bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the Role of CuO in CuxO/TiO2 Photocatalyst for the Direct Propylene Epoxidation With O2 in a Fluidized Bed Reactor
Authors: Morante Nicola , Tammaro Olimpia , Monzillo Katia , Sannino Diana , Battiato Alfio , Vittone Ettore , Castellino Micaela , Esposito Serena , Vaiano Vincenzo
Published: November 2024

Propylene epoxidation in mild conditions using molecular O2 is a highly desirable reaction that represents a significant challenge in the field of heterogeneous catalysis for the synthesis of oxygenated organic compounds of industrial interest. In this work, CuxO/TiO2 composites with different mominal CuO loadings (in the range of 0.5–8.4 wt %) were used to promote the photocatalytic epoxidation of propylene with molecular oxygen under UV‐A irradiation in a fluidized bed system. The photocatalysts were prepared by a straightforward method consisting of thermal annealing of physical mixtures between copper acetate and sol‐gel‐derived TiO2. Different characterization techniques were employed to assess the influence of CuxO content on the physical‐chemical properties of the CuxO/TiO2 composites. The best combination in terms of propylene conversion and selectivity towards propylene oxide (18.1 % and 72 %, respectively) was obtained with CuxO/TiO2 at 1.1 wt % CuO, as shown by photocatalytic tests. The high propylene oxide selectivity is due to the ability of CuO in the CuxO/TiO2 composite to transform molecular O2 into hydrogen peroxide that, in turn, is able to directly oxidize propylene to propylene oxide. By using a UV‐A light intensity of 297.2 mW cm−2, the propylene conversion and the epoxide yield were 31.5 and 22.2 %, respectively, significantly higher than that reported in the literature. Moreover, the energy consumption of the reaction system employed in this paper was significantly lower than that of photocatalytic systems studied in the literature dealing with selective propylene epoxidation.
Radiation Chemistry Reveals the Reaction Mechanisms Involved in the Reduction of Vinylene Carbonate in the Solid Electrolyte Interphase of Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Souid Yanis , Puget Marin , Ortiz Daniel , Piveteau Laura , Denisov Sergey , Herlin‐Boime Nathalie , Mostafavi Mehran , Dognon Jean‐Pierre , Le Caër Sophie
Published: November 2024

A safe and efficient lithium‐ion battery requires including an additive in the electrolyte. Among the additives used, vinylene carbonate (VC) is particularly interesting, because it leads to the formation of a stable and protective solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) on the negative electrode. However, the reduction behavior of VC, resulting in polymer formation, is complex, and many questions remain as to the corresponding reaction mechanisms. In particular, in conventional battery studies, it is not possible to observe the transient species formed during reduction. Using picosecond pulsed radiolysis coupled with theoretical chemistry calculations, we showed that, once formed, the anion radical VC⋅− can undergo ring opening in a few nanoseconds or generate VC2⋅−. Within 100 ns, each of these anions then leads to the formation of VCC3H2O3⋅−. This latter species starts oligomerizing. Eventually, a polymer is formed. Although it mainly consists of poly(VC) units, other chemical functions, such as alkyl groups, are also present, which highlights the role played by water, even in trace amounts. Lastly, we propose a scheme of the reaction mechanisms involved in VC reduction, leading to its polymerization. Clearly, the polymer formed from VC at the SEI of lithium‐ion batteries has a complex structure.
Constructing Asymmetric Cu Catalytic Sites for CO2 Electroreduction with Higher Selectivity to C2 Products
Authors: Meng Fanfei , Yao Xiaohui , He Jingting , Gu Jianxia , Li Wei , Sun Chunyi , Wang Xinlong , Su Zhongmin
Published: November 2024

The design of catalytic sites with tunable properties is considered a promising approach to advance the reduction of CO2 into valuable fuels and chemicals, as well as to achieve carbon neutrality. However, significant challenges remain in precisely constructing catalytic sites to adjust target reduction products. In this study, catalysts were derived from metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) with different coordination environments during the electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (eCO2RR), referred to as Cu‐N2O2 and Cu‐N2O3, respectively. Higher selectivity towards the production of C2 products was exhibited by the Cu‐N2O2‐derived catalysts, characterized by asymmetric catalytic centers of Cu0 and Cu+, compared to the Cu‐N2O3‐derived catalysts, which contained only symmetric catalytic centers of Cu0 sites. This enhanced selectivity is attributed to the synergistic interaction between the Cu0 and Cu+ sites, facilitating the multi‐electron transfer process and improving the activation of CO2. This study explores how the coordination environment affects the catalytic performance of catalysts derived from MOFs, providing valuable insights for the development of more effective catalysts aimed at CO2 reduction.
Wheat field earthworms under divergent farming systems across a European climate gradient
Authors: Nuutinen Visa , Briones Maria J. I. , Schrader Stefan , Dekemati Igor , Grujić Nikola , Hyvönen Juha , Ivask Mari , Lassen Simon Bo , Lloret Eva , Ollio Irene , Pérez‐Rodríguez Paula , Simon Barbara , Sutri Merit , de Sutter Nancy , Brandt Kristian K. , Peltoniemi Krista , Shanskiy Merrit , Waeyenberge Lieven , Martínez‐Martínez Silvia , Fernández‐Calviño David
Published: November 2024

