bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Social Media Analysis on ASEAN Energy Transition Trends
Authors: Safrina Rika , Yurnaidi Zulfikar
Published: August 2023

This study examines how controversies of the energy transition and climate change in the Southeast Asia region were portrayed in public perspectives using big data from the social media platform. This novel data source can then support mapping the emergence and predicting the acceptance of energy transition, which leads to the following research question, “How can social media inform social controversy and expectations associated with the energy-climate nexus in ASEAN?” As a case study, this paper will be limited to focusing on the ASEAN energy transition and climate change discussion on the Twitter platform between January 2015 and December 2020. This case has been selected for a number of reasons: (i) Climate change is a complex interdisciplinary issue that has gained much global attention recently, (ii) Energy transition is considered an important action by the ASEAN Member States to enhance the regional energy security and sustainability as stated in the ASEAN Plan of Action for Energy Cooperation blueprint, and (iii) Twitter is one of the world’s most popular social media platforms. The study relies on two theoretical frameworks as the base for building its research problem: socio-technical transition multi-level perspective and social construction of technology. A multi-quantitative method was performed for data collection and data processing. The data was analysed using descriptive trend analysis, sentiment analysis, and co-word analysis.
Size Segregated Carbonaceous Aerosol Down to Ultrafine Particle in Medan City, Indonesia
Authors: Putri Rahmi Mulia , Amin Muhammad , Phairuang Worradorn , Furuuchi Masami , Hata Mitsuhiko
Published: August 2023

In this study, the distribution of PMs and their carbonaceous components, including organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) was evaluated to determine how much carbon profiles within ambient aerosol differ between four different sites in Medan city or (roadside (RS), school environment (SE), industrial area (IA), and volcano area (VA). Samples were taken by using ambient nano sampler (ANS) from February 19th to March 12th, 2019. Carbon analyser followed by IMPROVE_TOR methods was used to evaluate the carbonous component in all sites. Overall, OC is the primary carbon component, comprising more than 60% of all sites. Regarding particle size, the largest OC content was recorded in PM0.5-1 across all locations, suggesting that this particle size should be the primary focus of future evaluations of the consequences of biomass burning. The concentration of soot-EC dropped with the increase in particle size, since it was commonly influenced by vehicle emissions, which typically generated ultrafine and fine particles. PM0.1 has the greatest concentration of soot-EC. Due to their proximity to the city’s busiest thoroughfare, RS and SE sites had a larger soot-EC proportion than the two remaining sites (IA and VA) (Sisingamangaraja Street).
Ten Years Behavior of Carbonaceous Ultrafine Particulate Matter (PM0.1) in Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Authors: Phairuang Worradorn , Hata Mitsuhiko , Takao Masashi , Taing Chanreaksmey , Ho Sotasing , Aun Srean , Hang Leakhena , Kan Rithy , Or Chanmoly , Hul Seingheng , Ikemori Fumikazu , Wada Masashi , Hongtieab Surapa , Sok Pisith , Amin Muhammad , Furuuchi Masami
Published: August 2023

The long-term behavior of mass concentration of ambient ultrafine particulate matter was discussed on samples collected at a site located in Phnom Penh City, Cambodia, between 2011-2020. A cascade air sampler that can collect PM0.1 (<0.1 μm) has been used at a site located on a roof floor of a 5-story building on the campus of the Institute of Technology of Cambodia (ITC) located near the central part of Phnom Penh City. The main goal was to investigate PM0.1 and carbon compositions, including elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC). As a result, PM0.1 increased by about 2.3 times, and PM0.1 remarkably increased in the past ten years. EC and soot-EC, which are considered to be road traffic sources, also increase PM0.1 mass concentration. Soot-EC and the number of vehicles per year are correlated. Biomass burning indicators such as OC, char-EC, and hot spots number increase at the same time. Consequently, it is considered that the dry season (January to March) is greatly affected by open fires in Cambodia and neighboring countries.
Fine and nano particles in the school environments and the respiratory deposition doses to schoolchildren in a Middle City of Jambi, Indonesia
Authors: Handika R A , Hata M , Furuuchi M
Published: August 2023

Five public high schools in Jambi, Indonesia, located on the roadside, were chosen as sampling sites, i.e., at the school gate (SG) and schoolyard (SY), to assess the respiratory deposition doses (RDDs) to schoolchildren during the COVID-19 pandemic (December 2021 to February 2022). The fine- and nano-particles information was proven to be critical and limited during the pandemic, but school activities have resumed as usual, even though they only occur for ~4 hours per day at that time. The results show average PM concentrations at the school gate (SG) were higher than those at the schoolyard (SY) regardless of the site location, which was attributed to a difference in influences from road traffic that may be due to the distance from the road. Each PM2.5 concentration, particularly at SY during the school day, exceeded the World Health Organization’s PM2.5 daily standard (15 μg m-3), resulting in higher RDDs compared to other particle sizes, particularly for headways. The deposition of PM2.5 and PM0.1 needs more attention since RDDs have higher values and can infiltrate the alveoli more deeply. Overall, these findings will help to improve health surveillance and guide future efforts in Indonesia to develop air pollution mitigation strategies, particularly for children during the school day.
Scenario of Water Sensitive Urban Design for Cimahi City, Indonesia
Authors: Ari Ismu Rini Dwi , Dein Ratna Shafa Alif , Hariyani Septiana
Published: August 2023

