bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diabetes‐related distress in people with type 2 diabetes: experience from a community diabetes clinic
Authors: Balani Jyoti , Emmambux Samshad , Hyer Steve
Published: September 2024

Background: Diabetes distress is the term used to describe the diabetes‐specific emotional distress resulting from the challenges of managing this demanding chronic condition.

Aims: This study aimed to determine the prevalence of diabetes distress and its subtypes in adults with type 2 diabetes who attended our community‐based clinics and to investigate the relationship between diabetes distress scores and demographic factors and diabetes variables (HbA1c and treatment regimen).

Methods: Patients were referred to our specialist diabetes team by primary care teams. Clinical details, including current treatment regimen and recent HbA1c result, were recorded. Patients then completed the Diabetes Distress Scale (DDS) 17 questionnaire. Data from all 82 patients who attended our clinic from May 2022 to November 2022 were analysed.

Results: A high level of diabetes distress (mean score of ≥3) was found in 17 patients (20.7%), and a moderate level of diabetes distress was found in 22 patients (26.8%). Patients with an HbA1c of >90mmol/mol had significantly higher mean regimen‐related distress than those with an HbA1c of <60mmol/mol (2.58±1.18 vs 1.86±0.8, respectively; p=0.03). In addition, patients with higher HbA1c had higher diabetes‐related emotional distress than those with lower HbA1c. However, this result did not demonstrate statistical significance. Conversely, patients with optimal HbA1c levels had significantly lower mean interpersonal distress scores than the rest of the cohort (1.13±0.99 vs 1.80±0.99, respectively; p=0.01).

Conclusions: Diabetes distress is common among patients attending community‐based diabetes services. Further research is needed to determine the most effective strategies for reducing diabetes distress and improving clinical outcomes.
How far are we along the path to remission?
Authors: Greener Mark
Published: September 2024

Despite the media hype surrounding drugs for type 2 diabetes being repurposed into celebrity slimming aids, obesity still presents a seemingly intractable problem. In some ways, that's not surprising. A mutually reinforcing web of biological, behavioural and environmental factors contributes to obesity's ‘complex and multifaceted’ causes.
Diabetic ketoacidosis in a patient with type 2 diabetes induced by multiple triggers: a case report and implications for clinical practice
Authors: Kitsios Konstantinos , Trakatelli Christina‐Maria
Published: September 2024

Diabetic ketoacidosis is a recognized side effect of SGLT‐2 inhibitors precipitated by several factors. A 58‐year‐old man with long‐standing, well‐controlled type 2 diabetes on dapagliflozin, metformin and gliclazide and subacute De Quervain thyroiditis treated with high dose prednisolone was evaluated in the emergency department for abdominal pain and tachypnea. Severe diabetic ketoacidosis related to dapagliflozin was diagnosed. De Quervain thyroiditis and treatment with high dose prednisolone were identified as potential triggering factors. Combined use of dapagliflozin and high dose prednisolone may increase the risk for SGLT‐2 inhibitors related diabetic ketoacidosis, especially in the course of acute illness.
NUT carcinoma of the head and neck: A case report and literature review
Authors: Zhao Yue , Zhang Jun , Liao Wenjun , Li Jiayu , Zhang Shichuan
Published: September 2024

Nuclear protein in testis (NUT) carcinoma is a rare and highly aggressive cancer, characterized by rearrangements involving the NUT gene located on chromosome 15q14. In this report, we present the case of a 52‐year‐old female diagnosed with primary parotid NUT carcinoma. Despite undergoing surgery, adjuvant chemotherapy, and incomplete regional radiotherapy, the patient succumbed to the disease after an overall survival duration of 7 months. We retrospectively discuss patient clinical and pathological features, as well as therapeutic approaches of NUT carcinoma of the head and neck.
Microglial Drivers of Alzheimer's Disease Pathology: An Evolution of Diverse Participating States
Authors: Kuhn Madison K. , Proctor Elizabeth A.
Published: September 2024

Microglia, the resident immune‐competent cells of the brain, become dysfunctional in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and their aberrant immune responses contribute to the accumulation of pathological proteins and neuronal injury. Genetic studies implicate microglia in the development of AD, prompting interest in developing immunomodulatory therapies to prevent or ameliorate disease. However, microglia take on diverse functional states in disease, playing both protective and detrimental roles in AD, which largely overlap and may shift over the disease course, complicating the identification of effective therapeutic targets. Extensive evidence gathered using transgenic mouse models supports an active role of microglia in pathology progression, though results vary and can be contradictory between different types of models and the degree of pathology at the time of study. Here, we review microglial immune signaling and responses that contribute to the accumulation and spread of pathological proteins or directly affect neuronal health. We additionally explore the use of induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)‐derived models to study living human microglia and how they have contributed to our knowledge of AD and may begin to fill in the gaps left by mouse models. Ultimately, mouse and iPSC‐derived models have their own limitations, and a comprehensive understanding of microglial dysfunction in AD will only be established by an integrated view across models and an appreciation for their complementary viewpoints and limitations.
Unconventional Photon Blockade in a Hybrid Optomechanical System with an Embedded Spin‐Triplet
Authors: Dong Yao , Wang Jing‐jing , Zhang Guo‐Feng
Published: September 2024

