bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The characteristics of BCR‐CDR3 repertoire in COVID‐19 patients and SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccinated volunteers
Authors: Xiao Jiaping , Luo Yan , Li Yangyang , Yao Xinsheng
Published: February 2024

The global COVID‐19 pandemic has caused more than 1 billion infections, and numerous SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines developed rapidly have been administered over 10 billion doses. The world is continuously concerned about the cytokine storms induced by the interaction between SARS‐CoV‐2 and host, long COVID, breakthrough infections postvaccination, and the impact of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants. BCR‐CDR3 repertoire serves as a molecular target for monitoring the antiviral response “trace” of B cells, evaluating the effects, mechanisms, and memory abilities of individual responses to B cells, and has been successfully applied in analyzing the infection mechanisms, vaccine improvement, and neutralizing antibodies preparation of influenza virus, HIV, MERS, and Ebola virus. Based on research on BCR‐CDR3 repertoire of COVID‐19 patients and volunteers who received different SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines in multiple laboratories worldwide, we focus on analyzing the characteristics and changes of BCR‐CDR3 repertoire, such as diversity, clonality, V&J genes usage and pairing, SHM, CSR, shared CDR3 clones, as well as the summary on BCR sequences targeting virus‐specific epitopes in the preparation and application research of SARS‐CoV‐2 potential therapeutic monoclonal antibodies. This review provides comparative data and new research schemes for studying the possible mechanisms of differences in B cell response between SARS‐CoV‐2 infection or vaccination, and supplies a foundation for improving vaccines after SARS‐CoV‐2 mutations and potential antibody therapy for infected individuals.
Incidence of nausea/vomiting following propofol sedation with adaptive servo‐ventilation for atrial fibrillation ablation
Authors: Sakanoue Haruna , Yamaji Hirosuke , Okamoto Sayaka , Okano Kumi , Fujita Yuka , Higashiya Shunichi , Murakami Takashi , Kusachi Shozo
Published: February 2024

Background

Postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) following atrial fibrillation (AF) ablation can cause considerable distress.

Aim

Continuous intravenous propofol sedation with adaptive servo‐ventilation (ASV) with or without an analgesic, pentazocine, during AF ablation was studied in 272 consecutive patients with paroxysmal, persistent, and long‐standing persistent AF. The study objectives were to determine the incidence of PONV after AF ablation and to assess the predictive value of factors for PONV using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

The present sedation maneuver was successfully accomplished with a low incidence of hypotension and without discontinuation of ablation or switching to general anesthesia, while maintaining an acceptable procedural time (102 ± 32 min). The incidence of PONV was 5.5% (15/272). Nausea occurred in nine patients after an average of 4.6 ± 3.5 h (range: 2–12 h) postablation, and vomiting with nausea occurred in six patients after an average of 4.5 ± 3.1 h (range: 1–9 h) postablation. The postablation interval did not differ significantly between the occurrence of nausea and nausea accompanied by vomiting. AUCs based on various factors, including the Apfel score, ranged from 0.55 to 0.67, indicating low accuracy in predicting PONV occurrence.

Conclusions

The incidence of PONV after propofol sedation with ASV was the lowest (5.5%) reported to date. Scoring systems, which included the Apfel score, were ineffective in predicting PONV. The low PONV incidence in addition to the efficacy of propofol sedation with ASV revealed the adequacy of this regimen for AF ablation.
Inherited terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides in landscapes of selective glacial erosion: lessons from Lochnagar, Eastern Grampian Mountains, Scotland
Authors: Hall Adrian M. , Sugden David E. , Binnie Steven A. , Hein Andy , Dunai Tibor , Ritter Benedikt , Stewart Margaret
Published: February 2024

Inheritance from prior exposure often complicates the interpretation of terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (TCN) inventories in glaciated terrain. Lochnagar, a mountain in eastern Scotland, holds a clear geomorphological record of corrie glaciation and the thinning of the last Scottish ice sheet over the last ~15 ka. Yet attempts to date the main stages in deglaciation after sampling of 21 granite boulders for 10Be, 26Al and 14C from corrie moraines, an ice sheet lateral moraine and boulder spreads revealed widespread, but variable, TCN inheritance. Only the youngest boulder ages fit within the range of expected deglaciation ages. To identify the sources of geological uncertainty, we provide simple models of ice cover duration and erosion histories for plateau, corrie and strath landscape domains, identify the variable nuclide inheritance that derives from different sources for boulders in these domains, and outline the effects of rotation, splitting and erosion of boulders during glacial transport. The combined effects increase clustering around arbitrary mean TCN values that exceed deglaciation ages. A further implication is that boulders have survived beneath overriding ice sheets. Such boulder trapping at Lochnagar may have resulted from topographic controls on katabatic winds and surface ablation acting on a thinning, cold‐based ice sheet.
Analyzing Gene Expression After Administration of Low‐Intensity Therapeutic Ultrasound in Human Islet Cells
Authors: Hill John , Messina James , Jeremic Aleksandar , Zderic Vesna
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Diabetes mellitus is a complex heterogenous metabolic disease that significantly affects the world population. Although many treatments exist, including medications such as metformin, sulfonylureas, and glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP) receptor agonist, there is growing interest in finding alternative methods to noninvasively treat this disease. It has been previously shown that low‐intensity ultrasound stimulation of pancreatic β‐cells in mice can elicit insulin secretion as a potential treatment for this disease. This is desirable as therapeutic ultrasound has the ability to induce bioeffects while selectively focusing deep within tissues, allowing for modulation of hormone secretion in the pancreas to mitigate insufficient levels of insulin.

