bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Value of q waves in lateral and left precordial leads in patients with left bundle branch block to predict the response to cardiac resynchronization therapy
Authors: Zhang Shimeng , Zhang Hengli , Gu Kai , Li Mingfang , Liu Hailei , Wang Cheng , Chen Minglong
Published: November 2023

Background

The cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) non‐response rate can reach 30% in heart failure (HF) patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). This study aimed to evaluate the value of baseline q waves in leads I, V5, or V6 in predicting response to CRT in patients with HF and LBBB.

Methods

Patients with HF (left ventricular ejection fraction ≤35%) and LBBB receiving CRT implantation were retrospectively enrolled. Baseline characteristics and electrocardiogram parameters, including lateral and left precordial q waves were evaluated. Non‐response to CRT was defined as the improvement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) < 5% at a 6‐month follow‐up.

Results

A total of 132 patients (mean age 63.0 ± 10.4 years, 94 [71.2%] male) were included. Among them, 32 patients with q waves in leads I, V5, or V6 were classified into the qLBBB (+) group, and the rest without q waves in these leads were defined as the qLBBB (‐) group. The CRT non‐response rate in the qLBBB (+) group was markedly higher than that in the qLBBB (‐) group (68.8% vs. 33.3%, p < .001). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that the presence of baseline q waves in leads I, V5, or V6 remained significantly associated with a higher rate of CRT non‐response in patients with HF and LBBB (odds ratio: 4.8, 95% confidence interval: 1.5–15.0, p = .007).

Conclusion

Any q wave in leads I, V5, or V6 was an independent predictive factor for CRT non‐response in patients with HF and LBBB.
Lessons from the COVID‐19 pandemic: Mortality impacts in Poland versus European Union
Authors: Kundzewicz Zbigniew W. , Ebi Kristie L. , Duszyński Jerzy
Published: November 2023

With COVID‐19 moving toward an endemic phase, it is worthwhile to identify lessons from the pandemic that can promote the effective strengthening of national health systems. We look at a single country, Poland, and compare it with the European Union (EU) to contrast approaches and outcomes. Among possible relevant indices, we examine characteristics of COVID‐19‐related mortality and excess all‐cause mortality from March 2020 to February 2022. We demonstrate that both the numbers of COVID‐related deaths and all‐cause deaths in Poland were much higher than the EU average for most months in the study period. We juxtapose the percentage of fully vaccinated population and cumulative COVID‐19 deaths per million people for EU Member States and show that typically higher vaccination rates are accompanied by lower mortality. We also show that, in addition to medical science, the use of a risk science toolbox would have been valuable in the management of the COVID‐19 pandemic in Poland. Better and more widespread understanding of risk perception of the pandemic and the COVID‐19 vaccines would have improved managing vaccine hesitancy, potentially leading to more effective pro‐vaccination measures.
Spatial Visual Feedback for Robotic Arc-Welding Enforced by Inductive Machine Learning
Authors: Putnik Goran D. , Petrovic Petar B. , Shah Vaibhav
Published: November 2023

An intelligent system for spatial visual feedback is presented, which enables the robot's autonomy for a range of robotic assembly tasks, in particular for arc welding, in an unstructured and “fixtureless” environment. The robot's autonomy is empowered by an embedded inductive inference-based machine learning module which learns a welded object's structural properties in the form of geometrical properties. In particular, the system tries to recognize line segments, using a spatial (three-dimensional) visual sensor in order to autonomously execute the objective task. The innovative result is that the recognition of the geometric primitives is done without a predefined Computer-Aided Design (CAD) model, significantly improving the system's autonomy and robustness. The system is validated on real-world welding tasks.
A Sensing Integrated Metal Additive Manufacturing Platform for Exploring the Use of Non-Standard Powders
Authors: Singh Dhami Harish , Ranjan Panda Priti , Saikiran Puli , Garg Richie , Viswanathan Koushik
Published: November 2023

Research applications that rely on commercial directed energy deposition (DED) based metal additive manufacturing (AM) systems are commonly constrained by their inflexibility in handling various non-standard powders, lack of fine system control, and inherent difficulty with sensor integration. In this work, we present the design of a sensing-integrated platform for metal additive manufacturing. A modular design allows easy modification of specific sub-systems, such as laser integration or powder delivery mechanisms, to enable capabilities that are difficult to realize with commercial systems. As an example, we demonstrate DED performance using non-conventional inexpensive powders produced via abrasion and water atomization techniques. System performance is evaluated using integrated sensors and complemented by numerical/ analytical calculations. Based on these results, a nominal operation map combining thermal field with powder flow is generated for determining process parameters suitable for a given material/build combination and can be generally applicable for any DED AM system. In addition to handling non-spherical and alternatively sourced powders, the system capabilities for printing multi-material complex contours are demonstrated.
Safeguarding Multi-Fidelity Bayesian Optimization Against Large Model Form Errors and Heterogeneous Noise
Authors: Zanjani Foumani Zahra , Yousefpour Amin , Shishehbor Mehdi , Bostanabad Ramin
Published: November 2023

