bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Supplementary Figure 1 from Systematic Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors as OATP1B1 Substrates Using a Competitive Counterflow Screen
Authors: Drabison Thomas , Boeckman Mike , Yang Yan , Huang Kevin M. , de Bruijn Peter , Nepal Mahesh R. , Silvaroli Josie A. , Chowdhury Anika T. , Eisenmann Eric D. , Cheng Xiaolin , Pabla Navjotsingh , Mathijssen Ron H.J. , Baker Sharyn D. , Hu Shuiying , Sparreboom Alex , Talebi Zahra
Published: September 2024

Figure S1. In Vitro Uptake
Figure 2 from Systematic Evaluation of Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors as OATP1B1 Substrates Using a Competitive Counterflow Screen
Authors: Drabison Thomas , Boeckman Mike , Yang Yan , Huang Kevin M. , de Bruijn Peter , Nepal Mahesh R. , Silvaroli Josie A. , Chowdhury Anika T. , Eisenmann Eric D. , Cheng Xiaolin , Pabla Navjotsingh , Mathijssen Ron H.J. , Baker Sharyn D. , Hu Shuiying , Sparreboom Alex , Talebi Zahra
Published: September 2024

Using a biomarker and in silico docking to evaluate pazopanib as a substrate. Kinase activity of VEGFR kinase from OATP1B1-overexpressing and vector control (VC) cells (A) and hepatocytes isolated from WT and OATP1A/1B-KO mice (error bars represent SD; ***, P < 0.001; B) following a 1-hour treatment with 10 μmol/L pazopanib. Kinase activity was assessed by ADP-Glo (error bars represent SD; ****, P < 0.0001). Molecular in silico docking of pazopanib in elucidated OATP1B1 structure (C) and with E3S superimposed (D).
Table S5 from Development and Application of Genetic Ancestry Reconstruction Methods to Study Diversity of Patient-Derived Models in the NCI PDXNet Consortium
Authors: Lott Paul C. , Chiu Katherine , Quino Juanita Elizabeth , Vang April Pangia , Lloyd Michael W. , Srivastava Anuj , Chuang Jeffrey H. , Carvajal-Carmona Luis G.
Published: September 2024

Mean and Stdev of differences for 5 continental ancestral estimations between SNPWeights Panel and 1000Genomes K=10 Admixture Estimates by individual's super-population designation.
Table S4 from Development and Application of Genetic Ancestry Reconstruction Methods to Study Diversity of Patient-Derived Models in the NCI PDXNet Consortium
Authors: Lott Paul C. , Chiu Katherine , Quino Juanita Elizabeth , Vang April Pangia , Lloyd Michael W. , Srivastava Anuj , Chuang Jeffrey H. , Carvajal-Carmona Luis G.
Published: September 2024

Ancestral estimates 1000Genomes individuals (n=929) not used in reference panel generation. Estimates calculated from 1000Genomes K=10 admixture data, SNPWeights Panel, and the differences between these estimates for each individual.
Table S1 from Development and Application of Genetic Ancestry Reconstruction Methods to Study Diversity of Patient-Derived Models in the NCI PDXNet Consortium
Authors: Lott Paul C. , Chiu Katherine , Quino Juanita Elizabeth , Vang April Pangia , Lloyd Michael W. , Srivastava Anuj , Chuang Jeffrey H. , Carvajal-Carmona Luis G.
Published: September 2024

Populations of origin for unrelated individuals from the 1000 Genomes Phase III, GenomeAsia, and INMEGEN data used as reference populations to design a new SNPweights panel.
Data from A First-in-Human Phase I Clinical Study with MVX-ONCO-1, a Personalized Active Immunotherapy, in Patients with Advanced Solid Tumors
Authors: Vernet Rémi , Fernandez Eugenio , Migliorini Denis , Ancrenaz Virginie , Charrier Emily , Belkouch Marie-Claude , Von Rohr Olivier , Urwyler Muriel , De Vito Claudio , Renaux Jessica , Villard Jean , Rubin Olivier , Grogg Julien , Mach Nicolas
Published: September 2024