Methods

Exactly 800 kHz ultrasound with intensity 0.5 W/cm2 was administered 5 minutes continuously, that is, 100% duty cycle, to donor pancreatic human islets, followed by 1 hour incubation and RT‐qPCR to assess the effect of ultrasound stimulation on gene expression. The genes were insulin (INS), glucagon (Glu), amylin (Amy), and binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP). Nine donor pancreatic human islets were used to assess insulin and glucagon secretion, while eight samples were used for amylin and BiP. Fold change (FC) was calculated to analyze the effect of ultrasound stimulation on the gene expression of the donor islet cells. High‐glucose and thapsigargin‐treated islets were utilized as positive controls. Cell viability testing was done using a Trypan Blue Exclusion Test.

Results

Ultrasound stimulation did not cause a statistically significant upregulation in any of the tested genes (INS FC = 1.15, P‐value = .5692; Glu FC = 1.60, P‐value = .2231; Amy FC, P‐value = .2863; BiP FC = 2.68, P‐value = .3907).

Conclusions

The results of this study show that the proposed ultrasound treatment parameters do not appear to significantly affect gene expression of any gene tested.
Gender‐based differences exist in the functional knee phenotypes classification of the osteoarthritic knee
Authors: Chelli Sabrina , Rudyy Taras , Avram George Mihai , Huegli Rolf W. , Amsler Felix , Hirschmann Michael T.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To identify gender differences in (1) the coronal alignment of functional knee phenotypes and (2) the JLCA (joint line convergence angle) in relation to the phenotype classification.

Methods

This study is a retrospective data analysis, including 12,099 osteoarthritic knee computed tomography (5025 male, 7074 female) analysed by Medacta software for hip‐knee‐ankle angle (HKA), femoral mechanical angle (FMA), tibial mechanical angle (TMA) and JLCA. The data were grouped into genders and combined according to the Functional Knee Phenotypes Classification.

Results

Out of 127 phenotypes for males and 131 for females, 17 common phenotypes were reported. The commonest four were similar for both genders with VARHKA177° NEUFMA93° NEUTMA87° (9.8% males, 9.50% females), followed by VARHKA174° NEUFMA93°VARTMA84° (7.1%) and VARHKA174°VARFMA90° NEUTMA87° (7.0%) for males and VARHKA174° NEUFMA93° NEUTMA87° (6.1%), VARHKA174° NEUFMA93°VARTMA84° (5.1%) for females. The commonest FMA and TMA (91.5° to 94.5° and 85.5° to 88.5°, respectively) were the same for both genders, however, the rest of the male population observed greater femoral varus than the female population (p < 0.001). JLCA values ranged from −28.4° to 8.2° in the overall study population. Males and females had a mean JLCA of −2.96° (±2.6° SD) and −2.66° (±2.8°7 SD), respectively, p < 0.001.

Conclusions

Gender differences exist within the osteoarthritic knee phenotype. The male varus phenotype is influenced by FMA, while TMA values are similar across genders. JLCA variations show similarities to both TMA and FMA, suggesting JLCA is influenced by bone morphology more than by gender. These differences inform surgical decision‐making for the personalised approach to the primary TKA.

Level of Evidence

Level III.
Higher conversion rate to knee arthroplasty in female patients following medial open‐wedge high tibial osteotomy
Authors: Ahrend Marc‐Daniel , Petzold Daniel , Schuster Philipp , Herbst Moritz , Ihle Christoph , Mayer Philipp , Schröter Steffen
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Most studies about medial open‐wedge high tibial osteotomy (HTO) reported outcomes without focusing on gender differences. Therefore, the study compared the long‐term survival rate and postoperative subjective knee function after HTO in female versus male patients with symptomatic medial compartment knee osteoarthritis.

Methods

The data of three cohorts with long‐term outcomes were analysed (n = 245; 32% females; age: 49 ± 7 years; Kellgren Lawrence Grade I 6.1%, II 32.7%, III 42.4%; IV 18.8%). The minimum follow‐up was at least 6 years or an earlier conversion to total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The gender‐specific survival rate after HTO was calculated after 5 and 10 years and compared using Kaplan–Meier analysis and the logrank test. Baseline characteristics and subjective knee function (International Knee Documentation Committee [IKDC]/Lysholm) were analysed between both genders.

Results

Forty of 78 (51.3%) women and 41 of 167 men (24.5%) underwent TKA. HTO survival in females was significantly lower (p = 0.0010). The 5‐ and 10‐year survival rates were 85.9% and 62.6% for females and 93.4% and 77.7% for males. In females and males, from preoperative to the last follow‐up, the IKDC (43 ± 15 to 58 ± 17; 47 ± 14 to 67 ± 18) and the Lysholm (42 ± 18 to 72 ± 18; 55 ± 22 to 77 ± 23) improved significantly (all p < 0.0001). Females had significantly lower preoperative and postoperative IKDC (p = 0.0438; p = 0.0035) and Lysholm scores (p = 0.0002; p = 0.0323). But the absolute improvements of the IKDC and Lysholm were not significantly different between genders.