Bayesian optimization (BO) is a sequential optimization strategy that is increasingly employed in a wide range of areas such as materials design. In real-world applications, acquiring high-fidelity (HF) data through physical experiments or HF simulations is the major cost component of BO. To alleviate this bottleneck, multi-fidelity (MF) methods are used to forgo the sole reliance on the expensive HF data and reduce the sampling costs by querying inexpensive low-fidelity (LF) sources whose data are correlated with HF samples. However, existing multi-fidelity BO (MFBO) methods operate under the following two assumptions that rarely hold in practical applications: (1) LF sources provide data that are well correlated with the HF data on a global scale, and (2) a single random process can model the noise in the MF data. These assumptions dramatically reduce the performance of MFBO when LF sources are only locally correlated with the HF source or when the noise variance varies across the data sources. In this paper, we view these two limitations and uncertainty sources and address them by building an emulator that more accurately quantifies uncertainties. Specifically, our emulator (1) learns a separate noise model for each data source, and (2) leverages strictly proper scoring rules in regularizing itself. We illustrate the performance of our method through analytical examples and engineering problems in materials design. The comparative studies indicate that our MFBO method outperforms existing technologies, provides interpretable results, and can leverage LF sources which are only locally correlated with the HF source.
Toward Artificial Empathy for Human-Centered Design
Authors: Zhu Qihao , Luo Jianxi
Published: November 2023

In the early stages of the design process, designers explore opportunities by discovering unmet needs and developing innovative concepts as potential solutions. From a human-centered design perspective, designers must develop empathy with people to truly understand their experiences and needs. However, developing empathy is a complex and subjective process that relies heavily on the designer's empathic capability, and is often subject to the experiences of a small group of people. Therefore, the development of empathic understanding is intuitive, and the discovery of underlying needs can be serendipitous and unrepresentative. This paper aims to provide insights from artificial intelligence research to indicate the future direction of AI-driven human-centered design, considering the essential role of empathy. Specifically, we conduct an interdisciplinary investigation of research areas such as data-driven user research, empathic design, and artificial empathy. Based on this foundation, we discuss the role that artificial empathy can play in human-centered design and propose an artificial empathy framework for human-centered design. Building on the mechanisms behind empathy and insights from empathic design research, the framework aims to break down the rather complex and subjective process of developing empathic understanding into modules and components that can potentially be modeled computationally. Furthermore, we discuss the expected benefits of developing such systems and identify research opportunities to suggest future research efforts.
The Influence of Digital Sketching Tools on Concept Novelty and Evolution
Authors: Das Madhurima , Huang May , Xu Christine , Yang Maria C.
Published: November 2023

Digital tools for sketching, such as tablets, have become popular for streamlining design work and keeping a large quantity of sketches in one place. However, their impact on design creativity, novelty, and concept evolution is not yet well understood. Here, we present a controlled human subjects study that assesses the influence of tablets (iPads) on concept novelty and evolution in the context of an engineering design concept generation exercise. We expect that iPad use will not influence concept novelty due to its similar speed of use as pen and paper sketching. We expect to see different patterns in concept evolution between the two types of tools, namely, that iPad users will demonstrate more iteration on a concept (concept evolution) than pen and paper users due to the fact that iPad features make it easy to copy and paste previous sketches and then modify them. We find that the tool used is not correlated with concept novelty. Additionally, we find no strong differences in overall concept evolution quantities between the two tools, though we see that iPad sketches exhibited more cases of consecutive concept evolution than nonconsecutive whereas paper and pen sketches showed an equal amount of both consecutive and nonconsecutive concept evolution. Results indicate that overall, iPads may not significantly inhibit designers’ creative skills and thus could be a reasonable replacement for pen and paper sketching, which has implications for both design education and practice.
Caligonella brevia sp. nov.: a new mite species in the family Caligonellidae (Trombidiformes: Prostigmata) from Karasu Valley (Türkiye), with comments on other members of two caligonellid genera Molothrognathus and Neognathus
Authors: Uğurlu Şifanur , Doğan Salih , Doğan Sibel
Published: November 2023

Adult females and males of Caligonella brevia sp. nov. (Caligonellidae) are described and illustrated from mosses in an oak forest at the Karasu Valley in Türkiye. The new species has the following distinctive combination of characters: dorsal idiosomal shield absent, two pairs of ocelli on prodorsum, ventral idiosoma with a shield-like unstriated area between coxae, one pair of pseudanal setae on anal shields, genital setae absent, genu I bearing solenidion κ, the outer solenidion on tibia I noticeably longer than inner solenidion. This paper also contains comments on some members of the genera Molothrognathus Summers & Schlinger and Neognathus Willmann. In this sense, the names of Neognathus attiahi Soliman & Gomaa, Neognathus oteifi Soliman & Gomaa, Molothrognathus platelettus Soliman & Gomaa and Molothrognathus seuzius Soliman & Gomaa are considered as nomina nuda.
Micro-nanoemulsion and nanoparticle-assisted drug delivery against drug-resistant tuberculosis: recent developments
Authors: Suman Simpal Kumar , Chandrasekaran Natarajan , Priya Doss C. George
Published: November 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global health problem and the second most prevalent infectious killer after COVID-19. It is caused by
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(
Mtb
) and has become increasingly challenging to treat due to drug resistance. The World Health Organization declared TB a global health emergency in 1993. Drug resistance in TB is driven by mutations in the bacterial genome that can be influenced by prolonged drug exposure and poor patient adherence. The development of drug-resistant forms of TB, such as multidrug resistant, extensively drug resistant, and totally drug resistant, poses significant therapeutic challenges. Researchers are exploring new drugs and novel drug delivery systems, such as nanotechnology-based therapies, to combat drug resistance. Nanodrug delivery offers targeted and precise drug delivery, improves treatment efficacy, and reduces adverse effects. Along with nanoscale drug delivery, a new generation of antibiotics with potent therapeutic efficacy, drug repurposing, and new treatment regimens (combinations) that can tackle the problem of drug resistance in a shorter duration could be promising therapies in clinical settings. However, the clinical translation of nanomedicines faces challenges such as safety, large-scale production, regulatory frameworks, and intellectual property issues. In this review, we present the current status, most recent findings, challenges, and limiting barriers to the use of emulsions and nanoparticles against drug-resistant TB.
3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24 reductase dampens anti-viral innate immune responses by targeting K27 ubiquitination of MAVS and STING
Authors: Liu Qian , Chen Shengwen , Tian Renyun , Xue Binbin , Li Huiyi , Guo Mengmeng , Liu Shun , Yan Ming , You Ruina , Wang Luoling , Yang Di , Wan Mengyu , Zhu Haizhen
Published: November 2023

