bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automated identification of copy‐move forgery using Hessian and patch feature extraction techniques
Authors: Aydın Yıldız
Published: October 2023

Copy‐move forgeries are a conceptual sort of image retouching that involves duplicating a portion of an image and moving it to a different position within the original image, whether by modifying the duplicated part or just moving it altogether. To identify cloned portions that have been reproduced into the same digitized image, the suggested hybrid features in this article combine using the Hessian and Raw patch features on gray‐level images. Using a suggested model that combines patch features built on key points detected by the Hessian detector on gray‐level image, localization of duplicated and pasted portions of the manipulated image were found. After using the combined features in the matching step, the parallelism condition was applied together with the random sample consensus method to eliminate mismatches. Two databases, GRIP and the image manipulation dataset (IMD), were used for the detection and characterization, and the empirical findings show that the approach was successful in achieving an F1 score 100% for the GRIP database. Additionally, with the IMD database, it produced a 92.13% F1 score. The proposed method was also shown to be effective by obtaining high F1 scores in images where noise, JPEG compression, and scaling attacks were applied to make forgery detection difficult.
Death from methamphetamine intoxication in a body stuffer
Authors: Al‐Shammry Abd‐Allah , Yasser Ahmed , Refaat Ahmed
Published: October 2023

A 28‐year‐old man was admitted dead to the emergency department of the regional hospital. All resuscitation attempts were unsuccessful in this case. Attending officers stated that he was suspected of possessing drugs at the time of arrest and had taken them quickly to cover up. Upon arrival at the hospital, signs of violence were noted all over his body. During the autopsy, two large blue plastic packages were found in the antrum of the stomach. The first was 6.3 × 2.2 cm and had two tight knots, while the second was 7.6 x 1.7 cm and had a single knot. Both packages were irregularly shaped and contained tablet debris that was clearly leaking, as a large amount of gastric juice was present in both packages. A confirmatory forensic toxicology analysis revealed toxic concentrations of methamphetamine in the blood of the dissected case. The patient died of acute methamphetamine intoxication associated with a severe stress condition resulting from violent resistance during arrest.
Physiological phenotypes differ among color morphs in introduced common wall lizards (Podarcis muralis)
Authors: AMER Ali , SPEARS Sierra , VAUGHN Princeton L. , COLWELL Cece , LIVINGSTON Ethan H. , MCQUEEN Wyatt , SCHILL Anna , REICHARD Dustin G. , GANGLOFF Eric J. , BROCK Kinsey M.
Published: October 2023

Many species exhibit color polymorphisms which have distinct physiological and behavioral characteristics. However, the consistency of morph trait covariation patterns across species, time, and ecological contexts remains unclear. This trait covariation is especially relevant in the context of invasion biology and urban adaptation. Specifically, physiological traits pertaining to energy maintenance are crucial to fitness, given their immediate ties to individual reproduction, growth, and population establishment. We investigated the physiological traits of Podarcis muralis, a versatile color polymorphic species that thrives in urban environments (including invasive populations in Ohio, USA). We measured five physiological traits (plasma corticosterone and triglycerides, hematocrit, body condition, and field body temperature), which compose an integrated multivariate phenotype. We then tested variation among co‐occurring color morphs in the context of establishment in an urban environment. We found that the traits describing physiological status and strategy shifted across the active season in a morph‐dependent manner—the white and yellow morphs exhibited clearly different multivariate physiological phenotypes, characterized primarily by differences in plasma corticosterone. This suggests that morphs have different strategies in physiological regulation, the flexibility of which is crucial to urban adaptation. The white‐yellow morph exhibited an intermediate phenotype, suggesting an intermediary energy maintenance strategy. Orange morphs also exhibited distinct phenotypes, but the low prevalence of this morph in our study populations precludes clear interpretation. Our work provides insight into how differences among stable polymorphisms exist across axes of the phenotype and how this variation may aid in establishment within novel environments.
Green tea extracts alleviate acetic acid‐induced oral inflammation and reconstruct oral microbial balance in mice
Authors: Pan Yani , Lv Helin , Zhang Fuyuan , Chen Shuxi , Cheng Yan , Ma Shicheng , Hu Hao , Liu Xiyu , Cai Xiaoyong , Fan Fangyuan , Gong Shuying , Chen Ping , Chu Qiang
Published: October 2023

Oral cavity contains the second largest microbial community in the human body. Due to the highly vascularized feature of mouth, oral microbes could directly access the bloodstream and affect the host healthy systemically. The imbalance of oral microbiota is closely related to various oral and systemic diseases. Green tea extracts (GTE) mainly contain tea polyphenols, alkaloids, amino acid, flavones, and so on, which equipped with excellent anti‐inflammatory activities. Previous studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of GTE on oral health. However, most researches used in vitro models or focused on limited microorganisms. In this study, the regulatory effect of GTE on oral microbiome and the alleviative effect on oral inflammation in vivo were evaluated. The results showed that GTE could efficiently alleviate the inflammations of the tongue, cheek pouch, as well as throat. GTE effectively inhibited the activation of NF‐κB through the upregulation of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine interleukin (IL)‐10, consequently leading to reduced expression of pro‐inflammatory cytokines IL‐6 and tumor necrosis factor‐α. The indexes of spleen and thymus were also elevated by GTE in stomatitis mice. Moreover, GTE promoted the growth of probiotics Lactobacillus and Bacillus, inhibited the reproduction of pathogens Achromobacter, reversing the microbiota disorders in oral cavity. This study not only presents a novel approach for enhancing oral microecology but also facilitates the wider adoption of tea consumption.
Fentanyl‐induced respiratory depression in rodents is inhibited by bioabsorbable, subcutaneous naltrexone implants at 3.5 months
Authors: Benner Jeffrey D. , Cohen Steven M. , Hollenbaugh Joseph A. , Fishman Marc
Published: October 2023

