bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quantitative cellular pathology of the amygdala in temporal lobe epilepsy and correlation with magnetic resonance imaging volumetry, tissue microstructure, and sudden unexpected death in epilepsy risk factors
Authors: Lam Hou Wang , Patodia Smriti , Zeicu Claudia , Lim Yau Mun , Mrzyglod Alicja , Scott Catherine , Oliveira Joana , De Tisi Jane , Legouhy Antoine , Zhang Hui , Koepp Matthias , Diehl Beate , Thom Maria
Published: June 2024

Objective

Amygdala enlargement can occur in temporal lobe epilepsy, and increased amygdala volume is also reported in sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). Apnea can be induced by amygdala stimulation, and postconvulsive central apnea (PCCA) and generalized seizures are both known SUDEP risk factors. Neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) has recently provided additional information on altered amygdala microstructure in SUDEP. In a series of 24 surgical temporal lobe epilepsy cases, our aim was to quantify amygdala cellular pathology parameters that could predict enlargement, NODDI changes, and ictal respiratory dysfunction.

Methods

Using whole slide scanning automated quantitative image analysis methods, parallel evaluation of myelin, axons, dendrites, oligodendroglia, microglia, astroglia, neurons, serotonergic networks, mTOR‐pathway activation (pS6) and phosphorylated tau (pTau; AT8, AT100, PHF) in amygdala, periamygdala cortex, and white matter regions of interest were compared with preoperative magnetic resonance imaging data on amygdala size, and in 13 cases with NODDI and evidence of ictal‐associated apnea.

Results

We observed significantly higher glial labeling (Iba1, glial fibrillary acidic protein, Olig2) in amygdala regions compared to cortex and a strong positive correlation between Olig2 and Iba1 in the amygdala. Larger amygdala volumes correlated with lower microtubule‐associated protein (MAP2), whereas higher NODDI orientation dispersion index correlated with lower Olig2 cell densities. In the three cases with recorded PCCA, higher MAP2 and pS6‐235 expression was noted than in those without. pTau did not correlate with SUDEP risk factors, including seizure frequency.

Significance

Histological quantitation of amygdala microstructure can shed light on enlargement and diffusion imaging alterations in epilepsy to explore possible mechanisms of amygdala dysfunction, including mTOR pathway activation, that in turn may increase the risk for SUDEP.
Learning, memory and blood–brain barrier pathology in Duchenne muscular dystrophy mice lacking Dp427, or Dp427 and Dp140
Authors: Verhaeg Minou , Adamzek Kevin , van de Vijver Davy , Putker Kayleigh , Engelbeen Sarah , Wijnbergen Daphne , Overzier Maurice , Suidgeest Ernst , van der Weerd Louise , Aartsma‐Rus Annemieke , van Putten Maaike
Published: June 2024

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe neuromuscular disorder that is caused by mutations in the DMD gene, resulting in a disruption of dystrophin production. Next to dystrophin expression in the muscle, different isoforms of the protein are also expressed in the brain and lack of these isoforms leads to cognitive and behavioral deficits in patients. It remains unclear how the loss of the shorter dystrophin isoform Dp140 affects these processes. Using a variety of behavioral tests, we found that mdx and mdx4cv mice (which lack Dp427 or Dp427 + Dp140, respectively) exhibit similar deficits in working memory, movement patterns and blood–brain barrier integrity. Neither model showed deficits in spatial learning and memory, learning flexibility, anxiety or spontaneous behavior, nor did we observe differences in aquaporin 4 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. These results indicate that in contrast to Dp427, Dp140 does not play a crucial role in processes of learning, memory and spontaneous behavior.
Towards a historical geography of girlhood
Authors: Krishnan Sneha
Published: June 2024

This paper makes an argument for a geography of girlhood, located at the intersection of historical geographies of globalisation and empire on the one hand, and feminist interventions in the geography of childhood and youth on the other. A focus on girlhood, I argue, opens up a debate on the discipline's own implication in a debate on climate science, moral hierarchies of civilisation and reproductive health at which intersection the category of ‘girl’ was materialised in the 19th century. This focus extends and historicises the argument made by scholars like Nicola Ansel that geographies of childhood speak not only to intimate scales of experience ‐ such as the home and neighbourhood—but instead suggest the ways in which everyday life is implicated in the scale of the global and the geopolitical. Drawing on an inter‐disciplinary scholarship, the paper argues that debates on gender and maturity—converging on the figure of the ‘girl’—shaped raced and classed imaginaries of progress in the 19th and 20th centuries. Through this, the paper demonstrates that ‘girlhood’ is at the heart of historical geographies of urban planning, social care, and health, as well as indexing the continuities in the transition from a colonial discourse of civilisation to a mid‐20th century concern with development. Finally, the paper asks how to write about girls through an archive that is almost obsessively fixated on them as subjects of education and reform, even whilst they rarely appear in it as speaking subjects. I argue that both an emergent focus on non‐textual objects as sources, as well as the use of ephemeral material—including notes, creative writing exercises from the classroom, school diaries etc.—alongside the official archive might open the scholarship up to a multi‐scalar analysis of girlhood as imbricated in larger global and national discursive and material practices.
Strategies for involving patients and the public in scaling initiatives in health and social services: A scoping review
Authors: de Carvalho Corôa Roberta , Ben Charif Ali , Robitaille Vincent , G. V. Mochcovitch Diogo , Abdoulaye Samri Mamane , Akpo Talagbe Gabin , Gogovor Amédé , Blanchette Virginie , Gomes Souza Lucas , Kastner Kathy , M. Achim Amélie , McLean Robert K. D. , Milat Andrew , Légaré France ,   The RePOS Network
Published: June 2024

Background

Scaling in health and social services (HSS) aims to increase the intended impact of proven effective interventions. Patient and public involvement (PPI) is critical for ensuring that scaling beneficiaries’ interests are served. We aimed to identify PPI strategies and their characteristics in the science and practice of scaling in HSS.

