bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hearing Loss and Sociodemographic Barriers to Health Care Access Using the All of Us Research Program
Authors: Cortina Luis E. , Amini Andrew , Benson Jalen , Huang Victoria W. , Naples James G.
Published: July 2023

Objective

To explore how gender and low‐income status independently influence general health care access in patients with hearing loss.

Study Design

Cross‐sectional study.

Setting

National database.

Methods

Patients with a diagnosis of sensorineural hearing loss from the National Institutes of Health All of Us database were included. Data entered from May 2018 to November 2022 was analyzed. Patient demographics such as age, gender, educational level, and insurance status were assessed. Multivariate logistic regressions were performed for statistical evaluation.

Results

A subset of 8875 patients (48.3% male, mean age 69) were evaluated. After multivariate analysis, female participants were more likely than male participants to report difficulty affording prescribed medications (odds ratio [OR]: 1.7, p < .0005) and specialists (OR: 1.4, p < 0.005). Female patients were also more likely to delay care due to elder care responsibilities (OR: 2.6, p < .0005), employment obligations (OR: 1.7, p < .0005), and feelings of apprehension in seeing a provider (OR: 1.7, p < .0005). Finally, female participants reported feeling less likely to be involved in their own medical care compared to males (OR: 1.2, p < .005). Low‐income (<$25,000) participants reported less likely to feel respected (OR: 3.2, p < .0005) and delivered understandable health information (OR: 2.3, p < .0005) by providers compared to participants of higher income.

Conclusion

This work suggests that patients with hearing loss, female gender, and lower socioeconomic status independently introduce barriers to health care access and utilization. These factors should be considered in efforts to promote equity in the care of patients with hearing loss.
Non‐invasive cell‐free DNA prenatal screening for trisomy 21 as part of primary screening strategy in twin pregnancy
Authors: Claudel N. , Barrois M. , Vivanti A. J. , Rosenblatt J. , Salomon L. J. , Jouannic J.‐M. , Picone O. , Carbillon L. , Vialard F. , Launay E. , Tsatsaris V. , Curis E. , El Khattabi L. ,   APHP non‐invasive prenatal screening group
Published: July 2023

Objectives

The performance of non‐invasive prenatal screening using cell‐free DNA testing of maternal blood in twin pregnancy is underevaluated, while serum marker‐based strategies yield poor results. This study aimed to assess the performance of non‐invasive prenatal screening for trisomy 21 in twin pregnancy as a first‐tier test. Secondary objectives were to assess its failure rate and factors associated with failure.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included twin pregnancies in which non‐invasive prenatal screening using cell‐free DNA was performed as the primary screening strategy between May 2017 and October 2019. We used the NIPT VeriSeq® test for in‐vitro diagnosis and set a fetal fraction cut‐off of 4% for monochorionic pregnancies and 8% for dichorionic ones. Clinical data and pregnancy outcome were collected from physicians or midwives via a questionnaire or were retrieved directly on‐site. We calculated the performance of non‐invasive cell‐free DNA screening for trisomy 21, analyzed its failure rate and assessed potentially associated factors.

Results

Among 1885 twin pregnancies with follow‐up, there were six (0.32%) confirmed cases of trisomy 21. The sensitivity of non‐invasive prenatal screening for trisomy 21 was 100% (95% CI, 54.1–100%) and the false‐positive rate was 0.23% (95% CI, 0.06–0.59%). The primary failure rate was 4.6%, with 4.0% being due to insufficient fetal fraction. A successful result was obtained for 65.4% of women who underwent a new blood draw, reducing the overall failure rate to 2.8%. Maternal body mass index, gestational age at screening as well as chorionicity were significantly associated with the risk of failure.

Conclusion

This study provides further evidence of the high performance, at an extremely low false‐positive rate, of non‐invasive prenatal screening in twins as part of a primary screening strategy for trisomy 21. © 2023 The Authors. Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Equine tendon mechanical behaviour: Prospects for repair and regeneration applications
Authors: Shojaee Asiyeh
Published: July 2023

Tendons are dense connective tissues that play an important role in the biomechanical function of the musculoskeletal system. The mechanical forces have been implicated in every aspect of tendon biology. Tendon injuries are frequently occurring and their response to treatments is often unsatisfactory. A better understanding of tendon biomechanics and mechanobiology can help develop treatment options to improve clinical outcomes. Recently, tendon tissue engineering has gained more attention as an alternative treatment due to its potential to overcome the limitations of current treatments. This review first provides a summary of tendon mechanical properties, focusing on recent findings of tendon mechanobiological responses. In the next step, we highlight the biomechanical parameters of equine energy‐storing and positional tendons. The final section is devoted to how mechanical loading contributes to tenogenic differentiation using bioreactor systems. This study may help develop novel strategies for tendon injury prevention or accelerate and improve tendon healing.
Menschen mit Migrationsgeschichte in der COVID-19-Pandemie
Authors: Koschollek Carmen , Bartig Susanne , Müters Stephan , Goßner Laura , Bug Marleen , Goerigk Lena , Hövener Claudia , Kajikhina Katja
Published: July 2023

Einleitung

Nicht nur Risiken für eine SARS-CoV-2-Infektion und schwere bis tödliche Verläufe sind sozial ungleich verteilt, sondern auch Arbeitsplatz- und Einkommensverluste infolge der Eindämmungsmaßnahmen. Für Menschen mit Migrationsgeschichte zeigen sich ebenfalls erhöhte Risiken, von solchen indirekten sozioökonomischen Pandemiefolgen betroffen zu sein. Ziel dieses Beitrages ist es, Zusammenhänge zwischen indirekten sozioökonomischen Pandemiefolgen und der Lebenszufriedenheit von Menschen mit ausgewählten Staatsangehörigkeiten zu untersuchen.