The mechanism by which lipid metabolism regulates innate immunity is unknown. Here, we report that the key enzyme in cholesterol synthesis, 3β-hydroxysteroid-Δ24 reductase (DHCR24), is inhibited by viral infection. DHCR24 deficiency significantly promotes interferon production and interferon-stimulated gene expression. Inhibition of DHCR24 enzyme activity or the addition of the precursor 24-dehydrocholesterol (24-DHC) can augment innate immunity. Mechanistically, DHCR24 interacts with MAVS or STING, and DHCR24 impairs K27-linked ubiquitination of MAVS mediated by TRIM21 and K27-linked ubiquitination of STING mediated by AMFR, blocking the activation of MAVS and STING, respectively. Collectively, DHCR24 plays a negative role in regulating innate immune responses that may be targeted to improve immunity.

IMPORTANCE

The precise regulation of the innate immune response is essential for the maintenance of homeostasis. MAVS and STING play key roles in immune signaling pathways activated by RNA and DNA viruses, respectively. Here, we showed that DHCR24 impaired the antiviral response by targeting MAVS and STING. Notably, DHCR24 interacts with MAVS and STING and inhibits TRIM21-triggered K27-linked ubiquitination of MAVS and AMFR-triggered K27-linked ubiquitination of STING, restraining the activation of MAVS and STING, respectively. Together, this study elucidates how one cholesterol key enzyme orchestrates two antiviral signal transduction pathways.
Amino acid substitutions in norovirus VP1 dictate host dissemination via variations in cellular attachment
Authors: Mills Jake T. , Minogue Susanna C. , Snowden Joseph S. , Arden Wynter K. C. , Rowlands David J. , Stonehouse Nicola J. , Wobus Christiane E. , Herod Morgan R.
Published: November 2023

Viruses interact with receptors on the cell surface to initiate and coordinate infection. The distribution of receptors on host cells can be a key determinant of viral tropism and host infection. Unravelling the complex nature of virus-receptor interactions is, therefore, of fundamental importance to understanding viral pathogenesis. Noroviruses are non-enveloped, icosahedral, positive-sense RNA viruses of global importance to human health, with no approved vaccine or antiviral agent available. Here, we use murine norovirus as a model to study the molecular mechanisms of virus-receptor interactions. We show that variation at a single amino acid residue in the major viral capsid protein, VP1 301, has a key impact on the interaction between virus and receptor. This variation did not affect virion replication or virus growth kinetics, but a specific amino acid was rapidly selected through evolution experiments and significantly improved cellular attachment when infecting cells in suspension. However, modulating plasma membrane mobility counteracted this phenotype, suggesting a role for membrane fluidity in norovirus cellular attachment. When the infectivity of a panel of recombinant viruses with single amino acid substitutions at this residue was compared
in vivo
, there were differences in the tissue distribution of viruses in a murine host, suggesting a role for VP1 301 in dissemination
in vivo
. Overall, these results highlight how capsid evolution can influence infectivity and dissemination in the host.

IMPORTANCE

All viruses initiate infection by utilizing receptors to attach to target host cells. These virus-receptor interactions can therefore dictate viral replication and pathogenesis. Understanding the nature of virus-receptor interactions could also be important for the development of novel therapies. Noroviruses are non-enveloped icosahedral viruses of medical importance. They are a common cause of acute gastroenteritis with no approved vaccine or therapy and are a tractable model for studying fundamental virus biology. In this study, we utilized the murine norovirus model system to show that variation in a single amino acid of the major capsid protein alone can affect viral infectivity through improved attachment to suspension cells. Modulating plasma membrane mobility reduced infectivity, suggesting an importance of membrane mobility for receptor recruitment and/or receptor conformation. Furthermore, different substitutions at this site altered viral tissue distribution in a murine model, illustrating how in-host capsid evolution could influence viral infectivity and/or immune evasion.
A two-component system serves as a central hub for connecting energy metabolism and plasmid dissemination in bacteria
Authors: Kubori Tomoko
Published: November 2023