Methods

In this scoping review, we included any scaling initiative in HSS that used PPI strategies and reported PPI methods and outcomes. We searched electronic databases (e.g., Medline) from inception to 5 February 2024, and grey literature (e.g., Google). Paired reviewers independently selected and extracted eligible reports. A narrative synthesis was performed and we used the PRISMA for Scoping Reviews and the Guidance for Reporting Involvement of Patients and the Public (GRIPP2).

Findings

We included 110 unique reports out of 24,579 records. In the past 5 years, the evidence on PPI in scaling has increased faster than in any previous period. We found 236 mutually nonexclusive PPI strategies among 120 scaling initiatives. Twenty‐four initiatives did not target a specific country; but most of those that did so (n = 96) occurred in higher‐income countries (n = 51). Community‐based primary health care was the most frequent level of care (n = 103). Mostly, patients and the public were involved throughout all scaling phases (n = 46) and throughout the continuum of collaboration (n = 45); the most frequently reported ethical lens regarding the rationale for PPI was consequentialist‐utilitarian (n = 96). Few papers reported PPI recruitment processes (n = 31) or incentives used (n = 18). PPI strategies occurred mostly in direct care (n = 88). Patient and public education was the PPI strategy most reported (n = 31), followed by population consultations (n = 30).

Conclusions

PPI in scaling is increasing in HSS. Further investigation is needed to better document the PPI experience in scaling and ensure that it occurs in a meaningful and equitable way.

Patient and Public Contribution

Two patients were involved in this review. They shared decisions on review questions, data collection instruments, protocol design, and findings dissemination.

Review Registration

Open Science Framework on 19 August 2020 (https://osf.io/zqpx7/).
SARS‐CoV‐2 Seroprevalence Trends in the Netherlands in the Variant of Concern Era: Input for Future Response
Authors: Vos Eric R. A. , van Hagen Cheyenne C. E. , Wong Denise , Smits Gaby , Kuijer Marjan , Wijmenga‐Monsuur Alienke J. , Kaczorowska Joanna , van Binnendijk Robert S. , van der Klis Fiona R. M. , den Hartog Gerco , de Melker Hester E.
Published: June 2024

Background

To inform future response planning we aimed to assess SARS‐CoV‐2 trends in infection‐ and/or vaccine‐induced immunity, including breakthrough infections, among (sub)groups, professions and regions in the Dutch population during the Variant of Concern (VOC)‐era.

Methods

In this prospective population‐based cohort, randomly selected participants (n = 9985) aged 1–92 years (recruited early‐2020) donated home‐collected fingerstick‐blood samples at six timepoints in 2021/2022, covering waves dominated by Alpha, Delta, and multiple Omicron (sub‐)variants. IgG antibody assessment against Spike‐S1 and Nucleoprotein was combined with vaccination‐ and testing data to estimate infection‐induced (inf) and total (infection‐ and vaccination‐induced) seroprevalence.

Results

Nationwide inf‐seroprevalence rose modestly from 12% (95% CI 11–13) since Alpha to 26% (95% CI 24–28) amidst Delta, while total seroprevalence increased rapidly to 87% (95% CI 85–88), particularly in elderly and those with comorbidities (i.e., vulnerable groups). Interestingly, highest infection rates were noticeable among low/middle educated elderly, non‐Western, those in contact professions, adolescents and young adults, and in low‐vaccination coverage regions. Following Omicron emergence, inf‐seroprevalence elevated sharply to 62% (95% CI 59–65) and further to 86% (95% CI 83–90) in late‐2022, with frequent breakthrough infections and decreasing seroprevalence dissimilarities between most groups. Whereas > 90% of < 60‐year‐olds had been infected at least once, 30% of vaccinated vulnerable individuals had still not acquired hybrid immunity.

Conclusions

Groups identified to have been infected disproportionally during the acute phase of the pandemic require specific attention in evaluation of control measures and future response planning worldwide. Furthermore, ongoing tailored vaccination efforts and (sero‐)monitoring of vulnerable groups may remain important.
Enhanced oxidation resistance of HfB2‐SiC‐ZrSi2 coating at 1700°C through low‐loss film‐forming treatment
Authors: Zhang Menglin , Ji Xiang , Zhang Youkui , Chen Yuexing , Wang Peipei , Kiryukhantsev‐Korneev Philipp V. , Levashov Evgeny A. , Shi Ji , Ren Xuanru , Kang Xueqin , Zhang Baojing , Zhang Ping , Feng Peizhong
Published: June 2024

