bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Inequality Regimes in Coworking Spaces: How New Forms of Organising (Re)produce Inequalities
Authors: Knappert Lena , Cnossen Boukje , Ortlieb Renate
Published: March 2024

Coworking is a rapidly growing worldwide phenomenon. While the coworking movement emphasises equality and emancipation, there is little known about the extent to which coworking spaces as new forms of organising live up to this ideal. This study examines inequality in coworking spaces in the Netherlands, employing Acker’s framework of inequality regimes. The findings highlight coworking-specific components of inequality regimes, in particular stereotyped assumptions regarding ‘ideal members’ that establish the bases of inequality, practices that produce inequality (e.g. through the commodification of community) and practices that perpetuate inequality (e.g. the denial of inequality). The study provides an update of Acker’s framework in the context of coworking and speaks, more broadly, to the growing body of literature on (in)equality in emerging organisational contexts.
‘Sustainable Development’: Is it a Useful Concept?
Authors: Beckerman Wilfred
Published: March 2024

It is argued that ‘sustainable development’ has been defined in such a way as to be either morally repugnant or logically redundant. ‘Strong’ sustainability, overriding all other considerations, is morally unacceptable as well as totally impractical; and ‘weak’ sustainability, in which compensation is made for resources consumed, offers nothing beyond traditional economic welfare maximisation. The ‘sustainability’ requirement that human well-being should never be allowed to decline is shown to be irrational. Welfare economics can accommodate distributional considerations, and, suitably defined, the concept of welfare can include the subjective effects of changes in – as well as the levels of – well-being. Hence there is no reason why welfare maximisation should not remain an overriding policy objective. Nor can sustainability be regarded as a ‘constraint’ on welfare maximisation unless there is a clear conflict between the two – which has yet to be demonstrated. This is not to deny the importance of intergenerational justice, nor the need for economic incentives to correct market imperfections if the environment is to be managed in a socially optimal manner. Apart from a few small developing countries heavily dependent on minerals or other finite primary products, the measurement of some wider concept of ‘sustainable’ GNP is a waste of time and such estimates as have been made are virtually worthless.
Hiding Behind Complexity: Supply Chain, Oversight, Race, and the Opioid Crisis
Authors: Attari Iman , Helm Jonathan E , Mejia Jorge
Published: March 2024

The opioid crisis has ravaged the United States, taking 69,000 lives in 2020, with prescription opioids accounting for 98% of opioid abuse. Although this epidemic is often considered a White public health crisis nationally, overdose deaths among people of color doubled from 2017 to 2019. As research has shown that the crisis was fueled by excessive supply from the pharmaceutical industry, several individual firms have received significant public criticism. However, we find evidence that the scope of the blame transcends individual actors to indict the very structure of complex supply chains, which may have exacerbated the crisis by dispensing significantly more opioids. In specific, we posit that supply chain complexity allowed mass quantities of opioids to escape detection by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Further, we find new evidence showing the greater impact of complexity on opioid dispensing in non-White communities, which underscores their exclusion from the public discourse and governmental response surrounding the crisis and suggests possible racial bias in the DEA’s regulatory policies. Our analysis was made possible by the 2019 release of the DEA’s Automation of Reports and Consolidated Orders System database, which logged every shipment in the US opioid supply chain from 2006 to 2014. Using a fixed effects model, we find that a one-unit increase across three dimensions of supply chain complexity is associated with a 16% increase in opioid dispensing. This effect is intensified in non-White communities, where a 10% increase in the non-White population is associated with a 3.39% (1.33%) increase in opioid dispensing by pharmacies that have supply chains with high (average) complexity. To verify that high-complexity pharmacies’ excess dispensing supplied non-medical/recreational demand, we exploit the reformulation of OxyContin (designed to prevent recreational use) as an exogenous shock to the market. In a novel approach, we leverage the fact that different pharmacies received their first shipment of reformulated OxyContin at different times and use a difference-in-differences model to estimate the heterogeneous effect of the shock on dispensing. As the reformulated OxyContin stifled demand, high-complexity pharmacies experienced a 15.31% greater reduction in dispensing compared to lower-complexity pharmacies, suggesting that their excess dispensing was indeed satisfying non-medical/recreational demand.
Reward-Based Crowdfunding Versus Initial Coin Offerings
Authors: Hu Junming , Xue Weili , Yang Yi
Published: March 2024

