bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An Automatic‐Vertical Profile Monitoring System for Fresh–Saline Water Zones in Coastal Aquifer
Authors: Jeon Woo‐Hyun , Moon Hee Sun , Choi Jungwon , Jung Byeongju , Kim Yongcheol , Hwang Seho , Lee Soo‐Hyoung
Published: October 2023

Coastal aquifers are complex systems governed by fresh–saline water interactions and ocean tidal effects. The vertical electrical conductivity (EC) and temperature (T) are general indicators for detecting the fresh–saline water interface (FSI) and sea water intrusion in groundwater wells located in coastal aquifers. In this method brief, we developed a cost‐effective Arduino‐based automatic‐vertical profile monitoring system (A‐VPMS) to continuously record vertical EC and T in groundwater wells, with the aim of testing its effectiveness in spatiotemporal monitoring of the FSI in a coastal aquifer located in eastern Korea. By analyzing the high‐density EC and T data obtained by the A‐VPMS, we evaluated the characteristics of the FSI, such as depth and spatial distribution. Our established EC and T data collection method using the A‐VPMS proved to be efficient and reliable, providing an excellent tool for fine‐scale temporal and spatial understanding of sea water intrusion. The results of this study demonstrate the potential of the A‐VPMS for continuous monitoring of the FSI in coastal aquifers, which is crucial for sustainable management of groundwater resources.
An efficient method for optimizing nested open pits with operational bottom space
Authors: Morales Nelson , Nelis Gonzalo , Amaya Jorge
Published: October 2023

Determining a set of nested pits to support the design of an open pit mine that leads to high economic value is crucial for the strategic planning of these operations; thus, practitioners rely on optimization methods for finding high‐value solutions. However, current approaches are not sufficient as they lack at least one of the following features: fast computations of optimal solutions, good geometric properties, and nestedness of the pits. In this work, we propose an optimization model to address the problem of determining multiple nested pits by introducing a cost‐based penalty for not meeting precedence constraints linked to a minimum bottom width. Using penalties instead of constraints is novel and turns out to have several advantages. First, the constraint matrix is totally unimodular; thus, the problem can be solved efficiently. Second, the model can be parameterized to generate nested pits. Therefore, our model is the first published model that is efficient, can be solved to optimality, preserves the nestedness of the solutions, and produces geometries more amenable for mine design, without the need for heuristics. Finally, we devise an iterative method that profits from the nestedness of the solutions to speed up the resolution and test the model in three different data sets, with different geometrical and cost parameters for a total of 135 different instances. The results show that the geometry of the bottom pits is indeed improved and that we can solve the problems up to optimality up to 80% faster than an off‐the‐shelf solver.
Expression, purification and characterization of a recombinant levan fructotransferase
Authors: Yang Sung Jae , Park Na Hee , Lee Tae Ho , Cha Jaeho
Published: October 2023

A 1.6 kb DNA fragment including thelftMgene, encoding a levan fructotransferase (LFTase) ofMicrobacteriumsp. AL‐210, was subcloned into a high‐expression vector, pET‐29b, and the recombinant enzyme was overexpressed inEscherichia coli. Most of the LFTase activity was detected in the cytoplasmic fraction after induction with isopropylβ‐d‐thiogalactoside. The recombinant enzyme with a tag of six histidine residues at the C‐terminus was purified 132‐fold by affinity and gel‐filtration chromatography. Analysis of the N‐terminal amino acid sequence revealed that the first 42 amino acids were post‐translationally cleaved off. The molecular mass of the purified LftM was approx. 54 kDa as determined by SDS/PAGE, which corresponded well with a predicted size from the nucleotide sequence of thelftMgene lacking 42 amino acids. The enzyme converted levan into difructose anhydride IV (DFA IV) with aKmof 2 mg/ml and aVmaxof 40.6μmol/min at pH 7.0 and 40 °C. The pH‐dependence study of the enzyme for DFA IV production showed that LftM had a broad pH optimum (5.0–8.0) and the pKavalues obtained were 4.5 and 8.9 at 40 °C. These results suggest that the acidic residues at the active site may play important roles for the catalytic mechanism of the LFTase.
Enhancement of the immune response generated against hepatitis C virus envelope proteins after DNA vaccination with polyprotein‐encoding plasmids
Authors: Dueñas‐Carrera Santiago , Alvarez‐Lajonchere Liz , César Alvarez‐Obregón Julio , Pérez Anna , Acosta‐Rivero Nelson , Vázquez Dania Marcia , Martínez Gillian , Viña Ariel , Pichardo Dagmara , Morales Juan
Published: October 2023

