bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcomes in Hematopoietic Cell Transplant and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Recipients With Pre–Cellular Therapy SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Nimgaonkar Ila , Yoke Leah H , Roychoudhury Pavitra , Flaherty Patrick W , Oshima Masumi Ueda , Weixler Amelia , Gauthier Jordan , Greninger Alexander L , Mielcarek Marco , Boeckh Michael , Liu Catherine , Hill Joshua A
Published: March 2024

Background

Hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy recipients have high morbidity from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. There are limited data on outcomes from SARS-CoV-2 infection shortly before cellular therapy and uncertainty whether to delay therapy.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection within 90 days before HCT or CAR-T-cell therapy between January 2020 and November 2022. We characterized the kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 detection, clinical outcomes following cellular therapy, and impact on delays in cellular therapy.

Results

We identified 37 patients (n = 15 allogeneic HCT, n = 11 autologous HCT, n = 11 CAR-T-cell therapy) with SARS-CoV-2 infections within 90 days of cellular therapy. Most infections (73%) occurred between March and November 2022, when Omicron strains were prevalent. Most patients had asymptomatic (27%) or mild (68%) coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). SARS-CoV-2 positivity lasted a median of 20.0 days (interquartile range, 12.5–26.25 days). The median time from first positive SARS-CoV-2 test to cellular therapy was 45 days (interquartile range, 37.75–70 days); 1 patient tested positive on the day of infusion. After cellular therapy, no patients had recrudescent SARS-CoV-2 infection or COVID-19–related complications. Cellular therapy delays related to SARS-CoV-2 infection occurred in 70% of patients for a median of 37 days. Delays were more common after allogeneic (73%) and autologous (91%) HCT compared to CAR-T-cell therapy (45%).

Conclusions

Patients with asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 may not require prolonged delays in cellular therapy in the context of contemporary circulating variants and availability of antiviral therapies.
The diagnosis of acute interstitial nephritis caused by infection versus antibiotic-induced interstitial nephritis: a narrative review
Authors: Muhammad Amir , Zhang Yingli , Huang Ling , Yuan Qiongjing , Wang Wei , Pu Jiaxi , Lin Wei , Tang Rong , Xiao Xiangcheng
Published: March 2024

Acute interstitial nephritis (AIN) is a significant contributor to acute kidney injury and can be attributed to a variety of factors, including but not limited to allergens or drugs, infections, autoimmune or systemic diseases, and idiopathic forms of the disease. In some cases, AIN requires a therapeutic action according to a single specific etiology by handling the offending agent and applying an immunosuppressant. Although AIN can be diagnosed through renal biopsy, it is not able to pinpoint the precise cause when multiple causes are suspected to be present simultaneously. Such situations arise when a patient suffering from infection develops AIN during antibiotic therapy, the exact causative factor of which becomes a challenge for the clinicians to determine. This is attributed to the different approaches employed in different etiologies, wherein clinicians are required to maintain the current antibiotic therapy or augment the dose in cases of infection as AIN etiology, without resorting to immunosuppressant therapy as the primary objective is infection killing. In contrast, antibiotics as an etiology for AIN require an alternative drug from the antibiotics group, along with an immunosuppressant. In the interim, delaying the identification of the precise cause may result in interstitial fibrosis and chronic kidney disease. This narrative review highlights certain findings that can be typical of infection-associated ATIN compared with antibiotic-associated ATIN based on clinical history and physical examination, clinical presentation of different antibiotic drug classes, histopathological features, classical and novel biomarkers, serum and urine cytokines and chemokines, cellular biomarkers, and genetic biomarkers. Although these findings cannot provide conclusive and clear recommendations that can be useful in the clinical practice, they can entice researchers to conduct original research on these features to discover clear recommendations.
Cross-diffusion induced instability on networks
Authors: Kuehn Christian , Soresina Cinzia
Published: March 2024

The concept of Turing instability, namely that diffusion can destabilize the homogenous steady state, is well known either in the context of partial differential equations (PDEs) or in networks of dynamical systems. Recently, reaction–diffusion equations with non-linear cross-diffusion terms have been investigated, showing an analogous effect called cross-diffusion induced instability. In this article, we consider non-linear cross-diffusion effects on networks of dynamical systems, showing that also in this framework the spectrum of the graph Laplacian determines the instability appearance, as well as the spectrum of the Laplace operator in reaction–diffusion equations. We extend to network dynamics a particular network model for competing species, coming from the PDEs context, for which the non-linear cross-diffusion terms have been justified, e.g. via a fast-reaction limit. In particular, the influence of different topology structures on the cross-diffusion induced instability is highlighted, considering regular rings and lattices, and also small-world, Erdős–Réyni, and Barabási–Albert networks.
Conceptualizing evaluations of the political relevance of media texts: The Politically Relevant Media Model
Authors: Coles Stewart M
Published: March 2024