Conclusions

Females had higher conversion rates to TKA and lower knee function at the last follow‐up. However, preoperative knee function was lower in females and the absolute improvement following HTO was similar for both genders. In general, females benefit from HTO to treat medial knee arthritis, and TKA could be postponed for half of female patients for more than 10 years. However, surgeons must be aware of the described inferior outcomes in females for realistic patient expectation management.

Level of Evidence

Level II.
Collagen 1 gel may improve the regenerative capacity of minced adult and preosteoarthritic cartilage
Authors: Jahn Jannik , Halm‐Pozniak Agnieszka , Klutzny Marcus , Noll Michaela , Stärke Christian , Lohmann Christoph H. , Bertrand Jessica
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Minced cartilage implantation (MCI) is an evolving technique for the treatment of osteochondral lesions. It was hypothesised that mincing of cartilage may affect chondrocyte viability and phenotype and that embedding in collagen 1 gel results in an improved outcome. The objective of this study was to evaluate the impact of cartilage mincing and whether collagen 1 gel mediates beneficial effects on the chondrocyte phenotype and viability.

Methods

Human cartilage samples from 11 patients undergoing total knee arthroplasty were collected and minced according to the MCI protocol. Minced cartilage was cultured for 1 week with and without embedding in collagen 1 gel and was compared with unminced cartilage flakes as control. Quantitative reverse transcription‐PCR and immunohistochemical staining for the chondrocyte marker genes SOX9, COL2, ACAN, COL10 and MMP13 were used to examine the chondrocyte phenotype. Cell death was assessed by the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick‐end labeling assay.

Results

Increased chondrocyte cell death of cultured cartilage after mincing was observed. Chondrocytes from minced cartilage exhibited significantly decreased expression and protein levels of homeostatic and hypertrophic chondrocyte markers. Embedding in collagen 1 gel showed no positive effect on viability. However, remarkable is the increased expression of ACAN and the preserved protein level of SOX9 in the collagen 1‐embedded minced cartilage.

Conclusions

This study shows that the mincing of cartilage leads to increased chondrocyte death and decreased expression of chondrocyte phenotypic marker genes after 7 days. The use of collagen 1 gel may improve the stability of the phenotype, which needs to be further elucidated.

Level of Evidence

Level III (therapeutic).
Investigating the impacts of solid phase extraction on dissolved organic matter optical signatures and the pairing with high‐resolution mass spectrometry data across a freshwater stream network
Authors: Roebuck Jr J. Alan , Myers‐Pigg Allison N. , Garayburu‐Caruso Vanessa , Stegen James
Published: February 2024

Advancing our understanding of dissolved organic matter (DOM) chemistry in aquatic systems necessitates the integration of data streams from multiple analytical platforms. Some measurements require pretreatment with solid phase extraction (SPE), while others are performed directly on whole water samples. Evidence has suggested that SPE will be biased against select DOM fractions, leading to concerns over the ability to establish data linkages across platforms with variable needs for SPE pretreatment, such as those from optical measurements and those that provide high‐resolution molecular information. Here, we directly addressed this concern by assessing the impact of SPE on DOM optical properties through excitation–emission matrices with parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) for 47 samples across a stream network within a single watershed reflective of variable DOM sources. PARAFAC data was further paired with molecular information obtained by Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FTICR‐MS). A comparison of PARAFAC models first revealed no systematic qualitative differences in major components between whole water DOM and DOM isolated by SPE (SPE‐DOM); however, quantitative biases against select components were observed. Further linkages with FTICR‐MS data revealed that the molecular fingerprint associated with each PARAFAC component was consistent between the whole water DOM and SPE‐DOM. Our results suggest that bulk scale linkages across these analytical platforms could be inferred irrespective of the observed quantitative biases resulting from SPE for samples within this example watershed. This work represents a key step toward the systematic evaluation of linkages between optical and high‐resolution mass spectrometry datasets in freshwater lotic environments.
Reduction of Pro‐Inflammatory Markers in RAW264.7 Macrophages by Polyethylenimines
Authors: Frisch Emilie , Dussouillez Candice , McCartin Conor , Blumberger Juliette , Humbert Chana , Lebeau Luc , Frisch Benoît , Heurtault Béatrice , Kichler Antoine , Fournel Sylvie
Published: February 2024

The physiological problem of chronic inflammation and its associated pathologies attract ongoing attention with regard to methods for their control. Current systemic pharmacological treatments present problematic side effects. Thus, the possibility of new anti‐inflammatory compounds with differing mechanisms of action or biophysical properties is enticing. Cationic polymers, with their ability to act as carriers for other molecules or to form bio‐compatible materials, present one such possibility. Although not well described, several polycations such as chitosan and polyarginine, have displayed anti‐inflammatory properties. The present work shows the ubiquitous laboratory transfection reagent, polyethylenimine (PEI) and more specifically low molecular weight branched PEI (B‐PEI) as also possessing such properties. Using a RAW264.7 murine cell line macrophage as an inflammation model, it is found the B‐PEI 700 Da as being capable of reducing the production of several pro‐inflammatory molecules induced by the endotoxin lipopolysaccharide. Although further studies are required for elucidation of its mechanisms, the revelation that such a common lab reagent may present these effects has wide‐ranging implications, as well as an abundance of possibilities.
Extension and embedding theorems for Campanato spaces on C0,γ$C^{0,\gamma }$ domains
Authors: Greco Damiano , Lamberti Pier Domenico
Published: February 2024

