bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Temperature annealing dependence of structural, magnetic, and antibacterial properties of silver substituted cobalt ferrite nanoparticles produced by coprecipitation route
Authors: Riyatun  , Kusumaningsih Triana , Supriyanto Agus , Purnama Budi
Published: May 2023

In this study, silver-substituted cobalt ferrite (Ag0.02Co0.98Fe2O4) nanoparticles were successfully sensitized by the coprecipitation method. Annealing temperature treatment was used to modify the physical properties, i.e., 200 °C, 300 °C, 400 °C, and 500 °C. XRD analysis showed an increase in the annealing temperature, the crystallite size increased from 19.78 to 24.11 nm, and the grain size increased from 54.75 to 61.39 nm. The FTIR spectrum showed two prominent absorption bands around k ∼577 and k ∼381 cm−1, allowing metal oxide absorption in the tetrahedral and octahedral sites. There is a redistribution of cations which is more significant at the tetrahedral sites than at octahedral sites, toward a perfect spinel structure. An increased annealing temperature increased the saturation magnetization and coercive field from 31.80 to 50.60 emu g−1 and 651 to 1,077 Oe, respectively, attributable to an increase in the magnetocrystalline anisotropy constant. The evaluation of S. aureus and E. coli showed that Ag0.02Co0.98Fe2O4 indicated the zone of inhibition (ZOI) around the disks due to its antibacterial properties. The most significant on S.aureus and E.coli were 12.73 mm (mortality of 88%) and 12.43 mm (mortality of 80%), respectively, for Ag0.02Co0.98Fe2O4 annealed at 200 °C that have the minor grain size materials.
EEG recognition model based on wavelet packet decomposition and ConvNet for art design decisions
Authors: Yang Bokai , Liao Jianxin , Yang Jingmin , Zhang Wenjie
Published: May 2023

Aiming at the subjective and unquantifiable problems in art design decisions, using EEG (electroencephalogram) to explain individual behavior is an effective solution. However, the accuracy of the traditional method is lower because of the complexity of EEG. Therefore, we propose the WPD-ConvNet recognition model based on wavelet packet decomposition and convolutional networks to enhance the recognition accuracy of EEG. First, subjects wear brain electrode caps to watch four art designs with different styles and need to make decisions. The EEG is collected during this process. Then, we use the WPD to obtain the features of EEG signals from the decomposed optimal subband nodes. Compared with FFT, WPD divides the frequency band through multiple levels to obtain more EEG time-frequency features related to art design decisions. Finally, we construct an convolutional neural network to identify these features. The experimental results show that our proposed EEG recognition model can achieve an accuracy of 88.7%, which is about 10% higher than others.
Probing switching mechanism of memristor for neuromorphic computing
Authors: Yang Zhe , Zhang Zirui , Li Ce , Yang Dongliang , Hui Fei , Sun Linfeng
Published: May 2023

In recent, neuromorphic computing has been proposed to simulate the human brain system to overcome bottlenecks of the von Neumann architecture. Memristors, considered emerging memory devices, can be used to simulate synapses and neurons, which are the key components of neuromorphic computing systems. To observe the resistive switching (RS) behavior microscopically and probe the local conductive filaments (CFs) of the memristors, conductive atomic force microscopy (CAFM) with the ultra-high resolution has been investigated, which could be helpful to understand the dynamic processes of synaptic plasticity and the firing of neurons. This review presents the basic working principle of CAFM and discusses the observation methods using CAFM. Based on this, CAFM reveals the internal mechanism of memristors, which is used to observe the switching behavior of memristors. We then summarize the synaptic and neuronal functions assisted by CAFM for neuromorphic computing. Finally, we provide insights into discussing the challenges of CAFM used in the neuromorphic computing system, benefiting the expansion of CAFM in studying neuromorphic computing-based devices.
A large ensemble illustration of how record-shattering heat records can endure
Authors: Risbey James S , Irving Damien B , Squire Dougal T , Matear Richard J , Monselesan Didier P , Pook Michael J , Ramesh Nandini , Richardson Doug , Tozer Carly R
Published: May 2023

The record-shattering hot day in the Pacific Northwest in June 2021 is used to motivate a study of record-shattering temperature extremes in a very large hindcast ensemble. The hottest days in the Pacific Northwest in the large ensemble have similar large scale and synoptic patterns to those associated with the observed event. From the perspective of a fixed location, the hottest ensemble days are acutely sensitive to the chance sequencing of a dry period with a precisely positioned weather pattern. These days are thus rare and require very large samples (tens of thousands of years) to capture. The enduring nature of record-shattering heat records can be understood through this lens of weather ‘noise’ and sampling. When a record-shattering event occurs due to chance alignment of weather systems in the optimal configuration, any small sample of years subsequent to the (very unlikely) record event has an extremely low chance of finding yet another chance extreme. While warming of the baseline climate can narrow the gap between more regular extremes and record-shattering extremes, this can take many decades depending on the pace of climate change. Climate models are unlikely to capture record-shattering extremes at fixed locations given by observations unless the model samples are large enough to provide enough weather outcomes to include the optimal weather alignments. This underscores the need to account for sampling in assessing models and changes in weather-sensitive extremes. In particular, climate models are not necessarily deficient in representing extremes if that assessment is based on their absence in undersize samples.
Effect of the Fit2Thrive Intervention on Patient-reported Outcomes in Breast Cancer Survivors: A Randomized Full Factorial Trial
Authors: Solk Payton , Song Jing , Welch Whitney A , Spring Bonnie , Cella David , Penedo Frank , Ackermann Ron , Courneya Kerry S , Siddique Juned , Freeman Hannah , Starikovsky Julia , Mishory Abby , Alexander Jacqueline , Wolter Melanie , Carden Lillian , Phillips Siobhan M
Published: May 2023

Background

Moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) interventions improve patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of physical and psychological health among breast cancer survivors (BCS); however, the effects of specific intervention components on PROs are unknown.

