bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interventional nephrology in peritoneal dialysis: Best practice report of the Peritoneal Dialysis Project Group of the Italian Society of Nephrology*
Authors: Santarelli Stefano , Ramazzotti Valentina , Agostinelli Rosa Maria , Degano Giorgio
Published: August 2024

The procedure of peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter placement is of utmost importance for a good outcome of peritoneal dialysis. Currently, catheters are mainly placed by surgeons and interventional nephrologists. Still, there is a lack of trained personnel in many dialysis units, which can impair the efficiency of PD units and reduce the patients’ possibility to enter a PD programme. The Italian Society of Nephrology has endorsed a practical core curriculum for interventional nephrology in PD available on the Society website, which is here reported for the wider nephrology community. The topics addressed are the hernias of the abdominal wall, catheter placement with standard surgical open technique, basic video-laparoscopy, advanced video-laparoscopy, video-laparoscopic cholecystectomy and catheter placement, cuff–shaving and video-laparoscopy in catheter malfunction.
Transgender and non-binary people’s experience of endometriosis
Authors: Eder Cheryl , Roomaney Rizwana
Published: August 2024

There is a lack of research on gender diverse people’s experiences with endometriosis. We explored the experience of 11 transgender and non-binary people with endometriosis using phenomenology. We collected data through multiple interviews and diaries and constructed two themes using hermeneutic analysis: (1) Unhomelikeness of Living with Endometriosis and being Gender Diverse, and (2) Towards a Homelikeness of Living with Endometriosis as a Gender Diverse Individual, which we discussed in relation to Svenaeus Phenomenology of Medicine. Unhomelikeness is an experience of disconnection with our bodies and being-in-the-world as a result of living with a chronic disease. We show how gender diverse people with endometriosis may have additional layers of unhomelikeness due to further diagnostic delays, endometriosis symptoms that may trigger gender dysphoria and experiences with treatment that are not inclusive of their gender identity. We advocate for additional support and awareness for gender diverse people with endometriosis.
From seller to broker: When and how issue sellers engage with external stakeholders to sell issues inside organizations
Authors: de Roo Michiel , Wickert Christopher , de Bakker Frank , Elfring Tom
Published: August 2024

Issue sellers employ a variety of tactics to create internal support for issues they seek to advance within an organization. While the relationship between internal issue “sellers” and “buyers” has been examined in prior work, we address a crucial omission in this body of literature, namely how issue sellers engage with external stakeholders to influence internal issue selling. We study corporate social responsibility (CSR) managers, their organizational counterparts who are expected to implement CSR, and external stakeholders (in our study non-governmental organizations). We find that issue sellers have three issue-selling tactics at their disposal that they employ dynamically and depending on internal buyers’ perception of the issue: First, mobilizing external stakeholders when internal support for the issue is low; second, buffering external expectations when they are incongruent with internal requirements; and third, moderating between external stakeholders and internal buyers when issues are difficult to implement. Our contribution is to explain why issue sellers’ role vis-à-vis internal buyers and external stakeholders can be better understood as that of “issue brokers” when they navigate strategically between external stakeholder expectations and organizational goals. This advances the issue-selling literature and research on brokerage roles and contributes to individual-level research on CSR.
The influence of familiarisation and item repetition on the name agreement effect in picture naming
Authors: Corps Ruth E , Meyer Antje S
Published: August 2024

Name agreement (NA) refers to the degree to which speakers agree on a picture’s name. A robust finding is that speakers are faster to name pictures with high agreement (HA) than those with low agreement (LA). This NA effect is thought to occur because LA pictures strongly activate several names, so speakers need time to select one. HA pictures, in contrast, strongly activate a single name, so there is no need to select one name out of several alternatives. Recent models of lexical access suggest that the structure of the mental lexicon changes with experience. Thus, speakers should consider a range of names when naming LA pictures, but the extent to which they consider each of these names should change with experience. We tested these hypotheses in two picture-naming experiments. In Experiment 1, participants were faster to name LA than HA pictures when they named each picture once. Importantly, they were faster to produce modal names (provided by most participants) than alternative names for LA pictures, consistent with the view that speakers activate multiple names for LA pictures. In Experiment 2, participants were familiarised with the modal name before the experiment and named each picture three times. Although there was still an NA effect when participants named the pictures the first time, it was reduced in comparison to Experiment 1 and was further reduced with each picture repetition. Thus, familiarisation and repetition reduced the NA effect but did not eliminate it, suggesting speakers activate a range of plausible names.
Negative or positive left or right? The influence of attribute label position on IAT effects in picture-word IATs and word IATs
Authors: Viegas Lisa M , Bermeitinger Christina , Baess Pamela
Published: August 2024