Prior research acknowledges the potential implications of how media users evaluate media texts as being relevant to politics. Yet there are limitations to existing operationalizations of these evaluations due to how people use the words “politics” and “political.” What first appears as a measurement issue instead reveals a deficiency in the conceptualization of the evaluation being measured, as well as that evaluation’s relationships with its antecedents and consequences. This article fuses work from disparate fields such as political theory, media studies, media effects, and political communication to offer a multidimensional conceptualization of evaluations of the political relevance of media texts. It introduces the Politically Relevant Media Model (PRMM) connecting these evaluations to their text and user characteristic antecedents, as well as their cognitive, affective, and behavioral outcomes. Implications for various phenomena such as agenda setting, learning, selective exposure, message processing, narrative persuasion, reinforcing media spirals, and political polarization are discussed.
An ultrasound-based histogram analysis model for prediction of tumour stroma ratio in pleomorphic adenoma of the salivary gland
Authors: Su Huan-Zhong , Wu Yu-Hui , Hong Long-Cheng , Yu Kun , Huang Mei , Su Yi-Ming , Zhang Feng , Zhang Zuo-Bing , Zhang Xiao-Dong
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Preoperative identification of different stromal subtypes of pleomorphic adenoma (PA) of the salivary gland is crucial for making treatment decisions. We aimed to develop and validate a model based on histogram analysis (HA) of ultrasound (US) images for predicting tumour stroma ratio (TSR) in salivary gland PA.

Methods

A total of 219 PA patients were divided into low-TSR (stroma-low) and high-TSR (stroma-high) groups and enrolled in a training cohort (n = 151) and a validation cohort (n = 68). The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression algorithm was used to screen the most optimal clinical, US, and HA features. The selected features were entered into multivariable logistic regression analyses for further selection of independent predictors. Different models, including the nomogram model, the clinic-US (Clin + US) model, and the HA model, were built based on independent predictors using logistic regression. The performance levels of the models were evaluated and validated on the training and validation cohorts.

Results

Lesion size, shape, cystic areas, vascularity, HA_mean, and HA_skewness were identified as independent predictors for constructing the nomogram model. The nomogram model incorporating the clinical, US, and HA features achieved areas under the curve of 0.839 and 0.852 in the training and validation cohorts, respectively, demonstrating good predictive performance and calibration. Decision curve analysis and clinical impact curves further confirmed its clinical usefulness.

Conclusions

The nomogram model we developed offers a practical tool for preoperative TSR prediction in PA, potentially enhancing clinical decision-making.
What to Blame? Self-Serving Attribution Bias with Multi-Dimensional Uncertainty
Authors: Coutts Alexander , Gerhards Leonie , Murad Zahra
Published: March 2024

People often receive feedback influenced by external factors, yet little is known about how this affects self-serving biases. Our theoretical model explores how multi-dimensional uncertainty allows additional degrees of freedom for self-serving bias. In our primary experiment, feedback combining an individual’s ability and a teammate’s ability leads to biased belief updating. However, in a follow-up experiment with a random fundamental replacing the teammate, unbiased updating occurs. A validation experiment shows that belief distortion is greater when outcomes originate from human actions. Overall, our experiments highlight how multi-dimensional environments can enable self-serving biases.
Validation of the 9th edition of the TNM staging system for non-small cell lung cancer with lobectomy in stage IA–IIIA
Authors: Wang Rang-Rang , Li Ming-Jun , Peng Qiao , Huang Zhi-Ye , Wu Lei-Lei , Xie Dong
Published: March 2024

OBJECTIVES

The 9th edition of tumour–node–metastasis (TNM) staging for lung cancer was announced by Prof Hisao Asamura at the 2023 World Conference on Lung Cancer in Singapore. The purpose of this study was to externally validate and compare the latest staging of lung cancer.

METHODS

We collected 19 193 patients with stage IA–IIIA non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who underwent lobectomy from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results database. Survival analysis by TNM stages was compared using the Kaplan–Meier method and further analysed using univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to assess model accuracy, Akaike information criterion, Bayesian information criterion and consistency index were used to compare the prognostic, predictive ability between the current 8th and 9th edition TNM classification.

RESULTS

The 9th edition of the TNM staging system can better distinguish between IB and IIA patients on the survival curve (P < 0.0001). In both univariable and multivariable regression analysis, the 9th edition of the TNM staging system can differentiate any 2 adjacent staging patients more evenly than the 8th edition. The 9th and the 8th edition TNM staging have similar predictive power and accuracy for the overall survival of patients with NSCLC [TNM 9th vs 8th, area under the curve: 62.4 vs 62.3; Akaike information criterion: 166 182.1 vs 166 131.6; Bayesian information criterion: 166 324.3 vs 166 273.8 and consistency index: 0.650 (0.003) vs 0.651(0.003)].

