bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2‐associated alterations on lipid metabolism in macrophages in the development of non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Ji Pei‐Xuan , Chen Yu‐Xin , Ni Xi‐Xi , Miao Qi , Hua Jing
Published: November 2023

Background and Aim

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 (TREM2) plays crucial roles in metabolic homeostasis and inflammatory response. Altered metabolic function in macrophages could modulate their activation and immune phenotype. The present study aimed to investigate the expression of TREM2 in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and to clarify the underlying mechanism of TREM2 on macrophages lipid metabolism and oxidative stress.

Methods

Hepatic TREM2 expression and its relationship with NAFLD progression were analyzed in patients with NAFLD and mice fed a high‐fat diet. Lipid metabolism and oxidative stress were investigated in macrophages from NAFLD mice or stimulated with saturated fatty acids. Knockdown and overexpression of TREM2 were further explored.

Results

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2+ macrophages were increased along with NAFLD development, characterized by aggravated steatosis and liver damage in humans and mice. TREM2 expression was upregulated and lipid metabolism was changed in macrophages from NAFLD mice or metabolically activated by saturated fatty acid in vitro, as demonstrated by increased lipid uptake and catabolism, but reduced de novo synthesis of fatty acids (FAs). Regulation of TREM2 expression in lipid‐laden macrophages reprogrammed lipid metabolism, especially the fatty acid oxidation capacity of mitochondria. TREM2 knockdown promoted oxidative stress by aggravating FAs deposition in mitochondria. Intervention of mitochondrial FAs transport in lipid‐laden macrophages alleviated FA deposition and reactive oxygen species production induced by TREM2 knockdown.

Conclusions

Triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2 expression was associated with the lipid metabolic profile and reactive oxygen species production in macrophages. High expression of TREM2 in macrophages may protect the liver from oxidative stress in NAFLD.
Determining predictive metabolomic biomarkers of meniscal injury in dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture
Authors: Pye C. R. , Green D. C. , Anderson J. R. , Phelan M. M. , Fitzgerald M. M. , Comerford E. J. , Peffers M. J.
Published: November 2023

Objectives

This study used hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy for the first time to examine differences in the metabolomic profile of stifle joint synovial fluid from dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture with and without meniscal injuries, in order to identify biomarkers of meniscal injury. Identifying a biomarker of meniscal injury could then ultimately be used to design a minimally invasive diagnostic test for meniscal injuries in dogs.

Materials and Methods

Stifle joint synovial fluid was collected from dogs undergoing stifle joint surgery or arthrocentesis for lameness investigations. We used multi‐variate statistical analysis using principal component analysis and univariate statistical analysis using one‐way analysis of variance and analysis of co‐variance to identify differences in the metabolomic profile between dogs with cranial cruciate ligament rupture and meniscal injury, cranial cruciate ligament rupture without meniscal injury, and neither cranial cruciate ligament rupture nor meniscal injury, taking into consideration clinical variables.

Results

A total of 154 samples of canine synovial fluid were included in the study. Sixty‐four metabolites were annotated to the hydrogen nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy spectra. Six spectral regions were found to be significantly altered (false discovery rate adjusted P‐value <0.05) between groups with cranial cruciate ligament rupture with and without meniscal injury, including three attributed to nuclear magnetic resonance mobile lipids [mobile lipid ‐CH3 (P=0.016), mobile lipid ‐n(CH3)3 (P=0.017), mobile unsaturated lipid (P=0.031)].

Clinical Significance

We identified an increase in nuclear magnetic resonance mobile lipids in the synovial fluid of dogs with meniscal injury which are of interest as potential biomarkers of meniscal injury.
Thrombospondin 2 is a key determinant of fibrogenesis in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease
Authors: Kimura Takefumi , Iwadare Takanobu , Wakabayashi Shun‐ichi , Kuldeep Seema , Nakajima Tomoyuki , Yamazaki Tomoo , Aomura Daiki , Zafar Hamim , Iwaya Mai , Joshita Satoru , Uehara Takeshi , Pydi Sai P. , Tanaka Naoki , Umemura Takeji
Published: November 2023

Objective

Hepatic overexpression of the thrombospondin 2 gene (THBS2) and elevated levels of circulating thrombospondin 2 (TSP2) have been observed in patients with chronic liver disease. This study aimed to identify the specific cells expressing THBS2/TSP2 in non‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and investigate the underlying mechanism behind THBS2/TSP2 upregulation.

Design

Comprehensive NAFLD liver gene datasets, including single‐cell RNA sequencing (scRNA‐seq), in‐house NAFLD liver tissue, and LX‐2 cells derived from human hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), were analysed using a combination of computational biology, genetic, immunological, and pharmacological approaches.