The aim of this study is to determine if extended‐release, bioabsorbable, subcutaneous naltrexone (NTX) implants inhibit respiratory depression after an IV injection of fentanyl. Bioabsorbable implants fabricated from two different release‐controlling polymers, poly‐D‐L‐lactide (PDLLA) and polycaprolactone (PCL), alone (placebo) or containing NTX, were subcutaneously implanted in Sprague Dawley rats. After 3.5 months of implantation, the rodents were administered an IV bolus of fentanyl through the tail vein. The placebo implant rats received a dose of 4 micrograms (mcg) ‐ (10 mcg/kg/dose), while the NTX implanted animals received a dose of 8 mcg (20 mcg/kg/dose). The minimum active dose of fentanyl that caused a > 50 ± 2% depression in the respiration rate in the placebo implanted rodents was 4 mcg. The respiration rate of the placebo implanted rats dropped from 208 ± 14 breaths/minute at predose, to 84 ± 12 breaths/minute (p = 0.0003) at 2 min. In contrast, all NTX implanted animals easily tolerated twice the dose of 8 mcg of fentanyl without any significant reduction in respiration rate. The mean respiration rate = increased from 164 ± 22 breaths/minute at predose to 178 ± 17 breaths/minute (p = 0.24) at 2 min. The mean plasma concentrations of NTX, 3.5 months after implantation, ranged from 7.4 (±1.1) ng/mL to 80.3 (±37.5) ng/mL. Bioabsorbable implants containing NTX effectively blocked fentanyl‐induced respiratory depression in rodents as compared with placebo implants, 3.5 months after implantation.
Property rights and land quality
Authors: Li Haoyang , Zhu Jiong
Published: October 2023

This paper presents a novel study examining the effect of a property rights law reform that legalized land transfers on land quality. Using unique Chinese county‐level land erosion data, we show that formally legalizing land transfers significantly reduces land erosion. This is an important and surprising benefit of a secure land transfer right to the land resource itself and a positive biophysical spillover to the natural environment that is largely ignored in the existing literature and in the policy making process. We further demonstrate that the land quality improvement brought by the law reform was associated with an increase in farming investments that can improve land quality but are subject to economies of scale. Land concentration made such investments economically feasible. We also show that the land quality‐improving benefits are unevenly distributed across regions with different socioeconomic backgrounds. Future land law reforms should consider both the potential efficiency and equality implications in terms of land quality.
Indolent lymphoma care delivery and outcomes during the COVID‐19 pandemic in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Gong Inna Y. , Prica Anca , Ante Zharmaine , Calzavara Andrew , Krzyzanowska Monika K. , Singh Simron , Suleman Adam , Cheung Matthew C. , Crump Michael
Published: October 2023

The treatment pattern and outcomes in patients with indolent B‐cell lymphoma treated during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic period compared to the prepandemic period are unclear. This was a retrospective population‐based study using administrative databases in Ontario, Canada (follow‐up to 31 March 2022). The primary outcome was treatment pattern; secondary outcomes were death, toxicities, healthcare utilization (emergency department [ED] visit, hospitalization) and SARS‐CoV‐2 outcomes. Adjusted hazard ratios (aHR) from Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate associations. We identified 4143 patients (1079 pandemic, 3064 prepandemic), with a median age of 69 years. In both time periods, bendamustine (B) + rituximab (BR) was the most frequently prescribed regimen. During the pandemic, fewer patients received R maintenance or completed the full 2‐year course (aHR 0.81, 95% CI 0.71–0.92, p = 0.001). Patients treated during the pandemic had less healthcare utilization (ED visit aHR 0.77, 95% CI 0.68, 0.88, p < 0.0001; hospitalization aHR 0.81, 95% CI 0.70–0.94, p = 0.0067) and complications (infection aHR 0.69, 95% CI 0.57–0.82, p < 0.0001; febrile neutropenia aHR 0.66, 95% CI 0.47–0.94, p = 0.020), with no difference in death. Independent of vaccination, active rituximab use was associated with a higher risk of COVID‐19 complications. Despite similar front‐line regimen use, healthcare utilization and admissions for infection were less in the pandemic cohort.
Smart supply chain management in business education: Reflection on the pandemics
Authors: Shi Tianqin , Lee Seung Jun , Li Qingying
Published: October 2023