CONCLUSIONS

Our external validation demonstrates that the 9th edition of TNM staging for NSCLC is reasonable and valid. The 9th edition of TNM staging for NSCLC has near-identical prognostic accuracy to the 8th edition.
Transcatheter treatment of the tricuspid valve: current status and perspectives
Authors: Maisano Francesco , Hahn Rebecca , Sorajja Paul , Praz Fabien , Lurz Philipp
Published: March 2024

Transcatheter tricuspid valve interventions (TTVI) are emerging as alternatives to surgery in high-risk patients with isolated or concomitant tricuspid regurgitation. The development of new minimally invasive solutions potentially more adapted to this largely undertreated population of patients, has fuelled the interest for the tricuspid valve. Growing evidence and new concepts have contributed to revise obsolete and misleading perceptions around the right side of the heart. New definitions, classifications, and a better understanding of the disease pathophysiology and phenotypes, as well as their associated patient journeys have profoundly and durably changed the landscape of tricuspid disease. A number of registries and a recent randomized controlled pivotal trial provide preliminary guidance for decision-making. TTVI seem to be very safe and effective in selected patients, although clinical benefits beyond improved quality of life remain to be demonstrated. Even if more efforts are needed, increased disease awareness is gaining momentum in the community and supports the establishment of dedicated expert valve centres. This review is summarizing the achievements in the field and provides perspectives for a less invasive management of a no-more-forgotten disease.
Leadless pacemakers at 5-year follow-up: the Micra transcatheter pacing system post-approval registry
Authors: El-Chami Mikhael F , Garweg Christophe , Clementy Nicolas , Al-Samadi Faisal , Iacopino Saverio , Martinez-Sande Jose Luis , Roberts Paul R , Tondo Claudio , Johansen Jens Brock , Vinolas-Prat Xavier , Cha Yong-Mei , Grubman Eric , Bordachar Pierre , Stromberg Kurt , Fagan Dedra H , Piccini Jonathan P
Published: March 2024

Background and Aims

Prior reports have demonstrated a favourable safety and efficacy profile of the Micra leadless pacemaker over mid-term follow-up; however, long-term outcomes in real-world clinical practice remain unknown. Updated performance of the Micra VR leadless pacemaker through five years from the worldwide post-approval registry (PAR) was assessed.

Methods

All Micra PAR patients undergoing implant attempts were included. Endpoints included system- or procedure-related major complications and system revision rate for any cause through 60 months post-implant. Rates were compared through 36 months post-implant to a reference dataset of 2667 transvenous pacemaker patients using Fine–Gray competing risk models.

Results

1809 patients were enrolled between July 2015 and March 2018 and underwent implant attempts from 179 centres in 23 countries with a median follow-up period of 51.1 months (IQR: 21.6–64.2). The major complication rate at 60 months was 4.5% [95% confidence interval (CI): 3.6%–5.5%] and was 4.1% at 36 months, which was significantly lower than the 8.5% rate observed for transvenous systems (HR: .47, 95% CI: .36–.61; P < .001). The all-cause system revision rate at 60 months was 4.9% (95% CI: 3.9%–6.1%). System revisions among Micra patients were mostly for device upgrades (41.2%) or elevated thresholds (30.6%). There were no Micra removals due to infection noted over the duration of follow-up. At 36 months, the system revision rate was significantly lower with Micra vs. transvenous systems (3.2% vs. 6.6%, P < .001).

Conclusions

Long-term outcomes with the Micra leadless pacemaker continue to demonstrate low rates of major complications and system revisions and an extremely low incidence of infection.
Rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular complications during delivery: a United States inpatient analysis
Authors: Zahid Salman , Mohamed Mohamed S , Rajendran Aardra , Minhas Anum S , Khan Muhammad Zia , Nazir Noreen T , Ocon Anthony J , Weber Brittany N , Isiadinso Ijeoma , Michos Erin D
Published: March 2024

Background and Aims

Persons with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) have an increased risk of obstetric-associated complications, as well as long-term cardiovascular (CV) risk. Hence, the aim was to evaluate the association of RA with acute CV complications during delivery admissions.

Methods

Data from the National Inpatient Sample (2004–2019) were queried utilizing ICD-9 or ICD-10 codes to identify delivery hospitalizations and a diagnosis of RA.

Results

A total of 12 789 722 delivery hospitalizations were identified, of which 0.1% were among persons with RA (n = 11 979). Individuals with RA, vs. those without, were older (median 31 vs. 28 years, P < .01) and had a higher prevalence of chronic hypertension, chronic diabetes, gestational diabetes mellitus, obesity, and dyslipidaemia (P < .01). After adjustment for age, race/ethnicity, comorbidities, insurance, and income, RA remained an independent risk factor for peripartum CV complications including preeclampsia [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.37 (95% confidence interval 1.27–1.47)], peripartum cardiomyopathy [aOR 2.10 (1.11–3.99)], and arrhythmias [aOR 2.00 (1.68–2.38)] compared with no RA. Likewise, the risk of acute kidney injury and venous thromboembolism was higher with RA. An overall increasing trend of obesity, gestational diabetes mellitus, and acute CV complications was also observed among individuals with RA from 2004–2019. For resource utilization, length of stay and cost of hospitalization were higher for deliveries among persons with RA.

Conclusions

Pregnant persons with RA had higher risk of preeclampsia, peripartum cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, acute kidney injury, and venous thromboembolism during delivery hospitalizations. Furthermore, cardiometabolic risk factors among pregnant individuals with RA rose over this 15-year period.
Influencing factors on the psychosomatic health of medical staff since the normalized stage of COVID-19 in mainland China
Authors: Jiao Xing-ai , Bai Run-ai , Li Na , Liu Kao
Published: March 2024

Background

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, there were under-recognized and unaddressed psychosomatic health problems among medical staff. The purpose of this study was to investigate their psychosomatic status.