Mobile genetic elements such as conjugative plasmids play a key role in the acquisition of antibiotic resistance by pathogenic bacteria. Resistance genes on plasmids can be transferred between bacteria using specialized conjugation machinery.
Acinetobacter baumannii
, the most common bacterium associated with nosocomial infections, harbors a large conjugative plasmid that encodes a type IV secretion system (T4SS). Feng et al. recently found that the
A. baumannii
T4SS is specialized for plasmid transfer, suggesting that it may be involved in multidrug resistance (Z. Feng, L. Wang, Q. Guan, X. Chu, and Z.-Q. Luo
,
mBio e02276-23, 2023,
https://doi.org/10.1128/mbio.02276-23
), T4SS-encoding genes are shown to be controlled by a versatile GacA/S two-component regulatory system. GacA/S is also found to regulate genes involved in central metabolism. The coordinated regulation of metabolism and plasmid conjugation may be a bacterial strategy for adapting to selective pressure from antibiotics.
Campylobacter jejuni
uses energy taxis and a dehydrogenase enzyme for
l
-fucose chemotaxis
Authors: Zhou Bibi , Garber Jolene M. , Vlach Jiri , Azadi Parastoo , Ng Kenneth K. S. , Escalante-Semerena Jorge C. , Szymanski Christine M.
Published: November 2023

Campylobacter jejuni
is a leading cause of bacterial diarrhea worldwide, and infection in infants is associated with growth stunting in low- and middle-income countries. Approximately half of all
C. jejuni
isolates are asaccharolytic, while the remainder encode enzymes capable of
l
-fucose catabolism. Our previous study suggested that breastfed infants originating from sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia were colonized less frequently with
l
-fucose-metabolizing
C. jejuni
isolates compared to asaccharolytic strains. We also showed that FucX is an
l
-fucose dehydrogenase that binds to its NADP
+
cofactor even in the absence of
l
-fucose and that this enzyme is sufficient for
l
-fucose chemotaxis when introduced into strains lacking the metabolic pathway. This study indicates that FucX may influence
l
-fucose chemotaxis by increasing cellular NADPH/NADP
+
ratios, which subsequently affect the energy taxis components, CetABC that respond to shifting gradients of electron acceptors and donors. Furthermore,
C. jejuni
CetAB and CetAC can complement
Escherichia coli
aerotaxis. Our data support a model in which the shift in NADP
+
levels, impacted by the FucX dehydrogenase, affects chemotaxis in response to
l
-fucose. This swimming behavior can be phenocopied with a homologous
l
-fucose dehydrogenase from
Burkholderia multivorans
. Taken together, our work provides a possible explanation for why
l
-fucose-metabolizing
C. jejuni
isolates swim away from intestinal epithelial cells toward free fucose in the lumen where they are subsequently cleared by breastfed infants.

IMPORTANCE

In this study, we identify a separate role for the
Campylobacter jejuni
l
-fucose dehydrogenase in
l
-fucose chemotaxis and demonstrate that this mechanism is not only limited to
C. jejuni
but is also present in
Burkholderia multivorans
. We now hypothesize that
l
-fucose energy taxis may contribute to the reduction of
l
-fucose-metabolizing strains of
C. jejuni
from the gastrointestinal tract of breastfed infants, selecting for isolates with increased colonization potential.
Supplemental Material: Depositional history of Devonian to lower Carboniferous (Tournaisian) Strata, northern Wyoming and southern Montana, USA
Authors: Hu Mingxi , Myrow Paul M. , et al.
Published: November 2023

δ13Ccarb and δ18Ocarb isotope data for the Maywood, Jefferson, and Madison formations.
Relationships among Development, Growth, Body Size, Reproduction, Aging, and Longevity – Trade-Offs and Pace-Of-Life
Authors: Yuan Rong , Hascup Erin , Hascup Kevin , Bartke Andrzej
Published: November 2023

Relationships of growth, metabolism, reproduction, and body size to the biological process of aging and longevity have been studied for decades and various unifying “theories of aging” have been proposed to account for the observed associations. In general, fast development, early sexual maturation leading to early reproductive effort, as well as production of many offspring, have been linked to shorter lifespans. The relationship of adult body size to longevity includes a remarkable contrast between the positive correlation in comparisons between different species and the negative correlation seen in comparisons of individuals within the same species. We now propose that longevity and presumably also the rate of aging are related to the “pace-of-life.” A slow pace-of-life including slow growth, late sexual maturation, and a small number of offspring, predicts slow aging and long life. The fast pace of life (rapid growth, early sexual maturation, and major reproductive effort) is associated with faster aging and shorter life, presumably due to underlying trade-offs. The proposed relationships between the pace-of-life and longevity apply to both inter- and intra-species comparisons as well as to dietary, genetic, and pharmacological interventions that extend life and to evidence for early life programming of the trajectory of aging. Although available evidence suggests the causality of at least some of these associations, much further work will be needed to verify this interpretation and to identify mechanisms that are responsible.
Capecitabine-induced posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) in a patient with gastric adenocarcinoma
Authors: Dirani Karim , Marusca Georgiana , Wang Jing , Juzych Daniel
Published: November 2023

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) is characterised by encephalopathy, visual disturbances and seizures, accompanied by radiological parieto-occipital oedema. Immunosuppressive and immunomodulatory drugs are risk factors. While capecitabine-induced PRES cases are rare, this report details a young woman with advanced gastric adenocarcinoma on capecitabine. She exhibited symptoms of nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain before developing hypertension, drowsiness and a seizure. Brain MRI revealed parieto-occipital hyperintense areas indicative of PRES. Suspending capecitabine led to a gradually improved mental state. Prompt recognition and treatment of PRES offer reversibility, often achievable through dose reduction or discontinuation of the causative drug.
Subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord in a patient with nitrous oxide use and autoimmune atrophic gastritis
Authors: Gardin Tova Michal , Yang Annie , Moeller Jeremy J , Quraishi Imran H
Published: November 2023