Purpose

To use the Multiphase Optimization Strategy (MOST) to examine overall effects of the Fit2Thrive MVPA promotion intervention on PROs in BCS and explore whether there are intervention component-specific effects on PROs.

Methods

Physically inactive BCS [n = 269; Mage = 52.5 (SD = 9.9)] received a core intervention (Fitbit + Fit2Thrive smartphone app) and were randomly assigned to one of 32 conditions in a full factorial experiment of five components (“on” vs. “off”): (i) support calls, (ii) deluxe app, (iii) text messages, (iv) online gym, and (v) buddy. Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) questionnaires assessed anxiety, depression, fatigue, physical functioning, sleep disturbance and sleep-related impairment at baseline, post-intervention (12-week), and 24-week follow-up. Main effects for all components at each time point were examined using an intention to treat mixed-effects model.

Results

All PROMIS measures except sleep disturbance significantly improved (p’s < .008 for all) from baseline to 12-weeks. Effects were maintained at 24-weeks. The “on” level of each component did not result in significantly greater improvements on any PROMIS measure compared to the “off” level.

Conclusions

Participation in Fit2Thrive was associated with improved PROs in BCS, but improvements did not differ for “on” vs. “off” levels for any component tested. The low-resource Fit2Thrive core intervention is a potential strategy to improve PROs among BCS. Future studies should test the core in an RCT and examine various intervention component effects in BCS with clinically elevated PROs.
Virtual prey with Lévy motion are preferentially attacked by predatory fish
Authors: Ioannou Christos C , Carvalho Luis Arrochela Braga , Budleigh Chessy , Ruxton Graeme D
Published: May 2023

Of widespread interest in animal behavior and ecology is how animals search their environment for resources, and whether these search strategies are optimal. However, movement also affects predation risk through effects on encounter rates, the conspicuousness of prey, and the success of attacks. Here, we use predatory fish attacking a simulation of virtual prey to test whether predation risk is associated with movement behavior. Despite often being demonstrated to be a more efficient strategy for finding resources such as food, we find that prey displaying Lévy motion are twice as likely to be targeted by predators than prey utilizing Brownian motion. This can be explained by the predators, at the moment of the attack, preferentially targeting prey that were moving with straighter trajectories rather than prey that were turning more. Our results emphasize that costs of predation risk need to be considered alongside the foraging benefits when comparing different movement strategies.
SC-AIR-BERT: a pre-trained single-cell model for predicting the antigen-binding specificity of the adaptive immune receptor
Authors: Zhao Yu , Su Xiaona , Zhang Weitong , Mai Sijie , Xu Zhimeng , Qin Chenchen , Yu Rongshan , He Bing , Yao Jianhua
Published: May 2023

Accurately predicting the antigen-binding specificity of adaptive immune receptors (AIRs), such as T-cell receptors (TCRs) and B-cell receptors (BCRs), is essential for discovering new immune therapies. However, the diversity of AIR chain sequences limits the accuracy of current prediction methods. This study introduces SC-AIR-BERT, a pre-trained model that learns comprehensive sequence representations of paired AIR chains to improve binding specificity prediction. SC-AIR-BERT first learns the ‘language’ of AIR sequences through self-supervised pre-training on a large cohort of paired AIR chains from multiple single-cell resources. The model is then fine-tuned with a multilayer perceptron head for binding specificity prediction, employing the K-mer strategy to enhance sequence representation learning. Extensive experiments demonstrate the superior AUC performance of SC-AIR-BERT compared with current methods for TCR- and BCR-binding specificity prediction.
Preexisting Autoimmunity Is Associated With Increased Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019: A Retrospective Cohort Study Using Data From the National COVID Cohort Collaborative (N3C)
Authors: Yadaw Arjun S , Sahner David K , Sidky Hythem , Afzali Behdad , Hotaling Nathan , Pfaff Emily R , Mathé Ewy A
Published: May 2023

Background

Identifying individuals with a higher risk of developing severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes will inform targeted and more intensive clinical monitoring and management. To date, there is mixed evidence regarding the impact of preexisting autoimmune disease (AID) diagnosis and/or immunosuppressant (IS) exposure on developing severe COVID-19 outcomes.

Methods

A retrospective cohort of adults diagnosed with COVID-19 was created in the National COVID Cohort Collaborative enclave. Two outcomes, life-threatening disease and hospitalization, were evaluated by using logistic regression models with and without adjustment for demographics and comorbidities.