This research investigates the unconventional photon blockade in a hybrid optomechanical system with an embedded spin‐triplet state. The self‐homodyning interference between squeezed quantum fluctuations produced by the emitter and the coherent fraction from the driving laser results in two‐photon suppression. Analytical solutions of the correlator equation and numerical simulations of the master equation reveal that modulated mechanical dissipation plays a crucial role in achieving strong single‐photon blockade. In contrast to conventional cavity optomechanical systems, a second‐order correlation function of can be achieved with weak single‐photon optomechanical coupling. By combining unconventional and conventional antibunching, the hybrid system achieves the convergence of maximal photon population, two‐photon interference, and suppression of higher‐order correlations. Additionally, the influence of the thermal noise on photon blockade is investigated, demonstrating greater robustness of the second‐order correlation under weaker phonon‐spin coupling.
Development of an AI‐based support system for controlled ovarian stimulation
Authors: Asada Yoshimasa , Shinohara Tomoya , Yonezawa Sho , Kinugawa Tomoki , Asano Emiko , Kojima Masae , Fukunaga Noritaka , Hashizume Natsuka , Hashiba Yoshiki , Inoue Daichi , Mizuno Rie , Saito Masaya , Kabeya Yoshinori
Published: September 2024

Purpose

Controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) is vital for IVF. We have developed an AI system to support the implementation of COS protocols in our clinical group.

Methods

We developed two models as AI algorithms of the AI system. One was the oocyte retrieval decision model, to determine the timing of oocyte retrieval, and the other was the prescription inference model, to provide a prescription similar to that of an expert physician. Data was obtained from IVF treatment records from the In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) management system at the Asada Ladies Clinic, and these models were trained with this data.

Results

The oocyte retrieval decision model achieved superior sensitivity and specificity with 0.964 area under the curve (AUC). The prescription inference model achieved an AUC value of 0.948. Four models, namely the hCG prediction model, the hMG prediction model, the Cetrorelix prediction model, and the Estradiol prediction model included in the prescription inference model, achieved AUC values of 0.914, 0.937, 0.966, and 0.976, respectively.

Conclusion

The AI algorithm achieved high accuracy and was confirmed to be useful. The AI system has now been implemented as a COS tool in our clinical group for self‐funded treatments.
Exploring Doping Mechanisms and Modulating Carrier Concentration in Copper Iodide: Applications in Thermoelectric Materials
Authors: Kim Ga Hye , Kim Hyeon‐Beom , Lee Hyungseok , Cho Jae‐Hyeok , Ryu Jun , Kang Dong‐Won , Chung In , Jang Hyejin , Ahn Kyunghan , Kim Myung‐Gil
Published: September 2024

Due to its small hole‐effective mass, flexibility, and transparency, copper iodide (CuI) has emerged as a promising p‐type alternative to the predominantly used n‐type metal oxide semiconductors. However, the lack of effective doping methods hinders the utility of CuI in various applications. Sulfur (S)‐doping through liquid iodination is previously reported to significantly enhance electrical conductivity up to 511 S cm−1. In this paper, the underlying doping mechanism with various S‐dopants is explored, and suggested a method for controlling electrical conductivity, which is important to various applications, especially thermoelectric (TE) materials. Subsequently, electric and TE properties are systematically controlled by adjusting the carrier concentration from 3.0 × 1019 to 4.5 × 1020 cm−3, and accurately measured thermal conductivity with respect to carrier concentration and film thickness. Sulfur‐doped CuI (CuI:S) thin films exhibited a maximum power factor of 5.76 µW cm−1 K−2 at a carrier concentration of 1.3 × 1020 cm−3, and a TE figure of merit (ZT) of 0.25. Furthermore, a transparent and flexible TE power generator is developed, with an impressive output power density of 43 nW cm−2 at a temperature differential of 30 K. Mechanical durability tests validated the potential of CuI:S films in transparent and flexible TE applications.
Ultra‐Strong Protein‐Based Hydrogels via Promoting Intermolecular Entanglement of the Amorphous Region
Authors: Fu Yu , Lin Qinrui , Lan Ruoqi , Shao Zhengzhong
Published: September 2024