We consider Campanato spaces with exponents on domains of class in the N‐dimensional Euclidean space endowed with a natural anisotropic metric depending on . We discuss several results including the appropriate Campanato's embedding theorem and we prove that functions of those spaces can be extended to the whole of the Euclidean space without deterioration of the exponents .
Multi‐omics analysis of disulfidptosis regulators and therapeutic potential reveals glycogen synthase 1 as a disulfidptosis triggering target for triple‐negative breast cancer
Authors: Xie Jindong , Deng Xinpei , Xie Yi , Zhu Hongbo , Liu Peng , Deng Wei , Ning Li , Tang Yuhui , Sun Yuying , Tang Hailin , Cai Manbo , Xie Xiaoming , Zou Yutian
Published: February 2024

Disruption of disulfide homeostasis during biological processes can have fatal consequences. Excess disulfides induce cell death in a novel manner, termed as “disulfidptosis.” However, the specific mechanism of disulfidptosis has not yet been elucidated. To determine the cancer types sensitive to disulfidptosis and outline the corresponding treatment strategies, we firstly investigated the crucial functions of disulfidptosis regulators pan‐cancer at multi‐omics levels. We found that different tumor types expressed dysregulated levels of disulfidptosis regulators, most of which had an impact on tumor prognosis. Moreover, we calculated the disulfidptosis activity score in tumors and validated it using multiple independent datasets. Additionally, we found that disulfidptosis activity was correlated with classic biological processes and pathways in various cancers. Disulfidptosis activity was also associated with tumor immune characteristics and could predict immunotherapy outcomes. Notably, the disulfidptosis regulator, glycogen synthase 1 (GYS1), was identified as a promising target for triple‐negative breast cancer and validated via in vitro and in vivo experiments. In conclusion, our study elucidated the complex molecular phenotypes and clinicopathological correlations of disulfidptosis regulators in tumors, laying a solid foundation for the development of disulfidptosis‐targeting strategies for cancer treatment.
Residually continuous pullback attractors for stochastic discrete plate equations
Authors: Han Kaili , Li Yangrong , Xia Huan
Published: February 2024

For a nonautonomous stochastic discrete plate equation driven by multiplicative noise, we prove the unique existence of a pullback random attractor, which is a family of pullback‐attracting random compact sets parameterized by time and samples. We then establish the residual dense continuity of the pullback random attractor on the time‐sample plane with respect to the Hausdorff metric. Even without the Cantor continuum hypothesis, we show that the set of all points of continuity of the pullback random attractor is an uncountable set with the continuity cardinality. These results explain both nonexplosive and nonimplosive phenomena for the random plate lattice system.
Effect of annealing on the morphology and properties of poly(lactic acid)/polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane asymmetric porous membranes prepared through non‐solvent induced phase separation and its application
Authors: Ramachandran Jeeshma , Thomas Selvin P. , Thomas Sabu , Stephen Ranimol
Published: February 2024

Non‐solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) method was employed to fabricate biodegradable poly(lactic acid) (PLA) nanocomposite membranes. Morphological studies using scanning electron microscopy revealed that all the membranes prepared display asymmetric structures comprising finger‐like macropores. The incorporation of modified polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (POSS) particles into the PLA matrix resulted in enhanced crystallinity, mechanical, and thermal properties. Annealing of the membranes was performed to explore the influence of temperature on the morphology and properties. After annealing, membranes become more thin and compact, and drastic enhancement in crystallinity is also observed. Consequently, Young's modulus experiences a significant improvement. The reduction in oil absorption capacity after annealing can be attributed to the higher level of crystallinity, reduced porosity, and smaller pore diameter observed in the annealed membranes. Additionally, the unannealed PLA nanocomposite membranes demonstrated exceptional oil absorption capacity, reaching approximately 88%. It is foreseeable that these PLA/POSS nanocomposite membranes possess the potential to be utilized as effective tools for oil–water separation, offering the advantage of mitigating secondary pollution.
Designing magnetic catalysts based on gold nanoparticles supported by ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid functionalized amino‐modified poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) for reduction of nitro compounds in water
Authors: Kafshboran Hadieh Rahbar , Ghasemi Soheila
Published: February 2024

A novel smart catalyst was developed with amino‐modified thermo‐responsive poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) grafts on silica‐coated magnetic nanoparticles using the conventional free radical polymerization process. By this methodology, the polymer was successfully grafted mainly onto silica‐modified iron oxide nanoparticles (Fe3O4@Si). The PNIPAM‐grafted Fe3O4@Si was then subjected to ethylenediamine treatment to produce the amino‐functionalized support (Fe3O4@Si@PNIPAM‐NH2), which was subsequently modified with carboxyl functional groups by using EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) to create Fe3O4@Si@PNIPAM‐NH2‐EDTA. Au nanoparticles were then decorated on this support through its two amines and four carboxylates. Different methods were used to study this novel catalyst, including inductively coupled plasma, Fourier transport infrared spectroscopy, TGA, dynamic light scattering, SEM, energy‐dispersive X‐ray analysis, vibrating sample magnetometry, XRD and elemental CHN analysis. The reduction of several aryl‐nitro derivatives demonstrated a significant catalytic activity for the as‐synthesized gold catalyst (Fe3O4@Si@PNIPAM‐NH2‐EDTA‐Au). The Au catalyst can be successfully removed from the reaction components using a magnetic field and used again in eight successive reduction reactions without significant gold leaching and loss of catalytic activity. © 2024 Society of Industrial Chemistry.
Clinical analysis of 94 cases of ocular adnexal lymphomas
Authors: Sun Yu‐ying , Luo Shu‐ai , Huang Chun‐yu
Published: February 2024