Methoden

Analysiert wurden Daten der multimodalen, mehrsprachigen Befragungsstudie Gesundheit in Deutschland aktuell: Fokus (GEDA Fokus), die von 11/2021 bis 05/2022 unter Menschen mit italienischer, kroatischer, polnischer, syrischer oder türkischer Staatsangehörigkeit deutschlandweit durchgeführt wurde. In multivariablen Poisson-Regressionen werden Zusammenhänge zwischen Geschlecht, Alter, Bildung, Einkommen, Deutschkenntnissen sowie Arbeitsplatz- und Einkommensverlusten und der Lebenszufriedenheit untersucht.

Ergebnisse

Von 4114 Teilnehmenden berichten 64,4 % eine hohe Lebenszufriedenheit. Während ein hohes Einkommen positiv mit einer hohen Lebenszufriedenheit assoziiert ist, zeigen sich negative Assoziationen bei selbst als schlecht eingeschätzten Deutschkenntnissen sowie bei mit hoher Wahrscheinlichkeit erwarteten bzw. bereits eingetretenen Arbeitsplatz- und Einkommensverlusten.

Diskussion

Der Beitrag zeigt, dass die Lebenszufriedenheit, die für eine Reihe gesundheitlicher Outcomes relevant ist, bei denjenigen geringer ist, die von Arbeitsplatz- und Einkommensverlusten betroffen sind. Es gilt, strukturelle Ursachen sozioökonomischer Benachteiligung abzubauen, um gesundheitliche Ungleichheiten zu adressieren und für künftige Krisen besser gewappnet zu sein.
A measure theoretic paradox from a continuous colouring rule
Authors: Simon Robert , Tomkowicz Grzegorz
Published: July 2023

Given a probability space $$(X, {{\mathcal {B}}}, m)$$

(
X
,
B
,
m
)

, measure preserving transformations $$g_1, \dots , g_k$$

g
1

,
⋯
,

g
k

of X, and a colour set C, a colouring rule is a way to colour the space with C such that the colours allowed for a point x are determined by that point’s location in X and the colours of the finitely many $$g_1 (x), \dots , g_k(x)$$

g
1

(
x
)

,
⋯
,

g
k

(
x
)

(called descendants). We represent a colouring rule as a correspondence F defined on $$X\times C^k$$

X
×

C
k

with values in C. A function $$f: X\rightarrow C$$

f
:
X
→
C

satisfies the rule at x if $$f(x) \in F( x, f(g_1 x), \dots , f(g_k x))$$

f

(
x
)

∈
F
(
x
,
f

(

g
1

x
)

,
⋯
,
f

(

g
k

x
)

)

. A colouring rule is paradoxical if it can be satisfied in some way almost everywhere with respect to m, but not in any way that is measurable with respect to a finitely additive measure that extends the probability measure m defined on $${{\mathcal {B}}}$$
B
and for which the finitely many transformations $$g_1, \dots , g_k$$

g
1

,
⋯
,

g
k

remain measure preserving. We show that a colouring rule can be paradoxical when the $$g_1, \dots , g_k$$

g
1

,
⋯
,

g
k

are members of a semi-group G, the probability space X and the colour set C are compact sets, C is convex and finite dimensional, and the colouring rule says if $$c: X\rightarrow C$$

c
:
X
→
C

is the colouring function then the colour c(x) must lie (m a.e.) in $$F(x, c(g_1(x) ), \dots , c(g_k(x)))$$

F
(
x
,
c

(

g
1

(
x
)

)

,
⋯
,
c

(

g
k

(
x
)

)

)

for a non-empty upper-semi-continuous convex-valued correspondence F. Furthermore we show that this colouring rule has a stability property—there is a positive $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
small enough so that if the expected deviation from the rule does not exceed $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
then the colouring cannot be measurable in the same finitely additive way. As a consequence, there is a two-person Bayesian game with equilibria, but all $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
-equilibria for small enough $$\epsilon $$
ϵ
are not measurable according to any finitely additive measure that respects the information structure of the game.
Anti-RANKL Therapy Prevents Glucocorticoid-Induced Bone Loss and Promotes Muscle Function in a Mouse Model of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Jayash Soher Nagi , Hamoudi Dounia , Stephen Louise A. , Argaw Anteneh , Huesa Carmen , Joseph Shuko , Wong Sze Choong , Frenette Jérôme , Farquharson Colin
Published: July 2023