Smart supply chain management (SSCM) has recently attracted significant attention from both industry and academia, particularly in light of the COVID pandemic. This article reviews current literature on information and integration, process automation, advanced analytics, and related business curriculum in SSCM. Our survey results demonstrate a concerning lack of adoption of SSCM in business curriculum and reveal several major challenges faced by educators when teaching SSCM, including a scarcity of available teaching resources, a need for cross‐disciplinary knowledge, and a lack of industry experience among students. These findings lead to our exploration of SSCM application in various supply chain and operations functions (e.g., product design, sourcing and procurement, production, quality management, warehouse management and distribution, delivery, and supply chain risk management) during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Drawing on our analysis, we conclude by offering several recommendations for promoting SSCM in business education.
Evolution of Orthonectida body plan
Authors: Slyusarev George S. , Skalon Elizaveta K. , Starunov Victor V.
Published: October 2023

Orthonectida is an enigmatic group of animals with still uncertain phylogenetic position. Orthonectids parasitize various marine invertebrates. Their life cycle comprises a parasitic plasmodium and free‐living males and females. Sexual individuals develop inside the plasmodium; after egress from the host they copulate in the external environment, and the larva, which has developed inside the female infects a new host. In a series of studied orthonectid species simplification of free‐living sexual individuals can be clearly traced. The number of longitudinal and transverse muscle fibers is gradually reduced. In the nervous system, simplification is even more pronounced. The number of neurons constituting the ganglion is dramatically reduced from 200 in Rhopalura ophiocomae to 4–6 in Intoshia variabili. The peripheral nervous system undergoes gradual simplification as well. The morphological simplification is accompanied with genome reduction. However, not only genes are lost from the genome, it also undergoes compactization ensured by extreme reduction of intergenic distances, short intron sizes, and elimination of repetitive elements. The main trend in orthonectid evolution is simplification and miniaturization of free‐living sexual individuals coupled with reduction and compactization of the genome.
The management of common carp fisheries using spawning potential ratio in the southeast of the Caspian Sea
Authors: Larijani Mohammad , Kordjazi Ziya , Patimar Rahman , Bandani Gholamali , Ansari Zeinab , Jafarian Hojjat
Published: October 2023

Spawning potential ratio (SPR) is an important index used by fisheries biologists and managers to determine how a fishery should be harvested to prevent recruitment overfishing. In the southeastern Caspian Sea, Iran, 3430 common carp Cyprinus carpio were caught by beach seine in 2‐week intervals of two fishing seasons in 2019 and 2020. Fork length (FL) was measured to the nearest 1 cm. The age and maturity stage of 434 specimens, including 236 females and 198 males, were estimated by scale and gonad microscopic examinations. Estimated L∞ was 71.9 and K (growth constant) was 0.09. Instantaneous total mortality (Z) was 1.08, natural mortality (M) was 0.18, and fishing mortality (F) was 0.9. Estimated SPR at current fishing mortality (0.18) was lower than the reference point (0.4). Our findings indicated that fishing mortality should be reduced to F = 0.38 for C. carpio to meet the SPR reference point of 0.4. Further, higher minimum length limits should be set to reduce fishing mortality, and catch quotas for fishing cooperative corporations should be considered to meet the 40% SPR threshold.
Temporal changes in the individual size distribution modulate the long‐term trends of biomass and energy use of North American breeding bird communities
Authors: Diaz Renata M. , Ernest S. K. Morgan
Published: October 2023

Aim

The frequency of different body sizes in an ecological community (the individual size distribution, or ISD) is a key link between the number of individual organisms present in a community and community function—total biomass or total energy use. If the ISD changes over time, the dynamics of community function may become decoupled from trends in abundance. Understanding how, and how often, the ISD modulates the relationship between abundance, biomass and energy use is of critical importance to understand biodiversity trends in the Anthropocene. Here, we conduct the first macroecological‐scale analysis of this type for avian communities.

Location

North America, north of Mexico.

Time Period

1989–2018.

Major Taxa Studied

Breeding birds.

Methods

We used species' traits to generate annual ISDs for bird communities in the North American Breeding Bird Survey. We compared the long‐term trends in total biomass and energy use to the trends generated from a null model of an unchanging ISD.

Results

Trends in biomass have been evenly split between increases and decreases, but the trends predicted by the null model were dominated by decreases. A substantial number of communities have undergone a shift in the ISD favouring larger bodied species, resulting in a less negative trend in biomass than would be expected had the ISD remained static. Trends in energy use more closely paralleled the null model.

Main Conclusions

Taking changes in the ISD into account qualitatively changes the continental‐scale picture of how biomass and energy use have changed over the past 30 years. For North American breeding birds, shifts in species composition favouring larger bodied species may have partially offset declines in standing biomass driven by losses of individuals over the past 30 years.
Thigh muscle thickness on ultrasonography for diagnosing sarcopenia: The Kyoto‐Kameoka study
Authors: Yoshida Tsukasa , Watanabe Yuya , Yokoyama Keiichi , Kimura Misaka , Yamada Yosuke
Published: October 2023

Aim

The Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 consensus reported that evidence for the diagnosis of sarcopenia based on ultrasonography findings is lacking. The revised European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People consensus stated that ultrasonography is reliable and valid for assessing muscle size in older adults. The present study aimed to determine the predictive accuracy of ultrasonography for sarcopenia in older adults in Japan.

