bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A test of strangeness quantum number conservation in proton-proton collisions
Authors: Bierlich Christian , Cannito Stefano , Zaccolo Valentina
Published: October 2024

The study delves into the production of (multi-) strange hadrons in proton-proton collisions at LHC. Novel observables are proposed to distinguish between Epos4, based on core-corona separation between a thermalised QGP phase and a vacuum phase with global strangeness conservation, and Pythia 8.3, based on microscopic interactions between Lund strings that conserve strangeness locally. Correlations between a $$\phi $$
ϕ
meson and (multi-)strange hadrons are shown to be an excellent discriminator between the two types of models.
Spatiotemporal Dynamics of an Intraguild Predation Model with Intraspecies Competition
Authors: Dash Suparna , Sarkar Kankan , Khajanchi Subhas
Published: October 2024

Different species in the environment compete with one another for shared resources and suitable habitats. As a result, it becomes crucial to identify the essential components involved in preserving biodiversity. This paper describes the emergence of a wide range of temporal and spatiotemporal dynamics of an intraguild predation (IGP) model with intraspecies competition and Holling type-II response function between the IG-prey and IG-predator. To explore the dynamics of the temporal model, we study the local stability of all the biologically feasible steady states, global stability of the interior steady state, and Hopf bifurcation. Performing partial rank correlation coefficient (PRCC) sensitivity analysis, we picked more sensitive parameters and plotted the stability regions in two-parameter spaces. The dynamics exhibited by the system can demonstrate some important hallmarks noticed in the environments, such as the existence and nonexistence of oscillatory behavior in the IGP model. The analytical formulations for the stability and bifurcation of the coexistence of the steady-state are not easy to obtain, but we have verified numerically that the limit cycle bifurcates from the coexistence of the steady-state and there eventually emerges a chaotic behavior through period-doubling bifurcations. By plotting the largest Lyapunov exponent (LLE), we have verified that the temporal system experiences chaotic behavior. It is demonstrated that in the case of a diffusive system, diffusion may cause the coexistence of the steady state, which is otherwise stable, to become unstable. Criteria for the occurrence of Turing instability connected to the IGP model are derived. Our numerical illustrations demonstrate that diffusion-driven instability develops different stationary patterns based on the different initial conditions and diffusion parameters. The spatiotemporal patterns are observed in the Turing, Hopf–Turing, and Hopf regions.
A Nonlinear Optimal Control Approach for Dual-Arm Robotic Manipulators
Authors: Rigatos G. , Abbaszadeh M. , Busawon K. , Pomares J.
Published: October 2024

Dual-arm robotic manipulators are used in industry and for assisting humans since they enable dexterous handling of objects and more agile and secure execution of pick-and-place, grasping or assembling tasks. In this paper, a nonlinear optimal control approach is proposed for the dynamic model of a dual robotic arm. In the considered application, the dual-arm robotic system has to transfer an object under synchronized motion of its two end-effectors so as to achieve precise positioning and to compensate for contact forces. The dynamic model of this robotic system is formulated while it is proven that the state-space description of the robot’s dynamics is differentially flat. Next, to solve the associated nonlinear optimal control problem, the dynamic model of the dual-arm robot undergoes approximate linearization around a temporary operating point that is recomputed at each time-step of the control method. The linearization relies on Taylor series expansion and on the associated Jacobian matrices. For the linearized state-space model of the dual-arm robot, a stabilizing optimal (H-infinity) feedback controller is designed. This controller stands for the solution to the nonlinear optimal control problem under model uncertainty and external perturbations. To compute the controller’s feedback gains an algebraic Riccati equation is repetitively solved at each iteration of the control algorithm. The stability properties of the control method are proven through Lyapunov analysis. The proposed nonlinear optimal control approach achieves fast and accurate tracking of reference setpoints under moderate variations of the control inputs.
SDFEM for Time-Dependent Singularly Perturbed Boundary Turning Point Problem
Authors: Aasna  , Rai Pratima
Published: October 2024

A time-dependent singularly perturbed boundary turning point problem is considered. The numerical approximation to the solution of the problem is achieved by using a weighted-[Formula: see text] method on uniform mesh in time direction and streamline diffusion finite element method (SDFEM) on layer adapted mesh in space direction. Properties of the discrete Green’s functions are utilized to ensure [Formula: see text]-uniform stability and optimality of the SDFEM. We perform the convergence analysis for the proposed scheme both in space and time direction. The convergence results are obtained in the maximum norm by the decomposition of the solution into smooth and layer component. It is demonstrated that the proposed numerical scheme is [Formula: see text]-uniformly convergent of order one for ([Formula: see text]) and of almost order two for ([Formula: see text]). Some relevant numerical examples are taken to illustrate the theoretical findings and efficiency of the numerical method.
Implementation and Application of Cell-Based S-FEM Based on the Object-Oriented Programming Framework
Authors: Li Henghui , Xiao Yingxiong
Published: October 2024

