bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nanothermometer Based on Polychlorinated Trityl Radicals Showing Two‐Photon Excitation and Emission in the Biological Transparency Window: Temperature Monitoring of Biological Tissues
Authors: Gonzalez‐Pato Nerea , Blasi Davide , Nikolaidou Domna M. , Bertocchi Francesco , Cerdá Jesús , Terenziani Francesca , Ventosa Nora , Aragó Juan , Lapini Andrea , Veciana Jaume , Ratera Imma
Published: November 2023

Nanothermometers are emerging probes as biomedical diagnostic tools. Especially appealing are nanoprobes using NIR light in the range of biological transparency window (BTW) since they have the advantages of a deeper penetration into biological tissues, better contrast, reduced phototoxicity and photobleaching. This article reports the preparation and characterization of organic nanoparticles (ONPs) doped with two polychlorinated trityl radicals (TTM and PTM), as well as studies of their electronic and optical properties. Such ONPs having inside isolated radical molecules and dimeric excimers, can be two‐photon excited showing optimal properties for temperature sensing. Remarkably, in TTM‐based ONPs the emission intensity of the isolated radical species is unaltered increasing temperature, while the excimer emission intensity decreases strongly being thereby able to monitor temperature changes with an excellent thermal absolute sensitivity of 0.6–3.7% K−1 in the temperature range of 278–328 K. The temperature dependence of the excimeric bands of ONPs are theoretically simulated by using electronic structure calculations and a vibronic Hamiltonian model. Finally, TTM‐doped ONPs as ratiometric NIR‐nanothermometers are tested with two‐photon excitationwith enucleated pig eye sclera, as a real tissue model, obtaining a similar temperature sensitivity as in aqueous suspensions, demonstrating their potential as NIR nanothermometers for bio applications.
Phytochemical study: Fragmentation patterns of flavonoid‐C‐glycosides in the enriched flavonoids from corn silk using high‐efficiency ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry
Authors: Wang Yumei , Gu Meiling , Mao Jialin , Liu Jianhua , Fan Songjie , Zhang Honglian , Bu Hongzhou , Liu Qi
Published: November 2023

Flavonoid‐C‐glycosides with various pharmacological actions were abundant in corn silk, and fragmentation in mass spectra of flavonoid‐C‐glycosides compounds was particularly important. This paper aimed to supervise the fragmentation patterns of flavonoid‐C‐glycosides in the enriched flavonoids from corn silk by high‐efficiency ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography combined with a quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry approach. Therefore, the flavonoids were extracted by heating reflux and then purified based on D101 macroporous resin. Thirty‐five flavonoids were triumphantly identified in the purified product. Among them, 14 were flavonoid‐C‐glycosides, seven of them owned luteolin mother nuclei (luteolin‐C‐glycosides) and seven of them owned apigenin mother nuclei (apigenin‐C‐glycosides). Importantly, the diagnostic product ions of luteolin‐C‐glycosides including m/z (431, 413, 395, 369, 367, 313, and 299) and m/z (429, 411, 393, 367, 365, 311, and 297), and the characteristic product ions of apigenin‐C‐glycosides covered m/z (353, 339, and 299) and m/z (339, 327, and 309). In addition, diagnostic H2O neutral loss and glycosyl craking were familiar, and the difference values among product ions mainly contained 40, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, and 120 Da. Thus, the fragmentations of luteolin‐C‐glycosides and apigenin‐C‐glycosides identified in corn silk were with proper regularity. The obtained fragmentation patterns provided rapid recognition and meaningful guidance for the purification study of flavonoid‐C‐glycosides.
Application of Nondestructive Testing Technology in Device‐Scale for Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Wan Xuanhong , Xu Xijun , Li Fangkun , Song Xin , Peng Chenxi , Liu Jun
Published: November 2023

Lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs), due to their high energy density and long cycling life have been widely applied in a variety of industries, including electric vehicles, small‐ and medium‐sized electronic devices, and intelligent medical care. Nevertheless, the security and real‐time state of LIBs is difficult to obtain accurately, improving the battery's service life and ensuring battery safety have become the focus of research. Nondestructive testing (NDT) technology has developed quickly to reach this purpose, requiring a thorough investigation of how batteries’ internal structures have evolved. The principles, contributing factors, and applications of various widely used NDT techniques are summarized and discussed in this review. These inspection techniques can be used to evaluate the battery condition, observe the internal structure of the battery, analyze the failure phenomenon and electrochemical performance of the battery operation, etc. Finally, a summary and outlook are given regarding the characteristics and prospects of NDT methods. This overview will show new light on the application of NDT technology for LIBs and will promote the development of next‐generation LIBs with high security.
Instructing Liquid‐Liquid Phase Separation Inside Membranous Protocells
Authors: Lv Xintao , Liu Jiawei , Song Peiyong , Zhao Li , Lin Yiyang
Published: November 2023

