bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 antibodies as conversion therapy for patients with unresectable intermediate-advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: a single-arm, phase II trial
Authors: Zhang Wenwen , Tong Shuang , Hu Bingyang , Wan Tao , Tang Haowen , Zhao Feilong , Jiao Tianyu , Li Junfeng , Zhang Ze , Cai Jinping , Ye Huiyi , Wang Zhanbo , Chen Shiqing , Wang Yafei , Li Xuerui , Wang Fangzhou , Cao Junning , Tian Lantian , Zhao Xiaochen , Chen Mingyi , Wang Hongguang , Cai Shouwang , Hu Minggen , Bai Yuezong , Lu Shichun
Published: September 2023

Background

Over 70% of the patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) are diagnosed at an advanced stage and lose the opportunity for radical surgery. Combination therapy of tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) antibodies has achieved a high tumor response rate in both the first-line and second-line treatment of advanced HCC. However, few studies have prospectively evaluated whether TKIs plus anti-PD-1 antibodies could convert unresectable intermediate-advanced HCC into resectable disease.

Methods

This single-arm, phase II study enrolled systemic therapy-naïve adult patients with unresectable Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B or C HCC. Patients received oral lenvatinib one time per day plus intravenous anti-PD-1 agents every 3 weeks (one cycle). Tumor response and resectability were evaluated before the fourth cycle, then every two cycles. The primary endpoint was conversion success rate by investigator assessment. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR) by independent imaging review (IIR) assessment per modified RECIST (mRECIST) and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors, V.1.1 (RECIST 1.1), progression-free survival (PFS) and 12-month recurrence-free survival (RFS) rate by IIR per mRECIST, R0 resection rate, overall survival (OS), and safety. Biomarkers were assessed as exploratory objectives.

Results

Of the 56 eligible patients enrolled, 53 (94.6%) had macrovascular invasion, and 16 (28.6%) had extrahepatic metastasis. The median follow-up was 23.5 months. The primary endpoint showed a conversion success rate of 55.4% (31/56). ORR was 53.6% per mRECIST and 44.6% per RECIST 1.1. Median PFS was 8.9 months, and median OS was 23.9 months. Among the 31 successful conversion patients, 21 underwent surgery with an R0 resection rate of 85.7%, a pathological complete response rate of 38.1%, and a 12-month RFS rate of 47.6%. Grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events were observed in 42.9% of patients. Tumor immune microenvironment analysis of pretreatment samples displayed significant enrichment of CD8+T cells (p=0.03) in responders versus non-responders.

Conclusion

Lenvatinib plus anti-PD-1 antibodies demonstrate promising efficacy and tolerable safety as conversion therapy in unresectable HCC. Pre-existing CD8+cells are identified as a promising biomarker for response to this regimen.

Trial registration number

Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ChiCTR1900023914.
Sex and anti-inflammatory treatment affect outcome of melanoma and non-small cell lung cancer patients with rheumatic immune-related adverse events
Authors: Gente Karolina , Diekmann Leonore , Daniello Lea , Will Julia , Feisst Manuel , Olsavszky Victor , Günther Janine , Lorenz Hanns-Martin , Souto-Carneiro M Margarida , Hassel Jessica C , Christopoulos Petros , Leipe Jan
Published: September 2023

Background

Rheumatic immune-related adverse events (R-irAEs) occur in 5–15% of patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) and, unlike other irAEs, tend to be chronic. Herein, we investigate the factors influencing cancer and R-irAEs outcomes with particular focus on adverse effects of anti-inflammatory treatment.

Methods

In this prospective, multicenter, long-term, observational study, R-irAEs were comprehensively analyzed in patients with malignant melanoma (MM, n=50) and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC, n=41) receiving ICI therapy who were enrolled in the study between August 1, 2018, and December 11, 2022.

Results

After a median follow-up of 33 months, progressive disease or death occurred in 66.0% and 30.0% of MM and 63.4% and 39.0% of patients with NSCLC. Male sex (progression-free survival (PFS): p=0.013, and overall survival (OS): p=0.009), flare of a pre-existing condition (vs de novo R-irAE, PFS: p=0.010) and in trend maximum glucocorticoid (GC) doses >10 mg and particularly ≥1 mg/kg prednisolone equivalent (sex-adjusted PFS: p=0.056, OS: p=0.051) were associated with worse cancer outcomes. Patients receiving disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) showed significantly longer PFS (n=14, p=0.011) and OS (n=20, p=0.018). Effects of these variables on PFS and/or OS persisted in adjusted Cox regression models. Additionally, GC treatment negatively correlated with the time from diagnosis of malignancy and the latency from ICI start until R-irAE onset (all p<0.05). R-irAE features and outcomes were independent of other baseline patient characteristics in both studied cancer entities.

Conclusion

Male sex, flare of pre-existing rheumatologic conditions and extensive GC treatment appeared to be linked with unfavorable cancer outcomes, while DMARD use had a favorable impact. These findings challenge the current dogma of restrictive DMARD use for R-irAE and thus may pave the way to better strategies and randomized controlled trials for the growing number of patients with R-irAE.
Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on CVD prevention between different socioeconomic groups in Switzerland
Authors: Maung Ko Ko , Marques-Vidal Pedro
Published: September 2023

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the continuing management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors in the population. Socioeconomic status (SES) is a major determinant of health. Whether the COVID-19 pandemic increased, the SES gap in CVD risk factors is unknown.