Cimahi City as a part of the Upper Citarum Sub-Watershed has problems with flooding, land subsidence, and clean water crisis caused by urban development. Currently, the multidisciplinary approach to urban water management has been expanded to include the hydrological cycle in it; one of the concepts that has been developed is water-sensitive urban design (WSUD). The purpose of this study is to measure changes in surface runoff as a result of changes in infiltration and runoff processes in the water cycle, calculate planned flood volume, determine the potential location and area of five WSUD elements, and formulate and measure the capability of WSUD scenarios in Cimahi City. This study uses the algebraic average, soil conservation service curve figures (SCS-CN), log-Pearson-III distribution, planned flood volume, and geospatial analysis. Based on the results of the SCS-CN method in Cimahi City in 3 time spans (2013, 2016, and 2019), there was an increase in the CN index and a decrease in the value of surface drift (S) that reflected the potential for runoff water produced. However, at the next stage of analysis, the SCS-CN method showed a decrease in surface runoff; this was due to the decreased rainfall from 2013 to 2016, then from 2016 to 2019 in Cimahi City. The geospatial analysis resulted in the potential location and area of five WSUD elements in Cimahi City. Furthermore, after testing the effectiveness of five WSUD elements and formulating a WSUD scenario, three WSUD elements were obtained as a part of the WSUD scenario in this study, namely sediment basin, retarding basin with, and stormwater harvesting. Last, the measurement of the WSUD scenario capability shows that the WSUD scenario reduces the planned flood volume by 84%.
Recovery of Silicon Wafers from End-of-Life Silicon-Based Solar Cells
Authors: Dum Saravy , Chuangchote Surawut
Published: August 2023

Silicon wafer is the main component of silicon-based solar cells which carries around sixty percent of the cell cost. Silicon wafer manufacturing is the most energy-consumed process compared to other materials, thus, discovering free silicon wafer recourses saves the environment and increases sustainable development. This work extracted the silicon wafers from the end-of-life (EoL) cells in the laboratory which were already forgone after those cells have been studied. The experiment has been started by submerging the full cells into the solution of HNO3, then in the concentrated H3PO4 followed by cleaning in NaOH and DI water. After the etching process, the full pure silicon wafers have been obtained with similar properties to the origin wafers before fabricating. The obtained wafers have been investigated using SEM and EDS characterizations and found that they have potential properties as a semiconductor and are worth trying in other optoelectronic applications.
Learning to see via epiretinal implant stimulation in silico with model-based deep reinforcement learning
Authors: Lavoie Jacob , Besrour Marwan , Lemaire William , Rouat Jean , Fontaine Réjean , Plourde Eric
Published: August 2023

Objective: Diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa cause the degradation of the photoreceptor layer. One approach to restore vision is to electrically stimulate the surviving retinal ganglion cells with a microelectrode array such as epiretinal implants. Epiretinal implants are known to generate visible anisotropic shapes elongated along the axon fascicles of neighboring retinal ganglion cells. Recent work has demonstrated that to obtain isotropic pixel-like shapes, it is possible to map axon fascicles and avoid stimulating them by inactivating electrodes or lowering stimulation current levels. Avoiding axon fascicule stimulation aims to remove brushstroke-like shapes in favor of a more reduced set of pixel-like shapes. Approach: In this study, we propose the use of isotropic and anisotropic shapes to render intelligible images on the retina of a virtual patient in a reinforcement learning environment named rlretina. The environment formalizes the task as using brushstrokes in a stroke-based rendering task. Main Results: We train a deep reinforcement learning agent that learns to assemble isotropic and anisotropic shapes to form an image. We investigate which error-based or perception-based metrics are adequate to reward the agent. The agent is trained in a model-based data generation fashion using the psychophysically validated axon map model to render images as perceived by different virtual patients. We show that the agent can generate more intelligible images compared to the naive method in different virtual patients. Significance: This work shares a new way to address epiretinal stimulation that constitutes a first step towards improving visual acuity in artificially-restored vision using anisotropic phosphenes.
Quantum atomic matter near two-dimensional materials in microgravity
Authors: Del Maestro Adrian , Wook Kim Sang , Bigelow Nicholas P , Thompson Robert J , Kotov Valeri N
Published: August 2023

Novel two-dimensional atomically flat materials, such as graphene and transition-metal dichalcogenides, exhibit unconventional Dirac electronic spectra. We propose to effectively engineer their interactions with cold atoms in microgravity, leading to a synergy between complex electronic and atomic collective quantum phases and phenomena. Dirac materials are susceptible to manipulation and quantum engineering via changes in their electronic properties by application of strain, doping with carriers, adjustment of their dielectric environment, etc. Consequently the interaction of atoms with such materials, namely the van der Waals/Casimir–Polder interaction, can be effectively manipulated, leading to the potential observation of physical effects such as quantum reflection off atomically thin materials and confined Bose–Einstein condensate frequency shifts.
Relative perversity
Authors: Hansen David , Scholze Peter
Published: August 2023

We define and study a relative perverse

t
t

-structure associated with any finitely presented morphism of schemes

f
:
X
→
S

f: X\to S

, with relative perversity equivalent to perversity of the restrictions to all geometric fibres of

f
f

. The existence of this

t
t

-structure is closely related to perverse

t
t

-exactness properties of nearby cycles. This

t
t

-structure preserves universally locally acyclic sheaves, and one gets a resulting abelian category