The object-oriented programming is widely used in different fields of finite element analysis (FEA). The commonly used object-oriented codes were almost written by C++. Due to the inability to automatically manage memory and the lack of gigantic standard library and a third-party library for C++, building matrix classes are needed and a strong programming ability for program developers is also necessary. The conventional FEM method still has many disadvantages such as poor accuracy, hard stiffness matrix, mesh dependence and lack of upper bound solution. The smoothed FEM (S-FEM) method proposed by Liu et al. can efficiently overcome these disadvantages and is therefore widely used in FEA. In this work, the elastic-plastic CS-FEM method is extended and implemented using Python programming based on the framework proposed [H. Li and Y. Xiao, Implementation and numerical simulation on object-oriented elastic-plastic finite element method based on Python, J. Syst. Simul. 36(5) (2024) 1107–1117] The resulting object-oriented elastic-plastic CS-FEM framework is then applied to FEA of elastic-plastic mechanics problems. The correctness of the resulting framework and the high computational accuracy and good mesh adaptability of CS-FEM models have been verified by comparing the corresponding results with an analytical solution or ABAQUS results. The object-oriented elastic-plastic CS-FEM framework provides a more efficient and adaptable approach to FEA, and can also overcome many limitations of the conventional FEM method and C++ programming. The use of Python and the CS-FEM method offers improved computational accuracy, mesh adaptability and development efficiency, and this will make it a valuable tool for solving practical problems in mechanics and engineering.
Editorial: Bridging the Gap: AI and Sign Language Recognition– A Path Toward Inclusive Communication
Authors: Tian Yingli , Su Jianbo , Ni Lan , Fang Yuchun
Published: October 2024

The integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and sign language recognition is a hot topic in the field of AI+Science, aimed at addressing communication barriers faced by the deaf and hard-of-hearing communities. This paper examines the integration of AI with sign language recognition, highlighting its potential to bridge communication gaps for the deaf and hard-of-hearing. It reviews the evolution of sign language recognition from data gloves to computer vision and underscores the role of extensive databases. The paper also discusses the benefits of multi-modal AI models in enhancing recognition accuracy. It highlights the importance of government and industry support, ethical data practices, and user-centered design in advancing this technology. The challenges and opportunities of integrating this technology into daily life, including technical, interface, and ethical considerations, are explored, emphasizing the need for user-focused solutions and innovative technical approaches.
Contributions of Inflammation to Cardiometabolic Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Thorp Edward B. , Filipp Mallory
Published: October 2024

The most common form of heart failure is heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). While heterogeneous in origin, the most common form of HFpEF is the cardiometabolic manifestation. Obesity and aging promote systemic inflammation that appears integral to cardiometabolic HFpEF pathophysiology. Accumulation of immune cells within the heart, fueled by an altered metabolome, contribute to cardiac inflammation and fibrosis. In spite of this, broad anti-inflammatory therapy has not shown significant benefit in patient outcomes. Thus, understanding of the nuances to metabolic and age-related inflammation during HFpEF is paramount for more targeted interventions. Here, we review clinical evidence of inflammation in the context of HFpEF and summarize our mechanistic understanding of immunometabolic inflammation, highlighting pathways of therapeutic potential along the way.
Inherited Predispositions to Myeloid Neoplasms: Pathogenesis and Clinical Implications
Authors: Liu Yen-Chun , Eldomery Mohammad K. , Maciaszek Jamie L. , Klco Jeffery M.
Published: October 2024

Myeloid neoplasms with and without preexisting platelet disorders frequently develop in association with an underlying germline predisposition. Germline alterations affecting ANKRD26, CEBPA, DDX41, ETV6, and RUNX1 are associated with nonsyndromic predisposition to the development of myeloid neoplasms including acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndrome. However, germline predisposition to myeloid neoplasms is also associated with a wide range of other syndromes, including SAMD9/9L associated predisposition, GATA2 deficiency, RASopathies, ribosomopathies, telomere biology disorders, Fanconi anemia, severe congenital neutropenia, Down syndrome, and others. In the fifth edition of the World Health Organization (WHO) series on the classification of tumors of hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues, myeloid neoplasms associated with germline predisposition have been recognized as a separate entity. Here, we review several disorders from this WHO entity as well as other related conditions with an emphasis on the molecular pathogenesis of disease and accompanying somatic alterations. Finally, we provide an overview of establishing the molecular diagnosis of these germline genetic conditions and general recommendations for screening and management of the associated hematologic conditions.
Supplementary Table S1 from Radiodensities of Skeletal Muscle and Visceral Adipose Tissues Are Prognostic Factors in Clear-Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Bradshaw Patrick T. , Olsson Linnea T. , Sanchez Alejandro , Knezevic Andrea , Akin Oguz , Scott Jessica M. , Hakimi A. Ari , Russo Paul , Caan Bette J. , Mourtzakis Marina , Furberg Helena
Published: October 2024

Results from sensitivity analysis using multiple imputation for truncated SATI values.
Supplementary Table 1 from Association between Long-term Energy Balance–Related Factors and Survival in Colorectal Cancer Overall and by Metabolic Warburg-Subtypes
Authors: Offermans Kelly , Jenniskens Josien C.A. , Simons Colinda C.J.M. , Samarska Iryna , Fazzi Gregorio E. , Smits Kim M. , Schouten Leo J. , Weijenberg Matty P. , Grabsch Heike I. , van den Brandt Piet A.
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Table 1 – Univariable hazard ratios (HRs) for associations between long-term energy balance-related factors and survival of colorectal cancer (CRC) patients within the Netherlands Cohort Study (NLCS, 1986-2006).
Table 2 from Sociodemographic Disparities in HER2+ Breast Cancer Trastuzumab Receipt: An English Population-Based Study
Authors: Norris Ruth P. , Dew Rosie , Greystoke Alastair , Cresti Nicola , Cain Henry , Todd Adam , Sharp Linda
Published: October 2024

