bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Oxygen Saturation Endoscopic Imaging as a Novel Alternative to Assess Tissue Perfusion During Esophagectomy
Authors: Alomari Mohammad , Wadiwala Ishaq , Bowers Steven , Elli Enrique F , Thomas Mathew
Published: October 2024

Background

Assessment of gastric conduit perfusion during esophagectomy is crucial to determine its viability and identify the optimal site for anastomosis. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence imaging is commonly used for this purpose, but it is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to ICG, iodine, or shellfish. Oxygen saturation endoscopic imaging (OXEI) is a newer, non-pharmacologic technique for assessing perfusion. We report our experience with OXEI in 3 esophagectomy patients who had contraindications to ICG.

Methods

All 3 patients underwent robot-assisted esophagectomies. None of the conduits had ischemic areas identified by white light. Using a 5 mm laparoscopic specialized camera (ELUXEO Vision, FUJIFILM Healthcare Americas Corp., USA), OXEI was deployed for intracorporeal assessment of gastric conduit perfusion after pull-up into the chest. Postoperative outcomes including anastomotic leaks and complications were recorded.

Results

In two patients, OXEI revealed ischemic zones, which were resected to ensure optimal conduit viability. In the remaining patient, OXEI indicated robust vascularity throughout the conduit. All three patients experienced uneventful postoperative courses and were discharged within 10 days. There were no instances of anastomotic leaks or other major complications.

Conclusion

In our experience, OXEI is a viable method for intraoperative assessment of gastric conduit perfusion in patients with contraindications to ICG. Prospective studies are needed to validate its efficacy in preventing anastomotic complications and to compare it with other methods of perfusion assessment including gross visual and ICG dye in a larger patient population.
Silk vista baby flow diversion beyond the circle of Willis: A single-center experience with long-term outcomes
Authors: Vasconcellos de Oliveira Souza Natália , Benalia Vitor Hugo , Ortega Moreno Diego Alejandro , Liu Eileen , Chan Vanessa , Bharatha Aditya , Marotta Thomas R , Spears Julian , Pereira Vitor Mendes
Published: October 2024

Introduction

There is a lack of evidence of flow diversion (FD) safety for aneurysms treatment beyond the circle of Willis. Therefore, we provide a single-center real-world experience with the Silk Vista Baby (SVB).

Methods

A single-center database was retrospectively reviewed for aneurysms treated with SVB flow diverters. Demographic information, clinical presentation, radiographic characteristics, procedural complications, and outcomes were assessed.

Results

About 57 patients (66.7% female, mean age 54.3 ± 13.2) encompassing 57 aneurysms were included. Overall, 40.4% were ruptured: 68.4% saccular, 17.5% blister, 8.7% fusiform, and 5.3% dissecting. The majority were in the anterior circulation (68.4%), and in 48.2% of cases, the distal vessel diameter was inferior to 2 mm. The symptomatic ischemic rate was 5.2%, with one case due to in-stent thrombosis (1.8%). There were no hemorrhagic complications. Complication rates did not differ between ruptured and unruptured lesions (p = 0.356). There were no cases of delayed aneurysm rupture, and overall mortality was 1.8%. The median follow-up time was 18 ± 12 months. In-stent stenosis rate was 10.5% (6/57), all of which were asymptomatic. At the last follow-up, 70.2% of cases had an adequate occlusion (OKM C and D), and 96.5% had an mRS of 0–2.

Conclusion

In our series, SVB was shown to be a safe device in the treatment of not only distal anterior circulation aneurysms but also in the management of complex posterior fossa and ruptured blister aneurysms. Multicenter studies are needed to confirm and generalize these results.
Late leaflet dehiscence in a bovine bioprosthesis-mimicked COVID-19 infection
Authors: Ivert Torbjörn , Dalén Magnus
Published: October 2024

Symptoms mimicking COVID-19 infection, pulmonary emboli, or septicemia delayed diagnosis of aortic bioprosthesis failure. A 71-year-old man was admitted emergently with shortness of breath, fever, cough, and chest pain. Echocardiography performed after 2 days showed diastolic regurgitation in an aortic perimount pericardial bioprosthesis implanted 12 years previously. An urgent reoperation disclosed that one pericardial cusp was torn from the stent of the valve. We have not previously encountered sudden pericardial leaflet dehiscence of an internally mounted pericardial valve that caused heart failure and found no literature report like our finding.
What does it mean to be engaged with digital health interventions? A qualitative study into the experiences of engaged users and the views of professionals
Authors: Kelders Saskia M , Kip Hanneke , Beerlage-de Jong Nienke , Köhle Nadine
Published: October 2024

Objective

Digital health interventions (DHIs) hold promise for influencing health behaviors positively, but their widespread implementation and effectiveness remain limited. Engagement is crucial for DHI effectiveness, yet its conceptualization is debated. This qualitative study explores engagement from user and professional perspectives.

Methods

Twenty self-proclaimed engaged health app users participated in semistructured interviews, and 13 professionals working with DHIs completed an online survey.