The bottom‐up fabrication of compartmentalized cell‐like entities represents a promising avenue for reconstituting hierarchical organization within cells and emulating life‐like behaviors. Integrating the creation of semipermeable membranes and membraneless artificial organelles has recently garnered significant attention, aiming to achieve cytomimetic properties. We briefly describe the concept of liquid‐liquid phase separation and review approaches for the fabrication of cell‐sized membranous protocells (e. g., giant unilamellar vesicles, polymersomes and proteinosomes). Three strategies are emphasized for the construction of advanced cell‐like structures consisting of liquid‐like subcompartments enclosed by a membrane: (i) adsorption and assembly of organic or inorganic species onto the surface of preformed coacervate microdroplets; (ii) interfacial assembly of a lipid or polymer bilayer on the surface of an aqueous pool containing preformed microdroplets; and (ii) triggering phase separation within a preformed semipermeable membrane with chemical or physical stimuli. This review underscores the significance of the hierarchical organization of these synthetic cellular structures in mimicking cytomimetic functions, including transmembrane signaling, protocell communication, prototissue formation, and their compelling biomedical applications.
Association between total hypercalcaemia and iliosacral lymph node metastasis in dogs diagnosed with anal sac adenocarcinoma using abdominal ultrasonography
Authors: Toth Darby , Upchurch David , Hallman R. Mackenzie
Published: November 2023

Background

Anal sac adenocarcinoma (ASACA) in dogs is a malignant perianal tumour that often metastasizes to the iliosacral lymph nodes. Additionally, this tumour can be associated with hypercalcemia of malignancy. To date, no study has looked at the association between increased blood calcium levels and suspected or confirmed lymph node metastasis as a primary objective.

Objective

The objective of this study was to determine if increased total serum calcium level is associated with iliosacral lymph node metastasis in dogs diagnosed with ASACA.

Methods

Medical records of a single referral hospital were searched to identify dogs examined between 2011 and 2021 that had a diagnosis of ASACA via cytology or histopathology. Only dogs that had serum total calcium recorded and abdominal ultrasound were included in the study. All images were reviewed by a board‐certified radiologist blinded to any patient identifiers.

Results

Of the 58 dogs, 33% (19/58) had total hypercalcaemia, and of these, 68% had confirmed or suspected iliosacral lymph node metastasis. Total hypercalcaemia was significantly associated with confirmed or suspected iliosacral lymph node metastasis (p < 0.01). However, 46% (11/24) of dogs with confirmed or suspected iliosacral lymph node metastasis were normocalcaemic.

Conclusions

Based on these results, it is suggested that while the presence of total hypercalcaemia may increase the likelihood of concurrent lymph node metastasis, total hypercalcaemia alone cannot be used as a screening tool for lymph node metastasis. Dogs diagnosed with ASACA should undergo full staging regardless of total serum calcium values.
Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance of Campylobacter species in shelter‐housed healthy and diarrheic cats and dogs in Turkey
Authors: Yildiz Mustafa , Sahin Orhan , Adiguzel Mehmet Cemal
Published: November 2023

Background

Campylobacter spp. are among the leading foodborne bacterial pathogens. Pet animals may be an important reservoir for human infection.

Objectives

To determine the prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profiles and mechanisms of Campylobacter isolates recovered from shelter‐housed healthy and diarrheic cats and dogs in Erzurum province in Turkey.

Methods

A total of 250 rectal swabs (from 124 cats and 126 dogs) collected between 2020 and 2021 were included in this study. The samples were cultured using a Campylobacter‐selective agar medium. A single suspect colony from each plate was purified and species identification was performed by PCR. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values were determined against eight antibiotics. Specific antimicrobial resistance genes (tetO and aphA‐3) and mutations (in gyrA) were screened by PCR and/or sequencing.

Results

A total of 26 (10.4%) isolates (25 Campylobacter jejuni and 1 Campylobacter coli) were obtained from the dogs; no Campylobacter was isolated from the cats. Of the C. jejuni isolates, 19.2% were resistant to nalidixic acid, 7.7% to ciprofloxacin and 3.8% to tetracycline and gentamicin per the CLSI interpretative criteria. The C. coli isolate was susceptible to all of the tested antibiotics. Thr‐86‐Ile mutation was the most common change detected in the gyrA gene in the quinolone‐resistant isolates.

Conclusion

While geographic and population differences exist, Campylobacter carriage and associated antibiotic resistance in dogs is common, emphasising the need for continuous surveillance in this species, particularly given its zoonotic potential.
Third order QCD predictions for fiducial W-boson production
Authors: Campbell John , Neumann Tobias
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Measurements of W-boson production at the LHC have reached percent-level precision and impose challenging demands on theoretical predictions. Such predictions directly limit the precision of measurements of fundamental quantities such as the W-boson mass and the weak mixing angle. A dominant source of uncertainty in predictions is from higher-order QCD effects. We present a calculation of W-boson production at the level of $$ {\alpha}_s^3 $$