Plasmids expressing variants of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) core, E1 and E2 proteins individually or as polyproteins were administered to BALB/c mice. All plasmids induced a detectable and specific antibody response. Antibody titres against core, E1 and E2 proteins, 19 weeks after primary immunization, ranged from 1:50 to 1:4500 depending on the inoculated plasmid and the HCV antigen evaluated. Constructs expressing HCV envelope proteins as polyprotein variants including the core amino acid region induced statistically stronger antibody responses than plasmids encoding individual E1 and E2 proteins. Particularly, the pIDKE2 plasmid, expressing the first 650 amino acids in the viral polyprotein, induced a potent and multispecific antibody and lymphoproliferative response against HCV core, E1 and E2 proteins. Anti‐E2 antibodies generated by pIDKE2 immunization were cross‐reactive to hypervariable region‐1 peptides from different genotypes. Immunization with the pIDKE2 also generated a positive cellular immune response against the core antigen, determined by interferon‐γ enzyme‐linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assay, and induced detectable levels of interferon‐γ but not interleukin‐4 in vaccinated mice. The detection of both antibody and cytotoxic T‐lymphocyte responses, potentially targeted to circulating or cell‐infecting virions respectively, in mice vaccinated with the pIDKE2 plasmid is very attractive for the effective eradication of HCV infection.
Cu:TiO2 nanoparticles prepared by planetary ball mill with enhanced sonophotocatalytic performance with visible light
Authors: Ayremlou Hamidreza , Darbandi Masih , Shaabani Behrouz
Published: October 2023

In this research, pure and Cu(II)‐doped TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized via a simple and nontoxic approach to fabricate a nanocatalyst for the oxidative sonophotocatalytic degradation of phenol. TiO2 NPs were prepared using a solvothermal method and doped with Cu(II) by high‐energy planetary ball mill. The as‐synthesized NPs were identified and characterized by X‐ray diffraction, energy‐dispersive X‐ray, and transmission electron microscopy techniques. The doped NPs were used for the first time in pollutant decomposition using phenol as a model pollutant in low‐energy and low‐frequency ultrasound at room temperature and pH = 7 in the presence of visible light. The progress of the pollutant degradation was followed by UV–Vis spectrophotometry. After about 60 min of sonophotocatalytic process (dual irradiation [visible light + ultrasound] in the presence of doped NPs), around 75% of the phenol degraded, with a rate constant of about 0.024 min−1. The sonophotocatalytic process was compared with photocatalysis and sonocatalysis processes conducted in the same conditions. Importantly, the combination of visible light and ultrasound irradiation in a sonophotocatalytic decomposition reaction represented about 58% of the synergy effect, demonstrating a positive synergy between the photocatalytic and sonocatalytic processes. The optimum condition was used to degrade the commercial sample (amoxicillin) with excellent performance. The reusability test represented the excellent stability of doped catalysts within four consecutive runs with less fading in their sonophotocatalytic reaction. This feature proves the reusability potential of the doped catalyst to be used in the commercial and industrial directions. The performance of the doped catalyst was affected severely by the addition of different scavengers, and based on the results, the sonophotocatalytic mechanism was discussed.
Effect of intranasal and oral administration of levetiracetam on the temporal and spatial distributions of SV2A in the KA‐induced rat model of SE
Authors: Zhao Weixuan , Li Yue , Sun Huaiyu , Zhang Wuqiong , Li Jiaai , Jiang Ting , Jiang Li , Meng Hongmei
Published: October 2023

To investigate the effectiveness of nasal delivery of levetiracetam (LEV) on the distributions of synaptic vesicle protein 2 isoform A (SV2A) in epileptic rats with injection of kainic acid (KA) into amygdala. A total of 138 rats were randomly divided into four groups, including the Sham surgery group, the epilepsy group (EP), and the LEV oral administration (LPO) and nasal delivery (LND) groups. The rat intra‐amygdala KA model of epilepsy was constructed. Pathological changes of rat brain tissue after status epilepticus (SE) were detected using haematoxylin and eosin staining. Expression of SV2A in rat hippocampus after SE was evaluated using the western blotting analysis. Expression and distribution of SV2A in rat hippocampus after SE were detected based on immunofluorescence staining. The EP group showed evident cell loss and tissue necrosis in the CA3 area of hippocampus, whereas the tissue damage in both LPO and LND groups was significantly reduced. Western blotting analysis showed that the expressions of SV2A in the hippocampus of both EP and LND groups were significantly decreased 1 week after SE, increased to the similar levels of the Sham group in 2 weeks, and continuously increased 4 weeks after SE to the level significantly higher than that of the Sham group. Results of immunofluorescence revealed largely the same expression patterns of SV2A in the CA3 area of hippocampus as those in the entire hippocampus. Our study revealed the same antiepileptic and neuronal protective effects by the nasal and oral administrations of LEV, without changing the expression level of SV2A.
Automation of ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath diameter measurement using convolutional neural networks
Authors: Hirzallah Mohammad I. , Bose Supratik , Hu Jingtong , Maltz Jonathan S.
Published: October 2023

Background and purpose

Ultrasonographic optic nerve sheath (ONS) diameter is a noninvasive intracranial pressure (ICP) surrogate. ICP is monitored invasively in specialized intensive care units. Noninvasive ICP monitoring is important in less specialized settings. However, noninvasive ICP monitoring using ONS diameter (ONSD) is limited by the need for experts to obtain and perform measurements. We aim to automate ONSD measurements using a deep convolutional neural network (CNN) with a novel masking technique.

Methods

We trained a CNN to reproduce masks that mark the ONS. The edges of the mask are defined by an expert. Eight models were trained with 1000 epochs per model. The Dice‐similarity‐coefficient‐weighted averaged outputs of the eight models yielded the final predicted mask. Eight hundred and seventy‐three images were obtained from 52 transorbital cine‐ultrasonography sessions, performed on 46 patients with brain injuries. Eight hundred and fourteen images from 48 scanning sessions were used for training and validation and 59 images from four sessions for testing. Bland‐Altman and Pearson linear correlation analyses were used to evaluate the agreement between CNN and expert measurements.