Inspired by emerging financing techniques that offer additional financing options for entrepreneurs, we establish a stylized model to compare two prevalent crowdfunding strategies: Reward-based crowdfunding and Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). First, we highlight that the fundamental difference between reward-based crowdfunding and ICO lies in the distinct types of price distortion, resulting in different agency costs. Specifically, compared to the first-best benchmark, reward-based crowdfunding sets a lower funding price to attract more consumers to pre-order, while ICO sets a higher market price due to speculators’ revenue-sharing in the market stage. Second, we show that the financing limit (i.e., the maximum funds raised) of reward-based crowdfunding is driven by the platform traffic, whereas that of ICO is driven by the marginal production cost. Therefore, even with numerous speculators, ICO may result in a lower financing limit than reward-based crowdfunding when the platform traffic or the marginal production cost is high. Third, we explore how products’ cost structures shape entrepreneurs’ financing preferences. ICO suits intangible products with high fixed cost and low marginal production cost, while reward-based crowdfunding aligns better with products exhibiting the opposite cost structure. Finally, we extend our model to show the robustness of our findings and offer some additional insights. For example, ICO may amplify the risk of market uncertainty compared to reward-based crowdfunding; Security Token Offerings (STO) benefits from the absence of agency costs between the entrepreneur and speculators compared to ICO while it may suffer from equity loss, particularly in risky and regulated markets, etc.
Intratesticular Mullerian Serous Borderline Tumor With Microinvasion: A Rare Tumor and Review of the Literature
Authors: Repetto Federico , Perrino Carmen M. , Hirsch Michelle S.
Published: March 2024

Ovarian-type (ie, Mullerian) epithelial tumors occurring in the testicular and paratesticular regions are exceptionally rare, with only a handful reported worldwide. Serous tumors are the most frequently encountered subtype among these rare tumors. The pathogenesis of these tumors within the testicular and paratesticular regions remains a subject of intrigue and debate, with various hypotheses attempting to explain their presence in the paratestis region, where most tumors occur. However, our understanding of the pathogenesis of intratesticular tumors is limited. To date, 11 known examples of intratesticular serous Mullerian tumors have been reported globally. In this report, we present an extraordinary tumor, an intratesticular Mullerian serous borderline tumor with foci of microinvasion, in a 38-year-old male patient. This tumor exhibits histological features similar to their ovarian counterparts and is confirmed through an immunohistochemical panel. Our report underscores the extreme rarity of these tumors, emphasizes the importance of heightened awareness among clinicians and pathologists, and provides valuable insights into their complex development and histogenesis. This contribution aims to enhance diagnostic precision and optimize therapeutic strategies for similar tumors.
Between temporalities, imaginaries and imagination: A framework for analysing futures
Authors: Cantó-Milà Natàlia , Seebach Swen
Published: March 2024

This article introduces a relational approach to studying imaginaries of the future, emphasising their significance in comprehending present realities and the ongoing processes that interweave our social fabric. It posits ‘imaginaries of the future’ as a pivotal sociological concept for understanding the reciprocal social influences and uneven structural dynamics shaping the present. This work engages in a theoretical discourse, spotlighting the role of the future in contemporary social landscapes, while endorsing the suitability of the concept of imaginaries to elucidate how we collectively interlace our present through implicit dialogues with latent, emergent futures and glimpses of radical imagination. In this article, we advocate for sociological research on ‘imaginaries’, discussing the concept’s relevance to sociological theory and research. In addition, we make a case for examining futures as a subject of sociological research. Finally, we propose a conceptual framework for analysing imaginaries of the future from a relational sociological perspective, fostering interdisciplinary dialogue.
Passive leg raising modulates low-frequency oscillation propagation in peripheral atherosclerosis: A pilot study
Authors: Ma Yunfei , Luo Kexin , Zhou Zhengxuan , Li Xiaoli , Yin Shimin , Li Yingwei
Published: March 2024

Objective

Low-frequency oscillations (LFOs) observed in the periphery may reflect physiological processes. The aim of this study was to investigate these processes’ effects on LFOs and the differences between healthy subjects and those with peripheral arteriosclerosis disease (PAD).

Methods

14 PAD patients and 25 healthy controls were studied in resting (RS) and passive leg raising (PLR) states. We simultaneously measured LFOs at the peripheral left earlobes (LE), right earlobes (RE), left fingertips (LF), right fingertips (RF), left toes (LT), and right toes (RT), along with coherence and phase shift analysis processing.

Results

The coherence coefficients in the PAD group were lower than those in the healthy group ( p < .01), and the phase shifts in the PAD group were higher than those in the healthy group ( p < .01) in a resting state. Mild to moderate PAD patients had greater coherence coefficients and smaller phase shifts than severe PAD patients. 0.05 Hz PLR LFOs originating in the LT can be observed in other peripheral positions. The proportion of occurrence times for 0.05 Hz PLR LFOs peaks observed at different peripheral positions was different in healthy subjects, patients with bilateral multiple lower limb arteriosclerosis, and those with left or right lower limb arteriosclerosis.

Conclusion

The coherence coefficient and phase shift characteristics of LFOs were different between healthy subjects and PAD patients. LFOs have the potential to provide valuable physiological process information associated with atherosclerosis in the periphery.
Retroperitoneal mixed neuroendocrine non-neuroendocrine neoplasm: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Ashindoitiang John Adi , Nwagbara Victor Ikechukwu Canice , Ipeh Theophilus Ugbem , Chukwu Ben , Obanife Henry Olaleye , Eyong Alfred Ottoh , Asuquo Maurice Efana
Published: March 2024

