bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The development of the adult nervous system in the annelid Owenia fusiformis
Authors: Carrillo-Baltodano Allan M. , Donnellan Rory D. , Williams Elizabeth A. , Jékely Gáspár , Martín-Durán José M.
Published: February 2024

Background

The evolutionary origins of animal nervous systems remain contentious because we still have a limited understanding of neural development in most major animal clades. Annelids — a species-rich group with centralised nervous systems — have played central roles in hypotheses about the origins of animal nervous systems. However, most studies have focused on adults of deeply nested species in the annelid tree. Recently, Owenia fusiformis has emerged as an informative species to reconstruct ancestral traits in Annelida, given its phylogenetic position within the sister clade to all remaining annelids.

Methods

Combining immunohistochemistry of the conserved neuropeptides FVamide-lir, RYamide-lir, RGWamide-lir and MIP-lir with gene expression, we comprehensively characterise neural development from larva to adulthood in Owenia fusiformis.

Results

The early larval nervous system comprises a neuropeptide-rich apical organ connected through peripheral nerves to a prototroch ring and the chaetal sac. There are seven sensory neurons in the prototroch. A bilobed brain forms below the apical organ and connects to the ventral nerve cord of the developing juvenile. During metamorphosis, the brain compresses, becoming ring-shaped, and the trunk nervous system develops several longitudinal cords and segmented lateral nerves.

Conclusions

Our findings reveal the formation and reorganisation of the nervous system during the life cycle of O. fusiformis, an early-branching annelid. Despite its apparent neuroanatomical simplicity, this species has a diverse peptidergic nervous system, exhibiting morphological similarities with other annelids, particularly at the larval stages. Our work supports the importance of neuropeptides in animal nervous systems and highlights how neuropeptides are differentially used throughout development.
Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in a patient with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries: a case report
Authors: Kapalka Michal , Galeczka Michal , Krawiec Michal , Fiszer Roland
Published: February 2024

Background

Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation has become an attractive method of dysfunctional right ventricle outflow tract treatment.

Case presentation

We describe a unique case of a 20-year-old Caucasian male patient with a complex cyanotic heart defect, namely pulmonary atresia, with congenitally corrected transposition of the great arteries and ventricular septal defect after Rastelli-like surgery at the age of 5 years with homograft use. At the age of 20 years, the patient needed percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation owing to homograft dysfunction. Despite unusual course of the coronary arteries, balloon testing in the landing zone of the right ventricle outflow tract excluded potential coronary artery compression. Then, after presentation, a Melody valve was implanted successfully in the pulmonary valve position. The 8-year follow-up was uneventful.

Conclusion

This is likely the first description of a percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation in such anatomy. Such a procedure is feasible; however, it requires exceptional caution owing to the anomalous coronary arteries course, which can be the reason for their compression.
Virome diversity shaped by genetic evolution and ecological landscape of Haemaphysalis longicornis
Authors: Ye Run-Ze , Li Yu-Yu , Xu Da-Li , Wang Bai-Hui , Wang Xiao-Yang , Zhang Ming-Zhu , Wang Ning , Gao Wan-Ying , Li Cheng , Han Xiao-Yu , Du Li-Feng , Xia Luo-Yuan , Song Ke , Xu Qing , Liu Jing , Cheng Nuo , Li Ze-Hui , Du Yi-Di , Yu Hui-Jun , Shi Xiao-Yu , Jiang Jia-Fu , Sun Yi ,   Tick Genome and Microbiome Consortium (TIGMIC), Cui Xiao-Ming , Ding Shu-Jun , Zhao Lin , Cao Wu-Chun
Published: February 2024

Background

Haemaphysalis longicornis is drawing attentions for its geographic invasion, extending population, and emerging disease threat. However, there are still substantial gaps in our knowledge of viral composition in relation to genetic diversity of H. longicornis and ecological factors, which are important for us to understand interactions between virus and vector, as well as between vector and ecological elements.

Results

We conducted the meta-transcriptomic sequencing of 136 pools of H. longicornis and identified 508 RNA viruses of 48 viral species, 22 of which have never been reported. Phylogenetic analysis of mitochondrion sequences divided the ticks into two genetic clades, each of which was geographically clustered and significantly associated with ecological factors, including altitude, precipitation, and normalized difference vegetation index. The two clades showed significant difference in virome diversity and shared about one fifth number of viral species that might have evolved to “generalists.” Notably, Bandavirus dabieense, the pathogen of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome was only detected in ticks of clade 1, and half number of clade 2-specific viruses were aquatic-animal-associated.

Conclusions

These findings highlight that the virome diversity is shaped by internal genetic evolution and external ecological landscape of H. longicornis and provide the new foundation for promoting the studies on virus-vector-ecology interaction and eventually for evaluating the risk of H. longicornis for transmitting the viruses to humans and animals.
The various facets of orthorexic eating behavior: five case reports of individuals with supposed orthorexia nervosa
Authors: Barthels Friederike , Fischer Maren , Keskini Raphaela , Schöl Amelie Marie , Pietrowsky Reinhard
Published: February 2024

Background

Orthorexia nervosa, defined as a fixation on eating healthy according to subjective criteria, is recently being discussed as another variant of disordered eating behavior. Further characteristics are rigid adherence to nutritional rules, anxieties and avoidance behavior in the context of eating as well as a focus on health, not on body shape or weight loss, which is supposed to differentiate orthorexic from other disordered eating behavior. Although diagnostic criteria have been suggested, they have rarely been used in case reports published to date. Hence, the aim of this study was to present five individuals with supposed orthorexia nervosa, using preliminary diagnostic criteria to assess their eating behavior.