Early-stage disease: likelihood (OR with 95% CI and P values from logistic regression) of receiving trastuzumab by deprivation and adjusted for age, ethnicity, rural/urban residence, government region, stage at diagnosis, whether received surgery, ER status, comorbidities, whether discussed at MDT meeting, and diagnosis year for women with stage I–III HER2+ breast cancer who were diagnosed between January 01, 2012 and December 31, 2017 (n = 34,616).
Supplementary Figure S2 Metastatic Disease Analytical Cohort Flow Diagram from Sociodemographic Disparities in HER2+ Breast Cancer Trastuzumab Receipt: An English Population-Based Study
Authors: Norris Ruth P. , Dew Rosie , Greystoke Alastair , Cresti Nicola , Cain Henry , Todd Adam , Sharp Linda
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Figure S2 Metastatic Disease Analytical Cohort Flow Diagram_Clean
Data from Sociodemographic and Socioeconomic Factors Correlate with Late-Stage Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma and Rhabdomyosarcoma: A Report from the Children’s Oncology Group Registries
Authors: Ou Judy Y. , Kaddas Heydon K. , Alonzo Todd A. , Spector Logan G. , Fallahazad Negar , Owens Emily , Collin Lindsay J. , Green Adam L. , Kirchhoff Anne C.
Published: October 2024

AbstractBackground:
We examined the association between late-stage diagnosis and individual- and community-level sociodemographic and socioeconomic characteristics among patients with pediatric Hodgkin lymphoma and rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS).
Methods:
We obtained Children’s Oncology Group data from 1999 to 2021 including summary stage [local (L), regional (R), and distant (D)], tumor subtype, demographics, and ZIP Code at diagnosis. We linked ZIP Codes to county-level redlining scores (C, D = greatest redlining), the Child Opportunity Index, and measures of segregation (racial dissimilarity indices). Logistic regressions calculated odds ratios for late-stage diagnosis and by race within tumor subtype.
Results:
In total, 5,956 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma and 2,800 patients with RMS were included. Late-stage diagnosis of Hodgkin lymphoma was correlated with Black race [ORDistant(D) vs. regional/local (R&L) = 1.38 (1.13–1.68)], being uninsured [ORD vs. R&L = 1.38 (1.09–1.75)], and subtype [nodular sclerosis vs. Other Hodgkin lymphoma: ORD vs. R&L = 1.64 (1.34–2.01), Untyped: ORD vs. R&L = 1.30 (1.04–1.63)]. Late-stage RMS was correlated with bilingual households [ORDistant/regional(D&R) vs. local(L) = 2.66 (1.03–6.91)] and tumor type [alveolar vs. embryonal ORD vs. R&L = 6.16 (5.00–7.58)]. Community-level factors associated with late-stage Hodgkin lymphoma were greater Black (OR80–100% = 1.83; 95% CI = 1.11–3.02) and Hispanic (OR60–79% = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.05–1.60) dissimilarity indices. Late-stage diagnosis for RMS was associated with more redlined census tracts within counties (OR = 1.54; 95% CI = 1.02–2.35) and low/very low Child Opportunity Index (OR = 1.21; 95% CI = 1.02–1.45).
Conclusions:
Novel markers of community deprivation, such as redlining and racial segregation, were correlated with cancer outcomes for children with Hodgkin lymphoma and RMS in this first disparities study using Children’s Oncology Group registries.
Impact:
The interplay of multilevel risk factors provides important consideration for efforts to improve early detection of pediatric cancer diagnosis.
Supplementary Table S8 from Integrating Multisector Molecular Characterization into Personalized Peptide Vaccine Design for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Authors: Johanns Tanner M. , Garfinkle Elizabeth A.R. , Miller Katherine E. , Livingstone Alexandra J. , Roberts Kaleigh F. , Rao Venkata Lakshmi P. , Dowling Joshua L. , Chicoine Michael R. , Dacey Ralph G. , Zipfel Gregory J. , Kim Albert H. , Mardis Elaine R. , Dunn Gavin P.
Published: October 2024

CIBERSORTx relative percents of deconvoluted immunocytes
Supplementary Table S6 from Integrating Multisector Molecular Characterization into Personalized Peptide Vaccine Design for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Authors: Johanns Tanner M. , Garfinkle Elizabeth A.R. , Miller Katherine E. , Livingstone Alexandra J. , Roberts Kaleigh F. , Rao Venkata Lakshmi P. , Dowling Joshua L. , Chicoine Michael R. , Dacey Ralph G. , Zipfel Gregory J. , Kim Albert H. , Mardis Elaine R. , Dunn Gavin P.
Published: October 2024

TCR clonal analysis via immunoSEQ ANALYZER software and The Immune Epitope Database (IEDB) TCRMatch results
Supplementary Table S3 from Integrating Multisector Molecular Characterization into Personalized Peptide Vaccine Design for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Authors: Johanns Tanner M. , Garfinkle Elizabeth A.R. , Miller Katherine E. , Livingstone Alexandra J. , Roberts Kaleigh F. , Rao Venkata Lakshmi P. , Dowling Joshua L. , Chicoine Michael R. , Dacey Ralph G. , Zipfel Gregory J. , Kim Albert H. , Mardis Elaine R. , Dunn Gavin P.
Published: October 2024

pVAC-Seq predicted neoantigens for each subject and each tumor region from whole exome sequencing data
Supplementary Table S2 from Integrating Multisector Molecular Characterization into Personalized Peptide Vaccine Design for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Authors: Johanns Tanner M. , Garfinkle Elizabeth A.R. , Miller Katherine E. , Livingstone Alexandra J. , Roberts Kaleigh F. , Rao Venkata Lakshmi P. , Dowling Joshua L. , Chicoine Michael R. , Dacey Ralph G. , Zipfel Gregory J. , Kim Albert H. , Mardis Elaine R. , Dunn Gavin P.
Published: October 2024