Results

Of the 2 453 799 adults diagnosed with COVID-19, 191 520 (7.81%) had a preexisting AID diagnosis and 278 095 (11.33%) had a preexisting IS exposure. Logistic regression models adjusted for demographics and comorbidities demonstrated that individuals with a preexisting AID (odds ratio [OR], 1.13; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–1.17; P < .001), IS exposure (OR, 1.27; 95% CI: 1.24–1.30; P < .001), or both (OR, 1.35; 95% CI: 1.29–1.40; P < .001) were more likely to have a life-threatening disease. These results were consistent when hospitalization was evaluated. A sensitivity analysis evaluating specific IS revealed that tumor necrosis factor inhibitors were protective against life-threatening disease (OR, 0.80; 95% CI: .66–.96; P = .017) and hospitalization (OR, 0.80; 95% CI: .73–.89; P < .001).

Conclusions

Patients with preexisting AID, IS exposure, or both are more likely to have a life-threatening disease or hospitalization. These patients may thus require tailored monitoring and preventative measures to minimize negative consequences of COVID-19.
Incidence of Hypertension and Blood Pressure Changes in Persons With Human Immunodeficiency Virus at High Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Switching From Boosted Protease Inhibitors to Dolutegravir: A Post-hoc Analysis of the 96-week Randomised NEAT-022 Trial
Authors: Sempere Abiu , Assoumou Lambert , González-Cordón Ana , Waters Laura , Rusconi Stefano , Domingo Pere , Gompels Mark , de Wit Stephane , Raffi François , Stephan Christoph , Masiá Mar , Rockstroh Jürgen , Katlama Christine , Behrens Georg M N , Moyle Graeme , Johnson Margaret , Fox Julie , Stellbrink Hans-Jürgen , Guaraldi Giovanni , Florence Eric , Esser Stefan , Gatell José , Pozniak Anton , Martínez Esteban ,   the NEAT 022 Study Group, Vandekerckhove Linos , Caluwé Els , De Wit Stephane , Necsoi Coca , Florence Eric , Maartje Van Frankenhuijsen and
Published: May 2023

Background

Integrase inhibitors have been recently linked to a higher risk for hypertension. In NEAT022 randomized trial, virologically suppressed persons with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV, PWH) with high cardiovascular risk switched from protease inhibitors to dolutegravir either immediately (DTG-I) or after 48 weeks (DTG-D).

Methods

Primary endpoint was incident hypertension at 48 weeks. Secondary endpoints were changes in systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) blood pressure; adverse events and discontinuations associated with high blood pressure; and factors associated with incident hypertension.

Results

At baseline, 191 (46.4%) participants had hypertension and 24 persons without hypertension were receiving antihypertensive medications for other reasons. In the 197 PWH (n = 98, DTG-I arm; n = 99, DTG-D arm) without hypertension or antihypertensive agents at baseline, incidence rates per 100 person-years were 40.3 and 36.3 (DTG-I) and 34.7 and 52.0 (DTG-D) at 48 (P = .5755) and 96 (P = .2347) weeks. SBP or DBP changes did not differed between arms. DBP (mean, 95% confidence interval) significantly increased in both DTG-I (+2.78 mmHg [1.07–4.50], P = .0016) and DTG-D (+2.29 mmHg [0.35–4.23], P = .0211) arms in the first 48 weeks of exposure to dolutegravir. Four (3 under dolutegravir, 1 under protease inhibitors) participants discontinued study drugs due to adverse events associated with high blood pressure. Classical factors, but not treatment arm, were independently associated with incident hypertension.

Conclusions

PWH at high risk for cardiovascular disease showed high rates of hypertension at baseline and after 96 weeks. Switching to dolutegravir did not negatively impact on the incidence of hypertension or blood pressure changes relative to continuing protease inhibitors.
CenhANCER: a comprehensive cancer enhancer database for primary tissues and cell lines
Authors: Luo Zhi-Hui , Shi Meng-Wei , Zhang Yuan , Wang Dan-Yang , Tong Yi-Bo , Pan Xue-Ling , Cheng ShanShan
Published: May 2023

Enhancers, which are key tumorigenic factors with wide applications for subtyping, diagnosis and treatment of cancer, are attracting increasing attention in the cancer research. However, systematic analysis of cancer enhancers poses a challenge due to the lack of integrative data resources, especially those from tumor primary tissues. To provide a comprehensive enhancer profile across cancer types, we developed a cancer enhancer database CenhANCER by curating public resources including all the public H3K27ac ChIP-Seq data from 805 primary tissue samples and 671 cell line samples across 41 cancer types. In total, 57 029 408 typical enhancers, 978 411 super-enhancers and 226 726 enriched transcription factors were identified. We annotated the super-enhancers with chromatin accessibility regions, cancer expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs), genotype-tissue expression eQTLs and genome-wide association study risk single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for further functional analysis. The identified enhancers were highly consistent with accessible chromatin regions in the corresponding cancer types, and all the 10 super-enhancer regions identified from one colorectal cancer study were recapitulated in our CenhANCER, both of which testified the high quality of our data. CenhANCER with high-quality cancer enhancer candidates and transcription factors that are potential therapeutic targets across multiple cancer types provides a credible resource for single cancer analysis and for comparative studies of various cancer types.