Earthworms are a key faunal group in agricultural soils, but little is known on how farming systems affect their communities across wide climatic gradients and how farming system choice might mediate earthworms' exposure to climate conditions. Here, we studied arable soil earthworm communities on wheat fields across a European climatic gradient, covering nine pedo‐climatic zones, from Mediterranean to Boreal (S to N) and from Lusitanian to Pannonian (W to E). In each zone, 20–25 wheat fields under conventional or organic farming were sampled. Community metrics (total abundance, fresh mass, and species richness and composition) were combined with data on climate conditions, soil properties, and field management and analyzed with mixed models. There were no statistically discernible differences between organic and conventional farming for any of the community metrics. The effects of refined arable management factors were also not detected, except for an elevated proportion of subsurface‐feeding earthworms when crop residues were incorporated. Soil properties were not significantly associated with earthworm community variations, which in the case of soil texture was likely due to low variation in the data. Pedo‐climatic zone was an overridingly important factor in explaining the variation in community metrics. The Boreal zone had the highest mean total abundance (179 individuals m−2) and fresh mass (86 g m−2) of earthworms while the southernmost Mediterranean zones had the lowest metrics (<1 individual m−2 and <1 g m−2). Within each field, species richness was low across the zones, with the highest values being recorded at the Nemoral and North Atlantic zones (mean of 2–3 species per field) and declining from there toward north and south. No litter‐dwelling species were found in the southernmost, Mediterranean zones. These regional trends were discernibly related to climate, with the community metrics declining with the increasing mean annual temperature. The current continent‐wide warming of Europe and related increase of severe and rapid onsetting droughts will likely deteriorate the living conditions of earthworms, particularly in southern Europe. The lack of interaction between the pedo‐climatic zone and the farming system in our data for any of the earthworm community metrics may indicate limited opportunities for alleviating the negative effects of a warming climate in cereal field soils of Europe.
Complex interactive responses of biodiversity to multiple environmental drivers
Authors: Zhang Zeyu , Chase Jonathan M. , Bearup Daniel , Liao Jinbao
Published: November 2024

There remains considerable doubt, debate, and confusion regarding how biodiversity responds to gradients of important environmental drivers, such as habitat size, resource productivity, and disturbance. Here we develop a simple but comprehensive theoretical framework based on competition–colonization multispecies communities to examine the separate and interactive effects of these drivers. Using both numerical simulations and analytical arguments, we demonstrate that the critical trade‐off between competitive and colonization ability can lead to complex nonlinear, zig‐zag responses in both species richness and the inverse Simpson index along gradients of these drivers. Furthermore, we find strong interactions between these drivers that can dramatically shift the response of biodiversity to these gradients. The zig‐zag patterns in biodiversity along ecological gradients, together with the strong interactions between the drivers, can explain the mixed findings of empirical studies and syntheses, thereby providing a new paradigm that can reconcile debates on the relationships between biodiversity and multiple drivers.
Design of long‐wavelength infrared InAs/InAsSb type‐II superlattice avalanche photodetector with stepped grading layer
Authors: Cheng Keming , Shen Kai , Li Chuang , Guo Daqian , Wang Hao , Wu Jiang
Published: November 2024

Weak response in long‐wavelength infrared (LWIR) detection has long been a perennial concern, significantly limiting the reliability of applications. Avalanche photodetectors (APDs) offer excellent responsivity but are plagued by high dark current during the multiplication process. Here, we propose a high‐performance type‐II superlattices (T2SLs) LWIR APD to address these issues. The low Auger recombination rate of the InAs/InAsSb T2SLs absorption layer is exploited to reduce the dark current initially. AlAsSb with a low k value is employed as the multiplication layer to suppress device noise while maintaining sufficient gain. To facilitate carrier transport, the conduction band discontinuity is optimized by inserting an InAs/AlSb T2SLs stepped grading layer between the absorption and multiplication layers. As a result, the device exhibits excellent photoresponse at 8.4 μm at 100 K and maintains a low dark current density of 5.48 × 10−2 A/cm2. Specifically, it achieves a maximum gain of 366, a responsivity of 650 A/W, and a quantum efficiency of 26.28% under breakdown voltage. This design offers a promising solution for the advancement of LWIR detection.
A Varying Precision Beta Prime Autoregressive Moving Average Model With Application to Water Flow Data
Authors: Santos Kleber H. , Cribari‐Neto Francisco
Published: November 2024