Mutect2 called and validated variants for each subject and each tumor region from whole exome sequencing data
Supplementary Table S10 from Integrating Multisector Molecular Characterization into Personalized Peptide Vaccine Design for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma
Authors: Johanns Tanner M. , Garfinkle Elizabeth A.R. , Miller Katherine E. , Livingstone Alexandra J. , Roberts Kaleigh F. , Rao Venkata Lakshmi P. , Dowling Joshua L. , Chicoine Michael R. , Dacey Ralph G. , Zipfel Gregory J. , Kim Albert H. , Mardis Elaine R. , Dunn Gavin P.
Published: October 2024

Differential expression analysis of nCounter CAR-T characterization panel gene expression analyzed via ROSALIND software
Data from Targeted BiTE Expression by an Oncolytic Vector Augments Therapeutic Efficacy Against Solid Tumors
Authors: Speck Tobias , Heidbuechel Johannes P.W. , Veinalde Rūta , Jaeger Dirk , von Kalle Christof , Ball Claudia R. , Ungerechts Guy , Engeland Christine E.
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Purpose: Immunotherapy with bispecific T-cell engagers has achieved striking success against hematologic malignancies, but efficacy against solid tumors has been limited. We hypothesized that oncolytic measles viruses encoding bispecific T-cell engagers (MV-BiTEs) represent a safe and effective treatment against solid tumors through local BiTE expression, direct tumor cell lysis and in situ tumor vaccination.

Experimental Design: To test this hypothesis, we generated MV-BiTEs from the Edmonston B vaccine strain to target two model antigens. Replicative and oncolytic potential were assessed by infection and cell viability assays, respectively. Functionality of virus-derived BiTEs was tested in vitro by complementary binding and cytotoxicity assays. In vivo efficacy of MV-BiTE was investigated using both syngeneic and xenograft mouse models of solid cancers.

Results: We verified secretion of functional BiTE antibodies by MV-BiTE-infected cells. Further, we demonstrated therapeutic efficacy of MV-BiTE against established tumors in fully immunocompetent mice. MV-BiTE efficacy was associated with increased intratumoral T-cell infiltration and induction of protective antitumor immunity. In addition, we showed therapeutic efficacy of MV-BiTE in xenograft models of patient-derived primary colorectal carcinoma spheroids with transfer of peripheral blood mononuclear cells.

Conclusions: MV-BiTE treatment was effective in two distinct models of solid tumors without signs of toxicity. This provides strong evidence for therapeutic benefits of tumor-targeted BiTE expression by oncolytic MV. Thus, this study represents proof of concept for an effective strategy to treat solid tumors with BiTEs. Clin Cancer Res; 24(9); 2128–37. ©2018 AACR.
Supplementary Table S1 from Lactate Induces Tumor Progression via LAR Motif-Dependent Yin-Yang 1 Degradation
Authors: Du Shujuan , Chen Xiaoting , Han Xiao , Wang Yuyan , Yu Dan , Li Ying , Zhu Caixia , Tong Yin , Gao Shujun , Wang Junwen , Wei Fang , Cai Qiliang
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Table S1. Oligonucleotides.
Supplementary Figure S1 from Lactate Induces Tumor Progression via LAR Motif-Dependent Yin-Yang 1 Degradation
Authors: Du Shujuan , Chen Xiaoting , Han Xiao , Wang Yuyan , Yu Dan , Li Ying , Zhu Caixia , Tong Yin , Gao Shujun , Wang Junwen , Wei Fang , Cai Qiliang
Published: October 2024

S1. Lactate induces cytoplasmic accumulation and nuclear loss of YY1, but not YY2.
Supplementary Figure S1 from RNA-Binding Protein Lin28B Promotes Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Blast Crisis by Transcriptionally Upregulating miR-181d
Authors: Zhou Minran , Yin Xiaolin , Zhang Lu , Cui Zelong , Jiang Xinwen , Ji Qingli , Ma Sai , Chen Chunyan
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Figure S1 shows the quantification of immunofluorescence intensity representing Lin28B protein levels by Image J program.
Supplementary Figure 4 from NAPRT Silencing in FH-Deficient Renal Cell Carcinoma Confers Therapeutic Vulnerabilities via NAD+ Depletion
Authors: Noronha Katelyn J. , Lucas Karlie N. , Paradkar Sateja , Edmonds Joseph , Friedman Sam , Murray Matthew A. , Liu Samantha , Sajed Dipti P. , Sachs Chana , Spurrier Josh , Raponi Mitch , Liang Jiayu , Zeng Hao , Sundaram Ranjini K. , Shuch Brian , Vasquez Juan C. , Bindra Ranjit S.
Published: October 2024

Patient derived FH-deficient, NAPRT silenced cell line models are sensitive to multiple NAMPTis.
Table 3 from Autofluorescent Cancer Stem Cells: Potential Biomarker to Predict Recurrence in Resected Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Alcala Sonia , Serralta San Martin Gonzalo , Muñoz-Fernández de Legaria Marta , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Salinas Silvia , López-Gil Juan Carlos , Rojo López José Alberto , Martínez Alegre Javier , Cortes Bandy David Abraham , Zambrana Francisco , Jiménez-Gordo Ana-María , Casado Enrique , López-Gómez Miriam , Sainz Bruno
Published: October 2024