Results

Analysis of the genetic dataset revealed the presence of 1433 variable genes in patients with advanced fibrosis NAFLD, with THBS2 ranked among the top 2 genes. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) examination of NAFLD livers showed a significant correlation between THBS2 expression and fibrosis stage (r = .349, p < .001). In support of this, scRNA‐seq data and in situ hybridization demonstrated that the THBS2 gene was highly expressed in HSCs of NAFLD patients with advanced fibrosis. Pathway analysis of the gene dataset revealed THBS2 expression to be associated with the transforming growth factor beta (TGFβ) pathway and collagen gene activation. Moreover, the activation of LX‐2 cells with TGFβ increased THBS2/TSP2 and collagen expression independently of the TGFβ‐SMAD2/3 pathway. THBS2 gene knockdown significantly decreased collagen expression in LX‐2 cells.

Conclusions

THBS2/TSP2 is highly expressed in HSCs and plays a role in regulating fibrogenesis in NAFLD patients. THBS2/TSP2 may therefore represent a potential target for anti‐fibrotic therapy in NAFLD.
Liver stiffness as a cornerstone in heart disease risk assessment
Authors: Boeckmans Joost , Sandrin Laurent , Knackstedt Christian , Schattenberg Jörn M.
Published: November 2023

Metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) typically presents with hepatic fibrosis in advanced disease, resulting in increased liver stiffness. A subset of patients further develops liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Cardiovascular disease is a common comorbidity in patients with MASLD and its prevalence is increasing in parallel. Recent evidence suggests that especially liver stiffness, whether or not existing against a background of MASLD, is associated with heart diseases. We conducted a narrative review on the role of liver stiffness in the prediction of highly prevalent heart diseases including heart failure, cardiac arrhythmias (in particular atrial fibrillation), coronary heart disease, and aortic valve sclerosis. Research papers were retrieved from major scientific databases (PubMed, Web of Science) until September 2023 using ‘liver stiffness’ and ‘liver fibrosis’ as keywords along with the latter cardiac conditions. Increased liver stiffness, determined by vibration‐controlled transient elastography or hepatic fibrosis as predicted by biomarker panels, are associated with a variety of cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and coronary heart disease. Elevated liver stiffness in patients with metabolic liver disease should lead to considerations of cardiac workup including N‐terminal pro–B‐type natriuretic peptide/B‐type natriuretic peptide determination, electrocardiography, and coronary computed tomography angiography. In addition, patients with MASLD would benefit from heart disease case‐finding strategies in which liver stiffness measurements can play a key role. In conclusion, increased liver stiffness should be a trigger to consider a cardiac workup in metabolically compromised patients.
Honoring the enslaved African American foremothers of modern women's health: Meditations on 40 years of Black feminist praxis
Authors: Dudley Rachel
Published: November 2023

This article analyzes 40 years of Black feminist scholarship, art, and grassroots activism dedicated to the lives and legacies of the “foremothers of American gynecology.” Infamously, in Montgomery, Alabama, between 1845 and 1849, up to 16 enslaved women were exploited at a backyard hospital, some subjected to surgical experimentation by Dr James Marion Sims. He was a famous and world‐renowned surgeon who died in 1883, with a reputation as “the father of modern gynecology.” Sims achieved the medical knowledge that catapulted him into American and European fame, using skills gained from the exploitation of the enslaved women in his early career. Famously, three of these women are referenced by their first names: Anarcha, Lucy, and Betsey. This research asks: how have these important figures been remembered in 20th and 21st‐century Black feminist scholarship, art, and grassroots community activism? Further, what are the broader impacts of this pathbreaking truth, reckoning, and reconciliation work?
Speedy stomata of a C4 plant correlate with enhanced K+ channel gating
Authors: Silva‐Alvim Fernanda A. L. , Alvim Jonas Chaves , Harvey Andy , Blatt Michael R.
Published: November 2023

Stomata are microscopic pores at the surface of plant leaves that facilitate gaseous diffusion to support photosynthesis. The guard cells around each stoma regulate the pore aperture. Plants that carry out C4 photosynthesis are usually more resilient than C3 plants to stress, and their stomata operate over a lower dynamic range of CO2 within the leaf. What makes guard cells of C4 plants more responsive than those of C3 plants? We used gas exchange and electrophysiology, comparing stomatal kinetics of the C4 plant Gynandropsis gynandra and the phylogenetically related C3 plant Arabidopsis thaliana. We found, with varying CO2 and light, that Gynandropsis showed faster changes in stomata conductance and greater water use efficiency when compared with Arabidopsis. Electrophysiological analysis of the dominant K+ channels showed that the outward‐rectifying channels, responsible for K+ loss during stomatal closing, were characterised by a greater maximum conductance and substantial negative shift in the voltage dependence of gating, indicating a reduced inhibition by extracellular K+ and enhanced capacity for K+ flux. These differences correlated with the accelerated stomata kinetics of Gynandropsis, suggesting that subtle changes in the biophysical properties of a key transporter may prove a target for future efforts to engineer C4 stomatal kinetics.
Development of adolescent childhood cancer survivors' psychosocial issues scale
Authors: Hidaka Kyoko , Monma Takafumi , Fukushima Hiroko , Ozawa Noriko , Iwata Naoko , Terada Kazuki , Fukushima Takashi , Takeda Fumi
Published: November 2023

Background

Follow‐up care for adolescent childhood cancer survivors (ACCS) after they return to school requires an understanding of their psychosocial issues. Therefore, this study developed the adolescent childhood cancer survivors' psychosocial issues scale (ACCSPIS) and evaluated its reliability and validity.