Results

Interviews with health app users revealed three key components of their sense of engagement: behavioral, cognitive, and affective. Behavioral engagement includes routine, effortless, and dynamic usage; emphasizing the importance of the quality of fit between user and technology over frequency of use. Cognitive engagement encompasses the technology's utility as a tool for supporting behavior change, providing new insights, and enhancing motivation. Affective engagement involves enjoying progress, deriving pleasure from using the technology, and identifying with the technology. Notably, participants exhibited varying emphasis on these components. Professionals, in a parallel inquiry, agreed on the relevance of behavior, cognition, and affect in defining engagement. In their understanding, behavioral engagement is often associated with adherence and frequency of use, while cognitive engagement emphasizes understanding, motivation, and achieving cognitive outcomes. Affective engagement, although diverse, is recognized as a critical dimension. In addition, it was noticeable that users and professionals perceived microengagement (with the DHI) and macroengagement (with the target behavior) as interconnected.

Conclusion

To conclude, this study contributes a nuanced understanding of the multifaceted nature of engagement, informing future measurement of the concept, DHI design, and implementation strategies for improved user experiences and outcomes.
Breaking through diabetes management barriers: Assessing the accuracy of Freestyle Libre Pro flash continuous glucose monitoring in diabetes patients with myocardial infarction
Authors: Shen Long , Xu Li , Zhang Chen , Gong Wei-Wei , Jing Xiao-Ting , Cao Min-Jia , Shi Fang-Hong , Pu Jun
Published: October 2024

Purpose

The objective of this study was to assess the accuracy of FreeStyle Libre Pro (FSL-Pro) flash continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and acute myocardial infarction (AMI).

Methods

A single-arm, single-center prospective study was conducted in the cardiac care unit from January 2021 to September 2023. Patients underwent finger-prick blood glucose (FPBG) testing before breakfast (6:00 am) and after meals (at 9:00, 13:00, 19:00 pm), along with CGM during their hospitalization. Statistical analyses included mean differences (MDs), mean absolute relative difference (MARDs) of blood glucose levels, and hypoglycemia occurrences. A Bland–Altman plot analysis and Pearson correlation were performed.

Results

Ninety-seven T2DM and AMI patients underwent CGM for up to 72 h (1142 monitoring point). Mean daily BG, Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and mean postprandial plasma glucose (PPG) were significantly lower by CGM than by FPBG with an estimated MD of −0.89 mmol/L in BG, −0.88 mmol/L in FPG, and −0.90 mmol/L in PPG, respectively. The maximum effect was mainly in the first day and then the difference was gradually declined (falling range, Day1, −1.24; Day 2, −0.70; Day 3, −0.68, mmol/L, respectively). The incidence rates of hypoglycemia and potential hypoglycemia was 1.57% and 8.5% higher, respectively, in CGM than in FBPG. A Bland–Altman Plot revealed some variability and bias between the two methods of measurement of glucose monitoring ( p < .001). Pearson's correlation coefficient demonstrated a significant correlation between the mean BG, FPG, and PPG of CGM and FBPG (Pearson's coefficient: 0.92, 0.87, 0.92, respectively, p < .001).

Conclusion

Compared with FPBG, FSL Pro-CGM showed lower mean glucose and higher hypoglycemia detection in T2DM and AMI patients, especially in the first 24 h.
A Survey of Upper Extremity Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Use in a Surgical Practice
Authors: Heyns Mieke , Ramji Maleka , Knox Aaron , Yeung Justin
Published: October 2024

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to gather the practices and perceptions among upper extremity surgeons regarding the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound for diagnostic and therapeutic intervention. Methods: A 36-question survey was developed from a literature review and author consensus. This survey was then piloted among a small group of hand surgeons prior to distribution. The survey included respondent characteristics, use of ultrasound in their current practice, referral patterns for ultrasound, and interest in incorporating ultrasound into practice and residency training. The refined survey was distributed to the Canadian Society of Plastic Surgeons, and Wrist and Elbow Society of Canada, as well as plastic surgery training programs. A reminder email was sent at 3 weeks and again at 8 weeks. Results: There were 152 responses after 505 survey invitations (30% response rate). Of these responses, 140 were complete (92%). Diagnostic ultrasound was used by 16 respondents (11%) for a myriad of pathologies. Only 5% used ultrasound for guided injections in a clinic or office setting. Money, time, lack of training, and lack of billing code were the major barriers to ultrasound implementation for 124 (89%) hand surgeons. Most respondents (84%) believe that ultrasound training should be incorporated into residency training. Ninety-one respondents (60%) are interested or very interested in incorporating ultrasound into their current practice. Conclusions: Ultrasound is a valuable resource that is seldom used as a point of care by Canadian hand surgeons due to several barriers. Survey results suggest that upper extremity surgeons are keen to have ultrasonography be part of residency education and most wish to adopt it into their future practice.
Sociodemographic and Clinical Predictors of Weight Gain During the First Year of Antiretroviral Therapy among Adults Living With HIV in Urban Tanzania
Authors: Chillo Pilly , Muhihi Alfa , Danaei Goodarz , Bakari Muhammad , Kwesigabo Gideon , Njelekela Marina , Ulenga Nzovu , Fawzi Wafaie W. , Mugusi Ferdinand , Sudfeld Christopher R.
Published: October 2024

