bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Subcutaneous epcoritamab monotherapy in Japanese adults with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma
Authors: Izutsu Koji , Kumode Takahiro , Yuda Junichiro , Nagai Hirokazu , Mishima Yuko , Suehiro Youko , Yamamoto Kazuhito , Fujisaki Tomoaki , Ishitsuka Kenji , Ishizawa Kenichi , Ikezoe Takayuki , Nishikori Momoko , Akahane Daigo , Fujita Jiro , Dinh Minh , Soong David , Noguchi Hidehisa , Buchbjerg Jeppe Klint , Favaro Elena , Fukuhara Noriko
Published: November 2023

Epcoritamab is a subcutaneously administered CD3xCD20 bispecific Ab that showed deep, durable responses with a manageable safety profile in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in the global multicenter pivotal phase II trial EPCORE NHL‐1. Here, we present results from the similar EPCORE NHL‐3 phase I/II trial evaluating epcoritamab monotherapy in Japanese patients with R/R CD20+ B‐cell non‐Hodgkin's lymphoma previously treated with two or more lines of therapy. Epcoritamab was dosed subcutaneously in 28‐day cycles; once weekly during cycles 1–3, every 2 weeks during cycles 4–9, and every 4 weeks from cycle 10 until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Step‐up dosing and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) prophylaxis were used during treatment cycle 1. As of January 31, 2022, 36 patients received treatment with 48 mg epcoritamab monotherapy. At a median follow‐up of 8.4 months, overall response and complete response rates by independent review committee were 55.6% and 44.4%, respectively. The median duration of response, duration of complete response, and overall survival were not reached at the time of data cut‐off. The most common treatment‐emergent adverse events of any grade were CRS (83.3%), injection‐site reactions (69.4%), infections (44.4%), neutropenia (38.9%), hypokalemia (27.8%), and decreased lymphocyte count (25.0%). Cytokine release syndrome occurrence was predictable; events were primarily low grade (grade 1–2), all resolved, and none led to treatment discontinuation. These encouraging results are consistent with previous findings and support the ongoing clinical evaluation of epcoritamab for the treatment of R/R DLBCL, including in earlier treatment lines.
IDEAL Stage 2a/b prospective cohort study of transanal transection and single‐stapled anastomosis for rectal cancer
Authors: Harji Deena , Fernandez Benjamin , Boissieras Lara , Celerier Bertrand , Rullier Eric , Denost Quentin
Published: November 2023

Aim

There are several anastomotic techniques available to facilitate restorative rectal cancer surgery after total mesorectal excision (TME), including double‐stapled anastomosis (DST) and handsewn coloanal anastomosis (CAA). However, to date no one technique is superior with regard to anastomotic leakage (AL) or functional outcomes. Transanal transection single‐stapled anastomosis (TTSS) aims to overcome some of the technical challenges and offer comparable clinical and functional outcomes to traditional anastomotic techniques. The aim of this study was to explore the role of TTSS in modern rectal cancer surgery and to provide comparative clinical and functional outcome data with DST and CAA.

Method

A prospective cohort study was undertaken to assess the safety and clinical and patient‐reported outcomes associated with the TTSS procedure. All patients undergoing sphincter‐preserving surgery for rectal cancer with an anastomosis performed within 6 cm of the anal verge between January 2016 and April 2021 were prospectively enrolled into this study. Clinical and patient‐reported outcome data, including low anterior resection syndrome (LARS) assessment, were collected. The primary endpoint was anastomotic leakage within 30 days.

Results

A total of 275 patients participated in this study, with 70 (25%) patients undergoing a TTSS, 110 (40%) undergoing a DST and 95 (35%) undergoing a CAA. Patients undergoing a CAA had more distal tumours than those having a TTSS or DST, with a median tumour height of 5, 7 and 9 cm (p < 0.001), respectively. We observed a statistically significant reduction in AL in the TTSS group compared with the DST group, with rates of 8.6% versus 20.9% (p = 0.028). There was no difference in LARS scores between patients undergoing TTSS and DST (p = 0.228), while patients with a CAA had worse LARS scores than TTSS patients (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

TTSS is a technically safe and feasible anastomotic technique in rectal cancer surgery as an alternative to DST and CAA. Its advantages over DST are a reduced AL rate and, over CAA, improved function. It should therefore be considered as an alternative technique to improve clinical and patient‐reported outcomes in restorative rectal cancer surgery.
Optimisation of laser fading process in denim trousers: An industrial scale approach
Authors: Atav Rıza , Gündüz Öner , Yaz Sercan , Çakan Gizem
Published: November 2023