P
e
r
v

U
L
A

(
X

/

S
)

\mathrm {Perv}^{\mathrm {ULA}}(X/S)

with many of the same properties familiar in the absolute setting (e.g., noetherian, artinian, compatible with Verdier duality). For

S
S

connected and geometrically unibranch with generic point

η
\eta

, the functor
<mml:math xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" alttext="normal upper P normal e normal r normal v Superscript normal upper U normal upper L normal upper A Baseline left-parenthesis upper X slash upper S right-parenthesis right-arrow normal upper P normal e normal r normal v left-parenthesis upper X Subscript eta Baseline right-parenthesis">

P
e
r
v

U
L
A

(
X

/

S
)
→

P
e
r
v

(

X
η

)

\mathrm {Perv}^{\mathrm {ULA}}(X/S)\to \mathrm {Perv}(X_\eta )

is exact and fully faithful, and its essential image is stable under passage to subquotients. This yields a notion of “good reduction” for perverse sheaves.
TMKit: a Python interface for computational analysis of transmembrane proteins
Authors: Sun Jianfeng , Kulandaisamy Arulsamy , Ru Jinlong , Gromiha M Michael , Cribbs Adam P
Published: August 2023

Transmembrane proteins are receptors, enzymes, transporters and ion channels that are instrumental in regulating a variety of cellular activities, such as signal transduction and cell communication. Despite tremendous progress in computational capacities to support protein research, there is still a significant gap in the availability of specialized computational analysis toolkits for transmembrane protein research. Here, we introduce TMKit, an open-source Python programming interface that is modular, scalable and specifically designed for processing transmembrane protein data. TMKit is a one-stop computational analysis tool for transmembrane proteins, enabling users to perform database wrangling, engineer features at the mutational, domain and topological levels, and visualize protein–protein interaction interfaces. In addition, TMKit includes seqNetRR, a high-performance computing library that allows customized construction of a large number of residue connections. This library is particularly well suited for assigning correlation matrix-based features at a fast speed. TMKit should serve as a useful tool for researchers in assisting the study of transmembrane protein sequences and structures. TMKit is publicly available through https://github.com/2003100127/tmkit and https://tmkit-guide.herokuapp.com/doc/overview.
HimGNN: a novel hierarchical molecular graph representation learning framework for property prediction
Authors: Han Shen , Fu Haitao , Wu Yuyang , Zhao Ganglan , Song Zhenyu , Huang Feng , Zhang Zhongfei , Liu Shichao , Zhang Wen
Published: August 2023

Accurate prediction of molecular properties is an important topic in drug discovery. Recent works have developed various representation schemes for molecular structures to capture different chemical information in molecules. The atom and motif can be viewed as hierarchical molecular structures that are widely used for learning molecular representations to predict chemical properties. Previous works have attempted to exploit both atom and motif to address the problem of information loss in single representation learning for various tasks. To further fuse such hierarchical information, the correspondence between learned chemical features from different molecular structures should be considered. Herein, we propose a novel framework for molecular property prediction, called hierarchical molecular graph neural networks (HimGNN). HimGNN learns hierarchical topology representations by applying graph neural networks on atom- and motif-based graphs. In order to boost the representational power of the motif feature, we design a Transformer-based local augmentation module to enrich motif features by introducing heterogeneous atom information in motif representation learning. Besides, we focus on the molecular hierarchical relationship and propose a simple yet effective rescaling module, called contextual self-rescaling, that adaptively recalibrates molecular representations by explicitly modelling interdependencies between atom and motif features. Extensive computational experiments demonstrate that HimGNN can achieve promising performances over state-of-the-art baselines on both classification and regression tasks in molecular property prediction.
How to define a ‘super-responder’ to biologics in psoriasis studies
Authors: Thomas Sarah E , van den Reek Juul M P A , Seyger Marieke M B , de Jong Elke M G J
Published: August 2023

Recently, there has been an increase of publications on super-responders to biologic therapy for psoriasis.In this study, we aimed to contribute to this growing area of research by (i) synthesizing the different definitions of super-responders currently being used in psoriasis literature; and (ii) evaluating the impact of these different definitions on the composition of the super-responder group.
Stifled, invisible, and threatened: cultural appropriation in K-pop through the lens of identity-negotiating fans of color
Authors: Kim Kristin April
Published: August 2023

Through a series of in-depth interviews, this article investigates how fans of color negotiate incidents of cultural appropriation in K-pop. Respondents employed various coping mechanisms to navigate the impact of such offenses while simultaneously grappling with the dissonance arising from negotiating alienating rhetoric and their own cultural identities. Criticism of cultural appropriation incidents was met with severe backlash, particularly exacerbating the marginalization faced by Native American fans who encountered underrepresentation and limited support. Drawing attention to the paradoxical interplay of globalization and ethnic nationalism in Korea, this research unveils a troubling cycle in which incidents of cultural appropriation in K-pop silence and render fans of color invisible within hostile environments.
Day-ahead seasonal solar radiation prediction, combining VMD and STACK algorithms
Authors: El Bakali Saida , Hamid Ouadi , Gheouany Saad
Published: August 2023