Methods

In the development phase, pediatric oncology clinical professionals created the 24 item questionnaire of ACCS's psychosocial issues. In the feasibility phase, a survey was administered to 165 ACCS aged 12–18 years after discharge from hospital in Japan, and 57 completed questionnaires were analyzed. The survey items were psychosocial issues, attributes, K6 scale, and impact of event scale‐revised (IES‐R) scale. Factor analysis was conducted for psychosocial issues. Regarding reliability, Cronbach's α coefficients and item‐total correlation coefficients were calculated. Regarding validity, Spearman's rank correlation coefficients between ACCSPIS and K6 and IES‐R were calculated, and confirmatory factor analysis was conducted.

Results

Four factors comprising 15 items were extracted: “appearance changes due to treatment effects,” “anxiety about marriage and the future,” “change in appearance due to treatment”, and “psychological distress due to interpersonal relationships and information about the disease.” The model fit was good, with a total ACCSPIS α coefficient of 0.901 and α coefficients for the subscales ranging from 0.651 to 0.914. The K6 and IES‐R were significantly associated with the total ACCSPIS, and item‐total correlations were satisfactory.

Conclusions

The reliability and validity of ACCSPIS were generally confirmed. This scale could be useful to measure psychosocial issues in ACCS aged 12–18 years after their return to school.
Are we there for each other? Longitudinal associations between parenting stress and coparenting in parents of preschool and school‐aged children
Authors: Azzi Stéphanie , Lafontaine Marie‐France , Bureau Jean‐François , Brassard Audrey
Published: November 2023

It is well known that parenthood can be particularly stressful. However, less is known about the stability of parenting stress across children's developmental periods. Certain correlates to parenting stress, such as coparenting support between parents, also appear to play a crucial role in childrearing. The current study aims to shed light on the longitudinal associations between parenting stress during the preschool and school years, along with the moderating effect of coparenting support in this association. Eighty‐two heterosexual couples who are parents completed the Parenting Stress Index at Time 1 and Time 2 and the Coparenting Relationship Scale at Time 2. Actor‐Partner path analyses revealed that greater parenting stress in each parent was related to their partner's greater parenting stress at each time point, but only to their own greater parenting stress 5 years later. The association between fathers' parenting stress at both time points was weaker in fathers who reported greater coparenting support from their partner. Helping parents reduce their parenting stress and learn to support each other effectively as coparents may be important parenting intervention avenues.
Modern‐era successful liver transplantation outcomes in children with hepatic undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma
Authors: Rolfes Priya S. , Yoeli Dor , Feldman Amy G. , Adams Megan A. , Wachs Michael E. , Boster Julia M.
Published: November 2023

Background

Hepatic undifferentiated embryonal sarcoma (HUES) is the third most common primary hepatic malignancy in children. If unresectable, liver transplantation (LT) is the only curative option. Historically, HUES LT outcomes were not favorable; however, modern‐era data are lacking. We aimed to describe LT outcomes in children with HUES and compared with LT outcomes in children transplanted for hepatoblastoma (HBL) and non‐malignancy indications.

Methods

Children 18 years or younger with HUES who underwent LT from 1987 to 2021 were identified from the Scientific Registry of Transplant Recipients database. Graft and patient survival were studied in HUES and LT recipients with HBL and non‐malignancy indications using Kaplan–Meier analysis. Cox regression was used to compare patient and graft survival among groups, controlling for confounders.

Results

Twenty‐one children with HUES underwent LT during the study period with a median age at LT of 10 years (IQR: 8–12 years). One and five‐year patient survival for HUES recipients was not significantly different from that of recipients with HBL (p = .3) or non‐malignancy diagnoses (p = .6). There were no deaths due to HUES recurrence. In multivariable Cox regression, HUES did not increase risk of either patient or graft loss as compared to HBL (HR 2.36, p = .2) or non‐malignancy indications (HR 0.74, p = .7).

Conclusion

LT outcomes are more favorable in patients with HUES than historically described, and similar to LT outcomes of patients with HBL and non‐malignancy indications. Transplant should be considered for HUES patients with unresectable localized tumors.
Living donor liver transplantation for myocerebrohepatopathy spectrum due to POLG mutations
Authors: Kadohisa Masashi , Okamoto Tatsuya , Yamamoto Miki , Uebayashi Elena Yukie , Sonoda Mari , Ogawa Eri , Yokoyama Atsushi , Kawasaki Hidenori , Hiejima Eitaro , Ito Shogo , Togawa Takao , Imagawa Kazuo , Murayama Kei , Okajima Hideaki , Hatano Etsuro
Published: November 2023

Background

POLG is one of several nuclear genes associated with mitochondrial DNA maintenance defects and is a group of diseases caused by mitochondrial DNA deficiency that results in impaired adenosine triphosphate production and organ dysfunction. Myocerebrohepatopathy spectrum (MCHS) is the most severe and earliest presentation of POLG mutations, and liver transplantation (LT) for MCHS has never been reported.