To investigate the imaging manifestations and pathological features of ocular adnexal lymphoma (OALs) in order to provide relevant information for ophthalmologists. A total of 94 patients with OALs were pathologically confirmed between August 2018 and July 2023, and their demographics, location, subtype, treatment, and prognosis were retrospectively studied. 94 patients with OALs were included in this study, of whom 28 were female (29.79%) and 66 were male (70.21%). The age of the patients ranged from 21 to 80 years, with a predominance of 50–60 years (60/94); monocular onset was common (90/94), and the most site of onset was orbital (74/94), followed by conjunctiva (12/94), eyelids (4/94), vitreous (3/94), and lacrimal gland (1/94). CT and MRI can show the involvement and extent of the lesions, and the pathology of the disease is characterized by mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma (72/94), diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (10/94), T‐cell lymphoma (4/94), mantle cell lymphoma (2/94), Burkitt's lymphoma (2/94), small lymphocytic lymphoma (2/94), and follicular lymphoma (1/94). All patients received surgical treatment, 42 patients received local radiation therapy, 35 patients received chemotherapy, 13 patients received radiation therapy and chemotherapy successively, and 3 patients received comprehensive treatment. During the follow‐up, three patients relapsed, four died, one was lost to follow‐up, and the remaining patients had stable conditions. The majority of OALs are mucosa‐associated lymphoid tissue marginal zone B‐cell lymphomas (MALT) with an excellent prognosis. It mostly occurs in people over 50 years of age and most site of the onset is orbital.
Testosterone bounce predicts favorable prognoses for prostate cancer patients treated with degarelix
Authors: Kamada Shuhei , Sakamoto Shinichi , Kinoshita Ryo , Zhao Xue , Kamasako Tomohiko , Yamase Ryosuke , Junryo Rii , Saito Shinpei , Sangjon Pae , Takei Akinori , Yamada Yasutaka , Goto Yusuke , Imamura Yusuke , Iguchi Taro , Mizokami Atsushi , Suzuki Hiroyoshi , Akakura Koichiro , Ichikawa Tomohiko
Published: February 2024

Background

To clarify the clinical roles of changes in testosterone (T) levels with a cut‐off level of 20 ng/dL as predictive factors for prostate cancer patients treated with degarelix acetate.

Methods

A total of 120 prostate cancer patients who received hormone therapies with gonadotropin‐releasing hormone antagonist degarelix acetate were retrospectively analyzed. The predictive values of nadir T levels, max T levels, T bounce, and other clinical factors were evaluated for overall survival (OS), cancer‐specific survival (CSS), and progression‐free survival (PFS). T bounce was defined as satisfying both nadir serum T levels of <20 ng/dL and max serum T levels of ≥20 ng/dL during hormone therapies.

Results

In 120 prostate cancer patients, 16 (13%) patients did not achieve nadir T < 20 ng/dL, and 76 (63%) patients had max T ≥ 20 ng/dL. The median times to nadir T and max T are 108 and 312 days, respectively. T bounce was shown in 60 (50%) patients and is associated with favorable prognoses both for OS (p = 0.0019) and CSS (p = 0.0013) but not for PFS (p = 0.92). While in the subgroup analyses of the patients with the progression of the first‐line hormone therapies, T bounce predicts favorable OS (p = 0.0015) and CSS (p = 0.0013) after biochemical recurrence.

Conclusions

The present study revealed that T bounce with cut‐off levels of 20 ng/dL is a promising biomarker that predicts OS and CSS for prostate cancer patients treated with degarelix acetate.
Advances in making Mn oxide‐coated sands
Authors: Rabenhorst Martin C. , Wardrup Jocelyn L.
Published: February 2024

Manganese (Mn) oxide‐coated sand has been suggested as an amendment for scrubbing metals in water filtration beds and also as a less concentrated medium for uniformly amending soils with Mn oxides in mesocosm scale studies. Earlier work at the lab bench scale, using potassium permanganate (KMnO4) solutions that were reduced with sodium (Na) lactate, resulted in sands coated with about 0.13% Mn. The goal of this project was to increase the amount of Mn oxide that could be coated on sand to make it a more useful amendment and also to attempt to scale up the procedure to produce larger (kg) quantities of coated sand. Titration experiments examined the effects of (1) varying the molar ratio of Na lactate to KMnO4, (2) varying the rate at which the titration was accomplished, and (3) varying the concentration (molarity) of the original KMnO4 solution. The results of this work led to an optimal approach utilizing 0.32 M KMnO4 solution that was titrated to a final lactate:permanganate ratio of ∼1.1 with 10% of the lactate being added every 10 min while the suspension was being stirred. The proportion of sand to an initial solution was also increased 5–20 fold to between 50 and 200 g per 100 mL of solution. Applying this method and using a large 20‐ to 30‐L reaction vessel yields sands coated with up to 0.7% Mn in batches 5–10 kg is size, which could be useful as an amendment in mesocosm scale studies, or as a component of treatment filter beds. The examination of various size fractions of the coated sands demonstrated that more Mn was coated on finer sand fractions, which appears to be a function of the particle surface area available for the coating of Mn oxides, and at a rate of 0.3–0.5 µg Mn mm−2 of the particle surface.
Microbially Inspired Calcium Carbonate Precipitation Pathway Integrated Polyelectrolyte Capsules (MICPC) for Biomolecules Release
Authors: Yuan Hao , Jia Lufan , Xie Xin , Li Qinyuan , Peng Yali , Ma Qingming , Guo Ting , Meng Tao
Published: February 2024