Bisphosphonates prevent bone loss in glucocorticoid (GC)-treated boys with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) and are recommended as standard of care. Targeting receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa-B ligand (RANKL) may have advantages in DMD by ameliorating dystrophic skeletal muscle function in addition to their bone anti-resorptive properties. However, the potential effects of anti-RANKL treatment upon discontinuation in GC-induced animal models of DMD are unknown and need further investigation prior to exploration in the clinical research setting. In the first study, the effects of anti-RANKL and deflazacort (DFZ) on dystrophic skeletal muscle function and bone microstructure were assessed inmdxmice treated with DFZ or anti-RANKL, or both for 8 weeks. Anti-RANKL and DFZ improved grip force performance ofmdxmice but an additive effect was not noted. However, anti-RANKL but not DFZ improved ex vivo contractile properties of dystrophic muscles. This functional improvement was associated with a reduction in muscle damage and fibrosis, and inflammatory cell number. Anti-RANKL treatment, with or without DFZ, also improved trabecular bone structure ofmdxmice. In a second study, intravenous zoledronate (Zol) administration (1 or 2 doses) following 2 months of discontinuation of anti-RANKL treatment was mostly required to record an improvement in bone microarchitecture and biomechanical properties in DFZ-treatedmdxmice. In conclusion, the ability of anti-RANKL therapy to restore muscle function has profound implications for DMD patients as it offers the possibility of improving skeletal muscle function without the steroid-related skeletal side effects.
Significance of endolymphatic sac surgery with and/or without simultaneous cochlea implant surgery in respect of vertigo control and speech perception in patients with Menière’s disease
Authors: Spiegel Jennifer L. , Weiss Bernhard G. , Mueller Joachim , Hempel John-Martin , Rader Tobias , Bertlich Mattis , Canis Martin , Ihler Friedrich
Published: July 2023

Purpose

The focus on treating patients with Menière’s Disease (MD) lies on the reduction of vertigo attacks and the preservation of sensory function. Endolympathic hydrops is considered as an epiphenomenon in MD, which can potentially be altered by endolymphatic sac surgery (ESS). Purpose of the study was to investigate the influences on vertigo control through manipulation of the perilymphatic system with or without ESS.

Methods

Retrospective data analysis of 86 consecutive patients with MD according to current diagnostic criteria after endolymphatic sac surgery alone (ESSalone; n = 45), cochlear implantation (CI) alone (CIalone; n = 12), and ESS with CI (ESS + CI; n = 29), treated at a tertiary referral center. Main Outcome Measures: vertigo control, speech perception pre- and postoperatively.

Results

Gender, side, and preoperative treatment were similar in all groups. Age was younger in the ESSalone-group with 56.2 ± 13.0 years (CIalone = 64.2 ± 11.4 years; ESS + CI = 63.1 ± 9.7 years). Definitive MD was present in all the CIalone, in 79.3% of the ESS + CI and in 59.6% of the ESSalone-patients. Likewise, vertigo control rate was 100% in the CIalone, 89.7% in the ESS + CI and 66.0% in the ESSalone-group.

Conclusions

Vertigo control was improved in all three groups, however, superior in groups treated with CI, potentially contributed by the manipulation of both the endo- and perilymphatic systems. A more systematic characterization of the patients with larger case numbers and documentation of follow up data would be needed to evaluate a clinical effect more properly.
A framework to simplify paediatric syncope diagnosis
Authors: Stewart Julian M. , van Dijk J. Gert , Balaji Seshadri , Sutton Richard
Published: July 2023

This paper aims to improve the diagnosis of syncope and transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) in children. Diagnostic problems stem, first, from some causes spanning various disciplines, e.g. cardiology, neurology and psychiatry, while the most common cause, vasovagal syncope, is not embraced by any specialty. Second, clinical variability is huge with overlapping signs and symptoms. Third, the approach to TLOC/syncope of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) is underused in childcare. We explain the ESC guidelines using an additional paediatric literature review. Classification of TLOC and syncope is hierarchic and based on history taking. Loss of consciousness (LOC) is defined using three features: abnormal motor control including falling, reduced responsiveness and amnesia. Adding a < 5 min duration and spontaneous recovery defines TLOC. TLOC simplifies diagnosis by excluding long LOC (e.g. some trauma, intoxications and hypoglycaemia) and focussing on syncope, tonic–clonic seizures and functional TLOC. Syncope, i.e. TLOC due to cerebral hypoperfusion, is divided into reflex syncope (mostly vasovagal), orthostatic hypotension (mostly initial orthostatic hypotension in adolescents) and cardiac syncope (arrhythmias and structural cardiac disorders). The initial investigation comprises history taking, physical examination and ECG; the value of orthostatic blood pressure measurement is unproven in children but probably low. When this fails to yield a diagnosis, cardiac risk factors are assessed; important clues are supine syncope, syncope during exercise, early death in relatives and ECG abnormalities.

 Conclusions: In adults, the application of the ESC guidelines reduced the number of absent diagnoses and costs; we hope this also holds for children.What is Known:• Syncope and its mimics are very common in childhood, as they are at other ages.• Syncope and its mimics provide considerable diagnostic challenges.What is New:• Application of the hierarchic framework of transient loss of consciousness (TLOC) simplifies diagnosis.• The framework stresses history-taking to diagnose common conditions while keeping an eye on cardiac danger signs.
Ocular manifestations of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT)
Authors: Virth James , Mack Heather G. , Colville Deb , Crockett Emma , Savige Judy
Published: July 2023

Congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT) are among the most common birth defects worldwide and a major cause of kidney failure in children. Extra-renal manifestations are also common. This study reviewed diseases associated with the Genomics England CAKUT-associated gene panel for ocular anomalies. In addition, each gene was examined for expression in the human retina and an ocular phenotype in mouse models using the Human Protein Atlas and Mouse Genome Informatics databases, respectively. Thirty-four (54%) of the 63 CAKUT-associated genes (55 ‘green’ and 8 ‘amber’) had a reported ocular phenotype. Five of the 6 most common CAKUT-associated genes (PAX2, EYA1, SALL1, GATA3, PBX1) that represent 30% of all diagnoses had ocular features. The ocular abnormalities found with most CAKUT-associated genes and with five of the six commonest were coloboma, microphthalmia, optic disc anomalies, refraction errors (astigmatism, myopia, and hypermetropia), and cataract. Seven of the CAKUT-associated genes studied (11%) had no reported ocular features but were expressed in the human retina or had an ocular phenotype in a mouse model, which suggested further possibly-unrecognised abnormalities. About one third of CAKUT-associated genes (18, 29%) had no ocular associations and were not expressed in the retina, and the corresponding mouse models had no ocular phenotype. Ocular abnormalities in individuals with CAKUT suggest a genetic basis for the disease and sometimes indicate the affected gene. Individuals with CAKUT often have ocular abnormalities and may require an ophthalmic review, monitoring, and treatment to preserve vision.
Dual-amplification system based on CRISPR-Cas12a and horseradish peroxidase-tethered magnetic microspheres for colorimetric detection of microcystin-LR
Authors: Wu Pian , Zhang Man , Xue Xiaoting , Ding Ping , Ye Lei
Published: July 2023

A novel dual-amplification system based on CRISPR-Cas12a and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) was developed for colorimetric determination of MC-LR. This dual-amplification was accomplished by combining the nuclease activity of CRISPR-Cas12a with the redox activity of HRP. HRP linked to magnetic beads through an ssDNA (MB-ssDNA-HRP) was used to induce a color change of the 3,3′,5,5′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB)-H2O2 chromogenic substrate solution. Specific binding of MC-LR with its aptamer initiated the release of a complementary DNA (cDNA), which was designed to activate the trans-cleavage activity of CRISPR-Cas12a. Upon activation, Cas12a cut the ssDNA linker in MB-ssDNA-HRP, causing a reduction of HRP on the magnetic beads. Consequently, the UV–Vis absorbance of the HRP-catalyzed reaction was decreased. The dual-signal amplification facilitated by CRISPR-Cas12a and HRP enabled the colorimetric detection of MC-LR in the range 0.01 to 50 ng·mL−1 with a limit of detection (LOD) of 4.53 pg·mL−1. The practicability of the developed colorimetric method was demonstrated by detecting different levels of MC-LR in spiked real water samples. The recoveries ranged from 86.2 to 118.5% and the relative standard deviation (RSD) was 8.4 to 17.6%. This work provides new inspiration for the construction of effective signal amplification platforms and demonstrates a simple and user-friendly colorimetric method for determination of trace MC-LR.

Graphical Abstract
Mapping an information design game into an all-pay auction
Authors: Muratov Oleg
Published: July 2023

I formally establish the existence of a mapping between a class of information design games with multiple senders and a class of all-pay auctions. I fully characterize this mapping and show how to use it to find equilibria in the information design game. The mapping allows for a straightforward comparative statics analysis of equilibria in the latter class of games. I use it to study the effect of the tie-breaking rule on the distributions of posteriors and the receiver’s payoff.
Osteomyelitis caused by Streptococcus intermedius in immunocompetent adults — a case report and systematic literature review
Authors: Brunink Elyne M. , Hoogervorst Lotje A. , Steentjes Koen , Broekhuis Demien , de Boer Mark G. J.
Published: July 2023

Hematogenous osteomyelitis caused by Streptococcus intermedius is rare, particularly in immunocompetent adults. The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of the clinical presentation, prognosis as well as treatment of this disease, with the focus on immunocompetent adults. Six medical literature libraries were searched to identify studies reporting on Streptococcus intermedius induced hematogenous osteomyelitis in immunocompetent adults. In addition, we presented a case of a 44-year-old man from our institution that is illustrative for this disease. Four case reports describing four patients were identified by this systematic literature review. Hence, the data of five patients (including our case) were assessed. The most common presenting symptom was localised pain, followed by fever. Portal entries were found in two patients (general periodontitis and necrotic dentition). The localisations of osteomyelitis were diverse: femoral (two patients), lumbar spine (two patients), and the iliac bone (one patient). Treatment strategies varied strongly, but antibiotics (penicillins) were administered in each case, and two patients underwent surgical debridement. Follow-up ranged from 2 weeks to more than 6 months; one patient died from septic shock. Only a very limited number of immunocompetent adults with Streptococcus intermedius induced hematogenous osteomyelitis have been described. Based on the available data, we summarised the clinical presentation, prognosis as well as treatment of hematogenous osteomyelitis caused by Streptococcus intermedius in this patient population.
Enhanced removal of perfluorooctanoic acid with sequential photocatalysis and fungal treatment
Authors: Khan Mohd Faheem , Paul Guin Jhimli , Thampi Ravindranathan K. , Sullivan James A. , Murphy Cormac D.
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we report the degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which is a persistent contaminant in the environment that can severely impact human health, by exposing it to a photocatalyst, bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI), containing both Bi4O5I2 and Bi5O7I phases and a fungal biocatalyst (Cunninghamella elegans). Individually, the photocatalyst (after 3 h) and biocatalyst (after 48 h) degraded 35–40% of 100 ppm PFOA with 20–30% defluorination. There was a marked improvement in the degree of degradation (90%) and defluorination (60%) when PFOA was first photocatalytically treated, then exposed to the fungus. GC- and LC–MS analysis identified the products formed by the different treatments. Photocatalytic degradation of PFOA yielded short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids, whereas fungal degradation yielded mainly 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid, which is a known inhibitor of cytochrome P450-catalysed degradation of PFAS in C. elegans. The combined treatment likely resulted in greater degradation because photocatalysis reduced the PFOA concentration without generating the inhibitory 5:3 fluorotelomer carboxylic acid, enabling the fungus to remove most of the remaining substrate. In addition, new fluorometabolites were identified that shed light on the initial catabolic steps involved in PFOA biodegradation.
Ranking Research and Development Needs of Silvicultural Operations for a Plantation Forestry Cooperative
Authors: Sibiya Zimbili Bonisiwe , Häggström Carola , Talbot Bruce
Published: July 2023