Case presentation

The five cases (three females, two males) reveal the great variety of disordered eating behavior. Fear of unhealthy overweight (case A), supposed orthorexic eating behavior as a coping strategy for anorexia nervosa (case B), the exclusive consumption of animal products with a total exclusion of fruits and vegetables (case C), the fixation on exercise and athletic goals (case D) as well as a focus on a vegan diet and unprocessed foods (case E) are facets of orthorexia nervosa with varying degrees of impairment.

Conclusions

It is concluded that orthorexia nervosa manifests itself in very different ways and that more research is needed in order to determine whether it could be a useful additional category of disordered eating behavior.
A test of pre-exposure spacing and multiple context pre-exposure on the mechanisms of latent inhibition of dental fear: A study protocol
Authors: Geers Andrew L. , Seligman Laura D. , Pituch Keenan A. , Colagiuri Ben , Marusak Hilary A. , Rabinak Christine A. , Al-Ado Sena L. , Turner Natalie , Nedley Michael
Published: February 2024

Background

Latent inhibition occurs when exposure to a stimulus prior its direct associative conditioning impairs learning. Results from naturalistic studies suggest that latent inhibition disrupts the learning of dental fear from aversive associative conditioning and thereby reduces the development of dental phobia. Although theory suggests latent inhibition occurs because pre-exposure changes the expected relevance and attention directed to the pre-exposed stimulus, evidence supporting these mechanisms in humans is limited. The aim of this study is to determine if two variables, pre-exposure session spacing and multiple context pre-exposure, potentiate the hypothesized mechanisms of expected relevance and attention and, in turn, increase latent inhibition of dental fear.

Methods

In a virtual reality simulation, child and adult community members (ages 6 to 35) will take part in pre-exposure and conditioning trials, followed by short- and long-term tests of learning. A 100ms puff of 60 psi air to a maxillary anterior tooth will serve as the unconditioned stimulus. Pre-exposure session spacing (no spacing vs. sessions spaced) and multiple context pre-exposure (single context vs. multiple contexts) will be between-subject factors. Stimulus type (pre-exposed to-be conditioned stimulus, a non-pre-exposed conditioned stimulus, and an unpaired control stimulus) and trial will serve as within-subject factors. Baseline pain sensitivity will also be measured as a potential moderator.

Discussion

It is hypothesized that spaced pre-exposure and pre-exposure in multiple contexts will increase the engagement of the mechanisms of expected relevance and attention and increase the latent inhibition of dental fear. It is expected that the findings will add to theory on fear learning and provide information to aid the design of future interventions that leverage latent inhibition to reduce dental phobia.
Genome-wide identification and expression patterns in response to signals from cadmium of StCADs gene family in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.)
Authors: Yang XinYu , Lv HePing , Zhang Wu , Liang HongJie , Gao YanPing , Kang YiChen , Wu YanBin , Wang FangFang , Xi Chunyan
Published: February 2024

Background

With the rapid development of the economy and society, soil pollution is becoming more and more serious. Heavy metal cadmium (Cd) pollution is one of the typical problems, which poses a potentially serious threat to crop production and human health. Cinnamyl alcohol dehydrogenase (CAD) is a key enzyme in lignin synthesis and plays an important role in plant resistance to external stress. In this study, combined with bioinformatics analysis and expression pattern analysis, the members of the potato CAD family were identified, and their physical and chemical properties, evolutionary characteristics and chromosome location were clarified, as well as their regulatory effects on Cd tolerance.

Results

A total of 50 StCAD genes belonging to 6 subfamilies were obtained, and all of them were located in the cytoplasm. Members of the same family had similar gene structures and functional domains. The promoter region of each StCAD family member contains at least 5 or more abiotic stress response elements, indicating that the family had potential functions in regulating stress. According to the expression pattern analysis, most genes in this family were upregulated after Cd stress, further enhanced CAD activity and significantly promoted lignin accumulation in potato roots.

Conclusion

In summary, the StCAD family plays an important role in potato response to Cd stress. This study lays a foundation for further studies on the functions of the StCAD family and provides candidate genes for Cd resistance molecular breeding in potato.

Graphical Abstract
Group-based positive psychotherapy for people living with acquired brain injury: a protocol for a feasibility study
Authors: Fisher Zoe , Field Susannah , Fitzsimmons Deb , Hutchings Hayley , Carter Kym , Tod Daniel , Gracey Fergus , Knight Alec , Kemp Andrew H.
Published: February 2024

Background

Acquired brain injury (ABI) and other chronic conditions are placing unprecedented pressure on healthcare systems. In the UK, 1.3 million people live with the effects of brain injury, costing the UK economy approximately £15 billion per year. As a result, there is an urgent need to adapt existing healthcare delivery to meet increasing current and future demands. A focus on wellbeing may provide an innovative opportunity to reduce the pressure on healthcare services while also supporting patients to live more meaningful lives. The overarching aims of the study are as follows: (1) evaluate the feasibility of conducting a positive psychotherapy intervention for individuals with ABI and (2) ascertain under what conditions such an intervention would merit a fully powered randomised controlled trial (RCT) compared to a standard control group (TAU).