Colour fading with laser application has now become a well‐known and frequently used process in the denim industry. However, in practice, high strength losses and even tears may occur in the trousers as a result of incorrect or excessive laser application. In this study, the effects of resolution (dpi) and pixel time (μs), which are the two main parameters of laser colour fading, and also the effects of two‐passage laser treatments on colour fading and fabric strength were examined statistically and optimum conditions were determined. When the results of the studies are evaluated in general, it can be said that as the resolution (dpi) increases during the laser process, the colour fading effect increases, but when it is above the 31 dpi value, the strength loss increases excessively. As the second important parameter, the pixel time, increased, the colour fading effect increased. When the time exceeds 80 μs, there is a marginal increase in the strength loss value. Furthermore, it was observed that colour fading (%) values increase if laser process is applied in two passages, but in this case also the tear strength loss increases. It can be said that optimising the laser processing conditions in enterprises according to the product type (fibre content, weight, etc.) is a more accurate approach in terms of both the fading performance to be obtained and product quality. For 11.25 ounce trousers made of 95.3% cotton/3.4% polyester (T400)/1.3% elastane used in this study, it can be said that laser application could be made in two passages if necessary for obtaining high colour fading, however it should be noted that resolution and pixel time should not exceed 31 dpi and 80 μs, respectively. Provided that resolution and pixel time does not exceed 31 dpi and 80 μs, respectively, they can be changed depending on the degree of colour fading needed.
Alister E. McGrath and China: Toward a Chinese theology and science on transhumanism for the third millennium
Authors: Feng Jacob Chengwei
Published: November 2023

In the past three decades, Alister E. McGrath's popularity has been constantly on the rise in China. More than 20 of his books have been translated into Chinese. To the Chinese intellectual mind, the most fascinating among McGrath's works are his writings on theology and science. This is not surprising due to China's ambitions to achieve scientific and technological dominance by boosting creativity. However, such a daunting task faces insurmountable difficulties due to a prevailing lack of innovation, which might contribute to the rising interest in McGrath's work on science and theology. Due to the dominant political ideology in China, theology is by and large put aside, if not marginalized. This essay suggests that the wide‐scale reception of McGrath's works by Chinese academia and churches not only opens a door for the public square to change their attitude toward Christian theology, but also challenges Chinese theology to contextualize McGrath's scientific theology on Chinese soil and to engage Chinese worldview with its pragmatic epistemology. This paper seeks to adapt McGrath's scientific theology on the topic of transhumanism, which has received increasing scholarly attention from the perspective of traditional Chinese philosophies and religions, such as Confucianism and Daoism. Unfortunately, Chinese theology has largely failed to grasp the opportunity to offer any significant constructive proposal to this interdisciplinary discussion. This paper argues that a Chinese theology of science built on a sympathetic and critical engagement with McGrath's scientific theology has a rich potential to dialogue with modern sciences and traditional Chinese philosophies and religions on transhumanism. Such constructive theology not only serves as a conversation partner, but also provides a theological critique to the prevalent scientism and humanism in China.
Semantic segmentation and classification of polycystic ovarian disease using attention UNet, Pyspark, and ensemble learning model
Authors: Kodipalli Ashwini , Devi Susheela , Dasar Santosh
Published: November 2023

Ovarian abnormality like polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) is one of the most common diseases among women worldwide. PCOD not only has an impact on infertility but also hurts the psychological well‐being of women affecting their quality of life. In this study, a two‐class pattern learning problem is designed for the classification of PCOD. In total, 37 clinical parameters and abdominal ultrasound images of women are collected under the proper ethical protocol. Using only clinical data, an accuracy of 93.7% is obtained using Random Forest as the classifier which is further improved to 95.54% by using a Randomized Search CV during Random Forest classification. The ultrasound images are classified using the proposed Attention‐UNet architecture and a mean Dice score of 0.945 is obtained indicating more accurate segmentation. The segmented images are passed through the state‐of‐the‐art EfficientNet B6 for the classification of PCOS and non‐PCOS and recorded an accuracy of 95.47%. Using big data architecture Pyspark, the performance is further enhanced to 96.8% and 96.3% for clinical and ultrasound images respectively along with the reduced computational speed. The results of these classifiers are then used to create metadata and a customized Artificial Neural Network is applied for the final prediction of PCOD and non‐PCOD. From the results, it can be seen that the stacking model outperformed with an accuracy of 98.12% when compared to the single classifier. Our proposed method has very good performance with less computation, contributing a new architecture to evaluate PCOD and hence helping to improve the wellness of women.
Autophagy of the ER: the secretome finds the lysosome
Authors: Knupp Jeffrey , Pletan Madison L. , Arvan Peter , Tsai Billy
Published: November 2023

Lysosomal degradation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and its components through the autophagy pathway has emerged as a major regulator of ER proteostasis. Commonly referred to as ER‐phagy and ER‐to‐lysosome‐associated degradation (ERLAD), how the ER is targeted to the lysosome has been recently clarified by a growing number of studies. Here, we summarize the discoveries of the molecular components required for lysosomal degradation of the ER and their proposed mechanisms of action. Additionally, we discuss how cells employ these machineries to create the different routes of ER‐lysosome‐associated degradation. Further, we review the role of ER‐phagy in viral infection pathways, as well as the implication of ER‐phagy in human disease. In sum, we provide a comprehensive overview of the current field of ER‐phagy.
Self‐concept and self‐visions in CLIL and non‐CLIL learners and their effect on motivation
Authors: Buckingham Lyndsay R. , Iwaniec Janina
Published: November 2023