Aims

To compare the management of CVD risk factors and the SES gap before and during the pandemic.

Methods

Cross-sectional study conducted between 2018 and 2021 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Prevalence, awareness, treatment and control rates of hypertension, dyslipidaemia and diabetes were compared between the periods before (N=2416, 45.2% men, 65.3±9.8 years) and during (N=776, 44.5% men, 63.9±9.1 years) the COVID-19 pandemic. SES was defined by education and categorised as low (compulsory or apprenticeship), middle (high school) and high (university).

Results

After multivariable analysis, the prevalence of hypertension increased, and awareness decreased during the pandemic: OR and (95% CI) 1.26 (1.04 to 1.53) and 0.70 (0.53 to 0.94), respectively. For dyslipidaemia, prevalence decreased during the pandemic 0.82 (95% CI 0.69 to 0.98); awareness did not change. For diabetes, prevalence did not change but awareness increased 5.76 (95% CI 1.23 to 27.04). No differences were found before and during the pandemic regarding treatment and control for all CVD risk factors. Relative to high SES, a decrease in hypertension awareness among middle SES categories was observed during the pandemic (OR and 95% CI 1.11 (0.73 to 1.69) before and 0.45 (95% CI 0.23 to 0.85) during, p for interaction<0.05), while no other changes were found.

Conclusion

Prevalence and management of CVD risk factors changed little during the pandemic. The SES gap did not increase except for hypertension awareness.
Dorsal root ganglion: a key to understanding the therapeutic effects of the erector spinae plane (ESP) and other intertransverse process blocks?
Authors: Sørenstua Marie , Leonardsen Ann-Chatrin Linqvist , Chin Ki Jinn
Published: September 2023

Since its description in 2016, the erector spinae plane block (ESPB) has become a widely employed regional anesthetic technique and kindled interest in a range of related techniques, collectively termed intertransverse process blocks. There has been ongoing controversy over mechanism of action of the ESPB, mainly due to incongruities between results of cutaneous sensory testing, clinical efficacy studies, and investigations into the neural structures that are reached by injected local anesthetic (LA). This paper reviews the spread of LA to the paravertebral and epidural space and the cutaneous anesthesia in ESPB, with specific emphasis on the dorsal root ganglion (DRG). We hypothesize that the DRG, due to its unique and complex microarchitecture, represents a key therapeutic target for modulation of nociceptive signaling in regional anesthesia. This paper discusses how the anatomical and physiological characteristics of the DRG may be one of the factors underpinning the clinical analgesia observed in ESPB and other intertransverse process blocks.
Long-term study of the tundra food web at a hotspot of Arctic biodiversity, the Bylot Island Field Station
Authors: Gauthier Gilles , Cadieux Marie-Christine , Berteaux Dominique , Bêty Joël , Fauteux Dominique , Legagneux Pierre , Lévesque Esther , Gagnon Catherine A.
Published: September 2023

We present the history of research activities at the Bylot Island Field Station of the Centre d’études nordiques, a hotspot of biodiversity in the Canadian Arctic. Intensive wildlife studies started at the station in the late 1980s, initially focussing on greater snow goose ecology and its impacts on the tundra vegetation. Since then, studies have expanded to encompass the whole vertebrate food web and have become one of the most comprehensive ecological monitoring programs in the Canadian Arctic. The main vertebrate species monitored include snow geese, lemmings, shorebirds, avian predators, buntings, and Arctic foxes. Over time, we recorded 66 bird and 10 mammal species, including 51 confirmed breeders. Contributions of the program to the field of ecology are numerous, but our demonstration of the dominant role played by predator–prey interactions in the Arctic food web is especially significant for the understanding of direct and indirect trophic interactions. Our studies provided essential information for management decisions taken to control the overabundant greater snow goose population and supported international efforts to assess the state of Arctic biodiversity. Future directions will reflect the need to deepen our understanding of trophic interactions and the effects of climate change using innovative advanced technologies.
Impact of SeaQuest data on PDF fits at large x
Authors: Alekhin S. , Garzelli M. V. , Kulagin S. , Moch S.-O.
Published: September 2023

We evaluate the impact of recent SeaQuest (FNAL-E906 experiment) data on dimuon production in proton-deuteron and proton-proton collisions on parton distribution functions (PDFs). We find these data in a good agreement with the QCD predictions based on PDFs fitted to the Tevatron and LHC data on forward production of W and Z bosons. As a basis for this study we use the ABMP16 PDF fits and show that they turn out to be compatible with the SeaQuest data, and that these data have constraining power, allowing to reduce the uncertainties on the isospin asymmetry of the light-sea-quark distribution at large longitudinal momentum fraction x. We discuss the nuclear corrections needed to describe the deuteron and show that they affect the theoretical description of the proton-deuteron Drell–Yan cross section at the level of $$\mathcal {O}(0.5{-}1)$$

O
(
0.5
-
1
)

%. We also comment on the compatibility of the SeaQuest results with other state-of-the-art PDF fits and show that these data are in clear disagreement with models proposing an SU(3)-flavor symmetric quark sea. Finally, we perform a comparison between the second Mellin moments of the light-quark PDFs and recent results from various lattice QCD computations, which demonstrates good compatibility, albeit limited by the uncertainties inherent in current lattice QCD simulations.
The device simulation of MXene-added hole-transport free perovskite solar cells
Authors: Azadi Saeid Khesali , Asgharizadeh Saeid
Published: September 2023