HR for relapse
Data from Autofluorescent Cancer Stem Cells: Potential Biomarker to Predict Recurrence in Resected Colorectal Tumors
Authors: Alcala Sonia , Serralta San Martin Gonzalo , Muñoz-Fernández de Legaria Marta , Moreno-Rubio Juan , Salinas Silvia , López-Gil Juan Carlos , Rojo López José Alberto , Martínez Alegre Javier , Cortes Bandy David Abraham , Zambrana Francisco , Jiménez-Gordo Ana-María , Casado Enrique , López-Gómez Miriam , Sainz Bruno
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) in colorectal cancer drive intratumoral heterogeneity and distant metastases. Previous research from our group showed that CSCs can be easily detected by autofluorescence (AF). The aim of the present study was to evaluate the potential role of AF CSCs as a prognostic biomarker for colorectal cancer relapse. Seventy-five freshly resected tumors were analyzed by flow cytometry. AF was categorized as high (H-AF) or low, and the results were correlated with histologic features [grade of differentiation, presence of metastases in lymph nodes (LN), perivascular and lymphovascular invasion] and clinical variables (time to relapse and overall survival). Nineteen of the 75 (25.3%) patients experienced relapse (local or distant); of these 19 patients, 13 showed positive LNs and 6 had H-AF. Of note, four of them died before 5 years. Although patients with H-AF CSC percentages in the global population experienced 1.5 times increased relapse [HR, 1.47; 95% confidence interval (0.60–3.63)], patients with H-AF CSC percentages and LN metastases had the highest risk of relapse [HR, 7.92; P < 0.004; 95% confidence interval (1.97–31.82)]. These data support AF as an accurate and feasible marker to identify CSCs in resected colorectal cancer. A strong statistical association between H-AF CSCs and the risk of relapse was observed, particularly in patients with positive LNs, suggesting that H-AF patients might benefit from adjuvant chemotherapy regimens and intensive surveillance due to their high propensity to experience disease recurrence.

Significance: AF has been proven to be an accurate biomarker for CSC identification; however, to date, their role as a prognostic factor after resection of colorectal cancer tumors has not been investigated. Our results show that determining the presence of AF CSCs after tumor resection has prognostic value and represents a potentially important tool for the management of patients with colorectal cancer.
Baseline Features in Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy in Caucasian Patients
Authors: Ruggeri Maria Ludovica , Toto Lisa , D'Aloisio Rossella , Romano Anna , Quarta Alberto , Gironi Matteo , Formenti Federico , Aloia Raffaella , Porreca Annamaria , Di Nicola Marta , Mastropasqua Rodolfo
Published: October 2024

Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate demographic, anatomical, angiographic, and functional parameters in patients suffering from polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV). Methods: Sixty eyes of 60 patients with a definite diagnosis of treatment-naïve exudative unilateral PCV were evaluated in this retrospective study. Fellow eyes and age-matched healthy subjects were enrolled as comparison. All subjects underwent complete ophthalmic evaluation with multimodal imaging assessment, including spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography. Main outcome measures in the comparison analysis were central macular thickness (CMT), subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT), and choroidal vascularity index (CVI), whereas outcome measures for correlation analyses were best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), intraretinal fluid and subretinal fluid (SRF) presence, SRF thickness, vascularized pigmented epithelial detachment height, and PCV outer retina to choriocapillaris flow area. Results: CVI was significantly higher in affected and fellow eyes if compared with the healthy ones (p = 0.049; p = 0.003). Subfoveal choroid resulted to be thicker in the diseased eyes when compared with healthy ones (p = 0.002). A negative correlation was assessed between age and SFCT, CMT, and BCVA. In addition, a significant association between male gender and anatomical and functional parameters has been found with male prevalence at baseline in cases. No association between systemic conditions and PCV features was found. Conclusions: Patients with unilateral PCV show choroidal changes in terms of higher values of CVI, also in fellow eyes, that were negatively related with age. In our cohort of patients, males showed the poorest diagnosis with a baseline lower BCVA and higher CMT when compared with females. PCV was not associated with any systemic condition.
Suspected Postpartum Depression Revealed to be CSF1R-Related Leukoencephalopathy: A Case Report
Authors: Mikuni Masahiko , Horiuchi Kazuhiro , Ishikura Ayako , Kimura Soichiro , Masutani Sho , Watanabe Shinya , Mikami Akihiro , Ishikawa Shuhei , Narita Hisashi , Kusumi Ichiro , Sasaki Hidenao
Published: October 2024

Introduction: This is a case of a 32-year-old woman who developed postpartum depression (PPD). She became anxious and depressive about caring for her child, and the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) test showed a score of 9 at 2 weeks after delivery, and at 7 months postpartum, she presented with major melancholic depression followed by mild cognitive decline without any neurological symptoms except cluttering speech. Case Presentation: Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging showed confluent fluid-attenuated inversion recovery hyperintensities in the periventricular and frontal deep white matter, with multiple spotty calcifications in the frontal white matter by cerebral CT. Genetic testing revealed a mutation in the colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R). Conclusion: This case report is consistent with evidence that PPD may have organic causes in some cases, including CSF1R mutations. Atypical findings such as mild cognitive decline combined with PPD in psychiatric interview may justify brain imaging to avoid misdiagnosis, since CSF1R-related leukoencephalopathy is probably an under-recognized disease in medical psychiatry. Further investigations are needed to clarify a pathophysiological correlation between CSF1R signaling abnormality and PPD as well as major depression.
Belantamab Mafodotin in Relapsed/Refractory AL Amyloidosis: Real-World Multi-Center Experience and Review of the Literature
Authors: Lebel Eyal , Vainstein Vladimir , Milani Paolo , Palladini Giovanni , Shragai Tamir , Lavi Noa , Magen Hila , Assayag Miri , Avivi Irit , Gatt Moshe E.
Published: October 2024