Case presentation

The patient was a 3‐month‐old boy with acute liver failure and no neurological manifestations (e.g., seizures). We performed a living donor LT using a left lateral segment graft from his father. The postoperative course was uneventful. Subsequently, a homozygous POLG mutation (c.2890C>T, p. R964C) was identified by multigene analysis of neonatal/infantile intrahepatic cholestasis. Moreover, respiratory chain complex I, II, and III enzyme activities and the ratio of mtDNA to nuclear DNA in the liver were reduced. Therefore, we considered that these clinical manifestations and examination findings met the definition for MCHS. During meticulous follow‐up, the patient had shown satisfactory physical growth and mental development until the time of writing this report.

Conclusion

We presumed that the absence of remarkable neurologic manifestations prior to LT in patients with MCHS is a good indication for LT and contributes to a better prognosis in the present case.
Sensitivity of dominant UKPhytophthora infestans genotypes to a range of fungicide active ingredients
Authors: Lynott James S. , Cooke David E. L. , Sullivan Louise , Lees Alison K.
Published: November 2023

Late blight, caused by Phytophthora infestans, is a serious disease of potatoes worldwide and is predominantly controlled by repeated prophylactic use of fungicides throughout the growing season. Effective blight management and integrated pest management strategies rely on knowledge of the efficacy of available fungicides to control contemporary genotypes of P. infestans. Between 2019 and 2022, representative isolates of the newer dominant genotypes EU36, EU37 and the older dominant genotype EU6 were sampled from GB crops and tested for sensitivity to seven commonly used fungicide active ingredients (cyazofamid, fluopicolide, mandipropamid, propamocarb, oxathiapiprolin, amisulbrom and mancozeb) used preventatively in detached leaf tests and zoospore motility assays where appropriate. Dose–response curves based on lesion area (mm2) were constructed, and EC50 values calculated. Isolates of P. infestans genotype EU37 were insensitive to fluazinam as previously reported. No insensitivity, or progression towards resistance over time, to any of the other fungicides was observed in any isolates of the genotypes tested, and EC50 values were generally in line with previous testing. Zoospore motility tests with fluopicolide revealed significantly higher MIC values for isolates of genotype EU36 compared with EU37 and EU6, which, whilst not indicative of resistance at the low concentrations of active ingredient tested, may be a factor contributing to the overall dominance of that genotype in the wider population of P. infestans. The evidence suggests that the fungicides tested, with the exception of fluazinam and EU37, are effective for the control of P. infestans genotypes dominant in the GB population up until 2022.
The administrative politics of unilateral action: Measuring delegation and discretion in the executive branch
Authors: Benn Annie
Published: November 2023

Political scientists typically view unilateral action as the president “going it alone” in opposition to Congress. However, there is increasing recognition that, while such action may be unilateral with respect to Congress, its implementation relies on the cooperation of administrative agencies. In this article, unilateral action is considered an act of administrative delegation: in issuing a unilateral directive, a president is both authorizing an agency to act and indicating a discretionary window for such action. The article introduces the Administrative Delegation Dataset, which provides delegation and discretion scores for 1,641 presidential unilateral directives issued between 1936 and 2021. The scores are based on novel measures developed for the executive‐branch context, and the reliability and validity of the measures are discussed. I then use the dataset to show that the extent of delegation and discretion granted to administrative agents has shifted across modalities (executive orders, memoranda, proclamations) over time: the proportion of high‐scoring executive orders has been increasing, but that increase is offset by a corresponding decrease in high‐scoring memos. Additionally, I find that presidents use less administrative delegation in foreign policy than in domestic policy, which is consistent with existing literature on centralization of executive‐branch policymaking.
Gettier and the a priori
Authors: Berghofer Philipp
Published: November 2023

In 1967, Alvin Goldman prominently claimed that the traditional JTB analysis is adequate for non‐empirical knowledge. Since then, this claim has remained widely unchallenged. In this paper, I show that this claim is false. I provide two examples in which a true belief is a priori justified but epistemically defective such that it does not constitute knowledge. Finally, I submit a novel analysis of a priori knowledge that avoids the Gettier problem. What is particularly important and distinctive about my analysis is that I neither need to make the justification condition so strong that only infallible justification is allowed, nor do I need to explicitly introduce a truth condition.
Performing central bank independence: The Bank of England's communicative financial stability strategy
Authors: Baker Andrew , Hindmoor Andrew , McDaniel Sean
Published: November 2023