α
s
3

at fixed order and including transverse-momentum resummation. We further show predictions for a direct comparison with low-pileup ATLAS transverse-momentum and fiducial cross-section measurements at $$ \sqrt{s} $$

s

= 5.02 TeV. We discuss in detail the impact of modern PDFs. Our calculation including the matching to W+jet production at NNLO will be publicly available the upcoming CuTe-MCFM release and allows for theory-data comparison at the state-of-the-art level.
Holographic neutrino transport in dense strongly-coupled matter
Authors: Järvinen M. , Kiritsis E. , Nitti F. , Préau E.
Published: November 2023

Abstract

A (toy) model for cold and luke-warm strongly-coupled nuclear matter at finite baryon density, is used to study neutrino transport. The complete charged current two-point correlators are computed in the strongly-coupled medium and their impact on neutrino transport is analyzed. The full result is compared with various approximations for the current correlators and the distributions, including the degenerate approximation, the hydrodynamic approximation as well as the diffusive approximation and we comment on their successes. Further improvements are discussed.
Development of a rapid heat cycle injection molding system using infrared radiation and convection heating and influence on morphology and mechanical properties
Authors: Simoes Ricardo , Macedo Cláudia , Laranjeira Jorge , Brito António M. , Simões Carla L. , Faria Luís
Published: November 2023

Conventional injection molding is widely used to produce plastic parts, mainly in the automotive industry, due to the high production ratios and quality of injection parts. Low mold temperatures are usually employed to decrease cycle molding time and final process costs; however, resulting surface defects include weld lines, sink marks, and warpage. Therefore, plastic parts are often subjected to secondary processes to reduce the surface defects. A dynamic mold heating and cooling control technology, rapid heat cycle molding (RHCM), was employed to optimize the injection molding process. The present study combined convection heating (pressurized water flow) and external infrared heating systems to investigate the effect of dynamic temperature control on the injection molding process. The infrared heating system was custom built to allow studying under controlled conditions the influence of several process parameters on the resulting morphology and mechanical properties. Results show significant gains from using the RHCM technology to optimize the conventional process, namely, at 100 °C no frozen layer is formed while simultaneously increasing the Young’s modulus. Industrial companies struggling with defects resulting from the thermal changes during injection molding can thus consider RHCM as a mitigation strategy and use these results as a guide for tool design and implementation of the technique.
Review-based method for evaluating key performance indicators: an application on warehouse system
Authors: Faveto Alberto , Traini Emiliano , Bruno Giulia , Chiabert Paolo
Published: November 2023

This paper presents a procedure for selecting, evaluating, and ranking the key performance indicators (KPIs) in the context of warehouse systems. The method aims to help warehouse managers identify and prioritize KPIs most relevant to their business objectives and performance goals, ultimately driving continuous improvement in warehouse performance. The paper provides three main scientific contributions: (i) a selection composed of 70 KPIs extracted from the analysis of 203 scientific articles and clustered according to their business and sustainability objectives, (ii) a KPI ranking based on four different metrics measured analyzing 585 scientific papers from Scopus and, finally, (iii) a fifth metric, measured trough a survey submitted to 15 industrial experts from as many different Italian companies, that is added to improve the ranking system. As a part of the method applied to a case study, the paper provides a comprehensive review of the current scientific literature and industrial sector state of the art on warehouse KPIs. This article proposes an overview of the most used KPIs in research and industry, a support for understanding formalizing definitions, and a guide on how they can be measured and used to manage warehouses.
Exploring capabilities of elemental mass spectrometry for determination of metal and biomolecules in extracellular vesicles
Authors: Martínez-García Jaime , Villa-Vázquez Alicia , Fernández Beatriz , González-Iglesias Héctor , Pereiro Rosario
Published: November 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are increasingly recognized as crucial components influencing various pathophysiological processes, such as cellular homeostasis, cancer progression, and neurological disease. However, the lack of standardized methods for EV isolation and classification, coupled with ambiguity in biochemical markers associated with EV subtypes, remains a major challenge. This Trends article highlights the most common approaches for EV isolation and characterization, along with recent applications of elemental mass spectrometry (MS) to analyse metals and biomolecules in EVs obtained from biofluids or in vitro cellular models. Considering the promising capabilities of elemental MS, the article also looks ahead to the potential analysis of EVs at the single-vesicle and single-cell levels using ICP-MS. These approaches may offer valuable insights into individual characteristics of EVs and their functions, contributing to a deeper understanding of their role in various biological processes.

Graphical Abstract
Avian nuptial plumage coloration changes differently when exposed to urban and rural areas
Authors: Surmacki Adrian , Siefferman Lynn , Plackowska Anna
Published: November 2023

Avian plumage coloration could be altered by external factors like dust accumulation, but the effect of environmental conditions on such post-moult colour changes are poorly studied. Here, we investigated how exposure to the atmosphere in habitats of differing anthropogenic pressures modifies UV/blue structural plumage coloration — a sexually selected trait in eastern bluebirds Sialia sialis. We collected feather samples from live birds and distributed them in three types of habitats: (i) urban roads with low traffic, (ii) urban roads with high traffic, and (iii) rural roads with low traffic. After 4 weeks, the brightness of feathers decreased in all types of habitats-resulting in less-ornamented coloration. Changes in UV and blue chroma, however, varied with habitat type; chroma decreased in urban areas (becoming less ornamented), but increased in rural locations (becoming more ornamented). According to physiological models of avian colour vision, however, these changes in coloration tended to be below perceptual thresholds. Our results underscore the importance of how human activity can influence plumage colour of individual birds during the period between moult cycles which could have an impact on avian visual signalling. The study opens venues for further studies focusing on how the optical properties of specific airborne particles can influence coloration of wild-living animals.