Introduction: Treatment for relapsed/refractory AL amyloidosis (AL) is an unmet need. The safety and efficacy of belantamab mafodotin (BLM) in multiple myeloma are known, whereas in AL data are limited. Methods: We report a multi-center cohort of AL patients receiving BLM, and review all previous data on BLM therapy in AL. Results: Twelve patients with a median of 3 (range 2–9) prior lines of therapy were included. The overall hematological response rate (ORR) was 75% (9/12), including 5 complete responses. Six of the 10 evaluable patients had organ responses. The median event-free survivals/overall survivals were 22.3 and 28.8 months, respectively. Grade 3 toxicities were mostly infections and keratopathy, occurring in 7/12 (58%). Hematological toxicities were rare. No grade 4/5 toxicities occurred. The review of the previous series reveals BLM provides an ORR of 60–83% with similar rates of corneal toxicity. Conclusion: BLM, being an off-the-shelf therapy, with acceptable toxicity even in frail patients, may be a valuable option in AL, with a high ORR, and a signal for durable responses and high-quality organ responses.
Os benefícios do uso de probióticos como tratamento adjuvante na doença de Alzheimer
Authors: Nunes Felipe Augusto Santos , Sobral Marcelo Luiz Peixoto
Published: October 2024

Introdução: A Doença de Alzheimer (DA) é uma afecção de natureza progressiva e crônica, causada principalmente pela destruição de neurônios colinérgicos, pelo depósito de emaranhados neurofibrilares e pela presença de placas beta-amilóides, sendo uma das principais causas de demência no mundo. Com o aumento da população global a expectativa de vida vem aumentando de forma exponencial ao longo das décadas, e doenças como a DA, que se referem à terceira idade, vêm demonstrando grande incidência. Os atuais tratamentos medicamentosos mais difundidos possuem efeitos restritos e pouco eficazes, evidenciando a necessidade de alternativas terapêuticas capazes de reduzir os efeitos adversos das terapias farmacológicas convencionais. Metodologia: Trata-se de um estudo de revisão integrativa da literatura, no qual o período de busca foi entre 2017 e 2022, por meio das bases de dados PubMed e BVS. Resultados: Foram encontrados 10 artigos que respondiam à questão norteadora “Quais são os benefícios do tratamento com probióticos na população acometida por Doença de Alzheimer?’’, e estes foram caracterizados por: título, autoria, ano, base de dados, revista, objetivo e conclusão. Discussão: Os probióticos são capazes de ativar processos imunológicos que são essenciais na remoção de agregados amiloides e células danificadas, além de modular a disbiose da microbiota intestinal e os déficits do eixo microbiota-intestino-cérebro. Conclusão: Os probióticos podem refinar as funções fisiológicas, as barreiras, a homeostase intestinal, a resposta imune e modificar a função cerebral, facultando bons resultados sobre doenças psiquiátricas e neurológicas como a Doença de Alzheimer.
Entre o “subimperialismo” e a “amizade”: a cultura na historiografia das relações Brasil-Paraguai
Authors: Silva Paulo Renato da , Rodrigues Símele Soares
Published: October 2024

The aim of the article is to analyse the historiography on Brazil-Paraguay relations, especially in the cultural sphere, indicating permanences and ruptures around the subject. Although there is a primacy of the political and economic, guided by the disparities between the two countries, there are important changes underway. The search for actors other than national states – such as artists and migrants – shows that Brazil-Paraguay relations are more complex and heterogeneous than the political and economic primacy suggests. Furthermore, variations in the spatial and temporal contexts – including border regions and the period before relations between the two countries deepened in the 1950s – indicate that there are processes that cannot be reduced to Brazilian interests in Paraguay. Based on authors such as José D’Assunção Barros and Michel de Certeau, we analysed historiography as a historical source and object, as it provides diverse information, representations of itself and other actors and accompanies the historicity of Brazil-Paraguay relations.
Water and Electrolyte Content in Hypertension in the Skin (WHYSKI) in Primary Aldosteronism
Authors: Torresan Francesca , Rossi Federico B. , Caputo Ilaria , Zanin Sofia , Caroccia Brasilina , Mattarei Andrea , Paccagnella Michela , Kohlscheen Eva , Seccia Teresa M. , Iacobone Maurizio , Rossi Gian-Paolo
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:

Primary aldosteronism (PA), the most common curable salt-dependent form of arterial hypertension, features renal K
+
loss and enhanced Na
+
reabsorption. We investigated whether the electrolyte, water, and TonEBP (tonicity-responsive enhancer binding protein)/
NFAT5
(nuclear factor of activated T cells 5) content is altered in the skin of patients with PA and corrected by surgical cure.

METHODS:

We obtained skin biopsies from 80 subjects: 49 consecutive patients with PA, optimally treated with a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist; 6 essential hypertensives; and 25 normotensive controls. We measured Na
+
, K
+
, water content with atomic absorption spectroscopy after ashing, and
NFAT5
mRNA with digital droplet polymerase chain reaction. The patients with PA were retested after adrenalectomy.