We introduce a dynamic model tailored for positively valued time series. It accommodates both autoregressive and moving average dynamics and allows for explanatory variables. The underlying assumption is that each random variable follows, conditional on the set of previous information, the beta prime distribution. A novel feature of the proposed model is that both the conditional mean and conditional precision evolve over time. The model thus comprises two dynamic submodels, one for each parameter. The proposed model for the conditional precision parameter is parsimonious, incorporating first‐order time dependence. Changes over time in the shape of the density are determined by the time evolution of two parameters, and not just of the conditional mean. We present simple closed‐form expressions for the model's conditional log‐likelihood function, score vector, and Fisher's information matrix. Monte Carlo simulation results are presented. Finally, we use the proposed approach to model and forecast two seasonal water flow time series. Specifically, we model the inflow and outflow rates of the reservoirs of two hydroelectric power plants. Overall, the forecasts obtained using the proposed model are more accurate than those yielded by alternative models.
Fiscal Forecasting Rationality Among Expert Forecasters
Authors: Chocobar Belen , Claeys Peter , Poplawski‐Ribeiro Marcos
Published: November 2024

Macroeconomic theories attribute rigidities in expectations formation to two mechanisms: sticky or noisy information. Recent advances in testing time variations in forecast dispersion—using the fluctuation rationality test—allow detecting departures from forecaster rationality over time. Relating individual forecaster behavior to economic or political factors on a panel of budget balance forecasts from Consensus Economics, a large panel of individual expert forecasters in four major OECD countries between 1993 to 2023, we find evidence for forecaster behavior in line with noisy information. Traditional full‐sample tests show that forecasters are not rational, but this is due to an overly pessimistic reaction to sudden big shifts, like the global financial crisis or the pandemic. In normal times, forecasters do systematically incorporate economic and political news in budget forecast revisions.
Predictors of Gastrostomy Tube Placement in Head and Neck Cancer Patients Undergoing Radiation or Chemoradiotherapy: A Systematic Review
Authors: Xiao Jenny B. , Cherukupalli Abhiram , Tran Khanh Linh , Prisman Eitan
Published: November 2024

Background

Malnutrition is a major problem in head and neck cancer (HNC) with up to half of patients requiring gastrostomy tube (G‐tube) placement. Predicting this need remains complex given mixed evidence surrounding its usage.

Methods

A comprehensive search was performed to identify studies examining risk factors associated with G‐tube placement following radiotherapy (RT) or concurrent chemoradiotherapy (CCRT) in HNC patients.

Results

Sixteen retrospective studies were included (n = 11 015). The overall prevalence of G‐tube placement was 44% with 76% of patients receiving reactive G‐tube placement. Pretreatment dysphagia, pretreatment BMI < 18.5, and tumors in the hypopharynx were significant predictive factors for prophylactic G‐tube placement. Type of chemotherapy regimen, tumors in the nasopharynx, and cytokine changes were significant predictive factors for reactive G‐tube placement.

Conclusion

Several factors were identified that contribute to increased risk of G‐tube placement and may guide current decision‐making algorithms.
Does National Insecurity Motivate Ambiguous Financial Reporting? An Insight Into Terrorism
Authors: Hoang Huy Viet
Published: November 2024

Terrorism brings forth social disorder and obstructs economic activities at both macro‐ and micro‐level. This study examines the quality of corporate financial reporting under the influence of terrorism among U.S. listed firms. Using the fixed effect estimator in a sample stretching from 2007 to 2020, I document that firms employ greater accruals in the face of terrorism, and accruals extend in both directions. This negative association stay robust with different model specifications and endogeneity diagnoses. The state‐level analysis supports this inverse relationship by revealing a larger decline in earnings quality among firms located in states where terrorist attacks take place. The channel analysis shows that corporate monitoring efforts, including board diligence, ethical values, and market attention, serve as a channel which transmits the impact of terrorism to corporate earnings quality. Additionally, economic sanction imposition from the U.S. government also curtails the detrimental effect of terrorism on firms' earnings quality. This study's findings shed light on corporate responses to terrorism threats through the financial reporting lens and suggest some implications as well as future research directions for interested scholars.
Institutional Shareholders, Board Gender Diversity, and Firm Performance
Authors: Mishra Chandra S.
Published: November 2024

My research examines the relationship between two important methods of governance, specifically, institutional ownership and the presence of women on the board of directors. I examine two hypotheses, namely, the stealth‐trading and political attention hypotheses, by employing fractional logit models and zero‐inflated Poisson models. The analysis is conducted on a dataset consisting of 480,780 observations from 2000 to 2018. I find a negative relation between the shares held by institutions and the number of female directors on the board. This supports the stealth‐trading hypothesis. Moreover, I find that public pension funds have a beneficial influence on the presence of female directors, which aligns with the political attention hypothesis. Public pension funds may promote their political agenda by endorsing board gender diversity. Institutional investors with long‐term investment strategies, such as dedicated institutions and quasi‐indexed funds, play a beneficial role in increasing the representation of women on corporate boards. These institutions are expected to appeal to investors that prioritise social responsibility. Female directorships favourably influence the return on assets and Tobin's Q, but an unfavourable influence on market‐adjusted stock return and excess asset return. I find a positive relation between institutional ownership and firm performance when there are few female directors, but a negative relation when there are more female directors, consistent with the critical mass theory in that having more female directors in the firm leads to a greater amount of information being shared, in line with the stealth‐trading hypothesis.
Obstetrics and gynecology devices designed for low‐ and middle‐income countries: A narrative review
Authors: Thiyagarajan Dhanalakshmi , Adanu Enaam A. , Amico K. Rivet
Published: November 2024