Results

Expert ONSD measurements and CNN‐derived ONSD estimates had strong agreement (r = 0.7, p < .0001). The expert mean ONSD (standard deviation) is 5.27 mm (0.43) compared to CNN mean estimate of 5.46 mm (0.37). Mean difference (95% confidence interval, p value) is 0.19 mm (0.10‐0.27 mm, p = .0011), and root mean square error is 0.27 mm.

Conclusion

A CNN can learn ONSD measurement using masking without image segmentation or landmark detection.
Morgan's Quaker gun and the species of belief
Authors: Curry Devin Sanchez
Published: October 2023

In this article, I explore how researchers’ metaphysical commitments can be conducive—or unconducive—to progress in animal cognition research. The methodological dictum known as Morgan's Canon exhorts comparative psychologists to countenance the least mentalistic fair interpretation of animal actions. This exhortation has frequently been misread as a blanket condemnation of mentalistic interpretations of animal behaviors that could be interpreted behavioristically. But Morgan meant to demand only that researchers refrain from accepting default interpretations of (apparent) actions until other fair interpretations have been duly considered. The Canon backfired largely because of Morgan's background metaphysical commitment to a univocal, hierarchical, and anthropocentric account of cognitive architecture. I make the case that, going forward, comparative psychologists would do well to pair judicious use of Morgan's Canon with an openness to the existence of non‐humanlike animal minds comprising phenomena belonging to distinct cognitive and folk psychological ontologies. And I argue that this case gives us pragmatic reason to reconcile deep—e.g., psychofunctionalist—and superficial—e.g., dispositionalist—approaches to the metaphysics of belief.
Scaling priors for intrinsic Gaussian Markov random fields applied to blood pressure data
Authors: Spyropoulou Maria‐Zafeiria , Bentham James
Published: October 2023

An Intrinsic Gaussian Markov Random Field (IGMRF) can be used to induce conditional dependence in Bayesian hierarchical models. IGMRFs have both a precision matrix, which defines the neighborhood structure of the model, and a precision, or scaling, parameter. Previous studies have shown the importance of selecting the prior for this scaling parameter appropriately for different types of IGMRF, as it can have a substantial impact on posterior estimates. Here, we focus on cases in one and two dimensions, where tuning of the prior is achieved by mapping it to the marginal SD of an IGMRF of corresponding dimensionality. We compare the effects of scaling various IGMRFs, including an application to real two‐dimensional blood pressure data using MCMC methods.
Diagnostics of Concrete Box Beam Bridges Using Wireless Sensors and Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Rizzo Piervincenzo , Enshaeian Alireza , Ghahremani Behzad
Published: October 2023

Three pretensioned adjacent concrete box beam bridges were studied with a structural health monitoring (SHM) paradigm based on strain measurements and finite element static analyses. An accurate model for one bridge and an approximate model for the other two were created using ansys software. The analyses were used to calculate the strains generated by six concentrated loads that mimic the presence of a truck. Pristine and damage scenarios were implemented, and the associated numerical strains were compared to the experimental strains measured with proprietary wireless sensors during a truck test. As the results from the approximate models deviated significantly from the field response of the bridge, the accurate model applied to one bridge was extended to the other two. The comparison between numerical and experimental results revealed the presence of noncritical anomalies related to strain distribution across adjacent beams. Such issues were confirmed with the examination of the historical strains streamed for several months to a repository, using simple data processing strategies. The intellectual contribution of the work resides in the combination of finite element analysis and SHM applied to three existing bridges with very similar structural characteristics. This combination revealed the presence of noncritical issues impossible to be diagnosed with conventional inspection.
Physical function in children/adolescents with chronic kidney disease and the impact of exercise intervention: a protocol for systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Sun Qiuzi , Huang Liuyan , Wang Hui , Zhang Huachun , Zhang Fan
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Impaired physical function is relatively common in children/adolescents with chronic kidney disease (CKD), affecting not only patients’ daily lives but also the efficiency of later treatment and rehabilitation. Exercise is a recognised intervention to improve physical function and quality of life in adult patients with CKD. However, implementing this strategy in paediatric/adolescent populations remains relatively limited. For exercise training to be widely delivered as part of paediatric public health policy, a better understanding of the physical function and the impact of exercise interventions in children/adolescents with CKD is needed.

Methods and analysis

A systematic review and meta-analysis will be conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to compare physical function in children/adolescents with CKD with healthy controls and the impact of exercise interventions on their outcomes. The systematic review will search the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Scopus and Web of Science. We will use the Risk Of Bias In Non-Randomised Studies-of Interventions and the second edition of the Cochrane Risk of Bias to assess the quality of the literature. Where feasible, we will conduct random effects meta-analyses where appropriate. If possible, we will conduct subgroup analyses to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.

Ethics and dissemination

Due to the nature of the protocol, ethical approval is not required. We will follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines to disseminate the study results through publication and conference presentations.

PROSPERO registrationnumber

CRD42023416208.
Identifying depression and its determinants upon initiating treatment: ChatGPT versus primary care physicians
Authors: Levkovich Inbar , Elyoseph Zohar
Published: October 2023

Objective

To compare evaluations of depressive episodes and suggested treatment protocols generated by Chat Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT)-3 and ChatGPT-4 with the recommendations of primary care physicians.