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) without hole transport layer (HTL) based on organic and inorganic metal halide perovskite have received vast consideration in recent years. For predigestion of device structure and construction process, the exclusion of the HTL is a marvelous way. By detaching the HTL part of the devices, we could reduce the cost and complexity of the structures. Currently, a novel 2D material named Ti3C2 MXene with high electron mobility, excellent metallic conductivity and functionalized surface groups applied for tuning the energy offsets has been reported to be added in the perovskite absorber layer, leading to a remarkable power conversion efficiency (PCE) improvement. In this work, the role of MXenes in controlling the work function of the involved layers to modify the band alignment towards better performance of the cells is explained. Two HTL free structures of FTO/mTiO2/cTiO2/MAPbI3/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au named as HFRC, and FTO/mTiO2+MXene/cTiO2+MXene/MXene/MAPbI3+MXene/Spiro-OMeTAD/Au named as HFMC were simulated by SCAPS-1D software to study the response of the photovoltaic devices and obtain the highest possible efficiency considering the physics behind. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time such structures and the results of the current simulation are studied that may be used as a guideline for other practical purposes. We present a modeling procedure that optimizes the thickness of the involved layers and specifies the optimum level of the doping concentration. We also show that by optimizing the work function of the back contact, the device performance witnesses a significant improvement, proving the considerable role of the back contact in these cells. The simulated HTL-free devices illustrate attainably PCEs of about 20.32% and 21.04% for the cells without and with MXene, under AM 1.5G illumination and absorption up to 760 (nm).
Stability Switches, Hopf Bifurcation and Chaotic Dynamics in Simple Epidemic Model with State-Dependent Delay
Authors: Qesmi Redouane , Heffernan Jane M. , Wu Jianhong
Published: September 2023

Dynamic behavior investigations of infectious disease models are central to improve our understanding of emerging characteristics of model states interaction. Here, we consider a Susceptible-Infected (SI) model with a general state-dependent delay, which covers an immuno-epidemiological model of pathogen transmission, developed in our early study, using a threshold delay to examine the effects of multiple exposures to a pathogen. The analysis in the previous work showed the appearance of forward as well as backward bifurcations of endemic equilibria when the basic reproductive ratio [Formula: see text] is less than unity. The analysis, in the present work, of the endemically infected equilibrium behavior, through the study of a second order exponential polynomial characteristic equation, concludes the existence of a Hopf bifurcation on the upper branch of the backward bifurcation diagram and gives the criteria for stability switches. Furthermore, the inclusion of state-dependent delays is shown to entirely change the dynamics of the SI model and give rise to rich behaviors including periodic, torus and chaotic dynamics.
Protecting Secrets from Computers
Authors: Kelly Terence
Published: September 2023

Bob is in prison and Alice is dead; they trusted computers with secrets. Review time-tested tricks that can help you avoid the grim fate of the old crypto couple.
REST: Debiased Social Recommendation via Reconstructing Exposure Strategies
Authors: Cai Ruichu , Wu Fengzhu , Li Zijian , Qiao Jie , Chen Wei , Hao Yuexing , Gu Hao
Published: September 2023

The recommendation system, relying on historical observational data to model the complex relationships among users and items, has achieved great success in real-world applications. Selection bias is one of the most important issues of the existing observational data-based approaches, which is actually caused by multiple types of unobserved exposure strategies (e.g., promotions and holiday effects). Though various methods have been proposed to address this problem, they are mainly relying on the implicit debiasing techniques but not explicitly modeling the unobserved exposure strategies. By explicitly Reconstructing Exposure STrategies (REST), we formalize the recommendation problem as the counterfactual reasoning and propose the debiased social recommendation method. In REST, we assume that the exposure of an item is controlled by the latent exposure strategies, the user, and the item. Based on the above generation process, we first provide the theoretical guarantee of our method via identification analysis. Second, we employ a variational auto-encoder to reconstruct the latent exposure strategies, with the help of the social networks and the items. Third, we devise a counterfactual reasoning based recommendation algorithm by leveraging the recovered exposure strategies. Experiments on four real-world datasets, including three published datasets and one private WeChat Official Account dataset, demonstrate significant improvements over several state-of-the-art methods.
Ketamine: Mechanisms and Relevance to Treatment of Depression
Authors: Kim Ji-Woon , Suzuki Kanzo , Kavalali Ege T. , Monteggia Lisa M.
Published: September 2023

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a leading cause of suicide in the world. Monoamine-based antidepressant drugs are a primary line of treatment for this mental disorder, although the delayed response and incomplete efficacy in some patients highlight the need for improved therapeutic approaches. Over the past two decades, ketamine has shown rapid onset with sustained (up to several days) antidepressant effects in patients whose MDD has not responded to conventional antidepressant drugs. Recent preclinical studies have started to elucidate the underlying mechanisms of ketamine's antidepressant properties. Herein, we describe and compare recent clinical and preclinical findings to provide a broad perspective of the relevant mechanisms for the antidepressant action of ketamine.
Endoplasmic reticulum stress in pancreatic β cells induces incretin desensitization and β-cell dysfunction via ATF4-mediated PDE4D expression
Authors: Lee Ji-Hye , Ryu Hanguk , Lee Hyejin , Yu Hye Ram , Gao Yurong , Lee Kyeong-Min , Kim Young-Joon , Lee Jaemin
Published: September 2023