Central bank independence (CBI) has been one of the most significant regulatory state developments of the last three decades. Following the 2008 financial crisis, many central bank mandates were extended to include a responsibility for financial stability. Some commentators claim this jeopardizes CBI by drawing central banks into contested political issues that can impact financial stability, in what we term an independence in decline thesis. Through a detailed study of the Bank of England's financial stability communications employing the Comparative Agendas Project (CAP) codebook, we subject this independence in decline thesis to scrutiny. We show that since the extension of the Bank's mandate in 2011, Bank officials have discussed a wider range of more contentious policy issues. However, these communications appear to date to have largely reinforced the Bank's reputation for technical competence and political neutrality. In this sense, central bank “communicative agency” can be deployed to protect CBI performatively, while CBI can in turn be studied and understood as an ongoing communicative performance act. We find that repoliticization is a more contingent process than much central banking literature has allowed for, while financial stability communications are a potentially powerful regulatory instrument deserving of more scholarly attention.
Gender essentialism and benevolent sexism in anti‐trans rhetoric
Authors: Atwood S. , Morgenroth Thekla , Olson Kristina R.
Published: November 2023

The past half‐decade has seen an exponential rise in proposed and debated anti‐trans legislation in the United States. These bills are often positioned at the center of divisive political debates between Republicans (who typically support these laws) and Democrats (who typically do not). In the process of discussing these debates, there has been widespread dissemination of anti‐trans rhetoric that has the potential to impact public opinion. In this review, we approach this rhetoric through the lens of social psychology with a specific focus on instances where anti‐trans legislation is portrayed as beneficial for the rights of other vulnerable groups of people, such as cisgender women and children. We identify psychological constructs reflected in anti‐trans rhetoric and then review existing literature on the consequences and beliefs associated with these constructs. Based upon this review, we argue that the kind of reasoning used to promote anti‐trans laws—specifically, essentialist beliefs and benevolent sexism—is actually associated with outcomes that are detrimental to the very groups these laws purport to protect. Given these potentially adverse effects of essentialism and benevolent sexism, we reflect on ways to reduce the impact of these psychological constructs in everyday life and suggest some alternatives to these laws that would improve the lives of both cisgender and transgender individuals. Next, we briefly discuss other forms of anti‐trans rhetoric and suggest ways that social psychology can be used to positively reframe rhetoric and policy to promote the welfare of transgender and gender‐diverse individuals. We close our paper with a brief discussion of limitations and summary of our ideas.
The sociology of global health: Inequality, disease‐related stigma, and the rise of nongovernmental organizations
Authors: Leonard Cassandra
Published: November 2023

This article is a review of global health literature, emphasizing the evolution in health terminology in recent decades and noteworthy research areas of global health. This review identifies global inequality and disease‐related stigma as key social determinants of health and central problems improving health outcomes. Within global health, there is a growing discourse surrounding health disparities, particularly among the world's most disadvantaged populations. Additionally, the field notes an increase in global health nonprofits, international governmental organizations (IGOs), and regulatory bodies. As such, this paper examines the scope of empirical global health research with consideration of inequality and stigma as well as the role of nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in health outcomes for the developing world. The review also discusses the role of IGOs and global health regulatory bodies in shaping development and health outcomes. A broad review of literature finds that although chronic noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are currently the largest cause of poor health in the world's most impoverished nations, these are largely untargeted by NGO efforts, which may exacerbate the state of global inequality. However, the impact that NGOs could have on ameliorating the effects of NCDs remains understudied and is a promising direction for future scholarly efforts.
Predictive modelling of sweep's specific draft using machine learning regression approaches
Authors: Gautam Prem Veer , Agrawal Kamal Nayan , Roul Ajay Kumar , Mansuri Shekh Mukhtar , Subeesh A.
Published: November 2023

Modelling and optimizing soil‐tool interaction parameters for tillage operations is crucial for developing efficient and precise tools. This study focused on a specific draft of sweep tools in the soil bin filled with vertisol, considering factors such as tool geometry, cone index, working depth and operational speed. Data analysis showed that the range of specific draft values, from 9.51 to 38.95 kN/m2. Machine learning models, including artificial neural network (ANN), support vector machine (SVM), bagged trees (BT) and boosted trees (BoT), were developed using experimental data to predict the specific draft of sweep tools with hyperparameter configuration. The developed machine learning models have also been compared with the predictive multiple linear regression (MLR) model, and it was found that the predictive performance of the machine learning models was better than the MLR model during training and testing. The fine‐tuned ANN model achieved impressive statistical performance with the lowest mean absolute error (MAE) of 0.489 kN/m2, root mean square error (RMSE) of 0.619 kN/m2, standard error of prediction (SEP) of 3.462% and highest coefficient of determination (R2) of .99 during testing. R2 values for BT, BoT, SVM and MLR models were .97, .96, .94 and .83, respectively, for specific draft predictions. The findings from this study have practical implications for optimizing sweep tool design and improving tillage operation. Manufacturers and farmers can benefit from predictive modelling using machine learning to design and select appropriate tillage tools for specific soil conditions. This approach can lead to improved soil health, increased yields and reduced costs.
Detrimental impact of immunosuppressive burden on clinical course in patients with Cytomegalovirus infection after liver transplantation
Authors: Ossami Saidy Ramin Raul , Kollar Stefanie , Czigany Zoltan , Dittrich Luca , Raschzok Nathanael , Globke Brigitta , Schöning Wenzel , Öllinger Robert , Lurje Georg , Pratschke Johann , Eurich Dennis , Uluk Deniz
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Cytomegalovirus (CMV)‐infection and reactivation remain a relevant complication after liver transplantation (LT). The recipient and donor serum CMV‐IgG‐status has been established for risk stratification when choosing various pharmaceutical regimens for CMV‐prophylaxis in the last two decades. However, factors influencing course of CMV‐infection in LT remain largely unknown. In this study, the impact of immunosuppressive regimen was examined in a large cohort of patients.