Proteins are classified as biopolymers which share similar structural features with semi‐crystalline polymers. Although their unique biocompatibility facilitates the universal applications of protein‐based hydrogels in the biomedical field, the mechanical performances of protein‐based hydrogels fall short of practical requirements. Conventional strategies for enhancing mechanical properties focus on forming regularly folded secondary structures as analogs of crystalline regions. This concept is based on proteins as the analogy of semi‐crystalline polymers, in which crystalline regions profoundly contribute to the mechanical performances. Even though the contribution of the amorphous region is equally weighted for semi‐crystalline polymers, their capacity to improve the mechanical performances of protein‐based structures is still undervalued. Herein, the potential of promoting the mechanical performances is explored by controlling the state of amorphous regions in protein‐based hydrogels. A fibril protein is chosen, regenerated silk fibroin (RSF), as a model molecule for its similar viscoelasticity with a semi‐crystalline polymer. The amorphous regions in the RSF hydrogels are transformed from extended to entangled states through a double‐crosslinking method. The formation of entanglement integrates new physically crosslinked points for remarkable improvement in mechanical performances. A robust hydrogel is not only developed but also intended to provide new insights into the structural‐property relationship of protein‐based hydrogels.
Scalable Graphene Oxide Hollow Fiber Membranes for Dye Desalination Enabled by Multi‐Purpose Polyamine Functionalization
Authors: Tandel Ameya Manoj , Agarwal Manas , Deng Erda , Zhu Lingxiang , Friedman Kaleb , Yu Miao , Cheng Chong , Lin Haiqing
Published: September 2024

2D nanosheets such as graphene oxide (GO) can be stacked to construct membranes with fine‐tuned nanochannels to achieve molecular sieving ability. These membranes are often thin to achieve high water permeance, but their fabrication with consistent nanostructures on a large scale presents an enormous challenge. Herein, GO‐based hollow fiber membranes (HFMs) are developed for dye desalination by synergistically combining chemical etching to form in‐plane nanopores (10–30 nm) to increase water permeance and polyamine functionalization to improve underwater stability and enable facile large‐scale production using existing membrane manufacturing processes. HFM modules with areas of 88 cm2 and GO layer thicknesses of ≈500 nm are fabricated, and they exhibited a stable dye water permeance of 75 L m−2 h−1 bar−1, rejection of >99.5% for Direct red and Congo red, and Na2SO4/dye separation factor of 300–500, superior to state‐of‐the‐art commercial membranes. The versatility of this approach is also demonstrated using different short polyamines and porous substrates. This study reveals a scalable way of designing 2D materials into high‐performance robust membranes for practical applications.
Modulating Interfacial Zn2+ Desolvation and Transport Kinetics through Coordination Interaction toward Stable Anodes in Aqueous Zn‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Gao Jiechang , Xie Yawen , Wang Lei , Zeng Pan , Zhang Liang
Published: September 2024

Aqueous Zn‐ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising candidates for grid‐scale energy‐storage applications, but uneven Zn2+ flux distribution and undesirable water‐related interfacial side reactions seriously hinder their practical application. Herein, a strategy of regulating the coordination interaction between Zn2+ and artificial interphase layers (AILs) to modulate the interfacial Zn2+ desolvation/transport behaviors and relieve side reactions for building stable Zn anodes is proposed. By selectively choosing appropriate polymers with different functional groups, it is shown that compared with the strong interaction offered by aryl groups in polystyrene‐based AILs, cyano groups in polyacrylonitrile (PAN)‐based AILs provide a moderate coordination interaction with Zn2+, which not only accelerates interfacial Zn2+desolvation kinetics but also enables efficient Zn2+ transport within AILs. Moreover, the Zn2+ transport kinetics of PAN‐based AILs can be further enhanced with the incorporation of an ionic conductor, zinc phosphate (ZP). Because of these advantages, the Zn anodes decorated with the hybrid AILs composed of PAN and ZP can steadily operate for >2000 h at 0.2 mA cm−2 and >350 h at a high current density of 10 mA cm−2. This work provides a valuable guideline for selective design of AILs at the molecular level for durable AZIBs.
Mechanism of Pressure‐Modulated Self‐Trapped Exciton Emission in Cs2TeCl6 Double Perovskite
Authors: Shi Han , Chen Lin , Moutaabbid Hicham , Feng Zhenbao , Zhang Guozhao , Wang Lingrui , Li Yinwei , Guo Haizhong , Liu Cailong
Published: September 2024

