bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hydrochemical Constraints on the Flowing Paths of Groundwater in Limestone Reservoirs beneath the Pingdingshan Coalfield in North China
Authors: WU Zhanhui , WANG Xinyi , LI Jiexiang , CUI Junchao , ZHANG Bo
Published: December 2024

The karst groundwater of Cambrian limestone may become an important water source for industry and agriculture in the Pingdingshan area, and is also a potential threat to mining safety. Therefore, to find out the origin, flow paths, and hydrogeochemical processes of karst groundwater beneath the Pingdingshan coalfield, a total of 16 water samples were collected. Our findings confirmed that the karst groundwater is mainly recharged by precipitation. The precipitation can directly supply the deep aquifer of the karst water system through the southwest limestone outcrops, and this area mostly includes the southern part of mines No. 11, No. 9, and the hidden outcrops in the southern part of mine No. 2. What is more, the areas adjacent to the synclinal axis, including mines No. 10, No. 12, and No. 8, may be the main discharge areas. A mixing model of 87Sr/86Sr and Sr showed that in the southwest Pingdingshan coalfield, the proportion of precipitation decreased gradually from the recharge area to the discharge area, ranging from 89.1% to 17.1%. Besides, the northeast Pingdingshan coalfield is another recharge area for the whole karst system, thus, the infiltrating groundwater will indirectly supply the deep aquifer through Quaternary deposition near the mine No. 13. Our research results can provide theoretical support for the prevention and control of groundwater disasters and the development and utilization of regional groundwater resources in the coalfield in Northern China.
Outcomes of patients registered with the Queensland Trophoblast Centre diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia who develop resistance to chemotherapy
Authors: Welsh Meg , Morrison Shona , Baartz David , Sanday Karen , Garrett Andrea
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To audit outcomes of patients registered in the Queensland Trophoblast Centre (QTC) database who develop resistance to primary chemotherapy. To determine any risk factors that may predict first‐line chemotherapy resistance in patients diagnosed with gestational trophoblastic neoplasia (GTN).

Methods

Patients within the QTC who were diagnosed with GTN between January 2012 and December 2020 were reviewed.

Results

Of 138 patients with GTN registered in the QTC, 22 (15.9%) patients developed resistance to first‐line chemotherapy. Three had high‐risk GTN and 19 had low‐risk GTN. Of the three high‐risk patients, one patient died. This patient had an epithelioid trophoblastic tumour (ETT). The remaining two high‐risk patients had complete hydatidiform moles (CHM) with GTN. Both achieved complete remission with salvage therapy. Of the 19 low‐risk patients, one patient had a partial hydatidiform mole (PHM). This patient achieved remission following third‐line treatment. The other 18 low‐risk patients had CHM with GTN. All but two of these 18 patients were successfully treated with second‐line chemotherapy, with the remaining two patients achieving remission with third‐line chemotherapy. Five of the 18 patients received either actinomycin‐D or methotrexate as salvage therapy. Thirteen patients were given multi‐agent chemotherapy for second‐line treatment. One patient in this group died but this was not due to her disease. Initial β human chorionic gonadotropin levels were not predictive of number of chemotherapy cycles or number of lines of chemotherapy required to achieve remission.

Conclusions

GTN is a curable condition. If resistance to first‐line chemotherapy occurred, most patients achieved remission with salvage therapy.
Effect of two rhinoplasty techniques combined with vestibuloplasty on the cross‐sectional area of the rostral nasal cavity in brachycephalic dogs with stenotic nares
Authors: Shimura K , Franklin CD , House AK
Published: December 2024

Objective

To compare preoperative and postoperative cross‐sectional areas (CSAs) of the external nares and nasal vestibule on computed tomography (CT) transverse sections in brachycephalic dogs that underwent a vestibuloplasty in combination with either a Trader's technique or vertical wedge resection rhinoplasty.

Methods

Medical records and corresponding preoperative and postoperative head computed tomographic images were reviewed to measure CSA at two defined points on transverse sections of the nasal cavities.

Results

Nine brachycephalic dogs were included for analysis. Trader's technique and vestibuloplasty were performed in five dogs. Vertical wedge resection and vestibuloplasty were performed in four dogs. CSAs were significantly increased in all rostral nasal cavities postoperatively in both combination of techniques. The mean difference in CSA of the right and left external nares were 37.12 mm2 (95% confidence interval [CI] 24.59, 49.66) and 64.3 mm2 (95% CI 28.78, 60. 04), respectively. The mean difference in CSA of the right and left nasal vestibules were 25.08 mm2 (95% CI 11.44, 38.73) and 28.73 mm2 (95% CI 11.83, 45.64), respectively.

Clinical Significance

Vestibuloplasty in combination with either Trader's technique or vertical wedge resection significantly increased the CSA of the external nares and nasal vestibules. These techniques did not result in recurrent stenosis or collapse of the alar wings in all evaluated rostral nasal cavities in this case series.
Cytochrome P450 phenotyping using the Geneva cocktail improves metabolic capacity prediction in a hospitalized patient population
Authors: Gloor Yvonne S. , Mouterde Médéric , Terrier Jean , Lenoir Camille , Gosselin Pauline , Rollason Victoria , Reny Jean‐Luc , Boukouvala Sotiria , Al‐Yahyaee Said , Yimer Getnet , Černý Viktor , Poloni Estella S. , Samer Caroline F. , Daali Youssef
Published: December 2024

Aims

Liver cytochromes (CYPs) play an important role in drug metabolism but display a large interindividual variability resulting both from genetic and environmental factors. Most drug dose adjustment guidelines are based on genetics performed in healthy volunteers. However, hospitalized patients are not only more likely to be the target of new prescriptions and drug treatment modifications than healthy volunteers, but will also be more subject to polypharmacy, drug–drug interactions, or to suffer from disease or inflammation affecting CYP activities.