Significance statement

Plumage coloration plays an important role in avian visual communication. In addition to moult-based change, coloration may change between moult cycles due to exposure to external factors like, for example, dust accumulation. Ecological factors modifying a passive plumage change, however, remains poorly studied. We collected samples of structurally coloured feather from a species wherein plumage colour is sexually selected and exposed them to outdoor conditions. We demonstrate that UV/blue chroma of coloration changes differently in urban and rural habitats. It increased in rural and decreased in urban areas. On the other hand, brightness decreased in both habitat types. Using physiological models of avian colour vision, however, we found that these colour changes were likely not perceptible to birds. Our study provides the first evidence that changes in coloration of fully grown feathers may be habitat dependent.
Musculoskeletal disorders and pain in agricultural workers in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shivakumar Mrithula , Welsh Victoria , Bajpai Ram , Helliwell Toby , Mallen Christian , Robinson Michelle , Shepherd Thomas
Published: November 2023

Agricultural workers constitute two-thirds of the population of Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMIC) and are at increased risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) due to high-risk activities. This systematic review and meta-analysis aim to synthesise the prevalence, predictors, and outcomes of musculoskeletal pain amongst agricultural workers to identify priority areas for prevention and development of early interventions. This systematic review and meta-analysis included Studies published from the inception of global electronic databases until 30 September 2022 were included. Prevalence estimates for MSDs among agricultural workers aged over 18 years in LMIC were extracted. Narrative synthesis summarized study findings and pooled estimates for 12-month pain prevalence were calculated. 7502 potential studies were identified. 64 studies (68,684 participants from 23 countries) were included in the systematic review; 33 studies were included in the meta-analysis. Low back pain was the most widely investigated symptom. The 12-month pooled prevalence of low back pain was highest in Africa [61.96% (45.69–76.22)] compared to Asia [54.16% (47.76–60.50)] and South/Central America [28.52%(10.91–50.33)]. Narrative synthesis found associations between MSDs, particular activities including heavy lifting and repetitive movements, and outcomes including reduced productivity. MSDs are common in agriculture workers in LMIC. Global prevalence of low back pain in farmers, particularly in Africa, is greater than in previously reported global prevalence in the general population. This may be attributed to environmental factors and high-risk activities which could be targeted for prevention and early intervention strategies to support individuals, prevent disability, and reduce loss of productivity.
Generation of human gastric assembloids from primary fetal organoids
Authors: Benedetti Giada , Jones Brendan C. , Sgualdino Francesca , De Coppi Paolo , Giobbe Giovanni Giuseppe
Published: November 2023

Purpose

Understanding human gastric epithelium homeostasis remains partial, motivating the exploration of innovative in vitro models. Recent literature showcases the potential of fetal stem cell-derived organoids in developmental and disease modelling and translational therapies. To scale the complexity of the model, we propose to generate assembloids, aiming to increase gastric maturation to provide new structural and functional insights.

Methods

Human fetal gastric organoids (fGOs) were expanded in 3D Matrigel cultures. Confluent organoid cultures were released from the Matrigel dome and resuspended in a collagen I hydrogel. Subsequently, the organoid mixture was seeded in a ring shape within a 24-well plate and allowed to gelate. The structure was lifted in the medium and cultured in floating conditions, allowing for organoid self-assembling into a gastric assembloid. After 10 days of maturation, the assembloids were characterized by immunostaining and RT-PCR, comparing different fetal developmental stages.

Results

Successful generation of human fetal gastric assembloids (fGAs) was achieved using spontaneous self-aggregation within the collagen I hydrogel. Immunostaining analysis of early and late fGAs showed the establishment of apico-basal cell polarity, secretion of gastric mucins, and the presence of chromogranin A in both samples. Transcriptional markers analysis revealed distinct disparities in markers associated with mature cell types between late and early fetal stages.

Conclusions

fGOs can reliably be generated from human fetal samples. This pioneering assembloid approach paves the way for advancing our comprehension of human gastric epithelium homeostasis and its perturbation, offering a better in vitro platform for the study of gastric epithelial development and therapeutic translation.
Basal osteotomy of the first metacarpal using patient-specific guides and instrumentation: biomechanical and 3D CT-based analysis
Authors: Nüesch Cléa , Schweizer Andreas , Weber Andreas , Reissner Lisa
Published: November 2023

Introduction

The aim of this study was to investigate the radiological outcomes of proximal closing metacarpal extension osteotomies using patient-specific guides and instruments (PSI) in early-stage trapeziometacarpal osteoarthritis to gain further insight into the joint loading surface and the benefits of the procedure.