Methods

An online questionnaire was performed to the medical staff of major hospitals in Jinan in January 2023. In total, 1244 valid questionnaires were collected, and their psychosomatic status was assessed by the Psychosomatic Symptom Scale (PSSS) and Perceived Stress Scale-10 (PSS-10). Finally, we analyzed the influencing factors for their psychosomatic status.

Results

The psychological health of the medical staff was poor, and the level of stress perception was intense, accompanied by obvious psychosomatic symptoms. Regression analysis indicated that age, gender, frontline involvement, work experience, marriage, presence of disease history and COVID-19 infection history were risk factors for psychosomatic symptoms, while education, frontline involvement and presence of disease history were risk factors for stress feeling.

Conclusion

Medical staff often showed obvious psychosomatic symptoms and intense stress. Psychological health education and intervention should be given in order to improve their working quality.
Assembly and analysis of the genome of Notholithocarpus densiflorus
Authors: Cai Ying , Anderson Ellis , Xue Wen , Wong Sylvia , Cui Luman , Cheng Xiaofang , Wang Ou , Mao Qing , Liu Sophie Jia , Davis John T , Magalang Paulo R , Schmidt Douglas , Kasuga Takao , Garbelotto Matteo , Drmanac Radoje , Kua Chai-Shian , Cannon Charles , Maloof Julin N , Peters Brock A
Published: March 2024

Tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus) is an evergreen tree in the Fagaceae family found in California and southern Oregon. Historically, tanoak acorns were an important food source for Native American tribes, and the bark was used extensively in the leather tanning process. Long considered a disjunct relictual element of the Asian stone oaks (Lithocarpus spp.), phylogenetic analysis has determined that the tanoak is an example of convergent evolution. Tanoaks are deeply divergent from oaks (Quercus) of the Pacific Northwest and comprise a new genus with a single species. These trees are highly susceptible to “sudden oak death” (SOD), a plant pathogen (Phytophthora ramorum) that has caused widespread deaths of tanoaks. In this study, we set out to assemble the genome and perform comparative studies among a number of individuals that demonstrated varying levels of susceptibility to SOD. First, we sequenced and de novo assembled a draft reference genome of N. densiflorus using cobarcoded library processing methods and an MGI DNBSEQ-G400 sequencer. To increase the contiguity of the final assembly, we also sequenced Oxford Nanopore long reads to 30× coverage. To our knowledge, the draft genome reported here is one of the more contiguous and complete genomes of a tree species published to date, with a contig N50 of ∼1.2 Mb, a scaffold N50 of ∼2.1 Mb, and a complete gene score of 95.5% through BUSCO analysis. In addition, we sequenced 11 genetically distinct individuals and mapped these onto the draft reference genome, enabling the discovery of almost 25 million single nucleotide polymorphisms and ∼4.4 million small insertions and deletions. Finally, using cobarcoded data, we were able to generate a complete haplotype coverage of all 11 genomes.
Resolving a ramp-flat structure from combined analysis of co- and post-seismic geodetic data: an example of the 2015 Pishan Mw 6.5 earthquake
Authors: Zhao Xiong , Wen Yangmao , Xu Caijun , He Kefeng , Dahm Torsten
Published: March 2024

Previous studies have shown that it is difficult to determine whether the 2015 Pishan earthquake occurred on a uniform fault or a ramp-flat fault with variable dip angles due to the similar goodness of data fit to coseismic and afterslip models on these two fault models. Here, we first present the InSAR deformation obtained from both ascending and descending orbits, covering the coseismic period and cumulative 5-yr period after the 2015 Pishan earthquake. We then determine the preferred fault geometry by the spatial distributions between the positive Coulomb failure stress change triggered by main shock and the afterslip. Based on the preferred fault model, we finally use a combined model to determine the contributions of elastic and viscoelastic deformation in the post-seismic deformation. We find that the Pishan earthquake prefers to occur on a ramp-flat fault, and the coseismic slip is mainly distributed at a depth of 9–13 km, with a maximum slip of about 1.3 m. The post-seismic deformation is primarily governed by afterslip, as the poroelastic rebound-induced deformation fails to account for the observed post-seismic deformation and the contributions from the viscoelastic relaxation mechanism can be considered negligible in the combined model. Moreover, the modelled stress-driven afterslip and observed kinematic afterslip have good consistency, and the difference between the root mean square error of the two afterslip models is only 4.3 mm. The results from the afterslip model indicate that both of the updip and downdip directions distribute the afterslip, and slip in the updip direction is greater than that of the downdip direction. Meanwhile, the maximum cumulative afterslip after 5 yr is approximately 0.26 m which is equivalent to a released seismic moment of a Mw 6.47.
Feasibility and Acceptability of Digital Behavioral Interventions Among Black and Hispanic Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized Pilot Study
Authors: Greywoode Ruby , Nahvi Shadi , Ullman Thomas , Keefer Laurie
Published: March 2024

Lay Summary

The use of digital behavioral interventions was tested among patients with inflammatory bowel disease with a predominately low-income, Black/Hispanic background who had elevated symptoms of anxiety/depression. Both mood-tracking and cognitive behavioral self-management applications were feasible and acceptable to use, with opportunities for improvement identified.
Cheap Versus Deep Manipulation: The Effects of Cheapfakes Versus Deepfakes in a Political Setting
Authors: Hameleers Michael
Published: March 2024

