bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ten missteps in the management of inflammatory bowel disease in Asia: An expert report by the Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Ahuja Vineet , Hilmi Ida , Ye Byong Duk , Ling Khoon Lin , Ng Siew C. , Leong Rupert W. , Kumar Peeyush , Khoo Xin Hui , Makharia Govind K. , Sollano Jose , Pisespongsa Pises , Mustaffa Nazri , Banerjee Rupa , Leow Alex Hwong‐Ruey , Raja Ali Raja Affendi , Chuah Sai Wei , Palaniappan Shanthi , Ooi Choon Jin , Leung Wai K.
Published: May 2024

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is rapidly emerging in the Asia Pacific region. However, there are many challenges in the diagnosis and management of this condition. The Asian Pacific Association of Gastroenterology (APAGE) Working Group on IBD conducted a round table meeting to identify 10 common mistakes in the management of IBD in Asia. To summarize, many physicians still over rely on a definitive histological diagnosis before starting treatment and do not fully establish disease extent such as perianal and proximal gastrointestinal involvement in Crohn's disease (CD) or extent of involvement in ulcerative colitis (UC). It is also essential to actively look for evidence of extra‐intestinal manifestations, which may influence choice of therapy. In terms of conventional therapy, underuse of topical 5 aminosalicylates (5‐ASAs) in UC and inappropriate dosing of corticosteroids are also important considerations. Acute severe UC remains a life‐threatening condition and delay in starting rescue therapy after inadequate response to intravenous steroids is still common. Anti‐tumor necrosis factors should be considered first line in all cases of complex perianal fistulizing CD. Most patients with IBD are on potent immunosuppressive therapy and should be screened for latent infections and offered vaccinations according to guidelines. Under‐recognition and management of significant complications such as anemia, osteoporosis, malnutrition, and thromboembolism should also be addressed. Colonoscopy is still not properly performed for dysplasia/cancer surveillance and for evaluating post‐op recurrence of CD. Another common misstep is inappropriate withdrawal of medications during pregnancy leading to increased complications for the mother and the newborn.
Jump volatility and firm‐specific investor sentiment
Authors: Wang Chen , Xiong Xiong , Li Xiao
Published: May 2024

Literature on investor sentiment has predominantly been conducted at the market level. Recent studies employing firm‐level sentiment have increasingly turned to textual analysis; however, the suitability of this type of proxy is still unverified. We utilize the Chinese stock market data from 2015 to 2023, aiming to discern whether the jump component of realized volatility possesses characteristics of investor sentiment. Our analysis reveals a pronounced short‐term persistence in jump volatility, particularly, among stocks that are hard to value and those with minimal institutional ownership. Further, we find that stocks exhibiting high monthly jump volatility consistently exhibit underperformance over extended periods, corroborating the hypothesis of sentiment‐induced temporary mispricing phenomena. Significantly, our findings advocate for the adoption of the jump component of realized volatility as a proxy for firm‐specific investor sentiment, offering a novel perspective in the sentiment analysis literature.
Apparent digestibility and nutritional status of capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp.) under human care
Authors: Silva Maira Beatriz Gandolfi , Tokashiki Erick Yuji , Testa Carolyne Assis Eigenheer Pinke , de Lima Meirelles Paulo Roberto , Okamoto Priscylla Tatiana Chalfun Guimarães , Urrego Ana Camila Beltrán , Melchert Alessandra
Published: May 2024

Background

Studing the nutritional needs and dietary habits of primates is essential to ensure their health and well‐being. This includes the understanding of the use of nutrients and its correlation with health parameters.

Methods

Diet and nutritional parameters of 13 captive capuchin monkeys (Sapajus sp.) were assesed. Apparent digestibility of dry matter and nutrients were evaluated. Nutritional status was established based on body condition score (BCS) and muscle mass score (MMS).

Results

High apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) were observed for crude protein and ether extract, but low for minerals and crude fiber. The ADC of EE and CF were related to MMS, and the biochemical parameters did not correlate with the AD coefficients obtained in the group. The nutritional status of the animals remained inadequate in 84.6% of the individuals, suggesting a reformulation of the diet and nutritional management.
Age‐related differences in the use of boundary management tactics when teleworking: Implications for productivity and work‐life balance
Authors: Scheibe Susanne , Retzlaff Lena , Hommelhoff Sabine , Schmitt Antje
Published: May 2024

The rise of home‐based teleworking and the ageing of the workforce constitute two major trends impacting the future of work. Managing these trends well requires a good understanding of how worker age and telework intersect and which mechanisms link age and telework outcomes. We integrated perspectives of boundary theory and the lifespan model of selection, optimization, and compensation and investigated in two studies the relationship between employee age and two telework outcomes (work–life balance and unfinished tasks) as mediated by boundary management tactics aimed at segmenting work and nonwork roles. Across Study 1 (a two‐wave study with 172 teleworkers) and Study 2 (a three‐wave study with 282 teleworkers), we found positive associations between age and use of segmenting boundary management tactics during telework. We further identified indirect effects of age on higher productivity in terms of fewer unfinished tasks (both studies) and better work–life balance (Study 2) through boundary management tactics use. Robustness checks indicated that age effects remain significant after controlling for a number of demographic characteristics, work and home demands, motivational factors, and self‐regulatory skills. Findings suggest that older workers effectively navigate the blurred work‐nonwork boundaries in home‐based telework using self‐regulatory behaviour that supports positive telework outcomes.
Alone but flowing: The effects of autotelic personality and extraversion on solitary flow
Authors: Tse Dwight C. K. , Joseph Ayodele , Sweeny Kate
Published: May 2024