Methods

In a prospective observational study, nine patients were included between 11/2020 and 12/2021, undergoing a total of ten proximal metacarpal extension osteotomies for basal thumb osteoarthritis. Computer-assisted surgical planning was performed using computed tomography (CT) and three-dimensional (3D) segmentation, allowing the fabrication of 3D-printed PSIs for surgical treatment. Inclusion criteria were a 1-year follow-up by CT to assess postoperative correction of the positional shift of the first metacarpal (MC1) and the location of peak loads compared with the preoperative situation.

Results

Radiographic analysis of the peak loading zone revealed a mean displacement on the articular surface of the trapezius of 0.4 mm ± 1.4 mm to radial and 0.1 mm ± 1.2 mm to palmar, and on the articular surface of the MC1 of 0.4 mm ± 1.4 mm to radial and 0.1 mm ± 1.2 mm to dorsal.

Conclusion

There were trends indicating that a flatter pressure distribution and a dorsal shift of the peak loading zone may contribute to an improvement in subjective pain and patient satisfaction associated with this surgical procedure. The non-significant radiological results and the minor dorsal-radial shifts in our small study group limit a firm conclusion.

Level of evidence

III.
Cerebrospinal fluid findings in patients with neurological manifestations in post-COVID-19 syndrome
Authors: Boesl Fabian , Goereci Yasemin , Gerhard Ameli , Bremer Benno , Raeder Vanessa , Schweitzer Finja , Hoppmann Uta , Behrens Janina , Bellmann-Strobl Judith , Paul Friedemann , Wildemann Brigitte , Jarius Sven , Prüss Harald , Audebert Heinrich J. , Warnke Clemens , Franke Christiana
Published: November 2023

Background

Information on cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) findings in patients with neurological manifestations in post-COVID-19 syndrome is scarce.

Methods

Retrospective evaluation of 84 CSF samples in patients fulfilling post-COVID-19 criteria in two neurological post-COVID-19 outpatient clinics.

Results

In 68% of samples, all CSF parameters were normal. The most frequent pathological CSF finding was elevation of total protein (median total protein 33.3 mg/dl [total range 18.5–116.2]) in 20 of 83 (24%) samples. The second most prevalent pathological finding was a blood–CSF barrier dysfunction as measured by elevation of QAlb (median QAlb 4.65 [2.4–13.2]) in 11/84 (13%). Pleocytosis was found in only 5/84 (6%) samples and was mild in all of them. CSF-restricted oligoclonal bands were found in 5/83 (6%) samples. Anti-neuronal autoantibodies in CSF were negative in most cases, whilst 12/68 (18%) samples were positive for anti-myelin autoantibodies in serum. PCR for herpesviridae (HSV-1/-2, VZV, EBV, CMV, HHV6) showed, if at all, only weakly positive results in CSF or EDTA whole blood/plasma.

Conclusions

The majority of samples did not show any pathologies. The most frequent findings were elevation of total protein and blood–CSF barrier dysfunction with no signs of intrathecal inflammation. CSF analysis still keeps its value for exclusion of differential diagnoses.
Investment externalities, bank liquidity creation, and bank failures
Authors: Dietrich Diemo , Vollmer Uwe
Published: November 2023

Recent evidence suggests that banks are interconnected through investment externalities among their borrowers. We study how such investment externalities affect the ability of unregulated, competitive banks to facilitate risk sharing among bank depositors, adapting a canonical model of banks as creators of liquidity subject to fundamental risks to bank returns. Failures occur when banks become insolvent. We find that investment externalities render fundamental risks to bank returns endogenous, risk sharing among depositors inefficient, probabilities of bank failures too high, and payouts to depositors in the event of a bank failure too low. These effects arise because productivity is too low in the presence of investment externalities. Minimum liquidity standards and bank bailouts dampen productivity further.
A causal, time-independent synchronization pattern for collective adaptive systems
Authors: Fettke Peter , Reisig Wolfgang
Published: November 2023

Artificial ants are “small” units, moving autonomously on a shared, dynamically changing “space”, directly or indirectly exchanging some kind of information. Artificial ants are frequently conceived as a paradigm for collective adaptive systems. In this paper, we discuss means to represent continuous moves of “ants” in discrete models. More generally, we challenge the role of the notion of “time” in artificial ant systems and models. We suggest a modeling framework that structures behavior along causal dependencies rather than temporal relations. We present all arguments with the help of a simple example. As a modeling framework we employ Heraklit; an emerging framework that has already proven its worth in many contexts. Different concrete collective systems share similar features, despite differences in the size of basic sets, concrete values of functions, etc., and can therefore be conceived as instantiations of a single schema. Hence, we need a representation of systems on the schematic level.
Assessing the colony morphotypes and antibiotic susceptibility profile of Malaysian clinical Burkholderia pseudomallei to support the use of EUCAST disk diffusion breakpoints to determine antibiotic resistance
Authors: Hii Shirley Yi Fen , Zaiful Bahrina Nurul Naziha , Mohd Zaidi Maswani Nabilah , Hashim Rohaidah , Ahmad Norazah
Published: November 2023