This article proposes a method for accurately predicting solar irradiance over a 24-hour horizon to forecast photovoltaic energy generation in a positive-energy building. In order to make this prediction, the input data are divided into seasons and preprocessed using the variational mode decomposition (seasonal-VMD) method. The VMD method is used for extracting high-bandwidth features from the input data, decomposing them into a finite number of smooth modes and focusing on specific frequency ranges. Hence, the accuracy of signal extraction using the VMD method can be improved by selecting particular parameters judiciously, which impacts the smoothing and frequency concentration of the extracted signal. In this regard, the salp swarm algorithm (SSA) is employed to identify the optimal VMD parameters that can be used to enhance extraction accuracy. In addition, the obtained residual between the observed solar irradiation data and their decomposed modes is treated to enhance the prediction process. A stacking algorithm (STACK) is used to predict the following 24-hour solar irradiance modes and the residual, which are finally summed to reconstruct the desired signal. The performances of the proposed prediction method are evaluated using two quantitative evaluation indices: the normalized root mean square percentage error (NRMSPE) and normalized mean absolute percentage error (NMAPE). The proposed model is trained on data collected for three years in Rabat (2019–22). The performance of the proposed model is evaluated by predicting the 24-hour solar irradiance for a different season. The proposed approach seasonal-VMD-STACK is compared with two other methods in the case of using VMD-based STACK without season partition and STACK method only. Moreover, the proposed method has exhibited stability and proven good results with an NRMSPE of 3.87% and an NMAPE of 1.58% for cloudy days during the test phase. The results demonstrate that residual preprocessing, seasonal input data partition and appropriate selection of VMD parameters improve the performance and accuracy of the prediction.
Mpox presenting as a chronic cutaneous ulcer in a patient with advanced HIV infection
Authors: Lutz William , Bertin Chloe , Merlant Marie , Mailhe Morgane , Le Hingrat Quentin , Descamps Vincent , Guilhou Thomas , Maisonobe Lucas , Yazdanpanah Yazdan , Deschamps Lydia , Charpentier Charlotte , Lariven Sylvie
Published: August 2023

We report a case of an atypical presentation of Mpox infection in a patient with advanced HIV. The lesion was a chronic back ulcer that grew over 4 months before a diagnosis was made, when a second lesion appeared on the neck.
A Validated High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography Technique for Routine Analysis of Curcumin in Four Different Species of Curcuma Viz. C. amada, C. caesia, C. longa and C. zedoaria
Authors: Gangal Avinash , Duseja Manisha , Sethiya Neeraj K , Bisht Dheeraj , Chaudhary Sushil Kumar , Rana Vijay Singh
Published: August 2023

In this study, we investigated a new, simple, sensitive, selective and precise high-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) fingerprint and quantitative estimation method for the routine analysis of curcumin in Curcuma species viz. Curcuma amada, Curcuma caesia, Curcuma longa and Curcuma zedoaria. Linear ascending development was carried out in a twin-trough glass chamber saturated with toluene:acetic acid (4:1; v/v with 20 minutes of saturation). The plate was dried and analyzed by CAMAG TLC scanner III at white light and 366 nm. The system was found to give compact spots for curcumin (Rf 0.42). The relationship between the concentration of standard solutions and the peak response is linear within the concentration range of 10–70 ng/spot for curcumin. In result, curcumin was not detected in any of C. caesia extracts. The percentage of curcumin was found between 0.042 and 4.908 (%w/w) in different Curcuma species obtained by two different extraction methods viz. Soxhlet and sonication, respectively. Further, extraction via Soxhlet method is most suitable method to get higher curcumin content from rhizomes. The proposed HPTLC method may be use for routine quality testing and quantification of curcumin in Curcuma samples.
Development of Relatively Simple Sample Pretreatment Strategies to Selectively Remove Chromatographic Interfering Peaks of Polysorbate 80 from Liquid Oral Finished Drug Product
Authors: Adhikari Sarju , Berger Shane N , Rustum Abu M
Published: August 2023

Polysorbate 80 (PS 80) is a nonionic surfactant, used in myriad of pharmaceutical, food and cosmetic formulations. PS 80 components have strong UV absorbance and retain under reversed-phase chromatographic conditions, significantly masking sections of the chromatogram. PS 80-related peaks interferences in a sample are common and can be difficult to separate from the analyte peaks. A liquid oral finished product (LOFP) containing PS 80 and Ivermectin as the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) was selected for this study. Herein, we report two sample pretreatment strategies focusing on the selective removal of PS 80 from the LOFP. Both methods significantly reduce and/or practically eliminate excipients and PS 80-related peaks interferences from the LOFP without a negative impact on the API and its key-related substances recovery. The solid-phase extraction (SPE) strategy uses a C18 SPE followed by a silica gel SPE, whereas the liquid–liquid extraction strategy uses in situ-generated sodium caprylate for the removal of formulation excipients and PS 80. These methods can significantly increase the reliability of high-performance liquid chromatography methods and decrease false positive out-of-specifications events because of coelution of PS 80-related peaks with peaks of interest.
AVPCD: a plant-derived medicine database of antiviral phytochemicals for cancer, Covid-19, malaria and HIV
Authors: Ullah Shahid , Rahman Wajeeha , Ullah Farhan , Ullah Anees , Ahmad Gulzar , Ijaz Muhammad , Ullah Hameed , Zheng Zilong , Gao Tianshun
Published: August 2023