Methods and analysis

A randomised, two-arm feasibility trial involving allocation of patients to either a treatment group (positive psychotherapy) or control group (treatment as usual) group, according to a 1:1 ratio. A total of 60 participants at three sites will be recruited including 20 participants at each site. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, on completion of the 8-week intervention and 3 months following completion. These will include a range of questionnaire-based measures, psychophysiology and qualitative outcomes focusing on feasibility outcomes and participant experience. This study has been approved by the Wales Research Ethics Committee (IRAS project ID: 271,251, REC reference: 19/WA/0336).

Discussion

This study will be the first to examine the feasibility of an innovative, holistic positive psychotherapy intervention for people living with ABI, focused on individual, collective and planetary wellbeing, and will enable us to determine whether to proceed to a full randomised controlled trial.

Trial registration

ISRCTN12690685, registered 11th November 2020.
Costus speciosus leaf and seed extracts for wound healing: a comparative evaluation using mice excision wound models
Authors: Zishan Shafiul Azam , Uddin Md. Maien , Mohammad Mahatir , Asadul Karim Azad S. M. , Naima Jannatul , Ibban Sadab Sipar , Saiful Islam Arman Md.
Published: February 2024

Background

The present study investigated the potential wound healing activity comparisons between ethanol leaf & seed extracts ofCostus speciosustopical formulation using mice Excision wound models, compared to Neomycin sulphate ointment as a standard drug. To assess the efficacy ofCostus speciosusointment as a potential alternative to commercially available ointments, a study was conducted using a cohort of 16 healthy male mice, aged between 3 and 4 months. The ointment formulation was prepared utilizing ethanol extracts from both the leaves and seeds, presented in a dosage form for application. This investigation seeks to provide insights into the comparative effectiveness ofCostus speciosusointments in relation to conventional market preparations, with a focus on its potential applicability as an alternative therapeutic option. The parameter measured was wound contraction and epithelization period.

Result

The mice groups treated with seed & leave extracts ointment showed better wound size changes than the negative and standard groups. However, the leaf extract ointment promotes the formation of granulation in tissue, allowing the reepithelization phase to occur more rapidly than seed extract. From the 1st day to the results of the 9th day of the extract indicate that there is a significant increase (P < 0.05) in the percentage of wound contraction in the group. After 21 days the wound was healed fully. These results suggest that ointment of ethanol leaf extract ofCostus speciosuscould be an answer to facilitate wound healing compared to seed extract, to approve the traditional claims of the plant in wound healing activity.

Conclusion

The study concludes that ethanol leaf and seed extracts ofCostus speciosusexhibit potential wound healing activity in mice excision wound models. The topical formulation of these extracts significantly enhances wound closure, reduces wound size, and increases tensile strength compared to the control group. The efficacy of the extracts is comparable to the standard drug, Neomycin sulphate ointment. Therefore, the use ofCostus speciosusextracts in topical formulations can be considered a promising alternative for the treatment of wounds. However, further studies are needed to determine the safety and efficacy of these extracts in humans.
Real-world experience of full-thickness traumatic macular hole among young patients
Authors: Venugopal Ragukumar , Das Anthony Vipin , Takkar Brijesh , Stewart Michael W. , Narayanan Raja
Published: February 2024

Objective

To describe the demographics, clinical, and imaging characteristics, and visual outcomes in young patients with full-thickness traumatic macular hole (TMH).

Methods

This retrospective hospital-based study included patients with full-thickness TMH who presented between August 2010 and June 2021. Demographic data, clinical findings, and imaging characteristics were extracted from an electronic medical record system. Regression analyses were performed to determine significant associations among variables and to identify predictors of visual outcomes.

Results

144 (0.005%) patients among 2,834,616 were diagnosed with Full thickness TMH. The majority of them were male (89.58%; odds ratio [OR] = 6.71) and the holes were unilateral. The mean age at presentation was 23.37 ± 8.19 years. Ball were the most common cause of injuries (22.22%), followed by stick (14.58%) and firecracker (12.50%). The mean LogMAR visual acuity (VA) at presentation was 1.18 ± 0.72, with 25.69% of eyes having VA < 20/400. The mean minimum hole diameter was 619.34 ± 336.16 μm. Sub-retinal fluid was present in 44.44%, followed by intraretinal fluid in 34.03% of eyes. Macular holes closed after vitrectomy in 66.67% of eyes, with mean final VA of 1.07 ± 0.85. Baseline VA was a strong predictor of final VA (R2 = 0.677; p = 0.000168).

Conclusion

Traumatic macular hole is a unilateral condition with significant visual impairment that is mainly seen in males during the third decade of life. Surgery is successful in most cases but improvements in VA are modest.
Left common peroneal nerve palsy caused by cross-legged sitting during epidural labor analgesia: a case report
Authors: Ogawa Shunya , Kanda Hirotsugu , Kurosaki Hiromichi , Kawamata Tomoyuki
Published: February 2024

Background

Nerve injury in epidural labor analgesia can occur with various potential causes. We report a rare case of left common peroneal nerve palsy after delivery caused by a prolonged period of sitting cross-legged during epidural labor.

Case report

Epidural labor analgesia in a 28-year-old primipara started at 39 weeks of gestation. She sat cross-legged to prompt delivery for approximately 4 h with a break of a few minutes every hour. She had numbness in her left lower limb and difficulty in dorsiflexion of the ankle joint that did not improve until 3 h after delivery. We made a diagnosis of left common peroneal nerve palsy. Most of the symptoms had improved at 2 months postpartum.