Methods

We compared predicted phenotype based on genetic data and measured phenotype using the Geneva cocktail to determine the extent of drug metabolizing enzyme variability in a large population of hospitalized patients (>500) and healthy young volunteers (>300). We aimed to assess the correlation between predicted and measured phenotype in the two populations.

Results

We found that, even in cases where the genetically predicted metabolizer group correlates well with measured CYP activity at group level, this prediction lacks accuracy for the determination of individual metabolizer capacities. Drugs can have a profound impact on CYP activity, but even after combining genetic and drug treatment information, the activity of a significant proportion of extreme metabolizers could not be explained.

Conclusions

Our results support the use of measured metabolic ratios in addition to genotyping for accurate determination of individual metabolic capacities to guide personalized drug prescription.
Does Voice Gap Influence Workers’ Job Attitudes and Well‐Being? Measuring Voice as a Dimension of Job Quality
Authors: Díaz‐Linhart Yaminette , Kochan Thomas , Minster Arrow , Park Dongwoo , Yang Duanyi
Published: December 2024

This article investigates worker voice as a dimension of job quality and examines its link with job‐related outcomes. We refine and test a multi‐measure concept of the ‘voice gap’ to capture how much influence workers expect to have compared to what they actually have on a set of work‐related issues. Analysing a survey of 1307 American workers, we find that workers distinguish between a voice gap on issues related to their own interests (‘worker‐issues voice gap’) and those related to their employing organization's interests (‘organizational‐strategy voice gap’). Even after controlling for other dimensions of job quality, a larger voice gap is statistically associated with lower job satisfaction and well‐being, as well as higher levels of burnout and turnover intention. Additionally, we find that worker‐issues voice gap has a stronger and more significant effect than an organizational‐strategy voice gap. Based on these results, we recommend incorporating the voice gap measure in future worker voice research and as a practical tool for evaluating voice as a dimension of job quality.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection versus endoscopic mucosal resection for laterally spreading rectal tumours
Authors: Alric Hadrien , Barret Maximilien , Becar Alix , Perez Cuadrado Robles Enrique , Belle Arthur , Perrod Guillaume , Corre Félix , Chaussade Stanislas , Cellier Christophe , Rahmi Gabriel
Published: December 2024

Aim

Endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) and endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) are the two main techniques used for endoscopic resection of superficial rectal tumours. The aim of this study was to compare the outcomes of ESD and EMR in treating superficial rectal tumours.

Method

A retrospective observational study was conducted at two French centres including all patients treated with ESD or EMR for superficial rectal tumours. The primary outcome was the rate of local recurrence at the first follow‐up endoscopy after endoscopic resection. Secondary outcomes included the curative resection rate, procedure duration, length of hospital stay, complication rates and the need for additional surgery.

Results

A total of 254 patients were included, 159 treated with ESD and 95 treated with EMR. The local recurrence rate at the first follow‐up endoscopy was 8.6% and was significantly lower in the ESD group than in the EMR group (4.3% vs. 16.9%; p = 0.005). The rates of en bloc and histologically complete resections were higher in the ESD group (88.1% vs. 42.7% and 85.5% vs. 38.9%, respectively; p < 0.001), while the curative resection rate was 90.6% in the EMR group and 92.5% in the ESD group (p = 0.59). Mostly due to poor histoprognostical criteria, 6.0% of patients underwent additional surgery (6.3% vs. 5.2% in the ESD vs. EMR group, respectively; p = 0.73).

Conclusion

ESD demonstrated higher rates of en bloc, R0 resection than EMR, translating into significantly lower rates of local recurrence at the first follow‐up endoscopy.
Multimodal Integration of Mel Spectrograms and Text Transcripts for Enhanced Automatic Speech Recognition: Leveraging Extractive Transformer‐Based Approaches and Late Fusion Strategies
Authors: Mehra Sunakshi , Ranga Virender , Agarwal Ritu
Published: December 2024