Methods

A total of 1229 participants aged 65–91 years were included in this cross‐sectional study. The thickness of the anterior compartment of the right thigh was assessed using B‐mode ultrasonography. The measurement position was at the midpoint of the thigh. In addition, the grip strength, gait speed, Five‐Time Sit‐to‐Stand Test, Short Physical Performance Battery score and skeletal muscle mass index were evaluated. Sarcopenia was diagnosed based on the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia 2019 algorithm. We calculated the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve.

Results

The area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (95% confidence intervals) and cutoff values for the thigh muscle thickness in sarcopenia were 0.901 (0.856–0.946) and 4.0 cm in men, respectively, and 0.923 (0.851–0.995) and 3.1 cm in women, respectively. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for each subdomain of sarcopenia, such as grip strength and gait speed, ranged from 0.618 to 0.872.

Conclusions

In the present study, the suggested cutoff mid‐thigh muscle thicknesses on ultrasonography for predicting sarcopenia were 4.0 cm in men and 3.1 cm in women. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 156–161.
Comprehensive characterisation of tilapia fish gelatine under varied extraction conditions for the advancement of hard capsule production
Authors: Fazial Farah Faiqah , Ahmad Azfaralariff , Hani Norziah Mohd
Published: October 2023

Hard capsules are a frequently used oral medication delivery form. This study aims to evaluate the potential of tilapia fish gelatine as a suitable material for hard capsules, by analysing various gelatine properties under different extraction temperatures (50, 60, 70, and 80 °C) and extraction periods (6 and 12 h). The results showed a range of values for the gelatine yield (22–33% (w/w)), gel strength (141–360 g), molecular weight distribution (140–300 kDa), and amino acid composition (185–220/1000 residues). FG70‐12 (296) and FG60‐6 (266) were found to have gel strength between 200 and 300 g thus suitable to be used as hard capsule material. Interestingly, the strongest gelatine having 360 g gel strength obtained from FG50‐6 (fish gelatine extracted at 50 °C for 6 h) became the essential ingredient for preparing hard capsules because two times dipping was enough to obtain the standard weight and thickness. A slight loss of moisture was identified during drying and rapid dissolution (4–8 min) detected from fish gelatine capsule at pH 6.8 or below. Therefore, hard capsules for pharmaceutical applications could be developed from fish gelatine as an alternative gelatine with similar properties as commercial hard capsules and satisfying the pharmacopoeia standard.
Insights into the molecular basis and mechanism of heme‐triggered TLR4 signalling: The role of heme‐binding motifs in TLR4 and MD2
Authors: Hopp Marie‐T. , Holze Janine , Lauber Felicitas , Holtkamp Laura , Rathod Dhruv C. , Miteva Maria A. , Prestes Elisa B. , Geyer Matthias , Manoury Bénédicte , Merle Nicolas S. , Roumenina Lubka T. , Bozza Marcelo T. , Weindl Günther , Imhof Diana
Published: October 2023

Haemolytic disorders, such as sickle cell disease, are accompanied by the release of high amounts of labile heme into the intravascular compartment resulting in the induction of proinflammatory and prothrombotic complications in affected patients. In addition to the relevance of heme‐regulated proteins from the complement and blood coagulation systems, activation of the TLR4 signalling pathway by heme was ascribed a crucial role in the progression of these pathological processes. Heme binding to the TLR4‐MD2 complex has been proposed recently, however, essential mechanistic information of the processes at the molecular level, such as heme‐binding kinetics, the heme‐binding capacity and the respective heme‐binding sites (HBMs) is still missing. We report the interaction of TLR4, MD2 and the TLR4‐MD2 complex with heme and the consequences thereof by employing biochemical, spectroscopic, bioinformatic and physiologically relevant approaches. Heme binding occurs transiently through interaction with up to four HBMs in TLR4, two HBMs in MD2 and at least four HBMs in their complex. Functional studies highlight that mutations of individual HBMs in TLR4 preserve full receptor activation by heme, suggesting that heme interacts with TLR4 through different binding sites independently of MD2. Furthermore, we confirm and extend the major role of TLR4 for heme‐mediated cytokine responses in human immune cells.
Rare disaster, economic growth, and disaster risk management with preferences for liquidity
Authors: Lu Ting , Luo Pengfei
Published: October 2023

This paper examines the effect of preferences for liquidity on the relationship between disasters and growth along with disaster risk management. It further demonstrates that preferences for liquidity lead to less consumption. Moreover, from preferences for liquidity perspective, our model can potentially reconcile the conflicting predictions on the interaction between disasters and growth in the empirical findings. Finally, we find that preferences for liquidity cause policymakers to become more incentivized in mitigating disaster risk and lead them overestimate the welfare benefit of policy instruments.
RETRACTED: Effect of enhanced recovery after surgery nursing on the incidence of surgical site wound infection in older adults with hip fractures: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Lu Xuanjiao , Li Jun
Published: October 2023