Pressure‐modulated self‐trapped exciton (STE) emission mechanism in all‐inorganic lead‐free metal halide double perovskites characterized by large Stokes‐shifted broadband emission, has attracted much attention across various fields such as optics, optoelectronics, and biomedical sciences. Here, by employing the all‐inorganic lead‐free metal halide double perovskite Cs2TeCl6 as a paradigm, the authors elucidate that the performance of STE emission can be modulated by pressure, attributable to the pressure‐induced evolution of the electronic state (ES). Two ES transitions happen at pressures of 1.6 and 5.8 GPa, sequentially. The electronic behaviors of Cs2TeCl6 can be jointly modulated by both pressure and ES transitions. When the pressure reaches 1.6 GPa, the Huang–Rhys factor S, indicative of the strength of electron‐phonon coupling, attains an optimum value of ≈12.0, correlating with the pressure‐induced photoluminescence (PL) intensity of Cs2TeCl6 is 4.8‐fold that of its PL intensity under ambient pressure. Through analyzing the pressure‐dependent STE dynamic behavioral changes, the authors have revealed the microphysical mechanism underlying the pressure‐modulated enhancement and quenching of STE emission in Cs2TeCl6.
Reaction‐Driven Migration Dynamics of Nano‐Metal Particles Unraveled by Quantitative Electron Microscopies
Authors: Zhao Bing , Zhang Fan , Gao Deyang , Meng Gang , Li Hua , Liu Wei , Ye Mao
Published: September 2024

The stability of supported nano‐metal catalysts holds significant importance in both scientific and economic practice, beyond the long pursuit of enhanced activity. While previous efforts have concentrated on augmenting the interaction between nano‐metals and carriers, in the thermodynamic macro‐perspective, to achieve optimized repression upon particle migration coalescence and Ostwald ripening, nevertheless, the microscale kinetics of migrating catalyst particles driven by the reaction remains unknown. In this work, the migration of nano‐copper particles is investigated during hydrogen oxidation reaction by utilizing high spatiotemporal resolution of environmental transmission electron microscopy. It is shown that there exists a delicate correlation between the migration dynamics of nano‐copper particles and the evolution of asymmetrically distributed Cu and Cu2O phases over the particle surface. It is found that the interplay of reduction and oxidation near the surface areas filled with Cu and Cu2O phases can facilitate the pressure gradient, which drives the migration of nano‐particles. A driving force model is therefore established which is capable of qualitatively explaining the influences of reaction conditions such as temperature and hydrogen‐to‐oxygen ratio on the reaction‐driven particle migration. This work adds a potential yet critical perspective to understanding particle migration and thus the nano‐metal catalyst particle sintering in heterogeneous catalysis.
Blocking IL‐23 Signaling Mitigates Cigarette Smoke‐Induced Murine Emphysema
Authors: Tian Xue , Wang Shaohua , Zhang Chujie , Prakash Y. S. , Vassallo Robert
Published: September 2024

Inflammatory cell infiltration is a characteristic feature of COPD and correlates directly with the severity of the disease. Interleukin‐23 (IL‐23) is a pro‐inflammatory cytokine that regulates Th‐17 inflammation, which mediates many pathophysiological events in COPD. The primary goal of this study was to determine the role of IL‐23 as a mediator of key pathologic processes in cigarette smoke‐induced COPD. In this study, we report an increase in IL23 gene expression in the lung biopsies of COPD patients compared to controls and identified a positive correlation between IL23 gene expression and disease severity. In a cigarette smoke‐induced murine emphysema model, the suppression of IL‐23 with a monoclonal blocking antibody reduced the severity of cigarette smoke‐induced murine emphysema. Mechanistically, the suppression of IL‐23 was associated with a reduction in immune cell infiltration, oxidative stress injury, and apoptosis, suggesting a role for IL‐23 as an essential immune mediator of the inflammatory processes in the pathogenesis of CS‐induced emphysema.
Introduction
Authors: Doudin Bernard , Cēbers Andrejs , Coey Michael
Published: September 2024

This introduction situates the subject matter and scope of the book and provides a brief summary of the contents, identifying the magnetic materials and illustrating the range of magnetic effects that can be observed. The importance of size and scaling is emphasised. Some future challenges and prospects are highlighted.
Magnetic Tape Head Tweezers for Novel Protein Nanomechanics Applications
Authors: Tapia-Rojo Rafael
Published: September 2024

Over the past few decades, magnetic tape heads have been perfected to allow for the application of strong magnetic fields that can be modulated at very high frequencies, meeting the technological demands of high-density magnetic recording. Hence, exploring their implementation in modern magnetic tweezers force spectroscopy seems like a natural approach. Here, recent developments in magnetic tweezers instrumentation related to the use of magnetic tape heads will be reviewed.
Magnetic Control of Flow and Mass Transfer in Weakly Conducting Fluids
Authors: Mutschke Gerd
Published: September 2024

Magnetic fields may be utilized for controlling flow and mass transfer in fluids. This review focuses on lab-scale applications in weakly conducting aqueous liquids and summarizes work I was involved in over the past 20 years. Control can easily be achieved by applying a current and taking advantage of the Lorentz force. If magnetic ions or molecules are involved, also the Kelvin force can be utilized. The examples given range from flow control at hydrofoils in marine applications to electrochemical applications with gas evolution and of metal deposition.
Retrospektive Analyse des Schockraummanagements nichttraumatologisch kritisch kranker Kinder in einer universitären zentralen Notaufnahme (OBSERvE-DUS-PED-Studie)
Authors: Priebe Claudia , Bosse Hans Martin , Michael Mark , Picker Olaf , Bernhard Michael , Tautz Juliane
Published: September 2024

Hintergrund

Die Etablierung eines nichttraumatologischen Schockraummanagements für kritisch kranke Kinder erscheint sinnvoll. In der vorliegenden Studie wurden Versorgungsdaten kritisch kranker nichttraumatologischer pädiatrischer Schockraumpatienten erhoben.