Methods

All patients that underwent primary LT between 2006 and 2018 at the Charité–Universitaetsmedizin, Berlin, were included. Clinical course as well as histological and laboratory findings of patients were analyzed our prospectively maintained database. Univariate and multivariate regression analysis for impact of variables on CMV‐occurrence was conducted, and survival was examined using Kaplan–Meier analysis.

Results

Overall, 867 patients were included in the final analysis. CMV‐infection was diagnosed in 325 (37.5%) patients after transplantation. Significantly improved overall survival was observed in these patients (Log rank = 0.03). As shown by correlation and regression tree classification and regression tree analysis, the recipient/donor CMV‐IgG‐status with either positivity had the largest influence on CMV‐occurrence. Analysis of immunosuppressive burden did not reveal statistical impact on CMV‐infection, but statistically significant inverse correlation of cumulative tacrolimus trough levels and survival was found (Log rank < .001). Multivariate analysis confirmed these findings (p = .02).

Discussion

CMV‐infection remains of clinical importance after LT. Undergone CMV‐infection of either recipient or donor requires prophylactic treatment. Additionally, we found a highly significant, dosage‐dependent impact of immunosuppression (IS) on long‐term outcomes for these patients, underlying the importance of minimization of IS in liver transplant recipients.

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Impact of preoperative bloodstream infection on outcomes of pediatric liver transplant recipients treated for acute liver failure
Authors: Baba Chiaki , Funaki Takanori , Uranaka Makoto , Hashiya Mai , Ninagawa Jun , Sakamoto Seisuke , Kasahara Mureo , Nagasaka Yasuko , Suzuki Yasuyuki , Kasuya Shugo
Published: November 2023

Background

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a component of multisystem organ failure that causes severe liver dysfunction in patients without underlying chronic liver disease. The patients with ALF are prone to have infections, including bacteremia. However, studies of the infectious impact for post liver transplantation (LT) in pediatric ALF are limited. We aimed to evaluate our current practice for pediatric LT cases of ALF with preoperative bacteremia.

Methods

The records of all patients under 18 years old undergoing LT for ALF in our center from November 2005 to December 2021 were collected. They were divided into two groups: those with a preoperative bloodstream infection (BSI) and those without (NBSI). We compared the preoperative status and also reviewed the details of the BSI group. Intraoperative course and postoperative outcomes were also compared.

Results

There were 19 BSI patients and 66 NBSI patients. One BSI case was detected on the day of LT. This patient had no changes in vital signs and general condition. After evaluation and therapeutic intervention by pediatric infectious disease specialists, LT was performed on the same day. Five cases developed septic shock at the time of detection of BSI. All BSI patients were in stable condition on the operation day with proper interventions. There were no significant differences in mortality and hospital stay between both groups.

Conclusions

LT might be able to be performed for pediatric ALF even with positive blood cultures. In addition, appropriate therapeutic intervention by specialists and patient's stable condition before LT are essential.

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Excess mortality among kidney transplant recipients: Impact of COVID‐19‐related deaths during the pandemic
Authors: Cristelli Marina Pontello , Fortaleza Carlos Magno Castelo Branco , Pereira João Filipe Costa Alves , Taddeo Julia Bernardi , Viana Laila Almeida , Requião‐Moura Lucio Roberto , Chow Charles Yea Zen , Nakamura Monica Rika , Tedesco‐Silva Helio , Medina‐Pestana José
Published: November 2023

Background

Because COVID‐19 has been associated with high lethality rates among kidney transplant recipients (KTR), but also with a severe disruption and delays in overall healthcare, this study aims to evaluate the excess mortality in the pandemic era among KTR in a high‐volume Brazilian transplant center.

Methods

This study used data from a single center that provides follow‐up on all its transplant recipients. The population of interest included all the patients who were transplanted between August 31, 1983 and December 31, 2022 and who were live from January 1, 2014. Using the “AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average” forecasting algorithm, the expected mortality for the pandemic era (2020–2022) was modeled from the pre‐pandemic era (2014–2019).