Visual disinformation has been regarded as convincing because it strongly resembles reality. Yet, we lack a clear understanding of the effects of different forms of audiovisual disinformation—cheapfakes versus deepfakes. To advance the disinformation literature, this paper reports on the findings of two experiments in which participants were exposed to political cheapfakes and deepfakes, respectively. Our main findings indicate that audiovisual disinformation is not perceived as more credible or believable than the same disinformation in textual format. Importantly, deepfakes are perceived as less credible than cheapfakes with a similar de-legitimizing anti-immigration narrative. Although more research is needed, our findings suggest that less sophisticated modes of deception can be at least as credible as more sophisticated forms of artificial intelligence-driven audiovisual fabrication.
Neutrophil-Associated Proteins as Novel Biomarkers Elevated in Cerebrospinal Fluid of Patients With Neurosyphilis
Authors: Wang Cuini , Zhang Yan , Wang Xiang , Zhou Jiajun , Wang Xiaoyan , Song Gang , Sun Yu , Gu Kailong , Xu Aifang , Huang Jian
Published: March 2024

Background

The immunopathological mechanisms underlying neurosyphilis remain incompletely elucidated, and the diagnosis of neurosyphilis presents challenges.

Methods

We used an antibody microarray to detect 640 proteins in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples collected from 6 patients with non-neurosyphilis and 10 with neurosyphilis. The levels of CSF CXCL1, CXCL8, G-CSF, LCN2, MMP8, and MMP9 in 46 patients with non-neurosyphilis, 51 with untreated neurosyphilis, and 31 posttreatment for neurosyphilis were quantified using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The associations between the levels of these proteins and clinical parameters in neurosyphilis were evaluated using Spearman analysis, and the diagnostic performance of these proteins in neurosyphilis was assessed using receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

A total of 102 differentially expressed proteins between neurosyphilis and non-neurosyphilis were identified. The levels of significantly elevated neutrophil-associated proteins (CXCL1, CXCL8, G-CSF, LCN2, MMP8, and MMP9) in neurosyphilis positively correlated with white blood cell counts, rapid plasma regain (RPR) titer, and protein concentration in CSF. The combination of CSF CXCL8, MMP9, and LCN2 yielded an area under the curve of 0.92 for diagnosing neurosyphilis, surpassing that of CSF RPR.

Conclusions

CXCL1, CXCL8, G-CSF, LCN2, MMP8, and MMP9 could be associated with central nervous system damage of neurosyphilis. The combination of CSF CXCL8, MMP9, and LCN2 is a promising biomarker for diagnosing neurosyphilis.
Pollutant profile complexity governs wastewater removal of recalcitrant pharmaceuticals
Authors: Suleiman Marcel , Le Lay Natalie , Demaria Francesca , Kolvenbach Boris A , Cretoiu Mariana S , Petchey Owen L , Jousset Alexandre , Corvini Philippe F-X
Published: March 2024

Organic pollutants are an increasing threat for wildlife and humans. Managing their removal is however complicated by the difficulties in predicting degradation rates. In this work, we demonstrate that the complexity of the pollutant profile, the set of co-existing contaminants, is a major driver of biodegradation in wastewater. We built representative assemblages out of one to five common pharmaceuticals (caffeine, atenolol, paracetamol, ibuprofen, and enalapril) selected along a gradient of biodegradability. We followed their individual removal by wastewater microbial communities. The presence of multichemical background pollution was essential for the removal of recalcitrant molecules such as ibuprofen. High-order interactions between multiple pollutants drove removal efficiency. We explain these interactions by shifts in the microbiome, with degradable molecules such as paracetamol enriching species and pathways involved in the removal of several organic pollutants. We conclude that pollutants should be treated as part of a complex system, with emerging pollutants potentially showing cascading effects and offering leverage to promote bioremediation.
Designing for caregiving networks: a case study of primary caregivers of children with medical complexity
Authors: Scheer Eleanore Rae , Werner Nicole E , Coller Ryan J , Nacht Carrie L , Petty Lauren , Tang Mengwei , Ehlenbach Mary , Kelly Michelle M , Finesilver Sara , Warner Gemma , Katz Barbara , Keim-Malpass Jessica , Lunsford Christopher D , Letzkus Lisa , Desai Shaalini Sanjiv , Valdez Rupa S
Published: March 2024

Objective

The study aimed to characterize the experiences of primary caregivers of children with medical complexity (CMC) in engaging with other members of the child’s caregiving network, thereby informing the design of health information technology (IT) for the caregiving network. Caregiving networks include friends, family, community members, and other trusted individuals who provide resources, information, health, or childcare.

Materials and Methods

We performed a secondary analysis of two qualitative studies. Primary studies conducted semi-structured interviews (n = 50) with family caregivers of CMC. Interviews were held in the Midwest (n = 30) and the mid-Atlantic region (n = 20). Interviews were transcribed verbatim for thematic analysis. Emergent themes were mapped to implications for the design of future health IT.

Results

Thematic analysis identified 8 themes characterizing a wide range of primary caregivers' experiences in constructing, managing, and ensuring high-quality care delivery across the caregiving network.