Nitrous oxide is among the most common drugs used by adolescents and young adults, and its neuropsychiatric sequelae are severe but reversible with timely treatment. The causal mechanism relates to impaired metabolism of vitamin B12, which is necessary for the development and maintenance of the myelin sheath. Individuals most susceptible to neuropsychiatric manifestations are those with a secondary cause of vitamin B12 deficiency, including nutritional deficiency and impaired absorption, or an alternative cause of impaired metaboclism. We describe the case of a man in his thirties who developed subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord and polyneuropathy in the setting of recreational nitrous oxide use and autoimmune atrophic gastritis. Our case highlights clinical pearls for diagnosis and treatment, differential diagnosis, common concomitant aetiologies and the importance of screening for substance use disorder and psychiatric comorbidities.
Uterine incarceration: a rare diagnosis in non-pregnant women
Authors: Cruz Laura Tavares , Reis-de-Carvalho Catarina , Ribeirinho Ana Luísa
Published: November 2023

Uterine incarceration (UI) is a rare complication in non-pregnant women. A woman in her 50s presented to the emergency department with acute urinary retention and paresis of the right inferior limb. A neurological exam suggested a decrease in the right lower limb strength. On gynaecological exam, the cervix was displaced anteriorly and the cul de sac was obliterated with a pelvic mass. CA 19.9 and CA 125 levels were increased. The MRI of the pelvis confirmed an elongated and anteriorly displaced cervix compressing the urethra and the vesical neck due to a uterine mass. A diagnosis of UI was made and an abdominal hysterectomy with adhesiolysis was suggested as the treatment option. Six months after surgery the patient had no urinary complaints and the neurological exam was normal. UI should be considered in women with urinary and neurological symptoms. A delay in diagnosis may lead to significant morbidity.
Gastrointestinal stromal tumour: presenting as an ovarian cystadenoma
Authors: Jawalkar Sneha , Karajagi Rachana , Arakeri Surekha Ulhas
Published: November 2023

A gastrointestinal stromal tumortumour (GIST) is an uncommon gastrointestinal neoplasm that can arise from any part of the gastrointestinal tract. They can rarely present as a pelvic mass, which might result in a gynaecological condition being misdiagnosed in a female patient. A woman in her early 70s presented with a huge pelvic mass. Abdomen-pelvis CT scan showed a significant cystic mass in the left-sided pelvis with a mass effect on adjacent structures, which suggested a possibility of an ovarian cystadenoma. Her CA-125 was normal. She underwent an exploratory laparotomy with pelvic mass excision. A diagnosis of a gastrointestinal stromal tumour (GIST) arising from the ileum was made on a histopathology study.
Understanding the protective effect of social support on depression symptomatology from a longitudinal network perspective
Authors: Li Gen , Li Yifan , Lam Agnes Iok Fong , Tang Weiming , Seedat Soraya , Barbui Corrado , Papola Davide , Panter-Brick Catherine , Waerden Judith van der , Bryant Richard , Mittendorfer-Rutz Ellenor , Gémes Katalin , Purba Fredrick D , Setyowibowo Hari , Pinucci Irene , Palantza Christina , Acarturk Ceren , Kurt Gülşah , Tarsitani Lorenzo , Morina Naser , Burchert Sebastian , Patanè Martina , Quero Soledad , Campos Daniel , Huizink Anja C , Fuhr Daniela C , Spiller Tobias , Sijbrandij Marit , Hall Brian J
Published: November 2023

Background

Higher social support protects people from developing mental disorders. Limited evidence is available on the mechanism through which social support plays this protective role.

Objective

To investigate the stress-buffering process of social support on depressive symptoms using a novel longitudinal dynamic symptom network approach.

Methods

A total of 4242 adult participants who completed the first two waves (from May to October 2020) of the International Covid Mental Health Survey were included in the study. Cross-lagged panel network modelling was used to estimate a longitudinal network of self-reported social support, loneliness and depressive symptoms. Standardised regression coefficients from regularised cross-lagged regressions were estimated as edge weights of the network.

Findings

The results support a unidirectional protective effect of social support on key depressive symptoms, partly mediated through loneliness: A highernumber of close confidantsandaccessible practical helpwas associated with decreasedanhedonia(weight=−0.033) andnegative self-appraisalsymptoms (weight=−0.038). Support from others was also negatively associated with loneliness, which in turn associated with decreaseddepressed mood(weight=0.086) andnegative self-appraisal(weight=0.077). We identified a greater number of direct relationships from social support to depressive symptoms among men compared with women. Also, the edge weights from social support to depression were generally stronger in the men’s network.

Conclusions

Reductions in negative self-appraisal might function as a bridge between social support and other depressive symptoms, and, thus, it may have amplified the protective effect of social support. Men appear to benefit more from social support than women.