Complexation between oppositely charged polyelectrolytes offers a facile single‐step strategy for assembling functional micro‐nano carriers for efficient drug and vaccine delivery. However, the stability of the delivery system within the physiological environment is compromised due to the swelling of the polyelectrolyte complex, driven by the charge shielding effect, and consequently leads to uncontrollable burst release, thereby limiting its potential applications. In a pioneering approach, cellular pathway‐inspired calcium carbonate precipitation pathways are developed that are integrated into polyelectrolyte capsules (MICPC). These innovative capsules are fabricated at the interface of all‐aqueous microfluidic droplets, resulting in a precisely controllable and sustained release profile in physiological conditions. Unlike single‐step polyelectrolyte assembly capsules which always perform rapid burst release, the MICPC exhibits a sustainable and tunable release pattern, releasing biomolecules at an average rate of 3−10% per day. Remarkably, the degree of control over MICPC's release kinetics can be finely tuned by adjusting the quantity of synthesized calcium carbonate particles within the polyelectrolyte complex. This groundbreaking work not only deepens the insights into polyelectrolyte complexation but also significantly enhances the overall stability of these complexes, opening up new avenues for expanding the range of applications involving polyelectrolyte complex‐related materials.
Engineering pH‐Responsive, Self‐Healing Vesicle‐Type Artificial Tissues with Higher‐Order Cooperative Functionalities
Authors: Kojima Tomoya , Noguchi Yutaro , Terasaka Koichi , Asakura Kouichi , Banno Taisuke
Published: February 2024

Multicellular organisms demonstrate a hierarchical organization where multiple cells collectively form tissues, thereby enabling higher‐order cooperative functionalities beyond the capabilities of individual cells. Drawing inspiration from this biological organization, assemblies of multiple protocells are developed to create novel functional materials with emergent higher‐order cooperative functionalities. This paper presents new artificial tissues derived from multiple vesicles, which serve as protocellular models. These tissues are formed and manipulated through non‐covalent interactions triggered by a salt bridge. Exhibiting pH‐sensitive reversible formation and destruction under neutral conditions, these artificial vesicle tissues demonstrate three distinct higher‐order cooperative functionalities: transportation of large cargoes, photo‐induced contractions, and enhanced survivability against external threats. The rapid assembly and disassembly of these artificial tissues in response to pH variations enable controlled mechanical task performance. Additionally, the self‐healing property of these artificial tissues indicates robustness against external mechanical damage. The research suggests that these vesicles can detect specific pH environments and spontaneously assemble into artificial tissues with advanced functionalities. This leads to the possibility of developing intelligent materials with high environmental specificity, particularly for applications in soft robotics.
Rational Electrochemical Design of Cuprous Oxide Hierarchical Microarchitectures and Their Derivatives for SERS Sensing Applications
Authors: An Ning , Chen Tiantian , Zhang Junfeng , Wang Guanghui , Yan Mi , Yang Shikuan
Published: February 2024

Rational morphology control of inorganic microarchitectures is important in diverse fields, requiring precise regulation of nucleation and growth processes. While wet chemical methods have achieved success regarding the shape‐controlled synthesis of micro/nanostructures, accurately controlling the growth behavior in real time remains challenging. Comparatively, the electrodeposition technique can immediately control the growth behavior by tuning the overpotential, whereas it is rarely used to design complex microarchitectures. Here, the electrochemical design of complex Cu2O microarchitectures step‐by‐step by precisely controlling the growth behavior is demonstrated. The growth modes can be switched between the thermodynamic and kinetic modes by varying the overpotential. Cl− ions preferably adhered to {100} facets to modulate growth rates of these facets is proved. The discovered growth modes to prepare Cu2O microarchitectures composed of multiple building units inaccessible with existing methods are employed. Polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) additives can guarantee all pre‐electrodeposits simultaneously evolve into uniform microarchitectures, instead of forming undesired microstructures on bare electrode surfaces in following electrodeposition processes is discovered. The designed Cu2O microarchitectures can be converted into noble metal microstructures with shapes unchanged, which can be used as surface‐enhanced Raman scattering substrates. An electrochemical avenue toward rational design of complex inorganic microarchitectures is opened up.
Directed Evolution of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 to Utilize Allulose as Sole Carbon Source
Authors: Xu Bo , Liu Li‐Hua , Lai Shijing , Chen Jingjing , Wu Song , Lei Wei , Lin Houliang , Zhang Yu , Hu Yucheng , He Jingtao , Chen Xipeng , He Qian , Yang Min , Wang Haimei , Zhao Xuemei , Wang Man , Luo Haodong , Ge Qijun , Gao Huamei , Xia Jiaqi , Cao Zhen , Zhang Baoxun , Jiang Ao , Wu Yi‐Rui
Published: February 2024