Methoden

In der retrospektiven OBSERvE-DUS-PED-Studie (November 2019 bis Oktober 2022) wurden pädiatrische Patienten (Alter < 18 Jahre), die eine Schockraumversorgung aus nichttraumatologischer Ursache benötigten und der zentralen Notaufnahme zugeführt wurden, erfasst. Die routinemäßig dokumentierten Versorgungsdaten wurden gemäß dem OBSERvE-Datensatz dem Krankenhausinformationssystem MEDICO® und dem Patientendatenmanagementsystem COPRA® entnommen. Ein positives Ethikvotum der Medizinischen Fakultät der Heinrich-Heine-Universität lag vor (2023-2377).

Ergebnisse

Für den 3‑jährigen Untersuchungszeitraum konnten 52 Schockraumpatienten evaluiert werden, wobei in der Kohorte Jugendliche zwischen 14 und 17 Jahren mit 37 % am häufigsten und Neugeborene/Säuglinge (0–1 Jahr) mit 8 % am seltensten vertreten waren. Die führenden Symptome, kategorisiert nach ABCDE-Problemen, waren Vigilanzminderung (D): 61 %, Herz-Kreislauf-Stillstand (C): 25 %, respiratorische Insuffizienz (B): 6 %, Atemwegsverlegung (A) und Umfeldfaktoren (E-Probleme) jeweils in 4 %. Prähospitale bzw. innerklinische Notfallmaßnahmen erfolgten in folgender Häufigkeit: peripherer (58 vs. 65 %), intraossärer (14 vs. 2 %) und zentraler Venenzugang (0 vs. 12 %), invasives Atemwegsmanagement (35 % vs. 8 %), kardiopulmonale Reanimation (21 vs. 10 %), Katecholamintherapie (15 vs. 17 %) und intraarterielle Druckmessung (0 vs. 17 %). Die mittlere Schockraumversorgungsdauer betrug 70 ± 43 min. Die 30-Tages-Letalität betrug 17 %.

Schlussfolgerung

Die OBSERvE-DUS-PED-Studie zeigt die besonderen Herausforderungen nichttraumatologisch kritisch kranker Kinder in der prähospitalen und innerklinischen Versorgung. Die Vielfalt und Komplexität der Einweisungsdiagnosen sowie die unmittelbare vitale Bedrohung der Patienten lassen es sinnvoll erscheinen, derartige Patienten aufgrund der vorhandenen materiellen, infrastrukturellen und personellen Ressourcen in einer zentralen Notaufnahme primär zu behandeln.
Dissecting the genetic basis of resistance to Soil-borne cereal mosaic virus (SBCMV) in durum wheat by bi-parental mapping and GWAS
Authors: Bruschi Martina , Bozzoli Matteo , Ratti Claudio , Sciara Giuseppe , Goudemand Ellen , Devaux Pierre , Ormanbekova Danara , Forestan Cristian , Corneti Simona , Stefanelli Sandra , Castelletti Sara , Fusari Elena , Novi Jad B , Frascaroli Elisabetta , Salvi Silvio , Perovic Dragan , Gadaleta Agata , Rubies-Autonell Concepcion , Sanguineti Maria Corinna , Tuberosa Roberto , Maccaferri Marco
Published: September 2024