Forest Owners Organizations can help small- and medium-scale private landowners stay competitive by conducting and sharing research and development (R&D) activities. This study evaluated R&D needs for silvicultural operations to inform an R&D strategy for the cooperative. Individual and group priorities were collected using the Analytical Hierarchy Process via a web survey and web meeting. Consensus in priorities was followed by an assessment of the cooperative's capacity to carry out in-house research. Two regional managers, eight plantation managers and one R&D/Technology manager participated in one or more stages of the process. Participants ranked most silvicultural operations similarly. However, the variation was largest for harvest residue, seedling, and stump management. Minor regional differences were found but both regions (south and north) had “very high” group consensus indicators (86.2% and 89%, respectively). The group decision ranked R&D in harvest residue management as the highest priority, followed by soil preparation and planting methods. The cooperative's strongest capacity for in-house research was in the execution of the experimental design to address the research questions (implementation). The weakest research capacity was found in terms of harvest residue, seedling, and stump management. Hence, the cooperative is dependent on research institutions. These findings can be used to inform and align the cooperative's R&D strategy, investments, and their research collaborations.
The ever-changing business of e-commerce-net benefits while designing a new platform for small companies
Authors: Costa Pedro , Rodrigues Helena
Published: July 2023

Electronic commerce has allowed businesses to grow globally by breaking down barriers that many believed could not be overcome. Although large companies often outperform small and medium-sized businesses, e-commerce allows them to compete with them in some areas. Surprisingly, there is a lack of theoretical evidence regarding e-commerce net benefits for a small and medium-sized business that operates in the context of Business-to-Business. We expand the previous model of information system success by analyzing the role of game dynamics and user satisfaction in the intention to use e-commerce and its net benefits in the success of the new e-commerce platform. To help predict the success of a new e-commerce platform we collect 522 responses from a pool of clients of a small company that sells products to Hotels, Restaurants, and Cafes. Ease of use is the main variable that affects customer satisfaction and their intention to use e-commerce The company will only achieve e-commerce net benefits if these conditions are met. The results contribute to a better understanding of e-commerce net benefits while developing a new e-commerce platform and provide valuable practical contributions for small companies that have limited marketing and information systems.
The Roles of Histamine Receptor 1 (hrh1) in Neurotransmitter System Regulation, Behavior, and Neurogenesis in Zebrafish
Authors: Yao Yuxiao , Baronio Diego , Chen Yu-Chia , Jin Congyu , Panula Pertti
Published: July 2023

Histamine receptors mediate important physiological processes and take part in the pathophysiology of different brain disorders. Histamine receptor 1 (HRH1) is involved in the development of neurotransmitter systems, and its role in neurogenesis has been proposed. Altered HRH1 binding and expression have been detected in the brains of patients with schizophrenia, depression, and autism. Our goal was to assess the role of hrh1 in zebrafish development and neurotransmitter system regulation through the characterization of hrh1−/− fish generated by the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Quantitative PCR, in situ hybridization, and immunocytochemistry were used to study neurotransmitter systems and genes essential for brain development. Additionally, we wanted to reveal the role of this histamine receptor in larval and adult fish behavior using several quantitative behavioral methods including locomotion, thigmotaxis, dark flash and startle response, novel tank diving, and shoaling behavior. Hrh1−/− larvae displayed normal behavior in comparison with hrh1+/+ siblings. Interestingly, a transient abnormal expression of important neurodevelopmental markers was evident in these larvae, as well as a reduction in the number of tyrosine hydroxylase 1 (Th1)–positive cells, th1 mRNA, and hypocretin (hcrt)-positive cells. These abnormalities were not detected in adulthood. In summary, we verified that zebrafish lacking hrh1 present deficits in the dopaminergic and hypocretin systems during early development, but those are compensated by the time fish reach adulthood. However, impaired sociability and anxious-like behavior, along with downregulation of choline O-acetyltransferase a and LIM homeodomain transcription factor Islet1, were displayed by adult fish.
First detection of five previously unreported grapevine viruses in Australia
Authors: Wu Qi , Habili Nuredin , Tyerman Stephen D. , Rinaldo Amy , Little Alan , Constable Fiona E.
Published: July 2023

Five grapevine viruses, including grapevine geminivirus A (GGVA), grapevine Syrah virus 1 (GSyV-1), grapevine Cabernet Sauvignon reovirus (GCSV), grapevine virus F (GVF) and grapevine Red Globe virus (GRGV) have been detected in four South Australian vineyards using metagenomic high throughput sequencing for the first time in Australia. Most of them were present in asymptomatic grapevines and some were present in grapevines with leafroll disease that were infected by several other viruses, including grapevine leafroll-associated viruses. Therefore, the association of GGVA, GSyV-1, GCSV, GVF and GRGV with disease in Australia is unknown.
Prevalence, characteristics and challenges of late HIV diagnosis in Germany: an expert narrative review
Authors: Boesecke Christoph , Schellberg Sven , Schneider Jochen , Schuettfort Gundolf , Stocker Hartmut
Published: July 2023

Purpose

We aimed to review the landscape of late HIV diagnosis in Germany and discuss persisting and emerging barriers to earlier diagnosis alongside potential solutions.