To enhance the oxidation resistance of HfB2‐SiC‐ZrSi2 coating, low‐loss film‐forming treatment (LFT) was employed to generate high‐quality oxygen barrier glass layers, and the modification effect of varying formation temperature on the oxidation resistance was investigated at 1700°C. The results demonstrated that, with LFT at 1500°C, the relatively modest oxidation activity and complete dispersion of metal oxide nanocrystals generated a compact and continuous composite glass layer, which caused a decreased oxidation activity at 1700°C. The excessive formation temperature might result in oxidized and porous coatings, while lower temperatures could lead to poor fluidity of the glass layer, rendering it challenging to achieve compact composite glass layers. The coating sample with LFT at 1500°C exhibited a carbon loss rate of 0.33 × 10−6 g·cm−2·s−1 and an oxygen permeability level of 0.28%, respectively, when oxidized at 1700°C. These results provide fundamental insights into the oxidation resistance mechanisms within the modified HfB2‐SiC‐ZrSi2 coating system.
Natural killer cell‐related anti‐tumour adoptive cell immunotherapy
Authors: Qi Yuwen , Li Ying , Wang Hua , Wang Anjin , Liu Xuelian , Liang Ziyan , Gao Yang , Wei Liqing
Published: June 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor‐ (CAR‐)modified T cells have been successfully used to treat blood cancer. With the improved research on anti‐tumour adoptive cell therapy, researchers have focused on immune cells other than T lymphocytes. Natural killer (NK) cells have received widespread attention as barriers to natural immunity. Compared to T lymphocyte‐related adoptive cell therapy, the use of NK cells to treat tumours does not cause graft‐versus‐host disease, significantly improving immunity. Moreover, NK cells have more sources than T cells, and the related modified cells are less expensive. NK cells function through several pathways in anti‐tumour mechanisms. Currently, many anti‐tumour clinical trials have used NK cell‐related adoptive cell therapies. In this review, we have summarized the recent progress in NK cell‐related adoptive cellular immunotherapy for tumour treatment and propose the current challenges faced by CAR‐NK cell therapy.
Fuzzy‐PID controller based on improved LFPSO for temperature and humidity control in a CA ripening system
Authors: Zhou Haiyi , Wu Junhui , Zheng Xinnan , Zhu Hongfei , Lu Guangjun , Zhang Yalei , Shen Zheng
Published: June 2024

Temperature and humidity as the key factors affecting the storage and ripening of fruits and vegetables directly determine the quality of fruits and vegetables. In this paper, a temperature and humidity model was constructed based on an integrated device of controlled atmosphere storage and ripening. Aiming at the shortcomings of the temperature and humidity model such as large inertia, nonlinearity, and model uncertainty, a fuzzy‐PID controller based on the improved Lévy flight particle swarm algorithm (LFPSO) is proposed. Initially, a mathematical model of temperature and humidity is developed through mechanism research and parameter estimation. Subsequently, a temperature and humidity fuzzy‐PID control strategy is proposed for regulating temperature and humidity. An improved LFPSO is then introduced to optimize the key parameters of the fuzzy‐PID controller, such as the quantization factor and the scale factor. The superiority of the improved LFPSO algorithm is verified by comparing the test functions. Finally, the improved LFPSO‐fuzzy‐PID controller, fuzzy‐PID controller, and Smith‐PID controller are applied to the simulation model for comparison using the MATLAB Simulink simulation platform. The results show that the improved LFPSO‐fuzzy‐PID control algorithm has a good control effect in the temperature and humidity simulation system of controlled atmosphere (CA) ripening container, which provides a reference for solving the optimization problem of actual engineering design.

Practical applications

In order to reduce the postharvest cold chain losses of fruits and vegetables, this paper proposes a containerized style device that combines fruits and vegetables storage and ripening for simplifying the losses caused by transshipment at cold chain nodes. Since temperature and humidity play a key role in fruits and vegetables storage and ripening, which directly affect the product quality, this paper establishes a complete mathematical model of CA ripening temperature and humidity system by combining mechanism modeling and parameter identification. In order to keep the temperature and humidity within the ideal range, Smith‐PID controller, fuzzy‐PID controller, and fuzzy‐PID control method based on improved Lévy flight particle swarm optimization are proposed to regulate the air conditioner and humidifier. The performance of three different types of controllers was tested on the MATLAB. The simulation results demonstrate that the improved LFPSO‐fuzzy‐PID controller is superior and more effective than Smith‐PID and fuzzy‐PID controllers.
Effectiveness of integrated care for older adults‐based interventions on depressive symptoms: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Liu Wei , Qin Rixin , Zhang Xueyan , Li Guichen , Qiu Yiming , Huang Kexin , Li Xin , Chen Li , Xiao Jun
Published: June 2024

Aim

To pool existing studies to assess the overall effectiveness of integrated care for older adults (ICOPE)‐based interventions in improving depressive symptoms in older adults.

Design

A systematic review and meta‐analysis.

Data Sources

Ten databases were systematically searched from inception to 15 July 2023 and the search was last updated on 2 September 2023.

Methods

Standardized mean difference (SMD) was calculated using random effects models. RoB 2 and GRADEpro GDT were used to assess the methodological quality and confidence in the cumulative evidence. Funnel plots, egger's test and begg's test were used to analyse publication bias. Sensitivity, subgroup and meta‐regression analyses were performed to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

Results

The results of 18 studies showed ICOPE‐based interventions had a significant effect on improving depressive symptoms (SMD = −.84; 95% CI, −1.20 to −.3647; p < .001; 18 RCTs, 5010 participants; very low‐quality evidence). Subgroup analysis showed the intervention group was characterized by mean age (70–80 years old), intervention duration between 6 to 12 months, gender (female <50%), non‐frail older adults, depressed older adults and mixed integration appeared to be more effective. Sensitivity analysis found the results to be robust.