Abstract
Over two decades, most cancer vaccines failed clinical development. Key factors may be the lack of efficient priming with tumor-specific antigens and strong immunostimulatory signals. MVX-ONCO-1, a personalized cell-based cancer immunotherapy, addresses these critical steps utilizing clinical-grade material to replicate a successful combination seen in experimental models: inactivated patient’s own tumor cells, providing the widest cancer-specific antigen repertoire and a standardized, sustained, local delivery over days of a potent adjuvant achieved by encapsulated cell technology. We conducted an open-label, single-arm, first-in-human phase I study with MVX-ONCO-1 in patients with advanced refractory solid cancer. MVX-ONCO-1 comprises irradiated autologous tumor cells coimplanted with two macrocapsules containing genetically engineered cells producing granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor. Patients received six immunizations over 9 weeks without maintenance therapy. Primary objectives were safety, tolerability, and feasibility, whereas secondary objectives focused on efficacy and immune monitoring. Data from 34 patients demonstrated safety and feasibility with minor issues. Adverse events included one serious adverse event possibly related to investigational medicinal product and two moderate-related adverse events. More than 50% of the patients with advanced and mainly nonimmunogenic tumors showed clinical benefits, including partial responses, stable diseases, and prolonged survival. In recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, one patient achieved a partial response, whereas another survived for more than 7 years without anticancer therapy for over 5 years. MVX-ONCO-1 is safe, well tolerated, and beneficial across several tumor types. Ongoing phase IIa trials target patients with advanced recurrent/metastatic head and neck squamous cell carcinoma after initial systemic therapy.
Significance:
This first-in-human phase I study introduces a groundbreaking approach to personalized cancer immunotherapy, addressing limitations of traditional strategies. By combining autologous irradiated tumor cells as a source of patient-specific antigens and utilizing encapsulated cell technology for localized, sustained delivery of granulocyte–macrophage colony-stimulating factor as an adjuvant, the study shows a very good safety and feasibility profile. This innovative approach holds the promise of addressing tumor heterogeneity by taking advantage of each patient's antigenic repertoire.
Real-Time Gastric Juice Analysis in Cirrhotic Patients: Can We Avoid Unrewarding Gastric Biopsies?
Authors: Peralta Sergio , Calvaruso Vincenza , Di Giorgio Francesca , Peralta Marco , Di Martino Vincenzo , Florena Ada Maria , Zullo Angelo
Published: September 2024

Background: To search for H. pylori infection and gastric precancerous lesions in cirrhotic patients is worthwhile when considering the high incidence of peptic ulcers and gastric cancer in these patients. We tested if gastric juice analysis allows to avoid unrewarding gastric biopsies. Methods: This prospective study enrolled consecutive patients with liver cirrhosis who underwent upper endoscopy with standard gastric biopsies. Real-time gastric juice analysis was performed with a specific device (EndoFaster®) that test ammonium concentration for H. pylori diagnosis, and pH values to suspect extensive atrophy/metaplasia involving gastric body mucosa. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value (NPV), the overall accuracy, and the likelihood ratio were calculated for both H. pylori infection and extensive precancerous lesions on gastric mucosa. Results: A total of 78 cirrhotic patients (males: 55; mean age: 66 ± 12 years) were enrolled. When considering as positive EndoFaster® results when at least one of two (ammonium and pH levels) tests were positive, the NPVs were as high as 89% and 86%, respectively, to rule out H. pylori and extensive precancerous lesions on gastric mucosa, with an overall accuracy of 83% and 74%. Conclusions: This study supports the evidence that real-time gastric juice analysis allows to avoid clinically unrewarding and potentially unsafe gastric biopsies in a definite portion of cirrhotic patients, but more data are needed.
Vitamin A Deficiency Disturbs Ret Expression and Induces Urinary Tract Developmental Abnormalities in Mice
Authors: Yu Minghui , Ju Haixin , Ye Ningli , Chen Jing , Sun Lei , Wu Xiaohui , Xu Hong , Shen Qian
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Moderate vitamin A levels during pregnancy are strongly related to normal embryonic development in both animal models and population studies. Abnormal development of urinary tract system is linked to either an excess or a shortage of vitamin A. The relationships among maternal vitamin A deficiency prior to conception, moderate vitamin A supplementation during pregnancy, and abnormal urinary system development in offspring are unclear. Methods: By creating preconception and preconception + pregnancy vitamin A insufficiency mouse models, we investigated whether moderate vitamin A treatment during pregnancy may reduce the prevalence of CAKUT and increase distant vitamin A levels in offspring, as well as any potential pathways involved. Results: We effectively established a prepregnancy vitamin A-deficient mouse model by providing a particular diet with or without vitamin A for 4 weeks. The offspring of the hypovitaminosis A model group presented a greater proportion of neonatal urinary tract developmental malformations. Abnormalities in ureteral bud emergence and key molecules during renal development, such as p-Plcγ and Ret, may be the primary causes of offspring development of CAKUT as a result of mothers’ hypovitaminosis A. Normal vitamin A diets, on the other hand, may help mitigate the teratogenic consequences of prepregnancy hypovitaminosis A, as well as defects produced by ureteral budding and major molecular changes. Conclusion: In contrast, the administration of normal vitamin A feeds during pregnancy may ameliorate the teratogenic effects of prepregnancy hypovitaminosis A to a certain extent and may also ameliorate the abnormalities associated with ureteral budding and key molecular changes.
Immediate-Release versus Extended-Release Tacrolimus: Comparing Blood Pressure Control in Kidney Transplant Recipients – A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Yang Chien-Wen , Velez Juan Carlos Q. , Cohen Debbie L.
Published: September 2024