Discussion

Findings evidence a critical need to create flexible and customizable tools designed to support hiring/training processes, coordinating daily care across the caregiving network, communicating changing needs and care updates across the caregiving network, and creating contingency plans for instances where caregivers are unavailable to provide care to the CMC. Informaticists should additionally design accessible platforms that allow primary caregivers to connect with and learn from other caregivers while minimizing exposure to sensitive or emotional content as indicated by the user.

Conclusion

This article contributes to the design of health IT for CMC caregiving networks by uncovering previously underrecognized needs and experiences of CMC primary caregivers and drawing direct connections to design implications.
Theory-driven neural network for total organic carbon content estimation from well logs
Authors: Wang Xiaoyu , Liao Guangzhi , Xiao Lei , Xiao Lizhi
Published: March 2024

Total organic carbon content (TOC) is a crucial geochemical indicator for assessing the hydrocarbon generation potential of source rock formations. Traditional TOC evaluation methods employing well logs do not match well with measured data in complex formations. While intelligent algorithms have the potential to improve TOC estimation accuracy, they have poor petrophysical significance. In this study, we develop the theory-driven neural networks (TdNN) to extend TOC prediction accuracy via combining logging mechanism models into the input of a neural network. TdNN have two ways of merging petrophysical models with an intelligent model, specifically TdNN based on series connection (STdNN) and on embedding (ETdNN). STdNN processes log responses through logging mechanism models and subsequently inputs them to the neural network for TOC evaluation. ETdNN inputs log responses and calculation results from logging mechanism models to the neural network to estimate TOC. These two ways achieve more accurate prediction results than an ordinary neural network by improving the quality of input data, analogous to applying data augmentation methods on intelligent models. This study uses the Schmoker method, δlogR method, and multivariate regression as logging mechanism models of TdNN. The prediction performance of the proposed models is tested using data from two shale reservoirs in the Longmaxi Formation and the Shahejie Formation. Results show that the proposed ETdNN achieves the highest prediction accuracy, meaning that the ETdNN is suitable for predicting TOC of shale formations.
Colladonus spp. (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) vectors of X-disease: biology and management in Western United States
Authors: Clarke Abigail E , Catron Katlyn A , Reyes Corral Cesar , Marshall Adrian T , Adams Chris G , Cooper W Rodney , Harper Scott J , Nottingham Louis B , Northfield Tobin D
Published: March 2024

The US cherry and stone fruit industries have periodically experienced devastating outbreaks of X-disease phytoplasma (XDP) since the 1930s, with an ongoing epidemic occurring since 2010. This disease is critically impacting Prunus spp. and the stone fruit industry, causing underdeveloped, bitter, and misshapen fruit on economically important crops, primarily cherries, peaches, and nectarines, making the fruit unmarketable. Trees cannot recover from this disease and eventually die if they are not removed. It takes at least 1 yr for symptoms to appear, postinfection, which hinders disease management efforts. The phytoplasma, Candidatus Phytoplasma pruni, is a phloem-limited intracellular bacterium that is spread by grafting and leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) feeding. Several leafhopper species are known to transmit XDP, of which Colladonus spp. are considered the most important vectors in the Western United States and are native to this region. Colladonus spp. feed and oviposit on a wide variety of broadleaf perennial plants, including mallow, alfalfa, and clover. These plants are also hosts of the phytoplasma. In Western United States, these leafhoppers have 3 periods of adult activity: May–June, late July–August, and October. The highest rates of pathogen transmission likely occur during the last 2 activity periods due to the high abundance of leafhoppers and a postharvest increase of XDP titers in trees. Using known activity periods and host plants of the leafhoppers, growers can monitor and strategically manage the vectors, which, when combined with the removal of infected trees and ground-cover hosts, should help limit the spread of X-disease.
Simple derivation of L-absorption spectra of 3d transition metal elements by the self-absorption effect observed in soft X-ray emission spectra
Authors: Terauchi Masami , Sato Yohei K , Yokoyama Takaomi D , Murano Takanori
Published: March 2024

This study proposes a simple evaluation method for deriving L-absorption information from two L-emission spectra of 3d transition metal (TM) elements obtained at two different accelerating voltages. This method realizes a spatial identity for X-ray emission and absorption spectroscopies. This method was evaluated for the Fe L-emission spectra of Fe and its oxides and was applied to the TM L-emission spectra of MnO, Co, CoO and NiO. The derived absorption peak positions were consistent with those obtained previously at synchrotron orbital radiation facilities, which considered the core–hole effect. This simple derivation method could be useful for obtaining X-ray absorption spectroscopy distribution images from X-ray emission spectroscopy mapping data obtained by scanning electron microscopy.
The study of psychosocial outcomes of parents bereaved by pediatric illness: a scoping review of methodology and sample composition
Authors: Fisher Rachel S , Dattilo Taylor M , DeLone Alexandra M , Basile Nathan L , Kenney Ansley E , Hill Kylie N , Chang Hui-Fen , Gerhardt Cynthia A , Mullins Larry L
Published: March 2024

Objective

Parents of children who died of a medical condition experience a range of psychosocial outcomes. The current scoping review aims to summarize the outcomes assessed, methodology, and sample characteristics of recent psychosocial research conducted with this population.