Objective/Background

Flow, a psychological state of intense engagement in and enjoyment of an activity, can arise during both solitary and socially interactive experiences. In the literature, whereas people high in extraversion have difficulty achieving flow in solitude, those with an autotelic personality—a combination of traits that make people prone to flow—readily experience flow in both solitary and interactive conditions. In this pre‐registered experiment, we investigated whether autotelic personality mitigates the negative association between solitary flow and extraversion.

Method

Participants and their romantic partners (final N = 368) played the game Perfection™ in three conditions (order was counterbalanced): alone (solitary condition), in the presence of their partner without interaction (mere‐presence condition), and collaboratively (interactive condition).

Results

There were independent, positive main effects of extraversion and autotelic personality on flow experience in mere‐presence and interactive conditions. However, the positive effect of extraversion on solitary flow was only significant among participants with high (vs. low) autotelic personality. In all conditions, flow experience was associated with greater low‐arousal positive affect and lesser high‐arousal negative affect.

Conclusions

The findings shed light on the role of personality in promoting solitary flow experiences, and particularly how traits might interact to determine optimal and non‐optimal conditions for achieving flow.
Religious coping and delinquent behaviors: Moderated mediation roles of religion affiliation and prosocial moral reasoning
Authors: Nwafor Chidozie Edwin , Ugwu Paschal Chukwuma , Okoye Chukwuemeka Felix A. , Obi‐Nwosu Harry , Ofonedu Mirian E.
Published: May 2024

Religion has been shown to have a positive impact for developing adolescents; however, the processes underlying this relation are not well known. In his almighty prosocial theory, Anazonwu (Conceptualizing and testing almighty prosociality theory for a more peaceful world, SCOA Heritage Nigeria, 2017) proposed that the activation of learnt prosocial moral reasoning through religion enabled performance of prosocial peace behavior that will benefit society. Thus, religion coping enhances the development of prosocial reasoning which in turn propagate prosocial acts while reducing delinquent behaviors. Similarly, developmental system theory (Lerner, Developmental science, developmental systems, and contemporary theories of human development, John Wiley & Sons, 2006) assumed that in every individual three mechanisms: plasticity (potential to change), context (environment), and developmental regulation (learnable principles) interact to describe the direction of the transactions between individuals and their various embedded sociocultural context of development which will also determine other developmental outcomes. Based on these two theoretical assumptions, the present study examined whether prosocial moral reasoning (developmental regulation) was the mechanism in the negative correlation between religious coping (plasticity) and delinquent behaviors (outcome), and if religious affiliation(context) (Christianity and Islam) moderated these paths. We hypothesized that the link from prosocial moral reasoning to lower delinquent behaviors would be stronger for Muslim compared with Christian youth. These questions were tested among Nigerian adolescence, an important sample because of high interreligious and interethnic tension among youth in the country. 298 adolescents (Mean age = 15.03 years, SD = 1.76; male = 176, female = 122; 46.3% Muslim, 53.7% Christian) were sampled using questionnaires in senior secondary schools in Nigeria. Moderated mediation result shows that greater religious coping was linked with higher prosocial moral reasoning, which in turn predicted fewer delinquent behaviors. Religious coping interacted with religion affiliation to influence delinquent behavior; there was a stronger link between these two constructs for Muslim compared to Christian youth. Thus, interventions aiming to reduce youth delinquent behaviors should consider promoting prosocial moral reasoning, particularly among the various religions (i.e., Christian/Muslim) communities.
A novel multi‐epitope peptide vaccine candidate targeting hepatitis E virus: An in silico approach
Authors: Kumar Anoop , Sahu Utkarsha , Agnihotri Geetanjali , Dixit Anshuman , Khare Prashant
Published: May 2024

Hepatitis E virus (HEV) is a foodborne virus transmitted through the faecal–oral route that causes viral hepatitis in humans worldwide. Ever since its discovery as a zoonotic agent, HEV was isolated from several species with an expanding range of hosts. HEV possesses several features of other RNA viruses but also has certain HEV‐specific traits that make its viral–host interactions inimitable. HEV leads to severe morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised people and pregnant women across the world. The situation in underdeveloped countries is even more alarming. Even after creating a menace across the world, we still lack an effective vaccine against HEV. Till date, there is only one licensed vaccine for HEV available only in China. The development of an anti‐HEV vaccine that can reduce HEV‐induced morbidity and mortality is required. Live attenuated and killed vaccines against HEV are not accessible due to the lack of a tolerant cell culture system, slow viral replication kinetics and varying growth conditions. Thus, the main focus for anti‐HEV vaccine development is now on the molecular approaches. In the current study, we have designed a multi‐epitope vaccine against HEV through a reverse vaccinology approach. For the first time, we have used viral ORF3, capsid protein and polyprotein altogether for epitope prediction. These are crucial for viral replication and persistence and are major vaccine targets against HEV. The proposed in silico vaccine construct comprises of highly immunogenic and antigenic T‐cell and B‐cell epitopes of HEV proteins. The construct is capable of inducing an effective and long‐lasting host immune response as evident from the simulation results. In addition, the construct is stable, non‐allergic and antigenic for the host. Altogether, our findings suggest that the in silico vaccine construct may be useful as a vaccine candidate for preventing HEV infections.
Culture and context in Interprofessional education: Expectations in Australia and Japan
Authors: Kent Fiona , Haruta Junji
Published: May 2024