This meta‐analysis evaluated the effect of enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS) nursing on the incidence surgical site wound infection in older adults with hip fractures. The PubMed, Embase, the Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China Biomedical Literature Database, Wanfang, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, and VIP databases were searched from inception up to March 2023 for articles on randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the effect of ERAS nursing on surgical site wound infection in older adults with hip fractures. Patients in the experimental group received ERAS nursing, and patients in the control group received conventional postoperative nursing. Two researchers independently completed literature screening and data extraction. The included articles were evaluated according to Cochrane quality assessment standards and the meta‐analysis was conducted using Stata 17.0 software to calculate the effect sizes and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Twelve RCTs were included with 1117 patients, including 559 in the experimental group and 558 in the control group. In older adults with hip fractures, ERAS nursing reduced the risk of surgical site wound infection (odds ratio [OR]: 0.26, 95% CI: 0.11–0.58, p = 0.001) and postoperative complications (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 0.14–0.33, p < 0.001), and reduced the length of hospital stay (mean difference: −4.04 days, 95% CI: −4.33 to −3.76 days, p < 0.001). In older adults with hip fractures, ERAS nursing reduces the incidence of surgical site infection and complications and shortens the length of hospital stay.
Clinical evaluation of intralesional umbilical cord‐derived mesenchymal stem cells, conditioned medium and triamcinolone acetonide injection for keloid treatment: A pilot study
Authors: Harsono Anastasia Dessy , Dilogo Ismail Hadisoebroto , Prasetyono Theddeus Octavianus Hari , Prasetyo Marcel , Werdhani Retno Asti , Jusman Sri Widia A. , Siregar Nuryati Chairani , Soedjana Hardisiswo
Published: October 2023

Topical keloid therapy is performed with triamcinolone acetonide (TA) intralesional injection. However, the recurrence rate is high with various side effects. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have high proliferative abilities and reduce the activity and proliferation of fibroblast cells in keloids. To overcome the costs and limitations, conditioned medium (CM) is used. This study aims to evaluate feasibility of intralesional injection of umbilical cord MSC (UC‐MSC) and conditioned medium (UC‐CM) compared to TA for keloid therapy. Twenty‐four patients with keloids who met the inclusion criteria were included, randomized into three treatment groups and then got assessed for the sociodemographic data, keloid volume, histopathology (type 1:3 collagen ratio), interleukin‐10 (IL‐10) levels and Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale (POSAS) score during visits. Largest volume regression occurred in the UC‐MSC group, followed by UC‐CM and then the TA group (UC‐MSC: 45.32% ± 2.61%; UC‐CM: 43.61% ± 3.67%; TA: 28.34% ± 3.81%; p = 0.003). Similar pattern was also observed in increase in IL‐10 levels, the decrease in POSAS scores and the reduction of type 1:3 collagen ratio. Hence, UC‐MSC and UC‐CM are promisingly more effective than TA for keloid therapy, showcasing their superiority in reducing keloid volume, symptoms and type 1:3 collagen ratio, as well as increasing the levels of IL‐10.
Advertisers and Media Independents – Cooperation and Control: A Study in Norway
Authors: Helgesen Thorolf
Published: October 2023

During recent years, media independents have taken over a large part of the media handling business from the advertising agencies in Europe. Their basic business idea ‐ to concentrate and specialize in media handling ‐ has proved to be very successful. Their growth and dominance have also added to their market power. The latter is a major explanation of their success as media space buyers and negotiators of media prices. Adver‐tisers normally have a limited insight on advertising markets and transactions. As these markets are growing more complex, advertisers must depend on the expert assistance of the media independents. The issue remains how objectively the media independents represent the true interests of their clients. In this article, the focus is on advertisers' control of their agents. The degree of control is seen as a function of the advertisers' subjectively perceived and real competence. Finally, an attempt is made to explore the real need fortighter control.
Immunohistochemical Study of Cellular Events in Lesional Skin during Common Virus Infections
Authors: Tsukahara Tetsuya , Horiuchi Yasuhiro
Published: October 2023

Determination was made of epidermal Langerhans cell (LC) distribution and infiltrating cellular events in lesional skin during varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection, and the results were compared with those for herpes simplex (HS), measles, and rubella by immunohistochemical staining with cell surface markers. CD1 a positive epidermal LCs increased in number, particularly in measles and rubella. The number of LCs was within the normal range or slightly increased in the epidermis of VZV infection. In herpes zoster (HZ) and varicella, HLA‐DR positive epidermal cells were present in the basal part of the epidermis. In measles, HLA‐DR positive cells aggregated in papular lesions. In measles and rubella, the number of HLA‐DQ positive epidermal cells appeared to increase. In HS cases, CD11b (OKM1) positivity of the upper epidermal keratinocytes was quite pronounced, but not in the basal layer. CD8 positive suppressor/cytotoxic cells extensively infiltrated the dermis of HZ and varicella. Dermal infiltrates were identified as CD8 positive cell dominant in measles, HZ, and varicella. These results provide a partial explanation as to why cellular events in skin lesions act immunosuppressively.
Detection of Antibodies to Human Melanoma Cells in Vitiligo and Alopecia Areata by Western Blot Analysis
Authors: Hann Seung‐Kyung , Koo Sang‐Wahn , Kim Jung‐Bin , Park Yoon‐Kee
Published: October 2023