Conclusion

ICOPE‐based interventions may be a potentially effective alternative approach to reduce depressive symptoms in the older adults.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Healthcare professionals are expected to use ICOPE as one of the interventions for depressive symptoms in older adults, and this ICOPE could provide more comprehensive care services for older adults to reduce depressive symptoms.

Impact

ICOPE‐based interventions may be a potentially effective alternative approach to reduce depressive symptoms in the older adults.

ICOPE‐based interventions had a significant effect on reducing depressive symptoms in the older adults.

The intervention group characterized by mean age of older adults, intervention duration, gender ratio, health condition and integration types may influence the effect size.

Reporting Method

According to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.

Patient or Public Contribution

No Patient or Public Contribution.
The exchange rate pass‐through to domestic prices: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Iorngurum Tersoo David
Published: June 2024

Estimates of the exchange rate pass‐through vary significantly across studies. Therefore, I conduct a meta‐analysis to understand why estimates differ and provide consensus for the conflicting results. The dataset includes 72 primary studies containing 1219 estimates of the pass‐through from nominal effective exchange rates to consumer prices for 111 countries. Because there are many potential causes of heterogeneity, I use Bayesian model averaging to identify the important ones. I find that results vary mainly due to a combination of country‐specific and methodological characteristics, even though factors such as asymmetry and product‐specific characteristics also play a role. The country‐specific characteristics include trade openness, exchange rate flexibility, economic development status, exchange rate persistence, and commodity dependence. On the other hand, the methodological factors include estimation methods, data characteristics, endogeneity bias, and the researcher's choice of control variables. Finally, I model the exchange rate pass‐through, taking into account asymmetry and the best practices in the literature. I find that a 1% increase in the exchange rate leads to a 0.09% decrease in the consumer price level, whereas a 1% decrease leads to a 0.19% increase.
Recent stressful life events and identity development in emerging adults: An examination of within‐person effects
Authors: Wong Tracy K. , Hamza Chloe A.
Published: June 2024

Objective

To examine longitudinal associations among stressful life events and identity processess in emerging adults while accounting for within‐person and between‐person effects.

Background

Theoretical perspectives suggest that stressful life events may impact one's identity (i.e., coherent sense of self), but few studies have considered how changes in stressful life events are associated with changes within an individual's identity development over time (within‐person effects).

Methods

 Recent stressful life events (i.e., academic problems, friendship problems, romantic problems, and time pressure) and the processes through which identity develops (e.g., exploring in breadth and depth) were examined longitudinally (T1–T3) in a sample of emerging adults (N = 1125, Mage = 17.96 years).

Results

Random‐intercept cross‐lagged modeling demonstrated that at the between‐person level, emerging adults with greater academic and friendship problems, as well as more time pressures (relative to their counterparts), tended to engage in greater ruminative exploration. Further, those with more academic problems tended to demonstrate weaker commitment‐making and exploration in breadth and depth (relative to their counterparts). Within‐person increases in romantic problems predicted lower commitment‐making and higher ruminative exploration over time.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that romantic problems may predict within‐person changes in identity processes, whereas academic problems, friendship problems, and time pressure may be more concurrently related to identity development.
A revision of the genusWrangelia(Wrangeliaceae, Ceramiales) in Bermuda resolves six new species includingW. ryancraigiifrom the mesophotic zone
Authors: Jongbloed Walter M. , Schneider Craig W. , Lane Christopher E. , Cassidy Margaret M. , Saunders Gary W.
Published: June 2024

Four species of the genusWrangeliaare presently known from the western Atlantic Ocean:W. argus,W. bicuspidata,W. penicillata,andW. gordoniae, with the first three historically being reported from Bermuda. Morphological and molecular barcode (COI‐5P) and phylogenetic analyses used in this study (SSU, LSU,rbcL) indicated eight species groupings ofWrangeliain Bermuda, excluding two of the historically recognized species, retaining onlyW. arguswhile adding seven new species, of which six are formally described. What had been historically reported asW. penicillatafrom Bermuda was shown to be distinct from Mediterranean Sea specimens (type locality) and was shown to be a mixture ofW. hesperiasp. nov. andW. incrassatasp. nov. Along with these two, three other new species (W. laxasp. nov.,W. ryancraigiisp. nov., andW. secundirameasp. nov.) have complete rhizoidal cortication tightly covering axial cells of indeterminate axes below the apices, distinguishing them from the two local incompletely corticated congenersW. argusandW. absconditasp. nov., the latter a morphologically cryptic sister species withW. bicuspidatafrom the Caribbean Sea. Only one of the new species,W. ryancraigii, has thus far been observed in the mesophotic zone off the Bermuda platform, and it is morphologically cryptic with the euphotic zone'sW. laxa.
Soft tissue elasticity at teeth and implant sites. A novel outcome measure of the soft tissue phenotype
Authors: Tavelli Lorenzo , Barootchi Shayan
Published: June 2024

Aim

To assess ultrasonographic tissue elasticity at teeth and implant sites and its variation after peri‐implant soft tissue augmentation with a connective tissue graft (CTG).