Antiretroviral therapy (ART) has improved the survival of people living with HIV (PLHIV) but this success has been accompanied by an increase in noncommunicable diseases. We conducted a prospective cohort study of 4000 adult PLHIV who were initiating ART in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to assess weight gain during the first year of treatment and associated sociodemographic and clinical factors. Anthropometric data were collected at ART initiation and monthly follow-up visits. The mean weight gain during the first year of treatment was 2.6 ± 0.3 kg, and the prevalence of overweight or obesity increased from 26.3% at baseline to 40.7%. Female sex, greater household wealth, lower CD4-T-cell counts, higher WHO HIV disease stage, and pulmonary tuberculosis were associated with a greater increase in body mass index ( P < .05). Weight gain following ART initiation was common but was greater among females and PLHIV with advanced HIV or comorbidities.
How do Patients and Managers Value Gold Standard Elements in Primary Health Care
Authors: Gálvez G , Jimenez ML , Manzanera R , Ávalos A , De Castro M , Moral I , Iruela A
Published: October 2024

The study explores how Primary Health Care Team managers in Catalonia assess the gold standard criteria for excellence in Primary Health Care and whether there are differences in evaluations between the best and worst-rated centers by patients in a patient experience survey included in the Catalan Satisfaction Survey Plan (PLAENSA). The researchers used mixed methods to analyze 12 interviews done to Primary Care Team (PCT) managers. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed, yielding three themes and 12 subthemes. A Likert-type questionnaire was also used to compare results. Scores were observed between 4.8 and 3.5 regarding a constant relationship with the patient (longitudinality), and patient’s experience, respectively. All managers highlight accessibility, nursing management, and administrative support as essential to patient experience. No significant differences exist in PCT’s scores or gold standard element application. Disposing of good accessibility, crucial in Primary Health Care management, an administrative team, and efficiently prepared and motivated professionals, are key elements to a patient's experience in Primary Health Care. Contrary to other studies, interviewees described better accessibility in rural centers, which is likely why they are better valued by patients.
Real-world impact of emicizumab and immunosuppression on acquired hemophilia A: a multicenter US cohort
Authors: Poston Jacqueline N. , Bryan Cassandra , von Drygalski Annette , Al Banaa Kadhim , Zhou Jenny Y. , Parnes Aric , Chen Evan C. , Khan Osman , Ellsworth Patrick , Cafuir Lorraine , Walsh Christopher , Escobar Miguel A. , Wu James F. , Malec Lynn M. , Kessler Craig M. , Janbain Maissaa , Kruse-Jarres Rebecca
Published: October 2024

Acquired hemophilia A (AHA) is an autoimmune bleeding disorder that is caused by factor VIII (FVIII) autoantibodies with high morbidity and mortality due to bleeding and complications from immunosuppression (IST). To address the real-world implications of the FVIII mimetic antibody, emicizumab, and the role of IST, we retrospectively collected de-identified data on 62 patients with AHA who were treated off-label with emicizumab for a median of 10 weeks at 12 US-based hemophilia treatment centers. Most patients (95.2%) had acute bleeding at diagnosis, and 62.9% had partial or no control of bleeds despite the use of hemostatic agents at the time emicizumab was started. The main reason for initiating emicizumab was outpatient bleeding prophylaxis. After initiation of emicizumab, 87.1% had no additional bleeds. There were 6 breakthrough bleeds (2 spontaneous) in 5 patients and no fatal bleeding events during maintenance emicizumab treatment. The mean breakthrough bleed rate per patient-week was 0.02 (95% confidence interval, 0.0-0.03) during the first 12 weeks of emicizumab for the 55 patients with at least 12 weeks of follow-up. Of these patients, 92.7% received IST and 74.5% were prescribed rituximab-based regimens. Complete resolution of inhibitor and normalization of FVIII levels occurred in 56% overall and in 63% of the patients treated with rituximab. Overall, the median time to discontinuation of emicizumab and IST was 18 weeks. Two patients had thrombotic events while on emicizumab, but no adverse events were attributed to emicizumab and there were no infections attributed to IST. Emicizumab provides effective outpatient bleeding prophylaxis for AHA, and concurrent IST may further mitigate bleeding.
Predictors of liver disease outcomes in individuals with hemophilia and HCV infection
Authors: Christodoulou Ilias , Rothenberger Scott , Ragni Margaret V.
Published: October 2024