Soil-borne cereal mosaic virus (SBCMV), the causative agent of wheat mosaic, is a Furovirus challenging wheat production all over Europe. Differently from bread wheat, durum wheat shows greater susceptibility and stronger yield penalties, so identification and genetic characterization of resistance sources are major targets for durum genetics and breeding. The Sbm1 locus providing high level of resistance to SBCMV was mapped in bread wheat to the 5DL chromosome arm (Bass in Genome 49:1140–1148, 2006). This excluded the direct use of Sbm1 for durum wheat improvement. Only one major QTL has been mapped in durum wheat, namely QSbm.ubo-2B, on the 2BS chromosome region coincident with Sbm2, already known in bread wheat as reported (Bayles in HGCA Project Report, 2007). Therefore, QSbm.ubo-2B = Sbm2 is considered a pillar for growing durum in SBCMV-affected areas. Herein, we report the fine mapping of Sbm2 based on bi-parental mapping and GWAS, using the Infinium 90 K SNP array and high-throughput KASP®. Fine mapping pointed out a critical haploblock of 3.2 Mb defined by concatenated SNPs successfully converted to high-throughput KASP® markers coded as KUBO. The combination of KUBO-27, wPt-2106-ASO/HRM, KUBO-29, and KUBO-1 allows unequivocal tracing of the Sbm2-resistant haplotype. The interval harbors 52 high- and 41 low-confidence genes, encoding 17 cytochrome p450, three receptor kinases, two defensins, and three NBS-LRR genes. These results pave the way for Sbm2 positional cloning. Importantly, the development of Sbm2 haplotype tagging KASP® provides a valuable case study for improving efficacy of the European variety testing system and, ultimately, the decision-making process related to varietal characterization and choice.
Daily physical activity and prognostic implications in patients with heart failure: an accelerometer study
Authors: Tinggaard Andreas Bugge , Sørensen Lotte , Vissing Kristian , Jessen Niels , Nørrelund Helene , Wiggers Henrik
Published: September 2024

Background

Physical activity (PA) measured by accelerometry is proposed as a novel trial endpoint for heart failure (HF). However, standardised methods and associations with established markers are lacking. This study aimed to examine PA measurements and accelerometer repeatability in patients with HF and age- and sex-matched controls, and study correlations with established prognostic HF markers, body composition, and quality of life (QoL).

Methods

Accelerometry was performed in 105 patients with HF with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) ≤ 40% and in 46 controls. Participants also underwent dual X-ray absorptiometry, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, a six-minute walking test (6MWT), echocardiography, and NT-proBNP measurement, and completed a QoL questionnaire.

Results

Average acceleration was markedly reduced in patients with HF compared with healthy controls (16.1 ± 4.8 mg vs 27.2 ± 8.5 mg, p < 0.001). Healthy controls spent a median daily 56 min (IQR 41–96 min) in moderate-to-vigorous PA (MVPA), whereas HF patients spent only 12 min (IQR 6–24) in MVPA. In HF patients, average acceleration correlated moderately with 6MWT (R = 0.41, p < 0.001) and maximal oxygen uptake (peak VO2) (R = 0.36, p < 0.001) but not with NT-proBNP, LVEF, or QoL. Patients in NYHA class II showed a higher average acceleration than patients in NYHA III (16.6 ± 4.9 mg vs 14.0 ± 3.6 mg, p = 0.01).

Conclusions

Daily PA was severely reduced in patients with HF compared with healthy controls. In HF patients, we found moderate correlations of accelerometer measurements with markers of physical capacity but not with LVEF or NT-proBNP.

Trial registration

NCT05063955. Registered 01 June 2021—retrospectively registered.

Graphical abstract
Superb microvascular ultrasound is a promising non-invasive diagnostic tool to assess a ventriculoperitoneal shunt system function: a feasibility study
Authors: Brawanski Konstantin , Petr Ondra , Hernandez Christian Preuss , Kögl Nikolaus , Thomé Claudius , Gizewski Elke R. , Gruber Hannes , Verius Michael , Gruber Leonhard , Putzer Daniel
Published: September 2024

The objective of this pilot study was to assess the reliability of superb microvascular ultrasound (SMI) for the measurement of the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow within VPS systems as an indirect sign for shunt dysfunction. Asymptomatic hydrocephalus patients, with a VPS system implanted between 2017 and 2021, were prospectively enrolled in the study. Using SMI, the CSF flow within the proximal and distal catheters were analysed. Before and after pumping the shunt reservoir, intraabdominal free fluid, optical nerve sheath diameter (ONSD), and papilla diameter (PD) were evaluated and correlated with the amount of valve activation. Nineteen patients were included. A flow was detectable in 100% (N = 19) patients in the proximal and in 89.5% (N = 17) in the distal catheter. The distal catheter tip was detectable in 27.7% (N = 5) patients. Free intraabdominal fluid was initially detected in 21.4% (N = 4) patients and in 57.9% (N = 11) at the end of the examination (P = 0.049). ONSD was significantly lower after pump activation (4.4 ± 0.9 mm versus 4.1 ± 0.8 mm, P = 0.049). Both peak velocity and flow volume per second were higher in proximal compared to distal catheters (32.2 ± 45.2 versus 5.6 ± 3.7 cm/sec, P = 0.015; 16.6 ± 9.5 ml/sec versus 5.1 ± 4.0 ml/sec, P = 0.001, respectively). No correlation was found between the number of pump activations and the changes in ONSD (P = 0.975) or PD (P = 0.820). SMI appears to be a very promising non-invasive diagnostic tool to assess CSF flow within the VPS systems and therefore affirm their function. Furthermore, appearance of free intraperitoneal fluid followed by repeated compression of a shunt reservoir indicates an intact functioning shunt system.
Is polyphagy of a specific cryptic Bemisia tabaci species driving the high whitefly populations on cassava in eastern Africa?
Authors: Namuddu Annet , Malka Osnat , Seal Susan , van Brunschot Sharon , Kabaalu Richard , Omongo Christopher , Morin Shai , Colvin John
Published: September 2024