Endoplasmic reticulum stress has been implied to cause multiple β-cell pathologies during the progression of type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, the precise molecular events underlying this remain unknown. Here, we discovered that elevated ATF4 activity, which was seen in T2D β cells, attenuated β-cell proliferation and impaired insulin secretion via PDE4D-mediated downregulation of cAMP signaling. Additionally, we demonstrated that pharmacological inhibition of the ATF4 pathway or PDE4D activity alleviated β-cell dysfunction, suggesting its therapeutic usefulness against T2D.
Comparison of Corticosterone Concentrations in Dermal Secretions and Urine in Free‐Ranging Marine Toads (Rhinella marina) in Human Care
Authors: Clarke Emma , Heugten Kimberly Ange-van , Tollefson Troy N. , Ridgley Frank N. , Smith Dustin , Brown Janine L. , Scott Heather , Minter Larry J.
Published: September 2023

Corticosterone concentrations have been measured in amphibians by collecting blood or urine samples. However, blood sampling is invasive, and urine can be difficult to collect. A novel method of swabbing the skin of an amphibian has been utilized in numerous species but has not been verified in marine toads (Rhinella marina). This pilot study tested dermal swabs as a noninvasive method for collecting and measuring dermal corticosterone secretions. Swabs were used to collect dermal secretion samples from sixty‐six free‐ranging marine toads collected on Zoo Miami grounds. The subsequent day the toads were shipped to the North Carolina Zoo where dermal samples were collected again. Additional dermal and urine samples were collected on days 9, 15, 32, and 62 under human care to measure corticosterone concentrations. There was no significant correlation (P ≥ 0.05) noted between corticosterone concentrations reported in dermal swabs and those in urine samples at all four of the euthanasia time points or between the corticosterone concentrations reported in either urine or dermal swabs and the weight of the toads. Dermal swab concentrations (ng/mL) were significantly higher (P ≤ 0.05) on the day of capture (0.64 ± 0.03) and the day of arrival (0.67 ± 0.03) than on day 15 (0.47 ± 0.03). The urine corticosterone concentrations decreased while the toads were in human care with a significant decrease (P ≤ 0.05) between days 9 (0.45 ± 0.07) and 32 (0.21 ± 0.06). This study demonstrated that dermal swabs can be used to collect marine toad corticosterone concentration samples.
sNASP Mutation Aggravates to the TLR4-Mediated Inflammation in SLE by TAK1 Pathway
Authors: Bao Yatao , Lian Meng , Chen Yong , Gu Xiaotian , Cao Kunyu , Du Xiaoping , Ju Jiyu
Published: September 2023

Genetic factors play an important role in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and abnormal Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling pathways are closely related to the onset of SLE. In previous studies, we found that the mutant somatic nuclear autoantigenic sperm protein (sNASP) gene in the mouse lupus susceptibility locus Sle2 can promote the development of lupus model mice, but the mechanism is still unclear. Here, we stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages with different concentrations of lipopolysaccharide. The results showed that sNASP gene mutations can promote the response of the TLR4–TAK1 signaling pathway but have no significant effect on the TLR4–TBK1 signaling pathway. sNASP mutations enhanced TLR4-mediated nuclear factor-κ-gene binding and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation and IL-6, tumor necrosis factor secretion in murine peritoneal macrophages. Collectively, our study revealed the impact of sNASP gene mutation on the sensitivity of TLR4 receptors in mouse peritoneal macrophages and shed light on potential mechanisms underlying inflammation in autoimmune diseases.
The Two-Pad: A Novel Gas Foil Bearing for Fuel Cell Vehicles
Authors: Ying Ming , Liu Xinghua , Zhang Chongbin , Wang Xinyang , Liu Yuhang , Zhang Yue
Published: September 2023

Reducing costs and improving durability are essential factors for commercializing gas foil bearings, crucial components of fuel cell vehicle air compressors. In this paper, a two-pad gas foil bearing is proposed. By reducing the number of top foils, adopting a symmetrical design, and eliminating the welding step, the cost of processing and assembly is reduced, and the potential source of failure caused by welding is eliminated. The feasibility of the two-pad gas foil bearing was verified through testing on a commercial fuel cell vehicle air compressor. Then, durability testing was performed in accordance with fuel cell vehicle usage requirements, including an accelerated random vibration test equivalent to 6,000 h of on-board operation and a 200,000-cycle start-stop test. These tests simulated the damage caused to the bearings during fuel cell vehicle operation and start-stop periods, respectively. The durability test results indicated that the two-pad gas foil bearing provides good start-stop durability but insufficient durability against on-board random vibration. The failure causes were analyzed, and improvement measures were proposed. Our findings can be utilized to guide the manufacturing of low-cost and highly durable gas foil bearings.
Molecular Docking Study of the C-10 Massoia Lactone Compound as an Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Agent against Candida tropicalis
Authors: Hamzah Hasyrul , Nuryastuti Titik , Rahmah Widya , Chabib Lutfi , Syamsul Eka Siswanto , Lestari Dwi , Jabbar Asriullah , Tunjung Pratiwi Sylvia Utami
Published: September 2023