Serious illnesses caused by viruses are becoming the world’s most critical public health issues and lead millions of deaths each year in the world. Thousands of studies confirmed that the plant-derived medicines could play positive therapeutic effects on the patients with viral diseases. Since thousands of antiviral phytochemicals have been identified as lifesaving drugs in medical research, a comprehensive database is highly desirable to integrate the medicinal plants with their different medicinal properties. Therefore, we provided a friendly antiviral phytochemical database AVPCD covering 2537 antiviral phytochemicals from 383 medicinal compounds and 319 different families with annotation of their scientific, family and common names, along with the parts used, disease information, active compounds, links of relevant articles for COVID-19, cancer, HIV and malaria. Furthermore, each compound in AVPCD was annotated with its 2D and 3D structure, molecular formula, molecular weight, isomeric SMILES, InChI, InChI Key and IUPAC name and 21 other properties. Each compound was annotated with more than 20 properties. Specifically, a scoring method was designed to measure the confidence of each phytochemical for the viral diseases. In addition, we constructed a user-friendly platform with several powerful modules for searching and browsing the details of all phytochemicals. We believe this database will facilitate global researchers, drug developers and health practitioners in obtaining useful information against viral diseases.
Transcriptomic Profiling and Cellular Composition of Creeping Fat in Crohn’s disease
Authors: Kim Kyuwon , Park Sojung , Lee Yoonho , Baek Jiwon , Kim Yongjae , Hwang Sung Wook , Lee Jong Lyul , Park Sang Hyoung , Yang Suk-Kyun , Han Buhm , Song Kyuyoung , Yoon Yong Sik , Lee Ho-Su , Ye Byong Duk
Published: August 2023

Background and Aims

Creeping fat [CF] is a poorly understood feature of Crohn’s disease [CD], characterized by the wrapping of mesenteric adipose tissue [MAT] around the inflamed intestine. The aim of this study was to investigate the transcriptional profile and compositional features of CF.

Methods

We collected 59 MAT samples: 23 paired samples from patients with CD (CF [CD-CF] and MAT around the uninflamed intestine [CD-MAT]) and 13 MAT samples from non-CD patients [Con-MAT]. Differentially expressed gene [DEG], functional pathway, cell deconvolution, and gene co-expression network analyses were performed.

Results

By comparing three different MAT samples, we identified a total of 529 DEGs [|log2FoldChange| > 1.5; false discovery rate < 0.05]. Of these, 323 genes showed an incremental pattern from Con-MAT to CD-MAT, and to CD-CF, while 105 genes displayed a decremental pattern. Genes with an incremental pattern were related to immune cell responses, including B- and T-cell activation, while genes with a decremental pattern were involved in cell trafficking and migration. Cell deconvolution analysis revealed significant changes in cellular composition between the CD-CF and Con-MAT groups, with increased proportions of B-cells/plasma cells [p = 1.16 × 10−4], T-cells [p = 3.66 × 10−3], and mononuclear phagocytes [p = 3.53 × 10−2] in the CD-CF group. In contrast, only the B-cell/plasma cell component showed a significant increase [p = 1.62 × 10−2] in the CD-MAT group compared to Con-MAT.

Conclusion

The distinct transcriptional profiles and altered cellular components of each MAT found in our study provide insight into the mechanisms behind CF and highlight its possible role in the pathogenesis of CD.
Adult Kawasaki disease: a rare and challenging diagnosis—a case report
Authors: O’ Connor Timothy , McNally Cora , Kennedy Mark W
Published: August 2023

Background

Kawasaki disease (KD) is an acute systemic vasculitis which predominantly occurs in childhood but rarely in adulthood. Diagnosis relies on the presence of typical clinical features; however, patients may present atypically, increasing the challenge of timely diagnosis for physicians.

Case summary

We report a case of a 40-year-old male presenting with persistent fever, rash, and unilateral neck swelling. Initial investigations were suggestive of necrotizing lymphadenitis, with a presumed infective aetiology. However, extensive microbiology and immunological investigations remained negative. Cardiac injury was evident with elevated troponin T and NT-proBNP; however, left ventricular systolic function was normal. After 4 days, clinical features consistent with KD were noted and the results of a lymph node biopsy supported this diagnosis. Despite timely treatment with intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIG) and high-dose aspirin, follow-up computed tomography (CT) coronary angiography demonstrated two sequential aneurysms (max 6 mm) in the right coronary artery, plus one small subtle aneurysm in the proximal left anterior descending artery (4 mm).

Discussion

Diagnosis of adult KD remains challenging, as symptoms often present sequentially over time rather than simultaneously and many of the clinical features necessary for diagnosis share commonality with other infectious disease processes.
Follow-up optical coherence tomography to evaluate circumflex ostium after fenestration of left main Papyrus covered stent: a case report
Authors: Maznyczka Annette , Arockiam Sacchin , Bulluck Heerajnarain , Mozid Abdul
Published: August 2023

Background

Left main (LM) perforations necessitating a covered stent risk sacrificing the side branch. The lost side branch can be promptly recovered by fenestration of the covered stent, using a stiff wire. However, it is unclear whether subsequent balloon angioplasty of the recovered side branch ostium is sufficient to preserve side branch patency. We report the longer-term patency of the circumflex (LCx) ostium after LM covered stenting.