Clinical implications

Building community-based support networks to deliver practical support, and loneliness reduction components are critical for depression prevention interventions after stressful experiences.
Development of a semi-cylindrical time projection chamber prototype for ($$^{3}{\textrm{He}},t$$) charge exchange reaction experiment
Authors: He Zhixuan , Li Meng , Bu Wenjuan , Xiao Chaoyuan , Wei Xianglun , Yang Yuansheng , Qin Zhi , He Shanhaowei , Qiu Tianli , Ma Peng , Lu Chengui , Duan Limin , Hu Bitao , Zhang Yi , Yang Herun
Published: November 2023

The charge exchange (CE) reaction is an effective probe to study the structure of atomic nuclei in the isospin dimension, which has been studied for decades. To expand the range of nuclei studied by CE reactions to a wider range and research the structure characteristics of unstable nuclei, including the isospin symmetry, spin-isospin excitation, and nuclear symmetry energy, a semi-cylindrical time projection chamber (scTPC) prototype was designed and constructed to probe ($$^{\textrm{3}}$$

3

He,t) CE reactions in inverse kinematics. The 266 nm UV laser was used to achieve electron-drift-velocity calibration. The scTPC has an energy resolution (FWHM) of 5.6% for $$\alpha $$
α
particles emitted by $$^{\textrm{241}}$$

241

Am radioactive source. The position resolution of scTPC is described by the residual method. The spatial resolution on the pad plane is 409 $$\upmu $$
μ
m. And the position resolution in the drift direction is 326 $$\upmu $$
μ
m, equivalent to an angular resolution of 0.4$$^\circ $$

∘

. These performances suggest that the scTPC can measure $$\Delta E $$

Δ
E

and particle tracks precisely. The successful development of the scTPC prototype provides better conditions for the next step of experimental data analysis and processing.
Anisotropic extension of Kohler–Chao–Tikekar solution by minimal geometric deformation
Authors: Andrade J. , Ortega K. Yanza , Klínger W. N. Ramírez , Copa R. C. Guadalupe , Medina S. S. Chicaiza , Cruz J. D.
Published: November 2023

This work is devoted to transforming the known cosmological solution of Kohler–Chao–Tikekar into an anisotropic interior solution using the framework of Gravitational Decoupling by minimal geometric deformation. The resulting interior solution fulfils the fundamental physical acceptability stellar conditions for a specific set of compactness factors. The stability of the model is also investigated.
Revisiting the scalar leptoquark $$(S_1)$$ model with the updated leptonic constraints
Authors: De Bibhabasu
Published: November 2023

The Standard Model, if extended to the energy scale of $${\mathscr {O}}(1)$$

O
(
1
)

 TeV, the known particle spectrum could be augmented with a scalar leptoquark. Within this minimally extended framework, explaining the anomalous magnetic moment and electric dipole moment simultaneously for the three lepton generations over a parameter space consistent with all the lepton flavor violating bounds is possible. Such a model can be tested or falsified through the collider search experiments and/or by probing the low-energy lepton phenomena. This work studies the current prospects of the model in the presence of recent experimental updates for the leptonic observables.
Creating Fire-Adapted Communities Through Recovery: Case Studies from the United States and Australia
Authors: Mockrin Miranda H. , Schumann Ronald L. , Whittaker Joshua , Gaither Cassandra Johnson , Brooks Robert A. , Syphard Alexandra D. , Price Owen , Emrich Christopher T.
Published: November 2023

Wildfires can be devastating for social and ecological systems, but the recovery period after wildfire presents opportunities to reduce future risk through adaptation. We use a collective case study approach to systematically compare social and ecological recovery following four major fire events in Australia and the United States: the 1998 wildfires in northeastern Florida; the 2003 Cedar fire in southern California; the 2009 Black Saturday bushfires in Victoria, southeastern Australia; and the 2011 Bastrop fires in Texas. Fires spurred similar policy changes, with an emphasis on education, land use planning, suppression/emergency response, and vegetation management. However, there was little information available in peer-reviewed literature about social recovery, ecological recovery was mostly studied short term, and feedbacks between social and ecological outcomes went largely unconsidered. Strategic and holistic approaches to wildfire recovery that consider linkages within and between social–ecological systems will be increasingly critical to determine if recovery leads to adaptation or recreates vulnerability.
Designing a Human-centered AI Tool for Proactive Incident Detection Using Crowdsourced Data Sources to Support Emergency Response
Authors: Senarath Yasas , Mukhopadhyay Ayan , Purohit Hemant , Dubey Abhishek
Published: November 2023

Time of incident reporting is a critical aspect of emergency response. However, the conventional approaches to receiving incident reports have time delays. Non-traditional sources such as crowdsourced data present an opportunity to detect incidents proactively. However, detecting incidents from such data streams is challenging due to inherent noise and data uncertainty. Naively maximizing detection accuracy can compromise spatial-temporal localization of inferred incidents, hindering response efforts. This article presents a novel human-centered AI tool to address the above challenges. We demonstrate how crowdsourced data can aid incident detection while acknowledging associated challenges. We use an existing
CROME
framework to facilitate training and selection of
best
incident detection models, based on parameters suited for deployment. The human-centered AI tool provides a visual interface for exploring various measures to analyze the models for the practitioner’s needs, which could help the practitioners select the best model for their situation. Moreover, in this study, we illustrate the tool usage by comparing different models for incident detection. The experiments demonstrate that the CNN-based incident detection method can detect incidents significantly better than various alternative modeling approaches. In summary, this research demonstrates a promising application of human-centered AI tools for incident detection to support emergency response agencies.
Review—Pulse-Electrolysis Protocols in High Temperature Molten Salt Electrochemistry
Authors: Liu Mengjun , Jiao Handong , Yuan Rui , Lin Manpeng , Wang Linlin , Sun Ruiyang , Li Leyang , Jiao Shuqiang
Published: November 2023

