in patients with ARHL suggested that PAB may be a risk factor for ARHL. Furthermore, higher age in patients with ARHL was associated with a greater degree of hearing loss.
Middle Ear Fibrosis Contributes to Hearing Loss in Patients With Myhre Syndrome
Authors: Tayara Alia , Hendon Laura G. , Barrera Shelby C. , Carron Jeffrey D.
Published: June 2024

Myhre syndrome (MS) is a rare genetic condition that presents with multiple genetic anomalies including cleft lip and palate and Eustachian tube dysfunction. These patients are at a high risk for airway scarring from intubation and mucosal inflammation. Hearing loss (conductive or mixed, of varying severity) is a common comorbidity in these patients, the exact etiology of which is still unclear. We present the cases of 2 unrelated children with MS who suffered progressive mixed hearing loss from fibrosis and obliteration of the middle ear spaces. Both patients had multiple sets of ear tubes that demonstrated early extrusion. The older patient underwent bone conduction implantation at age 11 which resulted in dramatic improvement of speech recognition and interactive skills. The other younger patient demonstrates a similar trajectory but has not yet undergone implantation. Otolaryngologists should take a cautious approach to surgery of the eardrum and middle ear to avoid unnecessary induction of fibrosis in this susceptible patient population. These cases highlight a newly described etiology for hearing loss and suggest a benefit to bone conduction implantation.
Pipeline Schmipeline: A New Survey to Examine Youth Pathways in Science
Authors: MacPherson Anna , Chaffee Rachel , Bjorklund Peter , Daly Alan J. , Adams Jennifer D. , Gupta Preeti , Hammerness Karen
Published: June 2024

Increasing diversity in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) and STEM-related degrees and professions is a national priority. Research on students’ pathways in STEM may contribute to our understanding of how to change institutions to achieve diversity; however, until recently, the dominant narrative invoked a “pipeline” metaphor. In this work, we challenge the pipeline metaphor by interrogating what is meant by a “STEM” pathway, measuring constructs not typically measured in STEM pipeline research, endeavoring to make our measures intersectional, and imagining alternative outcomes in addition to “staying in STEM.” We have been following students who completed an out-of-school mentored science research program since 2017. Three hundred fifty-eight participants responded to an alumni survey designed to collect data about their location along their pathway, constructs related to the pursuit of a pathway, and demographic information. Here, we describe the characteristics of this sample and initial findings about the new constructs we measured. By measuring constructs not typically measured in pathways research and designing items and scales using an intersectional approach, we challenge the problematic pipeline metaphor that dominates the STEM persistence literature.
Between invisibility and having a voice: The marginalization of gendered non-fiction writers in the South Korean television industry
Authors: Kim Hoyoung
Published: June 2024

This article examines how gendered workers experience invisibility in the South Korean television industry, focusing on writers who produce non-fiction programs, such as journalism shows and documentaries. Based on my in-depth interviews with 41 research participants, I reveal how the patriarchal, capitalist, and intensely hierarchical labour management in the industry has shaped an invisible writing workforce who are mostly women. Specifically, my research suggests that the exploitation of this invisible writing workforce takes two forms: the devaluation and underpayment of their labour and putting to work their marginalized subjectivities to enhance the quality of the programs in the production process. Finally, this research shows how writers recognize themselves as invisible workers and understand their invisibility as a form of discrimination and exclusion.
Investigations of injection strategies to use heparinized normal saline instead of contrast media for intracoronary optical coherence tomography imaging
Authors: Zebrauskaite Aiste , Tsybulskyi Eduard , Simanauskas Ignas , Zebrauskaite Gabriele , Ziubryte Greta , Ordiene Rasa , Unikas Ramunas , Jarusevicius Gediminas , Harding Scott Andrew
Published: June 2024

Background

The benefits of intravascular imaging-guided percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) are well established. Intravascular imaging guidance improves short- and long-term outcomes, especially in complex PCI. Optical coherence tomography (OCT) has a higher resolution than intravascular ultrasound. However, the usage of OCT is mainly limited by the need to use contrast for flushing injections, which increases the risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury, especially in patients with underlying chronic kidney disease. The aim of this study was to prove that flushing techniques with normal saline instead of contrast can be used in OCT imaging and can generate high-quality images.

Methods

This prospective single-center observational study included patients with indications for OCT-guided PCI. For OCT pullbacks, heparinized saline was injected by an automatic pump injector at different rates, and additional extension catheters for selective coronary artery engagement were used at the operator’s discretion. Recordings were made using the Ilumien Optis OCT system (Abbott) and the Dragonfly (Abbott) catheter and were analyzed at 1-mm intervals by two operators. Pullbacks were categorized as having optimal, acceptable, or unacceptable imaging quality. A clinically usable run was determined if >75% of the region of interest length was described as having optimal or acceptable imaging quality.

Results

A total of 32 patients were enrolled in the study; 47 different lesions were assessed before and after PCI. In total, 91.5% of runs were described as clinically suitable for use.

Conclusion

Heparinized saline injections for OCT imaging are effective in generating good-quality OCT images suitable for clinical use.
The cost of providing care by family and friends (informal care) in the last year of life: A population observational study
Authors: Johnson Miriam J , Currow David C , Chynoweth Jade , Weatherly Helen , Keser Gamze , Hutchinson Ann , Jones Annie , Dunn Laurie , Allgar Victoria
Published: June 2024

Introduction:

Little is known about replacement costs of care provided by informal carers during the last year of life for people dying of cancer and non-cancer diseases.