Methods

Vignettes were input to the ChatGPT interface. These vignettes focused primarily on hypothetical patients with symptoms of depression during initial consultations. The creators of these vignettes meticulously designed eight distinct versions in which they systematically varied patient attributes (sex, socioeconomic status (blue collar worker or white collar worker) and depression severity (mild or severe)). Each variant was subsequently introduced into ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4. Each vignette was repeated 10 times to ensure consistency and reliability of the ChatGPT responses.

Results

For mild depression, ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 recommended psychotherapy in 95.0% and 97.5% of cases, respectively. Primary care physicians, however, recommended psychotherapy in only 4.3% of cases. For severe cases, ChatGPT favoured an approach that combined psychotherapy, while primary care physicians recommended a combined approach. The pharmacological recommendations of ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 showed a preference for exclusive use of antidepressants (74% and 68%, respectively), in contrast with primary care physicians, who typically recommended a mix of antidepressants and anxiolytics/hypnotics (67.4%). Unlike primary care physicians, ChatGPT showed no gender or socioeconomic biases in its recommendations.

Conclusion

ChatGPT-3.5 and ChatGPT-4 aligned well with accepted guidelines for managing mild and severe depression, without showing the gender or socioeconomic biases observed among primary care physicians. Despite the suggested potential benefit of using atificial intelligence (AI) chatbots like ChatGPT to enhance clinical decision making, further research is needed to refine AI recommendations for severe cases and to consider potential risks and ethical issues.
Association of childhood infections and perinatal factors with ankylosing spondylitis: a Swedish nationwide case–control and sibling study
Authors: Morin Matilda , Hellgren Karin , Lindström Ulf , Frisell Thomas
Published: October 2023

Objectives

To identify perinatal and early-life risk factors for ankylosing spondylitis (AS), controlling for family-shared confounding with a sibling comparison design.

Methods

In this nationwide, register-based case–control study, we identified 5612 AS cases from the Swedish National Patient Register, and matched them with 22 042 individuals without inflammatory arthritis from the general population. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of AS in relation to childhood infections and a broad range of perinatal factors including fetal growth. Significant associations were further tested in a sibling comparison analysis, including 3965 patients with AS and their 6070 siblings without a diagnosis of spondyloarthritis.

Results

We found no statistically significant associations between any studied fetal growth-related factor or other perinatal factors and the risk of developing AS. In contrast, having older siblings (adjusted OR 1.12; 95% CI 1.04 to 1.22 for one vs no older sibling) and history of a childhood tonsillectomy (adjusted OR 1.30; 95% CI 1.13 to 1.49) were associated with AS in the case–control analysis, results that also held in the sibling comparison. Serious childhood infection and multiple birth were significantly associated with AS in the case–control sample, but estimates were attenuated in the sibling comparison.

Conclusions

Having older siblings and a history of tonsillectomy in childhood were independently associated with development of AS, even after adjustment for family-shared factors in a sibling comparison analysis. This strengthens the hypothesis that childhood infections play a role in the aetiology of AS.
Radial growth of subarctic tree and shrub species: relationships with climate and association with the greening of the forest–tundra ecotone of subarctic Québec, Canada
Authors: Labrecque-Foy Julie-Pascale , Gaspard Anna , Simard Martin , Boudreau Stéphane
Published: October 2023

Climate change has resulted in a widespread increase in primary productivity in northern regions. This “greening” can alter terrestrial ecosystems dynamics and trigger positive climate feedbacks but often exhibits spatial heterogeneity. Few studies have focused on the differential responses of plant functional groups to warming as a potential driver of heterogeneity in greening rates. Our objective was to determine whether climate–growth relationships are species-specific, and whether they can explain the heterogeneity of the subarctic greening rates. We compared climate–growth relationships and associations to normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) of the dominant tree ( Picea mariana) and shrub ( Betula glandulosa) species at two locations in the forest–tundra ecotone in Nunavik (Québec, Canada). Correlation coefficients of the climate–growth relationship varied between species and locations, being higher for P. mariana and at the northernmost location. The lower association between NDVI and P. mariana radial growth at the northernmost location appeared to be compensated by a stronger association between NDVI and B. glandulosa radial growth. Our results show that response to climate varies spatially and between species, both of which could potentially be used to explain the heterogeneity of subarctic greening rates. This improved understanding of the species-specific response to climate change will help predict forthcoming changes in primary productivity and their potential positive feedback on climate change.
Nonlinear modelling of the association between winter weather severity and maintenance expenditures
Authors: Qi Yan , Velpur Varun Reddy
Published: October 2023

The winter weather severity plays a crucial role in determining the resources required for winter maintenance activities. This study utilized nonlinear models to examine the relationship between winter weather variables (temperature, wind speed, and snowfall) and winter maintenance expenditures (labor, material, and equipment) based on data from the state of Illinois. The data were collected and aggregated by year and district to align with the expenditure data, and the state was divided into three climatic zones, with separate models developed for each. The ROUT method was employed to identify and eliminate outliers before conducting nonlinear modelling. The best-fitting model was selected using cross-validation and R2 evaluation. The results demonstrate that the chosen nonlinear models effectively depict the connection between winter weather and winter maintenance expenses. These findings can aid agencies in efficiently allocating resources for winter maintenance.
Experimental Assessment of Human–Robot Teaming for Multi-step Remote Manipulation with Expert Operators
Authors: Pérez-D’Arpino Claudia , Khurshid Rebecca P. , Shah Julie A.
Published: October 2023