Methods

Twenty‐eight patients, each contributing with one clinically healthy dental implant exhibiting a soft tissue dehiscence (PSTD), were included. Implant sites were augmented with CTG and monitored over 12 months. Ultrasonographic strain elastography, expressed as strain ratios (SR1, SR2, and SR3, respectively) was assessed at baseline, 6‐, and 12‐month, and compared with the corresponding contralateral homologous natural tooth. SR1 assessed the strain/elasticity of the midfacial coronal portion of the soft tissue in comparison to the natural tooth crown/implant‐supported crown, SR2 evaluated the strain of the midfacial coronal soft tissue in relation to the one of the alveolar mucosa, while SR3 depicted the strain of the midfacial soft tissue in relation to the interproximal soft tissue on the transverse ultrasound scan.

Results

SR1 in natural dentition and at implant sites was 0.20 ± 0.08 and 0.30 ± 0.14, respectively (p = .002), indicating that the coronal portion of the soft tissue around teeth is generally more elastic than its counterpart around dental implants. Soft tissue augmentation with CTG promoted an increased stiffness of the midfacial coronal portion of the soft tissue over 12 months (p < .001 for SR1, SR2, and SR3). Strain ratios at the 12‐month time points were significantly higher than the values observed at 6 months (p < .001). Regression analysis demonstrated that strain elastography ratios in natural dentition were significantly associated with keratinized gingiva width, and gingival thickness. At implant sites, SR1 was significantly associated with keratinized mucosa width and mucosal thickness (p < .001 for both correlations), SR2 was significantly associated with keratinized mucosa width (p = .013), and SR3 was significantly associated with the surgical technique performed in combination with CTG (p = .022).

Conclusion

Ultrasound strain elastography captures and quantifies tissue elasticity and its changes after soft tissue augmentation. A different baseline tissue elasticity was observed between teeth and dental implants in the most coronal aspect of the soft tissue. The main factors affecting tissue elasticity‐related outcomes were the keratinized tissue width, and mucosal thickness.
Effect of dietary macronutrients and immune challenge on gut microbiota, physiology and feeding behaviour in zebra finches
Authors: Love Ashley C. , Tabb Victoria , Youssef Noha H. , Wilder Shawn M. , DuRant Sarah E.
Published: June 2024

Macronutrients play a vital role in host immunity and can influence host–pathogen dynamics, potentially through dietary effects on gut microbiota. To increase our understanding of how dietary macronutrients affect physiology and gut microbiota and investigate whether feeding behaviour is influenced by an immune threat, we conducted two experiments. First, we determined whether zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) exhibit shifts in physiology and gut microbiota when fed diets differing in macronutrient ratios. We found the type and amount of diet consumed affected gut microbiota alpha diversity, where microbial richness and Shannon diversity increased with caloric intake in birds fed a high‐fat diet and decreased with caloric intake in birds fed a high protein diet. Diet macronutrient content did not affect physiological metrics, but lower caloric intake was associated with higher complement activity. In our second experiment, we simulated an infection in birds using the bacterial endotoxin lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and quantified feeding behaviour in immune challenged and control individuals, as well as birds housed near either a control pair (no immune threat), or birds housed near a pair given an immune challenge with LPS (social cue of heightened infection risk). We also examined whether social cues of infection alter physiological responses relevant to responding to an immune threat, an effect that could be mediated through shifts in feeding behaviour. LPS induced a reduction in caloric intake driven by a decrease in protein, but not fat consumption. No evidence was found for socially induced shifts in feeding behaviour, physiology or gut microbiota. Our findings carry implications for host health, as sickness‐induced anorexia and diet‐induced shifts in the microbiome could shape host–pathogen interactions.
Rehmapicrogenin attenuates lipopolysaccharide‐induced podocyte injury and kidney dysfunctions by regulating nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2/antioxidant response element signalling
Authors: Ma Xiaohong , Li Guandong , Shi Yufeng , Shang Zhitao
Published: June 2024

Background

Apoptosis and oxidative stress in kidneys are critical players in acute kidney injury (AKI). Rehmapicrogenin, a monomeric compound extracted from Rehmanniae radix, has been found to possess nitric oxide inhibitory and anti‐inflammatory activities. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the roles and mechanisms of rehmapicrogenin in AKI.

Methods

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was used to induce AKI‐like conditions. Cell survival conditions were detected by cell counting kit‐8 assays and flow cytometry. Several renal function markers including blood urea nitrogen, proteinuria, creatinine, and albumin were measured. Apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production were examined by TUNEL and dihydroethidium staining, respectively. Haematoxylin–eosin staining and periodic acid‐Schiff staining were conducted to assess histopathological changes. Gene expression was evaluated by western blotting, commercially available kits and immunofluorescence staining.

Results

For in vitro analysis, rehmapicrogenin inhibited the LPS‐induced podocyte apoptosis by activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway. For in vivo analysis, rehmapicrogenin improved renal functions in LPS‐induced mice. Additionally, rehmapicrogenin suppressed LPS‐induced podocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress in kidney tissues. Mechanistically, rehmapicrogenin activated the Nrf2/ARE pathway in LPS‐induced mice.

Conclusion

Rehmapicrogenin relieves the podocyte injury and renal dysfunctions through activating the Nrf2/ARE pathway to inhibit apoptosis and oxidative stress.