RESULTS:

We discovered a higher dry weight of the skin biopsy specimen at surgery than at follow-up (
P
<0.001) and a direct correlation with electrolyte and water content (all
P
<0.01), indicating the need for dry weight adjustment of electrolyte and water data. Surgical cure of PA markedly increased skin dry weight–adjusted K
+
(from 1.14±0.1 to 2.81±0.27 µg/mg;
P
<0.001) and water content (from 2.92±1.4 to 3.85±0.23 mg/mg;
P
<0.001), but left dry weight–adjusted skin Na
+
content unaffected. In patients with PA at baseline,
NFAT5
mRNA was higher (
P
=0.031) than in normotensive controls and decreased after surgery (
P
=0.035).

CONCLUSIONS:

Despite mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist treatment ensuring normokalemia, the patients with PA had a skin cell K
+
depletion that was corrected by adrenalectomy. The activated
NFAT5
/TonEBP pathway during mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist administration suggests enhanced skin Na
+
lymphatic drainage and can explain the lack of overt skin Na
+
accumulation in patients with PA. Its deactivation after surgical cure can account for the lack of skin Na
+
decrease postadrenalectomy.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT06090617.
Telestroke Training: Considerations for Expansion of Vascular Neurology Program Requirements
Authors: Guzik Amy K. , Jagolino-Cole Amanda L. , Mijalski Sells Christina , Southerland Andrew M. , Dumitrascu Oana M. , Sreekrishnan Anirudh , Martini Sharyl R. , Meyer Brett C.
Published: October 2024

Telemedicine for stroke (Telestroke) has been a key component to efficient, widespread acute stroke care for many years. The expansion of reimbursement through the Furthering Access to Stroke Telemedicine Act and rapid deployment of telemedicine resources during the COVID-19 public health emergency have further expanded remote care, with practitioners of varying educational backgrounds, and experience providing acute stroke care via telemedicine (Telestroke). Some Telestroke practitioners have not had fellowship-level vascular neurology training and many are without training specific to virtual modalities. While many vascular neurology fellowship programs incorporate Telestroke training into the curriculum, components of this curriculum are not consistent, extent of involvement is variable, and not all fellows receive hands-on training in remote care. Furthermore, the extent of training and evaluation of Telestroke in American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology training requirements and Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education assessments for vascular neurology fellowship are not standardized. We suggest that Telestroke be formally incorporated into vascular neurology fellowship curricula and provide considerations for key components of this training and metrics for evaluation.
The Climate-Changing Context of Inflation: Fossilflation, Climateflation, and the Environmental Politics of Green Central Banks
Authors: Jackson James
Published: October 2024

In this forum, I seek to demonstrate how the growing confluence of climate change and inflation offers a fruitful research agenda for environmental politics scholars. It develops two independent, yet interrelated, concepts first proposed by Schnabel: first, fossilflation, the legacy cost of the dependency on fossil energy sources, which has not been reduced forcefully enough over the past decades, and second, climateflation, the growing impact of natural disasters and severe weather events on economic activity and prices. With the subject of inflation often considered to be a contextual or descriptive feature of environmental issues, the economic implications of climate change have come to challenge the conventional understanding of the inflationary phenomenon. This article seeks to foster an interdisciplinary dialogue between scholars from different disciplinary backgrounds on the subject of climate change–induced inflation and the questions it presents for notions of “green” central banking.
Retrieval-style In-context Learning for Few-shot Hierarchical Text Classification
Authors: Chen Huiyao , Zhao Yu , Chen Zulong , Wang Mengjia , Li Liangyue , Zhang Meishan , Zhang Min
Published: October 2024

Hierarchical text classification (HTC) is an important task with broad applications, and few-shot HTC has gained increasing interest recently. While in-context learning (ICL) with large language models (LLMs) has achieved significant success in few-shot learning, it is not as effective for HTC because of the expansive hierarchical label sets and extremely ambiguous labels. In this work, we introduce the first ICL-based framework with LLM for few-shot HTC. We exploit a retrieval database to identify relevant demonstrations, and an iterative policy to manage multi-layer hierarchical labels. Particularly, we equip the retrieval database with HTC label-aware representations for the input texts, which is achieved by continual training on a pretrained language model with masked language modeling (MLM), layer-wise classification (CLS, specifically for HTC), and a novel divergent contrastive learning (DCL, mainly for adjacent semantically similar labels) objective. Experimental results on three benchmark datasets demonstrate superior performance of our method, and we can achieve state-of-the-art results in few-shot HTC.
Do Vision and Language Models Share Concepts? A Vector Space Alignment Study
Authors: Li Jiaang , Kementchedjhieva Yova , Fierro Constanza , Søgaard Anders
Published: October 2024

Large-scale pretrained language models (LMs) are said to “lack the ability to connect utterances to the world” (Bender and Koller, 2020), because they do not have “mental models of the world” (Mitchell and Krakauer, 2023). If so, one would expect LM representations to be unrelated to representations induced by vision models. We present an empirical evaluation across four families of LMs (BERT, GPT-2, OPT, and LLaMA-2) and three vision model architectures (ResNet, SegFormer, and MAE). Our experiments show that LMs partially converge towards representations isomorphic to those of vision models, subject to dispersion, polysemy, and frequency. This has important implications for both multi-modal processing and the LM understanding debate (Mitchell and Krakauer, 2023).1
Power and Confidence
Authors: Yao Qingjiang
Published: October 2024