Remote robot manipulation with human control enables applications in which safety and environmental constraints are adverse to humans (e.g., underwater, space robotics and disaster response) or the complexity of the task demands human-level cognition and dexterity (e.g., robotic surgery and manufacturing). These systems typically use direct teleoperation at the motion level and are usually limited to low-DOF arms and two-dimensional (2D) perception. Improving dexterity and situational awareness demands new interaction and planning workflows. We explore the use of human–robot teaming through teleautonomy with assisted planning for remote control of a dual-arm dexterous robot for multi-step manipulation, and conduct a within-subjects experimental assessment (n = 12 expert users) to compare it with direct teleoperation with an imitation controller with 2D and three-dimensional (3D) perception, as well as teleoperation through a teleautonomy interface. The proposed assisted planning approach achieves task times comparable with direct teleoperation while improving other objective and subjective metrics, including re-grasps, collisions, and TLX workload. Assisted planning in the teleautonomy interface achieves faster task execution and removes a significant interaction with the operator’s expertise level, resulting in a performance equalizer across users. Our study protocol, metrics, and models for statistical analysis might also serve as a general benchmarking framework in teleoperation domains. Accompanying video and reference R code:
https://people.csail.mit.edu/cdarpino/THRIteleop/
The Role of the Gut Microbiome and the Hepatic Axis in the Pathogenesis of Metabolic Syndrome and Therapeutics
Authors: Divya K. P. , Hari Parneet , Kanwar Navjot , Aggarwal Navita , Dhoat Preeti Singh , Liu Lu , Kanwal Abhinav , Singh Shailendra Pratap
Published: October 2023

The increased global prevalence of viral and noninfectious liver illnesses has coincided with a surge in scientific interest in gut microbiota (GM), a multispecies community of bacteria, fungi, archaea, and protozoans. Dietary nutrients that make up the host’s microbiome are responsible for maintaining intestinal homeostasis, whereas a disconnect between gut flora and nutrition might have serious consequences for digestive health. The risk of liver dysfunction was continuously elevated by changes in the commensal bacteria of the gut microbiome, which were carried to the liver via the portal vein. Insights into the role of gut microbiota in alcoholic liver disease, nonalcoholic liver disease, primary sclerosing cholangitis, and other liver disorders, as well as their link to liver cancer, continue to emerge. Systemic host defence against infections by the gut microbiota depends on the interplay between the microbiome, liver immunology, and liver disorders. Translocation of microbiota to the liver following injury and/or inflammation may mediate dysbiosis and the formation of gut microbial metabolite. This review discusses the role of the gut microbiota in connection to dysbiosis and how this knowledge might help us better understand the pathophysiology of various liver illnesses.
A Year of Advances in Precision Therapy for Blood Cancers
Authors:   The AACR Cancer Progress Report 2023 Steering Committee
Published: October 2023

Recent advances in precision therapies of blood cancers are highlighted here, adapted from the 13th edition of the annual AACR Cancer Progress Report (https://cancerprogressreport.aacr.org/progress/) to U.S. Congress and the public.
Molecular and Functional Heterogeneity of Primary Pancreatic Neuroendocrine Tumors and Metastases
Authors: Guo Yiying , Tian Chao , Cheng Zixuan , Chen Ruao , Li Yuanliang , Su Fei , Shi Yanfen , Tan Huangying
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Treatment response to the standard therapy is low for metastatic pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNETs) mainly due to the tumor heterogeneity. We investigated the heterogeneity between primary PanNETs and metastases to improve the precise treatment. Methods: The genomic and transcriptomic data of PanNETs were retrieved from the Genomics, Evidence, Neoplasia, Information, Exchange (GENIE), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, respectively. Potential prognostic effects of gene mutations enriched in metastases were investigated. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed to investigate the functional difference. Oncology Knowledge Base was interrogated for identifying the targetable gene alterations. Results: Twenty-one genes had significantly higher mutation rates in metastases which included TP53 (10.3% vs. 16.9%, p = 0.035) and KRAS (3.7% vs. 9.1%, p = 0.016). Signaling pathways related to cell proliferation and metabolism were enriched in metastases, whereas epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and TGF-β signaling were enriched in primaries. Gene mutations were highly enriched in metastases that had significant unfavorable prognostic effects included mutation of TP53 (p < 0.001), KRAS (p = 0.001), ATM (p = 0.032), KMT2D (p = 0.001), RB1 (p < 0.001), and FAT1 (p < 0.001). Targetable alterations enriched in metastases included mutation of TSC2 (15.5%), ARID1A (9.7%), KRAS (9.1%), PTEN (8.7%), ATM (6.4%), amplification of EGFR (6.0%), MET (5.5%), CDK4 (5.5%), MDM2 (5.0%), and deletion of SMARCB1 (5.0%). Conclusion: Metastases exhibited a certain extent of genomic and transcriptomic diversity from primary PanNETs. TP53 and KRAS mutation in primary samples might associate with metastasis and contribute to a poorer prognosis. A high fraction of novel targetable alterations enriched in metastases deserves to be validated in advanced PanNETs.
Previsível mas problemático: o papel dos EUA na Lava Jato, por força da Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
Authors:   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Direito de Ribeirão Preto, Bertran Maria Paula , Nasser Maria Virgínia Nabuco do Amaral Mesquita ,   Universidade de São Paulo. Faculdade de Direito de Ribeirão Preto
Published: October 2023