The Implicit Association Test (IAT) is a widely used measure of implicit attitudes. Despite its application in various fields, the malleability of the IAT by different methodological factors has been shown frequently. In this article, we focus on two factors that potentially influence the IAT effect, but which have received either inconsistent or no support so far: the IAT version (i.e., picture-word IAT vs. word IAT) and the position of the attribute labels on the screen (i.e., the positive or negative label on the left side). In two experiments, we used the original flower-insect IAT to systematically analyse the effects of the position of attribute labels (i.e., the assignment of the positive or the negative attribute label to the left screen position) and the block order of compatible (e.g., flower and positive) and incompatible blocks (e.g., flower and negative) as between-subjects factors. Reliable IAT effects were observed for the picture-word IAT and the word IAT when calculating the IAT effect as a difference in the response times as well as when computing the recommended D Score as IAT outcome. Smaller IAT effects occurred in the picture-word IAT than in the word IAT, supporting existing literature. In addition, an effect of the position of the attribute labels on the screen was found in both experiments, resulting in larger IAT effects when the negative attribute label was positioned on the left. This effect also appeared when calculating the D Score. The study highlights the importance of methodical factors for the IAT outcome.
Breast and cervical cancer in transgender men: literature review and a case report
Authors: Di Lisa Francesca Sofia , Villa Alice , Filomeno Lorena , Arcuri Teresa , Chiofalo Benito , Sanguineti Giuseppe , Pizzuti Laura , Krasniqi Eriseld , Barba Maddalena , Sergi Domenico , Lombardo Francesco , Romanelli Francesco , Botti Claudio , Zoccali Giovanni , Ciliberto Gennaro , Vici Patrizia
Published: August 2024

Transgender individuals exhibit a higher prevalence of cancer-related risk factors, such as substance abuse and sexually transmitted infections. These factors, coupled with suboptimal adherence to cancer screening recommendations, may lead to a higher incidence of cancers, such as breast and cervical cancer, and contribute to delayed diagnoses in transgender patients. Herein, we report a unique case of a transgender man with a history of alcohol and drug abuse, undergoing gender-affirming exogenous testosterone therapy, who developed synchronous locally advanced breast cancer and human papilloma virus (HPV)-related cervical cancer. He underwent concurrent chemoradiation for cervical cancer and surgery followed by endocrine therapy for breast cancer. The treatments were suboptimals due to patient’s comorbidities, among them liver cirrhosis leading to an early death. Additionally, we have conducted a review of existing literature, including case reports, clinical studies, and review articles investigating the role of potential risk factors specifically related to breast and cervical tumors in transgender men. Gender-affirming testosterone therapy is common among transgender men to induce gender affirmation, but its link to breast cancer risk remains ambiguous, with studies being limited and sometimes contradictory. Conversely, HPV is a well-established cause of up to 99% of cervical cancers. Despite persistent risk for cervical cancer in transgender men who retain their cervix, several studies indicate notable disparities in screening adherence, due to personal and structural barriers. Moreover, alcohol and drug use disorders, commonly encountered in transgender population, may negatively influence the adherence to screening programs. Current cancer screening guidelines for this population are somewhat unclear, and specific programs based on more robust data are urgently required along with further tailored studies.
In mouse model of mixed granulocytic asthma with corticosteroid refractoriness, Bronchom mitigates airway hyperresponsiveness, inflammation and airway remodeling
Authors: Balkrishna Acharya , Sinha Sandeep , Pandey Anupam , Singh Surjeet , Joshi Monali , Singh Rani , Varshney Anurag
Published: August 2024

Background

Asthma is a heterogeneous, inflammatory disease with several phenotypes and endotypes. Severe asthmatics often exhibit mixed granulocytosis with reduced corticosteroid sensitivity. Bronchom is a newly developed Ayurvedic prescription medicine, indicated for the treatment of obstructive airway disorders. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the in-vivo efficacy of Bronchom in mouse model of mixed granulocytic asthma with steroidal recalcitrance.

Methods

High-performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) and Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) were employed to identify and quantitate the phytometabolites present in Bronchom. The preclinical effectiveness of Bronchom was assessed in house dust mite (HDM) and Complete Freund’s adjuvant (CFA)-induced mixed granulocytic asthma model in mice. High dose of dexamethasone was tested parallelly. Specific-pathogen-free C57BL/6 mice were immunized with HDM and CFA and nineteen days later, they were intranasally challenged with HDM for four consecutive days. Then the mice were challenged with nebulized methacholine to evaluate airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Inflammatory cell influx was enumerated in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) followed by lung histology. Additionally, the concentrations of Th2 and pro-inflammatory cytokines was assessed in the BALF by multiplexed immune assay. The mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines and Mucin 5AC (MUC5AC) was also evaluated in the lung.

Results

HPTLC fingerprinting and UHPLC quantification of Bronchom revealed the presence of bioactive phytometabolites, namely, rosmarinic acid, gallic acid, methyl gallate, piperine, eugenol and glycyrrhizin. Bronchom effectively reduced AHR driven by HDM-CFA and the influx of total leukocytes, eosinophils and neutrophils in the BALF. In addition, Bronchom inhibited the infiltration of inflammatory cells in the lung as well as goblet cell metaplasia. Further, it also suppressed the elevated levels of Th2 cytokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines in the BALF. Similarly, Bronchom also regulated the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines as well as MUC5AC in mice lungs. Reduced effectiveness of a high dose of the steroid, dexamethasone was observed in the model.