Background: Hypertension (HTN) is a common side effect of tacrolimus (Tac), the first-line antirejection medication for kidney transplant recipients. The impact of immediate-release tacrolimus (Tac IR) dosed twice daily versus extended-release tacrolimus (Tac ER) dosed once daily on long-term blood pressure control in kidney transplant recipients remains understudied. This study aims to compare the use of Tac IR versus Tac ER in kidney transplant recipients and evaluate the effects of the different formulations on systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and HTN crisis. Methods: This retrospective cohort study at a single institution collected baseline characteristics, time-varying exposure to Tac IR versus Tac ER, SBP, DBP, HTN crisis, and confounders at each posttransplant visit. A marginal structural linear mixed-effects model was employed to analyze the longitudinal blood pressure control in kidney transplant recipients receiving Tac IR and Tac ER. Results: The final analysis included 654 patients, with mean ages of 52.0 years for Tac IR and 50.3 years for Tac ER. Males constituted 56.7% in Tac IR and 55.0% in Tac ER. Notably, the black population had 2.44 times higher odds of receiving Tac ER after adjusting for the rest of the baseline characteristics. No difference was found between longitudinal SBP (p = 0.386, 95% CI: −1.00, 2.57) or DBP (p = 0.797, 95% CI: −1.38, 1.06). Conclusion: Our study indicates that posttransplant patients taking Tac ER exhibit no difference in chronic SBP and DBP controls compared to Tac IR.
A Pilot Survey of Patient Perspectives on an Artificial Intelligence-Generated Presenter in a Patient Information Video about Face-Down Positioning after Vitreoretinal Surgery
Authors: Macri Carmelo Zak , Bacchi Stephen , Wong Wilson , Baranage Duleepa , Sivagurunathan Premala Devi , Chan Weng Onn
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Video education is a commonly used patient education tool. However, the impact of integrating artificial intelligence (AI) into video education remains unexplored. This study aimed to examine the acceptability of an AI-generated presenter in a patient information video about face-down positioning after vitreoretinal surgery. Method: We prospectively enrolled participants who were planned for vitreoretinal surgery in which postoperative face-down positioning was recommended at the Royal Adelaide Hospital between December 2022 and September 2023. Participants were preoperatively provided with an educational video presented by an AI-generated presenter, incorporated into a surveyredcap. A pre- and post-video questionnaire was administered electronically. Results: There were 15 participants included in the study. In the pre-video questionnaire, most participants rated their awareness of special equipment for positioning as “not aware” (33%) and “slightly aware” (33%). The median pre-video six-item Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory Score was 12 (interquartile range 12–15). In the post-video questionnaire, most participants rated the video’s quality as “excellent” (73%) and would recommend it to others (73%). The majority of participants strongly agreed that they understood the AI presenter (60%), felt at ease with the presenter (60%), and trusted the presenter (60%). Four participants (22%) disagreed with the statement: “I was aware the presenter was computer generated.” Conclusions: Video-based education may provide information that patients find useful, particularly for physical maneuvers such as face-down positioning. The use of an AI-generated presenter was well-received by the majority of patients. Further research regarding the use of AI to develop educational video content is warranted.
Immunomodulatory Therapy for Ischemic Heart Disease
Authors: Zhao Xinye , Williamson Thomas , Gong Yanqing , Epstein Jonathan A. , Fan Yi
Published: September 2024

Ischemic heart disease is a leading cause of death worldwide, manifested clinically as myocardial infarction (and ischemic cardiomyopathy. Presently, there exists a notable scarcity of efficient interventions to restore cardiac function after myocardial infarction. Cumulative evidence suggests that impaired tissue immunity within the ischemic microenvironment aggravates cardiac dysfunction, contributing to progressive heart failure. Recent research breakthroughs propose immunotherapy as a potential approach by leveraging immune and stroma cells to recalibrate the immune microenvironment, holding significant promise for the treatment of ischemic heart disease. In this Primer, we highlight three emerging strategies for immunomodulatory therapy in managing ischemic cardiomyopathy: targeting vascular endothelial cells to rewire tissue immunity, reprogramming myeloid cells to bolster their reparative function, and utilizing adoptive T cell therapy to ameliorate fibrosis. We anticipate that immunomodulatory therapy will offer exciting opportunities for ischemic heart disease treatment.
Placing Art Practice into the Field of Bioimaging: Testing Play as a Methodological Tool to Explore and Reflect upon Art Practice
Authors: Berry-Frith Joanne
Published: September 2024

Bioimaging experiments are carried out in discrete labs, and artists are rarely granted access. The author finds that they are an underused resource for artist-researchers. In this article, she demonstrates how an artist-researcher can contribute to artscience initiatives in pharmacological research by working in an advanced imaging and microscopy lab and responding innovatively to current circumstances in bioimaging. She does this by thinking about scientific and artistic interdisciplinary practice in a playful way. Informed by established play theories and practices from the literature, she has reviewed, studied, and adapted. Here she discusses research conducted at the School of Life Sciences at the University of Nottingham, where she evaluated play as an insightful concept to provoke a reaction to scientific methods.
Video as World Mandala: Nakajima Ko’s Animaker, Aniputer, and Cosmic Video
Authors: Horisaki-Christens Nina
Published: September 2024