Database URL http://cenhancer.chenzxlab.cn/
Taxonomic and functional responses of soil and root bacterial communities associated with poplar exposed to a contamination gradient of phenanthrene
Authors: Gréau Lilian , Blaudez Damien , Le Cordier Hélène , Fornasier Flavio , Cébron Aurélie
Published: May 2023

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination of industrial wasteland soils affects microbial diversity, but little is known about the dose–response effects of such contaminants on taxonomic and functional diversities of rhizospheric and plant endophytic bacteria. This study focused on the response of soil and root bacterial communities associated to poplar grown in a contamination gradient of phenanthrene (PHE). It was hypothesized that the increase in contamination would modify gradually the bacterial diversity and functions. The effects of the PHE contamination were limited to soil communities and did not affect the poplar root endophytome where Streptomyces and Cutibacterium were the most abundant genera. Along the PHE gradient, alpha-diversity indices decreased and the community structure of soil bacteria at the taxonomic level shifted. The abundance of genes involved in PAH-degradation pathways and the relative proportion of certain microbial taxa such as Polaromonas, Sphingopyxis, Peredibacter, Phenylobacterium, Ramlibacter, Sphingomonas, and Pseudomonas, often described as potential PAH biodegraders, increased with the PHE concentration in the soil community. Conversely, the contamination negatively impacted other taxa like Nocardioides, Streptomyces, Gaiella, Solirubrobacter, Bradyrhizobium, and Nitrospira. Functional inference and enzymatic activity measurements revealed that some bacterial functions related to carbon, nitrogen and phosphorus cycles were modified in soil throughout the PHE gradient. This study allowed a deeper understanding of the complex plant–bacteria interactions in the case of soil PAH contamination and the potential impact on soil functioning.
Insulin Sensitivity Initially Worsens but Later Improves With Aging in Male C57BL/6N Mice
Authors: Kondo Hiroya , Ono Hiraku , Hamano Hiiro , Sone-Asano Kanako , Ohno Tomohiro , Takeda Kenji , Ochiai Hidetoshi , Matsumoto Ai , Takasaki Atsushi , Hiraga Chihiro , Kumagai Jin , Maezawa Yoshiro , Yokote Koutaro
Published: May 2023

Aging is believed to induce insulin resistance in humans. However, when and how insulin sensitivity changes with aging remains unclear in both humans and mice. In this study, groups of male C57BL/6N mice at 9–19 weeks (young), 34–67 weeks (mature adult), 84–85 weeks (presenile), and 107–121 weeks of age underwent hyperinsulinemic–euglycemic clamp studies with somatostatin infusion under awake and nonrestrained conditions. The glucose infusion rates for maintaining euglycemia were 18.4 ± 2.9, 5.9 ± 1.3, 20.3 ± 7.2, and 25.3 ± 4.4 mg/kg/min in young, mature adult, presenile, and aged mice, respectively. Thus, compared with young mice, mature adult mice exhibited the expected insulin resistance. In contrast, presenile and aged mice showed significantly higher insulin sensitivity than mature adult mice. These age-related changes were mainly observed in glucose uptake into adipose tissue and skeletal muscle (rates of glucose disappearance were 24.3 ± 2.0, 17.1 ± 1.0, 25.5 ± 5.2, and 31.8 ± 2.9 mg/kg/min in young, mature adult, presenile, and aged mice, respectively). Epididymal fat weight and hepatic triglyceride levels were higher in mature adult mice than those in young and aged mice. Our observations indicate that, in male C57BL/6N mice, insulin resistance appears at the mature adult stage of life but subsequently improves markedly. These alterations in insulin sensitivity are attributable to changes in visceral fat accumulations and age-related factors.
Transition Into the Caregiver Role Among Older Adults: A Study of Social Participation and Social Support Based on the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging
Authors: Li Lun , Wister Andrew V , Lee Yeonjung , Mitchell Barbara
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Older adults (65 years and older) are increasingly providing care for their spouses, family members, and nonkin others (e.g., friends and neighbors). However, available knowledge of older caregivers is limited to spousal caregivers and their psychological outcomes. Other caregiver role types or social outcomes among older caregivers are less well studied. Thus, this study examines the social participation and social support among older caregivers by comparing 3 types of older caregivers, including spousal caregivers, nonspouse family caregivers, and nonkin caregivers.

Methods

Participants for this study were drawn from the Baseline and Follow-up 1 data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. A total of 3,789 older adults became caregivers during the 2 data collection time points. Linear mixed models were applied to examine the change of social participation and social support among the three caregiver role types over the course of survey.

Results

The study finds that after transitioning into the caregiving role, spousal caregivers, and nonkin caregivers experienced a decline in social participation, and spousal caregivers also received less social support over time. When comparing the 3 caregiver role types, spousal caregivers reported the greatest decline in social participation and social support.