Methods

Included studies were limited to peer-reviewed, psychosocial outcomes research published between August 2011 and August 2022, written in English, and including caregiver study participants of children who died of a medical condition. Data sources were scholarly journal articles from 9 electronic databases, including Scopus, Web of Science, Academic Search Primer, ProQuest Research Library, PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO, Psychology & Behavioral Sciences Collection, and Health Source: Nursing/Academic Edition. The Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool-2018 evaluated methodological quality.

Results

The study sample included 106 studies, most of which were either qualitative (60%) or quantitative (29%). Mixed-methods studies (8%) and randomized clinical trials (2%) were also identified. Study quality was variable, but most studies met all quality criteria (73%). Studies primarily represented cancer populations (58%), White participants (71%), and mothers (66%). Risk-based psychosocial outcomes (e.g., grief) were more commonly assessed than resilience-based outcomes.

Conclusions

The current scoping review revealed that recent research assessing the psychosocial outcomes of bereaved parents is limited in the representation of diverse populations, primarily qualitative, of broadly strong methodological quality, and oriented to psychosocial risk. To enhance the state of the science and inform evidence-based psychosocial services, future research should consider varied methodologies to comprehensively assess processes of risk and resilience with demographically and medically diverse populations.
Combined leaf gas-exchange system for model assessment
Authors: Tominaga Jun , Kawamitsu Yoshinobu
Published: March 2024

Leaf gas-exchange measurements are useful in assessing plant environmental responses. However, uncertainties in the leaf gas-exchange model potentially limit its application. The main challenge in the model-dependent calculations is to detect violations of assumptions. Here, we developed a system that integrates into one instrument the direct measurement of leaf intercellular CO2 concentration and the standard open-flow (OF) and novel open-diffusion (OD) systems for flux measurement. In the OD system, a gas-permeable membrane between the leaf ambient air and outside air creates CO2 and H2O differentials, rather than the air flow in the OF chamber. We measured hypostomatous and amphistomatous leaves of several species with different photosynthetic capacities [sunflower (Helianthus annuus), grape (Vitis vinifera), lemon (Citrus limon), and cherry (Prunus avium)]. The CO2 and H2O differentials in the OD system strictly depend on the flux measured by the OF system. The lower permeability of the membrane resulted in a larger differential per flux, indicating that the OD system can increase the resolution for a small flux. An analysis of the conductance model along with observations suggested that cuticle and leaf intercellular conductances and the unsaturation of leaf humidity contributed to discrepancies between the direct measurement and standard calculation. The combined system developed here provides an opportunity to address these overlooked concepts in leaf gas exchange.
Disciplined parents and autonomous children: information sharing as governing device in Swedish identity-release gamete donation
Authors: Lindgren Matilda
Published: March 2024

This article analyses shifts and continuities in Swedish regulation of information sharing in identity-release donor conception. At a time when families include both solo and same-sex parenting, I draw on a practice-oriented method to compare legal and pre-legislative documents from the early 1980s with those of the late 2010s as developed in a Swedish national context. Following the turn to openness in donor conception, I discuss the practical implications of framing access to information from the hospitals’ so-called ‘special medical record’ as a children’s right, when information is in fact only available after ‘maturity’ is reached. Furthermore, I show how a significant change in the understanding of child–parent relationships in donor-conceived families is articulated in the 2019 legislation. If early policy documents portrayed donor-conceived children as potentially problematic for not ‘knowing their origin’, I argue that now it is parents in donor-conceived families who are constructed as potentially problematic. Drawing on critical kinship theory, I conclude that Swedish policy-making on information sharing in donor conception relies on a symbolic rather than material understanding of genetic relatedness that fails to acknowledge how different family forms might have different needs. Based on these findings, I suggest that policymakers take into account the implications a changing view on family life and genetics have for children and parents following donor conception.
Attitudes towards immigration and unemployment risk cleavages: Untangling the economically rooted group conflict framework
Authors: Kayran Elif Naz
Published: March 2024

How do increasing economic risk cleavages amongst natives shape growing negativity towards immigration? Group conflict theory suggests that tension between immigrant and native groups arises as a reaction to the actual or perceived loss of economic privilege by the majority group members. Yet, such an economically rooted formation of sentiments towards immigration is widely debated. This article aims to clarify and more precisely assess the economic threat mechanisms of inter-group conflict, remedying limitations in earlier work. Distinct from the economic threat effects due to immigration, here, I argue and show that being in a relatively worse-off position amongst natives is a separate channel increasing adverse reactions to immigration. To examine this relationship, I use high-quality longitudinal household panel data Socio-Economic Panel from Germany from 1999 to 2016. Results from the German case provide evidence suggesting that even when controlling for exposure to a higher risk of being substituted by immigrants and a higher risk of being fiscally burdened by foreigners, there is a robust effect of exposure to increasingly higher unemployment risks compared to other native workers in the host society raises adversity towards immigration. This effect is independent of geographic differences and actual exposure to the economic impact of immigrants. Overall, this article reconciles existing accounts of economically motivated group conflict. It brings forward a comprehensive theoretical framework and empirical evidence to the study of worsening reactions towards immigration in these past decades.
Safety of fluconazole in kidney transplant recipients for prevention of coccidioidomycosis
Authors: Reddy Laya , Thompson III George R , Tuznik Natascha , Zolfaghari Tina A , Dray Joy Vongspanich , Ames Janneca , Ho Daniel , Crabtree Scott , Fine Jeffrey , Wilson Machelle D , Alnimri Muna , Cohen Stuart H , Koff Alan
Published: March 2024