Case summary

A 78-year-old lady, with stable angina, presented for elective angiography. Percutaneous coronary intervention of the left anterior descending (LAD) artery to LM was complicated by a distal LM perforation. A covered stent across the LM sealed the perforation but resulted in acute occlusion of the LCx. The LCx was rescued by fenestration of the covered stent with a stiff wire, followed by balloon angioplasty to the LCx ostium. At follow-up, the angina had resolved. However, follow-up angiography demonstrated a new severe stenosis at the LCx ostium, with remnants of the polyurethane membrane seen protruding into the LCx ostium on optical coherence tomography. Therefore, the LCx ostium was stented, using the reverse Culotte technique.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates that stenting the LCx ostium should be considered after covered stent implantation from LM to LAD, because balloon angioplasty of the LCx ostium may not provide a durable result in this scenario.
Simple bailout technique using a snare catheter for wire withdrawal during balloon-expandable transcatheter aortic valve implantation: a case report
Authors: Tsuda Masaki , Egami Yasuyuki , Kawanami Shodai , Nishino Masami
Published: August 2023

Background

In transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) using a SAPIEN3 balloon-expandable valve (S3), wire withdrawal from the left ventricle (LV) during the procedure before deployment can induce vascular injury in the access site or require surgical treatment when an S3 removal is attempted. We present a successful case of bailout from this situation safely with a minimally invasive technique using a 6-F snare catheter (SC).

Case summary

An 86-year-old woman with severe aortic stenosis underwent trans-femoral TAVI using an S3 under conscious sedation. After a pre-shaped wire was inserted into the LV from the right femoral artery, the LV wire was accidentally withdrawn completely from the LV before deployment. Wire re-insertion using a soft straight wire through the tip lumen of the S3 was hindered because the wire orientation was uncontrollable. Hence, we used a 6-F SC to control the wire direction by changing the orientation of the S3. Catching the tip of the S3 with an SC at the ascending aorta enabled us to control the wire direction, and wire re-insertion in the LV with the soft wire was successful. Furthermore, the SC worked well in advancing the S3 through the aortic valve to enhance co-axiality without aortic root injury. The S3 was successfully advanced through the aortic valve and implanted at an optimal position without complications.

Discussion

Our simple technique using a 6-F SC is technically effective, feasible, and minimally invasive and can be an option for bailout from accidental LV wire withdrawal during balloon-expandable valve TAVI.
End-stage heart failure in congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: a multicentre study
Authors: van Dissel Alexandra C , Opotowsky Alexander R , Burchill Luke J , Aboulhosn Jamil , Grewal Jasmine , Lubert Adam M , Antonova Petra , Shah Sangeeta , Cotts Timothy , John Anitha S , Kay William Aaron , DeZorzi Christopher , Magalski Anthony , Han Frank , Baker David , Kay Joseph , Yeung Elizabeth , Vonder Muhll Isabelle , Pylypchuk Stephen , Kuo Marissa C , Nicolarsen Jeremy , Sarubbi Berardo , Fusco Flavia , Jameson Susan M , Cramer Jonathan , Gupta Tripti , Gallego Pastora , O’Donnell Clare , Hannah Jane , Dellborg Mikael , Kauling Robert M , Ginde Salil , Krieger Eric V , Rodriguez Fred , Dehghani Payam , Kutty Shelby , Wong Joshua , Wilson William M , Rodriguez-Monserrate Carla P , Roos-Hesselink Jolien , Celermajer David S , Khairy Paul , Broberg Craig S
Published: August 2023

Background and Aims

For patients with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries (ccTGA), factors associated with progression to end-stage congestive heart failure (CHF) remain largely unclear.

Methods

This multicentre, retrospective cohort study included adults with ccTGA seen at a congenital heart disease centre. Clinical data from initial and most recent visits were obtained. The composite primary outcome was mechanical circulatory support, heart transplantation, or death.

Results

From 558 patients (48% female, age at first visit 36 ± 14.2 years, median follow-up 8.7 years), the event rate of the primary outcome was 15.4 per 1000 person-years (11 mechanical circulatory support implantations, 12 transplantations, and 52 deaths). Patients experiencing the primary outcome were older and more likely to have a history of atrial arrhythmia. The primary outcome was highest in those with both moderate/severe right ventricular (RV) dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation (n = 110, 31 events) and uncommon in those with mild/less RV dysfunction and tricuspid regurgitation (n = 181, 13 events, P < .001). Outcomes were not different based on anatomic complexity and history of tricuspid valve surgery or of subpulmonic obstruction. New CHF admission or ventricular arrhythmia was associated with the primary outcome. Individuals who underwent childhood surgery had more adverse outcomes than age- and sex-matched controls. Multivariable Cox regression analysis identified older age, prior CHF admission, and severe RV dysfunction as independent predictors for the primary outcome.