Burkholderia pseudomallei is intrinsically resistant to many antibiotics. This study aimed to assess bacterial colony morphotypes and the validity of using disk diffusion method (DD) to determine antibiotic resistance in Malaysian clinical B. pseudomallei isolates for ceftazidime (CAZ), meropenem (MEM), amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC) and doxycycline (DOX). DD produced good categorical agreements exhibiting concordance of 100% with reference method, broth microdilution for CAZ and DOX, 98.6% for MEM and 97.2% for AMC. Smooth-centred colonies were most frequently observed. EUCAST DD interpretative criterion is suitable to interpret B. pseudomallei CAZ, MEM, AMC and DOX resistance. Increasing AMC MIC in B. pseudomallei is a concern.
Efficacy of pulsed electromagnetic field therapy on pain and physical function in patients with non-specific low back pain: a systematic review
Authors: Kull Philipp , Keilani Mohammad , Remer Franziska , Crevenna Richard
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Non-specific low back pain is a common and clinically significant condition with substantial socioeconomic implications. Pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy has shown benefits in pain reduction and improvement of physical function in patients with pain-associated disorders like osteoarthritis. However, studies had heterogeneous settings. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of PEMF on pain and function on patients with non-specific low back pain.

Methods

A systematic literature search of randomized controlled trials in PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and PEDro was performed (from inception until 15/5/2023). Outcome measures assessed pain and function.

Results

Nine randomized controlled trials with 420 participants (n = 420) were included. The studies compared PEMF vs. placebo-PEMF, PEMF and conventional physical therapy vs. conventional physical therapy alone, PEMF and conventional physical therapy vs. placebo-PEMF and conventional physical therapy, PEMF vs. high-intensity laser therapy (HILT) vs. conventional physical therapy, and osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) and PEMF vs. PEMF alone vs. placebo-PEMF vs. OMT alone. Five of the nine included studies showed statistically significant pain reduction and improvement in physical function in comparison to their control groups (p < 0.05). There was substantial heterogeneity among the groups of the study, with a wide range of duration (10–30 min), treatments per week (2–7/week), applied frequencies (3–50 Hz), and intensities (2mT–150mT). No serious adverse event had been reported in any study. The included studies showed solid methodological quality, with an overall score of 7.2 points according to the PEDro scale.

Conclusion

PEMF therapy seems to be a safe and beneficial treatment option for non-specific low back pain, particularly if used as an addition to conventional physical therapy modalities. Future research should focus on standardized settings including assessment methods, treatment regimens, frequencies, and intensities.
Professional competences to promote healthy ageing across the lifespan: a scoping review
Authors: Carrillo-Alvarez Elena , Rodríguez-Monforte Míriam , Fernández-Jané Carles , Solà-Madurell Mireia , Kozakiewicz Mariusz , Głowacka Mariola , Leclère Mariel , Nimani Endrit , Hoxha Adnan , Hirvonen Armi , Järvinen Sari , van der Velde Miriam , van Scherpenseel Meike , Lopes António Alves , Santos Hugo , Guimarães Isabel , Handgraaf Marietta , Grüneberg Christian
Published: November 2023

As societies age, the development of resources and strategies that foster healthy ageing from the beginning of life become increasingly important. Social and healthcare professionals are key agents in this process; therefore, their training needs to be in agreement with societal needs. We performed a scoping review on professional competences for social and health workers to adequately promote healthy ageing throughout life, using the framework described by Arksey and O’Malley and the Joanna Briggs Institute Guidelines. A stakeholder consultation was held in each of the participating countries, in which 79 experts took part. Results show that current literature has been excessively focused on the older age and that more attention on how to work with younger population groups is needed. Likewise, not all disciplines have equally reflected on their role before this challenge and interprofessional approaches, despite showing promise, have not been sufficiently described. Based on our results, health and social professionals working to promote healthy ageing across the lifespan will need sound competences regarding person-centred communication, professional communication, technology applications, physiological and pathophysiological aspects of ageing, social and environmental aspects, cultural diversity, programs and policies, ethics, general and basic skills, context and self-management-related skills, health promotion and disease prevention skills, educational and research skills, leadership skills, technological skills and clinical reasoning. Further research should contribute to establishing which competences are more relevant to each discipline and at what level they should be taught, as well as how they can be best implemented to effectively transform health and social care systems.
Ibuprofen inhibits anaplastic thyroid cells in vivo and in vitro by triggering NLRP3-ASC-GSDMD-dependent pyroptosis
Authors: Guo Haohao , Ma Runsheng , Zhang Yifei , Yin Keyu , Du Gongbo , Yin Fanxiang , Li Hongqiang , Wang Ziyang , Yin Detao
Published: November 2023