O livro “Previsível, mas problemático: o papel dos EUA na Lava Jato, por força da ForeignCorrupt Practices Act” traz não apenas um apanhado cuidadoso das principais características da legislação extraterritorial de combate a corrupção norte-americana (FCPA), mas também levanta questões importantes e instigantes sobre sua aplicação no contexto latino-americano. Por que o Brasil? Por que a Petrobras? Por que não a Odebrecht? A Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) é uma norma que amplia a jurisdição norte-americana para crimes envolvendo corrupção, mas que não aconteceram no território dos EUA. As grandes empresas brasileiras envolvidas na Operação Lava Jato foram condenadas nos EUA, em razão da FCPA. O livro apresenta dados e padrões enunciados pela literatura. Esse conjunto de elementos autoriza a assunção de que um grande caso envolvendo empresas brasileiras era previsível. A previsibilidade existia considerando que os grandes casos normalmente acontecem em países com hegemonia regional, como é o caso do Brasil em relação à América Latina e parte da África. Além disso, empresas de alguns setores econômicos recebem, historicamente, vigilância norte-americana mais intensa que outros. O setor de petróleo e gás é, de longe, o setor econômico com mais autuações na história da FCPA. O trabalho descreve a força da jurisdição norte-americana como propulsora determinante para os grandiosos (em número de presos e na importância dos réus, por exemplo) resultados da Operação Lava Jato. Quando, porém, afastada a jurisdição estrangeira, as instituições locais aos poucos reconduziram os resultados da Operação Lava Jato aos padrões regulares de persecução local, incluindo o reconhecimento de muitas nulidades e decorrentes absolvições. Por fim, as autoras mostram problemas da transposição das ferramentas da FCPA para o Brasil e outros países latino-americanos. Segundo a lógica de corrupção como um estado de equilíbrio, desenvolvida no livro, é pouco provável que qualquer líder político latino-americano já tenha alcançado o poder sem adaptação ou tolerância a práticas consideradas corruptas. O grande caso FCPA no Brasil promoveu um recorte temporal específico e limitado, trazendo à luz condutas deletérias que passaram a alimentar uma notável repulsa da população. Essas condutas, porém, jamais foram novidade na história brasileira ou latino-americana. Não parecem fazer parte do passado, tampouco.
O conceito de cura e a eficácia performativa em rituais xamânicos
Authors: Langdon Esther Jean Matteson
Published: October 2023

Este trabalho explora os conceitos de cura e eficácia, argumentando que é necessário ir além da visão biomédica e da antropologia simbólica clássica. Na biomedicina, a cura é comprovada por meio de sinais fisiológicos observados após a ingestão de uma substância. A visão simbólica afirma que os rituais de cura são eficazes porque respondem a importantes questões cosmológicas e ontológicas, provocando a transformação da perspectiva do paciente mediante as representações compartilhadas que instigam mudanças nos níveis psicofisiológicos. Com base em pesquisa sobre as práticas xamânicas entre os indígenas siona da Amazônia colombiana e suas narrativas de experiências de aflição e cura, demonstra-se que a experiência para a restauração do bem-estar envolve mais do que a ingestão de substâncias e/ou símbolos compartilhados. A abordagem performática busca compreender a cura em contextos nos quais o corpo é engajado em sua totalidade, independente de significados simbólicos compartilhados ou efeitos físicos das substâncias.
Investigation of Microscopic Structure, Translucency Parameters, and Fracture Toughness of Two Pressable Lithium Disilicate Glass-Ceramic Materials
Authors: Suttipongkiat Piya-orn , Ratanajanchai Montri , Suputtamongkol Kallya
Published: October 2023

Purpose: To investigate the microscopic structure and fracture toughness of two pressable glass-ceramics comprising GC Initial LiSi Press (LiSi) and IPS e.max Press (e.max) with different levels of translucency. Materials and methods: Four groups of LiSi and e.max with medium opacity and high translucency levels were examined. The crystal morphology of acid-etched specimens was observed under a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Six specimens in each group were fabricated in square shape (12 mm 12 mm  1.5 mm) to measure translucency parameters (TP) using a spectrophotometer. Ten bar-shaped specimens each group with dimension of 23 mm  2 mm  4 mm were determined the fracture toughness (KIc) by a surface crack in flexure (SCF) using a universal testing machine. One-way ANOVA and Scheffe post-hoc tests were used for statistical analysis. Results: LiSi showed fine dense crystals 1 – 1.5 µm in size, while e.max showed long rod-shaped crystals 3 – 4 µm in size. The TP values of all specimens were coincided with their translucency levels.There was no statistical difference in the KIc between different translucency for both ceramics (p<0.05). However, the KIc of e.max was significantly higher than that of LiSi at both translucency levels. As a result of larger and longer crystals in e.max, it could provide better crack deviation mechanism to resist the fracture. Conclusion: Within the limitations of this study, the translucency levels of both lithium disilicate ceramics did not affect the fracture toughness of the materials. The fracture toughness of e.max was statistically higher than LiSi.
Investigating the Role of Leading Sensory Modality and Autistic Traits in the Visual–Tactile Temporal Binding Window
Authors: Huntley Michelle K. , Nguyen An , Albrecht Matthew A. , Marinovic Welber
Published: October 2023