Early video processing tools present a compelling perspective through which to reconsider the integrated practice of Tokyo-based early video artist Nakajima Ko. The author examines Nakajima's practice through his concepts of animation, the development of his Animaker (1979) and Aniputer (1982) the ways he sees video connected to Esoteric Buddhist thought. Returning then to his 1986 video Mt. Fuji, the author illustrates how it is representative of the hybrid analog-digital view of video that leads Nakajima to posit it as a cosmic medium circa 1986.
Archaeologies and Organologies: Towards an alternative history of early synthetic video and image processing practices 1939–1969
Authors: King Chris Jan
Published: September 2024

This article focuses on the early history of two related techniques deployed within artistic contexts; the distortion of pre-existing television raster images and the generation of synthetic images through the application of external signals to cathode-ray tube deflection systems. Organology and media archaeological techniques are used to begin to trace an additional technical history of these complex visual instruments.
The Adventures of MouseGirl: An Undergraduate’s Perspective on her Data Visualization Project and the Need for STEAM in American Education
Authors: Lee Hannah
Published: September 2024

The author’s unique arts-science research experience involving data visualizations of complex mouse brain data leads her to recognize that education in America needs to adopt the increasingly popular STEAM education movement. This is a view that many others, both students and professors, increasingly share in the light of their own successes with learning and accessibility using STEAM methods. These successes also show the importance of incorporating the arts into STEM education. In this article, the author will discuss her data visualization in the context of advocating for the importance of STEAM education and collaborations in general.
Action at a Distance: Did Physicist Thomas Young’s 1807 Lectures Inspire Some of the Earliest Examples of Abstract Art?
Authors: Lundgren Britt
Published: September 2024

Swedish artist Hilma af Klint is known to have been influenced by scientific developments at the turn of the twentieth century. However, many of her paintings from 1914 to 1916 exhibit similarities to diagrams published much earlier in the English polymath Thomas Young’s 1807 A Course of Lectures on Natural Philosophy and the Mechanical Arts. Key elements and themes in af Klint’s The Dove, The Swan, Parsifal, and Altarpieces series suggest Young’s Lectures may have been a major source for her work. The author explores this idea and other parallels between the lives and legacies of the visionary scientist and the abstract art pioneer.
An Image Dispute Resulting from Pareidolia?
Authors: Mäkelä Jyrki P. , Fagerlund Emmi-Lotta
Published: September 2024

In the 1940s Nikolai Kaario, an artist and a decorative painter, discovered seemingly old images on house walls in Turku, Finland. These findings generated considerable interest in the press. The Archeological Commission of Finland evaluated them, concluding that the images were not medieval and were made unconsciously by Kaario. Despite the Commission’s findings, the dispute did not abate. Several other people also found similar images on the walls of old houses in Turku, even after Kaario’s death. The authors review these events and suggest that they reflect the effects of pareidolia.
Scalar Wave Paintings: A New Approach to Postdigital Art
Authors: Rummler Scott
Published: September 2024

The author has developed a new kind of artwork that he calls the “scalar wave painting.” These works use specially prepared canvas, paint and lighting environments to create optical interference with digital cameras. The works appear white to the naked eye but emit frequencies that are similar to quantum scalar waves and take on multiple, changing hues when viewed through a digital camera. This work is of artistic interest because each photograph of the same object will look different. Therefore, it challenges perception and changes the one-to-one relationship between object and representation at the center of much of art and technology theory.
New species and records of the Rhamphomyia subgenus Holoclera (Diptera, Empididae) from the Palaearctic Region
Authors: SHAMSHEV IGOR V. , BARTÁK MIROSLAV
Published: September 2024

New data on the Palaearctic subgenus Holoclera Schiner of dance flies of the genus Rhamphomyia Meigen (Diptera: Empididae) are reported. Three new species are described: Rhamphomyia (Holoclera) richterae sp. nov. (Russia: Adygea, Krasnodarskiy Territory), R. (H.) stepankubiki sp. nov. (Armenia, Turkey), and R. (H.) vikhrevi sp. nov. (Morocco). New extensive distributional data are provided, especially for the Eastern Palaearctic. The subgenus has been found to have a trans-Palaearctic distribution. However, only five of 23 named species, which this group comprises, occur beyond the Urals. The distribution of R. (H.) culicina (Fallén) and R. (H.) sciarina (Fallén) (both R. (H.) flava group) extends to the east as far as the Russian Far East (Magadanskaya and Amurskaya Provinces, respectively). Amongst the species of the R. (H.) nigripennis group, R. (H.) nigripennis (Fabricius) has the broadest distribution extending to the east as far as Krasnoyarskiy Territory of Russia (Eastern Siberia). In addition, R. (H.) lamellata Collin and R. (H.) caliginosa Collin were recorded from Western Siberia and Kyrgyzstan, respectively. The latter is the first record of R. (Holoclera) from Middle Asia. Only one species (R. (H.) sciarina) occurs in the subarctic regions of Asia (Taymyr Peninsula). The following records are new for the states noted: R. (H.) helvetica Barták & Kubík (France and Germany), R. (H.) lamellata (Estonia, Finland and Ukraine), R. (H.) trigemina Oldenberg (Estonia and Sweden), R. (H.) umbripennis Meigen (Armenia), R. (H.) variabilis (Fallén) (Ukraine). An updated key to species of Holoclera from the Palaearctic Region is provided.
On the Strategy of Post-Professional Development of Primary School Teachers
Authors: Meng Fanqin , Qu Xinjian
Published: September 2024