Discussion

This study adds to the relatively limited knowledge of older caregivers by presenting the changes in social participation and social support after transitioning into 3 types of caregiver roles. The results indicate the need to provide support for caregivers, particularly spousal and nonkin caregivers, to help them maintain social relationships and networks for participation and support.
Tomographic filtering of shear and compressional wave models reveals uncorrelated variations in the lowermost mantle
Authors: Su Jun , Houser Christine , Hernlund John W , Deschamps Frédéric
Published: May 2023

Seismic tomography models reveal differences in the geographic distribution and magnitude of P- and S-wave velocity variations (VP and VS, respectively) below ∼2200 km depth in the Earth’s mantle. In particular, large low shear velocity provinces (LLSVPs) beneath the Pacific and Africa exhibit a distinct low velocity population in the distribution of VS that does not stand out in VP models, carrying important implications for the origin of these features. However, it is possible that the absence of a distinct low velocity feature in VP models is an artefact of VP models having lower resolution compared to VS models owing to differences in coverage. Here, we use ‘tomographic filters’ computed from the singular value decomposition of the sensitivity matrices for a pair of VP and VS models in order to test whether such low velocity features are suppressed in VP models. Our ‘cross-filtered’ results show that resolution alone cannot explain the absence of a corresponding low VP population. We additionally apply the joint VP and VS tomographic filter technique to thermochemical mantle convection models to show that cases with distinct phase and/or composition may be differentiated from cases where only temperature varies. We then develop a new proxy for exploring uncorrelated VP and VS more broadly using the difference between the observed VP model and the filtered VS model input. Our results show that ‘large uncorrelated modulus provinces’ (LUMPs) extend beyond the boundaries of LLSVPs, and exhibit anomalies in both fast and slow regions.
The January 2022 Hunga Volcano explosive eruption from the multitechnological perspective of CTBT monitoring
Authors: Donner S , Steinberg A , Lehr J , Pilger C , Hupe P , Gaebler P , Ross J O , Eibl E P S , Heimann S , Rebscher D , Plenefisch T , Ceranna L
Published: May 2023

The massive eruption of the Hunga Volcano on 15 January 2022 provides an ideal test case for reviewing established methods to discriminate and analyse source processes. Discriminating source mechanisms and identifying their origins is a key task when analysing suspicious events in the frame of the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT). Earthquakes and explosions can be distinguished in some cases using well established methods such as inversion for the seismic moment tensor. In more complex cases the combination of analyses of the seismic, infrasonic and hydroacoustic waveform content can be of help. More challenging is the discrimination of the specific kind of explosive source such as a nuclear test and a volcano eruption based on the data from the three waveform technologies alone. Here, we apply standard techniques destined to analyse relevant events in the frame of the CTBT, that is all three waveform technologies (seismology, infrasound and hydroacoustic) and atmospheric transport modelling of radionuclides. We investigate the potential of standard analysis methods to discriminate a source and identify their possible weaknesses. We show that the methods applied here work very well to identify, investigate and discriminate an explosive event. During discrimination we could not only exclude a shear-source (i.e. earthquake) but also distinguish the volcanic explosion in contrast to a man-made explosion. However, some tasks remain difficult with the available methods. These tasks include the reliable estimation of the strength of a non-shear event and thereupon a yield estimation of a possibly CTBT relevant event. In addition to evaluating our methods, we could relate our results with specific phases of the eruption process providing a more detailed insight of what happened. Our investigations of the eruption details only provide a starting point for further in-depth analysis. However, they underline the importance of the Hunga eruption event for science. The huge amount of observations provide a unique opportunity for knowledge gain in several subdisciplines of the geosciences. In addition, although not being a nuclear test, it also provides a useful and important data set for further developing multitechnology analyses in the frame of the CTBT.
The (mis)appropriation of human rights by the new global right: An introduction to the Symposium
Authors: de Búrca Gráinne , Young Katharine G
Published: May 2023

The meaning of human rights has always been susceptible to multiple, and sometimes conflicting, interpretations. Yet after several decades of efforts to develop an emerging, if dispersed and overlapping, normative consensus at the regional and UN treaty-system level, as well as within domestic constitutional and legislative settings, an array of efforts at concerted legal change in the human rights field has recently appeared in different parts of the world, on the basis of a supposedly reformed characterization of human rights, including in Putin’s Russia, Erdogan’s Turkey, Modi’s India, Bolsanaro’s Brazil, and the United States under the former Trump Administration, alongside developments in Uganda, Nigeria, and Ghana. We describe these arguments and moves as appropriations—and indeed as misappropriations—when they use human rights language in the service of ends which are exclusionary, repressive, or anti-pluralist in character, highly retrogressive or reversing of previous commitments, and evasive of external monitoring or accountability. We argue that by invoking the language, tools, and framework of human rights to exclude or repress particular groups and individuals, while consolidating authority and avoiding accountability, they misappropriate a human rights system which—despite extensive contestation and critique—has been developed over a long period around certain core values including equal human dignity, inclusion, and accountability. The essays in this Symposium track a range of these actors and the strategies they are using to reshape the human rights field, examining recent moves towards transnational coordination of nationalist, populist, right-wing, and authoritarian movements. The analyses from various jurisdictions around the world focus on attempts to remake and—we argue—reverse a range of progressive achievements of the human rights system around gender, religion, property, culture, and equality.
Murine cytotoxic CD4+ T cells in the tumor microenvironment are at a hyper-maturation stage of Th1 CD4+ T cells sustained by IL-12
Authors: Lin Yung-Chang , Wu Cheng-Heng , Chen Pin-Jung , Huang Chien-Hao , Yang Chan-Keng , Dutta Avijit , Huang Ching-Tai , Lin Chun-Yen
Published: May 2023