Conclusions

We have demonstrated for the first time the robust pharmacological effects of an herbo-mineral medicine in an animal model of mixed granulocytic asthma induced by HDM and CFA. The outcomes suggest the potential utility of Bronchom in severe asthmatics with a mixed granulocytic phenotype.
Targeting AGTPBP1 inhibits pancreatic cancer progression via regulating microtubules and ERK signaling pathway
Authors: Li Ding-zhong , Yang Zhe-yu , leng Asi , Zhang Qian , Zhang Xiao-dong , Bian Yan-chao , Xiao Rui , Ren Jian-jun
Published: August 2024

Background

AGTPBP1 is a cytosolic carboxypeptidase that cleaves poly-glutamic acids from the C terminus or side chains of α/β tubulins. Although its dysregulated expression has been linked to the development of non-small cell lung cancer, the specific roles and mechanisms of AGTPBP1 in pancreatic cancer (PC) have yet to be fully understood. In this study, we examined the role of AGTPBP1 on PC in vitro and in vivo.

Methods

Immunohistochemistry was used to examine the expression of AGTPBP1 in PC and non-cancerous tissues. Additionally, we assessed the malignant behaviors of PC cells following siRNA-mediated AGTPBP1 knockdown both in vitro and in vivo. RNA sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were performed to identify the differentially expressed genes regulated by AGTPBP1.

Results

We determined that AGTPBP1 was overexpressed in PC tissues and the higher expression of AGTPBP1 was closely related to the location of tumors. AGTPBP1 inhibition can significantly decrease cell progression in vivo and in vitro. Moreover, the knockdown of AGTPBP1 inhibited the expression of ERK1/2, P-ERK1/2, MYLK, and TUBB4B proteins via the ERK signaling pathway.

Conclusion

Our research indicates that AGTPBP1 may be a putative therapeutic target for PC.
Co-exposure effects of urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals on lung function: mediating role of systematic inflammation
Authors: Wu Lihong , Lu Xue , Zhang Siying , Zhong Yumei , Gao Hui , Tao Fang-biao , Wu Xiulong
Published: August 2024

Background

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals were associated with decreased lung function, but co-exposure effects and underlying mechanism remained unknown.

Methods

Among 1,123 adults from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011–2012, 10 urinary PAHs, 11 urinary metals, and peripheral white blood cell (WBC) count were determined, and 5 lung function indices were measured. Least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, Bayesian kernel machine regression, and quantile-based g-computation were used to estimate co-exposure effects on lung function. Mediation analysis was used to explore mediating role of WBC.

Results

These models demonstrated that PAHs and metals were significantly associated with lung function impairment. Bayesian kernel machine regression models showed that comparing to all chemicals fixed at median level, forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1)/forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow between 25 and 75% decreased by 1.31% (95% CI: 0.72%, 1.91%), 231.62 (43.45, 419.78) mL/s, and 131.64 (37.54, 225.74) mL/s respectively, when all chemicals were at 75th percentile. In the quantile-based g-computation, each quartile increase in mixture was associated with 104.35 (95% CI: 40.67, 168.02) mL, 1.16% (2.11%, 22.40%), 294.90 (78.37, 511.43) mL/s, 168.44 (41.66, 295.22) mL/s decrease in the FEV1, FEV1/forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, and forced expiratory flow between 25% and 75%, respectively. 2-Hydroxyphenanthrene, 3-Hydroxyfluorene, and cadmium were leading contributors to the above associations. WBC mediated 8.22%-23.90% of association between PAHs and lung function.

Conclusions

Co-exposure of PAHs and metals impairs lung function, and WBC could partially mediate this relationship. Our findings elucidate co-exposure effects of environmental mixtures on respiratory health and underlying mechanisms, suggesting that focusing on highly prioritized toxicants would effectively attenuate adverse effects.
Effects of different treatments for obstructive sleep apnea on temporomandibular joint: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Attia Amira A.M.M. , Awad Sally S , Mansour Manar , Baz Hemmat , Zahran Khaled M , Saleh Abdelbaset M.
Published: August 2024

Background

In recent years, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) has been increasingly recognized as a significant health concern. No previous studies assessed the effect of recommended treatment modalities of patients with OSA on the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). The current study aimed to evaluate the effect of different treatment modalities of OSA, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), mandibular advancement device (MAD), and oral myofunctional therapy (OMT) on subjective symptoms, clinical, and radiographic signs of temporomandibular disorders.

Patients & Methods

This hospital-based prospective randomized controlled clinical trial study was approved by the institutional review board and formal patient consent, 39 OSA patients, ranging in age from 19 to 56 after confirmation with full night Polysomnography (PSG) with healthy TMJ confirmed clinically and radiographically with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were randomly allocated into three treatment groups. Group 1: 13 patients were managed with CPAP after titration, group 2: 13 patients were managed with digitally fabricated MAD, and group 3: 13 patients were managed with OMT. The following parameters were evaluated before and 3 months after the intervention. Pain using a visual analogue scale (VAS), maximum inter-incisal opening (MIO), lateral movements, and clicking sound of TMJ. MRI was done before and 3 months after the intervention.