Aim:

To estimate informal caregiving costs and explore the relationship with carer and decedent characteristics.

Design:

National observational study of bereaved carers. Questions included informal end-of-life caregiving into the 2017 Health Survey for England including estimated recalled frequency, duration and intensity of care provision. We estimated replacement costs for a decedent’s last year of life valuing time at the price of a substitutable activity. Spearman rank correlations and multivariable linear regression were used to explore relationships with last year of life costs.

Setting/participants:

Adult national survey respondents – England.

Results:

A total of 7997 adults were interviewed from 5767/9612 (60%) of invited households. Estimated replacement costs of personal care and other help were £27,072 and £13,697 per carer and a national cost of £13.2 billion and £15.5 billion respectively. Longer care duration and intensity, older age, death at home (lived together), non-cancer cause of death and greater deprivation were associated with increased costs. Female sex, and not accessing ‘other care services’ were related to higher costs for other help only.

Conclusion:

We provide a first adult general population estimate for replacement informal care costs in the last year of life of £41,000 per carer per decedent and highlight characteristics associated with greater costs. This presents a major challenge for future universal care coverage as the pool of people providing informal care diminish with an ageing population.
‘It was never about me’: A qualitative inquiry into the experiences of psychological support and perceived support needs of family caregivers of people with high-grade glioma
Authors: Lion Katarzyna M , Jamieson Anthony , Billin Abigail , Jones Stephanie , Pinkham Mark B , Ownsworth Tamara
Published: June 2024

Background:

Family caregivers of people with high-grade glioma often report high rates of psychological distress, which has been attributed to the unique aspects of the disease and onerous care demands. Clinical practice guidelines advocate for caregiver support from diagnosis through to end-of-life and bereavement. Yet, research has identified that caregivers’ support needs are often overlooked.

Aim:

To explore caregivers’ experiences of psychological support and perceptions of what constitutes optimal psychological support for caregivers in the context of high-grade glioma.

Design:

Qualitative study involving semi-structured interviews with data analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Setting/participants:

Eighteen current ( n = 11) and bereaved ( n = 7) family caregivers (73% female, aged 33–69 years) of adults with high-grade glioma participated. Interviews explored caregivers’ perceptions of psychological support.

Results:

Two major themes were generated. The first theme, ‘It was never about me’, reflected caregivers prioritise for people with high-grade glioma to be well supported despite experiencing their own unmet psychological support needs. The second theme, ‘Continuous, coordinated and personalised support’, highlighted the importance of timely and tailored interventions addressing caregivers’ practical, educational and emotional support needs throughout the illness journey.

Conclusions:

Caregivers commonly prioritise the support needs of people with high-grade gliomas; yet, have their own distinct needs that vary throughout the illness. Primary care providers have a potential role in facilitating timely access to palliative care, practical support and brain tumour-specific psychological support to meet caregivers’ diverse needs across the care continuum in the context of high-grade glioma.
Treatment and nursing care of a patient diagnosed with malignant hyperthermia after general anesthesia: a case report
Authors: Tian Li , Li Hanfei , Zhang Xiufen , Liao Linzi , Wu Juan , Pei Xiang
Published: June 2024

Malignant hyperthermia (MH), characterized by severe myoclonus, pyrexia, tachycardia, hypertension, elevated muscle enzymes, and hypercapnia, often occurs in patients with congenital deformities or genetic disorders. Although the reported incidence rate is as low as 1:5000 to 1:100,000, patients with MH exhibit rapid aggravation and an elevated mortality rate. Thus, MH is associated with substantial perioperative risk. Successful treatment of patients with MH largely depends on early diagnosis and timely effective treatment. This clinical report provides a detailed description of a patient with newly diagnosed MH who developed a rapid rise in body temperature, end-tidal carbon dioxide, and heart rate during maxillary osteotomy. After successful rescue, the patient recovered smoothly during the postoperative period, indicating the importance of intraoperative monitoring, early diagnosis, effective treatment, and postoperative monitoring. This case is expected to serve as a reference for future interventions and healthcare practices in managing other patients with MH.
Understanding long-term human ecodynamics through the lens of ecosystem collapse
Authors: Newton Adrian C , Coward Fiona , Elliott Sarah , Jenkins Emma , Linden Marc Vander , Riris Philip , Silva Fabio
Published: June 2024

Most research on long-term human ecodynamics examines changes in the size and structure of human populations, often in relation to climate change. Here we offer an alternative perspective that draws on recent progress in conservation science, examining the causes and consequences of ecosystem collapse. We identify human actions that can cause abrupt transformation of ecosystems, in relation to key mechanisms and underlying theory. Such ecosystem collapse can in turn affect human societies by altering flows of ecosystem benefits to people. In this way, human ecodynamics can be understood by separately analysing the dynamics of social and ecological sub-systems, which are reciprocally linked. Ecosystem collapse represents a perturbation of these sub-systems, and provides insights into the mechanisms underlying their respective dynamics. We illustrate this approach through four case studies, which examine the spread of agriculture during the Holocene. Four key knowledge gaps emerge through consideration of these case studies: the linkages between social and ecological sub-systems, and how these change over time; the presence of feedbacks between these sub-systems; the relationships between local- and regional-scale collapse; and the relationships with ecological recovery. Increased research on ecosystem collapse could help clarify the relative influence of environmental degradation on societal dynamics, while providing insights into resilience and sustainability. Given the outstanding societal importance of ecosystem collapse, such research could also strengthen the relevance of historical sciences to the contemporary world.