Elementary education carries the hopes of the country and the nation, and improving the level of post-professionalism of primary school teachers plays a vital role in the reform of elementary education. The theory and practice of post-professional development of primary school teachers mainly focuses on the two basic issues of "what kind of teachers to train" and " what is the quality of the teachers trained". What kind of primary school teachers to train will give different answers in different eras. With the development of the professional process of primary school teachers, the new era puts forward newer and higher requirements for teachers' abilities and qualities. What is the quality of the primary school teachers trained that is a question about the evaluation of the teaching quality of primary school teachers. The special nature of the professionalization of primary school teachers lies in the fact that they are educated to underage primary school students and are in the stage of becoming growth. The post-professional development of primary school teachers and the growth of primary school students have a natural internal logic, and the path of post-professional development of primary school teachers must follow the growth regularity of primary school students, and the growth space of primary school students determines the choice of the path of professional development of primary school teachers after service. Based on the value-added evaluation perspective of student growth. Therefore, this paper constructs a value-added evaluation index system model based on "student-growth", and proposes a strategy for selecting the path of post-professional development of primary school teachers, and in order to provide guidance for the reform of elementary education in the new era.
On the cult of the individual: The Quantified Self public gatherings, self-tracking, and individualism
Authors: Rigal Alexandre
Published: September 2024

The article explores the relationship between individualism and group affiliation in the context of self-tracking technology. Prior research establishes that self-tracking fosters both self-focus and collective interactions. The article proposes that Durkheim’s notion of the cult of the individual offers a lens to understand the interplay of individualism and group formation in self-tracking. The notion of the cult of the individual suggests that individualism can be a source of public gatherings. While Durkheim’s notion remained largely untested for over a century, this study aims to build upon Durkheim’s framework by operationalizing it using Collins’s interaction ritual theory. By operationalizing the cult of the individual as a specific form of interaction ritual, we can analyze the collective mechanisms at play within the Quantified Self movement. This group organizes a community of self-trackers who share personal data during public gatherings. The article explores these public gatherings by deciphering their video recordings. Quantified Self-individualist gatherings are constituted by the co-presence of self-focused people, presenting one after the other their personal data following a script, and defending individuals against profaning situations. Quantified Self gatherings formed a transnational interaction ritual chain in approximately 71 cities on four continents, confirming that individualist gatherings can achieve a wide diffusion. Therefore, this original operationalization of Durkheim’s notion of the cult of the individual illustrates its enduring relevance and potential for broader application.
Teachers’ experiences with physically inactive children and their strategies to promote physical activity in early childhood education settings
Authors: Augustsson Christian , Högman Johan , Löfdahl Hultman Annica
Published: September 2024

Objective:

As an increasing number of children are identified as insufficiently physically active, the school environment has been targeted for efforts to promote physical activity (PA) among inactive children. While research has highlighted teachers’ role in promoting generic school-based daily PA, less is known about the early childhood education teachers’ experiences of physically inactive children and the strategies they use to promote PA. This study’s aim was to explore early childhood education teachers in Sweden’s experiences of physically inactive children and their strategies to promote PA among members of this group in their everyday school settings.

Design:

Qualitative interview study.

Setting:

Four small municipalities in Midwest Sweden.

Method:

Ten teachers working in early childhood education settings participated in individual semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed with a focus on teacher agency and the social, material and cultural resources teachers used to promote PA.

Result:

Findings indicated that teachers shoulder the worry and unarticulated responsibility for inactive children. This resulted in their use of strategies that varied and which were largely subjective in character. At the same time, teachers expressed how their agency was limited by insufficient resources.

Conclusion:

Teachers used social, material and cultural resources to promote PA, but their strategies were not informed by evidence or formal guidelines. None of the resources they used were specifically designed for inactive children. Instead, teachers used general resources which they adapted to inactive children’s interests and needs.
Book review: Douglas E. Haynes, The Emergence of Brand-Name Capitalism in Late Colonial India: Advertising and the Making of Modern Conjugality
Authors: Upadhya Carol
Published: September 2024

Douglas E. Haynes, The Emergence of Brand-Name Capitalism in Late Colonial India: Advertising and the Making of Modern Conjugality (New York: Bloomsbury, 2022), 328 pp.
Tuberculosis masquerading as a pancreatic cyst in a patient with cirrhosis
Authors: Shastri Arpit , Davra Bhavin , Ashraf Mohammad Uwais , Lal Raghav , Gupta Nalini , De Arka
Published: September 2024