Results

Out of the 83 patients enrolled, 39 patients completed the treatment. There were no statistically significant differences in lateral jaw movements or clicking, and no significant difference in MRI findings between the three studied groups before and after the intervention. The OMT group showed a statistically significant difference in pain (p = 0.001), and MIO (p = 0.043) where patients experienced mild pain and slight limitation in mouth opening after 3 months of follow-up in comparison to MAD and CPAP groups.

Conclusion

CPAP and MAD are better for preserving the health of TMJ in the treatment of OSA patients. While OMT showed mild pain and slight limitation of MIO (that is still within the normal range of mouth opening) compared to CPAP and MAD.

Trial registration

The study was listed on www.clinicaltrials.gov with registration number (NCT05510882) on 22/08/2022.
Dental care staff’s experience with risk assessment of dental erosion: a qualitative study
Authors: Todorov Johannes , Shmarina Elena , Johannsen Annsofi
Published: August 2024

Background

The risk assessment of dental erosion among children and adolescents is an important aspect of dental care, as dental erosion constitutes a rapidly growing, global problem. Dental professionals rely solely on their own perception, as the current risk assessment process is not completely automatized, which affects the risk assessment reliability.

Aim

To explore dental professionals’ experiences with risk assessment of dental erosion among children and adolescents.

Method

In-depth interview was used as data collection method. A total of 11 dental professionals were interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The findings were summarized in the categories Professionals’ responsibility, Systematic approach , and Collaboration and communication. Dental staff perceived that their basic knowledge regarding erosion should be improved, and skills development was desired to reduce the knowledge gaps around the risk assessment of dental erosion. They alleged that the systematic approach could be improved by reducing workplace stress, implementing a universal dental erosion index, improving the existing risk assessment software, and automating the risk assessment of the condition. Dental professionals also experienced a need to calibrate and collaborate with each other and with other healthcare professionals to improve patient care.

Conclusion

Dental professionals experienced their basic knowledge of dental erosion and their risk assessment as good, but a more advanced skill development was required. Furthermore, they experienced the risk assessment software as a good tool that should be improved to compile more objective risk assessment. A universal erosion index was also requested.
Targeted nanotherapeutics for the treatment of Helicobacter pylori infection
Authors: Chitas Rute , Fonseca Diana R. , Parreira Paula , Martins M. Cristina L.
Published: August 2024

Helicobacter pylori infection is involved in gastric diseases such as peptic ulcer and adenocarcinoma. Approved antibiotherapies still fail in 10 to 40% of the infected patients and, in this scenario, targeted nanotherapeutics emerged as powerful allies for H. pylori eradication. Nano/microparticles conjugated with H. pylori binding molecules were developed to eliminate H. pylori by either (i) blocking essential mechanisms of infection, such as adhesion to gastric mucosa or (ii) binding and killing H. pylori through the release of drugs within the bacteria or at the site of infection. Glycan antigens (as Lewis B and sialyl-Lewis X), pectins, lectins, phosphatidylethanolamine and epithelial cell membranes were conjugated with nano/microparticles to successfully block H. pylori adhesion. Urea-coated nanoparticles were used to improve drug delivery inside bacteria through H. pylori UreI channel. Moreover, nanoparticles coated with antibodies against H. pylori and loaded with sono/photosensitizers, were promising for their application as targeted sono/photodynamic therapies. Further, non-specific H. pylori nano/microparticles, but only active in the acidic gastric environment, coated with binders to bacterial membrane, extracellular polymeric substances or to high temperature requirement A protease, were evaluated. In this review, an overview of the existing nanotherapeutics targeting H. pylori will be given and their rational, potential to counteract infection, as well as level of development will be presented and discussed.
Demographic and socioeconomic obstacles to access to malaria services for Myanmar migrants in Thailand
Authors: Sripoorote Piyarat , Wattanagoon Yupaporn , Inthitanon Nichakan , Petchvijit Pattamaporn , Thongyod Waraporn , Win Kyawt Mon , Anantjitsupha Ammarind , Min Naing Bo Bo , Rachaphaew Nattawan , Suk-aum Kritsana , Watakulsin Peeriya , Sattabongkot Jetsumon , Nguitragool Wang , Aung Pyae Linn
Published: August 2024

Background

Typically mobile and vulnerable, migrants face significant barriers to access to routine malaria prevention, diagnostics and treatment, which leads to unchecked malaria transmission, particularly in border regions with a high population displacement. This study aimed to investigate the demographic and socioeconomic obstacles to access to malaria services among Myanmar migrants residing in the Thailand–Myanmar border areas.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in early 2024 across three districts near the Thailand–Myanmar border. Quantitative data were collected from Myanmar migrants using standardized questionnaires through structured surveys. Data analysis included descriptive statistics and simple and multiple logistic regression models.