Methods

We searched PubMed for studies informing the prevalence, trends, and factors associated with late HIV diagnosis in Germany. Author opinions were considered alongside relevant data.

Results

In Germany, older individuals, heterosexuals, and migrants living with HIV are more likely to be diagnosed late. The rate of late diagnosis in men who have sex with men (MSM), however, continues to decrease. Indicator conditions less often prompt HIV testing in women and non-MSM. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the absolute number of late diagnoses fell in Germany, but the overall proportion increased, probably reflecting lower HIV testing rates. The Ukraine war and subsequent influx of Ukrainians living with HIV may have substantially increased undiagnosed HIV cases in Germany. Improved indicator testing (based on unbiased assessments of patient risk) and universal testing could help reduce late diagnoses. In patients who receive a late HIV diagnosis, rapid treatment initiation with robust ART regimens, and management and prevention of opportunistic infections, are recommended owing to severely compromised immunity and increased risks of morbidity and mortality.

Conclusion

Joint efforts are needed to ensure that UNAIDS 95-95-95 2030 goals are met in Germany. These include greater political will, increased funding of education and testing campaigns (from government institutions and the pharmaceutical industry), continued education about HIV testing by HIV experts, and broad testing support for physicians not routinely involved in HIV care.
Eventration of diaphragm of unknown cause: A case report
Authors: Dahal Amartya , Singh Yadvinder , Ansari Ajmat , Karmacharya Robin Man , Vaidya Satish , Bhatt Swechha
Published: July 2023

Abstract

Introduction and importance

Diaphragmatic eventration is a rare disorder with partial or complete thinning of diaphragmatic musculature. The fibroelastic hemidiaphragm, which is pliable, moves paradoxically upward during inspiration resulting in restrictive pulmonary function. It occurs as a result of congenital defect in the diaphragm or secondarily due to phrenic nerve injury. Most patients remain asymptomatic for a long duration—the disease is therefore underdiagnosed. However, in cases of clinical suspicion, chest radiography should be performed, which can be further confirmed by chest computed tomography (CT).

Case presentation

We present a case of a 67-year-old male with a right sided diaphragmatic eventration presenting as severe coughing for two months. Surgical plication of right hemidiaphragm was done in multilayer with percutaneous dynamic stabilization (PDS) yielding good outcome.

Clinical discussion

The decision on performing a surgical repair of the defect depends upon the extent of the complications. Symptomatic patients with compromised respiratory, cardiovascular or gastrointestinal function usually require the plication of the diaphragm.

Conclusion

Despite the rarity of the disease, clinicians must always evaluate the patient for diaphragmatic eventration to ensure early repair of the defect.

Highlights
Barriers to Access to Justice in North Macedonia for Violations of Human Rights in the Context of Air Pollution
Authors: Dangova Hug Ana
Published: July 2023

This article analyses a domestic litigation matter seeking to establish accountability for air pollution-related human rights violations. It examines how the judiciary applied national and international law to dismiss the case on procedural grounds. It argues that the domestic case deserves careful reading for a number of reasons that can be distilled into two premises. Firstly, the national legal framework and its respective judicial interpretation impede access to justice for victims of state and/or corporate human rights violations. Secondly, it is essential that the state develops laws and policies in line with the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which would allow claimants to focus their argumentation on material, rather than procedural issues relevant to proving the merits of the case.
Building a regime complex for marine plastic pollution
Authors: Mendenhall Elizabeth
Published: July 2023

The negotiations for a new treaty to govern the ‘full lifecycle’ of plastics face a major challenge: designing a strong treaty, quickly, that is acceptable to most of the international community of states. Although diplomats play a critical role in accomplishing this task, scholars and researchers represent a critical network of support, especially on the topic of treaty design. This article outlines a research agenda focused on the new treaty as part of a larger ‘regime complex,’ where the interfaces between the new treaty and existing agreements will strongly shape its efficacy, efficiency, and acceptance by states. It also begins to pursue this research agenda, by investigating the relationship between the ocean governance regime, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, and the emerging plastics treaty. The article illustrates that the ocean governance regime offers important normative foundations, institutional models, lessons about treaty language, and possibilities for institutional linkage that can inform the design of the plastics treaty. It concludes by identifying several other avenues of useful research on the nascent plastics regime complex.
Different forms of students’ motivation and musical creativity in secondary school
Authors: Cremades-Andreu Roberto , Lage-Gómez Carlos
Published: July 2023