The existence of both neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine histology in variable proportion in a lesion has been described by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as mixed neuroendocrine and non-neuroendocrine neoplasm (MiNEN). The pathogenesis of this tumour remains controversial but molecular studies point towards a common monoclonal origin. Tumours are classified as functioning and nonfunctioning based on substances secreted. The nonfunctioning tumours may be discovered due to its local effect. Presented is a 66-year-old male with an intra-abdominal mass, underwent laparotomy and excision biopsy with transient right lower limb lymphoedema. Histology confirmed retroperitoneal MiNEN with no evidence of tumour recurrence 12 months following surgery. MiNENs should be considered as a differential diagnosis in patients with intra-abdominal mass. Surgical resection is recommended as this may offer the best treatment option.
Application of the UNAIDS Incidence Patterns Model to Determine the Distribution of New HIV Infection in Lagos State, Nigeria
Authors: Femi-Adebayo Toriola , Adeleke Monsurat , Adebayo Bisola , Fadiya Temitope , Popoola Bukola , Ogundimu Opeyemi , O. Adepoju Funmilade , Salawu Ayotomiwa , Fisher Oladipupo , Ogboye Olusegun , Zekeng Leopold
Published: March 2024

Background

Identifying patterns in the distribution of new HIV infections in the population is critical for HIV programmatic interventions. This study aimed to determine the distribution of New HIV infection by applying the incidence patterns mathematical model to data from Lagos state.

Methods

The incidence patterns model (IPM) software is a mathematical model developed by UNAIDS to estimate the demographic and epidemic patterns of HIV infections. This model was adapted in Lagos state to predict the distribution of new HIV infections among specified risk groups in the next 12 months.

Results

The IPM predicted a total HIV incidence of 37 cases per 100 000 individuals (3979 new infections) will occur among the 15 to 49 subpopulations. The results also showed that sero-concordant HIV-negative couples with external partners (29%), female sex workers (26%), men-having-sex-with-men (18%), and previously married females (6%) accounted for the majority of the estimated new HIV infections. Overall, key populations constitute almost half (48%) of the estimated number of new HIV infections.

Conclusion

The study helped to identify the population groups contributing significantly to new HIV infections. Therefore, priority interventions should be focused on these groups.
Paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria–related thrombosis in the era of novel therapies: a 2043-patient-year analysis
Authors: Gurnari Carmelo , Awada Hussein , Pagliuca Simona , Dima Danai , Ullah Fauzia , Kawashima Naomi , Kubota Yasuo , Colak Ceylan , Visconte Valeria , Patel Bhumika J. , Dhillon Vikram , Marneni Naimisha , Balasubramanian Suresh Kumar , Kishtagari Ashwin , Bat Taha , Maciejewski Jaroslaw P.
Published: March 2024

Thrombophilia is one of the principal features of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) and constitutes the main cause of disease morbidity/mortality. Anticomplement treatment has revolutionized the natural history of PNH, with control of the hemolytic process and abolition of thrombotic events (TEs). However, no guidelines exist for the management of thromboembolic complications in this setting, with type and duration of anticoagulation depending on individual practices. Besides, a scarcity of data is present on the efficacy of direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Herein, we accrued a large real-world cohort of patients with PNH from 4 US centers to explore features, predictors of TE, and anticoagulation strategies. Among 267 patients followed up for a total of 2043 patient-years, 56 (21%) developed TEs. These occurred at disease onset in 43% of cases, involving more frequently the venous system, typically as Budd-Chiari syndrome. Rate of TEs was halved in patients receiving complement inhibitors (21 vs 40 TEs per 1000 patient-years in untreated cases, with a 2-year cumulative incidence of thrombosis of 3.9% vs 18.3%, respectively), and varied according to PNH granulocytes and erythrocytes clone size, type, disease activity parameters, as well as number (≥2 mutations, or less) and variant allelic frequency of PIGA mutations. Anticoagulation with warfarin (39%), DOACs (37%), and low-molecular weight heparin (16%) was administered for a median of 29 months (interquartile range [IQR], 9-61.8). No thrombotic recurrence was observed in 19 patients treated with DOACs at a median observation of 17.1 months (IQR, 8.9-45) whereas 14 cases discontinued anticoagulation without TE recurrence at a median time of 51.4 months (IQR, 29.9-86.8).
Experimental Study on Wire Melting Control Ability of Twin-Body Plasma Arc
Authors: Zhang Ruiying , Jiang Fan , Xue Long
Published: March 2024