To date, most studies that explore the differences in motivation between content and language‐integrated learning (CLIL) and non‐CLIL learners have been mainly quantitative or have not controlled for differences in socio‐economic status (SES). While many researchers agree that CLIL learners tend to have greater motivation than non‐CLIL learners, there has been little explanation of the reasons behind this difference, perhaps partly because the field lacks studies from the perspective of CLIL students themselves. Based on the L2 motivational self‐system and the construct of self‐concept, this study employed a mixed‐methods approach to explore CLIL and non‐CLIL learners’ current and future self‐visions. Fifteen‐year‐old learners in the Madrid region (n = 348) completed a questionnaire that considered their SES levels as well as experiences related to the scales of English self‐concept, academic self‐concept, and teacher expectations. The same learners were then invited to take part in focus groups in which researchers delved into the reasoning behind their motivation. Despite no significant difference in SES levels between CLIL and non‐CLIL learner groups, CLIL participants are found to display a slightly more positive self‐concept and more robust ideal L2 self‐visions, which may explain the perceived greater motivation among CLIL learners to study (in) English. Furthermore, the L2 ought‐to self is found to be a secondary, yet potentially positive force toward higher motivation.
Stable chlorine dioxide combined with slightly acidic electrolyzed water: an effective way to delay protein deterioration of refrigerated large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea)
Authors: Lan Weiqing , Zhou Qi , Zhao Xinyu , Xie Jing
Published: November 2023

Fish is susceptible to spoilage for enzymatic and microbial activities during storage, proteolysis of MPs by endogenous proteases played a crucial influence in the early postmortem decomposition of myosin. This study aimed to investigate the impact of stable chlorine dioxide (ClO2) combined with slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) on myofibrillar proteins (MPs) and endogenous proteases alterations in large yellow croaker (Pseudosciaena crocea) during cold storage. The results of Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR) and intrinsic fluorescence intensity (IFI) showed that the ClO2 + SAEW treatment kept the structural stability of protein in fillets during cold storage. Moreover, ClO2 + SAEW treatment dramatically inhibited protein degradation and oxidation. The results of light microscopy further confirmed the results. Meanwhile, there was a tendency to first increase and then decrease on the activities of calpain and cathepsin B, L. According to the correlation analysis and principal component analysis, the activities of endogenous proteases (cathepsin B, D, L, and calpain) were significant (P < 0.01) positively correlated to myofibrillar fragmentation index and trichloroacetic acid‐soluble peptide, and were significant (P < 0.01) negative correlated with the contents of total sulfhydryl and Ca2+‐ATPase. The endogenous proteases activities and protein deterioration were strongly associated. Therefore, endogenous protease was affected by ClO2 and SAEW, which delayed protein degradation in large yellow croaker, especially ClO2 combined with SAEW treatment.
INTEGRATING‐SPHERE ERRORS IN THE COLORIMETRY OF FLUORESCENT MATERIALS
Authors: ALMAN DAVID H. , BILLMEYER FRED W.
Published: November 2023

The wavelength dependence of the efficiency of an integrating sphere alters the relative spectral irradiance of the light‐source system of which it is a part. Since the total radiance factor (reflected plus fluoresced energy) of a fluorescent material depends upon this irradiance, wavelength‐dependent changes in the efficiency of the integrating sphere can lead to significant variations in the total radiance factor. Such variations can result from changes in the fractional area of the sample port, changes in the sphere wall coating, or the change from specular component included to excluded. Conditions minimizing the importance of these variations are described, but for the accurate colorimetry of fluorescent materials, the use of45°/0° geometry is recommended.
DIRECT ABSORPTANCE MEASUREMENT OF FLUORESCENT AND TURBID SAMPLES IN A 4 π GEOMETRY
Authors: COSTA LORENZO F. , GRUM FRÄNC , WIGHTMAN THEODORE E.
Published: November 2023

The determination of optical absorption in turbid media requires optical integrators to collect all the light scattered by the sample. If under these measurement conditions the sample fluoresces, its emission is collected as scattered light by the integrator and produces a signal of the opposite sign to that of an absorption. The magnitude of this effect is a function of the luminescent quantum efficiency of the sample and the spectral response of the detector. The implications of the effects of fluorescence on the absorption measurements of turbid media are discussed, along with a method for direct measurement of absorptance in a 4 π geometry. In the presence of turbidity, the measurement of regular transmittance is not valid if obtained with very small angles of detection. It is perfectly valid, however, if a detection acceptance angle of 4 π steradians is used.
Evaluation of Cadmium Pigments for Plastics Use*
Authors: Tsunashima Makoto , Sorimachi Masayuki , Mohri Kenzo
Published: November 2023

By simple analysis of spectral reflectance curves of molded plastic samples containing cadmium pigment (red, orange, or yellow), parameters are obtained which describe both the color properties of the pigment and the underlying structural factors which cause them. The color parameters defined are hue, dirtiness (that is, low chroma or saturation), and change in dirtiness on processing. The ranges of observed values of these parameters can be related to pigment structure parameters such as insufficient crystal growth, crystal distortion due to excessive mechanical working, presence of impurities, or mixing of pigments with different hue. The values of the dirtiness parameter correlate well with the visual appearance of the samples.
Material Standards and Their Use in Color Measurement*
Authors: Carter Ellen C. , Billmeyer Fred W.
Published: November 2023