Since the 1990s, the cryptic whitefly (Bemisia tabaci) has been linked to severe viral disease pandemics affecting cassava, a crucial staple crop in eastern Africa. This surge in whitefly populations has also been observed in other crops and uncultivated plants. While previous surveys have connected the increase on cassava to two specific populations, SSA1 and SSA2, the dynamics behind the population growth on other plants remain unclear. Additionally, other B. tabaci species, including EA1, IO, MED, SSA9, and SSA10, have been found on cassava in smaller numbers. This study aimed to identify the host plants that support the growth and development of different B. tabaci in Uganda by collecting fourth-instar nymphs from cassava and 20 other common host plants. Host transfer experiments were conducted to test the ability of seven species (EA1, MEAM1, MED-Africa Silver Leafing (ASL), SSA1-subgroup1, SSA1-Hoslundia, SSA6, and SSA12) to develop on cassava. The identities of the nymphs were determined using partial mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase 1 sequences. Twelve B. tabaci species were identified, including two novel species, based on the 3.5% nucleotide sequence divergence. Cassava was colonised by SSA1-SG1, SSA1-SG2, and SSA2. The most prevalent species were SSA1-SG1, MED-ASL, and SSA13, which were also the most polyphagous, colonising multiple plant species. Several whitefly species colonised specific weeds, such as Aspilia africana and Commelina benghalensis. The polyphagous nature of these species supports continuous habitats and virus reservoirs. Effective management of whitefly populations in eastern Africa requires an integrated approach that considers their polyphagy and the environmental factors sustaining host plants.
HIV Testing and Treatment among HIV-Positive Men who have Sex with Men (MSM) Living in Russia: Data from Two Waves of the European MSM Internet Survey
Authors: Berg Rigmor C. , Skogen Vegard , Schmidt Axel J. , Nesterov Roman , Beloglazov Andrey
Published: September 2024

We examined changes in HIV testing and medical care among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Russia. Data come from the 2010 and 2017 waves of the European MSM Internet Survey. From 2010 to 2017 there was an increase in the proportion who had ever received an HIV test (+ 11.2%), had tested for HIV in the last year (+ 2.1%), had ever taken antiretroviral therapy (ART) (+ 31.9), were currently taking ART (+ 31.5%), and had an undetectable viral load (+ 19.4%). These results are encouraging, yet they also reveal that substantial proportions of MSM experience considerable unmet prevention and treatment needs.
Cell blebbing novel therapeutic possibilities to counter metastasis
Authors: Jia Weiyi , Czabanka Marcus , Broggini Thomas
Published: September 2024

Cells constantly reshape there plasma membrane and cytoskeleton during physiological and pathological processes (Hagmann et al. in J Cell Biochem 73:488–499, 1999). Cell blebbing, the formation of bulges or protrusions on the cell membrane, is related to mechanical stress, changes in intracellular pressure, chemical signals, or genetic anomalies. These membrane bulges interfere with the force balance of actin filaments, microtubules, and intermediate filaments, the basic components of the cytoskeleton (Charras in J Microsc 231:466–478, 2008). In the past, these blebs with circular structures were considered apoptotic markers (Blaser et al. in Dev Cell 11:613–627, 2006). Cell blebbing activates phagocytes and promotes the rapid removal of intrinsic compartments. However, recent studies have revealed that blebbing is associated with dynamic cell reorganization and alters the movement of cells in-vivo and in-vitro (Charras and Paluch in Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 9:730–736, 2008). During tumor progression, blebbing promotes invasion of cancer cells into blood, and lymphatic vessels, facilitating tumor progression and metastasis (Weems et al. in Nature 615:517–525, 2023). Blebbing is a dominant feature of tumor cells generally absent in normal cells. Restricting tumor blebbing reduces anoikis resistance (survival in suspension) (Weems et al. in Nature 615:517–525, 2023). Hence, therapeutic intervention with targeting blebbing could be highly selective for proliferating pro-metastatic tumor cells, providing a novel therapeutic pathway for tumor metastasis with minimal side effects. Here, we review the association between cell blebbing and tumor cells, to uncover new research directions and strategies for metastatic cancer therapy. Finaly, we aim to identify the druggable targets of metastatic cancer in relation to cell blebbing.
Deep learning approaches to lexical simplification: A survey
Authors: North Kai , Ranasinghe Tharindu , Shardlow Matthew , Zampieri Marcos
Published: September 2024