Conclusion

Epidural labor analgesia prevented recognition of prolonged peroneal head compression caused by sitting cross-legged. When this position is used to facilitate delivery, it should be released frequently owing to the possibility of a neurologic deficit.
Prioritizing Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) to use in the clinical care of youth living with mental health concerns: a nominal group technique study
Authors: Bajgain Kalpana Thapa , Mendoza Justino , Naqvi Farwa , Aghajafari Fariba , Tang Karen , Zwicker Jennifer , Santana Maria-Jose
Published: February 2024

Background

In the past few decades, particularly in the mental health setting, there has been growing interest in using Patient Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) to assess the efficacy of the treatments in healthcare systems. Despite recent initiatives for global harmonization, there remains a lack of consensus on which PROMs are best practice and appropriate. Engagement of the service users, such as patients and family members/caregivers, is vital at this stage to ensure the selected PROMs are feasible, relevant, and acceptable to them. This study aimed to prioritize PROMs by youth and family/caregiver based on feasibility, relevance, and overall importance to be used in the clinical care of youth living with anxiety and/or depression.

Methods

Ten validated and widely used PROMs were presented to the patients and family/caregivers. Nominal group techniques were employed to prioritize the PROMs based on feasibility, relevance, and overall importance.

Results

For patients and families/caregivers, the PROMs, Revised Child Anxiety and Depression Scale (RCAD 25), and The Young Person’s Core (YP-CORE) were the highest priorities. Both felt that RCAD 25 was comprehensive, short, easy, and quick to complete, whereas regarding YP-CORE, patients and family/caregivers thought it was also short and relevant. Due to some specific concerns, the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire and Child Health Questionnaire were the lowest prioritized by patients and family/caregivers.

Conclusion

It is of utmost importance that patient’s and family/caregivers’ voices or opinions are considered while selecting and implementing PROMs in mental health settings. Our study provides practical recommendations around measures best suited to achieve this.
Focal finger palsy and wrist pain due to cortical infarction: a case report
Authors: Hu Shiyu , Wang Yang , Ren Lijie
Published: February 2024

Background

Hand knob infarction induced focal weakness of contralateral hand or distal arm, only accounts for less than 1% of all ischemic strokes. To date, there is no case with pain during sleep as the onset symptoms being reported. The atypical symptoms of hand knob infarction might increase the risk of delaying treatment especially in the hyperacute phase of stroke.

Case presentation

A 70-year-old man awoke from sleep due to sudden pain of his right medial wrist and presented to the emergency department with difficulty extending his right index and middle fingers within the time window of intravenous thrombolysis. But the intravenous thrombolysis was not given based on the NIHSS score (0) and atypical symptoms. MRI showed multiple DWI hyperintense lesions, including partial left hand knob area and left posterior central gyrus. CTA showed a severe focal stenosis of proximal left internal carotid artery.

Conclusions

The hand knob infarction might onset with unusual pain and should be carefully inspected in patients combined with acute onset of focal hand paresis.
Improving parsimonious refraction interferometry through U-Net-based correction of first-arrival traveltimes
Authors: Lee Ganghoon , Pyun Sukjoon
Published: February 2024

Parsimonious refraction interferometry (PRI) is a useful technique for generating dense virtual traveltimes when the seismic survey is performed with sparse acquisition geometry. However, PRI has limitations in accurately calculating the traveltimes of direct and diving waves, leading to inaccurate velocity structures when applying first-arrival traveltime tomography (FATT). To address this issue, we develop an improved approach using a deep-learning network called U-Net. We first examine the feasibility of our algorithm analytically through the traveltime interpretation of a simple model. Then, the U-Net model is trained on various data sets to learn the relationship between PRI results and actual traveltimes. Subsequently, the trained network corrects the traveltime errors of the PRI results. As a result, we can obtain accurate first-arrival traveltimes using only two shot gathers without additional information such as infilled shots. Our technique enables virtual traveltime corrections, allowing for improved FATT results, even in cases for which dense shots are difficult to deploy. Numerical results demonstrate that our method can achieve accuracy comparable to picked traveltime data, indicating its high effectiveness in increasing the resolution of FATT results. Our approach maximizes the cost-saving benefits of PRI and can be advantageous in obtaining high-resolution FATT results when dense shot geometry is unavailable.
S-wave seismic data interpretation for gas reservoir at Sanhu area, Qaidam Basin, west China
Authors: Deng Zhiwen , Zhang Rui , Wang Yan , Yue Yuanyuan , Xi Xiaoyu , Wang Xiusong , Wang Jie
Published: February 2024

The Qigequan Formation at the Sanhu area of the Qaidam Basin in western China is a significant gas producing formation. However, the conventional P-wave seismic survey conducted in this region reveals the presence of extensive gas clouds that strongly attenuate P waves, resulting in substantial uncertainty regarding the subsurface structure. To address this challenge, a 3D-9C seismic survey was conducted to produce S-wave reflection data unaffected by gas clouds and yielding remarkably clearer subsurface images with a higher level of confidence. The processing of the S-wave data largely used conventional P-wave processing techniques, except for S-wave splitting, which produced distinct fast (S1) and slow (S2) S-wave data sets. Notably, the S2 data exhibited superior quality compared with the S1 data, enabling us to apply various seismic attribute techniques to extract geologic features. To validate our findings, we cross reference the seismic attribute results with well-log and production data, revealing a pronounced spatial correlation between the gas reservoir and channel structure, as the prime targets for potential gas reservoirs.
A lookback study of well performance using borehole image data
Authors: Wu Haiqing , Kuanyshova Gulmira , Iskakov Elrad , Aruri Ahmad
Published: February 2024