Cystic lesions of the pancreas are being increasingly diagnosed incidentally in recent decades due to easy availability of abdominal imaging. They may be neoplastic or benign. Tuberculosis, the great masquerader, may rarely involve the pancreas mimicking pancreatic malignancy, cyst, or abscess. Identification of this rare entity is crucial to avoid potentially risky surgery as anti-tubercular pharmacotherapy is highly effective. We report a case of a 40-year old cirrhotic man who presented with a cystic hypodense lesion in the pancreatic tail and was subsequently diagnosed with pancreatic tuberculosis. Apart from the rarity of diagnosis, our case also highlights the utility of endoscopic ultrasound for minimally invasive assessment of pancreatic lesions.
Development of a Polymer Ultrasound Contrast Agent Incorporating Nested Carbon Nanodots
Authors: Shirley Matthew A. , Arango-Aliaga Valeria , Patel Ankit , Oeffinger Brian E. , Eisenbrey John , Wheatley Margaret A.
Published: September 2024

Polymer microbubbles have garnered broad interest as potential theranostic agents. However, the capabilities of polymer MBs can be greatly enhanced, particularly regarding the imaging performance and functional versatility of the platform. This study investigates integrating fluorescent carbon nanodots within polylactic acid (PLA) microbubbles. First, the formulations are characterized by their size, microbubble counts, zeta potential, and resonance frequency. Then, the fluorescence capabilities, nanoparticle loading, and acoustic capabilities are examined. Unmodified (U-), carboxylated (C-), and aminated graphene quantum dots (A-GQDs) were separately suspended and synthesized at a 2% w/w ratio with PLA in the organic phase of the water/oil/water double emulsion process. The new microbubbles were characterized using an AccuSizer, Zetasizer, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence microscopy and fluorimetry, a custom-built acoustic setup, and clinical ultrasound. The GQD microbubbles were sized between 1.4 and 1.9 µm (U = 1.90, C = 1.44, A = 1.72, Unloaded = 2.02 µm). The U-GQD microbubble exhibited a higher bubble concentration/mg PLA ( p < .05) and the A-GQD microbubbles exhibited the greatest shift in zeta potential. Electron microscopy revealed smooth surfaces and a spherical shape, showing that the nanoparticle addition was not deleterious. The A-GQD microbubbles were specifically detectable using DAPI-filtering with fluorescence microscopy and had the highest TRITC-filtered fluorescence. The C-GQD microbubbles had the highest loading efficiency at 59.4% ( p < .05), and the lowest max acoustic enhancement at 5 MHz (U = 19.8, C = 17.6, A = 18.9, Unloaded = 18.5 dB; p < .05). Additionally, all microbubbles were visible and susceptible to inertial cavitation utilizing clinical ultrasound. The A-GQDs showed promise toward improving the theranostic capabilities of the microbubble platform. They have imbued the most advantageous fluorescence capability and slightly improved backscatter enhancement while retaining all the necessary capabilities of an ultrasound contrast agent. Future studies will investigate the coloading potential of A-GQDs and drug within microbubbles.
Advances in Psychiatry Training and Faculty Development in India
Authors: Narasimha Venkata Lakshmi , Suhas Satish , M Kishor  , Dixit Advait , Murthy Pratima
Published: September 2024

Background:

This review examines the historical developments, current state of training, existing challenges, and opportunities for undergraduate, postgraduate, and super specialty psychiatry education in India.

Methods:

For this narrative review, we examined information from the published literature, along with key documents from the Indian Psychiatric Society, the National Medical Commission, and other relevant sources.

Conclusions:

In India, psychiatry training has seen significant advancements since independence, particularly in the past decade, driven by the recommendations of the Indian Psychiatric Society and the introduction of competency-based medical education by the National Medical Commission. This transformation has redefined undergraduate and postgraduate training across all medical disciplines, including psychiatry. The shift has moved away from traditional, time-bound frameworks toward a focus on acquiring specific competencies essential for effective clinical practice. This approach ensures that trainees gain theoretical knowledge and develop practical skills and professional attitudes crucial for patient care. However, a major challenge highlighted in this review is the transition of senior residents to faculty roles without adequate training in teaching, research, academia, and leadership. Despite this, they are expected to excel in these areas upon assuming faculty positions. To address this gap, we emphasize the urgent need for a comprehensive faculty development program for early career faculty. Our proposed initiative aims to bridge these gaps and support the development of future leaders and educators in psychiatry. The recommendations outlined in this review seek to create a robust educational environment that will cultivate the next generation of psychiatrists in India.
Interpersonal and pet bonding: A meta-analytic review of attachment dimensions
Authors: Ciacchella Chiara , Veneziani Giorgio , Garenna Simona Alda , Lai Carlo
Published: September 2024