The roles of tumor-infiltrating CD4+Foxp3− T cells are not well characterized due to their plasticity of differentiation, and varying levels of activation or exhaustion. To further clarify this issue, we used a model featuring subcutaneous murine colon cancer and analyzed the dynamic changes of phenotype and function of the tumor-associated CD4+ T-cell response. We found that, even at a late stage of tumor growth, the tumor-infiltrating CD4+Foxp3− T cells still expressed effector molecules, inflammatory cytokines and molecules that are expressed at reduced levels in exhausted cells. We used microarrays to examine the gene-expression profiles of different subsets of CD4+ T cells and revealed that the tumor-infiltrating CD4+Foxp3− T cells expressed not only type 1 helper (Th1) cytokines, but also cytolytic granules such as those encoded by Gzmb and Prf1. In contrast to CD4+ regulatory T cells, these cells exclusively co-expressed natural killer receptor markers and cytolytic molecules as shown by flow-cytometry studies. We used an ex vivo killing assay and proved that they could directly suppress CT26 tumor cells through granzyme B and perforin. Finally, we used pathway analysis and ex vivo stimulation to confirm that the CD4+Foxp3− T cells expressed higher levels of IL12rb1 genes and were activated by the IL-12/IL-27 pathway. In conclusion, this work finds that, in late-stage tumors, the tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte population of CD4+ cells harbored a sustained, hyper-maturated Th1 status with cytotoxic function supported by IL-12.
In vivo pharmacodynamic study of contezolid acefosamil, a prodrug of contezolid for oral and intravenous administration
Authors: Wang Xiu-Kun , Yu Jie , Xie Chun-Yang , Hu Xin-Xin , Nie Tong-Ying , Li Xue , Wang Peng-He , Li Guo-Qing , Yuan Hong , Yang Xin-Yi , Li Cong-Ran , You Xue-Fu
Published: May 2023

Objectives

Contezolid acefosamil is a novel O-acyl phosphoramidate prodrug of contezolid. In the current study, we aimed to systemically evaluate the efficacy of contezolid acefosamil against infections caused by multiple Gram-positive pathogens, and compare the efficacy of the prodrug by oral and intravenous administrations.

Methods

The in vivo pharmacodynamic efficacy of contezolid acefosamil was evaluated in mouse models of systemic (with five S. aureus, three S. pneumoniae and two S. pyogenes bacterial isolates) and thigh (with two S. aureus isolates) infections using linezolid as the reference agent.

Results

In both models, contezolid acefosamil administrated either orally or intravenously, demonstrated high antibacterial efficacy similar to linezolid, and the antibacterial efficacy of oral and intravenous contezolid acefosamil were comparable.

Conclusions

The high aqueous solubility and great efficacy of contezolid acefosamil support its clinical development as an injectable and oral antibiotic suitable for serious Gram-positive infections.
Characterizing terminology applied by authors and database producers to informatics literature on consumer engagement with wearable devices
Authors: Alpi Kristine M , Martin Christie L , Plasek Joseph M , Sittig Scott , Smith Catherine Arnott , Weinfurter Elizabeth V , Wells Jennifer K , Wong Rachel , Austin Robin R
Published: May 2023

Objective

Identifying consumer health informatics (CHI) literature is challenging. To recommend strategies to improve discoverability, we aimed to characterize controlled vocabulary and author terminology applied to a subset of CHI literature on wearable technologies.

Materials and Methods

To retrieve articles from PubMed that addressed patient/consumer engagement with wearables, we developed a search strategy of textwords and Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). To refine our methodology, we used a random sample of 200 articles from 2016 to 2018. A descriptive analysis of articles (N = 2522) from 2019 identified 308 (12.2%) CHI-related articles, for which we characterized their assigned terminology. We visualized the 100 most frequent terms assigned to the articles from MeSH, author keywords, CINAHL, and Engineering Databases (Compendex and Inspec together). We assessed the overlap of CHI terms among sources and evaluated terms related to consumer engagement.

Results

The 308 articles were published in 181 journals, more in health journals (82%) than informatics (11%). Only 44% were indexed with the MeSH term “wearable electronic devices.” Author keywords were common (91%) but rarely represented consumer engagement with device data, eg, self-monitoring (n = 12, 0.7%) or self-management (n = 9, 0.5%). Only 10 articles (3%) had terminology from all sources (authors, PubMed, CINAHL, Compendex, and Inspec).

Discussion

Our main finding was that consumer engagement was not well represented in health and engineering database thesauri.

Conclusions

Authors of CHI studies should indicate consumer/patient engagement and the specific technology investigated in titles, abstracts, and author keywords to facilitate discovery by readers and expand vocabularies and indexing.
Active Surveillance for Atypical Ductal Hyperplasia and Ductal Carcinoma In Situ
Authors: Miceli Rachel , Mercado Cecilia L , Hernandez Osvaldo , Chhor Chloe
Published: May 2023

Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH) and ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) are relatively common breast lesions on the same spectrum of disease. Atypical ductal hyperblasia is a nonmalignant, high-risk lesion, and DCIS is a noninvasive malignancy. While a benefit of screening mammography is early cancer detection, it also leads to increased biopsy diagnosis of noninvasive lesions. Previously, treatment guidelines for both entities included surgical excision because of the risk of upgrade to invasive cancer after surgery and risk of progression to invasive cancer for DCIS. However, this universal management approach is not optimal for all patients because most lesions are not upgraded after surgery. Furthermore, some DCIS lesions do not progress to clinically significant invasive cancer. Overtreatment of high-risk lesions and DCIS is considered a burden on patients and clinicians and is a strain on the health care system. Extensive research has identified many potential histologic, clinical, and imaging factors that may predict ADH and DCIS upgrade and thereby help clinicians select which patients should undergo surgery and which may be appropriate for active surveillance (AS) with imaging. Additionally, multiple clinical trials are currently underway to evaluate whether AS for DCIS is feasible for a select group of patients. Recent advances in MRI, artificial intelligence, and molecular markers may also have an important role to play in stratifying patients and delineating best management guidelines. This review article discusses the available evidence regarding the feasibility and limitations of AS for ADH and DCIS, as well as recent advances in patient risk stratification.
Who would own the HeLa cell line if the Henrietta Lacks case happened in present-day South Africa?
Authors: Thaldar Donrich W
Published: May 2023

The HeLa cell line was created in 1951 without consent from Henrietta Lacks, the person whose tissue sample was used. In 2021, the descendants of Henrietta Lacks sued a well-known biotechnology company for the profits it made from the HeLa cell line. In this article, ownership of the cell lines is investigated from a South African legal perspective by considering three possible contemporary scenarios bearing points of similarity to the Henrietta Lacks case. In the first scenario, informed consent is obtained to use a tissue sample for research and to commercialize the products of such research; in the second scenario, informed consent is materially deficient because of an honest mistake on the part of the research institution; and in the third scenario, informed consent is materially deficient due to willful disregard of the law on the part of the research institution. In the first two scenarios, ownership of the cell line created from the tissue sample would vest in the research institution, and the research participant would not have any legal action for financial compensation. However, in the third scenario, ownership of the cell line would vest in the research participant, who would be able to claim all profits made from trading the cell line. Whether the research institution acted in good faith is therefore a crucial determinant of the legal outcome.
Peripheral immune mapping and multi-omics analysis in Pd-1 inhibitor–induced myocarditis
Authors: Gao Jie , Wang Yan , Lu Lina , Ma Mingyue , Ling JiaQian , Sun Lu , Chen Yuwen , Liu Fangming , Yu Yiyi , Liu Tianshu , Wu Duojiao
Published: May 2023

More immune-related adverse events (irAEs) have emerged along with increased immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) treatment. ICI-induced myocarditis is a rare type of irAE with early onset, rapid progression, and high mortality. Its specific pathophysiological mechanism is not fully understood. In total, 46 patients with tumors and 16 patients with ICI-induced myocarditis were included. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing on CD3 + T cells, flow cytometry, proteomics, and lipidomics to improve our understanding of the disease. First, we demonstrate the clinical features of patients with PD-1 inhibitor–induced myocarditis. We then identified 18 subsets of T cells using single-cell RNA sequencing and performed comparative analysis and further verification. The composition of T cells in the peripheral blood of patients has changed remarkably. Compared with non-irAE patients, effector T cells were increased in irAE patients, while naive T cells, γδ T cells, and mucosal-associated invariant T cell cluster cells were decreased. Besides, reduced γδ T cells characterized with effector functions, increased natural killer T cells with high levels of FCER1G in patients may suggest an association with disease development. Meanwhile, the peripheral inflammatory response was exacerbated in patients, accompanied by upregulation of exocytosis as well as increased levels of multiple lipids. We provide a comprehensive overview of the composition, gene profiles, and pathway signatures of CD3+ T cells driven by PD-1 inhibitor–induced myocarditis, as well as illustrate clinical features and multi-omic characteristics, providing a unique perspective on disease progression and therapy in clinical practice.
ASM History: Restricted Funds of the American Society of Mammalogists
Authors: Cameron Guy N , Hopton Matthew E , McLaren Suzanne B
Published: May 2023

The American Society of Mammalogists (ASM) currently has 13 Restricted Funds intended to make financial resources available to support the mission of the Society by providing grants and awards to students, early-career mammalogists, and members who perform activities relevant to ASM. Restricted Funds are specified to support a Society objective or area of research. When initially established, the originator(s) defined the use of a Restricted Fund. However, descriptions and requirements of each Restricted Fund are not often stored in a readily available location or format making it difficult for potential applicants to determine how to proceed. We collected information on each Fund from journal articles, book chapters, minutes of ASM Board of Directors meetings, and personal communications from ASM members. Then we compiled information relevant to each Restricted Fund to centralize this information and make available the intended purpose of each Restricted Fund. Several of the Funds have reached a level to be self-sustaining at the current award amounts, but others remain in desperate need of funding to be able to support the intentions of the originators. Mammalogists recognize through their establishment of Restricted Funds that allocations from these Funds are instrumental in supporting the development of students and junior colleagues as they hone their science and contribute to the science of mammalogy.
Preclinical Disease or Risk Factor? Alzheimer’s Disease as a Case Study of Changing Conceptualizations of Disease
Authors: Schermer Maartje H N
Published: May 2023