The main objective of this work is to understand the impact of fracture, stress, drilling direction, and other reservoir properties on the production performance of a horizontal well (HW) in the Karachaganak Field. Taking advantage of the 70 available borehole image logs helped extend the analysis beyond individual wells to a field scale evaluation. Three analysis methods were developed to progress with the study: a favored drilling direction map, a Reservoir Property Filter, and crossplotting for multiple reservoir properties to gauge well performance. Results showed linear, nonlinear, and multidimensional relationships. The findings will be used to guide future HW drilling optimization, support dynamic modeling, and improve the model’s predictability for effective reservoir management.
US Food and Drug Administration Approval Summary: Elacestrant for Estrogen Receptor–Positive, Human Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor 2–Negative, ESR1-Mutated Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer
Authors: Shah Mirat , Lingam Hima , Gao Xin , Gittleman Haley , Fiero Mallorie H. , Krol Danielle , Biel Nikolett , Ricks Tiffany K. , Fu Wentao , Hamed Salaheldin , Li Fang , Sun Jillian (Jielin) , Fan Jianghong , Schuck Robert , Grimstein Manuela , Tang Liuya , Kalavar Shyam , Abukhdeir Abdelrahmman , Pathak Anand , Ghosh Soma , Bulatao Ilynn , Tilley Amy , Pierce William F. , Mixter Bronwyn D. , Tang Shenghui , Pazdur Richard , Kluetz Paul , Amiri-Kordestani Laleh
Published: February 2024

PURPOSE

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved elacestrant for the treatment of postmenopausal women or adult men with estrogen receptor–positive (ER+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2–negative (HER2–), estrogen receptor 1 ( ESR1)–mutated advanced or metastatic breast cancer with disease progression after at least one line of endocrine therapy (ET).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Approval was based on EMERALD (Study RAD1901-308), a randomized, open-label, active-controlled, multicenter trial in 478 patients with ER+, HER2– advanced or metastatic breast cancer, including 228 patients with ESR1 mutations. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive either elacestrant 345 mg orally once daily (n = 239) or investigator's choice of ET (n = 239).

RESULTS

In the ESR1-mut subgroup, EMERALD demonstrated a statistically significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) by blinded independent central review assessment (n = 228; hazard ratio [HR], 0.55 [95% CI, 0.39 to 0.77]; P value = .0005). Although the overall survival (OS) end point was not met, there was no trend toward a potential OS detriment (HR, 0.90 [95% CI, 0.63 to 1.30]) in the ESR1-mut subgroup. PFS also reached statistical significance in the intention-to-treat population (ITT, N = 478; HR, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.55 to 0.88]; P value = .0018). However, improvement in PFS in the ITT population was primarily attributed to results from patients in the ESR1-mut subgroup. More patients who received elacestrant experienced nausea, vomiting, and dyslipidemia.

CONCLUSION

The approval of elacestrant in ER+, HER2– advanced or metastatic breast cancer was restricted to patients with ESR1 mutations. Benefit-risk assessment in the ESR1-mut subgroup was favorable on the basis of a statistically significant improvement in PFS in the context of an acceptable safety profile including no evidence of a potential detriment in OS. By contrast, the benefit-risk assessment in patients without ESR1 mutations was not favorable. Elacestrant is the first oral estrogen receptor antagonist to receive FDA approval for patients with ESR1 mutations.
Design of floating formulations and antiulcer activity of Desmostachya bipinnata
Authors: Putta Sanjay Kumar , KB Koteshwara , Nayak Usha Y. , Pai K Sreedhara Ranganath , Pathuri Raghuveer , HN Aswatha Ram
Published: February 2024

The study aims to design and optimize the floating formulations of the aqueous extract of Desmostachya bipinnata (ADB) to treat peptic ulcers. The trial concentrations of HPMC E50, HPMC K4M, and Carbopol 940 were used as factors, and floating lag time, total floating time, and % drug release at 12 h were used as responses. The formulation underwent evaluation for different parameters: aspirin-induced ulcers in rats assessed the antiulcer activity, and X-ray studies in rabbits evaluated the gastroretentive nature. The optimized formulation has shown a floating lag time of 32 s and floated in the gastric medium for more than 9 h with a maximum drug release of 93% at the end of 12 h by following the Korsmeyer-Peppas drug release mechanism. The optimized formulation has good flow properties. The FT-IR, DSC, and XRD studies show ADB and excipients didn't show any incompatibility. The formulation has shown significant antiulcer activity against aspirin-induced ulcers in rats, with an ulcer index of 3.38 ± 0.24 and inhibition of 76.67 ± 0.56%. The in vivo X-ray imaging proved the gastric retention of the formulations for more than 8 h. The results of the formulations demonstrate the floating ability and sustained drug release of the tablet responsible for treating peptic ulcers to show a localized effect in the gastric region and to maintain the ROS levels.