Hemophilia is an X-linked congenital bleeding disorder for which factor replacement is life-saving but complicated by the sequelae of chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection acquired decades ago. Although antiviral therapy clears HCV and reduces end-stage liver disease (ESLD), it may not reverse cirrhosis or prevent hepatocellular cancer (HCC). This was a retrospective cohort study of 121 men with hemophilia and HCV infection cared for at the Hemophilia Center of Western Pennsylvania to determine the incidence and predictors of ESLD and HCC. ESLD and HCC predictors were analyzed using Fisher exact test, and HCV-associated outcomes by Kaplan-Meier time-to-event and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. At a mean 54 years (36-80) duration of HCV, ESLD occurred in 24 (19.8%), 0.365 per 100 person-years (py); and HCC in 7 (5.8%), 0.106 per 100 py. All 46 (38.0%) alive when HCV antiviral therapy became available, received it. Overall, 31 (25.6%) were HIV+. The leading causes of death were ESLD in 11 (32.3%), bleeding in 9 (26.5%), and HCC in 6 (17.6%). Major risk factors for ESLD included platelets <100 × 103/μL (odds ratio [OR], 6.009; P = .012) and HIV infection (OR, 3.883; P = .001). The major predictors of HCC were ESLD (OR, 11.476; P = .003) and platelets <100 000/μL (OR, 6.159; P = .014). No antiviral-treated patient developed ESLD, P = .001. For men with hemophilia, the sequelae of chronic HCV infection were significant. The major risk factors for ESLD were platelets <100 000/μL and HIV infection. Despite antiviral therapy, ESLD is the most significant predictor of HCC, and ESLD is the leading cause of death.
CALB2 drives pancreatic cancer metastasis through inflammatory reprogramming of the tumor microenvironment
Authors: Tao Jinxin , Gu Yani , Zhang Zeyu , Weng Guihu , Liu Yueze , Ren Jie , Shi Yanan , Qiu Jiangdong , Wang Yuanyang , Su Dan , Wang Ruobing , Fu Yifan , Liu Tao , Ye Liyuan , Luo Wenhao , Chen Hao , Yang Gang , Cao Zhe , Huang Hua , Xiao Jianchun , Ren Bo , You Lei , Zhang Taiping , Zhao Yupei
Published: October 2024

Background

Early dissemination to distant organs accounts for the dismal prognosis of patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Chronic, dysregulated, persistent and unresolved inflammation provides a preferred tumor microenvironment (TME) for tumorigenesis, development, and metastasis. A better understanding of the key regulators that maintain inflammatory TME and the development of predictive biomarkers to identify patients who are most likely to benefit from specific inflammatory-targeted therapies is crucial for advancing personalized cancer treatment.

Methods

This study identified cell-specific expression of CALB2 in human PDAC through single-cell RNA sequencing analysis and assessed its clinicopathological correlations in tissue microarray using multi-color immunofluorescence. Co-culture systems containing cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and patient-derived organoids (PDOs) in vitro and in vivo were employed to elucidate the effects of CALB2-activated CAFs on PDAC malignancy. Furthermore, CUT&RUN assays, luciferase reporter assays, RNA sequencing, and gain- or loss-of-function assays were used to unravel the molecular mechanisms of CALB2-mediated inflammatory reprogramming and metastasis. Additionally, immunocompetent KPC organoid allograft models were constructed to evaluate CALB2-induced immunosuppression and PDAC metastasis, as well as the efficacy of inflammation-targeted therapy.

Results

CALB2 was highly expressed both in CAFs and cancer cells and correlated with an unfavorable prognosis and immunosuppressive TME in PDAC patients. CALB2 collaborated with hypoxia to activate an inflammatory fibroblast phenotype, which promoted PDAC cell migration and PDO growth in vitro and in vivo. In turn, CALB2-activated CAFs upregulated CALB2 expression in cancer cells through IL6-STAT3 signaling-mediated direct transcription. In cancer cells, CALB2 further activated Ca2+-CXCL14 inflammatory axis to facilitate PDAC metastatic outgrowth and immunosuppression. Genetic or pharmaceutical inhibition of CXCL14 significantly suppressed CALB2-mediated metastatic colonization of PDAC cells in vivo and extended mouse survival.

Conclusions

These findings identify CALB2 as a key regulator of inflammatory reprogramming to promote PDAC metastatic progression. Combination therapy with αCXCL14 monoclonal antibody and gemcitabine emerges as a promising strategy to suppress distant metastasis and improve survival outcomes in PDAC with CALB2 overexpression.
The effect of legal representation on clinical measures in involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients: a retrospective study
Authors: Cohen Yaacov , Bendor Ariel L. , Gilbar Roy , Cohen Orly , Khawaled Razek , Dienstag Arieh , Lotan Amit , Bonne Omer
Published: October 2024

Background

Most western countries provide funded legal representation (LR) for involuntarily admitted psychiatric patients appearing before judicial committees. In 2004, an amendment to the Israeli Mental Health Act granted this right to involuntarily committed psychiatric patients. Psychiatrists then voiced concerns that LR may increase rates of premature discharge and compromise patients’ safety and well-being. These worries have not been sufficiently addressed to date. This study aimed to provide answers to their concerns.

Methods

This study included 3124 and 3434 inpatients involuntarily admitted to psychiatric facilities in 2000 and in 2010 (respectively), prior to and after the introduction of LR in Israel. Data were acquired from the Israeli National Psychiatric Hospitalization Registry. Clinical measures included percentage of discharges by the District Psychiatric Board (DPB), duration of involuntary hospitalization and rates of readmissions within thirty days and six months of discharge by treating psychiatrists (TP) or DPB.

Results

The odds ratio (OR) of discharge by a DPB in 2010 (n = 221) compared to 2000 (n = 93) was 2.2 [95%CI 1.72–2.82]. The OR was similar for readmissions within thirty days or six months among patients discharged by TP and a DPB (OR = 1.08, p = 0.697 and OR = 0.92, p = 0.603, respectively) as well as between the two time points (p = 0.486 and p = 0.618). The duration of hospitalizations terminated by a DPB was significantly shorter than those terminated by TP, with no difference between the study time points. The mean hospitalization duration in 2010 was 21% shorter compared to 2000 among patients discharged by TP.