Our ability to integrate multisensory information depends on processes occurring during the temporal binding window. There is limited research investigating the temporal binding window for visual–tactile integration and its relationship with autistic traits, sensory sensitivity, and unusual sensory experiences. We measured the temporal binding window for visual-tactile integration in 27 neurotypical participants who completed a simultaneity judgement task and three questionnaires: the Autism Quotient, the Glasgow Sensory Questionnaire, and the Multi-Modality Unusual Sensory Experiences Questionnaire. The average width of the visual-leading visual-tactile (VT) temporal binding window was 123 ms, significantly narrower than the tactile-leading visual-tactile (TV) window (193 ms). When comparing crossmodal (visual-tactile) stimuli with unimodal (visual–visual or tactile–tactile), the temporal binding window was significantly larger for crossmodal stimuli (VT: 123 ms; TV: 193 ms) than for unimodal pairs of stimuli (visual: 38 ms; tactile 42 ms). We did not find evidence to support a relationship between the size of the temporal binding window and autistic traits, sensory sensitivities, or unusual sensory perceptual experiences in this neurotypical population. Our results indicate that the leading sense presented in a multisensory pair influences the width of the temporal binding window. When tactile stimuli precede visual stimuli it may be difficult to determine the temporal boundaries of the stimuli, which leads to a delay in shifting attention from tactile to visual stimuli. This ambiguity in determining temporal boundaries of stimuli likely influences our ability to decide on whether stimuli are simultaneous or nonsimultaneous, which in turn leads to wider temporal binding windows.
Central diastolic blood pressure, plasma aldosterone and uric acid are associated with microalbuminuria in essential hypertension: a case-control study
Authors: Li Jinlong , Yang Ning , Chou Hongda , Shi Leilei , Wei Maoti , Li Yuming
Published: October 2023

Objective

To study the development of microalbuminuria (MAU) in essential hypertension (EHT), we investigated the association of MAU with central blood pressure (CBP), direct renin concentration (DRC), plasma aldosterone (PA), and uric acid (UA).

Method

We determined 24 h-urinary albumin excretion (24 h-UAE) in patients with EHT who were hospitalized at TEDA International Cardiovascular Hospital from June 2020 to May 2022. We defined MAU as 24 h-UAE in the range of 30 mg/24 h to 300 mg/24 h. Univariate and multivariate analyses were conducted to determine the associations of MAU with CBP, DRC, PA, and UA in EHT, considering demographic and clinical information. We also plotted receiver operating characteristic curves (ROCs) for predicting MAU using these results.

Results

More than a quarter of patients (26.5%, 107/404, 95% CI: 22.2–31.1%) were diagnosed with MAU in EHT. A higher body mass index (BMI), longer duration of hypertension, and higher severity were associated with MAU. Also, nearly 10% more creatinine levels were recorded in the MAU group than in the control group (69.5 ± 18.7 µmol/L vs. 64.8 ± 12.5 µmol/L, P = 0.004). The increase was also observed for PA (15.5, 9.7–20.6 ng/dL vs. 12.3, 9.0–17.3 ng/dL, P = 0.024) and UA (419.8 ± 105.6 µmol/L vs. 375.1 ± 89.5 µmol/L, P < 0.001) in the MAU group compared to that in the control group. Several variables were associated with MAU, including central diastolic blood pressure (CDBP) (OR = 1.017, 95% CI: 1.002–1.032, P = 0.027), PA (OR = 1.043, 95% CI: 1.009–1.078, P = 0.012) and UA (OR = 1.005, 95% CI: 1.002–1.008, P < 0.001). For MAU prediction, the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.709 (95% CI: 0.662–0.753; P < 0.001) when CDBP, PA, and UA were used in combination, and the optimal probability of the cut-off value was 0.337.

Conclusion

We found that CDBP, PA, and UA, used for MAU prediction, might be associated with its development during EHT.
Medications and traffic accidents involving older drivers: do Spanish primary healthcare physicians know enough?
Authors: Jiménez-Mejías Eladio , Ruiz-Rodríguez Fátima , Martín-de los Reyes Luis Miguel , Herrero-Rubí José , Rivera-Izquierdo Mario , Martínez-Ruiz Virginia , Lardelli-Claret Pablo
Published: October 2023

Background

Our aim was to evaluate Spanish family doctors’ knowledge about medications that increase the risk of traffic accidents involving older drivers, and to obtain data about the involvement of family doctors in accident prevention activities and the associations between these factors and their demographic and workplace characteristics.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 1888 family doctors throughout Spain was carried out from 2016 to 2018. Participants completed a previously validated self-administered questionnaire that explored whether family doctors distinguished between medications associated with a high or low risk of involvement in a traffic accident, investigated the appropriateness of advice given to older patients, and physicians’ involvement in preventive activities. Multiple regression models were used to estimate the adjusted association of these variables with each other and with characteristics of family doctors in the sample.