This research endeavor aims to advance the field of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) by innovatively integrating multimodal data, specifically textual transcripts and Mel Spectrograms (2D images) obtained from raw audio. This study explores the less‐explored potential of spectrograms and linguistic information in enhancing spoken word recognition accuracy. To elevate ASR performance, we propose two distinct transformer‐based approaches: First, for the audio‐centric approach, we leverage RegNet and ConvNeXt architectures, initially trained on a massive dataset of 14 million annotated images from ImageNet, to process Mel Spectrograms as image inputs. Second, we harness the Speech2Text transformer to decouple text transcript acquisition from raw audio. We pre‐process Mel Spectrogram images, resizing them to 224 × 224 pixels to create two‐dimensional audio representations. ImageNet, RegNet, and ConvNeXt individually categorize these images. The first channel generates the embeddings for visual modalities (RegNet and ConvNeXt) on 2D Mel Spectrograms. Additionally, we employ Sentence‐BERT embeddings via Siamese BERT networks to transform Speech2Text transcripts into vectors. These image embeddings, along with Sentence‐BERT embeddings from speech transcription, are subsequently fine‐tuned within a deep dense model with five layers and batch normalization for spoken word classification. Our experiments focus on the Google Speech Command Dataset (GSCD) version 2, encompassing 35‐word categories. To gauge the impact of spectrograms and linguistic features, we conducted an ablation analysis. Our novel late fusion strategy unites word embeddings and image embeddings, resulting in remarkable test accuracy rates of 95.87% for ConvNeXt, 99.95% for RegNet, and 85.93% for text transcripts across the 35‐word categories, as processed by the deep dense layered model with Batch Normalization. We obtained a test accuracy of 99.96% for 35‐word categories after using the late fusion of ConvNeXt + RegNet + SBERT, demonstrating superior results compared to other state‐of‐the‐art methods.
Psychometric evaluation of the PROMIS parent proxy mobility item bank for use in Duchenne muscular dystrophy
Authors: Lowes Linda Pax , Le Reun Corinne M. , Alfano Lindsay N. , Reash Natalie F. , Iammarino Megan A. , Patel Shivangi , Audhya Ivana F.
Published: December 2024

Aim

To evaluate the psychometric properties and measurement quality of the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Parent Proxy (PROMIS PP) Mobility item bank (v1.0, 23 items) for children with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), through Rasch statistical analysis.

Method

De‐identified PROMIS PP Mobility items were completed by the caregivers of male patients with DMD, aged 4 to 12 years, as part of standard clinical care at the Nationwide Children's Hospital clinic; data were mined retrospectively from electronic health records. Rasch analysis was used to assess the internal functioning of the measure and items.

Results

Overall, 151 observations were available for the Rasch analysis, equally split between patients aged 4 to 7 years and 8 to 12 years. After removing clinically irrelevant items and regrouping response options for specific items, the resulting 19‐item measure demonstrated overall good fit to Rasch model expectations and the ability to discriminate between respondents with different mobility levels (Person Separation Index = 0.95, excellent reliability).

Interpretation

The customized PROMIS PP Mobility measure demonstrated good fit and may be a reliable option for mobility assessment in children with DMD. Rasch analysis can be used by other researchers to improve the sensitivity of patient‐reported outcomes in their field of interest.
Study on Mode I Fracture Characteristics and Fracture Surface Morphology of Concrete–Sandstone Under Different Loading Rates
Authors: Deng Xiaojiang , Shen Mingxuan , Zhao Yu , Bi Jing , Wang Chaolin , Zhang Yongfa , Li Yang , Ning Lin , Zheng Kun
Published: December 2024

This paper studies the effect of various loading rates (0.02, 0.05, 0.5, and 1 mm/min) on the fracture characteristics of Mode I concrete–rock composites. Digital image correlation (DIC) and acoustic emission (AE) techniques are used to analyze cracked straight‐through Brazilian discs (CSTBD). Significant changes in Shannon entropy were observed before fracture failure, suggesting it as a reliable precursor indicator. The study found that as loading rates increased, the time for CSTBD to undergo plastic deformation decreased, leading to more transgranular and intergranular fractures. Surface morphology analysis revealed that fractal dimensions and surface roughness (Rrms) increased with higher loading rates. A MATLAB program, using power spectral density (PSD) to evaluate the joint roughness coefficient (JRC), demonstrated greater efficiency and accuracy compared with traditional visual assessment methods. This highlights the PSD method's superior performance in determining JRC values.
Effect of Network Structure Morphology on Fatigue Crack Propagation in Sintered Compact Composed of High‐Entropy Alloy CrMnFeCoNi and 304SS
Authors: Ito Arisa , Fujita Keisuke , Fujiwara Hiroshi , Kikuchi Shoichi
Published: December 2024

In this study, high‐entropy alloy (HEA; CrMnFeCoNi) and austenitic stainless steel (SS; AISI304L) powders were consolidated to fabricate sintered compacts having a network structure composed of a coarse‐grained SS structure surrounded by an interconnected fine‐grained HEA structure. A small‐particle‐size HEA powder and large‐particle‐size SS powder were mixed at various volume ratios and then consolidated by spark plasma sintering. The threshold stress intensity factor range, ΔKth, for the sintered compacts with a HEA network structure did not depend on the volume fractions of HEA and SS, whereas ΔKth for the sintered compacts with the opposite SS network structure tended to decrease with increasing HEA content. The effective threshold stress intensity factor range, ΔKeff,th, for the HEA network structure was higher than that for the opposite SS network series because fatigue cracks preferentially propagated through the coarse‐grained SS structure with a high ΔKeff,th in the HEA network structure.
Mineral and Microbial Properties Drive the Formation of Mineral‐Associated Organic Matter and Its Response to Increased Temperature
Authors: Zhao Jianing , Feng Xuehui , Hu Jie , He Mei , Wang Siyu , Yang Yuanhe , Chen Leiyi
Published: December 2024