This paper, utilising data from the World Values Survey, presents a pioneering examination of citizens’ confidence in political parties in mainland China spanning a twenty-eight-year period, juxtaposed with global counterparts. The analysis unveils a consistent strengthening of confidence among mainland Chinese citizens in political parties, essentially the Chinese Communist Party, from 1990 to 2018, with a marginal decline around 2012. This heightened confidence secures a noteworthy second-place ranking globally. It exhibits a positive correlation with confidence in government, parliament, civil service, armed forces, police, courts, and the press. Additionally, it aligns positively with perceptions of politics as important in life, national pride, age, trust in people of different religions, willingness to have neighbours of different races, and a sense of a secure neighbourhood. Conversely, it demonstrates a negative association with postmaterialism, educational attainment, support for greater income differences as incentives for economic development, and reliance on TV news for understanding current events.
Sino-Italian Relations after the Belt and Road Initiative
Authors: Andornino Giovanni B.
Published: October 2024

The fluctuations of Italy’s China policy have been attracting attention. The only G7 country to join Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative in 2019, Italy was also the first European participant to withdraw in 2023. While scholars have investigated the rationales and implications of Rome’s actions, no satisfactory explanation has been provided as to why the Chinese government chose not to escalate tensions over Italy’s exit decision. This article argues that, faced with a degradation of trust in relations with the West, China has been attempting to balance its more assertive foreign policy with the need to strengthen its reputational security. Results from an original survey on the opinions about China held by Italian university students are then used to empirically assess China’s reputation among a strategically attentive public. Research findings from the 1,072-strong sample show that reputational capital resides with Chinese society more than with the PRC state, and that while the PRC is widely expected to match the US in economic might and global influence, Beijing’s policies in key realms such as the Ukraine war and the Covid-19 pandemic have been counterproductive for the preservation of China’s reputational security among individuals who are likely to play a key role in future Sino-Italian relations.
Perinatal administration of Saccharomyces cerevisiae UFMG A-905 prevents asthma development in the offspring of mice
Authors: Sandy C.M. , Guimarães C.C. , Fonseca V.M.B. , Nicoli J.R. , Martins F.S. , Borges M.C.
Published: October 2024

Asthma prevalence has been increasing in communities that become more urbanised. Our previous results showed that Saccharomyces cerevisiae UFMG A-905 prevented the development of asthma symptoms and characteristics in a dose-dependent manner. Perinatal programming theory proposes that early exposure to some stimuli may have a protective effect in adult life. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of perinatal administration of S. cerevisiae UFMG A-905 in the prevention of asthma in the offspring of mice. S. cerevisiae UFMG A-905 was cultured in YPD broth medium and administered to three groups of mice: before conception, during gestation and lactation (CGL group); during gestation and lactation (GL group); and only during lactation (L group). The offspring of these animals were sensitised and challenged with ovalbumin. Two control groups received saline in the same periods. After, in vivo measurements of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were performed. Total and differential cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL); ELISA for interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-10, IL-13, and IL-17A in the lung homogenate or BAL; and ELISA for ovalbumin (OVA)-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) were performed. The animals of the CGL, GL, and L group, when compared to the OVA group, presented a significant reduction of AHR (), levels of IL-5 () in BAL, and IL-4 () and IL-13 () in the lung homogenate. Serum IgE levels were significantly higher () in CGL and GL groups when compared to the OVA group, but not in the L group. Only in the group L, there was a significant decrease in the number of total cells () and eosinophils (). Perinatal administration of S. cerevisiae UFMG A-905 prevented the development of asthma-like characteristics and may be an option for asthma management. The protective effects on the offspring were more prominent when the yeast was given during lactation.
Mechanizing the Waterfront: Labor Solidarity and the Postwar Automation of the Docks
Authors: Johnston Travis
Published: October 2024

The International Longshoremen’s and Warehousemen’s Union (ilwu) was regarded as one of the most radical unions of the 20th Century. Led by the charismatic Harry Bridges, the ilwu helped engineer the 1934 San Francisco General Strike and effectively navigated the tumultuous postwar years. Yet, even the most fiercely anti-capitalist unions cannot resist change forever. In 1961, the union’s leadership accepted the M&M Agreements, ushering in a more collaborative approach to mechanizing the waterfront. Instead of strengthening the union, M&M produced new tensions, often along generational lines, between union officials and the rank-and-file. By the 1970s, containers and the machines that moved them had streamlined the loading and unloading of vessels, and with them returned the old concerns around job security. These fears were particularly acute among the younger, increasingly diverse, and more radical rank-and-file. A workforce that had not received their “share of the machine,” and were determined to fight back. When the M&M contracts elapsed in 1971, the longshoremen closed the West Coast ports in what would become the longest dock strike in U.S. history. Facing rising inflation and a hostile administration in Washington, the embattled union had little leverage and few friends to rely upon during the prolonged fight. The 1971 episode dealt a painful blow to a contractually weakened and politically ostracized union. Most importantly, the strike did little to address the larger concerns around the pace and control over mechanization—questions that remain to this day.
1. Concepts, Conventions, History and Culture
Authors: Clarke David
Published: October 2024

These twelve concise essays introduce readers to foundational concepts of Hindustani classical music, and illustrate how this musical practice is permeated by convention, culture and history. I begin with essential music-theoretical concepts, most notably rāg and tāl. Next, I examine musical and historical aspects of the khayāl vocal style, drawing on revisionist scholarship that questions some of its traditional narratives. Continuing in historical vein, I then discuss V. N. Bhatkhande, a prominent figure in Indian classical music’s passage to modernity, and—for all his contentiousness—a continuing reference point for musicians and scholars. Finally, I consider the distinctive, principally orally transmitted learning culture of Indian classical music against the background of history, lore, and ideology.