High temperature molten salt electrochemistry (MSE) plays a crucial role in the fields of metallurgy, materials, chemical industry and many other important areas. However, the traditional constant potential or constant current electrolysis has low current efficiency and poor product performance, so researchers often use pulse-electrolysis strategy to address this challenge. In this review, we present a discussion on the application of pulse technology in high temperature MSE. Then, we clarify the influence of key factors in the pulse electrolysis process and the internal mechanism of the influence is analyzed. Finally, we conclude with a perspective on the challenges and development directions of pulse electrolysis in high temperature MSE.
Unveiling the Degradation of Pt/NbOx/C Catalysts in PEMFCs via In Situ X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
Authors: Liu Ershuai , Jia Qingying , Waldecker James , Sun Kai , Jiao Li , Stracensky Thomas , Mukerjee Sanjeev
Published: November 2023

Among the class of the catalyst that is composed of metal nanoparticles supported on metal oxides (MMO), the Pt/NbOx/C system has shown promising oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) activities as a cathode of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). Herein, we have studied a series of Pt/NbOx/C catalysts prepared via physical vapor deposition and unraveled the nature of the metal and metal oxide interaction (MMOI) by characterizing this system under reactive conditions. By conducting in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) experiments, we demonstrate that Pt preferably interacts with O but not Nb in the Pt/NbOx/C system. As such, Pt-O interaction benefits the ORR activity via an electronic effect rather than a strain effect. We have also provided clear evidence for the formation of metallic Nb phase at the early stage of PEMFC operation, which led to severe particle growth of Pt after long-term PEMFC operation.
Red Ginseng Is a Therapeutic Candidate for Chronic Doxorubicin‐Induced Cardiomyopathy in Mice
Authors: Yoshikawa Naoki , Hirata Naoto , Kurone Yuichiro , Ohta Shin , Shimoeda Sadahiko
Published: November 2023

Doxorubicin‐induced cardiomyopathy (DICM) is associated with a poor prognosis, and effective therapeutic drug candidates have yet to be identified. Furthermore, whether basic animal models reflect the clinical pathogenesis of DICM should be carefully examined. Although the exact mechanisms underlying the development of DICM are complex and remain unclear, oxidative stress is strongly implicated as a contributing factor. Therefore, we investigated the effects of ginseng (the root of Panax ginseng: Gin), an inexpensive and safe drug with antioxidant properties. We previously conducted a meta‐analysis that yielded results suggesting its efficacy in humans. However, this study did not examine the efficacy of ginseng in detail. Therefore, this study investigated the efficacy of red ginseng (steamed and dried ginseng cultivated for over six years; RGin) in a mouse model of chronic DICM to elucidate its potential therapeutic benefits. RGin prevented the decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction associated with doxorubicin (DXR) administration and prolonged survival in DBA/2 mice. In addition, RGin reduced DXR‐induced cardiomyocyte damage. These findings highlight its potential as a therapeutic option for the treatment of DICM.
Effect of Compost, Blended (NPSZn), and Potassium Chloride Fertilizers on Soil Bulk Density and Moisture Content in Two Soil Textural Groups of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia
Authors: Haftu Kelali , Araya Tesfay , Haile Mitiku , Teka Kassa
Published: November 2023

The growing needs for agricultural production require maintaining and improving soil fertility through fertilization. However, most research to date in Ethiopia particularly in the Tigray regional state has focused on the effects of soil chemical properties and relatively little work has been done on soil physical properties. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of compost, blended (NPSZn), and potassium chloride (KCl) fertilizers on soil bulk density (BD) and moisture content (SMC). Therefore, a field experiment was carried out for 2018-2019 years to study the influence of sole and combined application of compost, NPSZn, and KCl fertilizers on BD and SMC in clay loam and loamy sand soil textures in Tigray. Two compost (0 and 20 t·ha−1), three NPSZn (0, 60, and 120 kg·ha−1), and four KCl (0, 120, 210, and 300 kg·ha−1) rates replicated three times were arranged in split-split plot design and allocated to main, sub, and sub-subplots, respectively. BD (g·cm−3) and SMC (%) data were collected from 0 to 10 and 0 to 30 cm soil depths before and after harvesting in 2018 and 2019, respectively. Sole and combined application of the fertilizers considerably influenced BD and SMC in both soil textural groups and years. Compost applied in combination with NPSZn at 120 kg·ha−1 and KCl at 300 kg·ha−1 significantly reduced BD (1.24 g·cm−3 in 2018 and 1.22 g·cm−3 in 2019) in clay loam soils as compared to all treatments. Similarly, the lowest BD (1.5 g·cm−3 in 2018 and 1.47 g·cm−3 in 2019) was observed in loamy sand soils. The highest volumetric SMC (21% in both years) was observed in clay loam soil in plots treated with compost. Likewise, the highest SMC (12% in 2018 and 11% in 2019) was found in loamy sand soils in compost-treated plots. This study demonstrated that SMC and BD can be improved through compost and compost combined with NPSZn and KCl application, respectively, in the drylands of Northern Ethiopia.
SHP2 Inhibition with TNO155 Increases Efficacy and Overcomes Resistance of ALK Inhibitors in Neuroblastoma
Authors: Valencia-Sama Ivette , Kee Lynn , Christopher Gabriella , Ohh Michael , Layeghifard Mehdi , Shlien Adam , Hayes Madeline N. , Irwin Meredith S.
Published: November 2023