The text of the Inter‐Society Color Council Technical Report 78–2, “Guide to Material Standards and their Use in Color Measurement,” is summarized. It is recognized that accurate standardization is essential if color‐measuring instruments are to produce useful results. Standardization may be divided into the steps of calibration, performance testing, and diagnostic testing. This article discusses the factors affecting instrument performance. Then it gives the types of material standards used in standardization and their characteristics. Tables of the sources of standard materials and calibration services may be found in the complete report, available from the Office of the Secretary, Inter‐Society Color Council.
Entropy production during ion exchange of glass
Authors: Kirchner Katelyn A. , Mauro John C.
Published: November 2023

The thermodynamics and kinetics of interdiffusion are analyzed for the case of glass ion exchange, a process by which alkali ions from a glass inter‐diffuse with different, usually larger, alkali ions from a surrounding salt bath. The spontaneity of the ion exchange reaction is driven by entropy production. This paper details the first derivation and quantification of the entropy produced during this process. We present models for the evolution of the ion concentration profile for both common and extreme conditions, validate against experimental literature, and derive the entropy produced due to ion exchange as a function of time, temperature, composition, diffusivity, and glass and salt bath dimensions. Results reveal that when considering typical industrial parameter sets, the entropy produced in the glass accounts for <10% of the total entropy production, with the entropy produced in the salt bath being the dominant factor driving reaction spontaneity. Using the equations derived in this work, one can calculate concentration profile and entropy production for a two‐ion interdiffusion process between a low‐viscosity liquid and materials including, by not limited to, glass‐forming systems.
The Impact of Credit Market Sentiment Shocks
Authors: BOECK MAXIMILIAN , ZÖRNER THOMAS O.
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the role of credit market sentiment and investor beliefs in credit cycle dynamics and their transmission to businesscycle fluctuations. Using U.S. data from 1968 to 2014, we find that credit market sentiment is indeed able to detect asymmetries in a small‐scale macroeconomic model. An unexpected credit market sentiment shock has different impacts in an optimistic and pessimistic credit market environment. While an unexpected movement in the optimistic regime leads to a rather muted impact on output and credit, we find a significant negative impact on these variables in the pessimistic regime. The findings highlight the relevance of expectation formation mechanisms as a source of macroeconomic instability.
The prodomain of Arabidopsis metacaspase 2 positively regulates immune signaling mediated by pattern‐recognition receptors
Authors: Wu Di , Tian Hainan , Xu Fan , Yang Jianfei , Feng Wenqi , Bell Sydney , Gozdzik Jedrzej , Gao Fang , Jetter Reinhard , Zhang Yuelin
Published: November 2023

Metacaspases (MCs) are structural homologs of mammalian caspases found in plants, fungi, and protozoa. Type‐I MCs carry an N‐terminal prodomain, the function of which is unclear.

Through genetic analysis of Arabidopsis mc2‐1, a T‐DNA insertion mutant of MC2, we demonstrated that the prodomain of metacaspase 2 (MC2) promotes immune signaling mediated by pattern‐recognition receptors (PRRs).

In mc2‐1, immune responses are constitutively activated. The receptor‐like kinases (RLKs) BAK1/BKK1 and SOBIR1 are required for the autoimmune phenotype of mc2‐1, suggesting that immune signaling mediated by the receptor‐like protein (RLP)‐type PRRs is activated in mc2‐1. A suppressor screen identified multiple mutations in the first exon of MC2, which suppress the autoimmunity in mc2‐1. Further analysis revealed that the T‐DNA insertion at the end of exon 1 of MC2 causes elevated expression of the MC2 prodomain, and overexpression of the MC2 prodomain in wild‐type (WT) plants results in the activation of immune responses. The MC2 prodomain interacts with BIR1, which inhibits RLP‐mediated immune signaling by interacting with BAK1, suggesting that the MC2 prodomain promotes plant defense responses by interfering with the function of BIR1.

Our study uncovers an unexpected function of the prodomain of a MC in plant immunity.
Repeated loss of the ability of a wild pepper disease resistance gene to function at high temperatures suggests that thermoresistance is a costly trait
Authors: Poulicard Nils , Pagán Israel , González‐Jara Pablo , Mora Miguel Ángel , Hily Jean‐Michel , Fraile Aurora , Piñero Daniel , García‐Arenal Fernando
Published: November 2023

Specificity in plant–pathogen gene‐for‐gene (GFG) interactions is determined by the recognition of pathogen proteins by the products of plant resistance (R) genes. The evolutionary dynamics of R genes in plant–virus systems is poorly understood. We analyse the evolution of the L resistance locus to tobamoviruses in the wild pepper Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum (chiltepin), a crop relative undergoing incipient domestication.

The frequency, and the genetic and phenotypic diversity, of the L locus was analysed in 41 chiltepin populations under different levels of human management over its distribution range in Mexico.

The frequency of resistance was lower in Cultivated than in Wild populations. L‐locus genetic diversity showed a strong spatial structure with no isolation‐by‐distance pattern, suggesting environment‐specific selection, possibly associated with infection by the highly virulent tobamoviruses found in the surveyed regions. L alleles differed in recognition specificity and in the expression of resistance at different temperatures, broad‐spectrum recognition of P0 + P1 pathotypes and expression above 32°C being ancestral traits that were repeatedly lost along L‐locus evolution.