The twin-body plasma arc has the decoupling control ability of heat transfer and mass transfer, which is beneficial to shape and property control in wire arc additive manufacturing. In this paper, with the wire feeding speed as a characteristic quantity, the wire melting control ability of twin-body plasma arc was studied by adjusting the current separation ratio (under the condition of a constant total current), the wire current/main current and the position of the wire in the arc axial direction. The results showed that under the premise that the total current remains unchanged (100 A), as the current separation ratio increased, the middle and minimum melting amounts increased approximately synchronously under the effect of anode effect power, the first melting mass range remained constant; the maximum melting amount increased twice as fast as the middle melting amount under the effect of the wire feeding speed, and the second melting mass range was expanded. When the wire current increased, the anode effect power and the plasma arc power were both factors causing the increase in the wire melting amount; however, when the main current increased, the plasma arc power was the only factor causing the increase in the wire melting amount. The average wire melting increment caused by the anode effect power was approximately 2.7 times that caused by the plasma arc power. The minimum melting amount was not affected by the wire-torch distance under any current separation ratio tested. When the current separation ratio increased and reached a threshold, the middle melting amount remained constant with increasing wire-torch distance. When the current separation ratio continued to increase and reached the next threshold, the maximum melting amount remained constant with the increasing wire-torch distance. The effect of the wire-torch distance on the wire melting amount reduced with the increase in the current separation ratio. Through this study, the decoupling mechanism and ability of this innovative arc heat source is more clearly.
An Automatic Implementation of Oropharyngeal Swab Sampling for Diagnosing Respiratory Infectious Diseases via Soft Robotic End-Effectors
Authors: Cui Yafeng , Yu Wenjie , Li Jingjing , Shao Qi , Weng Ding , Yin Guoping , Zhang Xiaohao , Liu Xinjun , Ye Jingying , Wang Jiadao , Zhao Huichan
Published: March 2024

The most widely adopted method for diagnosing respiratory infectious diseases is to conduct polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays on patients’ respiratory specimens, which are collected through either nasal or oropharyngeal swabs. The manual swab sampling process poses a high risk to the examiner and may cause false-negative results owing to improper sampling. In this paper, we propose a pneumatically actuated soft end-effector specifically designed to achieve all of the tasks involved in swab sampling. The soft end-effector utilizes circumferential instability to ensure grasping stability, and exhibits several key properties, including high load-to-weight ratio, error tolerance, and variable swab-tip stiffness, leading to successful automatic robotic oropharyngeal swab sampling, from loosening and tightening the transport medium tube cap, holding the swab, and conducting sampling, to snapping off the swab tail and sterilizing itself. Using an industrial collaborative robotic arm, we integrated the soft end-effector, force sensor, camera, lights, and remote-control stick, and developed a robotic oropharyngeal swab sampling system. Using this swab sampling system, we conducted oropharyngeal swab-sampling tests on 20 volunteers. Our Digital PCR assay results (RNase P RNA gene absolute copy numbers for the samples) revealed that our system successfully collected sufficient numbers of cells from the pharyngeal wall for respiratory disease diagnosis. In summary, we have developed a pharyngeal swab-sampling system based on an “enveloping” soft actuator, studied the sampling process, and implemented whole-process robotic oropharyngeal swab-sampling.
NanoBERTa-ASP: predicting nanobody paratope based on a pretrained RoBERTa model
Authors: Li Shangru , Meng Xiangpeng , Li Rui , Huang Bingding , Wang Xin
Published: March 2024

Background

Nanobodies, also known as VHH or single-domain antibodies, are unique antibody fragments derived solely from heavy chains. They offer advantages of small molecules and conventional antibodies, making them promising therapeutics. The paratope is the specific region on an antibody that binds to an antigen. Paratope prediction involves the identification and characterization of the antigen-binding site on an antibody. This process is crucial for understanding the specificity and affinity of antibody-antigen interactions. Various computational methods and experimental approaches have been developed to predict and analyze paratopes, contributing to advancements in antibody engineering, drug development, and immunotherapy. However, existing predictive models trained on traditional antibodies may not be suitable for nanobodies. Additionally, the limited availability of nanobody datasets poses challenges in constructing accurate models.

Methods

To address these challenges, we have developed a novel nanobody prediction model, named NanoBERTa-ASP (Antibody Specificity Prediction), which is specifically designed for predicting nanobody-antigen binding sites. The model adopts a training strategy more suitable for nanobodies, based on an advanced natural language processing (NLP) model called BERT (Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers). To be more specific, the model utilizes a masked language modeling approach named RoBERTa (Robustly Optimized BERT Pretraining Approach) to learn the contextual information of the nanobody sequence and predict its binding site.

Results

NanoBERTa-ASP achieved exceptional performance in predicting nanobody binding sites, outperforming existing methods, indicating its proficiency in capturing sequence information specific to nanobodies and accurately identifying their binding sites. Furthermore, NanoBERTa-ASP provides insights into the interaction mechanisms between nanobodies and antigens, contributing to a better understanding of nanobodies and facilitating the design and development of nanobodies with therapeutic potential.

Conclusion

NanoBERTa-ASP represents a significant advancement in nanobody paratope prediction. Its superior performance highlights the potential of deep learning approaches in nanobody research. By leveraging the increasing volume of nanobody data, NanoBERTa-ASP can further refine its predictions, enhance its performance, and contribute to the development of novel nanobody-based therapeutics.

Github repository: https://github.com/WangLabforComputationalBiology/NanoBERTa-ASP
The use of thermal imaging for evaluation of peripheral tissue perfusion in surgical patients with septic shock
Authors: Hasanin Ahmed , Fekry Radwa , Mostafa Maha , Kasem Sahar , Eissa Amany , Mohamed Hassan , Raafat Heba
Published: March 2024

Background

In this study, we aimed to evaluate the ability of central-to-peripheral temperature gradients using thermal imaging to predict in-hospital mortality in surgical patients with septic shock.