A comprehensive understanding of the formation of mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM) is a prerequisite for the sustainable management of soil carbon (C) and the development of effective long‐term strategies for C sequestration in soils. Nevertheless, the precise manner by which microbial and mineral properties drive MAOM formation efficiency and its subsequent response to elevated temperature at the regional scale remains unclear. Here, we employed isotopically labelled laboratory incubations (at 15°C and 25°C) with soil samples from a ~3000 km transect across the Tibetan Plateau to elucidate the mechanisms underlying MAOM formation and its temperature response. The results indicated that both mineral protection and microbial properties were critical predictors of MAOM formation across the geographic gradient. The efficiency of MAOM formation was found to increase with the content of iron (Fe) oxides and their reactivity [i.e., the ratio of poorly crystalline Fe oxides to total Fe oxides (Feo:Fed)] but to decrease with the relative abundance of Gammaproteobacteria and Actinobacteria across the plateau. Moreover, a notable decline in MAOM formation efficiency was observed under elevated temperatures, which was concomitant with a reduction in the content and reactivity of Fe oxides, as well as the microbial assimilation of the labelled substrate. The attenuation of mineral–organic associations was identified as the primary factor contributing to the warming‐induced reduction in MAOM formation. These findings highlight the necessity of incorporating organo–mineral associations and microbial properties into Earth System Models to accurately project soil C dynamics under changing climate.
The Value of Clinical Prediction Models in General Practice: A Qualitative Study Exploring the Perspectives of People With Lived Experience of Depression and General Practitioners
Authors: Moriarty Andrew S. , Castleton Joanne , McMillan Dean , Riley Richard D. , Snell Kym I. E. , Archer Lucinda , Paton Lewis W. , Gilbody Simon , Chew‐Graham Carolyn A.
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Prediction models are increasingly being used to guide clinical decision making in primary care. There is a lack of evidence exploring the views of patients and general practitioners (GPs) in primary care around their use and implementation. We aimed to better understand the perspectives of GPs and people with lived experience of depression around the use of prediction models and communication of risk in primary care.

Methods

Qualitative methods were used. Data were generated over 6 months (April to October 2022) through semi‐structured interviews with 23 people with lived experience of depression and 22 GPs. A multidisciplinary research team and Patient Advisory Group were involved throughout the study. Data were analysed inductively using thematic analysis.

Results

GPs describe using prediction models in consultations only when the models are either perceived to be useful (e.g., because they help address an important clinical problem) or if GPs feel compelled to use them to meet financial or contractual targets. These two situations are not mutually exclusive, but if neither criterion is met, a model is unlikely to be used in practice. People with lived experience of depression and GPs reported that communication of model outputs should involve a combination of risk categories, numerical information and visualisations, with discussions being tailored to the individual patients involved. Risk prediction in a mental health context was perceived to be more challenging than for physical health conditions.

Conclusion

Clinical prediction models are used in practice but thought must be given at the study development stage to how results will be presented and discussed with patients. Meaningful, embedded public and patient involvement and engagement are recommended when developing or implementing clinical prediction models.

Patient or Public Contribution

We used a combination of embedded consultation and collaboration/co‐production in our approach to public and patient involvement in this study. A Patient Advisory Group made up of people with lived experience of depression were involved from study conception and contributed to study design, participant recruitment, interpretation of findings and dissemination (including in the preparation of this manuscript).
Prevalence of heart failure pharmacotherapy utilisation, frailty and adverse drug events among hospitalised adults older than 75 years: a multicentre cross‐sectional study
Authors: Duong Mai H. , Gnjidic Danijela , McLachlan Andrew J. , Winardi Kevin , Bennett Alexandra A. , Blyth Fiona , Le Couteur David , Hilmer Sarah N.
Published: December 2024

Background

Optimal heart failure (HF) pharmacotherapy (guideline‐directed medical therapy and diuretics) in older people with frailty is uncertain due to limited evidence.

Aims

To evaluate utilisation of HF pharmacotherapy and prevalence of polypharmacy, adverse drug events (ADEs), falls, delirium, renal impairment and duration of hospitalisation in older inpatients, according to frailty.

Methods

A retrospective cross‐sectional study of the TO HOME cohort of 2000 inpatients ≥75 years admitted for ≥48 h to rehabilitation, geriatric or general medicine from 1 July 2016 to 30 June 2017 across six hospitals in Sydney, Australia. Data were collected from electronic medical records. International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision, Australian Modification identified HF diagnosis, ADEs and frailty using hospital frailty risk score. Outcomes included utilisation of HF pharmacotherapy; polypharmacy; ADEs, falls, delirium, renal and impairment; and duration of hospitalisation.

Results

Among 439 (22.0% of TO HOME cohort) patients with undifferentiated HF, 284 (69.5%) had intermediate or high risk of frailty, and 412 (94%) took ≥1 HF pharmacotherapy, with 357 (81.3%) patients on loop diuretics. Patients with high frailty risk frequently continued beta‐blockers (70%) and discontinued renin‐angiotensin system inhibitors (57%). Most patients experienced polypharmacy (n = 426, 97.0%). Renal impairment prevalence was 67%–76% across frailty groups. Increasing frailty risk (low, intermediate and high) was associated with increasing prevalence of ADEs (31%, 56% and 84%), falls (12%, 25% and 46%) and delirium (8%, 27% and 49%) and longer hospitalisation.