Conclusions

Patients with ccTGA have variable deterioration to end-stage heart failure or death over time, commonly between their fifth and sixth decades. Predictors include arrhythmic and CHF events and severe RV dysfunction but not anatomy or need for tricuspid valve surgery.
First isolation of a probiotic candidate Enterococcus mundtii from Herniaria glabra L. and evaluation of its wound healing activity
Authors: Fidan Aysenur , Ugras Serpil
Published: August 2023

In this study focused on probiotic properties of bacterium isolated from Herniaria glabra L. is a medicinal plant. The bacterium was isolated from H. glabra, and it was identified using the molecular method as Enterococcus mundtii AF-1 strain. Antibiotic sensitivity tests showed that AF-1 strain was sensitive to streptomycin, tobramycin, gentamicin, imipenem, erythromycin, and ciprofloxacin. The strain exhibited γ-haemolytic activity. These results show that the strain can be considered safe. The AF-1 strain showed inhibitory activity against some pathogens, including Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Yersinia pseudotuberculosis. Additionally, AF-1 strain exhibited high tolerance to low pH, pepsin, pancreatin, and bile salts. These properties showed that the strain may survival under the gastrointestinal conditions. The strain showed 40% DPPH free radical scavenging activity. The autoaggregation rate of the strain was 72.46% and the strain exhibited the high coaggregation rate (70.77% with Escherichia coli, and 63.78% with Listeria monocytogenesis). AF-1 strain showed 38.10% adhesion towards n-hexane, and 47.62% adhesion toward chloroform. It has been found to have moderate hydrophobicity. These results demonstrated the beneficial colonization ability of the strain in the gut. Furthermore, it was observed that living cells of AF-1 strain showed healing activity in the artificial wound area. Result of studies, it is seen that AF-1 strain might be excellent a probiotic candidate.
Electric shock causes a fleeing-like persistent behavioral response in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Tee Ling Fei , Young Jared J , Maruyama Keisuke , Kimura Sota , Suzuki Ryoga , Endo Yuto , Kimura Koutarou D
Published: August 2023

Behavioral persistency reflects internal brain states, which are the foundations of multiple brain functions. However, experimental paradigms enabling genetic analyses of behavioral persistency and its associated brain functions have been limited. Here, we report novel persistent behavioral responses caused by electric stimuli in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. When the animals on bacterial food are stimulated by alternating current, their movement speed suddenly increases 2- to 3-fold, persisting for more than 1 minute even after a 5-second stimulation. Genetic analyses reveal that voltage-gated channels in the neurons are required for the response, possibly as the sensors, and neuropeptide signaling regulates the duration of the persistent response. Additional behavioral analyses implicate that the animal's response to electric shock is scalable and has a negative valence. These properties, along with persistence, have been recently regarded as essential features of emotion, suggesting that C. elegans response to electric shock may reflect a form of emotion, akin to fear.
Two disulfide-reducing pathways are required for the maturation of plastid c-type cytochromes in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii
Authors: Das Ankita , Subrahmanian Nitya , Gabilly Stéphane T , Andrianova Ekaterina P , Zhulin Igor B , Motohashi Ken , Hamel Patrice Paul
Published: August 2023

In plastids, conversion of light energy into ATP relies on cytochrome f, a key electron carrier with a heme covalently attached to a CXXCH motif. Covalent heme attachment requires reduction of the disulfide-bonded CXXCH by CCS5 and CCS4. CCS5 receives electrons from the oxidoreductase CCDA, while CCS4 is a protein of unknown function. In Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, loss of CCS4 or CCS5 yields a partial cytochrome f assembly defect. Here, we report that the ccs4ccs5 double mutant displays a synthetic photosynthetic defect characterized by a complete loss of holocytochrome f assembly. This defect is chemically corrected by reducing agents, confirming the placement of CCS4 and CCS5 in a reducing pathway. CCS4-like proteins occur in the green lineage, and we show that HCF153, a distant ortholog from Arabidopsis thaliana, can substitute for Chlamydomonas CCS4. Dominant suppressor mutations mapping to the CCS4 gene were identified in photosynthetic revertants of the ccs4ccs5 mutants. The suppressor mutations yield changes in the stroma-facing domain of CCS4 that restore holocytochrome f assembly above the residual levels detected in ccs5. Because the CCDA protein accumulation is decreased specifically in the ccs4 mutant, we hypothesize the suppressor mutations enhance the supply of reducing power through CCDA in the absence of CCS5. We discuss the operation of a CCS5-dependent and a CCS5-independent pathway controlling the redox status of the heme-binding cysteines of apocytochrome f.
The Relationship of Neighborhood Disadvantage, Biological Aging, and Psychosocial Risk and Resilience Factors in Heart Failure Incidence Among Black Persons: A Moderated Mediation Analysis
Authors: Bey Ganga S , Pike James R , Zannas Anthony S , Xiao Qian , Yu Bing , Shah Amil M , Palta Priya
Published: August 2023

Objectives

Deprived living environments contribute to greater heart failure (HF) risk among non-Hispanic Black persons, who disproportionately occupy disadvantaged neighborhoods. The mechanisms for these effects are not fully explicated, partially attributable to an insufficient understanding of the individual factors that contribute additional risk or resilience to the impact of neighborhood disadvantage on health. The objective of this study was, therefore, to clarify the complex pathways over which such exposures act to facilitate more targeted, effective interventions. Given the evidence for a mediating role of biological age and a moderating role of individual psychosocial characteristics in the neighborhood disadvantage–HF link, we tested a moderated mediation mechanism.

Methods

Using multilevel causal moderated mediation models, we prospectively examined whether the association of neighborhood disadvantage with incident HF mediated through accelerated biological aging, captured by the GrimAge epigenetic clock, is moderated by hypothesized psychosocial risk (negative affect) and resilience (optimism) factors.