Methods

This prospective observational study included adult patients with septic shock admitted to the intensive care unit postoperatively. Serum lactate (in mmol/L), capillary refill time (CRT) (in seconds), toe (peripheral) and canthal (central) temperature by infrared thermography and the corresponding room temperature in (Celsius [°C]) were assessed at the time of admission, 6- and 12 h after admission. The canthal-toe and room-toe temperature gradients were calculated. According to their final outcomes, patients were divided into survivors and non-survivors. The ability of canthal-toe temperature gradient (primary outcome), room-toe temperature gradient, toe temperature, serum lactate and CRT, measured at the prespecified timepoints to predict in-hospital mortality was analyzed using the area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

Fifty-six patients were included and were available for the final analysis and 41/56 (73%) patients died. The canthal-toe and room-toe temperature gradients did not show significant accuracy in predicting mortality at any timepoint. Only the toe temperature measurement at 12 h showed good ability in predicting in-hospital mortality with AUC (95% confidence interval) of 0.72 (0.58–0.84) and a negative predictive value of 70% at toe temperature of ≤ 25.5 °C. Both serum lactate and CRT showed good ability to predict in-hospital mortality at all timepoints with high positive predictive values (> 90%) at cut-off value of > 2.5–4.3 mmol/L for the serum lactate and > 3-4.2 s for the CRT.

Conclusion

In post-operative emergency surgical patients with septic shock, high serum lactate and CRT can accurately predict in-hospital mortality and were superior to thermal imaging, especially in the positive predictive values. Toe temperature > 25.5 °C, measured using infrared thermal imaging can exclude in-hospital mortality with a negative predictive value of 70%.
Optimizing LI-RADS: ancillary features screened from LR-3/4 categories can improve the diagnosis of HCC on MRI
Authors: Zhang Zi-xin , Xv Hui , Du Yan-ni , Lv Zhi-bin , Yang Zheng-han
Published: March 2024

Objective

To determine the high-efficiency ancillary features (AFs) screened from LR-3/4 lesions and the HCC/non-HCC group and the diagnostic performance of LR3/4 observations.

Materials and methods

We retrospectively analyzed a total of 460 patients (with 473 nodules) classified into LR-3-LR-5 categories, including 311 cases of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 6 cases of non-HCC malignant tumors, and 156 cases of benign lesions. Two faculty abdominal radiologists with experience in hepatic imaging reviewed and recorded the major features (MFs) and AFs of the Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI-RADS). The frequency of the features and diagnostic performance were calculated with a logistic regression model. After applying the above AFs to LR-3/LR-4 observations, the sensitivity and specificity for HCC were compared.

Results

The average age of all patients was 54.24 ± 11.32 years, and the biochemical indicators ALT (P = 0.044), TBIL (P = 0.000), PLT (P = 0.004), AFP (P = 0.000) and Child‒Pugh class were significantly higher in the HCC group. MFs, mild-moderate T2 hyperintensity, restricted diffusion and AFs favoring HCC in addition to nodule-in-nodule appearance were common in the HCC group and LR-5 category. AFs screened from the HCC/non-HCC group (AF-HCC) were mild–moderate T2 hyperintensity, restricted diffusion, TP hypointensity, marked T2 hyperintensity and HBP isointensity (P = 0.005, < 0.001, = 0. 032, p < 0.001, = 0.013), and the AFs screened from LR-3/4 lesions (AF-LR) were restricted diffusion, mosaic architecture, fat in mass, marked T2 hyperintensity and HBP isointensity (P < 0.001, = 0.020, = 0.036, < 0.001, = 0.016), which were not exactly the same. After applying AF-HCC and AF-LR to LR-3 and LR-4 observations in HCC group and Non-HCC group, After the above grades changed, the diagnostic sensitivity for HCC were 84.96% using AF-HCC and 85.71% using AF-LR, the specificity were 89.26% using AF-HCC and 90.60% using AF-LR, which made a significant difference (P = 0.000). And the kappa value for the two methods of AF-HCC and AF–LR were 0.695, reaching a substantial agreement.

Conclusion

When adjusting for LR-3/LR-4 lesions, the screened AFs with high diagnostic ability can be used to optimize LI-RADS v2018; among them, AF-LR is recommended for better diagnostic capabilities.
Spatiotemporal modeling of under-five mortality and associated risk factors in Ethiopia using 2000–2016 EDHS data
Authors: Amuka Endashaw , Mitiku Aweke A. , Zeru Melkamu A.
Published: March 2024

Background

The under-five mortality rate serves as a key indicator of the performance of a country’s healthcare system. Despite a minor decline, Ethiopia continues to face a persistently high under-five mortality rate across different zones. Thus, this study aimed to identify the risk factors of under-five mortality and the spatiotemporal variation in Ethiopian administrative zones.

Method

This study used the 2000–2016 Ethiopian Demographic and Health Survey (EDHS) data which were collected using a two-stage sampling method. A total of 43,029 (10,873 in 2000, 9,861 in 2005, 11,654 in 2011, and 10,641 in 2016) weighted sample under-five child mortality were used. The space-time dynamic model was employed to account for spatial and time effects in 65 administrative zones in Ethiopia.