Antimicrobial resistance is now considered a global health problem because it reduces the effectiveness of antimicrobial drugs. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the highest mortality rate is associated with infections caused by multidrug-resistant microorganisms, with approximately 700,000 deaths worldwide each year. The aim of this study was to determine the potential of C-10 massoia lactone to inhibit the growth of fungi and C. tropicalis biofilm, and molecular docking studies were performed to determine the nature of the inhibition. The study was conducted using the microdilution method for antifungal and antibiofilm testing and designed with a molecular docking approach. Furthermore, an analysis using the scanning electron microscope (SEM) was performed to evaluate the mechanism of effect. The results obtained showed that C-10 massoia lactone can inhibit the growth of fungi by 84.21% w/v. Meanwhile, the growth of C. tropicalis biofilm in the intermediate phase was 80.23% w/v and in the mature phase was 74.23% w/v. SEM results showed that C-10 massoia lactone damaged the EPS matrix of C. tropicalis so that hyphal formation was hindered due to damage to fungal cells, resulting in a decrease in attachment, density, and lysis of C. tropicalis fungal cells. Based on molecular docking tests, C-10 massoia lactone was able to inhibit biofilm formation without affecting microbial growth, while docking C-10 massoia lactone showed a significant binding and has the potential as an antifungal agent. In conclusion, the C-10 massoia lactone compound has the potential as an antibiofilm against C. tropicalis, so it can become a new antibiofilm agent.
The Effects of Knowledge Base Diversity on Cross-Industry Innovation Performance: The Moderating Role of Network Embeddedness
Authors: Zhou Yang , Meng Chunyu , Chen Xin
Published: September 2023

To reveal the impact of knowledge base diversity (KBD) and network embeddedness on cross-industry innovation performance (CIP), we performed an empirical hierarchical regression analysis using patent data from the mobile phone industry. The results show the following. (1) There was an inverted U-shaped relationship between relevant KBD and CIP and a U-shaped relationship between nonrelevant KBD and CIP. (2) The effects of relevant KBD on CIP were negatively moderated by an enterprise’s structural embeddedness (SE) and relational embeddedness (RE) in the innovation network. (3) The effects of nonrelevant KBD on CIP were positively moderated by an enterprise’s SE and RE in the innovation network. The findings contribute to the body of knowledge on the influencing factors of CIP and provide guidance for cross-industry innovation practice.
Decompression of a Dentigerous Cyst Treatment in Mixed Dentition: A Case Report with 5 Years Follow-Up
Authors: Berberi Antoine , Aad Georges , Nassar Marise , Maalouf Gwenaëlle , Nader Nabih
Published: September 2023

Among developmental odontogenic cysts, the dentigerous type is the second most prevailing one. It is a benign intraosseous lesion commonly affecting the mandibular region. Dentigerous cysts present a high prevalence in children as they can be caused by the eruption of permanent teeth or the infection of deciduous ones. The adopted treatment modalities include enucleation (cystectomy), marsupialization, and decompression. Decompression maintains communication between the cyst and the oral medium through a sutured fixed device, namely an acrylic stent or a pretrimmed disposable suction tube. In the mixed dentition, the extraction of the affected primary teeth and the decompression approach is recommended, especially since children and parents are more tolerant of conservative treatments. We report in this study, a case of a 9-year-old boy complaining of a painful swelling in the left mandibular region. Intraoral and radiological examination revealed an expansion of the buccal and lingual cortical plates associated with teeth #73, #74, and #75 and a well-limited, unilocular radiolucent image extending from the distal aspect of tooth #31 to the mesial aspect of tooth #36 involving the crowns of the unerupted teeth #33, #34, and #35. The preliminary diagnosis was in favor of a dentigerous cyst. The treatment was to extract the deciduous teeth and to use a sterile tube for decompression. The patient was followed up for 5 years, a complete remission of the cyst was observed and the teeth #33, #34, and #35 re-erupted normally on the mandibular arch.
Return to Activities of Daily Living after Breast Cancer Surgery: An Observational Prospective Questionnaire-Based Study of Patients Undergoing Mastectomy with or without Immediate Reconstruction
Authors: Ballance L. , Wilson R. L. , Kirwan C. C. , Boundouki G. , Taxiarchi V. P. , Baker B. G. , Rusius V. , Rowland M. , Henderson J. R. , Marikakis N. , McAleer J. , Harvey J. R. , Northwest Breast Research Collaborative On Behalf of the
Published: September 2023

Background. Patients often ask about the time taken to return to activities of daily living (ADLs) after breast surgery, but there is a lack of data to give accurate guidance. We aimed to assess the feasibility of a study to determine the time taken to return to ADLs after mastectomy with or without breast reconstruction. Materials and Methods. A prospective multicentre, self-reported questionnaire-based feasibility study of women who had undergone mastectomy ± reconstruction was performed, between Jan 2017 and Dec 2019. Women were asked to self-report when they returned to 15 ADLs with a 5-option time scale for “return to activity.” Results. The questionnaire was returned by 42 patients (median [range] age: 64 [31–84]). Of these, 22 had simple mastectomy, seven mastectomy and implant reconstruction, seven mastectomy and autologous reconstruction (DIEP), and six did not specify. Overall, over 90% could manage stairs and brush hair by two weeks and 84% could get in and out of the bath by four weeks. By 1-2 months, 92% could do their own shopping and 86% could drive. 68% of women employed returned to work within four months. Compared to simple mastectomy, patients undergoing reconstruction took a longer time to return to getting in/out of bath (<2 vs. 2–4 weeks), vacuuming (2–4 weeks vs. 1-2 months), and fitness (1-2 vs. 3-4 months). There was a slower return to shopping (1-2 months vs. 2–4 weeks), driving and work (both 3-4 vs. 1-2 months), and sports (3-4 vs. 1-2 months) in autologous reconstruction compared to implant reconstruction. Conclusion. This study is feasible. It highlights slower return to specific activities (particularly strength-based) in reconstruction patients, slower in autologous compared with implant reconstruction. The impact on return to ADLs should be discussed as part of the preoperative counselling as it will inform patients and help guide their decision making. A larger study is required to confirm these results.
Evaluating Antimicrobial Effectiveness of Gold Nanoparticles against Streptococcus oralis
Authors: Al-Fahham Batool M , Mohamed Rafeef Ahmed , Al-Talqani Juman Mohammed Taqi , Fahad Ali Hadi , Haider Julfikar
Published: September 2023