Conclusions

Frailty, HF‐pharmacotherapy changes in hospital and ADEs were common among older inpatients with HF. The association of adverse outcomes according to frailty needs further investigation. Poor documentation of HF phenotype may be a barrier to medication optimisation in older inpatients.
Tetracarpidium conophorum nuts (African walnuts) up‐regulated adiponectin and PPAR‐γ expressions with reciprocal suppression of TNF‐α gene in obesity
Authors: Umoru Grace Ufedo , Atangwho Item Justin , David‐Oku Esien , Uti Daniel Ejim , Agwupuye Eyuwa Ignatius , Obeten Uket Nta , Maitra Swastika , Subramaniyan Vetriselvan , Wong Ling Shing , Aljarba Nada H. , Kumarasamy Vinoth
Published: December 2024

Tetracarpidium conophorum nuts are nutrient‐dense Nigerian snacks associated with weight regulation. This study explores the nuts' impact on adipose tissue gene expression associated with low‐grade inflammation. Ethanol whole extract (EWE), ethyl‐acetate fraction (EAF) and the resulting residue (RES) were orally administered once daily to MSG‐induced obese rats for 6 weeks (n = 6). Afterward, the RNA synthesis of inflammation‐associated genes was measured, and GC–MS ligands in the extract and fractions were docked against their protein products in silico. The study found that in obese animals, PPAR‐γ and Adiponectin expressions were down‐regulated, while TNF‐α was up‐regulated, indicating an increased low‐grade inflammatory process in adipose tissue. After 6‐week oral treatments with EWE, EAF and RES, PPAR‐γ and Adiponectin expressions increased significantly, while TNF‐α expression decreased, suggesting the modulation of obesity‐induced inflammation in adipose tissue. The in silico molecular docking analysis identified four lead compounds likely responsible for the observed effect, namely 6‐Isopropenyl‐4,8a‐dimethyl‐4a,5,67,8,8a‐hexahydro‐1H‐naphthalen‐2‐one, 9,12,15‐Octadecatrienoic methyl ester (Z,Z,Z), 9,12,15‐Octadecatrienoic acid and Hexanedioic acid, bis(2‐ethylhexyl). Of these compounds, 6‐Isopropenyl‐4,8a‐dimethyl‐4a,5,67,8,8a‐hexahydro‐1H‐naphthalen‐2‐one demonstrated the strongest affinity to the binding cavities of PPARγ (−7.3 kcal/mol), Leptin (−5.2 kcal/mol), Adiponectin (−7.1 kcal/mol) and TNF‐α (−6.3 kcal/mol) and was better than the standard drug, Orlistat (−6.7, −4.4, −6.8 and − 4.5 kcal/mol, respectively). The study reveals that T. conophorum nuts possess bioactive compounds/drug candidates that can exert positive modulation, at the molecular level, the low‐grade inflammatory process associated with obesity, which normally facilitates the outset of complications.
Multi‐Omics Profiling and Experimental Verification of Lysosomes‐Related Genes in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Wang Zhiyong , Wang Guoliang , Zhao Peng , Sun Ping
Published: December 2024

Lysosomes play a crucial role in regulating the growth, invasion and metastasis of different tumour types. However, the specific function of lysosomes in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains uncertain. We retrieved gene expression and clinical data from the TCGA and GEO databases for HCC samples and established a new lysosome‐associated prognostic therapeutic index (LAPTI) based on lysosome‐related genes through machine learning. We then systematically analysed clinical characteristics, functional enrichment, tumour immune microenvironment, molecular docking, chemotherapy response and immunotherapy response in HCC. LAPTI, composed of four lysosome‐related genes (CTSV, LAPTM4B, DNAJC6, AP1M2), is a reliable prognostic indicator for hepatocellular carcinoma patients and is validated in external data sets. Compared with the low LAPTI group, the high LAPTI group showed poorer prognosis and higher immune cell infiltration levels. We also observed that knocking down CTSV in vitro inhibited the proliferation and migration of hepatocellular carcinoma. This study provides valuable insights into the future clinical treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma by accurately assessing the prognosis of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.
All in this Together? Communities of Practice in UK–EU Cybersecurity Relations Post‐Brexit and Differentiated Re‐engagement
Authors: Farrand Carrapico Helena , Christou George
Published: December 2024

Whilst formative work on characterising UK‐EU cybersecurity cooperation points to re‐engagement rather than disengagement, we seek to take this as our starting point in order to build a more complex picture on how Brexit has impacted practitioners at policy and operational levels. The article argues that while UK‐EU collaboration in cybersecurity has historically been robust, the politics of withdrawal/ Brexit have had varying effects on engagement at the level of the everyday: (1) business as usual in the domain of national security and information sharing; (2) re‐engagement in the law enforcement realm; and (3) a formal partial disengagement in the policy and institutional realm. We therefore highlight in this article a more nuanced and differentiated impact relating to Brexit and cybersecurity cooepration and show how established communities of practice have been able to uilise mechanisms of resistance to achieve their goals in a time of political turbulence.
Cross‐Cultural Adaptation and Content Validation of the Yonsei Lifestyle Profile for Older Adults in the United States
Authors: Jin Yeonju , Lim Young‐Myoung , Hong Ickpyo
Published: December 2024

Rationale

As the global population ages, there is a growing need for tools to assess lifestyle factors that impact the health and quality of life of older adults. The Yonsei Lifestyle Profile (YLP), originally developed in South Korea, is a comprehensive tool for evaluating key lifestyle domains. However, cultural and linguistic differences between countries necessitate the adaptation of such tools for use in diverse populations. This study addresses the gap by developing an English version of the YLP (YLP‐E) for older adults in the United States.