Overall, loss of resistance co‐occurs with incipient domestication and broad‐spectrum resistance expressed at high temperatures has apparent fitness costs. These findings contribute to understand the role of fitness trade‐offs in plant–virus coevolution.
Exhaled nitric oxide is only an asthma‐relevant biomarker among children with allergic sensitization
Authors: Sunde Rikke Bjersand , Thorsen Jonathan , Skov Frederikke , Hesselberg Laura , Kyvsgaard Julie , Følsgaard Nilofar V. , Schoos Ann‐Marie Malby , Stokholm Jakob , Bønnelykke Klaus , Chawes Bo
Published: November 2023

Background

Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is used for diagnosing and monitoring asthma in children, but the influence of allergic sensitization is still poorly understood. Here, we investigate how asthma and allergic sensitization influence FeNO levels during childhood.

Methods

We investigated the associations between asthma, aeroallergen sensitization, and FeNO measured from age 5–18 years in the COPSAC2000 birth cohort of 411 children using repeated measurement mixed models adjusted for gestational age, sex, concurrent airway infection, inhaled corticosteroids, and tobacco exposure. Replication was sought in the similarly designed COPSAC2010 cohort of 700 children.

Results

In the COPSAC2000 cohort, 133 had asthma between age 5 and 18 years, and in the COPSAC2010 cohort, 112 had asthma between age 5 and 10 years. In the COPSAC2000 cohort, asthma and aeroallergen sensitization were both associated with higher FeNO from age 5 to 18 years: adjusted geometric mean ratio (aGMR), 1.22 (1.08–1.35), p < .01, and 1.41 (1.21–1.65), p < 0.001, respectively. However, asthma was associated with increased FeNO among children with aeroallergen sensitization: 1.44 (1.23–1.69), p < .0001, whereas asthma was associated with decreased FeNO among nonsensitized children: 0.80 (0.65–0.99), p = .05 (p‐interaction<.0001 for asthma x sensitization). Replication in the COPSAC2010 cohort showed similar results (p‐interaction <.01). Further, blood eosinophil count, total‐IgE, bronchodilator response, and bronchial hyperreactivity were all associated with increased FeNO among children sensitized to aeroallergens, but not among nonsensitized children.

Conclusion

Fraction of exhaled nitric oxide is elevated through childhood in children with asthma and is correlated with asthma‐associated traits depending on the presence of aeroallergen sensitization. These findings indicate that FeNO is only a valid asthma biomarker in children with concurrent aeroallergen sensitization, which is important for guideline recommendations on the clinical use of FeNO.
The role of knowledge boundary resources for platform ecosystems – insights and design implications from SAP's Business Technology Platform
Authors: Kauschinger Martin , Schreieck Maximilian , Krcmar Helmut
Published: November 2023

Platform ecosystems shift the locus of innovation from internal departments to third‐party developers, leading to knowledge boundaries between the platform owner and these external developers. Whereas traditional knowledge management approaches focus on intra‐organizational knowledge sharing, platform owners have to adopt an inter‐organizational approach to integrate knowledge across firm boundaries. Platform owners thus rely on knowledge boundary resources such as technical documentation, information portals, training materials, sample code, blogs, and online communities to overcome knowledge boundaries in their ecosystems. Existing research has identified different types of knowledge boundaries and knowledge boundary resources, but further research is needed to clarify how they influence third‐party application development. Against this background, we study how third‐party developers integrate knowledge boundary resources into their development practices. To derive an in‐depth understanding of the phenomenon, we used cognitive fit theory and conducted a single case study of SAP's Business Technology Platform. Based on 23 interviews, we developed a process model and distilled two primary purposes why third‐party developers use knowledge boundary resources: learning and problem‐solving. Based on these purposes, we explain the emergence of a knowledge boundary resource‐purpose fit that shapes the selection, evaluation, and usage of knowledge boundary resources. We then draw upon various knowledge boundary resource characteristics to condense four cases with a particularly favorable knowledge boundary resource‐purpose fit. Based on our results, we derive five propositions to help platform owners design effective knowledge boundary resources.
Analysing the informal economy: Data challenges, research design, and research transparency
Authors: Ackrill Rob , Igudia Eghosa
Published: November 2023

Analyses of the informal economy are vital to understanding economic activity in developing countries, but challenges abound when analysing something that is so difficult to measure. In this article, we explore these challenges and what they mean for research and research design in studies of the informal economy. We review key economic theories developed to study the informal economy, before critically discussing the range of methods of data collection available for researchers. All approaches to data collection have limitations, yet many studies fail to reflect adequately on these in their design and presentation. In reviewing data sources for economic analyses of informality, we give particular attention to surveys designed and led by academic researchers, the consideration of which is omitted from leading official organisations' own reports on data collection in the informal economy. In the absence of a unifying theory and data sources that deliver the ‘comprehensive and accurate’ data called for by some authors we argue, first, that no one source of data is intrinsically superior; and second, that research on the informal economy must embrace transparency—around the data used, their alignment with the underlying theory adopted, and the detailed arrangements for data collection and analysis.
Religion Matters (And Doesn't Go Away When Sociologists Ignore It)
Authors: Perry Samuel L.
Published: November 2023