Graphical Abstract
Remarks on the
Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau oscillator in an external magnetic field
Authors: Jirón Andrés G. , Castro Luis B. , Obispo Angel E. , de Castro Antonio S.
Published: February 2024

This work re-examines the issue of spin-1 particles in a (2+1)-dimensional Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau oscillator (DKPO) in the presence of an external magnetic field. By following the appropriate procedure for the spin-1 sector of the Duffin-Kemmer-Petiau (DKP) theory, the previously used 6 × 6 representation in the literature is shown to be reducible to a 3 × 3 irreducible representation. This approach enabled us to find new aspects of the results recently disseminated in various studies, as well as other considerations overlooked and requiring revision. Finally, we present some applications of two-dimensional DKP theory in condensed-matter systems, particularly in Lieb lattices.
Quadripartite quantum steering generated by single-pass cascaded nonlinear processes
Authors: Shen Y. R. , Jiang Y. X. , Cheng X. Y. , Lv J. W. , Yu Y. B. , Jin G. R. , Chen A. X.
Published: February 2024

Quantum steering has become an important resource for quantum information due to its unique asymmetry. In this paper, quadripartite quantum steering generated by single-pass nondegenerate optical parametric amplification cascaded with a sum-frequency process is investigated. Firstly, an idler beam is produced by a different-frequency process between pump and signal. Secondly, a sum-frequency beam is generated by a cascaded sum-frequency process between idler beam and pump in the same optical superlattice. Quadripartite quantum steering among pump, signal, idler and sum-frequency beams is demonstrated based on the criterion for multipartite quantum steering. The influences of nonlinear coupling coefficients κ, dimensionless propagation length ξ, and the initial values of pump and signal on the variation characteristic of the quadripartite steering are also investigated. The results indicate that slightly larger nonlinear coupling coefficients of cascaded nonlinear processes and weaker signals can achieve better quadripartite quantum steering. This simple quadripartite quantum steering preparation scheme does not require a resonant cavity and is easier to implement experimentally, with potential applications in quantum communication and computing.
LiverZap: a chemoptogenetic tool for global and locally restricted hepatocyte ablation to study cellular behaviours in liver regeneration
Authors: Ambrosio Elizabeth M. G. , Bailey Charlotte S. L. , Unterweger Iris A. , Christensen Jens B. , Bruchez Marcel P. , Lundegaard Pia R. , Ober Elke A.
Published: February 2024

The liver restores its mass and architecture after injury. Yet, investigating morphogenetic cell behaviours and signals that repair tissue architecture at high spatiotemporal resolution remains challenging. We developed LiverZap, a tuneable chemoptogenetic liver injury model in zebrafish. LiverZap employs the formation of a binary FAP-TAP photosensitiser followed by brief near-infrared illumination inducing hepatocyte-specific death and recapitulating mammalian liver injury types. The tool enables local hepatocyte ablation and extended live imaging capturing regenerative cell behaviours, which is crucial for studying cellular interactions at the interface of healthy and damaged tissue. Applying LiverZap, we show that targeted hepatocyte ablation in a small region of interest is sufficient to trigger local liver progenitor-like cell (LPC)-mediated regeneration, challenging the current understanding of liver regeneration. Surprisingly, the LPC response is also elicited in adjacent uninjured tissue, at up to 100 µm distance to the injury. Moreover, dynamic biliary network rearrangement suggests active cell movements from uninjured tissue in response to substantial hepatocyte loss as an integral step of LPC-mediated liver regeneration. This precisely targetable liver cell ablation tool will enable the discovery of key molecular and morphogenetic regeneration paradigms.
Thrust production and chordal flexion of the flukes of bottlenose dolphins performing tail stands at different efforts
Authors: Kramer David A. , Sheehan Maura J. , Fish Frank E.
Published: February 2024

Dolphins have become famous for their ability to perform a wide variety of athletic and acrobatic behaviors including high-speed swimming, maneuverability, porpoising and tail stands. Tail stands are a behavior where part of the body is held vertically above the water's surface, achieved through thrust produced by horizontal tail fluke oscillations. Strong, efficient propulsors are needed to generate the force required to support the dolphin's body weight, exhibiting chordwise and spanwise flexibility throughout the stroke cycle. To determine how thrust production, fluke flexibility and tail stroke kinematics vary with effort, six adult bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) were tested at three different levels based on the position of the center of mass (COM) relative to the water's surface: low (COM below surface), medium (COM at surface) and high (COM above surface) effort. Additionally, fluke flexibility was measured as a flex index (FI=chord length/camber length) at four points in the stroke cycle: center stroke up (CU), extreme top of stroke (ET), center stroke down (CD) and extreme bottom of stroke (EB). Video recordings were analyzed to determine the weight supported above the water (thrust production), peak-to-peak amplitude, stroke frequency and FI. Force production increased with low, medium and high efforts, respectively. Stroke frequency also increased with increased effort. Amplitude remained constant with a mean 33.8% of body length. Significant differences were seen in the FI during the stroke cycle. Changes in FI and stroke frequency allowed for increased force production with effort, and the peak-to-peak amplitude was higher compared with that for horizontal swimming.
Μελέτη του είδους των μικροβίων στην εμμένουσα βακτηριακή βρογχίτιδα και τη βρογχεκτασία σε παιδιά που δεν πάσχουν απο κυστική ίνωση
Authors: Καρτσιούνη Ελπινίκη
Published: February 2024