Biofilm includes many microorganisms that causes the periodontal diseases. The increased drugs resistance against the infectious diseases is a major issue owing to excessive using of a broad spectrum of antibiotics. Recently, metallic nanoparticles (NPs) are being administered to control the growth of different types of microorganisms. For instance, gold nanoparticles (Au NPs) are found to be successful to control and limit the bacterial pathogenicity in the oral cavity without any cytotoxic effects on the human body. Aim. In this paper, it was aimed to detect the antibacterial effect of Au NPs and compare with chlorhexidine (CHX) against Streptococcus oralis (S. oralis) in dental plaque of patients with chronic periodontitis. Materials and Methods. First, supragingival and subgingival plaque samples were collected from the patients suffering from periodontal disease and incubated under aerobic or/and anaerobic conditions. Second, the morphological examination, and biochemical test by Vitec 2 machine are used to confirm the S. oralis species. Third, the synthesis of Au NPs was carried out by seed growth method and their properties were characterized. Finally, the antimicrobial effect of the Au NPs against S. oralis was evaluated by Agar well diffusion method for different Au NPs concentrations (100, 50, 25, 12.5, 6.25, 3.125, 1.562, 0.781, 0.391, 0.195, and 0.097 ppm). CHX was used as the positive control and distilled water as the negative control. The antibacterial activity data were statistically analyzed by least significant difference (LSD) using the Statistical Program for Social Science (SPSS) version 22. Results. The Au NPs with an average particles size of 43 nm, polycrystalline face-centered cubic structure were characterized. The Au NPs at 100 ppm concentration had similar antibacterial effect of CHX for inhibiting the growth of S. oralis, with no significant difference. Conclusions. The Au NPs as an antibacterial agent could be equally effective against S. oralis similar to the CHX when used at higher concentration.
Maxillary "All-on-six" treatment using zygomatic implants. Bone loss evaluation by cone beam computed tomography; Three years' follow-up
Authors: Mokhtar Amira , Abouelhuda Abdallah , Ibrahim Mohammed , Elkenawy Mohammed , Hegazy Salah
Published: September 2023

Purpose: To evaluate radiographic changes around six implants (Two posterior zygomatic and four conventional implants) used with fixed detachable restorations in patients with severe maxillary posterior resorption with either Polyether ether ketone (PEEK) or titanium frameworks. Materials and methods: Twelve maxillary edentulous patients were rehabilitated with six implants, including two posterior zygomatic and 4 conventionally placed implants for each patient following all-on-six distribution, and opposing mandibular all-on-four implant retained fixed detachable prostheses. A two-stage surgical unloaded healing protocol was performed. According to framework and teeth materials, there were two groups; Group I: CAD-CAM milled framework from modified BioHPP PEEK, bonded to polymethylmethacrylate crowns. Group II: screw-retained CAD-CAM milled framework from titanium, bonded to zirconium crowns. Bone loss evaluation for six implants was performed using cone beam computed tomography at the time of insertion (T0), after one year (T1), and after three years (T2). Results: There was a statistically significant difference in bone loss between PEEK and titanium groups. Less bone loss in PEEK groups around anterior conventional implants at buccal surfaces (P =0.01), at mesial surfaces (P <0.001), at distal surfaces (P <0.001), and zygomatic implants at buccal surfaces (P =0.004), and at palatal surfaces (P =0.003). Conclusions: Within the limitations of the study, the full-arch PEEK and titanium frameworks of fixed-detachable prostheses used with an All-on-Six distribution using zygomatic implants for rehabilitation of maxillary edentulous atrophied posterior arches was a promising treatment approach. Less bone loss was observed with the PEEK framework restorations combined with the PMMA crowns group.
Proletarian Feedback: The Mirror of the Soviet Public Sphere
Authors: Fore Devin
Published: September 2023