Antibody reactivity to human melanoma cells (SK‐Mel‐23) was investigated in 48 patients with vitiligo, 14 with alopecia areata (AA), and 35 normal control individuals by Western blot analysis. Antibodies to SK‐Mel‐23 were found in 44 (92%) of the patients with vitiligo, in 7 (50%) of the patients with AA, and in 14 (40%) of the normal control individuals. Significant differences between patients with vitiligo and normal controls were found in the incidence and distribution of antibodies, but no significant differences were found between patients with AA and normal controls. The antibodies were predominantly directed to one or more antigens of approximately 110 KD, 103 KD, 88 KD, 70 KD, 56 KD, 46 DK, or 41 KD. The most common responses were to 110 KD, 88KD, and 70 KD antigens. These antibodies were present in 60%, 60%, and 73% of the patients with vitiligo; 7%, 14% and 35% of the patients with AA; and 11%, 11% and 40% of normal control individuals, respectively. There were no statistical differences in the incidence of antibodies to pigment cells between segmental and non‐segmental vitiligo. These findings suggest that autoreactivity to pigment cells occurs mostly in patients with vitiligo and might be a secondary immune reaction to destroyed pigment cells.
Elucidation of N‐linked oligosaccharide structures of recombinant human factor VIII using fluorophore‐assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis
Authors: HP Kumar , Hague C. , Haley T. , CM Starr , MJ Besman , RL Lundblad , Baker D.
Published: October 2023

Characterization of the carbohydrate moiety is a critical measure of manufacturing process consistency of recombinant human Factor VIII (rFVIII) in Chinese‐hamster ovary (CHO) cells. FVIII, a large (300 kDa) glycoprotein, is employed therapeutically for the correction of haemophilia A. While N‐linked and O‐linked oligosaccharides are found in this protein, the current study focuses on the N‐linked oligosaccharides. The N‐linked oligosaccharides from rFVIII were released using either peptide N‐glycosidase F or endoglycosidase H, derivatized with the fluorophore 8‐aminonaphthalene‐1,3,6‐trisulphonate, and analysed by fluorophore‐assisted carbohydrate electrophoresis (FACE). The electrophoretically resolved oligosaccharide bands were isolated and individual bands subjected to digestion with defined pools of exoglycosidases and re‐electrophoresed on FACE sequencing gels. The resulting gel patterns were interpreted, based on band mobility shifts, to obtain the sequence structure of the oligosaccharides. A total of eight acidic and 12 neutral structures were identified, and the majority of the oligosaccharides (approximately 92%) were found to be sialylated. All of the major oligosaccharide structures found in CHO‐cell‐derived rFVIII have also been reported to be present in plasma‐derived FVIII. Among the most abundant are disialylated, biantennary, core‐fucosylated (approximately 40%), followed by trisialylated, triantennary, core‐fucosylated and monosialo, biantennary, core‐fucosylated structures (each approximately 18%). The Gal alpha 1‐3Gal structures reported to be present in baby‐hamster‐kidney‐cell‐derived rFVIII were not found in the CHO‐cell‐derived protein. The glycosylation patterns were consistent in six random lots of rFVIII [coefficient of variation (%) 3–14] based on percentage lane luminance data of bands that represent approximately 98% of all asparagine‐linked oligosaccharides.
Liposomal targeting of leukaemia HL60 cells induced by transferrin‐receptor endocytosis
Authors: Sarti P. , Ginobbi P. , D'Agostino I. , Arancia G. , Lendaro E. , Molinari A. , Ippoliti R. , Citro G.
Published: October 2023

A liposomal carrier system able to interact specifically with HL60 leukaemia cells was produced using small unilamellar liposomes made of pure phospholipids chemically cross‐linked to human transferrin. The conjugation of transferrin to liposomes was carried out using N‐succinimidyl 3‐(2‐pyridyldithio)‐propionate and 2‐iminothiolane as activating agents for the liposomes and the protein. The reaction occurred under conditions set to covalently link on the surface of a single vesicle a limited number (one to ten) of transferrin molecules, as verified by means of electron microscopy and immunoenzymic measurements. Before conjugation, the ultrastructure of the liposomes, and the content and distribution of the amino groups within the bilayer, were determined. The reactivity of the liposomes towards amino‐derivatizing or thiolating compounds was also measured. Kinetic spectroscopic measurements confirmed that the distribution of the phosphatidylethanolamine in the vesicle bilayer is asymmetrical: 22% of phosphatidylethanolamine was found exposed to the external surface of the liposomes and accessible to the cross‐linker. The modified liposomes were able to interact specifically with the cells and to be internalized by active receptor‐mediated endocytosis, as demonstrated by the full inhibition of internalization induced by free transferrin.
Parameters influencing the expression of mature glial‐cell‐line‐derived neurotrophic factor in Escherichiacoli
Authors: Liew Oi Wah , Choo Andre Boon Hwa , PhonToo Heng
Published: October 2023

Factors governing expression in Escherichia coli, namely promoters, fusion partners, targeting signals, host strains, growth temperature of cultures and inducer concentrations, were investigated to elucidate their influence on the accumulation of mature glial‐cell line‐derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF). The present study provided evidence indicating that translational and/or post‐translational events were more important in determining overall accumulation of the target protein than was transcription. Under the control of the strong inducible tac or T7 promoter, no direct correlation between transcript abundance and final yield of recombinant protein was observed. GDNF was also recalcitrant to being produced in a soluble form in E. coli. Direct expression resulted in the exclusive localization of GDNF in inclusion bodies, regardless of whether the protein was produced in the cytoplasm or targeted to the periplasm. The fusion approach was found to be the most efficient method, as it resulted not only in the highest level of GDNF produced, albeit primarily in inclusion bodies, but also in the accumulation of small amounts of soluble proteins. Using different host strains, low inducer concentration or sub‐optimal growth temperature did not result in any detectable shift towards solubility. Persistent localization in inclusion bodies, low levels of expression as a native protein and in vivo proteolysis of soluble fusion forms appeared to be influenced by structural features located at the N‐terminus of GDNF. Deletion of this region was found to result in substantial alleviation of these problems.
Clinical informatics and the dental curriculum
Authors: Greenwood S. R. , Grigg P. A. , Vowles R. V. , Stephens C. D.
Published: October 2023