Results

On a scale of 1 (never or hardly ever) to 4 (always), the indexes constructed to evaluate how often family doctors believed they should oversee the use of high-risk and low-risk medications yielded values of 3.38 for the former and 2.61 for the latter (p < 0.001). Only 24% responded correctly to all three items that inquired about the appropriateness of the advice they gave to older patients. On a scale of 1 to 4, the frequency at which family doctors gave older patients advice about preventive measures was 2.85, and only 43% reported allocating time during appointments to provide this advice. These latter two variables were directly associated with appropriate values for the index used to evaluate physicians’ oversight of medications associated with a high risk. The perception of risk associated with medications and involvement in preventive activities were both greater among female participants.

Conclusions

Family doctors correctly identified medications according to their risk of playing a role in traffic accidents, although the recommendations they gave to their patients were not always appropriate. These findings, along with physicians’ infrequent involvement in preventive activities, suggest a need to improve family doctors’ competencies and increase the resources available to them so that they can provide their older patients with advice on ways to prevent involvement in traffic accidents.
Development and evaluation of the psychometric properties of a digital questionnaire for the evaluation of perinatal psychosocial needs
Authors: Bully Paola , Artieta-Pinedo Isabel , Paz-Pascual Carmen , García-Álvarez Arturo ,   Ema-Q Group, Alvarez Sonia , Amorrortu Pilar , Blas Mónica , Cabeza Inés , Estalella Itziar , Fernández Ana Cristina , Gutiérrez de Terán-Moreno Gloria , Legarra Kata , Lozano Gorane , Maquibar Amaia , Moreno-López David , Mulas Mª Jesús , Pérez Covadonga , Rodríguez Angela , Sáenz de Santamaría Mercedes , Sánchez Jesús , Trincado Mª José , Villanueva Gema , Espinosa Maite
Published: October 2023

Background

If the purpose of maternal education is for women to take control of their own health and that of their family in the process, it is essential to have a simple instrument that allows them to self-assess, globally, how prepared they are to face future childbirth and maternity. As there is nothing similar in our area, the objective of this study was to design a complete, specific measurement questionnaire, with good metric quality and in digital format, for the assessment of perinatal psychosocial needs.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was carried out, to evaluate the psychometric properties of a digital measurement questionnaire. The questionnaire was developed in 4 steps following the recommendations of the International Test Commission. The participants were 263 pregnant women who were recruited in primary health care appointments in the Basque Healthcare Service (Osakidetza); they completed the newly created questionnaire and all the test selected as gold standard. Their mean age was 33.55 (SD = 4.73). The analysis of the psychometric characteristics was based on mixed expert judgment procedures (focus group of healthcare professionals, item assessment questionnaire and interviews with users) and quantitative procedures (EFA, CFA, association with the gold standard and classification agreement index, ordinal alpha and McDonald's omega).

Results

The final version of the questionnaire was made up of 55 items that evaluate 8 aspects related to perinatal psychosocial well-being (anxious-depressive symptoms, pregnancy acceptance, partner support, coping, internal locus of control, childbirth self-efficacy, perception of childbirth as a medicalized event, and fear of childbirth). Various tests were made of the validity and reliability of the scores, providing metric guarantees for their use in our context.

Conclusions

The use of this complete, quick-to-use tool with good psychometric properties will allow pregnant women to take stock of their situation, assess whether they have the necessary resources in the psychological and social sphere, and work together with midwives and other health professionals in the areas that are lacking.
Prenatal features of aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery: a case report
Authors: Chaksuwat Pakorn , Jatavan Phudit , Ake-sittipaisarn Srimeunwai , Chetprayuk Nonthawat , Tongsong Theera
Published: October 2023

Background

Fetal cerebral aneurysm other than aneurysm of vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) is extremely rare. This report describes prenatal features of aneurysm of the posterior cerebral artery (APCA) with rapid progression and its natural intrauterine course of the disease, which has never been reported.

Case presentation

This is the first report of prenatal features of APCA, detected at 34–36 weeks of gestation, simulating choroid plexus cyst or arachnoid cyst. The diagnosis was based on color flow ultrasound with tracing along the course of cerebral arteries. Also, rendered 3D color flow ultrasound was helpful in demonstrating course of the vessels feeding the aneurysm and supporting the diagnosis. The aneurysm showed nature of rapidly progressive changes, leading to leakage resulting in intracerebral and intraventricular hemorrhage as well as high output state associated with anemia. Prenatal diagnosis and management are very challenging. This case ended up with planned delivery at 37 weeks, giving birth to a surviving male newborn, weighing 2600 g. The neonatal CT brain scans and CTA confirmed the prenatal findings. The prognosis was relatively poor because of extensive intracerebral hemorrhage with severe hydrocephalus and brain midline shift. The couple opted for neonatal palliative care without neurosurgical correction.

Conclusion

This study demonstrate that the most important tool for prenatal diagnosis is color Doppler ultrasound, which will demonstrate turbulent blood flow. Three-dimension color Doppler ultrasound is helpful in supporting the diagnosis. The case presented here suggests that the disease has a natural course of rapid progression and massive brain destruction or high output congestive heart failure can be expected.