The attributes of collaborative practice in health care vary across contexts, necessitating the adaptation of interprofessional education curricula to prepare students for the collaborative practice expected in their respective health care systems. Culture, when conceptualised through an organisational lens, allows an analysis of the shared assumptions, beliefs and values, without seeking to reduce to a uniform construct. This article explores the differences in interprofessional education competencies between Australia and Japan and considers the systems and patient expectations, which underpin each. While collaborative competence exhibits some similarities across contexts, competency frameworks differ in emphasis, language and key terminology, which highlight multiple points of difference in the expectations of interprofessional collaborative practice across contexts. There are education and practice consequences of these different perspectives of collaborative practice, in an increasingly mobile international workforce.
The importance of seeking feedback for benefiting from feedback: A case of second language writing
Authors: Papi Mostafa , Abdi Tabari Mahmoud , Sato Masatoshi
Published: May 2024

This study explored the role of feedback‐seeking behaviors (FSB) in how English‐as‐a‐second language (ESL) learners benefit from written corrective feedback (WCF). Seventy‐six learners enrolled in an ESL writing course at a major university in the United States completed an FSB questionnaire, wrote a narrative essay, received WCF on their essays, and were given the opportunity to seek further feedback while revising their essays. Five writing measures were used to assess the quality of the revised essays and code the WCF provided. Paired‐samples t‐tests showed that the students made statistically significant improvements in all but one (content) of the target measures. Multiple regression analyses showed that WCF predicted improvements in only one measure (language use), whereas the learners’ feedback monitoring (an implicit feedback‐seeking strategy involving attending to, processing, and using feedback) predicted the organization, vocabulary, language use, mechanics, as well as the overall quality of the students’ revisions. The results suggest that students benefit from WCF only if they seek, process, and use it. These findings confirmed the importance of feedback monitoring in how students benefit from WCF and support a learner‐centered perspective that views students as proactive agents in the feedback process. Theoretical and pedagogical implications are discussed.
Coalitions across divides: The interactional maintenance paradigm
Authors: Stagni Federica
Published: May 2024

Over the years, scholars have investigated how alliances begin and end, paying particular attention to factors that facilitate the emergence of movement and campaign coalitions. However, the issue of maintaining co‐resistance among distinct activist groups that lasts over time is still understudied. This contribution aims to fill this gap. Through an in‐depth empirical study of the long‐lasting cooperation of Israeli‐Palestinian activist organizations in the Palestinian region of the South Hebron Hills, this article singles out various factors that allowed this alliance to survive intense repression and change in political opportunities. Methodologically, a Protest Event Analysis was carried out after 2 months of preliminary fieldwork in Palestine (2019). It was followed by another 3 months of fieldwork in spring 2022 spent living with the community of Susiya and joining their everyday life and activism. Twenty‐three interviews with activists from both communities were conducted.
The Inflation-Inequality Connection in the European Union: U-Turn to Equity?
Authors: Akarsu Mahmut Zeki , Gharehgozli Orkideh
Published: May 2024

In this study, we delve into the complex relationship between inflation and inequality in the European Union from 1990 to 2019. Specifically, we explore the non-linear nature of this relationship, uncover turning points, and reveal the distinctive U-shape of the relationship be- tween the two indicators. Our research also uncovers some striking findings: first, we discover that sales taxes disproportionately harm households and drive up inequality, and second, we find that income tax policies are very effective at reducing inequality in Western European countries, while they are substantially less effective in Eastern European countries with lower income tax rates.
Numerical Investigations on Wake Effects of Fish Cages
Authors: Cheng Hui , Aydemir Onur , Ong Muk Chen
Published: May 2024

A typical fish farm in Norway usually consists of 6–12 fish cages, and these fish cages are moored together in a grid shape. Due to wake effects, individual fish cages may experience different flow velocities depending on their positions in the fish farm. Hereby, the drag forces on individual fish cages can be different. The drag forces on the downstream fish cages are difficult to estimate without knowing the exact flow velocity, which will lead to challenges with the mooring system design. In this study, the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method combined with a porous-media model is employed to investigate the wake effects on the fish farm. The flow field through the fish cages and the drag forces on the downstream fish cages are investigated and discussed.
Tailoring structure, morphology, and tribo-mechanical properties of HiPIMS-deposited CrxNy coatings for enhanced performance in wear and corrosion protection
Authors: Jaghar Nassima , Lahouij Mohamed , Larhlimi Hicham , Abegunde Olayinka , Samih Youssef , Makha Mohammed , Alami Jones
Published: May 2024