There are many barriers contributing to poor health outcomes for women in low‐ and middle‐income countries (LMICs), one of which is the lack of necessary medical devices. Presently, the development of various kinds of devices intended to improve women's health outcomes specifically in LMICs remains underrepresented in the literature; therefore, we performed a narrative review to understand this current state of literature. A literature search was conducted in Scopus and Overton between December 2023 to February 2024, and PubMed in October 2024 to broadly explore peer‐reviewed publications focusing on understanding the development of devices used specifically in obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN) care in LMICs. The initial search identified 132 published manuscripts: 114 non‐duplicates from 1993 to 2024. After a two‐research team member independent review, 22 manuscripts from 2011 to 2023 were included, and 18 devices identified. Nine devices focus on postpartum hemorrhage, four on general obstetrics, one on fetal monitoring, one on vaginal deliveries, one on gynecology hemorrhage, one on gynecology screening, and one on OBGYN anesthesia. This review provides recommendations for areas of improvement of key gaps affecting the development and implementation of OBGYN devices for use in LMICs. Recommendations are provided for various stages of the development to early commercialization phases. We believe future incorporation of these recommendations can aid in equitable and implementable medical device design for OBGYN care in LMICs.
Dabrafenib Inhibits Egr‐1‐Mediated Adhesion of Thyroid Cancer Cells to Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelium
Authors: Qin Yanchao , Ding Wei , Wu Xuesong , Qin Dongguang
Published: November 2024

Cell‐cell adhesion between thyroid tumor cells and pulmonary endothelial cells plays a critical role in the development of lung metastases from primary thyroid cancer. Dabrafenib, a selective inhibitor for B‐RAF kinase, has been approved for cancer treatment. However, its effects on pulmonary metastases originating from primary thyroid cancer remain unclear. In this study, we demonstrate that conditioned medium (CM) from the thyroid cancer SW579 cell line significantly elevated the expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines HMGB‐1, IL‐1β, and MCP‐1 in human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs), which was notably reduced by Dabrafenib. Additionally, exposure to the thyroid cancer SW579 CM increased the expression of endothelial adhesion molecules VCAM‐1 and ICAM‐1, as well as the adhesion of thyroid cancer SW579 cells to HPMECs, both of which were prevented by Dabrafenib. We also found that Dabrafenib mitigated oxidative stress induced by SW579 CM, as evidenced by increased glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels. Further investigation revealed that Dabrafenib's beneficial effects were mediated through the inhibition of Egr‐1, and overexpression of Egr‐1 reversed Dabrafenib's protective effect on the adhesion of thyroid cancer cells to HPMECs. Based on these results, we propose that Dabrafenib may have the potential to prevent pulmonary metastases of thyroid cancer cells.
Single‐Cell RNA‐Seq and Histological Analysis Reveals Dynamic Lrig1 Expression During Salivary Gland Development
Authors: Liu Shumin , Li Yuanyuan , Huang Delan , Liu Ming , Zhang Xinye , Zhao Hui , Liu Huan , Li Qiuhui , Chen Zhi
Published: November 2024

The development of the salivary gland (SG) is a complex process regulated by multiple signaling pathways in a spatiotemporal manner. Various stem/progenitor cell populations and respective cell lineages are involved in SG morphogenesis and postnatal maturation. Leucine‐rich repeats and immunoglobulin‐like domains 1 (LRIG1) has been identified as critical regulator of stem cells by virtue of its ability to restrain stem cell proliferation, indicating its potential role in the development of several maxillofacial tissues and in the regulation of the quiescence in adult tissues. This study aimed to investigate the expression pattern and functions of Lrig1 in the developing and mature murine submandibular gland (SMG). To accomplish this objective, we collected the murine SMGs at different developmental stages and examined the expression pattern and levels of Lrig1 with qRT‐PCR, immunofluorescent (IF) and RNAscope staining. We observed that Lrig1 was widely distributed in both epithelial and mesenchymal cells throughout embryonic and neonatal stages, with specific localization in the more mature epithelium. Furthermore, through single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐Seq) and IF techniques, we confirmed that LRIG1 is highly concentrated along with SMG progenitor markers in acinar and basal cells. Additionally, transcription factors (TFs) that could regulate LRIG1 expression were predicted from JASPAR databases and their motifs were identified by the UCSC browser's BLAT tool. Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analyses on postnatal day 5 (PN5) scRNA‐Seq data also provided insights into Lrig1's functions in SG development. Finally, we also conducted in vitro experiments on a human salivary gland (HSG) cell line to assess LRIG1's impact on HSG proliferation and migration, as well as its potential upstream regulatory TFs. Taken together, our study reveals that LRIG1 plays a vital role in SG development.
Assessing the impact of workload and clinician experience on patient throughput: A multicenter study
Authors: Burden Marisha , Gundareddy Venkat P. , Kauffman Regina , Keach Joseph Walker , McBeth Lauren , Raffel Katie E. , Rice John D. , Washburn Catherine , Kisuule Flora , Keniston Angela
Published: November 2024

Background

Various strategies have attempted to address increased patient lengths of stay (LOS), but effectiveness varies. Factors related to work design and workforce experience may also play significant roles.