Religion remains among the most powerful and pervasive forms of social behavior around the world, including the United States. Yet academic sociology has long ignored its relevance and is consequently neglecting a responsibility to provide accurate and comprehensive explanations of social life to the world. I consider several reasons for this neglect, including the uncomfortable topic of anti‐religious bias within the discipline. I propose that correcting our collective suspicion toward religion, religious people, and the specialists who study them is not only ethical, but it helps us do better science, prevents us from excluding minorities who are also more likely to be religious, and helps us earn the trust of the wider public. I conclude by calling for a reprioritization of religion in the discipline.
Systemic corticosteroids for outpatient respiratory viral infections in lung transplant recipients
Authors: Ghandi Vardhil , Li David , Weinkauf Justin , Lien Dale , Hirji Alim , Varughese Rhea , Weatherald Jason , Sligl Wendy , Kabbani Dima , Schwartz Ilan , Doucette Karen , Cervera Carlos , Halloran Kieran
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Respiratory viral infections (RVI) in lung transplant recipients (LTR) have variably been associated with rejection and chronic lung allograft dysfunction. Our center has used systemic corticosteroids to treat outpatient RVI in some cases, but evidence is limited. We reviewed all adult LTR diagnosed with outpatient RVI January 2017 to December 2019. The primary outcome was recovery of lung function (forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1]) at next stable visit between 1 and 12 months postinfection, expressed as a ratio over stable preinfection FEV1 (FEV1 recovery ratio).

Methods

We identified 100 adult LTR with outpatient RVI diagnoses eligible for study, 36% of whom received corticosteroids. We modelled the adjusted association between corticosteroid use and FEV1 recovery ratio using linear regression.

Results

Steroid‐treated patients had a lower FEV1 presentation ratio (0.92 vs. 1.04, p = .0070) and were more likely to have chronic lung allograft dysfunction at time of infection (25% vs. 5%, p = .0077). Mean FEV1 recovery ratio was 1.02 (SD 0.19) with no association with corticosteroid therapy via multivariable linear regression (p = .5888).

Conclusions

Steroid treatment was not associated with FEV1 recovery. This suggests corticosteroids may not have a role in the management of RVI in this population.

image
Varying mechanical forces drive sensory epithelium formation
Authors: Xia Mingyu , Wu Mingxuan , Li Yuanrong , Liu Yaoqian , Jia Gaogan , Lou Yiyun , Ma Jiaoyao , Gao Qing , Xie Mingjun , Chen Yuewei , He Yong , Li Huawei , Li Wenyan
Published: November 2023

The mechanical cues of the external microenvironment have been recognized as essential clues driving cell behavior. Although intracellular signals modulating cell fate during sensory epithelium development is well understood, the driving force of sensory epithelium formation remains elusive. Here, we manufactured a hybrid hydrogel with tunable mechanical properties for the cochlear organoids culture and revealed that the extracellular matrix (ECM) drives sensory epithelium formation through shifting stiffness in a stage-dependent pattern. As the driving force, moderate ECM stiffness activated the expansion of cochlear progenitor cell (CPC)–derived epithelial organoids by modulating the integrin α3 (ITGA3)/F-actin cytoskeleton/YAP signaling. Higher stiffness induced the transition of CPCs into sensory hair cells (HCs) through increasing the intracellular Ca
2+
signaling mediated by PIEZO2 and then activating KLF2 to accomplish the cell specification

. Our results identify the molecular mechanism of sensory epithelium formation guided by ECM mechanical force and contribute to developing therapeutic approaches for HC regeneration.
Copper drives prion protein phase separation and modulates aggregation
Authors: do Amaral Mariana Juliani , Mohapatra Satabdee , Passos Aline Ribeiro , Lopes da Silva Taiana Sousa , Carvalho Renato Sampaio , da Silva Almeida Marcius , Pinheiro Anderson Sá , Wegmann Susanne , Cordeiro Yraima
Published: November 2023

Prion diseases are characterized by prion protein (PrP) transmissible aggregation and neurodegeneration, which has been linked to oxidative stress. The physiological function of PrP seems related to sequestering of redox-active Cu
2+
, and Cu
2+
dyshomeostasis is observed in prion disease brain. It is unclear whether Cu
2+
contributes to PrP aggregation, recently shown to be mediated by PrP condensation. This study indicates that Cu
2+
promotes PrP condensation in live cells at the cell surface and in vitro through copartitioning. Molecularly, Cu
2+
inhibited PrP β-structure and hydrophobic residues exposure. Oxidation, induced by H
2
O
2
, triggered liquid-to-solid transition of PrP:Cu
2+
condensates and promoted amyloid-like PrP aggregation. In cells, overexpression of PrP
C
initially protected against Cu
2+
cytotoxicity but led to PrP
C
aggregation upon extended copper exposure. Our data suggest that PrP condensates function as a buffer for copper that prevents copper toxicity but can transition into PrP aggregation at prolonged oxidative stress.
A gene network-driven approach to infer novel pathogenicity-associated genes: application to
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PAO1
Authors: De Ronika , Whiteley Marvin , Azad Rajeev K.
Published: November 2023

Hard-wired within the genome of a pathogen is the information regarding factors responsible for its pathogenicity. Advances in functional genomics, particularly gene expression analysis, have made possible genome-wide interrogation of a pathogen to decipher pathogenicity-associated genes. Standard protocols assess differential expression of genes during pathogenesis; however, often a conservative approach is taken, which requires expression fold change above an arbitrarily defined threshold and a statistical significance test to infer a gene as differentially expressing. This renders a high-confidence set of differentially expressed genes in pathogenesis, however, at the cost of numerous false negatives. To circumvent this problem and comprehensively catalog pathogenicity-associated genes, we have developed a novel pipeline that uses standard protocol in combination with gene co-expression network of a pathogen constructed using publicly available RNA-Seq data sets. We assessed the efficacy of this pipeline on
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PAO1, a model bacterial pathogen, highlighting the power of our network-based approach in discovering novel genes or pathways associated with the pathogenesis, or antibiotic resistance of this strain. Complementing standard protocol with a gene network-based method thus elevated the ability to identify pathogenicity-associated genes in
P
.
aeruginosa
PAO1.