Results

Out of 300 participants, approximately a quarter (27.3%) reported adequate access to comprehensive malaria services, including prevention, diagnostics, treatment and malaria-related health information. In multiple logistic regression models, factors associated with inadequate access included Myanmar migrants aged over 60 years (aOR: 7.63, 95% CI 1.74–20.58), accompanied by one to three family members (aOR: 3.33, 95% CI 1.06–8.45), earning monthly incomes below 3000 THB (aOR: 5.13, 95% CI 1.38–19.09) and 3000 to 6000 THB (aOR: 3.64, 95% CI 1.06–12.51), belonging to the Karen ethnicity (aOR: 2.13, 95% CI 1.02–3.84), with poor perception toward malaria (aOR: 2.03, 95% CI 1.03–4.01) and with poor preventive and health-seeking practices (aOR: 5.83, 95% CI 2.71–9.55).

Conclusions

A significant proportion of Myanmar migrants encounter demographic and socioeconomic barriers to access to routine malaria services in Thailand. Tailored interventions are required to expand such access, including the recruitment of worksite health volunteers, strengthening the role of ethnic health organizations across the border and collaboration with private sector stakeholders (e.g. farm/company owners) to distribute preventive tools and ensure timely referral of suspected malaria cases to health facilities.
MolCompass: multi-tool for the navigation in chemical space and visual validation of QSAR/QSPR models
Authors: Sosnin Sergey
Published: August 2024

The exponential growth of data is challenging for humans because their ability to analyze data is limited. Especially in chemistry, there is a demand for tools that can visualize molecular datasets in a convenient graphical way. We propose a new, ready-to-use, multi-tool, and open-source framework for visualizing and navigating chemical space. This framework adheres to the low-code/no-code (LCNC) paradigm, providing a KNIME node, a web-based tool, and a Python package, making it accessible to a broad cheminformatics community. The core technique of the MolCompass framework employs a pre-trained parametric t-SNE model. We demonstrate how this framework can be adapted for the visualisation of chemical space and visual validation of binary classification QSAR/QSPR models, revealing their weaknesses and identifying model cliffs. All parts of the framework are publicly available on GitHub, providing accessibility to the broad scientific community.

Scientific contribution

We provide an open-source, ready-to-use set of tools for the visualization of chemical space. These tools can be insightful for chemists to analyze compound datasets and for the visual validation of QSAR/QSPR models.
The influence of iron nutrition on the development of intestine and immune cell divergency in neonatal pigs
Authors: Liu Yao , Wu Aimin , Yu Bing , He Jun , Yu Jie , Mao Xiangbing , Zheng Ping , Luo Yuheng , Luo Junqiu , Pu Junning , Yan Hui , Chen Daiwen
Published: August 2024

Background

Appropriate iron supplementation is essential for neonatal growth and development. However, there are few reports on the effects of iron overload on neonatal growth and immune homeostasis. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of iron nutrition on neonatal growth and intestinal immunity by administering different levels of iron to neonatal pigs.

Results

We found that iron deficiency and iron overload resulted in slow growth in neonatal pigs. Iron deficiency and iron overload led to down-regulation of jejunum intestinal barrier and antioxidant marker genes, and promoted CD8+ T cell differentiation in jejunum and mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) of pigs, disrupting intestinal health. Moreover, iron levels altered serum iron and tissue iron status leading to disturbances in redox state, affecting host innate and adaptive immunity.

Conclusions

These findings emphasized the effect of iron nutrition on host health and elucidated the importance of iron in regulating redox state and immunity development. This study provided valuable insights into the regulation of redox state and immune function by iron metabolism in early life, thus contributing to the development of targeted interventions and nutritional strategies to optimize iron nutrition in neonates.
Anticoagulation methods used and role of antithrombin III level monitoring in children on continuous renal replacement therapy: an observational cross-sectional study
Authors: Fadel Fatina Ibrahim , Bazaraa Hafez Mahmoud , Anis Shahira Kamal , Mohamed Noha Mahmoud , Fahmy Yosra Aboelnaga
Published: August 2024

Background

In critically ill cases, CRRT is a renal replacement intervention. The most common reason why CRRT terminates prematurely (non-electively) is clotting in the extracorporeal circuit, more especially in the filter.

Aim of work

To determine the frequency of thrombotic and hemorrhage complications throughout CRRT, the role of antithrombin III level monitoring, the type of anticoagulation, and the dose and laboratory tests utilized to monitor it.

Method

The study was carried out on 58 children who were undergoing CRRT. The children underwent a comprehensive history-taking, assessment, CRRT prescription parameters and alterations, vascular access data, anticoagulation type, dose, and adjustment, as well as monitoring of antithrombin III levels. Furthermore, any extracorporeal circuit clotting or bleeding was documented.

Results

Of the 58 sessions that were examined, 25 (43.1%) resulted in filter clotting. The indication was cured in 16 cases (27.6%), 8 cases (13.8%) resulted in the patient’s mortality, and 9 cases (15.5%) had life-threatening bleeding. The remaining 33 cases (56.9%) were not terminated with filter clotting. Forty-one (70.7%) of studied sessions used unfractionated heparin as anticoagulation, 22.4% used heparin-protamine, 5.2% was not anticoagulated, and one circuit (1.7%) was anticoagulated using regional citrate.