Objective

Utilizing data from the Discharge in the A.M. trial, we aimed to validate an electronic measure of workload (i.e., note count) and assess the relationship of workload, patient complexity, and physician years of experience to LOS.

Methods

Retrospective observational study at three large academic hospitals with hospital medicine physicians and patients they care for during the study.

Measures

Workload as measured by electronic note count and physician years of experience; patient LOS.

Results

From February 9, 2021 to July 31, 2021, 59 physicians completed daily surveys for 93% of 2318 scheduled shifts. We observed a moderate correlation (r: .56) between starting morning census and note counts but no association with LOS. We observed an effect modification between note count and the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), with LOS increasing by 2.3% (95% CI: 0.3%, 4.3%; p = .02) and 3.9% (95% CI: 2.0%, 5.9%; p < .0001) per patient for every 1 unit increase in note count for patients with a moderate CCI or severe CCI, respectively. Years since training was associated with a 0.7% decrease in LOS (95% CI: −1.3%, −0.1%, p = .03).

Conclusion

Physician workload, as measured by note count, was associated with longer LOS with higher CCI, while more years of experience was associated with shorter LOS. Original Clinical Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT05370638.
Acute metabolic decompensation after liver transplant in a patient with maple syrup urine disease
Authors: Tu Shao Ching , Khan Marium , Wolfe Katie , Kulkarni Sakil S. , Toolan Elizabeth , Grange Dorothy K.
Published: November 2024

Maple syrup urine disease (MSUD) is an inborn error of metabolism characterized by the accumulation of branched‐chain amino acids (leucine, isoleucine, and valine) caused by a defect in the branched‐chain alpha‐keto acid dehydrogenase complex. Liver transplant is an effective therapy for MSUD, and patients can usually tolerate a regular diet after transplant without symptomatic metabolic decompensation. Most post‐transplant patients do not follow a sick‐day diet. We report a case of a 7‐year‐old male with MSUD Type IA, status post‐liver transplant at 2 years of age, who presented with profound encephalopathy following poor oral intake and vomiting for 3 days. Broad laboratory workup was significant for hyperleucinosis and an unrevealing infectious workup. We conducted a review of eight post‐liver transplant MSUD patients followed at Washington University in St. Louis. The review revealed that plasma amino acids were generally not checked during intercurrent illnesses in this patient cohort. While most of our patients have not had documented encephalopathy, one of the patients with epilepsy had a seizure during a gastrointestinal illness. Based on the review of the literature and from our center's experience, acute metabolic decompensation with intercurrent illnesses in MSUD patients after liver transplant appears to be rare. This case report raises awareness that patients with MSUD are still at risk of developing metabolic crisis post‐liver transplant and provides additional insight into the risk factors associated with metabolic decompensation in this patient cohort.
Indeterminate Result of Interferon‐γ Release Assay—A Risk Factor of Mortality for COVID‐19 and Non‐COVID‐19 Respiratory Infections
Authors: Tian Wenmin , Han Zhongyu , Shi Dongxue , Wang Hongli , Tang Haohao , Wu Zhenchao , Zhang Yinmei , Cui Liyan , Shen Ning , Zheng Jiajia , Chen Yang
Published: November 2024

Toward the end of 2022, the cessation of China's “dynamic zero‐COVID policy” had led to a notable outbreak of SARS‐CoV‐2 infections and a substantial number of severe cases and deaths were reported, which raised serious concerns. Concurrently, our study identified a significant increase in the incidence of indeterminate results from the Interferon‐γ Release Assay (IGRA) among hospitalized patients during this period. Peripheral T cells from these individuals were unable to produce measurable levels of IFN‐γ upon stimulation with the PHA mitogen. This indeterminate IGRA results emerged as a potential risk factor for increased mortality among severely affected elderly COVID‐19 patients, contributing to an understanding of the observed excess mortality. The deep serum proteomic analysis elucidated a dysfunctional immune response and defect in cardiac function of those patients. A predictive panel including IGRA results significantly enhanced the accuracy of predicting mortality outcomes in COVID‐19 cases (AUC = 0.9762). We also extended the relevance of indeterminate IGRA outcomes as a risk factor for mortality to elderly non‐COVID‐19 respiratory infections, providing valuable prognostic insights into this type of disease and informing targeted and effective therapeutic interventions for similar outbreaks in the future.
Profiles of Lymphocyte Subtypes in HIV‐Infected People With Different Immunologic Responses to Antiretroviral Therapy
Authors: Zhao Heping , He Yaozu , Ling Xuemei , Hou Huijun , Da Fenqi , Chen Jingliang , Guo Pengle , Li Yonghong , Zhang Yeyang , Li Quanmin , Tang Xiaoping , Li Linghua
Published: November 2024