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“We are not the person we will be when these things happen:” Reflections on personhood from an ethnography of neuropalliative care
Authors: Sofronas Marianne , Carnevale Franco A. , Macdonald Mary Ellen , Bitzas Vasiliki , Wright David Kenneth
Published: June 2024

Neuropalliative care developed to address the needs of patients living with life‐limiting neurologic disease. One critical consideration is that disease‐related changes to cognition, communication, and function challenge illness experiences and care practices. We conducted an ethnography to understand neuropalliative care as a phenomenon; how it was experienced, provided, conceptualized. Personhood served as our conceptual framework; with its long philosophical history and important place in nursing theory, we examined the extent to which it captured neuropalliative experiences and concerns. Personhood contextualized complex losses, aligning the impact of functional and relational changes. Cognition, communication, and functional alterations stretched conceptions of personhood, insinuating it can be relational, fluid, adaptive. Although normative conceptions of personhood guided research and decision‐making, ethical considerations suggested personhood could be transformed, remade. We consider the implications of our findings through three themes. First, we examine how literature on illness experience fails to integrate the realities of people living with and dying from neurologic disease; we counter this by interrogating the concept of experience. Second, we turn to Ricoeur's work on recognition to illuminate relational conceptions of personhood to inform care practices. Finally, we reflect on how personhood can bridge the gap left by functional changes, enhance relational engagement, and promote dignity at the end of life.
Pain perception as hierarchical Bayesian inference: A test case for the theory of constructed emotion
Authors: Poublan‐Couzardot Arnaud , Talmi Deborah
Published: June 2024

An intriguing perspective about human emotion, the theory of constructed emotion considers emotions as generative models according to the Bayesian brain hypothesis. This theory brings fresh insight to existing findings, but its complexity renders it challenging to test experimentally. We argue that laboratory studies of pain could support the theory because although some may not consider pain to be a genuine emotion, the theory must at minimum be able to explain pain perception and its dysfunction in pathology. We review emerging evidence that bear on this question. We cover behavioral and neural laboratory findings, computational models, placebo hyperalgesia, and chronic pain. We conclude that there is substantial evidence for a predictive processing account of painful experience, paving the way for a better understanding of neuronal and computational mechanisms of other emotions.
Flow sensing on dragonfly wings
Authors: Uhrhan Myriam J. , Bomphrey Richard J. , Lin Huai‐Ti
Published: June 2024

One feature of animal wings is their embedded mechanosensory system that can support flight control. Insect wings are particularly interesting as they are highly deformable yet the actuation is limited to the wing base. It is established that strain sensors on insect wings can directly mediate reflexive control; however, little is known about airflow sensing by insect wings. What information can flow sensors capture and how can flow sensing benefit flight control? Here, we use the dragonfly (Sympetrum striolatum) as a model to explore the function of wing sensory bristles in the context of flight control. Combining our detailed anatomical reconstructions of both the sensor microstructures and wing architecture, we used computational fluid dynamics simulations to ask the following questions. (1) Are there strategic locations on wings that sample flow for estimating aerodynamically relevant parameters such as the local effective angle of attack? (2) Is the sensory bristle distribution on dragonfly wings optimal for flow sensing? (3) What is the aerodynamic effect of microstructures found near the sensory bristles on dragonfly wings? We discuss the benefits of flow sensing for flexible wings and how the evolved sensor placement affects information encoding.
Forest canopy height modelling based on photogrammetric data and machine learning methods
Authors: Deng Xingsheng , Liu Yujing , Cheng Xingdong
Published: June 2024

Forest topographic survey is a problem that photogrammetry has not solved for a long time. Forest canopy height is a crucial forest biophysical parameter which is used to derive essential information about forest ecosystems. In order to construct a canopy height model in forest areas, this study extracts spectral feature factors from digital orthophoto map and geometric feature factors from digital surface model, which are generated through aerial photogrammetry and LiDAR (light detection and ranging). The maximum information coefficient, Pearson, Kendall, Spearman correlation coefficients, and a new proposed index of relative importance are employed to assess the correlation between each feature factor and forest vertical heights. Gradient boosting decision tree regression is introduced and utilised to construct a canopy height model, which enables the prediction of unknown canopy height in forest areas. Two additional machine learning techniques, namely random forest regression and support vector machine regression, are employed to construct canopy height model for comparative analysis. The data sets from two study areas have been processed for model training and prediction, yielding encouraging experimental results that demonstrate the potential of canopy height model to achieve prediction accuracies of 0.3 m in forested areas with 50% vegetation coverage and 0.8 m in areas with 99% vegetation coverage, even when only a mere 10% of the available data sets are selected as model training data. The above approaches present techniques for modelling canopy height in forested areas with varying conditions, which have been shown to be both feasible and reliable.
Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Product (RAGE) Modulates Inflammation During Feeding of the Hard Tick, Haemaphysalis longicornis in Mice
Authors: Anisuzzaman  , Alim Md. Abdul , Matsubyashi Makoto , Hossain Md. Shahadat , Labony Sharmin Shahid , Shanta Ireen Sultana , Ali Md. Haydar , Yamamoto Yasuhiko , Hatta Takeshi , Tsuji Naotoshi
Published: June 2024