Εισαγωγή: Η εμμένουσα βακτηριακή βρογχίτιδα (Protracted Bacterial Bronchitis, PBB), η χρόνια πυώδης πνευμονική νόσος (Chronic suppurative lung disease, CSLD), και οι βρογχεκτασίες που δεν οφείλονται στην Κυστική Ίνωση (ΚΙ) αποτελούν αιτίες χρόνιου υγρού βήχα στα παιδιά. Οι βρογχεκτασίες, το τελικό στάδιο της χρόνιας ενδοβρογχικής λοίμωξης, συνιστούν αίτιο αυξημένης νοσηρότητας του αναπνευστικού συστήματος. Οι παροξύνσεις των ασθενών με χρόνια ενδοβρογχική λοίμωξη και κυρίως αυτών με μη- Κυστική Ίνωση βρογχεκτασίες (μη- ΚΙ βρογχεκτασίες) οδηγούν τελικά σε έκπτωση της πνευμονικής λειτουργίας και φτωχή ποιότητα ζωής. Σκοπός της παρούσας εργασίας ήταν η μελέτη του βακτηριακού φορτίου των βρόγχων και η κατανόηση του ρόλου του σε παιδιά με εμμένουσα βακτηριακή βρογχίτιδα (ΕΒΒ)/ χρόνια πυώδη πνευμονική νόσο (ΧΠΠΝ) και μη- ΚΙ βρογχεκτασίες και κυρίως η κλινική πορεία των παιδιών με χρόνια ενδοβρογχική λοίμωξη και απομόνωση του παθογόνου Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Μεθοδολογία: Παρακολουθήθηκαν 54 παιδιά με PBB/ CSLD και μη- ΚΙ βρογχεκτασίες στα οποία απομονώθηκε το μικρόβιο Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Μελετήθηκαν τα δημογραφικά τους χαρακτηριστικά, το ιστορικό της νόσου, η διαγνωστική και θεραπευτική τους προσέγγιση και η έκβαση της νόσου στο τέλος της περιόδου παρακολούθησης (Follow- up). Στα 54 αυτά παιδιά με χρόνια ενδοβρογχική λοίμωξη και απομόνωση της Pseudomonas aeruginosa έγινε εφαρμογή του μοντέλου αναλογικού κινδύνου του Cox με συμμεταβλητές την ηλικία, την παρουσία βρογχεκτασιών, τη χρήση εισπνεόμενης κολιστίνης, αζιθρομυκίνης και εισπνεόμενου υπέρτονου διαλύματος. Ως ύφεση της νόσου ορίστηκε η απουσία καθημερινού υγρού βήχα σε διάστημα 6 μηνών παρακολούθησης με 3 αρνητικές καλλιέργειες οι οποίες ελήφθησαν κατά τις 3 τελευταίες επισκέψεις.Αποτελέσματα: Τα 31 παιδιά του πληθυσμού της μελέτης ήταν αγόρια και τα 23 ήταν κορίτσια, η διάμεσος τιμή της ηλικία τους ήταν το ένα έτος και εμφάνιζαν υγρό βήχα για περίπου 1.5 χρόνο πριν την απομόνωση της Pseudomonas. Τα εισπνεόμενα αντιβιοτικά και η παρουσία βρογχεκτασιών φάνηκε να επηρεάζουν στατιστικά σημαντικά την πορεία και την έκβαση της νόσου (HR:3.99; 95%CI:1.12-14.14; p= 0.032, and HR:0.24; 95%CI:0.08-0.71; p= 0.010). Αντίθετα, δε φάνηκε συσχέτιση μεταξύ της ηλικίας, της χρήσης της αζιθρομυκίνης, των εισπνοών με υπέρτονο διάλυμα χλωριούχου νατρίου και της ύφεσης της νόσου. Συμπεράσματα: Η Pseudomonas aeruginosa είναι ένα μικρόβιο το οποίο αναπτύσσεται συχνά στα παιδιά με χρόνια ενδοβρογχική λοίμωξη και η εισπνεόμενη κολιστίνη αποτελεί μία χρήσιμη, θεραπευτική επιλογή για αυτά. Τα παιδιά με CSLD στα οποία απομονώθηκε η Pseudomonas aeruginosa φάνηκε να έχουν καλύτερη πρόγνωση σε σύγκριση με τα παιδιά με εγκατεστημένες βρογχεκτασίες και απομόνωση της Pseudomonas aeruginosa.
‘Science by consensus’ impedes scientific creativity and progress: A simple alternative to funding biomedical research
Authors: Düzgüneş Nejat
Published: February 2024

The very low success rates of grant applications to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) are highly detrimental to the progress of science and the careers of scientists. The peer review process that evaluates proposals has been claimed arbitrarily to be the best there is. This consensus system, however, has never been evaluated scientifically against an alternative. Here we delineate the 15 major problems with the peer review process. We challenge the Science Advisor to the President, and the leadership of NIH, NSF, the U.S. National Academy of Sciences and other funding agencies throughout the world to refute each of these criticisms. We call for the implementation of more equitable alternatives that will not constrain the progress of science. We propose a system that will fund at least 80,000 principal investigators, including young scientists, with about half the current NIH budget, seven-times as many as the current number of NIH “research project grants,” and that will forego the cumbersome, expensive, and counterproductive “peer” review stage. Further, we propose that the success of the two systems over 5–10 years be compared scientifically.
Vietnam national competency standards for midwifery: A Delphi study
Authors: Thanh Le Tung , Tuan Truong Anh , Van Vu Thanh , Viet Tran Ha Thi , Thanh Pham Huong Thi , Thanh Nguyen Huong Thi , Mai Anh Thi Lan
Published: February 2024