Aims and Objectives

As the global population continues to age, maintaining and improving the health and quality of life of older adults has become increasingly important. This study aimed to develop a YLP‐E, a cross‐cultural adaptation of the Korean version of the YLP, that can be used for older American adults.

Method

The Delphi method was used to consult expert panels regarding the cultural and linguistic appropriateness of the translation. The translation process involved a two‐way translation–back‐translation procedure and iterative revisions based on expert feedback.

Results and Conclusions

The final YLP‐E tool, which incorporated feedback on linguistic and cultural adequacy, consisted of 3 lifestyle domains (physical activity, activity participation and nutrition) with 62 items. The second round improved the content validity, with the linguistic content validity ratio (CVR) and cultural CVR reaching 0.86 and 0.94, respectively. The YLP‐E is a valuable tool for comprehensively assessing and monitoring the lifestyle of older American adults and holds promise for further refinement and validation across diverse demographic settings. Future research needs to focus on utilizing the YLP‐E to develop personalized interventions aimed at improving the health and quality of life of older adults and evaluating the tool's efficacy in promoting healthy aging.
Mass spectrometry identifies tau C‐terminal phosphorylation cluster during neuronal hyperexcitation
Authors: Schneeweis Amanda , Hillyer Dawson , Lama Tsering , Kim Daeun , Palka Charles , Djemil Sarra , Abdel‐Ghani Mai , Mandella Kelly , Zhu William , Alvarez Nicole , Stefansson Lara , Yasuda Robert , Ma Junfeng , Pak Daniel T.S.
Published: December 2024

Tau is a microtubule‐associated protein implicated in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other neurodegenerative disorders termed tauopathies. Pathological, aggregated forms of tau form neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), impairing its ability to stabilize microtubules and promoting neurotoxicity. Indeed, NFTs correlate with neuronal loss and cognitive impairment. Hyperphosphorylation of tau is seen in all tauopathies and mirrors disease progression, suggesting an essential role in pathogenesis. However, hyperphosphorylation remains a generic and ill‐defined term, obscuring the functional importance of specific sites in different physiological or pathological settings. Here, we focused on global mapping of tau phosphorylation specifically during conditions of neuronal hyperexcitation. Hyperexcitation is a property of AD and other tauopathies linked to human cognitive deficits and increased risk of developing seizures and epilepsy. Moreover, hyperexcitation promotes extracellular secretion and trans‐synaptic propagation of tau. Using unbiased mass spectrometry, we identified a novel phosphorylation signature in the C‐terminal domain of tau detectable only during neuronal hyperactivity in primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons. These sites influenced tau localization to dendrites as well as the size of excitatory postsynaptic sites. These results demonstrate novel physiological tau functions at synapses and the utility of comprehensive analysis of tau phosphorylation during specific signaling contexts.

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Digital Technologies Enabling Component Reuse in Circular Value Chains: Using Digital Twin, Internet of Things and Robots in Construction and Manufacturing Sectors
Authors: Thakuri Prabhat Kiran , Alkki Lauri , Aarikka‐Stenroos Leena
Published: December 2024

The reuse of components is a highly impactful way to implement the circular economy (CE) and limit negative environmental externalities in material‐intensive industries, such as construction and manufacturing. Although research integrating digitalisation and the CE has proposed a wide range of digital technologies to facilitate component reuse, these studies have limited their focus to single technologies and are centred on single firms, explaining how a single digital technology can support a single value chain actor to implement a specific circular solution. Consequently, we lack a comprehensive understanding of how digital technologies can enable the implementation of diverse component reuse practices—from design and disassembly to reassembly—undertaken by multiple actors in circular value chains. Against this backdrop, we conducted a qualitative multiple‐case study of how three digital technologies—addressing data‐driven modelling and analytics (Digital Twin), data collection and monitoring (Internet of Things [IoT]) and data‐informed automatisation (robots)—advance component reuse practices in construction and manufacturing value chains. Data were gathered from case companies through interviews, over 3 years of ethnographic observation supplemented with document analysis, and secondary sources. Three key results emerge from our study: first, these digital technologies offer eight enabling functions and thereby three fundamental instrumentalities for value chain actors to implement component reuse practices: knowledge optimisation, planning optimisation and improved operationalisation. Second, they offer five categories of business‐ and management‐related benefits, namely, circular systems design for reuse, improved physical processes, enhanced management of circular value chains, economic value optimisation and innovation and development. Third, benefits are realised at three levels within value chains, that is, individual actors, partnerships and entire value chains, allowing us to identify diversified scopes of benefits. Our findings are synthesised into a conceptual framework explaining in relative detail how digital technologies enable component reuse within circular value chains. This study contributes to the digitalisation and CE research and provides practical insights for both sectoral value chains and individual value chain actors on how digitalisation can maximise the effectiveness of component reuse to advance the CE transition.
Plasma transfusion in the intensive care unit
Authors: van Haeren Maite M. T. , Raasveld Senta Jorinde , de Bruin Sanne , Reuland Merijn C. , van den Oord Claudia , Schenk Jimmy , Aubron Cécile , Bakker Jan , Cecconi Maurizio , Feldheiser Aarne , de Grooth Harm‐Jan , Meier Jens , Scheeren Thomas W. L. , McQuilten Zoe , Flint Andrew , Hamid Tarikul , Piagnerelli Michaël , Mahečić Tina Tomić , Benes Jan , Russell Lene , Aguirre‐Bermeo Hernan , Triantafyllopoulou Konstantina , Chantziara Vasiliki , Gurjar Mohan , Myatra Sheila Nainan , Pota Vincenzo , Elhadi Muhammed , Gawda Ryszard , Mourisco Mafalda , Lance Marcus , Neskovic Vojislava , Podbregar Matej , Llau Juan V. , Quintana‐Diaz Manual , Cronhjort Maria , Pfortmueller Carmen A. , Yapici Nihan , Nielsen Nathan D. , Shah Akshay , Vlaar Alexander P. J. , Müller Marcella C. A. ,   the InPUT Study Group
Published: December 2024