Results

There were 12 077 KTRs at risk of dying in the entire observation period. In the pre‐pandemic era, there were 21 deaths per 1000 patients at risk. In the pandemic era, there were 1429 observed deaths (rate of 47 deaths per 1000 patients at risk) versus the expected 587 deaths, resulting in an absolute number of 842 excess deaths, or an observed‐to‐expected ratio of 2.4, or an absolute rate of 26 deaths in excess per 1000 patients at risk. The excess deaths exhibited a temporal pattern mirroring that of the surges in new cases and lethality rates of COVID‐19. COVID‐19‐related deaths drove 94% of excess mortality in the pandemic era.

Conclusion

In this large cohort of KTR under centralized follow‐up, more than twofold excess mortality was primarily driven by COVID‐19‐related deaths, highlighting the vulnerability of this population to the most severe presentation of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.

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Understanding Human−Autonomy Teams Through a Human−Animal Teaming Model
Authors: Lum Heather C. , Phillips Elizabeth K.
Published: November 2023

The relationship between humans and animals is complex and influenced by multiple variables. Humans display a remarkably flexible and rich array of social competencies, demonstrating the ability to interpret, predict, and react appropriately to the behavior of others, as well as to engage others in a variety of complex social interactions. Developing computational systems that have similar social abilities is a critical step in designing robots, animated characters, and other computer agents that appear intelligent and capable in their interactions with humans and each other. Further, it will improve their ability to cooperate with people as capable partners, learn from natural instruction, and provide intuitive and engaging interactions for human partners. Thus, human−animal team analogs can be one means through which to foster veridical mental models of robots that provide a more accurate representation of their near‐future capabilities. Some digital twins of human−animal teams currently exist but are often incomplete. Therefore, this article focuses on issues within and surrounding the current models of human−animal teams, previous research surrounding this connection, and the challenges when using such an analogy for human−autonomy teams.
Blood, sweat, and fears: Athletes' perceptions of blood donation and engagement in physical activity
Authors: Masser Barbara , Webster Hugo , Thorpe Rachel , Jensen Kyle
Published: November 2023

Background

Athletes are a key group from which likely eligible donors could be sourced. While blood donation has been popularized as detrimental to athletic performance, little is known about how athletes perceive blood donation. The aim of this study was to investigate athletes' perceptions of the impacts of donating blood on their athletic performance and whether these influence their engagement with blood donation.

Study Design and Methods

A total of 175 athletes (78 donors; 97 non‐donors) prescreened as eligible to donate blood in Australia completed an online survey assessing the perceived impact of (i) donating blood on engagement and performance in physical activity (type of impact, direction, and duration) and (ii) engaging in physical activity on blood donation (magnitude of impact and modification of behavior).

Results

We found that 37%–39% of our sample indicated that they had considered the impact of donating blood on their engagement or performance in physical activity, with the impact seen as negative but short term. Fatigue was the most commonly identified impact of donation on performance in physical activity. While the impact of donating did not account for athletes' non‐donor status, many donors noted changing their engagement in physical activity pre‐ and post‐donation to allow recovery, and aligning blood donation with their training schedule.

Discussion

Athletes are a key community from which likely eligible donors could be sourced, however a significant proportion of athletes perceive that donating will negatively impact their athletic performance. Strategies to engage athletes with donation should acknowledge and facilitate athletes need to align their training with donating.
Direct writing immersion laser lithography on graphene monolayers using two-photon absorption
Authors: Zhang Jianran , Strobel Carsten , Estel Kathrin , Mikolajick Thomas , Kirchner Robert
Published: November 2023

Direct writing laser lithography has become increasingly attractive due to its mask-free nature, offering significant design flexibility and minimizing additional costs associated with new exposure masks. Among the various direct laser writing techniques, two-photon absorption direct laser writing stands out for its ability to fabricate very small features through nonlinear optical effects. Operating this technique in immersion, where the air gap between the lens and photoresist or probe is liquid-filled, has been shown to enable reduced feature sizes [D. P. Sanders, Chem. Rev. 110, 321 (2010).]. Previous studies have typically employed an immersion oil for this purpose [Jakkinapalli et al., J. Micromech. Microeng. 30, 125014 (2020).]. However, our experiments revealed that prolonged immersion times can lead to oil interacting with the photoresist, resulting in the formation of new compounds that are challenging to remove. Consequently, the altered photoresist becomes unresponsive to both exposure and development. In light of these findings, we conducted tests using alternative immersion liquids and propose a combination of different immersion liquids and air direct writing as a means to achieve optimal writing results.
DLR Group collaboration with academia and the University of Nebraska Lincoln Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction
Authors: Manley David , Wang Lily
Published: November 2023