IMPORTANCE

We present here a new systems-level approach to decipher genetic factors and biological pathways associated with virulence and/or antibiotic treatment of bacterial pathogens. The power of this approach was demonstrated by application to a well-studied pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PAO1. Our gene co-expression network-based approach unraveled known and unknown genes and their networks associated with pathogenicity in
P. aeruginosa
PAO1. The systems-level investigation of
P. aeruginosa
PAO1 helped identify putative pathogenicity and resistance-associated genetic factors that could not otherwise be detected by conventional approaches of differential gene expression analysis. The network-based analysis uncovered modules that harbor genes not previously reported by several original studies on
P. aeruginosa
virulence and resistance. These could potentially act as molecular determinants of
P. aeruginosa
PAO1 pathogenicity and responses to antibiotics.
Putative novel hydrogen- and iron-oxidizing sheath-producing Zetaproteobacteria thrive at the Fåvne deep-sea hydrothermal vent field
Authors: Hribovšek Petra , Olesin Denny Emily , Dahle Håkon , Mall Achim , Øfstegaard Viflot Thomas , Boonnawa Chanakan , Reeves Eoghan P. , Steen Ida Helene , Stokke Runar
Published: November 2023

Iron-oxidizing Zetaproteobacteria are well known to colonize deep-sea hydrothermal vent fields around the world where iron-rich fluids are discharged into oxic seawater. How inter-field and intra-field differences in geochemistry influence the diversity of Zetaproteobacteria, however, remains largely unknown. Here, we characterize Zetaproteobacteria phylogenomic diversity, metabolic potential, and morphologies of the iron oxides they form, with a focus on the recently discovered Fåvne vent field. Located along the Mohns ridge in the Arctic, this vent field is a unique study site with vent fluids containing both iron and hydrogen with thick iron microbial mats (Fe mats) covering porously venting high-temperature (227–267°C) black smoker chimneys. Through genome-resolved metagenomics, we demonstrate that Zetaproteobacteria,
Ghiorsea
spp., likely produce tubular iron oxide sheaths dominating the Fe mats at Fåvne, as observed via microscopy. With these structures,
Ghiorsea
may provide a surface area for members of other abundant taxa such as Campylobacterota, Gammaproteobacteria, and Alphaproteobacteria. Furthermore,
Ghiorsea
likely oxidizes both iron and hydrogen present in the fluids, with several
Ghiorsea
populations co-existing in the same niche. Homologs of Zetaproteobacteria Ni,Fe hydrogenases and iron oxidation gene
cyc2
were found in genomes of other community members, suggesting exchange of these genes could have happened in similar environments. Our study provides new insights into Zetaproteobacteria in hydrothermal vents, their diversity, energy metabolism and niche formation.

IMPORTANCE

Knowledge on microbial iron oxidation is important for understanding the cycling of iron, carbon, nitrogen, nutrients, and metals. The current study yields important insights into the niche sharing, diversification, and Fe(III) oxyhydroxide morphology of
Ghiorsea
, an iron- and hydrogen-oxidizing Zetaproteobacteria representative belonging to Zetaproteobacteria operational taxonomic unit 9. The study proposes that
Ghiorsea
exhibits a more extensive morphology of Fe(III) oxyhydroxide than previously observed. Overall, the results increase our knowledge on potential drivers of Zetaproteobacteria diversity in iron microbial mats and can eventually be used to develop strategies for the cultivation of sheath-forming Zetaproteobacteria.
A follow-up study: 6-year cART-free virologic control of rhesus macaques after PD-1-based DNA vaccination against pathogenic SHIV
SF162P3CN
challenge
Authors: He Xiaoen , Wong Yik Chun , Zhong Menglong , Mo Yufei , Li Bo , Yim Lok Yan , Li Xin , Liu Wan , Du Yanhua , Wang Hui , Zhang Haoji , Chen Zhiwei
Published: November 2023

An effective vaccine for combination antiretroviral therapy (cART)-free virologic control of HIV-1 by enhancing antigen-specific effector-memory CD8
+
T lymphocytes could be useful in controlling the AIDS pandemic. Previously, we demonstrated that a programmed death-1 (PD-1)-based DNA vaccine, pRhPD1-p27, was effective in inducing Gag-p27-specific effector-memory CD8
+
T cells for viremia suppression in rhesus macaques infected with pathogenic SHIV
SF162P3CN
for 2 years. In this follow-up study, we report on two pRhPD1-p27-vaccinated and SHIV
SF162P3CN
-infected macaques that have remained alive to date with undetectable viremia levels and low proviral loads over 6 years in the absence of cART, achieving a state of sustained virologic control. Polyfunctional effector-memory Gag-p27-specific T cells were maintained in these macaques. Moreover, several T cell epitopes found at 6 years post-viral challenge were identical to those induced during the vaccination phase, indicating sustained vaccine-induced memory T cell responses. The viral challenge resulted in
de novo
Nef-specific T cell responses, which were also maintained. These Gag-p27- and Nef-specific T cell responses were stronger than those in some SHIV
SF162P3CN
-infected macaques that showed viremia control after experimental therapy using a tandem bispecific neutralizing antibody. Our findings indicate that the PD-1-based DNA vaccine strategy holds promise as a clinical immunotherapy for long-term HIV-1 suppression.