During reactive sputtering of CrxNy, precise regulation of nitrogen gas is crucial to control the properties of the deposited coating. In the present work, we investigate the influence of nitrogen content on CrxNy characteristics, including morphology, crystalline structure, hardness, corrosion protection, and wear protection performances. Our findings reveal that the hexagonal Cr2N coatings, although slightly lower in hardness (19 GPa) compared to stoichiometric CrN, exhibit superior corrosion resistance with a protection efficiency of 82%, and a reduced sliding wear behavior at 1.35E-09 mm3/N/m. Conversely, stoichiometric CrN shows the highest hardness at 22.8 GPa. Using high-power impulsed magnetron sputtering as a deposition technique, we were able to design CrxNy protective coatings with desired microstructure and phase composition, enabling the production of performance-tailored CrxNy coatings suitable for a diverse range of applications.
Gullying and landscape evolution: Lavaka in Lac Alaotra, Madagascar shed light on rates of change and non-anthropogenic controls
Authors: Cox Rónadh , Phillips Ezekiel King , Rakotondrazafy Amos Fety Michel
Published: May 2024

Gully evolution remains poorly understood, largely because multidecadal analysis is lacking. Large gullies (called lavaka) that pepper Madagascar’s highlands are generally attributed to human impact; but longitudinal data are few, and anthropogenic causation is inferred not verified. We focus on Lac Alaotra, Madagascar’s largest lake and wetland, its major rice-growing region, and an ecological hotspot surrounded by fault-controlled steep hills with abundant lavaka. Analysis of historical aerial photographs and recent orthoimagery reveals that the proportion of highly active lavaka has decreased since mid-20th century. At the same time, human population, farming intensity, and livestock density have increased exponentially. This suggests that background factors, including seismicity, are primary drivers of lavaka formation. Although human activities may contribute to erosion overall, land management policies that overemphasize human causation of gullying and neglect background forcing factors (in Madagascar and elsewhere) are unlikely to be effective in erosion mitigation.
Uncovering the impacts of depleting aquifers: A remote sensing analysis of land subsidence in Iran
Authors: Haghshenas Haghighi Mahmud , Motagh Mahdi
Published: May 2024

Intensive groundwater pumping, previously unrecognized in its full extent, is blamed for aquifer degradation and widespread land subsidence in Iran. We use a 100-meter resolution satellite survey from 2014 to 2020 to assess the recent implications of groundwater usage across the country. Results indicate that approximately 56,000 km
2
(3.5%) of the country’s area is subject to land subsidence, primarily linked to irrigation; 3000 km
2
of this area experiences subsidence rates greater than 10 cm/year. The central plateau catchment hosts two-thirds of the country’s depleting aquifers, with locations sinking at rates higher than 35 cm/year. The results suggest an annual groundwater depletion of 1.7 billion cubic meters (BCM) from confined and semiconfined aquifers, with the long-term inelastic compaction for most aquifers being approximately one order of magnitude larger than their seasonal elastic response. This underscores the permanent loss of aquifers that jeopardizes the sustainability of water resources across Iran.
Toward Heisenberg scaling in non-Hermitian metrology at the quantum regime
Authors: Yu Xinglei , Zhao Xinzhi , Li Liangsheng , Hu Xiao-Min , Duan Xiangmei , Yuan Haidong , Zhang Chengjie
Published: May 2024

Non-Hermitian quantum metrology, an emerging field at the intersection of quantum estimation and non-Hermitian physics, holds promise for revolutionizing precision measurement. Here, we present a comprehensive investigation of non-Hermitian quantum parameter estimation in the quantum regime, with a special focus on achieving Heisenberg scaling. We introduce a concise expression for the quantum Fisher information (QFI) that applies to general non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, enabling the analysis of estimation precision in these systems. Our findings unveil the remarkable potential of non-Hermitian systems to attain the Heisenberg scaling of 1/
t
, where
t
represents time. Moreover, we derive optimal measurement conditions based on the proposed QFI expression, demonstrating the attainment of the quantum Cramér-Rao bound. By constructing non-unitary evolutions governed by two non-Hermitian Hamiltonians, one with parity-time symmetry and the other without specific symmetries, we experimentally validate our theoretical analysis. The experimental results affirm the realization of Heisenberg scaling in estimation precision, marking a substantial milestone in non-Hermitian quantum metrology.
Multiple sources of water preserved in impact glasses from Chang’e-5 lunar soil
Authors: Zhou Chuanjiao , Mo Bing , Tang Hong , Gu Yaya , Li Xiongyao , Zhu Dan , Yu Wen , Liu Jianzhong
Published: May 2024

The existence of molecular H
2
O and evolution of solar wind–derived water on the lunar surface remain controversial. We report that large amounts of OH and molecular H
2
O related to solar wind and other multiple sources are preserved in impact glasses from Chang’e-5 (CE5) lunar soil based on reflectance infrared spectroscopy and nanoscale secondary ion mass spectrometry analyses. The estimated water content contributed by impact glasses to CE5 lunar soil was ~72 ppm, including molecular H
2
O of up to 15 to 25 ppm. Our studies revealed that impact glasses are the main carrier of molecular H
2
O in lunar soils. Moreover, water in CE5 impact glasses provides a record of complex formation processes and multiple water sources, including water derived from solar wind, deposited by water-bearing meteorites/micrometeorites, and inherited from lunar indigenous water. Our study provides a better understanding of the evolution of surficial water on airless bodies and identifies potential source and storage pathways for water in the terrestrial planets.
Ultrafast creation of a light-induced semimetallic state in strongly excited 1T-TiSe
2
Authors: Huber Maximilian , Lin Yi , Marini Giovanni , Moreschini Luca , Jozwiak Chris , Bostwick Aaron , Calandra Matteo , Lanzara Alessandra
Published: May 2024