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) provides an excellent case study to investigate emerging conceptions of health, disease, pre-disease, and risk. Two scientific working groups have recently reconceptualized AD and created a new category of asymptomatic biomarker positive persons, who are either said to have preclinical AD, or to be at risk for AD. This article examines how prominent theories of health and disease would classify this condition: healthy or diseased? Next, the notion of being “at risk”—a state somewhere in-between health and disease—is considered from various angles. It is concluded that medical-scientific developments urge us to let go of dichotomous ways of understanding disease, that the notion of “risk,” conceptualized as an increased chance of getting a symptomatic disease, might be a useful addition to our conceptual framework, and that we should pay more attention to the practical usefulness and implications of the ways in which we draw lines and define concepts.
Feasibility and value of genomic profiling in cancer of unknown primary: real-world evidence from prospective profiling study
Authors: Huey Ryan W , Shah Aakash Tushar , Reddi Honey V , Dasari Priyadarsini , Topham James T , Hwang Hyunsoo , Dhillon Nishat , Willett Anneleis , Smaglo Brandon G , Estrella Jeannelyn S , Rashid Asif , Matamoros Aurelio , Overman Michael J , Choquette Linda , Omerza Greg , Kelly Kevin , Wang Xuemei , Loree Jonathan M , Rueter Jens , Varadhachary Gauri R , Raghav Kanwal
Published: May 2023

Real-world evidence regarding the value of integrating genomic profiling (GP) in managing cancer of unknown primary (CUP) is limited. We assessed this clinical utility using a prospective trial of 158 patients with CUP (October 2016-September 2019) who underwent GP using next-generation sequencing designed to identify genomic alterations (GAs). Only 61 (38.6%) patients had sufficient tissue for successful profiling. GAs were seen in 55 (90.2%) patients of which GAs with US Food and Drug Administration–approved genomically matched therapy were seen in 25 (40.9%) patients. A change in therapy was recommended and implemented (primary endpoint of the study) in 16 (10.1%) and 4 (2.5%) patients of the entire study cohort, respectively. The most common reason for inability to implement the profiling-guided therapy was worsening of performance status (56.3%). Integrating GP in management of CUP is feasible but challenging because of paucity of tissue and aggressive natural history of the disease and requires innovative precision strategies.
DNA methylation profile of human dura and leptomeninges
Authors: Maier Andrea Daniela , Christiansen Steffan Noe , Haslund-Vinding Jeppe , Krogager Markus Engebæk , Melchior Linea Cecilie , Scheie David , Mathiesen Tiit
Published: May 2023

Healthy meninges are used as control tissue in meningioma studies usually without specification of the exact meningeal layer or macroanatomical origin but the DNA methylation profile of human meninges has not been investigated on a macroanatomical level. We undertook a proof-of-principle analysis to determine whether (1) meningeal tissues show sufficiently homogenous DNA methylation profiles to function as normal control tissue without further specification and (2) if previously described location-specific molecular signatures of meningiomas correspond to region-specific DNA methylation patterns. Dura mater and arachnoid membrane specimens were dissected from 5 anatomical locations in 2 fresh human cadavers and analyzed with the Illumina Infinium MethylationEPIC array. Dura and leptomeninges showed marked differences in global DNA methylation patterns and between rostral and caudal anatomical locations. These differences did not reflect known anatomical predilection of meningioma molecular signatures. The highest numbers of differentially methylated probes were annotated to DIPC2 and FOXP1. Samples from foramen magnum showed hypomethylation of TFAP2B compared to those from remaining locations. Thus, the DNA methylation profiles of human meninges are heterogenous in terms of meningeal layer and anatomical location. The potential variability of DNA methylation data from meningiomas should be considered in studies using meningeal controls.
Kaempferitrin, a major compound from ethanol extract of Chenopodium ambrosioides, exerts antitumour and hepatoprotective effects in the mice model of human liver cancer xenografts
Authors: Su Min , Li Zhimin , Zhou Siyu , Zhang Hong , Xiao Ying , Li Wei , Shang Hongli , Li Jiao
Published: May 2023

Objectives：

This study aimed to investigate antitumour effect and possible toxicity of kaempferitrin, the major compound from ethanol extract of Chenopodium ambrosioides, in the mice model of human liver cancer xenografts.

Methods：

Forty mice bearing SMMC-7721 cells xenografts were divided into control group (not treated) and three groups orally administered with ethanol extract of C. ambrosioides, kaempferol (positive control) and kaempferitrin for 30 days. Antitumour effect was evaluated by measurement of tumour growth, histological examinations of tumours, flow cytometry detection of splenic CD19+ B lymphocytes and CD161+ Natural Killer cells, biochemical measurements of serum levels of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, interferon-γ, malonaldehyde, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl and 2,2ʹ-azinobis-(3-ethylbenz thiazoline-6-sulphonate) radicals. Toxicity was evaluated by histological examinations of livers and measurements of serum levels of aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, total bilirubin, direct bilirubin, malonaldehyde and hepatic malonaldehyde level.

Key findings

Kaempferitrin significantly (P < 0.05) decreased tumour volume, mass and cell number. Antitumour effect was due to induction of tumour cells necrosis and apoptosis, stimulation of splenic B lymphocytes, decreases of radicals and malonaldehyde. Kaempferitrin did not change liver structure, and decreased serum levels of transaminases, bilirubin, malonaldehyde and hepatic malonaldehyde level.

Conclusions

Kaempferitrin exerts antitumour and hepatoprotective effects.