Immunophenotyping of blood lymphocyte subtypes can provide vital information for diagnosing and treating immunological nonresponse for people living with HIV (PLHIV). This study aimed to characterize lymphocyte subtypes among PLHIV with different immunologic responses. We recruited PLHIV from the Guangzhou Eighth People's Hospital in Guangzhou between 1 November to 31 December 2023. Participants were grouped into immunological responders (IR, CD4+ T cell count ≥ 500 cells/μL) and immunological non‐responders (INR, < 350 cells/μL) after more than 4 years of antiretroviral therapy (ART). Flow cytometry was used to determine the profiles of peripheral blood lymphocyte subtypes. Spearman rank correlation analysis was conducted between lymphocyte subtypes and disease progression indicators. A total of 387 PLHIV were included, among whom 255 were INR and 132 IR. The number of total B and T lymphocytes, natural killer cells, natural killer T‐like cells, and the percentage of naive helper T lymphocytes were decreased in INR group than those in IR. However, the percentages of memory helper T lymphocytes and suppressor T lymphocytes were more abundant in INR. Notably, we found that levels of the immune activation cells were higher in INR group, since the percentages of activated helper T lymphocytes and activated T lymphocytes were more abundant in INR. Lymphocyte subtypes had slight correlations with WBC, PLT, Scr and Glu. This study described the comprehensive immune cell profile of lymphocyte subtypes and provided clues for a deeper understanding of the mechanism of poor immunologic recovery in INR.
Targeting HSP70‐E7 Interaction With SHetA2: A Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Cervical Cancer
Authors: Garland Justin , Hussain Showket , Rai Rajani , Kennedy Amy L. , Isingizwe Zitha Redempta , Benbrook Doris M.
Published: November 2024

Cervical cancer is predominantly driven by persistent infections with high‐risk human papillomavirus and the continuous activity of its E6 and E7 oncoproteins. This study explored the role of heat shock proteins 70 kDa (HSP70s) in enhancing the function of these oncoproteins and examined the impact of SHetA2, an investigational new drug, on this interaction. We found that HSP70 specifically binds to E7, but not E6, protein and that SHetA2 disrupts this binding. This disruption led to a significant reduction in E6 and E7 mRNA and E7 protein levels, while effects on E6 protein levels were minimal. SHetA2 treatment also resulted in altered levels of cell cycle regulatory proteins, reduced cell cycle progression, and decreased metabolic viability in cervical cancer cell lines and xenograft models. These findings support the potential of SHetA2 to impair cervical cancer progression by targeting HSP70/E7 interactions, highlighting its promise as a therapeutic strategy for treating cervical cancer.
Disability inclusion in the workplace: A conversation on equity for disabled employees within the university publishing sphere
Authors: Holt Simon , Osborne‐Martin Erin , Scott Stacy
Published: November 2024

Key points

According to the UN, 15% of the world's working‐age population has a disability. This increases to 20% when neurodivergent individuals are also included. Therefore, disability inclusion is something every organization needs to consider if they want to get the best out of their employees.

Inclusion involves a combination of highly personalized interactions and highly centralized, often standardized communications with a central team. For disability inclusion to work at organizations of any size, both elements must be in place. Each individual is different, so a flexible approach is needed with an emphasis on asking individuals what they need in order to help everyone to fulfil their potential.

Role requirements, interview tasks and workplace environments should directly relate to the desired outcomes for the role. Consider whether the job you are advertising really needs a degree or whether an employee needs to work in the office, for example. Consider sharing interview questions in advance to allow everyone to prepare better. Behaviours that benefit people with disabilities also benefit everyone else.

Clear communication channels are important—for accessibility accommodations processes to work, people need to know about them. A single point of contact for disability accommodations within an organization helps to simplify and clarify these processes.

The language we use is essential to creating an inclusive environment. Use positive terms like ‘share’ and avoid outdated, derogatory terms like ‘crippled’. Familiarize yourself with the social model of disability to better understand how to frame disability inclusively.
Detection and quantification of small and low‐uptake lesions for differentiated thyroid carcinoma using non‐time‐of‐flight iodine‐124 PET/MRI
Authors: Lindemann Maike E. , Jentzen Walter , Kersting David , Fragoso Costa Pedro , Küper Alina , Umutlu Lale , Herrmann Ken , Quick Harald H.
Published: November 2024

Background

124‐iodine (124I) is used for positron emission tomography (PET) diagnostics and therapy planning in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Small lesion sizes (<10 mm) and low 124I uptake are challenging conditions for the detection of DTC lymph node lesions.

Purpose

The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the lesion detectability and quantification performance under clinically challenging imaging conditions using non‐time‐of‐flight (TOF) PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in the clinical context of radionuclide therapy planning of DTC patients.

Methods

PET/MR measurements were performed on the Siemens Biograph mMR using a small lesion NEMA‐like phantom (six glass spheres, diameters 3.7–9.7 mm). 60 min list‐mode data were acquired for nine activity concentrations (AC) ranging from 25 kBq/mL to 0.25 kBq/mL using a sphere‐to‐background ratio of 20:1. PET list‐mode data were divided into five timeframes (60, 30, 16, 8, and 4 min) and reconstructed using either ordered‐subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) or OSEM+ point spread function (PSF) algorithm. For all reconstructions, the smallest detectable sphere size was investigated in a human observer study. Partial volume effect (PVE) corrected PET images (contour and oversize‐based approach) were analyzed considering a ± 30% deviation range between imaged and true AC as acceptable. Clinical data of eight DTC patients with small lymph node lesions were evaluated to assess agreement between the PVE correction approaches.