Conclusions

The number of DPB proceedings and the number of involuntarily hospitalized psychiatric patients discharged by DPBs increased considerably after the advent of state-funded legal representation in 2004. We found that this did not compromise beneficence and non-malfeasance of patient care. Our results emphasize the feasibility of affording even the most severely mentally ill patients the rights to due process. These findings may relieve concerns about state-funded LR procedures in involuntary psychiatric hospitalizations.
Frailty; Time for Global Action
Authors: Weiss Yotam , Matot Idit
Published: October 2024

This commentary examines the study “Frailty and Its Association with Long-Term Mortality Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults Aged 75 Years and Over” by Lewis et al. The retrospective cohort study utilized data from a primary healthcare provider in Israel to investigate frailty using the Frailty Index (FI) and its correlation with long-term mortality. Nearly half of the older adult cohort was identified as frail, with a strong association between higher frailty levels and increased mortality risk. The commentary emphasizes the importance of routine frailty screening in clinical practice and health policy. Integrating FI calculations into electronic health records can facilitate timely care for high-risk individuals. However, presenting frailty data must be managed carefully and in conjunction with patients’ preferences to avoid stigmatizing and negatively influencing clinical decisions. While the FI is a valuable tool, it should complement, not replace, other assessments that provide a more holistic view of the patient’s health. Furthermore, the commentary strongly advocates for a more comprehensive approach to patient care, emphasizing that non-geriatricians must also be proficient in recognizing and managing frailty. Effectively addressing frailty can lead to significant cost savings for healthcare systems, reduced burden on healthcare facilities, and decreased need for long-term care.
A framework for the acoustic simulation of passing vehicles using variable length delay lines
Authors: Damiano Stefano , Bondi Luca , Guntoro Andre , van Waterschoot Toon
Published: October 2024

The sound produced by vehicles driving on roadways constitutes one of the dominant noise sources in urban areas. The impact of traffic noise on human activities and the related investigation on modeling, assessment, and abatement strategies fueled the research on the simulation of the sound produced by individual passing vehicles. Simulators enable in fact to promote a perceptual assessment of the nature of traffic noise and of the impact of single road agents on the overall soundscape. In this work, we present TrafficSoundSim, an open-source framework for the acoustic simulation of vehicles transiting on a road. We first discuss the generation of the sound signal produced by a vehicle, represented as a combination of road/tire interaction noise and engine noise. We then introduce a propagation model based on the use of variable length delay lines, allowing to simulate acoustic propagation and Doppler effect. The proposed simulator incorporates the effect of air absorption and ground reflection, modeled via complex-valued reflection coefficients dependent on the road surface impedance, as well as a model of the directivity of sound sources representing the passing vehicles. The source signal generation and the propagation stages are decoupled, and all effects are implemented using finite impulse response filters. Moreover, no recorded data is required to run the simulation, making the framework flexible and independent on data availability. Finally, to validate the framework capability to accurately simulate passing vehicles, a comparison between synthetic and recorded pass-by events is presented. The validation shows that sounds generated with the proposed method achieve a good match with recorded events in terms of power spectral density and psychoacoustics metrics as well as a perceptually plausible result.
Biogeographic shifts in the microbial co-occurrence network features of three domains across complex environmental gradients in subtropical coastal waters
Authors: Hou Dandi , Yan Huizhen , Lin Huaying , Zhang Huajun , Zhang Demin , Wang Kai
Published: October 2024

Background

Bacteria, Archaea, and Microeukaryotes comprise taxonomic domains that interact in mediating biogeochemical cycles in coastal waters. Many studies have revealed contrasting biogeographic patterns of community structure and assembly mechanisms in microbial communities from different domains in coastal ecosystems; however, knowledge of specific biogeographic patterns on microbial co-occurrence relationships across complex coastal environmental gradients remains limited. Using a dense sampling scheme at the regional scale, SSU rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, and network analysis, we investigated intra- and inter-domain co-occurrence relationships and network topology-based biogeographic patterns from three microbial domains in coastal waters that show environmental gradients across the inshore-nearshore-offshore continuum in the East China Sea.

Results

Overall, we found the highest complexity and connectivity in the bacterial network, the highest modularity in the archaeal network, and the lowest complexity, connectivity, and modularity in the microeukaryotic network. Although microbial co-occurrence networks from the three domains showed distinct topological features, they exhibited a consistent biogeographic pattern across the inshore-nearshore-offshore continuum. Specifically, the nearshore zones with intermediate levels of terrestrial impacts reflected by multiple environmental factors (including water temperature, salinity, pH, dissolved oxygen, and nutrient-related parameters) had a higher intensity of microbial co-occurrence for all three domains. In contrast, the intensity of microbial co-occurrence was weaker in both the inshore and the offshore zones at the two ends of the environmental gradients. Archaea occupied a central position in the microbial inter-domain co-occurrence network. In particular, members of the Thaumarchaeota Marine Group I (MGI, now placed within the Family Nitrosopumilaceae of the Phylum Thermoproteota) appeared to be the hubs in the biogeographic shift between inter-domain network modules across environmental gradients.