The present meta-analytic review examined the associations and differences between interpersonal and pet attachment bonds, considering the attachment dimensions of anxiety and avoidance. The work complies with the PRISMA guidelines and was pre-registered on PROSPERO. The literature search was conducted by consulting the PubMed, PsycInfo, PsycArticles, MEDLINE, and Google Scholar databases, which yielded 12 studies. The meta-analyses showed a moderate positive association for the anxiety dimension ( r = .39) and a weak positive association for the avoidance dimension ( r = .16) between interpersonal and pet attachment. The levels for anxiety and avoidance dimensions in pet attachment were also significantly lower than those in interpersonal attachment ( p-value <.001). The findings suggest that there would be moderate correspondence between the two attachment bonds for the anxiety dimension, whereas avoidance strategies might not be fully transposed to pet attachment bonds. Compared to interpersonal attachment, pet attachment also seems to be characterised by lower levels of attachment insecurity and this could be a useful element to consider in therapeutic contexts.
Inverse method of eigenstrain determination of laser shock peening
Authors: Luo Mingsheng , Liu Feng , Tan Jun
Published: September 2024

The determination of eigenstrain from residual stress is a crucial aspect in process predicting and optimizing of laser peen forming. However, direct measurement of eigenstrain is not possible, and therefore an indirect method based on the Fredholm integral equation is proposed for determining eigenstrain from residual stress. The residual stress of full-coverage laser shock peening (LSP) is analyzed, and the governing equation of eigenstrain is derived from the elastic deformation of a linear elastic plate under full-coverage LSP. The governing equation is a second-kind Fredholm integral equation, which can be solved analytically using the weight function method. Since residual stress is difficult to measure accurately in LSP, an inverse method based on the integral governing equation is proposed for determining eigenstrain from an incomplete set of measurements. The validity of this method is demonstrated through simulation and experimental results, highlighting its high efficiency and engineering application value.
Association between lifetime hallucinogen use and psychological distress varies by sexual identity in a nationally representative sample
Authors: Altman Blair , Magnus Manya
Published: September 2024

Background:

Clinical trials demonstrate that psychedelic-assisted therapy can improve mental health outcomes; however, few studies have recruited sexually diverse samples or reported information on sexual identity.

Aims:

The purpose of this analysis was to examine the relationship between hallucinogen use and mental health outcomes with respect to sexual identity.

Methods:

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine the relationship between hallucinogen use and psychological distress.

Results:

In a sample representative of 253,824,662 U.S. adults, the majority was heterosexual (92%), aged 50–64 (25%), women (51%), non-Hispanic White (62%), college educated (31%), and had an annual household income of $75,000 or higher (39%). The majority reported no lifetime hallucinogen use (82%) and no past month severe psychological distress (93%). Sexual identity modified the relationship between hallucinogen use and psychological distress. After stratifying by sexual identity and adjusting for covariates, hallucinogen use was associated with reduced odds of psychological distress in the heterosexual population (OR = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59, 0.96) but the relationship was not significant in the sexual minority population.

Conclusion:

We found that in a nationally representative sample, psychedelic use was associated with reduced odds of psychological distress in heterosexual individuals only. Future research should investigate why hallucinogen use was not protective in sexual minority groups given their disproportionate burden of poor mental health outcomes.
FMB: A functional manipulation benchmark for generalizable robotic learning
Authors: Luo Jianlan , Xu Charles , Liu Fangchen , Tan Liam , Lin Zipeng , Wu Jeffrey , Abbeel Pieter , Levine Sergey
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we propose a real-world benchmark for studying robotic learning in the context of functional manipulation: a robot needs to accomplish complex long-horizon behaviors by composing individual manipulation skills in functionally relevant ways. The core design principles of our Functional Manipulation Benchmark (FMB) emphasize a harmonious balance between complexity and accessibility. Tasks are deliberately scoped to be narrow, ensuring that models and datasets of manageable scale can be utilized effectively to track progress. Simultaneously, they are diverse enough to pose a significant generalization challenge. Furthermore, the benchmark is designed to be easily replicable, encompassing all essential hardware and software components. To achieve this goal, FMB consists of a variety of 3D-printed objects designed for easy and accurate replication by other researchers. The objects are procedurally generated, providing a principled framework to study generalization in a controlled fashion. We focus on fundamental manipulation skills, including grasping, repositioning, and a range of assembly behaviors. The FMB can be used to evaluate methods for acquiring individual skills, as well as methods for effectively combining and ordering such skills in order to solve complex, multi-stage manipulation tasks. We also offer an imitation learning framework that includes a suite of policies trained to solve the proposed tasks. This enables researchers to utilize our tasks as a versatile toolkit for examining various parts of the pipeline. For example, researchers could propose a better design for a grasping controller and evaluate it in combination with our baseline reorientation and assembly policies as part of a pipeline for solving multi-stage tasks. Our dataset, object CAD files, code, and evaluation videos can be found on our project website: https://functional-manipulation-benchmark.github.io .
Study of the Differential Wear of Wheel Profiles on Motor Cars and Trailers of High-Speed Trains
Authors: Qi Yayun , Dai Huanyun , Sang Hutang , Hou Maorui
Published: September 2024