Screening, a ubiquitous phenomenon associated with the shielding of electric fields by surrounding charges, has been widely adopted as a means to modify a material’s properties. While most studies have relied on static changes of screening through doping or gating thus far, here we demonstrate that screening can also drive the onset of distinct quantum states on the ultrafast timescale. By using time- and angle-resolved photoemission spectroscopy, we show that intense optical excitation can drive 1T-TiSe
2
, a prototypical charge density wave material, almost instantly from a gapped into a semimetallic state. By systematically comparing changes in band structure over time and excitation strength with theoretical calculations, we find that the appearance of this state is likely caused by a dramatic reduction of the screening length. In summary, this work showcases how optical excitation enables the screening-driven design of a nonequilibrium semimetallic phase in TiSe
2
, possibly providing a general pathway into highly screened phases in other strongly correlated materials.
Saturn’s F ring is intermittently shepherded by Prometheus
Authors: Cuzzi Jeffrey N. , Marouf Essam A. , French Richard G. , Murray Carl D. , Cooper Nicholas J.
Published: May 2024

One of the stranger planetary rings is Saturn’s narrow, clumpy F ring, lying just outside the main rings, in a region disturbed by chaotic orbital dynamics. We show that the F ring has a stable “true core” that dominates its mass and is confined into discontinuous short arcs of particles larger than a few millimeters in radius. The more obvious micron-size particles seen in images, outlining and obscuring the true core, contribute only a small fraction of its mass. We found that these arcs of large particles orbit Saturn in a specific corotational resonance with the nearby 100-kilometer diameter ringmoon Prometheus, which stabilizes the F ring material and allows it to persist within the disturbed region for decades or longer. Toward the end of the observing period, a small chaotic glitch in the orbit of Prometheus temporarily disrupted the confinement, but the arcs seem to be able to adapt.
Pd-catalyzed asymmetric Larock reaction for the atroposelective synthesis of N─N chiral indoles
Authors: Wang Jinlei , Pan Deng , Wang Fen , Yu Songjie , Huang Genping , Li Xingwei
Published: May 2024

Atropisomeric indoles defined by a N─N axis are an important class of heterocycles in synthetic and medicinal chemistry and material sciences. However, they remain heavily underexplored due to limited synthetic methods and challenging stereocontrol over the short N─N bonds. Here, we report highly atroposelective access to N─N axially chiral indoles via the asymmetric Larock reaction. This protocol leveraged the powerful role of chiral phosphoramidite ligand to attenuate the common ligand dissociation in the original Larock reaction, forming N─N chiral indoles with excellent functional group tolerance and high enantioselectivity via palladium-catalyzed intermolecular annulation between readily available
o
-iodoaniline and alkynes. The multifunctionality in the prepared chiral indoles allowed diverse post-coupling synthetic transformations, affording a broad array of functionalized chiral indoles. Experimental and computational studies have been conducted to explore the reaction mechanism, elucidating the enantio-determining and rate-limiting steps.
Single-cell analysis of anti-BCMA CAR T cell therapy in patients with central nervous system autoimmunity
Authors: Qin Chuan , Zhang Min , Mou Da-Peng , Zhou Luo-Qi , Dong Ming-Hao , Huang Liang , Wang Wen , Cai Song-Bai , You Yun-Fan , Shang Ke , Xiao Jun , Wang Di , Li Chun-Rui , Hao Yi , Heming Michael , Wu Long-Jun , Hörste Gerd Meyer Zu , Dong Chen , Bu Bi-Tao , Tian Dai-Shi , Wang Wei
Published: May 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy for the treatment of neurological autoimmune diseases is promising, but CAR T cell kinetics and immune alterations after treatment are poorly understood. Here, we performed single-cell multi-omics sequencing of paired cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and blood samples from patients with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) treated with anti–B cell maturation antigen (BCMA) CAR T cells. Proliferating cytotoxic-like CD8
+
CAR T cell clones were identified as the main effectors in autoimmunity. Anti-BCMA CAR T cells with enhanced features of chemotaxis efficiently crossed the blood-CSF barrier, eliminated plasmablasts and plasma cells in the CSF, and suppressed neuroinflammation. The CD44-expressing early memory phenotype in infusion products was potentially associated with CAR T cell persistence in autoimmunity. Moreover, CAR T cells from patients with NMOSD displayed distinctive features of suppressed cytotoxicity compared with those from hematological malignancies. Thus, we provide mechanistic insights into CAR T cell function in patients with neurological autoimmune disease.
The mitochondrial carboxylase PCCA interacts with
Listeria monocytogenes
phospholipase PlcB to modulate bacterial survival
Authors: Wang Jing , Cui Mingzhu , Liu Yucong , Chen Mianmian , Xu Jiali , Xia Jing , Sun Jing , Jiang Lingli , Fang Weihuan , Song Houhui , Cheng Changyong
Published: May 2024