Results

Longer PET acquisition times, higher ACs, and PSF reconstructions resulted in improved PET image quality and overall improved lesion detectability. The smallest 3.7 mm sphere was only visible under the best imaging conditions. Using a typical clinical 124I whole‐body PET/MRI protocol with an acquisition time of 8 min using OSEM reconstructions, all lesions of ≥ 6.5 mm in diameter could be detected and the quantification provided reliable results approximately above 5.0 kBq/mL. An accurate quantification of ACs in the 4.8 mm sphere was not feasible in this study. In the clinical evaluation of 10 lesions, a good agreement between oversize‐ and contour‐based PVE corrections was observed (<15% deviation).

Conclusions

The results showed that a reliable quantification of 124I uptake with PET/MRI is feasible and, therefore, could be used to perform radioiodine pre‐therapy lesion dosimetry and individualized therapy planning in DTC patients.
Tumor aware recurrent inter‐patient deformable image registration of computed tomography scans with lung cancer
Authors: Jiang Jue , Choi Chloe Min Seo , Thor Maria , Deasy Joseph O. , Veeraraghavan Harini
Published: November 2024

Background

Voxel‐based analysis (VBA) for population level radiotherapy (RT) outcomes modeling requires topology preserving inter‐patient deformable image registration (DIR) that preserves tumors on moving images while avoiding unrealistic deformations due to tumors occurring on fixed images.

Purpose

We developed a tumor‐aware recurrent registration (TRACER) deep learning (DL) method and evaluated its suitability for VBA.

Methods

TRACER consists of encoder layers implemented with stacked 3D convolutional long short term memory network (3D‐CLSTM) followed by decoder and spatial transform layers to compute dense deformation vector field (DVF). Multiple CLSTM steps are used to compute a progressive sequence of deformations. Input conditioning was applied by including tumor segmentations with 3D image pairs as input channels. Bidirectional tumor rigidity, image similarity, and deformation smoothness losses were used to optimize the network in an unsupervised manner. TRACER and multiple DL methods were trained with 204 3D computed tomography (CT) image pairs from patients with lung cancers (LC) and evaluated using (a) Dataset I (N = 308 pairs) with DL segmented LCs, (b) Dataset II (N = 765 pairs) with manually delineated LCs, and (c) Dataset III with 42 LC patients treated with RT.

Results

TRACER accurately aligned normal tissues. It best preserved tumors, indicated by the smallest tumor volume difference of 0.24%, 0.40%, and 0.13 % and mean square error in CT intensities of 0.005, 0.005, 0.004, computed between original and resampled moving image tumors, for Datasets I, II, and III, respectively. It resulted in the smallest planned RT tumor dose difference computed between original and resampled moving images of 0.01 and 0.013 Gy when using a female and a male reference.

Conclusions

TRACER is a suitable method for inter‐patient registration involving LC occurring in both fixed and moving images and applicable to voxel‐based analysis methods.
Strip and boundary detection multi‐task learning network for segmentation of meibomian glands
Authors: Zhu Weifang , Liu Dengfeng , Zhuang Xinyu , Gong Tian , Shi Fei , Xiang Dehui , Peng Tao , Zhang Xiaofeng , Chen Xinjian
Published: November 2024

Background

Automatic segmentation of meibomian glands in near‐infrared meibography images is basis of morphological parameter analysis, which plays a crucial role in facilitating the diagnosis of meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD). The special strip shape and the adhesion between glands make the automatic segmentation of meibomian glands very challenging.

Purpose

A strip and boundary detection multi‐task learning network (SBD‐MTLNet) based on encoder‐decoder structure is proposed to realize the automatic segmentation of meibomian glands.

Methods

A strip mixed attention module (SMAM) is proposed to enhance the network's ability to recognize the strip shape of glands. To alleviate the problem of adhesion between glands, a boundary detection auxiliary network (BDA‐Net) is proposed, which introduces boundary features to assist gland segmentation. A self‐adaptive interactive information fusion module (SIIFM) based on reverse attention mechanism is proposed to realize information complementation between meibomian gland segmentation and boundary detection tasks. The proposed SBD‐MTLNet has been evaluated on an in‐house dataset (453 images) and a public dataset MGD‐1K (1000 images). Due to the limited number of images, a five‐fold cross validation strategy is adopted.

Results

Average dice coefficient of the proposed SBD‐MTLNet reaches 81.08% and 84.32% on the in‐house dataset and the public one, respectively. Comprehensive experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness the proposed SBD‐MTLNet, outperforming other state‐of‐the‐art methods.