Student motivation has been conceived as a crucial factor in the learning processes. However, research in motivation and creative learning in the secondary education music classroom has been limited. Student motivation is explored in this article through a collaborative action research study, in the form of several projects centred on the creation of music through group improvisation and cooperative composition, conducted over the course of five 1-year cycles, from 2008 to 2013. The aim of this study was to gain a deeper understanding of the aspects determining student motivation during creative learning processes. Three secondary schools in the region of Madrid (Spain), eleven third-year secondary school classes (n = 267), teachers, researchers and artists participated in the study. Data were gathered through participant and non-participant observations, interviews, a classroom diary, and a questionnaire. In the findings, six intrinsically linked connected forms of motivation are grouped in three levels and are related to different factors emerged during the teaching and learning processes and connected to creativity.
The Transnational Origins of China's Aviation Infrastructure
Authors: Hirsh Max
Published: July 2023

This article investigates the role of foreign technical experts in developing China's aviation infrastructure from the 1980s to the present. Focusing on a series of training and technical aid programmes, it traces the influx of critical know-how from Europe, Japan and North America during the period of reform and opening up. Through fieldwork conducted at airports in Beijing, Hong Kong and Shanghai – and expert interviews with architects, planners and engineers – the article sheds light on the instrumental role played by foreign technical experts. By establishing a leading-edge set of airport planning practices, these aviation professionals accelerated the modernization of China's transport infrastructure and its reintegration into the world economy. Moreover, by positioning China as a global leader in infrastructure development, they laid the technical foundations for Chinese foreign policy endeavours that seek to export an infrastructure-led model of economic development to Africa, Asia and the former Soviet sphere.
z-GAL: A NOEMA spectroscopic redshift survey of bright Herschel galaxies
Authors: Berta S. , Stanley F. , Ismail D. , Cox P. , Neri R. , Yang C. , Young A. J. , Jin S. , Dannerbauer H. , Bakx T. J. L. C. , Beelen A. , Weiß A. , Nanni A. , Omont A. , van der Werf P. , Krips M. , Baker A. J. , Bendo G. , Borsato E. , Buat V. , Butler K. M. , Chartab N. , Cooray A. , Dye S. , Eales S. , Gavazzi R. , Hughes D. , Ivison R. J. , Jones B. M. , Lehnert M. , Marchetti L. , Messias H. , Negrello M. , Perez-Fournon I. , Riechers D. A. , Serjeant S. , Urquhart S. , Vlahakis C.
Published: July 2023

The z-GAL survey observed 137 bright Herschel-selected targets with the IRAM Northern Extended Millimeter Array, with the aim to measure their redshift and study their properties. Several of them have been resolved into multiple sources. Consequently, robust spectroscopic redshifts have been measured for 165 individual galaxies in the range 0.8 < z < 6.5. In this paper we analyse the millimetre spectra of the z-GAL sources, using both their continuum and line emission to derive their physical properties. At least two spectral lines are detected for each source, including transitions of 12CO, [CI], and H2O. The observed 12CO line ratios and spectral line energy distributions of individual sources resemble those of local starbursts. In seven sources the para-H2O (211−202) transition is detected and follows the IR versus H2O luminosity relation of sub-millimetre galaxies. The molecular gas mass of the z-GAL sources is derived from their 12CO, [CI], and sub-millimetre dust continuum emission. The three tracers lead to consistent results, with the dust continuum showing the largest scatter when compared to 12CO. The gas-to-dust mass ratio of these sources was computed by combining the information derived from 12CO and the dust continuum and has a median value of 107, similar to star-forming galaxies of near-solar metallicity. The same combined analysis leads to depletion timescales in the range between 0.1 and 1.0 Gyr, which place the z-GAL sources between the ‘main sequence’ of star formation and the locus of starbursts. Finally, we derived a first estimate of stellar masses – modulo possible gravitational magnification – by inverting known gas scaling relations: the z-GAL sample is confirmed to be mostly composed by starbursts, whereas ∼25% of its members lie on the main sequence of star-forming galaxies (within ±0.5 dex).
AFRIMETS.EM-S3: Bilateral comparison between NMISA and KEBS on resistance standards at 1 Ω, 10 Ω, 100 Ω, 1 kΩ and 10 kΩ
Authors: Hlakola Marcus , Khoza Michael , Ateka Grace , Ngeno Kobur Kiplagat
Published: July 2023

Main text

This is a follow-up comparison between NMISA and KEBS of AFRIMETS.EM-S1 (resistance standards at 1 Ω, 10 Ω, 100 Ω, 1 kΩ, and 10 kΩ), published in KCDB in February 2022. This follow-up comparison uses a different set of standard resistors from the main comparison. After completion of the supplementary comparison (AFRIMETS.EM-S1), KEBS was not satisfied with their comparison results because they did not support their required measurement capabilities. KEBS purchased a new resistance measurement system as part of the corrective action and requested a follow-up bilateral comparison with NMISA. This report describes the detailed findings and results of the comparison in terms of behaviour of travelling standards, methods used by participants and measurement results.

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCEM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
Final report, ongoing key comparison BIPM.QM-K1, ozone at ambient level, comparison with LNE, March 2023
Authors: Viallon Joële , Idrees Faraz , Moussay Philippe , Wielgosz Robert , Mary Fabien , Macé Tatiana , Sutour Christophe
Published: July 2023

Main text

As part of the ongoing key comparison BIPM.QM-K1, a comparison has been performed between the ozone national standard of France maintained by the Laboratoire National de métrologie et d'Essais (LNE) and the common reference standard of the key comparison, maintained by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM). The instruments have been compared over a nominal ozone amount fraction range of 0 nmol mol−1 to 500 nmol mol−1.