As the operation speed of China’s high-speed trains continues to increase, a variety of complex wheel wear problems continue to emerge. Many line tests show that the differential wheel wear of the motor car and trailer car is obvious. The aim of this paper is to explore the differential wear mechanism of motor cars and trailers and their effect on dynamic performance. Firstly, this paper established a high-speed train model, which consists of two motor cars and two trailers. Then the causes of differential wear of the high-speed train from the perspective of wheel-rail contact and wheel wear were analyzed, and the Jendel wear model was used for wheel wear prediction. The wear model was verified through measured wheel wear data. Lastly, the dynamic performance of the differential wear of the high-speed train was analyzed. The results showed that the different distribution of the adhesive sliding zone in the contact patch, the different wheel-rail normal force, and tangential forces are the reasons for the differential wear. The established dynamic model and wear model can effectively predict the differential wear of the motor cars and trailer, and the maximum wear depths of the motor car and the trailer wheel were 0.886 mm and 0.721 mm. This verified the validity of the simulation model. When wheel differential wear occurs, the overall dynamic performance of the trailer is superior to that of the motor cars.
Large Language Models Outperform Expert Coders and Supervised Classifiers at Annotating Political Social Media Messages
Authors: Törnberg Petter
Published: September 2024

Instruction-tuned Large Language Models (LLMs) have recently emerged as a powerful new tool for text analysis. As these models are capable of zero-shot annotation based on instructions written in natural language, they obviate the need of large sets of training data—and thus bring potential paradigm-shifting implications for using text as data. While the models show substantial promise, their relative performance compared to human coders and supervised models remains poorly understood and subject to significant academic debate. This paper assesses the strengths and weaknesses of popular fine-tuned AI models compared to both conventional supervised classifiers and manual annotation by experts and crowd workers. The task used is to identify the political affiliation of politicians based on a single X/Twitter message, focusing on data from 11 different countries. The paper finds that GPT-4 achieves higher accuracy than both supervised models and human coders across all languages and country contexts. In the US context, it achieves an accuracy of 0.934 and an inter-coder reliability of 0.982. Examining the cases where the models fail, the paper finds that the LLM—unlike the supervised models—correctly annotates messages that require interpretation of implicit or unspoken references, or reasoning on the basis of contextual knowledge—capacities that have traditionally been understood to be distinctly human. The paper thus contributes to our understanding of the revolutionary implications of LLMs for text analysis within the social sciences.
Dynamic modeling, clutch parameter adaptation, and control of automatic transmission for tracked vehicles
Authors: Arı Ali , Yalçın Yaprak
Published: September 2024

In this study, a novel TCU control structure and algorithms including also dynamic model of the transmission will perform the gear shifting of automatic transmissions used in tracked military vehicles are designed. In case of inherent wear of the clutches, the clutch parameters are estimated by means of an adaptation algorithm that uses only the information from the transmission input and output speed sensors. These estimated clutch parameters are used in clutch torque calculation is utilized by control algorithms. For the clutch speed control in the inertia phase, a PID control structure with a negative feedforward term that cancels the nonlinearities of the system is proposed. The feedforward term utilizes the estimated wear clutch coefficients in the calculation of friction coefficients. The parameters of the PID controller are optimized by a genetic algorithm. The designed all structure are firstly tested on a MATLAB/Simulink power train simulation model, and then tested using a unique transmission on a transmission dynamometer test bench to examine its suitability for real transmission scenarios. The performances of proposed PID control and a backstepping nonlinear controller that we constructed for the tracked vehicles are compared with and without clutch wear. Maximum tracking error is decreased by 98% with proposed adaptive PID control structure with nonlinear feedforward term compare to backstepping controller. In the case of clutch wear, the back-stepping control exists in the literature has been found to result in oscillation. By updating the estimated friction coefficient from adaptation algorithm, in the backstepping controller, it is concluded that these oscillations can be eliminated. Additionally, on-off solenoid valves, are widely used, are known to cause torque interruptions and jerks during gear shifting. It has been observed the control structure presented in this study reduced the jerks by one quarter.
Optimization of critical system outputs of the Stirling cycle using Taguchi-based grey relational analysis
Authors: Yuce Bahadir Erman
Published: September 2024

This study investigated the Stirling cycle's thermodynamic parameters using the Taguchi and Taguchi-based grey relational analysis methods. The Taguchi analysis identified the most crucial parameters for each objective (net work output, thermal efficiency, second law efficiency, charge pressure, irreversibility, entropy production), quantifying their contribution ratios. Subsequently, the grey relational analysis method was performed as multi-objective optimization to achieve all objectives simultaneously. In single-objective optimizations, it is found that the importance of parameters varies according to the objects, and there is not a single pattern. By applying the Taguchi method to grey relational analysis, it is found that the impact ratios of minimum temperature (19.82%), maximum temperature (19.40%), charge pressure (19.44%), expansion volume (21.57%), and compression volume (19.78%) on all objectives were found. In addition, best and worst-case scenarios were obtained for single-objective and multi-objective optimizations. Based on Taguchi-based grey relational analysis, the best parameter set that satisfies all objectives includes 450 K minimum temperature, 1300 K maximum temperature, 5000 Pa charge pressure, 0.001 m3 expansion volume, and 0.15 m3 compression volume. The grey relational analysis method achieved a parameter set that improved energy while maintaining acceptable net work output.