IMPORTANCE

Efficient strategies for HIV-1 cART-free virologic control are critical for ending the AIDS pandemic. The essential role of effector-memory CD8
+
T cells in controlling viremia and eliminating virus-infected cells has made them a promising target for vaccine development. It has been previously reported that PD-1-based DNA vaccination was effective in inducing polyfunctional effector-memory CD8
+
T cells for AIDS virus control for 2 years in rhesus monkeys. This follow-up study extends the findings and shows that a viremia-free period of over 6 years was detected in two monkeys immunized with PD-1-based DNA vaccine against pathogenic SHIV
SF162P3CN
infection in the absence of antiretroviral therapy. Long-term vaccine-induced memory T cell responses were detected. Our results warrant the clinical trials of PD-1-based DNA vaccines for achieving HIV-1 cART-free virologic control used either alone or in combination with other biomedical interventions.
United States regulatory approval of medical devices used for endovascular neurosurgery: A two-decade review of FDA regulatory files
Authors: Bhenderu Lokeshwar S , Hardigan Trevor , Roa Jorge , Philbrick Brandon D , Hoang Alex , Faraji Amir H , Britz Gavin W , Yaeger Kurt A
Published: November 2023

Background

The evolution of neuroendovascular technologies has progressed substantially. Over the last two decades, the introduction of new endovascular devices has facilitated treatment for more patients, and as a result, the regulatory environment concerning neuroendovascular devices has evolved rapidly in response.

Objective

To examine trends in the approval of neuroendovascular devices by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over the last 20 years.

Methods

Open-access US FDA databases were queried between January 2000 and December 2022 for all devices approved by the Neurological Devices Advisory Committee. Neuroendovascular devices were manually classified and grouped by category. Device approval data, including approval times, approval pathway, and presence of predicate devices, were examined.

Results

A total of 3186 neurological devices were approved via various US FDA pathways during the study period. 320 (10.0%) corresponded to neuroendovascular devices, of which 301 (94.1%) were approved via the 510(k) pathway. The percentage of 510(k) pathway neuroendovascular devices increased from 6.9% to 14.3% of all neuro devices before and after 2015, respectively. There was an increase in approval times for neuroendovascular devices cleared after 2015.

Conclusion

Over the last two decades, the neuroendovascular device armamentarium has rapidly expanded, especially after positive stroke trials in 2015. Regulatory approval times are significantly affected by device category, generation, company size, and company location, and a vast majority are approved by the 510(k) pathway. These results can guide further innovation in the endovascular device space and may act as a roadmap for future regulatory planning.
Impact of NNLO QED corrections on lepton-proton scattering at MUSE
Authors: Engel T. , Hagelstein F. , Rocco M. , Sharkovska V. , Signer A. , Ulrich Y.
Published: November 2023

We present the complete next-to-next-to-leading order (NNLO) pure pointlike QED corrections to lepton-proton scattering, including three-photon-exchange contributions, and investigate their impact in the case of the MUSE experiment. These corrections are computed with no approximation regarding the energy of the emitted photons and taking into account lepton-mass effects. We contrast the NNLO QED corrections to known next-to-leading order corrections, where we include the elastic two-photon exchange (TPE) through a simple hadronic model calculation with a dipole ansatz for the proton electromagnetic form factors. We show that, in the low-momentum-transfer region accessed by the MUSE experiment, the improvement due to more sophisticated treatments of the TPE, including inelastic TPE, is of similar if not smaller size than some of the NNLO QED corrections. Hence, the latter have to be included in a precision determination of the low-energy proton structure from scattering data, in particular for electron-proton scattering. For muon-proton scattering, the NNLO QED corrections are considerably smaller.
A Novel Affine Relaxation-Based Algorithm for Minimax Affine Fractional Program
Authors: Jiao Hongwei , Li Binbin , Shang Youlin
Published: November 2023

This paper puts forward a novel affine relaxation-based algorithm for solving the minimax affine fractional program problem (MAFPP) over a polyhedron set. First of all, some new variables are introduced for deriving the equivalence problem (EP) of the MAFPP. Then, for the EP, the affine relaxation problem (ARP) is established by using the two-stage affine relaxation method. The method provides a lower bound by solving the ARP in the branch-and-bound searching process. By subdividing the output space rectangle and solving a series of ARPs continuously, the feasible solution sequence generated by the algorithm converges to a global optimal solution of the initial problem. In addition, the algorithmic maximum iteration in the worst case is estimated by complexity analysis for the first time. Lastly, the practicability and effectiveness of the algorithm have been verified by numerical experimental results.