Results

From the result of a general nesting spatial-temporal dynamic model, there was a significant space-time interaction effect [γ = -0.1444, 95% CI(-0.6680, -0.1355)] for under-five mortality. The increase in the percentages of mothers illiteracy [β = 0.4501, 95% CI (0.2442, 0.6559)], not vaccinated[β= 0.7681, 95% CI (0.5683, 0.9678)], unimproved water[β= 0.5801, CI (0.3793, 0.7808)] were increased death rates for under five children while increased percentage of contraceptive use [β= -0.6609, 95% CI (-0.8636, -0.4582)] and antenatal care unit visit > 4 times [β= -0.1585, 95% CI(-0.1812, -0.1357)] were contributed to the decreased under-five mortality rate at the zone in Ethiopia.

Conclusions

Even though the mortality rate for children under five has decreased over time, still there is higher in different zones of Ethiopia. There exists spatial and temporal variation in under-five mortality among zones. Therefore, it is very important to consider spatial neighborhood’s and temporal context when aiming to avoid under-five mortality.
Trends in psychosomatic symptoms among adolescents and the role of lifestyle factors
Authors: Buli Benti Geleta , Lehtinen-Jacks Susanna , Larm Peter , Nilsson Kent W. , Hellström-Olsson Charlotta , Giannotta Fabrizia
Published: March 2024

Background

Adolescent mental health problems are on the rise globally, including in Sweden. One indicator of this trend is increased psychosomatic symptoms (PSS) over time. Lifestyle factors such as physical activity (PA), diet, smoking, and alcohol consumption may influence the time trends in PSS; however, the evidence base is scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate associations between time trends in PSS and lifestyle factors.

Methods

The study was based on data collected from a nationally representative sample of 9,196 fifteen-year-old boys and girls in Sweden using the Health Behavior in School-aged Children (HBSC) symptom checklist. The sample comprised nearly equal proportions of girls (50.5%) and boys. The lifestyle factors examined in this study included PA, regular breakfast intake, consumption of fruits, vegetables, sweets, or soft drinks, smoking, and alcohol drunkenness. We used data from 2002 to 2018 and stratified by family affluence scale (FAS) to demonstrate how the associations varied among the FAS groups. We fitted separate regression models for the high- and low-FAS groups, where interaction terms between the year of survey and each lifestyle factor were used to estimate the level and direction of associations between the factors and trends in PSS.

Results

There was a generally increasing trend in PSS mean scores from 2.26 in 2002 to 2.49 in 2018 (p <.001). The changes in each survey year compared to the average mean scores during the preceding years were significant in all years except 2010. Regular breakfast intake, daily fruit and vegetable consumption, and higher PA were associated with lower PSS mean scores, while smoking and drunkenness had opposite associations with PSS. The only significant interaction between survey year and the lifestyle factors was observed regarding drunkenness in the high FAS group, suggesting that the association between trends in PSS and the experience of getting drunk at least twice got stronger over time (B = 0.057; CI:0.016, 0.097; p <.01).

Conclusions

The results indicate increasing trends in PSS among young people in Sweden from 2002 to 2018, with a significant increase observed among adolescents in the high FAS group who reported getting drunk on at least two occasions.
The association between diet quality index-international and dietary diversity score with preeclampsia: a case–control study
Authors: Hayat Parastoo Tolou , Gargari Bahram Pourghassem , Sarbakhsh Parvin
Published: March 2024

Background

Preeclampsia is a significant complication that occurs during the second half of pregnancy. Recent studies have indicated that dietary factors play a crucial role in the development of preeclampsia. The Diet Quality Index-International (DQI-I) and Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) are appropriate indices for assessing the quality of foods, meals, and diets. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between DQI-I, DDS, and preeclampsia.

Methods

This study utilized a case-control design. A total of 90 newly diagnosed preeclampsia cases and 90 healthy controls were included from a referral hospital in Tabriz, Iran. DQI-I and DDS were calculated based on information obtained from a reliable Food Frequency Questionnaire consisting of 168 food items, which assessed participants’ usual diet. Logistic regression analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, education, family history of preeclampsia, and total energy intake was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs).

Results

The mean age and pre-pregnancy body mass index of the participants were: 27.14 ± 4.40 years and 26.09 ± 3.33 kg/m2, respectively. After adjusting for various confounders, we found significant inverse association between the risk of developing preeclampsia and both DQI-I and DDS. The highest quartile of DQI-I had a significantly lower risk of developing preeclampsia compared to the first quartile (OR = 0.02, 95% CI [0.005, 0.08]) (P < 0.001). Similarly, the highest quartile of DDS had a significantly lower risk of developing preeclampsia compared to the first quartile (OR = 0.09, 95% CI [0.03, 0.31]) (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that maintaining a high-quality and diverse diet is associated with a lower risk of preeclampsia. Further studies are needed to confirm these associations and explore potential causal relationships.
CTLs heterogeneity and plasticity: implications for cancer immunotherapy
Authors: Peng Shengkun , Lin Anqi , Jiang Aimin , Zhang Cangang , Zhang Jian , Cheng Quan , Luo Peng , Bai Yifeng
Published: March 2024

Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) play critical antitumor roles, encompassing diverse subsets including CD4+, NK, and γδ T cells beyond conventional CD8+ CTLs. However, definitive CTLs biomarkers remain elusive, as cytotoxicity-molecule expression does not necessarily confer cytotoxic capacity. CTLs differentiation involves transcriptional regulation by factors such as T-bet and Blimp-1, although epigenetic regulation of CTLs is less clear. CTLs promote tumor killing through cytotoxic granules and death receptor pathways, but may also stimulate tumorigenesis in some contexts. Given that CTLs cytotoxicity varies across tumors, enhancing this function is critical. This review summarizes current knowledge on CTLs subsets, biomarkers, differentiation mechanisms, cancer-related functions, and strategies for improving cytotoxicity. Key outstanding questions include refining the CTLs definition, characterizing subtype diversity, elucidating differentiation and senescence pathways, delineating CTL-microbe relationships, and enabling multi-omics profiling. A more comprehensive understanding of CTLs biology will facilitate optimization of their immunotherapy applications. Overall, this review synthesizes the heterogeneity, regulation, functional roles, and enhancement strategies of CTLs in antitumor immunity, highlighting gaps in our knowledge of subtype diversity, definitive biomarkers, epigenetic control, microbial interactions, and multi-omics characterization. Addressing these questions will refine our understanding of CTLs immunology to better leverage cytotoxic functions against cancer.
Impact of professional, recreational and nonsinging on temporomandibular disorders - a comparative study based on a self-assessment questionnaire
Authors: Wollenburg Maja , Wolowski Anne
Published: March 2024

Background

This study investigates the relationship between professional and recreational singing on temporomandibular disorders (TMDs) in women compared to a nonsinging control group.

Methods

A total of 288 female subjects between the ages of 18 and 45 participated in the self-assessment questionnaire including demographic data, as well as questions on vocal practice and TMDs symptoms. Depending on the singing time per week, the (non)vocalists were assigned to the groups professional (n = 96), recreational (n = 96) and nonsingers (n = 96).

Results

The TMDs prevalence in professional singers (42%) was higher than that in recreational singers (31%) and noticeably higher than that in nonsingers (25%). The Fisher-Freeman-Halton exact test showed that the differences between the groups were not noticeable (p = .053) but could be formulated as tendencies. The professionals suffered much more from restricted jaw movement (p = .004; OR = 2.718; 95% CI = 1.409–5.242), temporomandibular joint sounds (p < .009; OR = 2.267; 95% CI = 1.264–4.064) and temporomandibular pain (p = .010; OR = 2.333; 95% CI = 1.264–4.308) than nonsingers.

Conclusions

Singing might have an enhancing effect on the appearance of TMDs. In particular, professional singers suffered more from self-reported TMDs than recreational singers and nonsingers. In addition to the high level of physical workload if participating in professional singing, the psychosocial impact should be investigated more in further studies. No new treatment strategies resulted from this study, as the etiological significance of singing is still unclear. Knowledge about risk factors for multifactorial TMDs can help practitioners and patients prevent and treat TMDs.
No detectable truncating mutations in large T antigen (LT-Ag) sequence of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) DNA obtained from porocarcinomas
Authors: Arvia Rosaria , Sollai Mauro , Massi Daniela , Asensio-Calavia Patricia , Urso Carmelo , Zakrzewska Krystyna
Published: March 2024

Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) is associated with Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC). In tumor cells the MCPyV large T antigen (LT-Ag) is frequently found truncated and this is considered a major tumor-specific signature. The role of MCPyV in other, non-MCC tumours, is little known. Viral DNA and/or tumour-specific mutations have been sometimes detected in different tumours, but such data are not unequivocal and the involvement of the virus in the tumorigenesis is not clear. In a previous study, we demonstrated a significantly higher prevalence of MCPyV DNA in formalin fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) porocarcinoma tissues compared to the normal skin.

In the present study, we investigated the presence of truncating mutations in MCPyV LT-Ag coding region in porocarcinoma specimens. Using several overlapped PCR primer pairs, the complete LT-Ag sequence from two biopsies were obtained. No truncating mutations were detected.

The lack of truncating mutations in LT-Ag sequence does not seem to support the role of MCPyV in porocarcinoma oncogenesis. However, an oncogenetic mechanism, different from that proposed for MCC and not associated with the LT-Ag mutations/deletions, cannot be excluded. Further studies of more sequences coding for LT-Ag would be needed to verify this hypothesis.
Prognostic value of arterial carbon dioxide tension during cardiopulmonary resuscitation in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients receiving extracorporeal resuscitation
Authors: Su Pei-I , Tsai Min-Shan , Chen Wei-Ting , Wang Chih-Hung , Chang Wei-Tien , Ma Matthew Huei-Ming , Chen Wen-Jone , Huang Chien-Hua , Chen Yih-Sharng
Published: March 2024

Background

Current guidelines on extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) recommend careful patient selection, but precise criteria are lacking. Arterial carbon dioxide tension (PaCO2) has prognostic value in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) patients but has been less studied in patients receiving ECPR. We studied the relationship between PaCO2 during cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and neurological outcomes of OHCA patients receiving ECPR and tested whether PaCO2 could help ECPR selection.