Pyroptosis is a novel type of proinflammatory programmed cell death that is associated with inflammation, immunity, and cancer. Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) has a high fatality rate, and there is no effective or standard treatment. The disease progresses rapidly and these tumors can invade the trachea and esophagus, leading to breathing and swallowing difficulties. Hence, new treatment methods are greatly needed. Ibuprofen is a common drug that can exert antitumor effects in some cancers. In this study, we demonstrated in vitro and in vivo that ibuprofen can induce ATC pyroptosis. Hence, we treated C643 and OCUT-2C ATC cells with ibuprofen and found that several dying cells presented the characteristic morphological features of pyroptosis, such as bubble-like swelling and membrane rupture, accompanied by activation of ASC and NLRP3 and cleavage of GSDMD. Along with the increased release of LDH, ibuprofen treatment promoted apoptosis and inhibited viability, invasion, and migration. However, overexpression of GSDMD significantly inhibited ibuprofen-induced pyroptosis. In vivo, research has demonstrated that thyroid tumor growth in nude mice can be suppressed by ibuprofen-induced pyroptosis in a dose-dependent manner. In this research, we explored a new mechanism by which ibuprofen inhibits ATC growth and progression and highlighted its promise as a therapeutic agent for ATC.
‘Does the Claim that there are no Theories Imply that there is no History of Theories to be Written?(!)’*
Authors: French Steven
Published: November 2023

In There Are No Such Things As Theories (French 2020), the reification of theories is critically analysed and rejected. My aim here is to tease out some of the implications of this approach first of all, for how we, philosophers of science, should view the history of science; secondly, for how we should understand the devices that we use in our own philosophical practices; and thirdly, for how we might think about the relationship between the history of science and the philosophy of science.
Does moral anti-theodicy beg the question?
Authors: Echazú Gabriel
Published: November 2023

Some philosophers of religion have argued that moral anti-theodicy begs the question. This paper evaluates the arguments from two such philosophers, writing a decade apart—Robert Mark Simpson, and Lauri Snellman. Simpson argues that any global argument against theodicy must allow for the possibility of there existing a plausible theodicy, and that anti-theodical arguments (the argument from insensitivity, the argument from detachment, and the argument from harmful consequences) all implicitly discount this possibility, thus ending up begging the question. Snellman argues that moral anti-theodicies presuppose that some evils cannot be justified, which would presuppose that theodicy is false from the start, which in turn would beg the question against theodicy. The author of the paper argues that Simpson’s arguments rest on an erroneous assumption regarding the nature of anti-theodicy, and that one of Simpson’s arguments sets a problematic standard for argumentation that the author argues we should not accept. It is also argued that Snellman’s argument relies on an unsupported claim from Toby Betenson. Therefore, the author concludes that Simpson and Snellman have not managed to show that moral anti-theodicies beg the question.
Analyzing the impact of companies on AI research based on publications
Authors: Färber Michael , Tampakis Lazaros
Published: November 2023

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is one of the most momentous technologies of our time. Thus, it is of major importance to know which stakeholders influence AI research. Besides researchers at universities and colleges, researchers in companies have hardly been considered in this context. In this article, we consider how the influence of companies on AI research can be made measurable on the basis of scientific publishing activities. We compare academic- and company-authored AI publications published in the last decade and use scientometric data from multiple scholarly databases to look for differences across these groups and to disclose the top contributing organizations. While the vast majority of publications is still produced by academia, we find that the citation count an individual publication receives is significantly higher when it is (co–)authored by a company. Furthermore, using a variety of altmetric indicators, we notice that publications with company participation receive considerably more attention online. Finally, we place our analysis results in a broader context and present targeted recommendations to safeguard a harmonious balance between academia and industry in the realm of AI research.
The formation of a field: sustainability science and its leading journals
Authors: Schirone Marco
Published: November 2023

This study investigates the scholarly field of sustainability science between 2001 and 2021 from the perspective of 18 frequently cited journals. For this purpose, the article employs the concept of the “scientific field” developed by the sociologist Pierre Bourdieu and the associated methodology of Geometric Data Analysis (GDA). Thus, two GDA approaches, the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and the Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), as well as analyses of co-citation and co-authorship relations, were used to identify the positions of these journals in the field. One key finding is the historical shift from an earlier dominance of chemistry-related journals to publications more broadly concerned with sustainability research. The MCA analyses show that the selection of research topics is in line with a “weak” rather than “strong” interpretation of the concept “sustainability.” Networks based on co-authorship relations reveal an overall increment in this type of collaboration, both at the level of organizations and countries. Since 2008, Chinese universities have notably increased their presence in the output of the journals examined in the study. Three strategies in shaping the field through its journals are discernable: publications strongly characterized by a systems theory perspective, notably Sustainability Science; generalist journals committed to sustainability research in a broader meaning; and publications that address sustainability issues mainly within a specific discipline.
Universal Representations: A Unified Look at Multiple Task and Domain Learning
Authors: Li Wei-Hong , Liu Xialei , Bilen Hakan
Published: November 2023