The origins of informatics lie in the development of computers and data processing techniques since the 1950s. The subsequent application of these to the practice of healthcare continues to the present day, so that information technology now holds the potential to revolutionise healthcare through more rapid and efficient management of an ever increasing quantity of clinical information. In dentistry, no less than in medicine, electronic systems can make an extremely valuable contribution to clinical practice. For these systems to be clinically useful, however, they need to be properly understood by clinicians. This review paper outlines the scope of clinical informatics and argues that a grounding in clinical informatics is now essential for today's undergraduates to equip them to meet the challenge of practice in the 21st century.
Suicidology: A Look Backward and Ahead
Authors: Litman Robert E.
Published: October 2023

Using the metaphor of “a long run’ to describe our progress in suicidology, the author looks back to discuss important concepts that have become well established, such as clues to suicide, ambivalence, crisis services, suicide consultations, and psychological autopsies. An example is the psychological autopsy of Marilyn Monroe. Follow‐up studies of crisis center clients have indicated that chronically suicidal clients are at the greatest risk of suicide. Recommendations for the long‐term treatment of such patients are provided. Research on youth suicide is reported. Finally, the author looks ahead toward new developments in training and treatment.
Disentangling the Interrelations Between Hopelessness, Loneliness, and Suicidal Ideation
Authors: Joiner Thomas E. , Rudd M. David
Published: October 2023

We attempted to disentangle the interrelations between hopelessness, loneliness, and suicidal ideation, by comparing two conceptually driven models of their relationships, prospectively among 234 undergraduates, using a series of multiple regression/correlation equations. Model 1 framed loneliness as a risk factor for future suicidally that operates via its influence on hopelessness (the mediational view). Model 2 viewed hopelessness as a source variable that is predictive of both loneliness and suicidally, and postulated no relation between loneliness and suicidality beyond hopelessness. Model 2 received support, whereas Model 1 did not. We discuss the implications of our findings for the nomological status of hopelessness and loneliness as correlates of suicidality, and for exploration of the structural interrelations of suicide‐related variables in general.
Classification of Attempted Suicide: A Review of Empirical Studies, 1963–1993
Authors: Arensman Ella , Kerkhof Ad J. F. M.
Published: October 2023

A review was carried out on empirical studies on the classification of attempted suicide over the period 1963‐1993. Our aim was to investigate whether there is research evidence for a valid classification of homogeneous subgroups of suicide attempters. After assessment of the research quality, 32 studies were selected for comparison. Although there is lack of consistency among the studies, indications were found for two clearly distinguished subgroups characterized by mild and severe suicide attempts, which constitute the opposite poles of a one‐dimensional concept of severity.
Music Preference, Depression, Suicidal Preoccupation, and Personality: Comment on Stack and Gundlach's Papers
Authors: Lester David , Whipple Melissa
Published: October 2023

In a sample of students, preference for country and western music was not associated with depression or suicidal preoccupation as has been suggested by Stack and Gundlach. However, preference for heavy metal music was associated with prior suicidal ideation. Stronger associations were found between music preferences and measures of psychoticism and extraversion.
4 Being Suicidal and Elderly in Changing Times: A Case History
Authors: Richman Joseph
Published: October 2023

Mr. Andrew A, at age 67, is a physically well and mentally active man who is involved in business failures and marital conflicts, which brought him dangerously close to precipitating his own demise. He is different from my other elderly suicidal patients, most of whom were ill, disabled, and in decline. They were grieving for many reasons, such as the loss of a spouse or — frequently — themselves as they had been. Andrew's story has hopeful implications for the changing nature of aging and suicide that extend beyond himself as an individual or my interventions as a therapist.
Pathological Narcissism and Sudden Suicide‐Related Collapse
Authors: Ronningstam Elsa F. , Maltsberger John T.
Published: October 2023

Psychiatric inpatient admission of three nondepressed young men who escaped deadly self‐injury provided an opportunity to study their character organization. Defects in affect‐regulatory functions and evidences of pathological narcissism were identified and explored. Each patient had a specific suicide‐risk consultation and a psychotherapy evaluation. Each denied intent to kill himself, and none acknowledged experience of depression or the wish to die. Each also denied his suicidal behavior involved significant risks, and each discounted the importance of obvious, identifiable stressors as triggers for it. The interrelation between pathological narcissism and this particular suicidal behavior is discussed. These observations can assist in the assessment of suicide risk in nondepressed patients.
Combining conventional technique with fluoroscopy integration module in accessory pathway ablation
Authors: Ozcan Emin Evren , Turan Oğuzhan Ekrem , Yilancioğlu Reşit Yiğit , Inevi Umut , Akdemir Barış
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Accessory pathway (AP) ablation is a straightforward approach with high success rates, but the fluoroscopy time (FT) is significantly longer in conventional technique. Electroanatomical mapping systems (EMS), reduce the FT, but anatomical and activation mapping may prolong the procedure time (PT). The fluoroscopy integration module (FIM) uses prerecorded fluoroscopy images and allows ablation similar to conventional technique without creating an anatomical map. In this study, we investigated the effects of combining the FIM with traditional technique on PT, success, and radiation exposure.