Methods

This single-centre retrospective study enrolled 152 OHCA patients who received ECPR between January 2012 and December 2020. Favorable neurological outcome (FO) at discharge was the primary outcome. We used multivariable logistic regression to determine the independent variables for FO and generalised additive model (GAM) to determine the relationship between PaCO2 and FO. Subgroup analyses were performed to test discriminative ability of PaCO2 in subgroups of OHCA patients.

Results

Multivariable logistic regression showed that PaCO2 was independently associated with FO after adjusting for other favorable resuscitation characteristics (Odds ratio [OR] 0.23, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.08–0.66, p-value = 0.006). GAM showed a near-linear reverse relationship between PaCO2 and FO. PaCO2 < 70 mmHg was the cutoff point for predicting FO. PaCO2 also had prognostic value in patients with less favorable characteristics, including non-shockable rhythm (OR, 3.78) or low flow time > 60 min (OR, 4.66).

Conclusion

PaCO2 before ECMO implementation had prognostic value for neurological outcomes in OHCA patients. Patients with PaCO2 < 70 mmHg had higher possibility of FO, even in those with non-shockable rhythm or longer low-flow duration. PaCO2 could serve as an ECPR selection criterion.
Factors associated with engraftment success of patient-derived xenografts of breast cancer
Authors: Lee Jongwon , Lee GunHee , Park Hye Seon , Jeong Byung-Kwan , Gong Gyungyub , Jeong Jae Ho , Lee Hee Jin
Published: March 2024

Background

Patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models serve as a valuable tool for the preclinical evaluation of novel therapies. They closely replicate the genetic, phenotypic, and histopathological characteristics of primary breast tumors. Despite their promise, the rate of successful PDX engraftment is various in the literature. This study aimed to identify the key factors associated with successful PDX engraftment of primary breast cancer.

Methods

We integrated clinicopathological data with morphological attributes quantified using a trained artificial intelligence (AI) model to identify the principal factors affecting PDX engraftment.

Results

Multivariate logistic regression analyses demonstrated that several factors, including a high Ki-67 labeling index (Ki-67LI) (p < 0.001), younger age at diagnosis (p = 0.032), post neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) (p = 0.006), higher histologic grade (p = 0.039), larger tumor size (p = 0.029), and AI-assessed higher intratumoral necrosis (p = 0.027) and intratumoral invasive carcinoma (p = 0.040) proportions, were significant factors for successful PDX engraftment (area under the curve [AUC] 0.905). In the NAC group, a higher Ki-67LI (p < 0.001), lower Miller-Payne grade (p < 0.001), and reduced proportion of intratumoral normal breast glands as assessed by AI (p = 0.06) collectively provided excellent prediction accuracy for successful PDX engraftment (AUC 0.89).

Conclusions

We found that high Ki-67LI, younger age, post-NAC status, higher histologic grade, larger tumor size, and specific morphological attributes were significant factors for predicting successful PDX engraftment of primary breast cancer.
Interactive virtual assistance for mental health promotion and self-care management in elderly with type 2 diabetes (IVAM-ED): study protocol and statistical analysis plan for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: da Costa Frederico Ludwig , Matzenbacher Lucas Strassburger , Gheno Vicenzo , Brum Maria Antônia Bertuzzo , de Barros Laura Gomes Boabaid , Maia Isabela Semmelmann , Blank Luiza Machado , Fontoura Lucas Friedrich , Alessi Janine , Telo Gabriela Heiden
Published: March 2024

Background

With one in five individuals aged 65 or older living with type 2 diabetes worldwide, it is crucial to acknowledge and address the challenges faced by this population. In this context, our study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a behavioral intervention model delivered through a smart speaker on mental health and diabetes self-care in the elderly with diabetes.

Methods

This is a single-center, pragmatic, parallel two-arm open randomized clinical trial involving elderly patients with type 2 diabetes. We plan to enroll a total of 112 individuals who will be randomized 1:1 to receive the Smart Speaker EchoDot 3rd Gen device (Amazon Echo®) for home use (intervention arm) or to maintain usual care (control arm). The primary outcome is mental distress, assessed using the 20-item Self Reporting Questionnaire (SRQ-20) after a 12-week intervention period. Secondary outcomes include quality of life, adherence to diabetes self-care behaviors, perception of stress, glycemic control, blood pressure, and lipid profile. Analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) will be used to evaluate the effects of the intervention on the outcomes.

Discussion

This study assesses the effectiveness of an interactive virtual assistance system for enhancing mental health and glycemic control among elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes. The findings may introduce smart speakers as a valuable tool for promoting diabetes-related self-care in this population.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05329376. Registered on 15 April 2022. Enrollment began on 20 June 2023 and the last update of protocol was on 13 December 2023.