We propose a unified look at jointly learning multiple vision tasks and visual domains through universal representations, a single deep neural network. Learning multiple problems simultaneously involves minimizing a weighted sum of multiple loss functions with different magnitudes and characteristics and thus results in unbalanced state of one loss dominating the optimization and poor results compared to learning a separate model for each problem. To this end, we propose distilling knowledge of multiple task/domain-specific networks into a single deep neural network after aligning its representations with the task/domain-specific ones through small capacity adapters. We rigorously show that universal representations achieve state-of-the-art performances in learning of multiple dense prediction problems in NYU-v2 and Cityscapes, multiple image classification problems from diverse domains in Visual Decathlon Dataset and cross-domain few-shot learning in MetaDataset. Finally we also conduct multiple analysis through ablation and qualitative studies.
Intelligent biomedical image classification in a big data architecture using metaheuristic optimization and gradient approximation
Authors: Almutairi Laila , Abugabah Ahed , Alhumyani Hesham , Mohamed Ahmed A.
Published: November 2023

Medical imaging has experienced significant development in contemporary medicine and can now record a variety of biomedical pictures from patients to test and analyze the illness and its severity. Computer vision and artificial intelligence may outperform human diagnostic ability and uncover hidden information in biomedical images. In healthcare applications, fast prediction and reliability are of the utmost importance parameters to assure the timely detection of disease. The existing systems have poor classification accuracy, and higher computation time and the system complexity is higher. Low-quality images might impact the processing method, leading to subpar results. Furthermore, extensive preprocessing techniques are necessary for achieving accurate outcomes. Image contrast is one of the most essential visual parameters. Insufficient contrast may present many challenges for computer vision techniques. Traditional contrast adjustment techniques may not be adequate for many applications. Occasionally, these technologies create photos that lack crucial information. The primary contribution of this work is designing a Big Data Architecture (BDA) to improve the dependability of medical systems by producing real-time warnings and making precise forecasts about patient health conditions. A BDA-based Bio-Medical Image Classification (BDA-BMIC) system is designed to detect the illness of patients using Metaheuristic Optimization (Genetic Algorithm) and Gradient Approximation to improve the biomedical image classification process. Extensive tests are conducted on publicly accessible datasets to demonstrate that the suggested retrieval and categorization methods are superior to the current methods. The suggested BDA-BMIC system has average detection accuracy of 94.6% and a sensitivity of 97.3% in the simulation analysis.
Mercury accumulation efficiency of different biomonitors in indoor environments: the case study of the Central Italian Herbarium (Florence, Italy)
Authors: Ciani Francesco , Fornasaro Silvia , Benesperi Renato , Bianchi Elisabetta , Cabassi Jacopo , Di Nuzzo Luca , Grifoni Lisa , Venturi Stefania , Costagliola Pilario , Rimondi Valentina
Published: November 2023

Biomonitoring studies are often employed to track airborne pollutants both in outdoor and indoor environments. In this study, the mercury (Hg) sorption by three biomonitors, i.e., Pinus nigra bark, Pseudovernia furfuracea lichen, and Hypnum cupressiforme moss, was investigated in controlled (indoor) conditions. In comparison to outdoor environments, controlled conditions offer the opportunity to investigate more in detail the variables (humidity, temperature, pollutants speciation, etc.) that control Hg uptake. The biomonitors were exposed in two distinct periods of the year for 2 and 12 months respectively, in the halls of the Central Italian Herbarium (Natural History Museum of the University of Florence, Italy), which are polluted by Hg, due to past plant sample treatments. The Hg sorption trend was monitored every 3 weeks by recording: (i) the Hg content in the substrata, (ii) gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) concentrations in the exposition halls, (iii) temperature, (iv) humidity, and (v) particulate matter (PM) concentrations. At the end of the experiment, Hg concentrations in the biomonitors range from 1130 ± 201 to 293 ± 45 μg kg−1 (max–min) in barks, from 3470 ± 571 to 648 ± 40 μg kg−1 in lichens, and from 3052 ± 483 to 750 ± 127 μg kg−1 in mosses. All the biomonitors showed the highest Hg accumulation after the first 3 weeks of exposure. Mercury concentrations increased over time showing a continuous accumulation during the experiments. The biomonitors demonstrated different Hg accumulation trends in response to GEM concentrations and to the different climatic conditions (temperature and humidity) of the Herbarium halls. Barks strictly reflected the gaseous Hg pollution, while lichen and moss accumulation was also influenced by the climatic conditions of the indoor environment. Mercury bound to PM seemed to provide a negligible contribution to the biomonitors final uptake.
Wellbeing Heterogeneity within and Among University Students
Authors: Liu Ivy , Morrison Philip S. , Zeng Dylon
Published: November 2023

The widespread international concern over the low average wellbeing of university students shows no sign of abating. Neglected in the debate is a recognition that wellbeing itself is multidimensional and not all components respond in the same way to external and internal pressures. We draw on a large sample survey of first year students who enrolled in a New Zealand university in 2019 and measure their wellbeing using the WHO-5 measuring instrument. Instead of modelling the index itself we address its five individual components. We apply the marginal (population-averages) model using the generalised estimating equation (GEE) method. As well as confirming earlier findings that students with poorer physical health and lower financial capacity experience lower levels of wellbeing, we document their uneven influence on the relative frequency with which the five individual components are experienced: being cheerful, calm, active, fresh and interested over the previous two teaching weeks.