Methods

A total of 131 patients who had undergone AP ablation were included in our study. In 37 patients, right and left anterior oblique (RAO‐LAO) images were acquired after catheter placement and integrated with the FIM. The ablation procedure was then similar to the conventional technique, but without the use of fluoroscopy. For the purpose of acceleration, anatomical and activation maps have not been created. Contact‐force catheters were not used. 94 patients underwent conventional ablation using fluoroscopy only.

Results

FIM into AP ablation procedures led to a significant reduction in radiation exposure, lowering FT from 7.4 to 2.8 min (p < .001) and dose‐area product from 12.47 to 5.8 μGym² (p < .001). While the FIM group experienced a reasonable longer PT (69 vs. 50 min p < .001). FIM reduces FT regardless of operator experience and location of APs

Conclusion

Combining FIM integration with conventional AP ablation offers reduced radiation exposure without compromising success rates and complication.
Assessing the evolutionary lability of insulin signalling in the regulation of nutritional plasticity across traits and species of horned dung beetles
Authors: Rohner Patrick T. , Casasa Sofia , Moczek Armin P.
Published: October 2023

Nutrition-dependent growth of sexual traits is a major contributor to phenotypic diversity, and a large body of research documents insulin signalling as a major regulator of nutritional plasticity. However, findings across studies raise the possibility that the role of individual components within the insulin signalling pathway diverges in function among traits and taxa. Here, we use RNAi-mediated transcript depletion in the gazelle dung beetle to investigate the functions of forkhead box O (Foxo) and two paralogs of the insulin receptor (InR1 and InR2) in shaping nutritional plasticity in polyphenic male head horns, exaggerated fore legs, and weakly nutrition-responsive genitalia. Our functional genetic manipulations led to three main findings: FoxoRNAi reduced the length of exaggerated head horns in large males, while neither InR1 nor InR2 knock-downs resulted in measurable horn phenotypes. These results are similar to those documented previously for another dung beetle (Onthophagus taurus), but in stark contrast to findings in rhinoceros beetles. Secondly, knockdown of Foxo, InR1, and InR2 led to an increase in the intercept or slope of the scaling relationship of genitalia size. These findings are in contrast even to results documented previously for O. taurus. Lastly, while FoxoRNAi reduces male forelegs in D. gazella and O. taurus, the effects of InR1 and InR2 knockdowns diverged across dung beetle species. Our results add to the growing body of literature indicating that despite insulin signalling's conserved role as a regulator of nutritional plasticity, the functions of its components may diversify among traits and species, potentially fuelling the evolution of scaling relationships.
Population prevalence of dual sensory loss in community‐dwelling US adults 71 years and older: Evidence from the National Health and Aging Trends Study
Authors: Garcia Morales Emmanuel E. , Reed Nicholas S. , Zhou Yunshu , Assi Sahar , Varadaraj Varshini , Lin Frank R. , Ehrlich Joshua R. , Deal Jennifer A.
Published: October 2023

Background

Existing estimates for the prevalence of dual sensory loss (vision and hearing) among older adults are either based on self‐reported measures or aggregated for older age groups. Current and detailed estimates based on objective measures are needed for public health, clinical, and policy decision‐making.

Methods

We estimated the prevalence of dual sensory loss (DSL) using National Health Aging Trends Study (NHATS) Round 11 data (2021). We restricted to community‐dwelling adults aged ≥71 years with complete sensory testing data (N = 2579). Hearing loss was defined by a 4‐frequency (0.5, 1, 2 and 4 kHz) pure tone average for the better‐hearing ear (>25 decibel hearing level). Vision loss was defined by the presence of distance, near (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution >0.30), or contrast sensitivity loss (log contrast sensitivity <1.55). Participants were categorized into three groups: no sensory loss, single sensory loss (vision or hearing loss), and DSL (hearing and vision). Sensory loss prevalence was estimated by age group and sociodemographic characteristics.

Results

In weighted analyses, among older Medicare beneficiaries (53% female, 7% Black, 6% Hispanic), 28% had no sensory loss and 22% had DSL. Prevalence of DSL increased with age. Most adults aged ≥90 years experienced DSL (59%), as opposed to single (39%) or no sensory loss (2%). DSL prevalence was greater among older adults with low education attainment (34%) and household income (43%). A higher proportion of older adults with a college education (17%), or from wealthier households (16%), had no sensory loss.

Conclusions

One in 5 community‐dwelling Medicare beneficiaries aged ≥71 years have DSL, increasing to 3 in 5 for those aged ≥90 years. Prevalence is higher among older adults with low education attainment and from low‐income households, characteristics associated with low treatment. Policies increasing access and affordability of vision and hearing care could benefit millions of older Americans experiencing sensory loss.