One glaring problem that faced the Bolsheviks upon seizing power was the absence of their vaunted class subject. The party had led a successful revolution in the name of the industrial worker, but once the dust settled after the civil war, reality exposed the proclaimed “dictatorship of the proletariat” to be little more than an empty slogan for propagandists. The proletariat was a historico-philosophical no-show. Its truancy had a number of reasons, both factual and theoretical. First, while proletarians had always been something of a rarity in the largely agrarian economy of imperial Russia, the industrial working class became even scarcer after the civil war had decimated the manufacturing capacity of Russia and ruralized the country once again. When the Bolsheviks finally took control, Russia's industrial output had fallen to thirty percent of prewar levels. Historians have consequently described the Bolsheviks as a “superstructure in need of a base”2 and a “vanguard of a nonexistent class.”3 Add to this, second, the fact that the physiognomy of the working class was changing in the 1920s as the forces of production shifted away from the methods of heavy manufacture typical of the second industrial revolution toward newer, automated technologies that relied less on physical exertion than on the scientific knowledge of engineers and managers. At least until Stalin's spectacular revival of older, “classical” forms of industry at the end of the decade—a return that seemed to be motivated less by economic exigency than by retrograde iconography—blast furnaces and factory workbenches were being replaced by telematic machinery and bureaucratic control centers. Third, according to revolutionary theory, in the phase of the transition to communism the proletariat was not even a class, strictly speaking, but the social force that abolishes class identity as such in order to establish for the first time in world history the conditions for a truly universal subject.4 The revolutionary class is, necessarily, the last class. Party philosophers could provide no substantialist definition of this “free dynamei (power, force),” as Marx called the proletariat, since this non-class had no concrete features of its own but was instead understood as an energy that dissolved the existing socioeconomic order.5 Paradoxically, then, the very success of the revolution “causes the concept of the proletariat to ‘disappear.’”6
Lisette Model: Another Frankfurt School Photographer in New York
Authors: Yoon Hyewon
Published: September 2023

This essay examines the portrait work of the Austrian-American photographer Lisette Model, with a special focus on her representation of the American lumpenproletariat in the Reflections series, Model's first after coming to New York in 1938 as an Austrian-French Jewish émigré, and in her Bowery portrait series. Within the history of American postwar photography, Model stands as a salient figure, a pioneer who located and defined the issues, options, and contradictions of photography as an artistic practice in the “New York School of photography.” Model's rendering of her subjects as eccentric, fantastic, and spectacular in their expressions and emotions propelled the émigré photographer with meager experience into a central position in the making of mid-century American photography, both social-documentary and commercial. Moving beyond the localized context of postwar American photography in which Model's work has been largely investigated, this essay argues for an understanding of Model's New York portraits as being shaped and informed by the photographer's consideration of the crisis of history and the violence enacted by fascism in Europe, as well as the historical condition of exile. One of the essay's claims is that Model revitalized a kind of pleasurable violence, one that enacts a sense of excessive bodily dynamism, often to the point of self-destruction, on the bodies of the American lumpenproletariat at leisure, in order both to come to terms with the role of the lumpenproletariat as the central subject of fascist politics and aesthetics in the Old World and to put pressure on the conditions of the mass subject and mass politics in the New World.
Effects of food matrix on the prebiotic efficacy of inulin-type fructans: a randomised trial
Authors: Jackson P.P.J. , Wijeyesekera A. , Theis S. , Van Harsselaar J. , Rastall R.A.
Published: September 2023

Recently there is much debate in the scientific community over the impact of the food matrix on prebiotic efficacy of inulin-type fructans. Previous studies suggest that prebiotic selectivity of inulin-type fructans towards bifidobacteria is unaffected by the food matrix. Due to differences in study design, definitive conclusions cannot be drawn from these findings with any degree of certainty. In this randomised trial, we aimed to determine the effects that different food matrices had on the prebiotic efficacy of inulin-type fructans following a standardised 10-day, 4-arm, parallel, randomised protocol with inulin either in pure form or incorporated into shortbread biscuits, milk chocolate or a rice drink. Similar increases in Bifidobacterium counts were documented across all four interventions using both fluorescence in situ hybridisation (pure inulin: +0.63; shortbread: +0.59; milk chocolate: +0.65 and rice drink: +0.71 (log10 cells/g wet faeces) and 16S rRNA sequencing quantitative microbiome profiling data (pure inulin: +1.21 × 109; shortbread: +1.47 × 109; milk chocolate: +8.59 × 108 and rice drink: +1.04 × 109 (cells/g wet faeces) (all ). From these results, we can confirm that irrespective of the food matrix, the selectivity of inulin-type fructans towards Bifidobacterium is unaffected, yet the compositional make-up of the food matrix may have implications regarding wider changes in the microbiota.
Elaeocarpus mahamayensis (Elaeocarpaceae), a new endemic species from the Knuckles Mountain Range in Sri Lanka
Authors: SILVA NILANKA , YAKANDAWALA DEEPTHI , YAKANDAWALA KAPILA
Published: September 2023

Based on an ongoing taxonomic study on the genus Elaeocarpus, a new endemic Elaeocarpus species, E. mahamayensis, is described and illustrated from the Knuckles Mountain Range in Matale District (Sri Lanka). The new species had been already noticed by Zmarzty in 2001; during the revision of Elaeocarpus sect. Elaeocarpus in Southern India and Sri Lanka, she referred a herbarium specimen of this plant as “Elaeocarpus sp. B”. The stone of Elaeocarpus mahamayensis is similar to that of E. amoenus, E. coriaceus, E. montanus and E. taprobanicus, but their leaf characters differ. With this new addition, the number of Elaeocarpus species occurring in Sri Lanka is elevated to ten. The conservation status of E. mahamayensis based on the IUCN Red Data category guidelines is determined as Critically Endangered.
Digitopodium citri sp. nov.; an endophytic species associated with Citrus medica L. var. sarcodactylis from Guangdong Province, China
Authors: LIANG JIE-RONG , SENANAYAKE INDUNIL C. , DONG ZHANG-YONG , HONGSANAN SINANG , LUO MEI
Published: September 2023