Coccidioides is an endemic fungus that causes infections ranging from mild respiratory illness to life-threatening disease, and immunocompromised hosts such as solid organ transplant recipients are at higher risk for disseminated infection and mortality. Our center administers fluconazole prophylaxis to kidney transplant recipients residing in geographic areas with higher incidences of coccidioidomycosis. However, because drug–drug interactions occur between triazoles and immunosuppressants used in transplant medicine, we undertook a study to ascertain whether fluconazole prophylaxis was associated with any important safety outcomes in kidney transplant recipients. This retrospective study evaluated patients who had undergone kidney transplantation between 2016 and 2019. Data on patient demographics, transplant-related clinical information, use of fluconazole prophylaxis (200 mg daily for 6–12 months post-transplant), and patient outcomes were obtained. The primary outcome was mean estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 12 months, comparing those who received fluconazole prophylaxis to those who did not. Secondary outcomes included mean eGFR at 3 months, 6 months, and 9 months post-transplant, patient survival, biopsy-proven graft rejection, graft loss, or a new requirement for post-transplant dialysis, all within 12 months post-transplant. The mean eGFR at 12 months was similar between both groups, with 66.4 ml/min/1.73 m² in the fluconazole prophylaxis group vs. 64.3 ml/min/1.73 m² in the non-fluconazole prophylaxis group (P = 0.55). Secondary outcomes were similar across both groups. Multivariable linear regression found no significant association between fluconazole use and graft function. Fluconazole prophylaxis for prevention of coccidioidomycosis was not associated with adverse graft outcomes in kidney transplant recipients.
On the ocean conditions of Hycean worlds
Authors: Rigby Frances E , Madhusudhan Nikku
Published: March 2024

Recent studies have suggested the possibility of Hycean worlds, characterized by deep liquid water oceans beneath H2-rich atmospheres. These planets significantly widen the range of planetary properties over which habitable conditions could exist. We conduct internal structure modelling of Hycean worlds to investigate the range of interior compositions, ocean depths and atmospheric mass fractions possible. Our investigation explicitly considers habitable oceans, where the surface conditions are limited to those that can support potential life. The ocean depths depend on the surface gravity and temperature, confirming previous studies, and span 10s to ∼1000 km for Hycean conditions, reaching ocean base pressures up to ∼6 × 104 bar before transitioning to high-pressure ice. We explore in detail test cases of five Hycean candidates, placing constraints on their possible ocean depths and interior compositions based on their bulk properties. We report limits on their atmospheric mass fractions admissible for Hycean conditions, as well as those allowed for other possible interior compositions. For the Hycean conditions considered, across these candidates we find the admissible mass fractions of the H/He envelopes to be ≲10−3. At the other extreme, the maximum H/He mass fractions allowed for these planets can be up to ∼4–8 per cent, representing purely rocky interiors with no H2O layer. These results highlight the diverse conditions possible among these planets and demonstrate their potential to host habitable conditions under vastly different circumstances to the Earth. Upcoming JWST observations of candidate Hycean worlds will allow for improved constraints on the nature of their atmospheres and interiors.
CSS_J154915.7+375506: a low-mass-ratio marginal contact binary system with a hierarchical third body
Authors: Wu Jin-Feng , Zhu Li-Ying , Matekov Azizbek , Li Lin-jia , Ehgamberdiev Shuhrat , Asfandiyarov Ildar , Wang Jiang-Jiao , Zhang Jia , Meng Fang-Bin
Published: March 2024

We presented the multifilter light curves of CSS_J154915.7+375506 inaugurally, which were observed by the 1.5-m Astronomicheskiy Zerkalniy Telescope 22 ( AZT-22) telescope at Maidanak Astronomical Observatory. A low-resolution spectrum obtained by Large-sky-Area Multi-Object fiber Spectroscopic Telescope reveals that it is an A-type (spectral A type) close binary. By analysing the BVRI total-eclipse light curves, we are able to derive a reliable photometric solution for this system, which indicates that CSS_J154915.7+375506 is an extremely low mass ratio (q = 0.138) marginal contact binary system. The location in the Hertzsprung–Russell (HR) diagram shows that its secondary component with a much smaller mass is the more evolved one, indicating that the mass ratio reversal occurred. The present secondary component had transferred a significant amount of mass to the present primary one. By the combination of a total of 20 times of minimum, we investigated its O–C (observed minus calculated) curve. A periodic oscillation and a possible period decrease have been detected. As the period decreases, the system will evolve towards the contact phase. This makes CSS_J154915.7+375506 a valuable case to study the formation scenario of contact binaries through mass reversal. The periodic oscillation suggested a third body with a minimal mass of $0.91\, {\rm M}_{\odot }$, which is larger than that of the less massive component in the central binary. This implies that the secondary body was not replaced by the third body during early stellar interactions, indicating that it is a fossil system and retains its original dynamical information.