Listeria monocytogenes
, a prominent foodborne pathogen responsible for zoonotic infections, owes a significant portion of its virulence to the presence of the phospholipase PlcB. In this study, we performed an in-depth examination of the intricate relationship between
L. monocytogenes
PlcB and host cell mitochondria, unveiling a novel participant in bacterial survival: the mitochondrial carboxylase propionyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (PCCA). Our investigation uncovered previously unexplored levels of interaction and colocalization between PCCA and PlcB within host cells, with particular emphasis on the amino acids 504–508 of PCCA, which play a pivotal role in this partnership. To assess the effect of PCCA expression on
L. monocytogenes
proliferation, PCCA expression levels were manipulated by siRNA-si-PCCA or pCMV-N-HA-PCCA plasmid transfection. Our findings demonstrated a clear inverse correlation between PCCA expression levels and the proliferation of
L. monocytogenes
. Furthermore, the effect of
L. monocytogenes
infection on PCCA expression was investigated by assessing PCCA mRNA and protein expression in HeLa cells infected with
L. monocytogenes
. These results indicate that
L. monocytogenes
infection did not significantly alter PCCA expression. These findings led us to propose that PCCA represents a novel participant in
L. monocytogenes
survival, and its abundance has a detrimental impact on bacterial proliferation. This suggests that
L. monocytogenes
may employ PlcB-PCCA interactions to maintain stable PCCA expression, representing a unique pro-survival strategy distinct from that of other intracellular bacterial pathogens.

IMPORTANCE

Mitochondria represent attractive targets for pathogenic bacteria seeking to modulate host cellular processes to promote their survival and replication. Our current study has uncovered mitochondrial carboxylase propionyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (PCCA) as a novel host cell protein that interacts with
L. monocytogenes
PlcB. The results demonstrate that PCCA plays a negative regulatory role in
L. monocytogenes
infection, as heightened PCCA levels are associated with reduced bacterial survival and persistence. However,
L. monocytogenes
may exploit the PlcB-PCCA interaction to maintain stable PCCA expression and establish a favorable intracellular milieu for bacterial infection. Our findings shed new light on the intricate interplay between bacterial pathogens and host cell mitochondria, while also highlighting the potential of mitochondrial metabolic enzymes as antimicrobial agents.
Performance of the Applied Biosystems HIV-1 Genotyping Kit with Integrase
Authors: Moore Hannah P. , Palumbo Philip J. , Notarte Kin Israel , Fogel Jessica M. , Cummings Vanessa , Gamble Theresa , Del Rio Carlos , Batey D. Scott , Mayer Kenneth H. , Farley Jason E. , Remien Robert H. , Beyrer Chris , Hudelson Sarah E. , Eshleman Susan H. ,   for the HPTN 078 study
Published: May 2024

HIV genotyping is used to assess HIV susceptibility to antiretroviral drugs. The Applied Biosystems HIV-1 Genotyping Kit with Integrase (AB kit, Thermo Fisher Scientific) detects resistance-associated mutations (RAMs) in HIV protease (PR), reverse transcriptase (RT), and integrase (IN). We compared results from the AB kit with results obtained previously with the ViroSeq HIV-1 Genotyping System. DNA amplicons from the AB kit were also analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS). HIV RNA was extracted using the MagNA Pure 24 instrument (Roche Diagnostics; 96 plasma samples, HIV subtype B, viral load range: 530–737,741 copies/mL). FASTA files were generated from AB kit data using Exatype (Hyrax Biosciences). DNA amplicons from the AB kit were also analyzed by NGS using the Nextera XT kit (Illumina). Drug resistance was predicted using the Stanford HIV Drug Resistance Database. The mean genetic distance for sequences from ViroSeq and the AB kit was 0.02% for PR/RT and 0.04% for IN; 103 major RAMs were detected by both methods. Four additional major RAMs were detected by the AB kit only. These four major RAMs were also detected by NGS (detected in 18.1%–38.2% of NGS reads). NGS detected 27 major RAMs that were not detected with either of the Sanger sequencing-based kits. All major RAMs detected with ViroSeq were detected with the AB kit; additional RAMs were detected with the AB kit only. DNA amplicons from the AB kit can be used for NGS for more sensitive detection of RAMs.
The imbalance of pulmonary Th17/Treg cells in BALB/c suckling mice infected with respiratory syncytial virus-mediated intestinal immune damage and gut microbiota changes
Authors: Liu Jiling , Huang Yixuan , Liu Nian , Qiu Huan , Zhang Xiaoyan , Liu Xiaojie , He Maozhang , Chen Mingwei , Huang Shenghai
Published: May 2024

The immune response induced by respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is closely related to changes in the composition and function of gastrointestinal microorganisms. However, the specific mechanism remains unknown and the pulmonary-intestinal axis deserves further study. In this study, the mRNA levels of ROR-γt and Foxp3 in the lung and intestine increased first and then decreased. IL-17 and IL-22 reached the maximum on the third day after infection in the lung, and on the second day after infection in the small intestine and colon, respectively. RegⅢγ in intestinal tissue reached the maximum on the third day after RSV infection. Moreover, the genus enriched in the RSV group was
Aggregatibacter
, and
Proteus
was reduced. RSV infection not only causes Th17/Treg cell imbalance in the lungs of mice but also leads to the release of excessive IL-22 from the lungs through blood circulation which binds to IL-22 receptors on the intestinal surface, inducing RegⅢγ overexpression, impaired intestinal Th17/Treg development, and altered gut microbiota composition. Our research reveals a significant link between the pulmonary and intestinal axis after RSV infection.