Conclusions

Our work offers new insights into microbial biogeography by integrating network features into biogeographic patterns, towards a better understanding of the potential of microbial interactions in shaping biogeographic patterns of coastal marine microbiota.
Assessing the influence of entrepreneurial education on individual entrepreneurial orientation of university students
Authors: Amaral Daniella Teles , Nieuwenhuizen Cecile , Schachtebeck Chris
Published: October 2024

A number of empirical studies have underscored the significance of entrepreneurial orientation in understanding the dynamic business environment driven by entrepreneurial actions. However, the notion of individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) has received less attention in scholarly literature. It’s widely acknowledged that entrepreneurial education (EE) makes a substantial contribution to a country’s economy. It’s believed that EE can empower individuals and thus play a crucial role in addressing various societal challenges faced by countries globally. Nonetheless, the influence of EE on the IEO of university students, and whether it effectively guides them towards an entrepreneurial career, hasn’t been thoroughly examined. This study aimed to explore the influence of EE on the IEO of university students. This study focuses on two distinct economies—a developing one (South Africa) and a developed one (Scotland), the latter being recognized for its high-quality EE and a high proportion of individuals opting for entrepreneurial careers. A quantitative research approach was followed making use of an adapted questionnaire, which was analysed with SPSS and EQS 6.4 using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, exploratory factor analysis, multivariate analysis of variance and path model analysis. A total of 2841 questionnaires were distributed online, yielding 575 valid responses. Findings indicate that EE significantly influences the IEO of university students in South Africa, but to a lesser extent in Scotland. The study expands the existing body of knowledge on IEO of university students. In addition, it provides insight for policymakers in the respective countries.
Pancreatic cancer tumor organoids exhibit subtype-specific differences in metabolic profiles
Authors: Ali Hassan A. , Karasinska Joanna M. , Topham James T. , Johal Danisha , Kalloger Steve , Metcalfe Andrew , Warren Cassia S. , Miyagi Anthony , Tao Lan V. , Kevorkova Maya , Chafe Shawn C. , McDonald Paul C. , Dedhar Shoukat , Parker Seth J. , Renouf Daniel J. , Schaeffer David F.
Published: October 2024

Background

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive disease characterized by complex metabolic rewiring that enables growth in changing nutrient availability and oxygen conditions. Transcriptome-based prognostic PDAC tumor subtypes, known as ‘basal-like’ and ‘classical’ subtypes are associated with differences in metabolic gene expression including genes involved in glycolysis. Tumor subtype-specific metabolism phenotypes may provide new targets for treatment development in PDAC, but their functional relevance has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to investigate differences in metabolic profiles and transcriptomes in tumor models derived from patients with basal-like and classical tumors.

Methods

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) were established from tumor biopsies collected from patients with metastatic PDAC, including three PDOs from basal-like and five PDOs from classical tumors. Metabolic analyses included assessment of differences in metabolic activity using Seahorse Glycolysis and Mito Stress tests and 13C-glucose metabolites tracing analysis. In order to investigate the influence of mitochondrial pyruvate transport on metabolic differences, PDOs were treated with the mitochondrial pyruvate carrier 1 (MPC1) inhibitor UK-5099. Prognostic relevance of MPC1 was determined using a tumor tissue microarray (TMA) in resectable, and proteomics profiling in metastatic PDAC datasets. Whole genome and transcriptome sequencing, differential gene expression and gene set enrichment analyses were performed in PDOs.

Results

Metastatic PDAC PDOs showed subtype-specific differences in glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Basal-like tumor-derived PDOs had a lower baseline extracellular acidification rate, but higher glycolytic reserves and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) than classical tumor-derived PDOs. OCR difference was eliminated following treatment with UK-5099. In the 13C-glucose metabolites tracing experiment, a basal-like tumor PDO showed lower fractions of some M + 2 metabolites but higher sensitivity to UK-5099 mediated reduction in M + 2 metabolites than a classical tumor PDO. Protein level analyses revealed lower MPC1 protein levels in basal-like PDAC cases and association of low MPC1 levels with clinicopathologic parameters of tumor aggressiveness in PDAC. PDO differential gene expression analyses identified additional subtype-specific cellular pathways and potential disease outcome biomarkers.

Conclusions

Our findings point to distinct metabolic profiles in PDAC subtypes with basal-like tumor PDOs showing higher OXPHOS and sensitivity to MPC1 inhibition. Subtypes-specific metabolic vulnerabilities may be exploited for selective therapeutic targeting.
Hyperspectral retinal imaging in Alzheimer’s disease and age-related macular degeneration: a review
Authors: Du Xiaoxi , Park Jongchan , Zhao Ruixuan , Smith R. Theodore , Koronyo Yosef , Koronyo-Hamaoui Maya , Gao Liang
Published: October 2024

While Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases have traditionally been viewed as brain disorders, there is growing evidence indicating their manifestation in the eyes as well. The retina, being a developmental extension of the brain, represents the only part of the central nervous system that can be noninvasively imaged at a high spatial resolution. The discovery of the specific pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease in the retina of patients holds great promise for disease diagnosis and monitoring, particularly in the early stages where disease progression can potentially be slowed. Among various retinal imaging methods, hyperspectral imaging has garnered significant attention in this field. It offers a label-free approach to detect disease biomarkers, making it especially valuable for large-scale population screening efforts. In this review, we discuss recent advances in the field and outline the current bottlenecks and enabling technologies that could propel this field toward clinical translation.
In-situ monitoring of changes in temperature and microstrain during the chemical corrosion of stone cultural relics
Authors: Wu Huihua , Xie Quanhua , He Yuanyuan , He Xuefeng , Zhou Yuan , Liu Yang , Liu Yufei , Liu Yang , Wan Bo , Zhong Nianbing
Published: October 2024

Temperature changes during the chemical corrosion of stone cultural relics affect the condensation and evaporation of water and chemical reactions between soluble substances and corrosive solutions. This ultimately leads to changes in the internal structure and composition of the artifacts, which in turn lead to changes in the microstrain of cultural relics. To obtain in-situ real-time information on changes in the temperature and microstrain of stone cultural relics during chemical corrosion damage, a fiber Bragg grating (FBG) detection system was developed. The detection principle for the temperature and microstrain of sandstone was provided. Thermal field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and mercury intrusion porosimetry were used to characterize the surface morphology, composition, and pore structure of the sandstone samples, respectively. The temperature and microstrain changes of the sandstone samples under deionized water with different acidic/alkaline and salt solutions and at different temperatures were examined online in situ using the FBG measurement system. The results indicate that the dissolution of sandstone in the acidic solution (H2SO4 and NaHSO4) resulted in an exothermic chemical reaction as well as the dissolution of sandstone in the neutral salt solution (Na2SO4) and alkaline solution (NaOH and Na2CO3) led to material conversion and exothermic chemical reaction; the deionization reaction belongs to the dissolution reaction. The NaHSO4 solution caused the most serious corrosive disease on the sandstone surface. When the temperature of the NaHSO4 solution was 60 °C, the temperature and microstrain of the sandstone reached 63.9 °C and 253.6 με, respectively. The results of this study can support the research of revealing the corrosion mechanism of sandstone in different environments.
The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on pediatric dog bite injuries
Authors: Menk Paul T. , Mahabee-Gittens E. Melinda , Pomerantz Wendy J.
Published: October 2024

Background/objective

Shortly after the onset of the COVID Pandemic, when many schools and outside activities were suspended, dog adoption rates increased. It is unknown if increased dog adoption rates along with stay-at-home orders resulted in changes to pediatric dog bite injuries. The objective of this study was to examine the incidence and characteristics of dog bites in children seen in a pediatric emergency department (PED) during the pandemic compared to before.

Methods

A retrospective review of children evaluated in the PED of a level 1 pediatric trauma center and its satellite PED from March 2018 through February 2022 who had a discharge diagnosis of dog bite (ICD-10 W54.0XXA) was conducted. Pre-pandemic cases, March 2018 through February 2020, were compared to those that occurred during the pandemic, March 2020 through February 2022.

Results

There were 2,222 patients included in the study. Compared to pre-pandemic cases, the incidence for the first 12 months of the pandemic was 1.5 times higher than the pre-pandemic 12-month periods but returned closer to the pre-pandemic rates during the second 12 months of the pandemic. More patients were admitted during the pandemic (6.1% vs. 3.7%, p < 0.05). Facial and multiple injuries occurred more frequently during the pandemic (face 35.9% vs. 33.5%: multiple 18.5% vs. 15.6% p < 0.05).

Conclusions

There was a higher incidence of PED visits, higher admission rates, and an increase in multiple body part and facial injuries in children with dog bite injuries during the COVID pandemic compared to pre-pandemic. Pediatric providers should emphasize safe dog interactions with anticipatory guidance.
Ensemble of vision transformer architectures for efficient Alzheimer’s Disease classification
Authors: Shaffi Noushath , Viswan Vimbi , Mahmud Mufti
Published: October 2024

Transformers have dominated the landscape of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and revolutionalized generative AI applications. Vision Transformers (VT) have recently become a new state-of-the-art for computer vision applications. Motivated by the success of VTs in capturing short and long-range dependencies and their ability to handle class imbalance, this paper proposes an ensemble framework of VTs for the efficient classification of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD). The framework consists of four vanilla VTs, and ensembles formed using hard and soft-voting approaches. The proposed model was tested using two popular AD datasets: OASIS and ADNI. The ADNI dataset was employed to assess the models’ efficacy under imbalanced and data-scarce conditions. The ensemble of VT saw an improvement of around 2% compared to individual models. Furthermore, the results are compared with state-of-the-art and custom-built Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) architectures and Machine Learning (ML) models under varying data conditions. The experimental results demonstrated an overall performance gain of 4.14% and 4.72% accuracy over the ML and CNN algorithms, respectively. The study has also identified specific limitations and proposes avenues for future research. The codes used in the study are made publicly available.
Sport and Autism: What Do We Know so Far? A Review
Authors: Grosprêtre Sidney , Ruffino Célia , Derguy Cyrielle , Gueugneau Nicolas
Published: October 2024