Sugar substitutes are popular due to their akin taste and low calories. However, excessive use of aspartame and erythritol can have varying effects. While D‐allulose is presently deemed a secure alternative to sugar, its excessive consumption is not devoid of cellular stress implications. In this study, the evolution of Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 (EcN) is directed to utilize allulose as sole carbon source through a combination of adaptive laboratory evolution (ALE) and fluorescence‐activated droplet sorting (FADS) techniques. Employing whole genome sequencing (WGS) and clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats interference (CRISPRi) in conjunction with compensatory expression displayed those genetic mutations in sugar and amino acid metabolic pathways, including glnP, glpF, gmpA, nagE, pgmB, ybaN, etc., increased allulose assimilation. Enzyme‐substrate dynamics simulations and deep learning predict enhanced substrate specificity and catalytic efficiency in nagE A247E and pgmB G12R mutants. The findings evince that these mutations hold considerable promise in enhancing allulose uptake and facilitating its conversion into glycolysis, thus signifying the emergence of a novel metabolic pathway for allulose utilization. These revelations bear immense potential for the sustainable utilization of D‐allulose in promoting health and well‐being.
Effect of Controlled Rolling on the Strength and Toughness of Low‐Alloy Martensitic Steel
Authors: Tang Yuanshou , Zhao Jie , Si Yu , Li Kejian , Zhang Longzhu , Zhao Linlin , Li Shouhua , Wen Tong , Cao Pengjun
Published: February 2024

Low‐carbon martensitic steel is the key material of automobile lightweight. Unfortunately, the strategies for increasing the material strength, such as processing to create line defects (dislocations), tend to decrease the ductility. Herein, a strategy to circumvent this problem in an inexpensive, microalloy low‐carbon (0.32%) martensitic steel by regulating the accelerated cooling stop temperature after hot rolling is developed. Steel with fine austenite grains embedded in a highly dislocated martensite matrix is developed by cold rolling followed by saltwater quenching and low‐temperature tempering. This deformed process produces dislocation hardening, but retains high ductility both through the glide of intensive mobile dislocations. The proposed strategy provides a pathway for the development of high‐strength, high‐ductility materials.
Density, Surface Tension, and Viscosity of Molten Ni‐Based Superalloys Using the Maximum Bubble Pressure and Oscillating Crucible Methods
Authors: Nishi Tsuyoshi , Matsumoto Saori , Yamano Hidemasa , Hayashi Kiichiro , Endo Rie , Bellé Matheus Roberto , Neubert Lukas , Volkova Olena
Published: February 2024

Accurate data on the high‐temperature thermophysical properties, which are density, surface tension, and viscosity, are indispensable for performing high‐precision casting simulations of Ni‐based superalloys. Viscosity is the most important thermophysical property for thermofluidic analysis. However, measuring the viscosity of an alloy, which is lower than that of molten glass, is difficult, and experimental viscosity data are limited. Herein, the density of Ni‐based superalloys is measured using the maximum bubble pressure (MBP) method to determine viscosity. The viscosity is evaluated using the oscillating crucible method. The surface tension is simultaneously measured using the MBP method. In these results, the average density values [kg m−3] of Alloy 65, Alloy 718, Alloy WA, and Alloy 720 are 7.52 × 103, 7.43 × 103, 7.82 × 103, and 7.52 × 103, respectively. The average surface tension values [N m−1] of Alloy 65, Alloy 718, Alloy WA, and Alloy 720 are 1.55, 1.54, 1.47, and 1.51, respectively. The fitting equations of the molten Ni‐based superalloys are as follows. 1) Alloy 65: ; 2) Alloy WA: ; 3) Alloy 720: ; 4) Alloy 718: .
Introduction. The Platform Age
Authors: Cuppini Niccolò , Frapporti Mattia , Mezzadra Sandro , Pirone Maurilio
Published: February 2024

This two-part work brings together the outcomes of the Horizon 2020 Project PLUS, “Platform Labor in Urban Spaces”. Running from December 2018 to March 2022, which included an extension from December 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this research project investigated the main features and dimensions of the impact of digital platforms on the economy and society, with a specific focus on labour, urban transformations, and welfare. Sixteen partners, including universities, research centres, and cooperatives, investigated the operations of four digital platforms (AirBnb, Deliveroo, Helpling, and Uber) in seven European cities (Barcelona, Berlin, Bologna, Lisbon, London, Paris, and Tallin). The research involved, in different ways, municipalities, independent researchers, platform managers, and established grassroot unions. The fact that the four abovementioned platforms operate in diverse fields—accommodation, food delivery, domestic labour, and transport—has allowed us to carry out a wide-ranging analysis of the rapid spread of digital platforms across the economy and society.
Perceiving Platform Work as Decent Work? Views Regarding Working Conditions Among Platform Taxi Drivers in Tallinn
Authors: Unt Marge , Kall Kairit , Roosalu Triin , Ojamäe Liis
Published: February 2024

The global proliferation of neoliberalism, prioritising market primacy, privatisation, and deregulation, has impelled employers to pursue enhanced labour flexibility.
Skills Development as a Political Process: Towards New Forms of Mobilization and Digital Citizenship Among Platform Workers
Authors: Bignami Filippo , Dif-Pradalier Maël , Tiberghien Julie
Published: February 2024

Finding themselves on the front line of changes to how work is regulated and organized, platform workers need to be directly involved in the redefinition of skills according to a participatory and performative notion of digital citizenship. This is especially true in urban settings, where the relationship between workers and platforms has been shaping new forms of social interaction. The skills needed to keep up with these developments remain to be defined. Understanding skills development as a political process is crucial to ensuring individuals have the means to effectively navigate the platform economy and critically assess the opportunities it provides. Furthermore, such an approach will foster informed political engagement while counteracting manipulation or misinformation.
How to Build Alternatives to Platform Capitalism?
Authors: Cano Melissa Renau , Espelt Ricard , Morell Mayo Fuster
Published: February 2024