Background After nearly a decade, Vietnam’s basic midwifery competency standards need to be updated to effectively implement midwives, enhance the quality of midwifery human resources to meet the requirements of integration of countries in the region and around the world. This study aims to develop the competency standards for midwifery in Vietnam by using a Delphi process. Methods The draft midwifery competency standard was initially developed based on a literature review. Midwives and professionals working with midwives completed a two-round Delphi survey to evaluate the relevance of standards of competence on a four-point Likert scale. The criteria with consensus of under 80% were revised and included in the second round. 75 participants were in the first round and 72 participants were in the second round. Phase 3 was led by the Ministry of Health to finalize the consensus on the midwifery competency standards in Vietnam. Results The research results indicated that midwifery competency was mostly rated as quite relevant or higher (over 80%). Some standards were removed, and some were included in the second round of the Delphi process. The final competency standards were issued with 4 areas (midwifery professional practice; care management; midwifery management; professional development), 11 standards and 44 criteria; along with the general skills of midwifery. Conclusions The study developed a midwifery competency standard in Vietnam. These competency standards are consistent with the perceptions of the International Confederation of Midwives and the domestic midwifery context. The higher education institutions, employers, policy makers and midwives themselves benefit from this developed midwifery competency standards. Future research needs to be conducted to validate midwifery competency standards in clinical settings for further responses.
Mõõtuandev trükis talutoolidest / Notable publication about country chairs
Authors: Rennu Madis
Published: February 2024

The exhibition “Four Feet on the Ground. The Estonian Country Chair” was opened in the gallery of the Estonian National Museum on 23 February 2023. The exhibition’s catalogue, titled “Estonian Country Chairs”, was presented by the Estonian National Museum’s wood conservators Mariliis Vaks and Indrek Tirrul, and the exhibition’s curator Liisi Jääts on 1 March. The voluminous and richly illustrated book helps to give the enthusiast a closer look at the background of the making and use of our simpler farmhouse furniture. The more than 70 chairs presented in the book come mainly from the collections of the Estonian National Museum, which houses the largest collection of country chairs in Estonia. The described chairs date from the late 18th century until the 1940s, when home-made items began to be largely replaced by factory furniture. Country chairs were made locally and from the most suitable material, which is why many of the museum pieces are still in good condition a hundred or even two hundred years later. The catalogue also features stories of the more prominent regional chair makers, such as those behind the manufacture of round-backed resort chairs in Saaremaa, which began around the year 1880.
The book has become well known among ethnography and crafts enthusiasts, both for its tasteful and measured design, including its inspiring freehand drawings, and for the richness of its content, and the diversity of objects, details and manufacturing techniques presented. In addition, the precisely inch-thick binding with its sturdy paperback covers can be used as a workbench support, a carpenter’s square, and perhaps occasionally even as a measuring tool.
Do Employee Interests Affect Target Board Decisions About Acquisition Offers? Evidence from Changes in Unemployment Insurance
Authors: Guo Lixiong , Kong Jing , Masulis Ronald W.
Published: February 2024

We explore whether employee interests affect the evaluation of acquisition offers by target boards of directors. Exploiting changes in state unemployment insurance (UI) as sources of exogenous variation in worker unemployment costs, we find that lower unemployment costs increase acquisition activity. The adoption of state constituency statutes strengthens this relation. Boards of target firms having high labor intensity, low short-term institutional ownership, headquartered in low population or high social capital counties, and with female independent directors, more often strongly weight employee interests. Higher UI levels are also associated with larger postacquisition layoffs. Our evidence supports theories rationalizing target boards’ consideration of employee interests.

This paper was accepted by Victoria Ivashina, finance.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.01379 .
Your Ancestors Worked Hard for this Legitimacy! Theory and Experiment on the Inauthenticity of Second Movers
Authors: Ha Jaekyung , Grodal Stine , Zuckerman Sivan Ezra W.
Published: February 2024

Why do first movers into a new industry sometimes gain an advantage simply because of the fact that they are perceived by audiences to be more authentic than second movers, whereas in other contexts such second movers are perceived as no less authentic than first movers? We theorize that this difference hinges on the amount of costly, risky “legitimation work” that entrants are perceived to have conducted in their efforts to establish that the new organizational form is reliable and acceptable. Whereas a first mover must expend great effort to reassure skeptical audiences that the new form coheres with their norms and that it can meet and even exceed their standards, later arrivals are often able to appropriate such legitimacy once it has been established. But such appropriation by the second mover makes its (often implicit) claim of original insight or vision seem less authentic than that of the first mover. In three complementary online experiments on audience reactions to online healthcare startups, we find support for our prediction that followers suffer from a lower consumer preference because they are perceived to have done less work in establishing the new form’s legitimacy. Our results show that when follower firms show evidence of participation in legitimation work, it may overturn the default interpretation and reduce the authenticity discount.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/orsc.2022.17215 .
A zero-trust journey through the threat landscape
Authors: Trott Dominic
Published: February 2024

Zero trust is being widely adopted as a fundamental concept in cyber security architectures, and its implementation has accelerated due to so many organisations introducing new working practices. But creating a zero-trust environment is not simple, and requires a shift in mindset away from thinking about security in terms of fixed lines of defence. And it's not just a change in technology – it requires you to look deeply at your processes and corporate culture, too. So what are the best ways of embarking on the zero-trust journey?