Filter clotting incidence was significantly related to activated partial thromboplastin time (a PTT) value at the end of sessions (P value = 0.000), and platelets count after 4 h of session initiation (P value = 0.048). Antithrombin III levels pre-heparin infusion less than 80 were found in patients who received higher doses of a heparin bolus dose, median dose 35 (IQR 20–35), this relation is statistically significant (P value = 0.042).

Conclusion

In the 58 cases that were examined, the incidence of bleeding was 32.8%; however, 19% of the cases were not severe. The incidence of filter clotting was 43.1% in the study group. a PTT value at the end of sessions, and platelets count after 4 h could be predictors of thrombotic complications during CRRT, antithrombin III deficiency before sessions is a predictor of filter clotting.
Mechanical properties of a novel friction dampers incorporated with buckling restrained shape memory alloy bars
Authors: Yang Weifeng , Cao Sasa , Liu Wenxian , Dang Xinzhi
Published: August 2024

To improve the energy dissipation and self-resetting ability of bridge structures under strong earthquakes, a new buckling-restrained SMA bar-based friction damper (SFD) is proposed. The damper is composed of buckling-restrained super-elastic SMA bars, friction pads, and a steel frame. The buckling-restrained SMA bars provide self-reset capability, while the friction pads provide additional energy dissipation capacity. Firstly, the configuration, working mechanism, and restoring force model of the SMA bar-based friction damper are introduced. Secondly, a specimen of the damper is made, and the pseudo-static test is carried out. Finally, the experimental results are analyzed based on the Abaqus finite element model. The results indicate that the damper has better self-resetting ability and energy dissipation capacity.
Virtual reality assessment of reaching accuracy in patients with recent cerebellar stroke
Authors: Du Khai , Benavides Leonardo R. , Isenstein Emily L. , Tadin Duje , Busza Ania C.
Published: August 2024

Background

Dysmetria, the inability to accurately estimate distance in motor tasks, is a characteristic clinical feature of cerebellar injury. Even though subjective dysmetria can be quickly detected during the neurological examination with the finger-to-nose test, objective quantification of reaching accuracy for clinical assessment is still lacking. Emerging VR technology allows for the delivery of rich multisensory environmental stimuli with a high degree of control. Furthermore, recent improvements in the hand-tracking feature offer an opportunity to closely examine the speed, accuracy, and consistency of fine hand movements and proprioceptive function. This study aims to investigate the application of virtual reality (VR) with hand tracking in the rapid quantification of reaching accuracy at the bedside for patients with cerebellar stroke (CS).

Methods and results

Thirty individuals (10 CS patients and 20 age-matched neurologically healthy controls) performed a simple task that allowed us to measure reaching accuracy using a VR headset (Oculus Quest 2). During this task, the participant was asked to reach for a target placed along a horizontal sixty-degree arc. Once the fingertip passed through the arc, the target immediately extinguished. 50% of the trials displayed a visible, real-time rendering of the hand as the participant reached for the target (visible hand condition), while the remaining 50% only showed the target being extinguished (invisible hand condition). The invisible hand condition isolates proprioception-guided movements by removing the visibility of the participant’s hand. Reaching error was calculated as the difference in degrees between the location of the target, and where the fingertip contacted the arc. Both CS patients and age-matched controls displayed higher average reaching error and took longer to perform a reaching motion in the invisible hand condition than in the visible hand condition. Reaching error was higher in CS than in controls in the invisible hand condition but not in the visible hand condition. Average time taken to perform each trial was higher in CS than in controls in the invisible hand conditions but not in the visible hand condition.

Conclusions

Reaching accuracy assessed by VR offers a non-invasive and rapid approach to quantifying fine motor functions in clinical settings. Furthermore, this technology enhances our understanding of proprioceptive function in patients with visuomotor disabilities by allowing the isolation of proprioception from vision. Future studies with larger cohorts and longitudinal designs will examine the quantitative changes in reaching accuracy after stroke and explore the long-term benefits of VR in functional recovery.
Cyanobacteria and their metabolites - can they be helpful in the fight against pathogenic microbes?
Authors: Grabowski Łukasz , Wiśniewska Karolina , Żabińska Magdalena , Konarzewska Maria , Zielenkiewicz Monika , Rintz Estera , Cyske Zuzanna , Gaffke Lidia , Pierzynowska Karolina , Mazur-Marzec Hanna , Węgrzyn Grzegorz
Published: August 2024

Natural ecosystems are a rich source of compounds that can be considered as drugs to combat viral and bacterial infections. Cyanobacteria play a key role in the search for these compounds. These microorganisms, besides their well-known cytotoxicity to humans, are also a rich reservoir of metabolites with antiviral and antibacterial activities. These compounds are extremely diverse in their chemical structures. Moreover, recent reports have shown that Cyanobacteria can be used as platforms for the synthesis of antibacterial molecules such as gold and silver nanoparticles. In this review, we summarize and discuss recent reports on antiviral significance of these metabolites against the most relevant viruses, such as Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Herpes Simplex Virus (HSV), and Influenza Virus. We also focus on the effects of cyanobacterial metabolites against Gram-positive bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, as well as Gram-negative bacteria, including those from the ESKAPE group of pathogens. It is outlined what future research on the isolation of cyanobacterial metabolites should focus on to improve the effectiveness of this process and lead to the commercialization of widely available drugs for the pharmaceutical market.
Biosynthesis of polyhydroxyalkanoate copolymers consisting of α-methylated monomer units from glucose and propionate: thermal properties and chiral configuration
Authors: Miyahara Yuki , Ishino Marii , Nomura Christopher T. , Taguchi Seiichi , Abe Hideki , Tsuge Takeharu
Published: August 2024