Background

Current guidelines discourage prophylactic plasma use in non‐bleeding patients. This study assesses global plasma transfusion practices in the intensive care unit (ICU) and their alignment with current guidelines.

Study Design and Methods

This was a sub‐study of an international, prospective, observational cohort. Primary outcomes were in‐ICU occurrence rate of plasma transfusion, proportion of plasma events of total blood products events, and number of plasma units per event. Secondary outcomes included transfusion indications, INR/PT, and proportion of events for non‐bleeding indications.

Results

Of 3643 patients included, 356 patients (10%) experienced 547 plasma transfusion events, accounting for 18% of total transfusion events. A median of 2 (IQR 1, 2) units was given per event excluding massive transfusion protocol (MTP) and 3 (IQR 2, 6) when MTP was activated. MTP accounted for 39 (7%) of events. Indications of non‐MTP events included active bleeding (54%), prophylactic (25%), and pre‐procedure (12%). Target INR/PT was stated for 43% of transfusion events; pre‐transfusion INR/PT or visco‐elastic hemostatic assays (VHA) were reported for 73%. Thirty‐seven percent of events were administered for non‐bleeding indications, 54% with a pre‐transfusion INR < 3.0 and 30% with an INR < 1.5.

Discussion

Plasma transfusions occurred in 10% of ICU patients. Over a third were given for non‐bleeding indications and might have been avoidable. Target INR/PT was not stated in more than half of transfusions, and pre‐transfusion INR/PT or VHA was not reported for 27%. Further research and education is needed to optimize guideline implementation and to identify appropriate indications for plasma transfusion.
Quantifying the impact of a novel virus on the economic value of pathogen reduction technology for platelets
Authors: Irving Adam , Simmonds Peter , Irving William , Thomas Stephen , Neuberger James
Published: December 2024

Background

Pathogen reduction technology (PRT) is an intervention designed to proactively reduce the amount of known and unknown pathogens in donated blood. As current screening for known pathogens is highly effective, some previous evaluations have found that the value of PRT largely hinges on a previously unknown pathogen, most likely a novel virus, emerging and entering the blood supply. In such situations, the risk of emergence can and should be modeled and presented transparently in the cost‐effectiveness results for deliberation by decision‐makers.

Study Design and Methods

We built a Markov cohort model assessing the economic value of introducing PRT for platelets in the United Kingdom. Input data were obtained from the existing PRT literature, national sources, or by conservative assumption. The primary objective of the study was to demonstrate methods for modeling and presenting the risk of emergence of a novel virus, using alternative time‐to‐emergence scenarios in the probabilistic sensitivity analysis.

Results

As expected, PRT will be more cost‐effective the sooner the novel virus emerges after the introduction of PRT. In the base‐case cost scenario, the deterministic ICER was £270 K/QALY gained if the virus emerged immediately and rose to £3.3 M/QALY gained if the virus emerged after 25 years.

Discussion

At current prices, PRT is unlikely to be cost‐effective when judged against thresholds for medicines and treatments. Given significant additional willingness‐to‐pay for blood safety, PRT is only likely to be cost‐effective if a novel virus that causes chronic infection with significant morbidity and mortality emerges very soon after the introduction of PRT.
Ultrasound manifestations of multiple diffuse primary lymphoma in bilateral breasts
Authors: Wang Xiaona , Zhao Rongmei , Zhao Haotian , Xu Caina , Jia Kun , Li Li
Published: December 2024

.
Effect of the radial temperature gradient on resonant oscillations of gas in a closed tube
Authors: Fadeev Sergey A. , Gubaidullin Damir A. , Shaidullin Linar R.
Published: December 2024

Resonant oscillations of gas in a closed tube with a heat source are studied. The amplitude–frequency characteristics and spatial distributions of pressure and velocity amplitudes in a tube with a radial temperature gradient are calculated. It is shown that a radial temperature gradient leads to the radial dependence of the oscillation velocity in the flow core and reduces the average value of the momentum source due to viscosity. Together with the temperature dependence of the viscosity, this leads to the amplification of resonant gas oscillations in a tube with a heat source. The influence of the heat source on the resonant gas oscillations is determined by the radial temperature gradient and the square of the reduced oscillation frequency.
Active Commuting in Brazil: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Proportions
Authors: Santos Lucas P. , Azevedo Rafael A. , Ribeiro Indyanara C. , Santos Jhonnatan , Iraha Amanda , Roschel Hamilton , Gualano Bruno
Published: December 2024