IMPORTANCE

RSV is the most common pathogen causing acute lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children, but the complex interactions between the immune system and gut microbiota induced by RSV infection still requires further research. In this study, it was suggested that RSV infection in 7-day-old BALB/c suckling mice caused lung inflammation and disruption of Th17/Treg cells development, and altered the composition of gut microbiota through IL-22 induced overexpression of RegⅢγ, leading to intestinal immune injury and disruption of gut microbiota. This research reveals that IL-22 may be the link between the lung and gut. This study may provide a new insight into the intestinal symptoms caused by RSV and other respiratory viruses and the connection between the lung and gut axis, as well as new therapeutic ideas for the treatment of RSV-infected children.
Intact stalked crinoids from the late Aptian of NE Spain offer insights into the Mesozoic Marine Revolution in the Tethys
Authors: García-Penas Álvaro , Baumiller Tomasz K. , Aurell Marcos , Zamora Samuel
Published: May 2024

Stalked crinoids were common in shallow-marine habitats in the geologic past but are today restricted to the deep sea. The timing of the shift in their bathymetric distribution has been discussed in the context of the Mesozoic Marine Revolution (MMR), one of the most important episodes of change in marine ecosystems of the Phanerozoic, which is generally thought to have begun sometime in the Late Triassic. However, the record of Cretaceous stalked crinoids is poor, consisting primarily of disarticulated ossicles for which the provenance is often difficult to determine, hampering interpretations of the habitat in which they lived. Here, we report on well-preserved isocrinids from the Aptian and use a multidisciplinary approach involving sedimentological, isotopic, and paleontological data to demonstrate that they inhabited a shallow lagoon subject to salinity variations. This suggests that their absence from such environments today is not a function of physicochemical factors and reinforces the idea that predation pressure may have played a critical role in their bathymetric distribution. The influence of predation is supported by the first Early Cretaceous record of a regenerating arm.
Early and extended erythropoietin monotherapy after hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy: a multicentre double-blind pilot randomised controlled trial
Authors: Garegrat Reema , Londhe Atul , Manerkar Swati , Fattepur Sudhindrashayana , Deshmukh Laxmikant , Joshi Amol , Chandriah Savitha , Kariyappa Mallesh , Devadas Sahana , Ethirajan Theranirajan , Srivasan Kalaivani , Kamalarathnam Chinnathambi , Balachandran Anitha , Krishnan Elango , Sahayaraj Deepthy , Bandiya Prathik , Shivanna Niranjan , Burgod Constance , Thayyil Ashwini , Alocious Annie , Lanza Marianna , Muraleedharan Pallavi , Pant Stuti , Venkateswaran Harini , Morales Maria Moreno , Montaldo Paolo , Krishnan Vaisakh , Kalathingal Thaslima , Joshi Anagha Rajeev , Vare Ajay , Patil G C , Satyanathan Babu Peter , Hapat Pavan , Deshmukh Abhishek , Shivarudhrappa Indramma , Annayappa Manjesh Kurupalya , Baburaj Mythili , Muradi Christina , Fernandes Esprance , Thale Nishad , Jahan Ismat , Shahidullah Mohammed , Choudhury Sadeka Moni , Dey Sanjoy Kumer , Neogi Sutapa B , Banerjee Rupsa , Rameh Vanessa , Alobeidi Farah , Grant Ellen , Juul Sandra E , Wilson Martin , Vita Enrico De , Pressler Ronit , Bassett Paul , Shankaran Seetha , Thayyil Sudhin
Published: May 2024

Objective

To examine the feasibility of early and extended erythropoietin monotherapy after hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE).

Design

Double-blind pilot randomised controlled trial.

Setting

Eight neonatal units in South Asia.

Patients

Neonates (≥36 weeks) with moderate or severe HIE admitted between 31 December 2022 and 3 May 2023.

Interventions

Erythropoietin (500 U/kg daily) or to the placebo (sham injections using a screen) within 6 hours of birth and continued for 9 days. MRI at 2 weeks of age.

Main outcomes and measures

Feasibility of randomisation, drug administration and assessment of brain injury using MRI.

Results

Of the 154 neonates screened, 56 were eligible; 6 declined consent and 50 were recruited; 43 (86%) were inborn. Mean (SD) age at first dose was 4.4 (1.2) hours in erythropoietin and 4.1 (1.0) hours in placebo. Overall mortality at hospital discharge occurred in 5 (19%) vs 11 (46%) (p=0.06), and 3 (13%) vs 9 (40.9%) (p=0.04) among those with moderate encephalopathy in the erythropoietin and placebo groups. Moderate or severe injury to basal ganglia, white matter and cortex occurred in 5 (25%) vs 5 (38.5%); 14 (70%) vs 11 (85%); and 6 (30%) vs 2 (15.4%) in the erythropoietin and placebo group, respectively. Sinus venous thrombosis was seen in two (10%) neonates in the erythropoietin group and none in the control group.