Conclusions

The proposed SBD‐MTLNet can focus more on the shape characteristics of the meibomian glands and the boundary contour information between the adjacent glands via multi‐task learning strategy. The segmentation results of the proposed method can be used for the quantitative morphological characteristics analysis of meibomian glands, which has potential for the auxiliary diagnosis of MGD in clinic.
First-year movement and survival of stocked Striped Bass in a coastal system inferred from individually marked fish
Authors: Doll Jason C. , Jackson Robert , Marsik Jason , Gibbons Jarrett
Published: November 2024

Objective

Stock enhancement programs support many fisheries worldwide, including those for Striped Bass Morone saxatilis. Understanding survival and movement after stocking can help to inform stocking strategies. The goal of this research was to evaluate stocking success by tracking movement and survival of phase II Striped Bass (200–250 mm total length) in the Great Pee Dee River system of coastal South Carolina. The objectives of this study were to (1) determine daily movement across river basins and identify areas where Striped Bass congregate during their first year to infer potential nursery habitat; and (2) estimate first-year survival poststocking.

Methods

Hydroacoustic transmitters were surgically implanted into 28 phase II Striped Bass prior to stocking on December 1, 2020. Fish were monitored on 74 fixed receivers that were distributed throughout the Great Pee Dee River system. Daily survival and movement were estimated using a multi-state Cormack–Jolly–Seber model. We evaluated multiple models to describe survival (e.g., constant, daily random effect model, and varying by season) and capture probability (e.g., constant and varying by zone).

Result

Daily persistence probability was high for all zones, and most fish spent most of their time in the delta region at the confluence of the Great Pee Dee and Waccamaw rivers. Median daily survival was greater than 0.986 across all days, and cumulative survival after the 323-day period of the study was 0.131. Survival was highest in winter and lowest in summer.

Conclusions

This study provides insights into the fate of stocked phase II Striped Bass in their first year poststocking. We identified potential nursery habitat that could be critical for successful long-term viability of this population. We suggest that stocking locations be moved closer to the nursery habitats in the delta region of the Great Pee Dee River–Waccamaw River confluence and closer to Winyah Bay.
Population characteristics, seasonal distribution, and suppression potential of introduced Northern Pike in a Great Plains stream
Authors: Hogberg Nicholas P.
Published: November 2024

Objective

The objectives of this study were to describe the population dynamics, reproductive characteristics, and movement of Northern Pike Esox lucius in the Niobrara River drainage of Wyoming. This information was used to estimate the necessary level of suppression to meaningfully reduce their abundance and thereby facilitate persistence of native nongame fishes.

Methods

In 2019 and 2020, Northern Pike were sampled to describe population size structure, age structure, growth, and mortality. An additional 42 gravid female Northern Pike were collected across 2020–2023 to determine a length–fecundity relationship. Vulnerability to recruitment overfishing was modeled with a static spawning potential ratio model. Finally, 15 mature fish were implanted with radio transmitters in 2021 and 2022 and tracked for 1 year to determine seasonal dispersal and spawning locations.

Result

Sampled Niobrara River drainage Northern Pike (n = 213) varied from 127 to 749 mm total length. Estimated ages of fish were between 0 and 8 years, and total annual mortality was estimated at 42% (95% confidence interval = 36–48%) in the presumed absence of fishing mortality. Recruitment was extremely stable, and growth was relatively fast through age 2. Some females matured at age 1, and all females were mature by age 2 and spawned annually. Estimated total fecundity for females between 297 and 914 mm total length varied from 3573 to 154,877 eggs. Most telemetered fish moved little throughout the year, but movements as large as 5.9 river kilometers were observed. Modeling suggests that exploitation of age-1 and older Northern Pike should exceed 42% and exploitation of age-2 and older fish should exceed 85% to meaningfully reduce the population's reproductive potential.

Conclusion

Northern Pike growth and reproductive potential at older ages may be more limited in small prairie streams than within their native range. Observed annual home range was small, and spawning occurred annually in consistent locations. The necessary intensity of mechanical removal to achieve meaningful suppression in this system will likely require an intensive and ongoing interstate effort.
An Efficient SPH Framework for Modeling Binary Granular Mixtures and Implications for Granular Flows
Authors: Zhang Shuaihao , Wu Dong , Hu Xiangyu , Choi Clarence E. , Lourenço Sérgio D. N.
Published: November 2024

A two‐way coupling numerical framework based on smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) is developed in this study to model binary granular mixtures consisting of coarse and fine grains. The framework employs updated Lagrangian SPH to simulate fine grains, with particle configurations updated at each time step, and total Lagrangian SPH to efficiently model coarse grains without updated particle configurations. A Riemann solver is utilized to introduce numerical dissipation in fine grains and facilitate their coupling with coarse grains. To enhance computational efficiency, a multiple time‐stepping scheme is initially applied to manage the time integration coupling between coarse and fine grains. Several numerical experiments, including granular column collapse, low‐speed impact craters, and granular flow impacting blocks, are conducted to validate the stability and accuracy of the proposed algorithm. Subsequently, two more complex scenarios involving a soil–rock mixture slope considering irregular coarse particle shapes, and bouldery debris flows on natural terrain, are simulated to showcase the potential engineering applications. Finally, a detailed analysis is performed to evaluate the computational efficiency advantages of the present approach. The findings of this study are consistent with previous experimental and numerical results, and the implementation of a multiple time‐stepping scheme can improve computational efficiency by up to 600%, thereby providing significant advantages for large‐scale engineering simulations.