Survival rates among patients with high-risk neuroblastoma remain low and novel therapies for recurrent neuroblastomas are required. ALK is commonly mutated in primary and relapsed neuroblastoma tumors and ALK tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) are promising treatments for ALK-driven neuroblastoma; however, innate or adaptive resistance to single-agent ALK-TKIs remain a clinical challenge. Recently, SHP2 inhibitors have been shown to overcome ALK-TKI resistance in lung tumors harboring ALK rearrangements. Here, we have assessed the efficacy of the SHP2 inhibitor TNO155 alone and in combination with the ALK-TKIs crizotinib, ceritinib, or lorlatinib for the treatment of ALK-driven neuroblastoma using in vitro and in vivo models. In comparison to wild-type, ALK-mutant neuroblastoma cell lines were more sensitive to SHP2 inhibition with TNO155. Moreover, treatment with TNO155 and ALK-TKIs synergistically reduced cell growth and promoted inactivation of ALK and MAPK signaling in ALK-mutant neuroblastoma cells. ALK-mutant cells engrafted into larval zebrafish and treated with single agents or dual SHP2/ALK inhibitors showed reduced growth and invasion. In murine ALK-mutant xenografts, tumor growth was likewise reduced or delayed, and survival was prolonged upon combinatorial treatment of TNO155 and lorlatinib. Finally, we show that lorlatinib-resistant ALK-F1174L neuroblastoma cells harbor additional RAS-MAPK pathway alterations and can be resensitized to lorlatinib when combined with TNO155 in vitro and in vivo. Our results report the first evaluation of TNO155 in neuroblastoma and suggest that combinatorial inhibition of ALK and SHP2 could be a novel approach to treating ALK-driven neuroblastoma, potentially including the increasingly common tumors that have developed resistance to ALK-TKIs.

Significance:

These findings highlight the translatability between zebrafish and murine models, provide evidence of aberrant RAS-MAPK signaling as an adaptive mechanism of resistance to lorlatinib, and demonstrate the clinical potential for SHP2/ALK inhibitor combinations for the treatment of ALK-mutant neuroblastoma, including those with acquired tolerance or potentially resistance to ALK-TKIs.
FBXW7-loss Sensitizes Cells to ATR Inhibition Through Induced Mitotic Catastrophe
Authors: O'Brien Siobhan , Ubhi Tajinder , Wolf Lucie , Gandhi Krishna , Lin Sichun , Chaudary Naz , Dhani Neesha C. , Milosevic Michael , Brown Grant W. , Angers Stephane
Published: November 2023

FBXW7 is a commonly mutated tumor suppressor gene that functions to regulate numerous oncogenes involved in cell-cycle regulation. Genome-wide CRISPR fitness screens identified a signature of DNA repair and DNA damage response genes as required for the growth of FBXW7-knockout cells. Guided by these findings, we show that FBXW7-mutant cells have high levels of replication stress, which results in a genotype-specific vulnerability to inhibition of the ATR signaling pathway, as these mutant cells become heavily reliant on a robust S–G2 checkpoint. ATR inhibition induces an accelerated S-phase, leading to mitotic catastrophe and cell death caused by the high replication stress present in FBXW7−/− cells. In addition, we provide evidence in cell and organoid studies, and mining of publicly available high-throughput drug screening efforts, that this genotype-specific vulnerability extends to multiple types of cancer, providing a rational means of identifying responsive patients for targeted therapy.

Significance:

We have elucidated the synthetic lethal interactions between FBXW7 mutation and DNA damage response genes, and highlighted the potential of ATR inhibitors as targeted therapies for cancers harboring FBXW7 alterations.
Test Then Erase? Current Status and Future Opportunities for Measurable Residual Disease Testing in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Blackmon Amanda L. , Hourigan Christopher S.
Published: November 2023

Background: Measurable residual disease (MRD) test positivity during and after treatment in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) has been associated with higher rates of relapse and worse overall survival. Current approaches for MRD testing are not standardized leading to inconsistent results and poor prognostication of disease. Pertinent studies evaluating AML MRD testing at specific times points, with various therapeutics and testing methods are presented. Summary: AML is a set of diseases with different molecular and cytogenetic characteristics and is often polyclonal with evolution over time. This genetic diversity poses a great challenge for a single AML MRD testing approach. The current ELN 2021 MRD guidelines recommend MRD testing by quantitative polymerase chain reaction in those with a validated molecular target or multiparameter flow cytometry (MFC) in all other cases. The benefit of MFC is the ability to use this method across disease subsets, at the relative expense of suboptimal sensitivity and specificity. AML MRD detection may be improved with molecular methods. Genetic characterization at AML diagnosis and relapse is now standard of care for appropriate therapeutic assignment, and future initiatives will provide the evidence to support testing in remission to direct clinical interventions. Key Messages: The treatment options for patients with AML have expanded for specific molecular subsets such as FLT3 and IDH1/2 mutated AML, with development of novel agents for NPM1 mutated or KMT2A rearranged AML ongoing, but also due to effective venetoclax-combinations. Evidence regarding highly sensitive molecular MRD detection methods for specific molecular subgroups, in the context of these new treatment approaches, will likely shape the future of AML care.