Recognizing that the future of the acoustical design profession lies within the walls of our academic institutions is foundational to DLR Group’s commitment to collaboration, mentorship, and internship programs for students at the University of Nebraska Lincoln Durham School of Architectural Engineering and Construction. The 25-year industry-academic relationship has resulted in graduating students who are able to enter industry running, with minimal technical training on day one of employment. Benefits to the student experience include mentorship, paid summer internships, and safety of mind knowing students from the university are highly sought after. Perspectives from both DLR Group and the University of Nebraska will be presented.
Acoustical and visual monitoring of the discharge process of the last captive Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin in South Korea
Authors: Kim Changsoo , Kim Byung Yeop , I. M. Seung Uk , Paeng Dong-Guk
Published: November 2023

The discharge of Bibong, a 23-year-old Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin, marked the end of its 17-year aquatic show life in an aquarium on November 16, 2022. The three-month adaptation training included a temporary retreat due to typhoon HINNAMNOR. To continuously capture underwater sound, two hydrophones were alternately used due to limited operation time. Additionally, two CCTV cameras and two drones were employed to record events around the discharge cage, with one observer per drone. Using a CNN-based whistle profile extractor, whistle sounds were automatically detected and exported as time-stamped data. The corresponding CCTV and drone clips were examined for each whistle encounter. Our study presents the whistle sound encounter pattern and the synchronized acoustical and video data. These findings offer valuable insights into understanding the discharge process, serving as a reference for future discharge initiatives and welfare assessments of captive marine mammals.
Where are the whales? Continued acoustic monitoring efforts of California’s Central Coast
Authors: Wilkin Adelle , Short Sophie M. , Orlando Isaiah , Nosbisch Lucy , Schroth-Glanz Maddie
Published: November 2023

Understanding and conserving ocean ecosystems is a difficult, but important task made easier with bioacoustic technology. Although marine mammal monitoring efforts can be done with visual surveys, they often lack temporal information on a finer scale. Long-term passive acoustic monitoring efforts of critical migratory species can provide detailed information about the region’s marine soundscape that is key to conservation efforts. The aim of our project is to establish a long-term bioacoustic monitoring station off the coast of central California and help close the gap in our understanding of marine mammal presence along the Pacific coastline. The goals put forth by the bioacoustic lab for this academic year include (1) determining probable species presence, (2) ascertaining temporal (day/night) variations of vocalizations, and (3) examining key differences in species and call type between two deployments from Fall 2022 and Winter 2023. These comparisons will be crucial to help develop a baseline understanding of seasonal and temporal variations of the soundscape in our region. We aim to implement various long-term deployments in order to gather more complete and consistent bioacoustic data in our local waters. These deployments and the subsequent analysis will contribute to large scale marine mammal monitoring and conservation efforts. [This project was made possible by a grant from the Santa Rosa Creek Foundation and the COAST undergraduate research fund.]
The ripples of consonant intervals and chords arising in different tuning systems
Authors: Nuño Luis
Published: November 2023

Pure consonances are combinations of exact multiples of a fundamental frequency, particularly with the factors 2, 3, and 5. They give rise to the consonant intervals (octave, perfect fifth, and major and minor thirds) and consonant chords (major and minor). However, these kinds of consonances are only achieved in just intonation, which does not produce beats or ripples, that is, their envelopes are constant. On the contrary, other tuning systems, such as Pythagorean, meantone, or N-tone equal temperaments, which slightly differ from just intonation, actually produce beats or ripples, that is, the corresponding envelopes oscillate and, acoustically, resemble a vibrato in amplitude. In this paper, the envelopes of consonant intervals and chords are modelled mathematically by approximate formulas. They contain one variable for the intervals and two variables for the chords. The formulas include deviations of one full trigonometric period, thus being valid for any tuning system. In the case of intervals, the corresponding ripples are obtained by following a line (1D) at a specific velocity and, in the case of chords, by following a line on a graph (2D) at specific velocity and direction. The corresponding audio files considering pure tones are also obtained.
Ski-hill Graph Pedagogy meter fundamentals acoustics education
Authors: Calilhanna Andrea
Published: November 2023

Acoustics education in school music classrooms is generally approached as a study of sound as pitch frequencies, spectral analysis, and other elements of music such as rhythm, volume, and timbre. While the psychoacoustic aspects of these acoustic properties continue to inspire and educate, the musical meter is yet to be introduced as an ordinary aspect of acoustics discussions. The meter is taught as notation, time signatures and a beat grouped in a measure, even though the listener may experience a disconnect between what is experienced and what is taught and represented as meter. Combined, the meter’s psychoacoustic role during music experiences is less critical or misunderstood due to the previous lack of meter theory than tonality. Meter theorists and music educators are responding to the call for solutions (Cohn, 2020). To illustrate how meter can be understood and taught through listening to music, as psychoacoustical and mathematical from the earliest lessons, the paper provides a solution to introduce contemporary meter theory (Cohn, 2020) to beginners based on listening experiences. The report discusses the ski-hill graph as applied to meter fundamentals and provides inclusive music education; cross-cultural, multi-sensory applications demonstrate plausible benefits through an interdisciplinary approach to the meter.