Fingered citron (Citrus medica var. sarcodactylis), is one of the fragrant herbs of the family Rutaceae. This plant is widely cultivated for its medicinal properties, food and flavoring uses, ornamental value, and cultural significance. In this study, we collected fruits of fingered citron in Deqing County, Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province, China, and several isolates of an endophytic, pigmented hyphomycetes species were obtained. The DNA sequences of our isolates were compared and analysed with those in the NCBI database, revealing that they are closely related to Digitopodium. Maximum likelihood, Maximum parsimony and Bayesian analyses of combined LSU and ITS sequence data were performed to clarify the phylogenetic affinities of the species. Based on the distinctive morphological characters and phylogenetic support, a new species, Digitopodium citri sp. nov. is introduced. The new species is compared with other similar taxa and comprehensive descriptions and illustrations are provided. This is the first endophytic species of Digitopodium.
A new species of Pleroma (Melastomataceae) from high-altitude grasslands of the state of São Paulo, Brazil
Authors: MEYER FABRÍCIO SCHMITZ , GOLDENBERG RENATO
Published: September 2023

A new species of Pleroma, endemic to the high-altitude grasslands of the state of São Paulo, is described. Pleroma curucutuense is morphologically similar to Pleroma caissara, but differs by the shrubby plants, 0.4–2 m tall (vs. arboreal plants, 2–7 m tall in P. caissara), smaller leaves, 2.4–5.6 × 1.2–2 cm (vs. 2.4–8.5 × 1.2–3.4 cm), with only 3 veins (vs. 5 veins), the smaller hypanthium, 5.5–6 × 4.5–5.5 mm (vs. 6.7–8.8 × 5.2–7.7 mm) and smaller sepals, 3.3–4.5 × 2.3–3.3 mm (vs. 6.7–10.2 × 2.7–4.6 mm). These species also occur in different habitats: P. curucutuense occurs above 750 m in high-altitude grasslands, while P. caissara occurs between 10–400 m elevation, in Restinga and Lowland and Submontane Atlantic Forest. According to our assessments based on IUCN criteria, P. curucutuense is preliminarily included in the Deficient Data category, because there is little information about its extent of occurrence and area of occupancy. Here we present its taxonomic description, comparisons with related species, illustrations made with photos of live and dehydrated specimens, and a distribution map. To facilitate its recognition, we present an identification key for the species of Pleroma that occur on high-altitude grasslands of the Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar, at the Núcleo Curucutu, where P. curucutuense has been collected.
A new spurless species of Impatiens sect. Microsepalae (Balsaminaceae) from south India
Authors: PRABHUKUMAR K.M. , ASHOK RESHMA , PRAKASH P.M. BINU , BALACHANDHRAN INDIRA
Published: September 2023

An interesting balsam with spurless lower sepal is described here as a new species to the Impatiens Sect. Microsepalae (Balsaminaceae) from southern parts of Western Ghats, India. Detailed notes on description, ecology, and distribution are provided along with a comparison of its morphologically similar species and colour photographs.
Revision of the genus Xizangiana Sherwood, Li & Zhang, 2022, with descriptions of five new species (Araneae: Gnaphosidae)
Authors: LIU BO , WANG LUYU , ZHANG FENG
Published: September 2023

The genus Xizangiana Sherwood, Li & Zhang, 2022 is revised. Two known species and five new species from China are described and illustrated: Xizangiana linzhiensis (Hu, 2001), X. rigaze (Song, Zhu & Zhang, 2004), X. benae Liu & Zhang, sp. n. (♂♀), X. longlin Liu & Zhang, sp. n. (♂♀), X. namchabarwa Liu & Zhang, sp. n. (♂♀), X. shenxian Liu & Zhang, sp. n. (♂♀) and X. xiangbi Liu & Zhang, sp. n. (♂♀). Two new combinations from India, Xizangiana pawani (Gajbe, 1993) comb. n. (ex. Urozelotes Mello-Leitão, 1938) and X. sedula (Simon, 1897) comb. n. (ex. Poecilochroa Westring, 1874), are proposed. The subfamily placement of Xizangiana is discussed and the records of all the species is mapped.
Investigating a Derecho in a Future Warmer Climate
Authors: Lasher-Trapp Sonia , Orendorf Sophie A. , Trapp Robert J.
Published: September 2023

Derechos are extensive swaths of damaging winds produced by some long-lived, widespread mesoscale convective systems. Little research has been conducted concerning how derecho mechanisms might change in a future, warmer climate. In this study, the pseudo–global warming method is utilized to evaluate how the 10 August 2020 midwestern U.S. derecho, the costliest thunderstorm event in U.S. history to date, might differ if it instead occurred in a warmer climate at the end of this century. The 10 August derecho event is first simulated in its observed environment, and then resimulated in environments altered according to projections from different climate models using a high-emissions climate change scenario. Results suggest that near the end of this century, a similar derecho event may not necessarily have more intense winds but could possibly impact a geographical area 50% to 100% larger. The physical chain of events leading to this greater geographical impact result from the derecho winds beginning earlier in the storm lifetime, due to increased precipitation combined with decreased relative humidity right above the ground, and derecho winds extending northward due to a strengthening of the parent storm from increased instability there. All these factors enhance the area of evaporative cooling and thus the cold pool, which in turn extends the area covered by the rear-inflow jet within the storm, the likely main mechanism for most of the damaging winds at the ground in the historical event. More study of other cases is required to evaluate the generality of this result.