Ticks are notorious blood‐sucking ectoparasites that affect both humans and animals. They serve as a unique vector of various deadly diseases. Here, we have shown the roles of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) during repeated infestations by the tick Haemaphysalis longicornis using RAGE−/− mice. In primary infestation, a large blood pool developed, which was flooded with numerous RBCs, especially during the rapid feeding phase of the tick both in wild‐type (wt) and RAGE−/− mice. Very few inflammatory cells were detected around the zones of haemorrhage in the primary infestations. However, the number of inflammatory cells gradually increased in the subsequent tick infestations, and during the third infestations, the number of inflammatory cells reached to the highest level (350.3 ± 16.8 cells/focus). The site of attachment was totally occupied by the inflammatory cells in wt mice, whereas very few cells were detected at the ticks' biting sites in RAGE−/− mice. RAGE was highly expressed during the third infestation in wt mice. In the third infestation, infiltration of CD44+ lymphocytes, eosinophils and expression of S100A8 and S100B significantly increased at the biting sites of ticks in wt, but not in RAGE−/− mice. In addition, peripheral eosinophil counts significantly increased in wt but not in RAGE−/− mice. Taken together, our study revealed that RAGE‐mediated inflammation and eosinophils played crucial roles in the tick‐induced inflammatory reactions.
Legal barriers and enablers to upscaling ecological restoration
Authors: Foster Rose , Bell‐James Justine
Published: June 2024

The UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration and the 2022 Kunming‐Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework both signal the urgent need to upscale restoration efforts worldwide. Facilitative policy and governance frameworks are critical to these efforts. However, the legal barriers to restoration have been historically understudied. This paper assesses the legal issues affecting the implementation of ecological restoration, synthesized across four broad themes: recognizing the role of law in supporting ecological restoration, the incompatibility of some existing laws with the purposes of ecological restoration, the need to clarify terminology, and the legal challenges for restoration at the landscape scale. It concludes by summarizing the key considerations from the literature to inform effective legal frameworks for ecological restoration and identifying areas for further research.
Design and psychometric evaluation of organizational determinants of prenatal dental services questionnaire in Iran
Authors: Abdollahi Monireh , Tehrani Hadi , Jamali Jamshid , Nemati‐Karimooy Atefeh , Gholian‐Aval Mahdi
Published: June 2024

Aims

The quality of prenatal dental services is essential for improving the oral health of both mothers and children. However, a lack of a reliable tool to assess the quality of prenatal oral care has hindered research in this area. To address this gap, the study aimed to validate the Organizational Determinants of Prenatal Dental Services Questionnaire (OD_PDS) in Iranian pregnant women.

Methods

Literature reviews, interviews, and a cross‐sectional survey with 300 pregnant women were conducted. To evaluate the validity; face, content and construct validity were assessed. Cronbach's alpha coefficient and the Test‐retest method were used for reliability assessment.

Results

The final version of the OD_PDS comprises 12 items, and four subscales, which are Costs (four items), Access to Equipment and services (three items), Review of the service delivery process (two items), and Professional Behavior (three items). Questions with a factor loading of less than 0.3 were excluded. The obtained fit indices were acceptable (X2/pdf = 3.383, RMSEA: 0.089, CFI = 0.869, and TLI = 0.820). The content reliability was demonstrated by Cronbach's α  = 0.702 and 0.713 and the ICC  =  0.724.

Conclusion

The current study indicates that the OD_PDS is a valid and reliable tool for Prenatal Dental Services assessment in health centers.
The novel KIR2DL3*037 allele, identified by Sanger dideoxy nucleotide sequencing in a Chinese individual
Authors: Yu Qiong , Yang Zhichao , Deng Zhihui
Published: June 2024

The novel KIR2DL3*037 allele differs from the closest allele KIR2DL3*00101 by a single missense mutation.
A research bibliography for world Englishes and Cultural Linguistics
Authors: Latić Denisa , Polzenhagen Frank , Wolf Hans‐Georg , Peters Arne
Published: June 2024

This research bibliography lists some of the hallmark works in the field of Cultural Linguistics and has an exclusive thematic focus on cultural‐linguistic approaches to world Englishes. Therefore, other important and congenial works that have been published under the umbrella of, for example, Conceptual Metaphor Theory (CMT) or deal with langauges other than English are excluded but can be found in the respective references of the individual contributions of this special issue. The research bibliography offers reference works for research strands of the world Englishes framework, such as English language teaching and language use in multicultural and multilingual contexts, as well as language use in the public space. Furthermore, with a collection of publications ranging from the 1980s to most recent state‐of‐the‐art works from the year 2024, the authors identify trends and topical developments in the synthesized research of Cultural Linguistics and world Englishes and offer an outlook on new frontiers in this realm.
Local behavior of the mixed local and nonlocal problems with nonstandard growth
Authors: Ding Mengyao , Fang Yuzhou , Zhang Chao
Published: June 2024

We consider the mixed local and nonlocal functionals with nonstandard growth
with , , and being a bounded domain. We study, utilizing expansion of positivity, local behavior of the minimizers of such problems, involving local boundedness, local Hölder continuity, and Harnack inequality. This solves a problem raised by De Filippis and Mingione [Math. Ann. 388 (2024) 262–328].
Uniform rational polytopes of foliated threefolds and the global ACC
Authors: Liu Jihao , Meng Fanjun , Xie Lingyao
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we show the existence of uniform rational lc polytopes for foliations with functional boundaries in dimension . As an application, we prove the global ACC for foliated threefolds with arbitrary DCC coefficients. We also provide applications on the accumulation points of lc thresholds of foliations in dimension .
On the tau invariants in instanton and monopole Floer theories
Authors: Ghosh Sudipta , Li Zhenkun , Wong C.‐M. Michael
Published: June 2024