Background

Expression of the Ascaris suum ketothiolase (Acat3) in recombinant Escherichia coli enables the production of α-methylated monomers such as 3-hydroxy-2-methylvalerate (3H2MV) and 3-hydroxy-2-methylbutyrate (3H2MB) for polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) biosynthesis from glucose and propionate as carbon sources. However, the chiral configurations and thermal properties of biosynthesized PHAs remain poorly understood.

Results

In this study, 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB)-based PHA copolymers containing 3H2MV and 3H2MB units were synthesized from glucose and propionate using Acat3-expressing Escherichia coli LSBJ. The 3H2MV fraction of the synthesized PHA reached 15.7 mol%, while the 3H2MB fraction remained at approximately 0.2 mol%. Chirality analysis revealed that (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-3H2MV units were both detected; however, (2R,3R)-3H2MV units were dominant in the PHA copolymer produced by the strain expressing the (R)-specific enoyl-CoA hydratase (PhaJAc). To evaluate the effect of α-methylated monomers on the crystallization behavior of PHA copolymers, cold crystallization was compared for PHA polymers with different mol% 3-hydroxyvalerate (3HV) monomer units. The cold crystallization of the copolymer containing 11 mol% 3H2MV and 30 mol% 3HV was detected at 68 °C, while the non-α-methylated copolymer containing 24 mol% 3HV did not exhibit cold crystallization, indicating that α-methylated PHA had a greater tendency to crystallize.

Conclusions

This study conclusively demonstrated that (2S,3R)- and (2R,3R)-3H2MV units were both incorporated into PHA by expressing Acat3; however, the (2R,3R)-isomer became the dominant 3H2MV unit in the PHA copolymers by additionally expressing PhaJAc. The 3H2MV repeating unit facilitated the crystallization of PHA copolymers despite the high fraction of the 3HV unit.

Graphical Abstract
Generating more constrained seeds for seismic horizon extraction
Authors: Pu Yitao , Zhang Bo , Wan Zhonghong , Yu Wenlong , Cao Danping
Published: August 2024

Enhancing accuracy remains the main challenge for the current horizon extraction algorithms. Adding more manually interpreted seeds helps to improve the accuracy of horizon extraction. We intend to generate more seeds prior to the 3D horizon extraction based on seeds that are manually interpreted on the coarse grid of the seismic survey. First, we compute four horizons for the same seismic sequence boundary using deep learning and constrained least-squares algorithms under the constraints of manually interpreted horizon seeds. Next, we generate more seeds by checking the consistency among those four horizons for each seismic trace, and this process is implemented in the same way as the tying loops of manual horizon interpretation. Finally, we extract horizons using constrained least-squares algorithms with the newly computed seeds. The applications of two real seismic surveys demonstrate that our method can generate horizons with higher accuracy when compared with the horizons computed with only manually interpreted seeds.
An effective self-supervised learning method for attenuating various types of seismic noise
Authors: Cheng Shijun , Cheng Zhiyao , Jiang Chao , Mao Weijian , Zhang Qingchen
Published: August 2024

In real-world scenarios, the effectiveness of seismic denoising methods based on supervised learning (SL) is hindered by the scarcity of clean labeled data. A network trained on synthetic data often struggles to adapt to the distinct feature distributions of field data. To address this challenge, we develop an self-SL strategy that effectively attenuates various types of seismic noise using a single denoising network model. Our approach starts with a warm-up phase that pretrains the network on artificially noisier-noisy data pairs, enhancing its stability and ability to recognize specific noise characteristics. This is followed by an iterative data refinement phase, in which the model iteratively refines its predictions, narrowing the gap between noisy inputs and clean data. Field data tests demonstrate that our method outperforms traditional SL techniques on random, backscattered, and blending noise.
Upside-down Rayleigh-Marchenko: A practical redatuming scheme for seabed seismic acquisitions
Authors: Wang Ning , Ravasi Matteo
Published: August 2024