Results

Among a sample of 1,448 Black participants in the shared Jackson Heart Study–Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities cohort (mean age 64.3 years), 334 adjudicated incident hospitalized HF events occurred over a median follow-up of 18 years. In models adjusted for age and sex, the indirect (GrimAge-mediated) effect of neighborhood disadvantage was moderated by psychosocial risk such that for every standard deviation increase in negative affect the hazards of HF was 1.18 (95% confidence interval = 1.05, 1.36). No moderated mediation effect was detected for optimism.

Discussion

Findings support the necessity for multilevel interventions simultaneously addressing neighborhood and individual psychosocial risk in the reduction of HF among Black persons.
Route 66: Mutations of the internal market explored through the prism of citation networks
Authors: Šadl Urška , López Zurita Lucía , Piccolo Sebastiano
Published: August 2023

The article rethinks the mutation of the internal market, charting its metamorphosis from a free trade area to a maze of common policies. It examines the case law of the European Court of Justice from a novel, structural perspective which uses community detection techniques to shed new light on this amply theorized process. The analysis reveals an irreversible shift in the method of integration, from a de-regulatory removal of national rules obstructing free movement (liberalization) to a re-regulatory adoption of common rules and standards promoting free movement (harmonization). The shift, which occurred between 2007 and 2010, signals a new rationale of integration and a reprioritization of the European Union’s economic and non-economic objectives. Finally, the article questions whether said shift calls for a new authorization of Europe to regulate.
Efficacy of catheter cleaning methods using intravenous indwelling catheter, 10% silver nitrate solution and a monofilament nylon thread for deeply progressed superficial driveline infections: case series
Authors: Kunioka Shingo , Watanabe Takuya , Mochizuki Hiroki , Nakaya Takako , Hori Yumiko , Miyoshi Eri , Konishi Nobuaki , Arizono Ayaka , Kitahata Nana , Hada Tasuku , Shimojima Masaya , Tsukamoto Yasumasa , Seguchi Osamu , Kamiya Hiroyuki , Tonai Kohei , Tadokoro Naoki , Kainuma Satoshi , Fukushima Satsuki , Fujita Tomoyuki , Fukushima Norihide
Published: August 2023

Driveline infection (DLI) is treated by local irrigation via driveline exit site (DLES) and surgical debridement is considered in patients with deep DLI. We describe three cases of deeply progressed superficial DLI that were considered to require surgical debridement but could be treated with a unique catheter cleaning method using intravenous indwelling catheter, a cotton swab with 10% silver nitrate solution and a monofilament nylon thread. Case 1 was a 60-y-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy with left ventricular assist device implantation 2 y before. Daily bedside debridement with 10% silver nitrate solution was performed via the DLES. Case 2 was a 43-y-old man with ischemic cardiomyopathy who had recurrent DLI with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, and case 3 was a 49-y-old woman with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, who also showed improvement in their DLI with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These cleaning methods may be useful for the deeply progressed superficial DLI.
Neonatal inguinal hernias containing the uterus: a case report on changes in uterine position
Authors: Muta Yuki , Odaka Akio , Inoue Seiichiro , Takeuchi Yuta , Beck Yoshifumi
Published: August 2023

A female newborn weighing 542 g and delivered at 27 weeks gestation presented with bilateral inguinal hernias while in the neonatal intensive care unit. Ultrasonography confirmed herniation of the uterus into the right inguinal hernia without signs of incarceration. Due to the absence of complications, she was discharged and scheduled for follow-up at the outpatient clinic. At 11 months of age, a subsequent ultrasonography showed only omental herniation, with no evidence of uterine prolapse. When she reached 1 year of age, a laparoscopic percutaneous extraperitoneal closure procedure was performed. During the surgery, it was observed that the uterus and fallopian tubes were located near the hernia orifice, but no clear prolapse was detected. The procedure concluded safely with successful high ligation. It has noted that in cases of uterine prolapse hernias, the uterus tends to recede as the child grows, which supports the decision to delay surgery for improved safety.
Calibrating SPI-ACS/INTEGRAL for gamma-ray bursts and re-estimating energetics of GRB/GW 190425 in gamma-ray range
Authors: Minaev P Yu , Pozanenko A S
Published: August 2023

SPI-ACS/INTEGRAL is one of the most sensitive orbital gamma-ray detectors in energy range above 80 keV. Since 2002 it registered several thousands of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs), including the bursts associated with LIGO-Virgo gravitational wave events GW 170817 and GW 190425. No dedicated in-flight calibrations were performed for SPI-ACS/INTEGRAL, complicating estimation of spectral and energetic characteristics of an event. Using data of GBM/Fermi we perform cross-calibration of SPI-ACS/INTEGRAL, based on 1032 bright GRBs registered by both experiments. We find the conversion factor between instrumental counts from SPI-ACS and energy units from GBM to be dependent on hardness of GRB spectrum (defined as the characteristic energy value, Ep) and on location of a source in spacecraft-based coordinate system. We determine the corresponding analytical model to calculate the conversion factor and estimate its accuracy empirically. Sensitivity of SPI-ACS/INTEGRAL to detect gamma-ray transients is also investigated. Using the calibration we re-estimate energetics of GRB/GW 190425, detected by SPI-ACS/INTEGRAL alone. We constrain possible range of the characteristic energy Ep and isotropic equivalent of total energy, emitted in gamma-rays Eiso for GRB 190425, using the Ep, i–Eiso (Amati) correlation. The calibration model could be applied to any transients with energy spectrum, analogous to GRBs.