Conclusions

Brain injury and mortality after moderate or severe HIE are high in South Asia. Evaluation of erythropoietin monotherapy using MRI to examine treatment effects is feasible in these settings.

Trial registration number

NCT05395195.
Cat-scratch disease: a rare cause of osteomyelitis
Authors: Domingos Grilo Ricardo , Madureira Miguel , Reis Melo Ana , Tavares Margarida
Published: May 2024

Cat-scratch disease is a zoonosis caused byBartonella henselae, characterised by regional lymphadenopathy. Rarer presentations, such as osteomyelitis, can occur.

We present an adolescent girl with severe right lumbar pain and fever, without animal contacts or recent travels. On examination, pain on flexion of torso, movement limitation and marked lordosis were noted, but there were no inflammatory signs, palpable masses or lymph nodes. Serological investigations revealed elevated inflammatory markers. Imaging revealed a paravertebral abscess with bone erosion. Several microbiological agents were ruled out. After a second CT-guided biopsy, PCR forBartonella sppwas positive. At this point, the family recalled having a young cat some time before. Cat-scratch disease was diagnosed, and complete recovery achieved after treatment with doxycycline and rifampicin.

Cat-scratch disease is a challenging diagnosis in the absence of typical features. However,B. henselaemust be investigated if common pathogens are ruled out and response to therapy is poor.
Improved accuracy of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography and optical coherence tomography angiography for monitoring myopic macular neovascularisation activity
Authors: Ng Danny Siu-Chun , Chen Li Jia , Chan Leo Ka Yu , Tang Fang Yao , Teh Wee-Min , Zhou Linbin , Chan Fiona , Lin Eleanor Sui Sum , Yuen Ka Wai , Chu Wai Kit , Mohamed Shaheeda , Tsang Chi Wai , Zhang Xinyuan , Yam Jason C , Pang Chi-Pui , Lai Timothy Y Y
Published: May 2024

Background/aims

To evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD OCT) combined with OCT angiography (OCTA) for myopic myopic macular neovascularisation (MNV) activity.

Methods

Both eyes of patients with myopic MNV diagnosed with fluorescein angiography (FA), SD OCT and OCTA were assessed by unmasked investigators. The images were deidentified and randomised before graded by masked investigators, who determined the presence of active myopic MNV by using SD OCT together with OCTA without FA and by FA alone, respectively. The findings of masked investigators were compared with unmasked investigators.

Results

213 eyes of 110 patients comprising 499 imaging episodes were eligible for grading. For diagnosing new-onset myopic MNV without FA, combined use of SD OCT and OCTA had a sensitivity of 0.94, specificity of 0.84 and area under the curve (AUC) of 0.92. FA had a sensitivity of 0.52 (p<0.01), specificity of 0.80 (p=0.38) and AUC of 0.66 (p<0.01). For recurrent myopic MNV, the combination of SD OCT and OCTA had a sensitivity of 0.98, specificity of 0.78 and AUC of 0.88. FA had a sensitivity of 0.50 (p=0.04), specificity of 0.76 (p=0.85) and AUC of 0.63 (p=0.01). Myopic traction maculopathy was more frequently associated with recurrent myopic MNV (p<0.01).

Conclusion

SD OCT with dense volumetric scan was highly sensitive for diagnosing myopic MNV. The addition of OCTA improved the diagnostic specificity without FA. Monitoring of the longitudinal changes on SD OCT and judicious use of FA is a reliable surveillance strategy for myopic MNV.
Cheap solutions for big problems?
Authors: McCrory P
Published: May 2024

This article has been retracted. See the retraction notice for details. The PDF is retained for transparency.
Adoption by clinicians of electronic order communications in NHS secondary care: a descriptive account
Authors: Coleman Jamie J , Atia Jolene , Evison Felicity , Wilson Lydia , Gallier Suzy , Sames Richard , Capewell Andrew , Copley Richard , Gyves Helen , Ball Simon , Pankhurst Tanya
Published: May 2024

Background

Due to the rapid advancement in information technology, changes to communication modalities are increasingly implemented in healthcare. One such modality is Computerised Provider Order Entry (CPOE) systems which replace paper, verbal or telephone orders with electronic booking of requests. We aimed to understand the uptake, and user acceptability, of CPOE in a large National Health Service hospital system.

Methods

This retrospective single-centre study investigates the longitudinal uptake of communications through the Prescribing, Information and Communication System (PICS). The development and configuration of PICS are led by the doctors, nurses and allied health professionals that use it and requests for CPOE driven by clinical need have been described.

Records of every request (imaging, specialty review, procedure, laboratory) made through PICS were collected between October 2008 and July 2019 and resulting counts were presented. An estimate of the proportion of completed requests made through the system has been provided for three example requests. User surveys were completed.

Results

In the first 6 months of implementation, a total of 832 new request types (imaging types and specialty referrals) were added to the system. Subsequently, an average of 6.6 new request types were added monthly. In total, 8 035 132 orders were requested through PICS. In three example request types (imaging, endoscopy and full blood count), increases in the proportion of requests being made via PICS were seen. User feedback at 6 months reported improved communications using the electronic system.

Conclusion

CPOE was popular, rapidly adopted and diversified across specialties encompassing wide-ranging requests.