Ocean-bottom seismic plays a crucial role in resource exploration and monitoring. However, despite their undoubted potential, the use of coarse receiver geometries poses challenges to accurate wavefield redatuming. This in turn affects the quality of subsequent imaging and reservoir characterization products. We develop a reciprocal version of the Rayleigh-Marchenko (RM) method, called the upside-down RM method, in which all spatial integrals are performed over the (usually much better-sampled) source carpet; this results in a redatuming scheme that naturally accommodates irregular and sparse receiver geometries. Our method requires the availability of multicomponent receivers and either dual sources or a preprocessing step of model-based source deghosting and uses only the down-going component of the receiver-side wavefield; as such, it can be interpreted as a full-wavefield extension of the mirror migration method commonly used in seabed settings. Two synthetic examples are used to showcase the effectiveness of our method, starting from the ideal scenario of finely and regularly sampled source and receiver arrays and subsequently considering different levels of decimation for the receiver geometry. Migrated images as well as common-angle gathers reveal that our method can be used to produce structural and amplitude-friendly imaging outputs with minimal data preprocessing.
Efficient least-squares reverse time migration with the approximate asymptotic inverse operator in place of the adjoint operator
Authors: Yang Kai , Zhang Jianfeng
Published: August 2024

Least-squares reverse time migration has emerged as a powerful tool to generate high-quality images by progressively decreasing the misfit between the observed data and the modeled data. In the construction of an inverse problem from a modeling operator, the standard procedure begins by seeking the adjoint operator. However, the adjoint operator is not the inverse of the modeling operator, and thus, it often needs many iterations to approach the inverse effect, with each iteration involving substantial computational cost. Alternatively, we can seek the approximate asymptotic inverse operator as the migration operator. This allows us to produce superior images with fewer iterations. The approximate inverse operator contains three aspects: the backpropagated wavefield, the relationship between the reflectivity function and the scattering function, and the weighting factor [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] is the incidence angle. The adjoint operator uses the observed data or data residuals as sources to generate the backpropagated wavefield, whereas the approximate asymptotic inverse operator treats these as boundary conditions. This subtle difference has implications for the amplitude preservation of the inverted images. By relating the reflectivity function and the scattering function through the weighting factor, we can effectively use a single modeling operator, based on the scattering function, as the demigration operator for the reflectivity function. This strategy enables the simultaneous inversion for the scattering and reflectivity functions, effectively bypassing the challenges typically associated with direct modeling through the reflectivity function itself. Numerical examples indicate that 3–5 iterations are adequate to produce superior images.
Design and development of a semiairborne transient electromagnetic system
Authors: Wu Xin , Rao Li-Ting , Luan Xiao-Dong , Shi Jin-Jing , Wang Yan-Bo
Published: August 2024

The semiairborne transient electromagnetic method (SATEM) is a geophysical method that combines the advantages of high-power ground-based transmitting and efficient airborne observation. In recent years, the threshold for SATEM application has been significantly reduced through the integration of multirotor unmanned aerial vehicles and systems obtained by the simple redevelopment of existing ground-based systems. However, it is still difficult to obtain good detection results with such systems for the following specific reasons: in terms of system design, there is a lack of method for estimating the key parameters of the system, resulting in the designed system being unable to effectively meet the requirements of the SATEM method and observation scenarios; in terms of technology, there is a lack of effective means of ensuring a high signal-to-noise ratio (high-current transmitting and effective suppression of major external noise) while meeting the demand for distortion-free observation. In response to these issues, a system bandwidth estimation method based on the analysis of information-carrying capacity is developed. Based on this, solutions for large current and fast turn-off transmitter and for overcoming major external noise are provided. Through a survey located in a karst landform area, the overall application performance of the system is discussed based on the inversion results.
Structure and formation of mud volcanoes in the South Caspian Basin according to seismic data
Authors: Yusubov Namaz P. , Guliyev Ibragim S. , Soto Juan I.
Published: August 2024

The South Caspian Basin (SCB) constitutes a classic province to study mud volcanoes and their associated processes. Approximately 280 active mud volcanoes have been documented in the offshore and the onshore areas of Azerbaijan, emitting water, hydrocarbons (oil and mainly methane), and fluidized muds that transport solid fragments from deep sedimentary sequences. Seismic characteristics of mud volcano systems in the Azerbaijan area of the SCB are used to address (1) the nature of the mud volcano source layer; (2) the internal geometry of the feeder systems; and (3) the processes associated with shale mobilization and extrusion. We confirm that the source layer is mainly the Maykop Suite (Oligocene-Lower Miocene), which is a thick (≤3 km) and deep (>10 km) clayey sequence rich in organic matter. This layer was quickly buried due to basin subsidence and the rapid deposition (since the Middle Miocene) of thick fluvio-lacustrine sediments of the Productive Series (PS) (Upper Miocene-Upper Pliocene), which contributed to the creation of high pore pressures and the transformation of organic matter into methane (through thermal cracking). Since the Middle Miocene and more important, during the Upper Pliocene, the Maykop shales mobilized due to an increase in shear stresses and pore pressures, which promoted a decrease in effective stresses and, as a consequence, facilitated the achievement of critical state conditions in the shales that began to flow. This process, repeated over time, allowed multiple pulses of shale mobilization to originate (as in a loading piston system). Shale piercing transporting deep-sourced fluids (and hydrocarbons) was carried out through fractures in the outer arc of anticlines, forming subvertical feeder systems. The mobilized hydrocarbons and fluids also recharged some of the younger and more permeable layers of the PS, creating shallower reservoirs in the vicinities of the mud volcano structures.