Background: Active commuting benefits both individual and planetary health. Estimating commuting behavior is desirable, although very challenging in large and regionally relevant nations like Brazil. Methods: This review (CRD42023431054) included observational studies that estimated prevalence of active commuting in Brazil for adults (≥18 y). We searched terms related to physical activity, commuting, prevalence estimates, and Brazilian geographical regions in 5 databases (PubMed, EMBASE, LILACS, CINAHL, and SPORTDiscus). For the quantitative synthesis, 2 categories were used based on the strictness of case definition: “high-volume threshold” (HIGH), considering “active” individuals with ≥150 minutes per week; and “low-volume threshold” (LOW), considering “active” individuals with ≥10 minutes per week of active commuting or self-reporting this behavior. Results: There were 37 studies included in the main model, totaling 52 individual prevalence estimates and 1,266,862 units. Prevalence estimates were: 17.4% (15.1%–19.9%) for HIGH and 44.2% (36.9%–51.5%) for LOW. Subgroup analysis revealed a prevalence of 20.5% (16.7%–24.9%) for men and 13.8% (10.2%–17.9%) for women using HIGH, and 43.4% (27.2%–60.4%) for men and 47.6% (32.1%–63.4%) for women using LOW categories. Most studies had high risk of bias. Conclusions: We herein provided a panorama of active commuting in Brazil. Standardized active commuting definitions and objective measures of commuting activity are lacking. Studies specific to some regions of Brazil were few or inexistent. Considering the global importance of Brazil, sheltering ecologically relevant biomes, we encourage new, high-quality studies assessing commuting and its potential impacts on individual and planetary health.
Tolerance on trial
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: December 2024

Next year will mark the 100th anniversary of the Scopes trial, a 1925 court case in the US state of Tennessee on the teaching of evolution in public schools. John Scopes was tried for violating the Butler Act, a state rule that declared unlawful any teaching that denied the creation of man according to the Bible. The highly publicized event put an intense spotlight on William Jennings Bryan, a populist presidential candidate and religious fundamentalist who was counsel for the government, and on Clarence Darrow, a liberal agnostic and social justice advocate who defended Scopes. Scopes was found guilty, a verdict that was later overturned on a technicality. The trial was one of the first to be dubbed the “trial of the century” and has since been discussed, taught, and reflected on in books, plays, and movies (most notably, it was fictionalized in
Inherit the Wind
). A century later, the politics and sociology of that moment are still relevant, with implications for tolerance in today’s world.
Efficacy and safety of praziquantel plus artemisinin-based combinations versus praziquantel in the treatment of Kenyan children with
Schistosoma mansoni
infection: open-label, randomized, head-to-head, non-inferiority trial
Authors: Obonyo Charles O. , Were Vincent O. , Wamae Peter , Muok Erick M. O.
Published: December 2024

Praziquantel alone is insufficient for the control of schistosomiasis due to poor efficacy against juvenile worms and increasing concerns about the risk of drug resistance. We compared the efficacy and safety of praziquantel combined with four different artemisinin-based combinations to praziquantel alone in treating
Schistosoma mansoni
infection in Kenyan children. In this randomized, open-label, five-arm, head-to-head, non-inferiority trial, children (aged 9–15 years) with
S. mansoni
infection according to duplicate Kato Katz thick smears from a stool sample in the Mwea irrigation scheme of central Kenya, were enrolled. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1) via a computer-generated block randomization procedure to receive a single oral dose of praziquantel (PZQ) (40 mg/kg/day) alone or in combination with a 3-day course (4 mg/kg of artesunate) of artesunate plus sulfalene-pyrimethamine (As + SP), artesunate plus amodiaquine (As + AQ), artesunate plus mefloquine (As + MQ) or dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine (DHAP). Laboratory technicians were masked to treatment allocation, but participants, clinicians, and study nurses were not. The primary outcomes were the cure rate and frequency of adverse events, which were assessed 6 weeks after treatment in the available case population using a per-protocol analysis. The non-inferiority margin was set at −10% for the risk difference in cure rates between combination therapy and PZQ alone. Between 12 September 2018 and 11 January 2019, 540 participants were assigned to receive PZQ alone (
n
= 108), PZQ plus As + SP (
n
= 108), PZQ plus As + AQ (
n
= 108), PZQ plus As + MQ (
n
= 108), or PZQ plus DHAP (
n
= 108). Primary outcome data were available for 523 (96.9%) participants. The cure rate was 82.5% (85/103) in PZQ alone, 81.7% (85/104) in PZQ plus As + SP, 76.2% (80/105) in PZQ plus As + AQ, 88.7% (94/106) in PZQ plus As + MQ, and 85.7% (90/105) in PZQ plus DHAP arm. Non-inferiority was declared for PZQ plus As + MQ (difference 6.2 [95% confidence interval: −3.3 to 15.6]) and PZQ plus DHAP (3.2 [−6.7 to 13.1]) but not for PZQ plus As + SP (−0.8 [−11.2 to 9.6]) or PZQ plus As + AQ (−6.3 [−17.3 to 4.6]). Adverse events were reported by 26% (138/540) of participants, including abdominal pain, headache, and vomiting. There were no serious adverse events. Alternatives to praziquantel should include praziquantel plus artesunate-mefloquine or praziquantel plus dihydroartemisinin-piperaquine. However, further multicentre trials are needed in different epidemiological settings and population groups to confirm these findings.

CLINICAL TRIALS

This study is registered with the Pan-African Clinical Trials Registry under
PACTR202001919442161
.