Autism, or autism spectrum disorders, is a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by limitations in social interaction, communication skills, and repetitive behaviors. Although motor disorders were previously considered marginal in autism, recent research has highlighted their significance. Numerous studies have underscored the positive impact of sports on autistic individuals. This article presents a comprehensive overview of the literature regarding the effects of sport interventions on autistic individuals and aims to extract general and practical recommendations. Initially, the article reviews the various characteristics of autism that are positively impacted by sports, ranging from psycho-social skills to motor behavior. Subsequently, it examines how different configurations of sports practice (individual/collective, indoor/outdoor, etc.) may be suitable for autistic individuals. Literature research was conducted in two databases, resulting in the inclusion of 92 articles meeting longitudinal criteria (i.e., containing full sport/physical activity programs with pre-to-post analyses) out of 1665 initially identified articles. The findings suggest that individuals with autism can benefit from sports across a wide range of physical, psychological, and social factors. Importantly, there is no full contraindication for any activity, although some may require specific step-by-step preparation. Each activity has the potential to provide benefits in specific areas, as discussed in the article. In conclusion, further research is needed to explore the most effective strategies for implementing sports programs and maximizing their benefits for individuals across the autism spectrum.
Do earthquakes shake the stock market? Causal inferences from Turkey’s earthquake
Authors: Khan Khalid , Cifuentes-Faura Javier , Shahbaz Muhammad
Published: October 2024

This study’s main purpose is to use Bayesian structural time-series models to investigate the causal effect of an earthquake on the Borsa Istanbul Stock Index. The results reveal a significant negative impact on stock market value during the post-treatment period. The results indicate rapid divergence from counterfactual predictions, and the actual stock index is lower than would have been expected in the absence of an earthquake. The curve of the actual stock value and the counterfactual prediction after the earthquake suggest a reconvening pattern in the stock market when the stock market resumes its activities. The cumulative impact effect shows a negative effect in relative terms, as evidenced by the decrease in the BIST-100 index of − 30%. These results have significant implications for investors and policymakers, emphasizing the need to prepare for natural disasters to minimize their adverse effects on stock market valuations.
Attitudes towards migrants and preferences for asylum and refugee policies before and during russian invasion of ukraine: The case of slovakia
Authors: Adamus Magdalena , Grežo Matúš
Published: October 2024

Extant literature shows that well-being is one of the key drivers of attitudes towards migrants as well as preferences for asylum and refugee policies. Less in is known, however, about the relationship between well-being and attitudes towards migrants during sudden micro-level events that may elicit the sense of existential threat. To investigate the underpinnings of these relationships, two studies on samples of 600 Slovaks each were conducted before the Russian invasion of Ukraine and during its initial phase. The results show that well-being had a stable positive relationship with attitudes towards migrants across the studies, albeit not with preferences for asylum and refugee policies. During the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the negative feelings elicited by the war predicted preferences for asylum and refugee policies beyond well-being. The results indicate that incorporating psychological factors, such as emotional responses to the looming threat of war, may considerably inform the debate surrounding the support for inclusive asylum and refugee policies.
Roles of different organizations in implementing patient-reported measures in routine maternity care in Finland
Authors: Väyrynen Kirsi Marja-Leena , Chen An , Heinonen Seppo , Tekay Aydin , Torkki Paulus
Published: October 2024

Background

The integration of patient-centered care (PCC) and value-based healthcare (VBHC) principles, emphasizing personalized, responsive care and cost efficiency, is crucial in modern healthcare. Despite advocation from the International Consortium for Health Outcomes Measurement (ICHOM) for the global adoption of these principles through patient-reported measures (PRMs), their implementation, especially the pregnancy and childbirth (PCB) set, remains limited in maternity care. This study focuses on understanding the optimal organizational entity for integrating standard ICHOM-PCB-PRMs into routine maternity care in Finland. It aims to clarify the distribution of tasks among stakeholders and gather Finnish maternity healthcare professionals’ perspectives on organizational responsibility in PRM collection. The emphasis was on identifying the optimal organizational framework for managing PRMs in maternity care.

Results

A total of 66 maternity healthcare professionals participated in the study, reaching a consensus that public maternity care centers in Finland should be the primary entity responsible for managing PRMs in the maternity sector. Key aspects such as confidence with the role as a mother, maternal confidence with breastfeeding, and satisfaction with the result of care were identified as crucial and should be inquired about in both public maternity care centers and hospital maternity wards. The findings highlight the importance of comprehensive and consistent attention to these PRMs across public maternity care centers and hospital maternity settings to ensure holistic and effective maternal care.

Conclusions

The study highlights the central role of public maternity care centers in the collection and management of PRMs within Finnish maternity care, as agreed upon by the professional consensus. It underscores the importance of a consistent and holistic approach to PRM inquiry across different care settings to enhance the quality and effectiveness of maternity care. This finding is crucial for policymakers and healthcare practitioners, suggesting that reinforcing the collaborative efforts between public maternity care centers and hospital maternity wards is vital for a patient-centric, efficient healthcare system. Aligning with PCC and VBHC principles, this approach aims to improve healthcare outcomes for pregnant and postpartum women in Finland, emphasizing the need for a unified strategy in managing maternity care.