We unify two existing approaches to the tau invariants in instanton and monopole Floer theories, by identifying , defined by the second author via the minus flavors and of the knot homologies, with , defined by Baldwin and Sivek via cobordism maps of the 3‐manifold homologies induced by knot surgeries. We exhibit several consequences, including a relationship with Heegaard Floer theory, and use our result to compute and for twist knots.
Corrigendum: Étale cohomology, purity and formality with torsion coefficients
Authors: Cirici Joana , Horel Geoffroy
Published: June 2024

Proposition 6.9 in (J. Topol. 15 (2022), no. 4, 2270–2297) is incorrect without a connectivity assumption. In this note, we provide a counter‐example, give a correct proof of the modified proposition and explain the other changes that need to be made to [1].
Ácido tranexámico y su aplicación en cirugía oral. Revisión sistemática
Authors: Armijos Idrovo Silvana Graciela , Pacheco Carabajo Luis Adrián , Lafebre Carrasco Milton Fabricio , Pesantez Alvarado Juan Martín
Published: June 2024

Antecedentes: El ácido tranexámico (ATX) es un análogo sintético de la lisina que inhibe la fibrinólisis al reducir la conversión de plasminógeno en plasmina, lo que favorece la preservación del coágulo formado en el área operada y reduce el riesgo de sangrado. Eventualmente se utiliza como complemento en cirugía oral. Objetivo: Analizar la evidencia sobre la efectividad en hemostasia, dosis adecuada, margen de seguridad, beneficios y evolución postoperatoria de los ATX utilizados en cirugía bucal. Métodos: La revisión sistemática se estructuró a partir de un árbol de búsqueda (PubMed, Google Académico, ProQuest y Scopus), con las palabras clave y conector booleano: Ácido Tranexámico Y Cirugía Oral. La búsqueda se limitó a los idiomas inglés, portugués y español; artículos de acceso abierto; revisiones sistemáticas, metanálisis, ensayos clínicos aleatorizados e informes de casos. Se estableció una selección secundaria a partir del título y resumen de los artículos según el propósito del estudio. Hallazgos: La literatura reporta una eficacia del 80 % del ATX para reducir el riesgo de sangrado durante y después de los procedimientos quirúrgicos, lo que optimiza los procedimientos. Conclusiones: El ATX tópico o intravenoso en dosis no superiores a 20 mg ha mostrado ser eficaz para reducir el riesgo de sangrado en cirugía oral.
Etiología más común de la neuralgia del trigémino en pacientes atendidos en EsSalud Cusco entre enero de 2019 y agosto de 2022. Estudio retrospectivo
Authors: Niño de Guzman Zamalloa Juan Pablo , Gonzales Gamarra Óscar Francisco , Peña Manrique Iriana , León Pérez Nicolás , Oré Montalvo Víctor Edwin
Published: June 2024

Antecedentes: La neuralgia del trigémino (NT) es una enfermedad dolorosa del nervio trigémino, se desencadena al masticar o manipular encías. Urge al dentista conocer esta patología de dolor no odontogénico, evitando endodoncias y exodoncias para su correcta interconsulta con neurología y neurocirugía. Objetivo: Identificar la etiología más común de NT en pacientes atendidos en EsSalud Cusco desde enero de 2019 hasta agosto de 2022. Método: Tipo observacional, diseño descriptivo y retrospectivo; se obtuvo la muestra calculada de 127 historias clínicas según criterios inclusivos; el instrumento validado por especialistas, datas computarizadas de historias clínicas; las variables, medidas en hojas de recolección de datos por un solo evaluador en una hoja Excel. Para la variable etiología más común, las puntuaciones fueron según factores predisponentes y factores etiológicos; mientras que para la variable NT, según los tipos de NT y escalas de dolor, ambas medidas por estándares internacionales. Finalmente, el tipo de análisis fue la estadística descriptiva, la relación del puntaje gracias al coeficiente de correlación parcial de Pearson, e interpretada según valores Kappa de Cohen. Resultados: Variable etiología más común: Factor predisponente, sexo al 79,5 % y como factor etiológico, etiología desconocida al 55,1 %. Variable NT: Tipo idiopática al 34,6 %; según escala EVA, de dolor intenso al 59,1 %. Conclusión: Según chi cuadrado 879, la relación media de la etiología más común de la NT tiene como factor predisponente el sexo, siendo el femenino el más afectado al 79.5 %; y como factor etiológico la etiología desconocida al 55.1 %.
Bruxismo del sueño y apnea obstructiva del sueño. Prescripción de un dispositivo de avance mandibular desde una perspectiva dental
Authors: Mayoral Sanz Pedro , Lagravere Vich Manuel , Correa Leopoldo
Published: June 2024

El bruxismo y la apnea obstructiva del sueño son dos entidades que se presentan conjuntamente en un elevado número de pacientes. Las consecuencias de estas son relevantes tanto para la salud oral como para la salud general y la calidad de vida de los afectados. La identificación, el diagnóstico y el tratamiento forma parte esencial de la actividad clínica de los odontólogos. El uso por parte de los odontólogos de los dispositivos de avance mandibular permite el abordaje de estos dos problemas con un único dispositivo. Para el adecuado tratamiento y manejo de estos pacientes es necesario que el odontólogo tenga una adecuada formación. En este artículo de revisión presentamos un resumen actualizado de la evidencia científica sobre la asociación de bruxismo y apnea, así como del manejo por parte del odontólogo con dispositivos de avance mandibular.