To reach the main text of this paper, click on Final Report. Note that this text is that which appears in Appendix B of the BIPM key comparison database https://www.bipm.org/kcdb/.

The final report has been peer-reviewed and approved for publication by the CCQM, according to the provisions of the CIPM Mutual Recognition Arrangement (CIPM MRA).
The (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear ion acoustic waves in multicomponent plasma containing kappa electrons
Authors: Lin 林 Mai-Mai 麦麦 , Jiang 蒋 Lei 蕾 , Wang 王 Ming-Yue 明月
Published: July 2023

Large amplitude (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear ion acoustic waves are theoretically studied in multicomponent plasma consisting of positively charged ions and negatively charged ions, ion beam, kappa-distributed electrons, and dust grains, respectively. By using the Sagdeev potential method, the dynamical system and the Sagdeev potential function are obtained. The important influences of system parameters on the phase diagram of this system are investigated. It is found that the linear waves, the nonlinear waves and the solitary waves are coexistent in the multicomponent plasma system. Meanwhile, the variations of Sagdeev potential with parameter can also be obtained. Finally, it seems that the propagating characteristics of (1+1)-dimensional nonlinear ion acoustic solitary waves and ion acoustic nonlinear shock wave can be influenced by different parameters of this system.
A modeling framework for World-Earth system resilience: exploring social inequality and Earth system tipping points
Authors: Anderies John M , Barfuss Wolfram , Donges Jonathan F , Fetzer Ingo , Heitzig Jobst , Rockström Johan
Published: July 2023

The Anthropocene is characterized by the strengthening of planetary-scale interactions between the biophysical Earth system (ES) and human societies. This increasing social-ecological entanglement poses new challenges for studying possible future World-Earth system (WES) trajectories and World-Earth resilience defined as the capacity of the system to absorb and regenerate from anthropogenic stresses such as greenhouse gas emissions and land-use changes. The WES is currently in a non-equilibrium transitional regime of the early Anthropocene with arguably no plausible possibilities of remaining in Holocene-like conditions while sheltering up to 10 billion humans without risk of undermining the resilience of the ES. We develop a framework within which to conceptualize World-Earth resilience to examine this risk. Because conventional ball-and-cup type notions of resilience are hampered by the rapid and open-ended social, cultural, economic and technological evolution of human societies, we focus on the notion of ‘pathway resilience’, i.e. the relative number of paths that allow the WES to move from the currently occupied transitional states towards a safe and just operating space in the Anthropocene. We formalize this conceptualization mathematically and provide a foundation to explore how interactions between ES resilience (biophysical processes) and World system (WS) resilience (social processes) impact pathway resilience. Our analysis shows the critical importance of building ES resilience to reach a safe and just operating space. We also illustrate the importance of WS dynamics by showing how perceptions of fairness coupled with regional inequality affects pathway resilience. The framework provides a starting point for the analysis of World-Earth resilience that can be extended to more complex model settings as well as the development of quantitative planetary-scale resilience indicators to guide sustainable development in a stabilized ES.
Algebraic approach and exact solutions of superintegrable systems in 2D Darboux spaces
Authors: Marquette Ian , Zhang Junze , Zhang Yao-Zhong
Published: July 2023

Superintegrable systems in two-dimensional (2D) Darboux spaces were classified and it was found that there exist 12 distinct classes of superintegrable systems with quadratic integrals of motion (and quadratic symmetry algebras generated by the integrals) in the Darboux spaces. In this paper, we obtain exact solutions via purely algebraic means for the energies of all the 12 existing classes of superintegrable systems in four different 2D Darboux spaces. This is achieved by constructing the deformed oscillator realization and finite-dimensional irreducible representation of the underlying quadratic symmetry algebra generated by quadratic integrals respectively for each of the 12 superintegrable systems. We also introduce generic cubic and quintic algebras, generated respectively by linear and quadratic integrals and linear and cubic integrals, and obtain their Casimir operators and deformed oscillator realizations. As examples of applications, we present three classes of new superintegrable systems with cubic symmetry algebras in 2D Darboux spaces.
Minimum inhibitory but maximum non-hemolytic concentration of plasma-treated catheters coated with L. tridentata and O. vulgare extracts
Authors: ALONSO-MONTEMAYOR Francisco Javier , DÁVILA-MEDINA Miriam Desirée , ZUGASTI-CRUZ Alejandro , NARRO-CÉSPEDES Rosa Idalia , NEIRA-VELÁZQUEZ María Guadalupe , SÁENZ-GALINDO Aidé , ALONSO-CAMPOS Eduardo
Published: July 2023

Antibacterial extract-coated catheters are promising alternatives to their conventional counterparts, but their hemocompatibility and thermal stability must be studied. Nosocomial bacteria have developed resistance to conventional antibiotics. Herein, the minimum inhibitory but non-hemolytic concentration (MIC-NH) and the thermal stability of Larrea tridentata (L. tridentata) and Origanum vulgare (O. vulgare) extract-coated catheters were studied. Besides, plasma pretreatment was performed to enhance the extract adhesion. Briefly, the extract-coated catheters prevent Staphylococcus aureus colonization without causing hemolysis by using L. tridentata and O. vulgare extracts at MIC-NH (5000 and 2500 μg ml−1, respectively). Moreover, it has been discovered that the extract coating and plasma treatment improved the thermal stability and the extract adhesion, respectively. Thus, this study provides evidence of alternative antibacterial but non-hemolytic extract-coated catheters.