The platform economy is growing exponentially while creating expectations for its potential to contribute to sustainable development. Despite this, most research studies have concentrated on well-known models such as Uber and Airbnb, dismissing platform alternatives. Thus, research aimed at showing the potential contribution of each platform’s business model to sustainable development is needed. Moreover, there is a gap in literature studying—thorough empirical research—to what extent platform cooperatives are an alternative to unicorn platforms in terms of working conditions. This chapter summarises the research performed in the PLUS project by Dimmons research group. It puts forward a framework to differentiate platform models, which considers governance, economic sustainability, technological and data policies, social responsibility, and external impact dimensions. This framework was tested with an empirical analysis of 60 platforms and a deep study of three alternatives to platform capitalism: Fairbnb, Katuma, and Smart. The research paper found that a sustainable design of a platform economy promotes sustainable development, and showed in what aspects the three platforms studied may be considered an alternative to unicorn platforms in terms of gender equality, work-life balance, and training opportunities.
Social Protection, Basic Income and Taxation in the Digital Economy
Authors: Fumagalli Andrea , Gobetti Sandro , Morini Cristina , Serino Rachele
Published: February 2024

Digital platforms represent the technological infrastructure that has become so widespread in the organisation of production, in the transformations of work and in consumer choices that the term “platformisation of work” has been coined as part of the so-called “digital transformation” of society.
The Process of Valorization in the Platform Capitalism
Authors: Fumagalli Andrea
Published: February 2024

In this essay, I use two different words to express the concept of productive human activity. The first is the Latin term ‘labor’, whose etymology means ‘pain’, ‘punishment’, ‘torture’, ‘suffering’. The second one is the term ‘opus’, again from Latin, which means creative activity that unleashes the human being’s capacity for doing and thinking. The concept of ‘labor’ is assimilable to the Marxian concept of ‘abstract labour’, it is the human activity that produces ‘exchange value’ and is the pivot around which capitalistic wealth creation evolves. By contrast, the concept of ‘opus’ is assimilable to the Marxian concept of ‘concrete labour’, able to produce ‘use value’ for the immediate satisfaction of human needs and dreams. In the capitalist system of production, ‘labour’ is remunerated and codified since it is considered ‘productive’, while ‘opus’ in most cases is free (unpaid) activity, not capable of generating wealth for the economic system (surplus value). Therefore, when referring to capitalist production, only the term ‘labour’ is used. Conversely, the term ‘opus’ together with the term ‘otium’ does not imply capitalist activity. The central theme of contemporary capitalism, which, according to some scholars, can be defined as bio-cognitive capitalism, is precisely the attempt to overcome this dichotomy, deconstructing the capital-labour relationship as we have known it since the industrial and French revolution of the late eighteenth century until today.
An elliptic one-loop amplitude in anti-de-Sitter space
Authors: Stawinski Sven F.
Published: February 2024

Abstract

We present full analytic results for the four-point one-loop amplitude of a conformally coupled scalar in four-dimensional Anti-de-Sitter space dual to a primary operator with scaling dimension 1. The computation is based on an intriguing recent discovery, connecting Witten diagrams and flat-space Feynman integrals, which led to an expression of the amplitude of interest as a pure combination of single-valued multiple polylogarithms and an integral which cannot be reduced to multiple polylogarithms. We explicitly evaluate that integral in terms of elliptic multiple polylogarithms, finding that it is not manifestly single-valued unlike the polylogarithmic contributions to the amplitude. Further we compute the symbol of the integral and observe similar structures as for (elliptic) flat-space amplitudes. The result presented here adds to the relatively short list of explicitly known position space curved-space amplitudes beyond tree level, and constitutes the first curved-space amplitude evaluated in terms of elliptic multiple polylogarithms.
General Position Polynomials
Authors: Iršič Vesna , Klavžar Sandi , Rus Gregor , Tuite James
Published: February 2024

A subset of vertices of a graph G is a general position set if no triple of vertices from the set lie on a common shortest path in G. In this paper we introduce the general position polynomial as $$\sum _{i \ge 0} a_i x^i$$

∑

i
≥
0

a
i

x
i

, where $$a_i$$

a
i

is the number of distinct general position sets of G with cardinality i. The polynomial is considered for several well-known classes of graphs and graph operations. It is shown that the polynomial is not unimodal in general, not even on trees. On the other hand, several classes of graphs, including Kneser graphs K(n, 2), with unimodal general position polynomials are presented.
The effects of school shootings on risky behavior, health, and human capital
Authors: Deb Partha , Gangaram Anjelica
Published: February 2024

We examine the effect of school shootings on risky health behaviors, health, and human capital outcomes of exposed students as adults and on their migration during middle and high school and a few years beyond. We use shootings data compiled by the Center for Homeland Defense and Security along with 2003–2012 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data to examine risky behaviors, health, and human capital outcomes, and the 2004–2018 American Community Survey to examine migration. We find that students exposed to school shootings experience declines in health and well-being, engage in more risky behaviors, and have worse education and labor market outcomes as young adults. There is no evidence of migration in response to school shootings.