Lexical Simplification (LS) is the task of substituting complex words within a sentence for simpler alternatives while maintaining the sentence’s original meaning. LS is the lexical component of Text Simplification (TS) systems with the aim of improving accessibility to various target populations such as individuals with low literacy or reading disabilities. Prior surveys have been published several years before the introduction of transformers, transformer-based large language models (LLMs), and prompt learning that have drastically changed the field of NLP. The high performance of these models has sparked renewed interest in LS. To reflect these recent advances, we present a comprehensive survey of papers published since 2017 on LS and its sub-tasks focusing on deep learning. Finally, we describe available benchmark datasets for the future development of LS systems.
Melanoma skin cancer detection based on deep learning methods and binary Harris Hawk optimization
Authors: Jaber Noorah Jaber Faisal , Akbas Ayhan
Published: September 2024

The issue of skin cancer has garnered significant attention from the scientific community worldwide, with melanoma being the most lethal and uncommon form of the disease. Melanoma occurs due to the uncontrolled growth of melanocyte cells, which are responsible for imparting color to the skin. If left untreated, melanoma can spread throughout the body and cause death. Early detection of melanoma can lower its mortality rate. In this study, we propose a robust Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based method for classifying melanoma images as healthy or non-healthy. To train and test the model, we utilized public datasets from International Skin Imaging Collaboration (ISIC). Additionally, we compared our method with other classification techniques, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), Decision Tree, and K-Nearest Neighbors (K-NN), using the Harris Hawks Optimization algorithm. The results of our method showed superior performance compared to the other approaches.
Re-enactment and embodied resonance in episodic memory: reconciling phenomenological approaches and constructive theories
Authors: Righetti Francesca
Published: September 2024

This paper investigates the embodied dimensions of episodic memory through a phenomenological analysis. Contemporary philosophical theories understand episodic memory as a mental representation of a past event ‘happening in the head’. A philosophical account that seemingly supports an embodied understanding of episodic memory comes from phenomenology. Phenomenology has traditionally understood episodic memory in terms of presentification, which implies a reproduction of the elapsed portion of the consciousness lived during the foreground experience, replicating the previous perceptual activity. However, this appears to be incoherent with the constructive theories of episodic memory, which highlight how subjects shift perspectives in memory or include information not present in the foregoing experience. Thus, according to these contemporary theories, episodic memory is unlikely to imply a replay of the past conscious experience. I argue that if we investigate the embodied dimensions, then it is possible to reconcile the phenomenological approach and the constructive theories. More precisely, I ground the investigation on the analysis of operative intentionality and its role in comparing procedural and episodic memory. I argue that two embodied features qualify the reproductive modification of consciousness: the flexible re-enactment of the previous operative intentionality and the pre-reflective mode of embodied resonance with an agent I am no longer.
Reconsidering the costs of commitment: Learning and state acceptance of the UN human rights treaties’ individual complaint procedures
Authors: Ullmann Andreas Johannes
Published: September 2024

How do states react to adverse decisions resulting from human rights treaties’ individual complaint procedures? While recent scholarship has shown particular interest in states’ reactions to international court judgments, research on state behavior vis-à-vis an increasing treaty body output remains scarce. I argue that states generally want to avoid the costs implied by adverse decisions, or ‘views’. Rising numbers of rebukes lead them to update their beliefs about the costliness of complaint procedure acceptance in a Bayesian manner. As a result, states become less inclined to accept further petition mechanisms under different human rights treaties. I test these assumptions on an original dataset containing information on individual complaint procedure acceptance and the distribution of 1320 views for a total number of 169 countries ranging from the year 1965 to 2018. Results from Cox proportional hazards regressions suggest that both the number of views against neighboring states and against the examined state itself decrease the likelihood of acceptance of most of the six individual complaint procedures under observation. I also find evidence that this effect is exacerbated if states are more likely to actually bear the costs of implementation. Findings indicate that the omission of further commitment can be a negative spillover of the treaty bodies’ quasi-judicial output.
Beyond the last mile: different spatial strategies to integrate on-demand services into public transport in a simplified city
Authors: Fielbaum Andres , Jara-Díaz Sergio , Alonso-Mora Javier
Published: September 2024

Integrating on-demand services into public transport networks might be the best way to face the current situation in which these new technologies have increased congestion in most cities. When cooperating with on-demand services rather than competing with them, public transport would not risk losing users, and could attract some passengers from private modes thanks to an increased quality of service. This fact has engendered a growing literature discussing how to design such an integrated system. However, all of that research has imposed that on-demand mobility is to solve the so-called “last-mile problem”, serving only as a feeder that connects the exact origins/destinations with the traditional public transit network. As it induces a large number of transfers and it precludes some scale-effects to be triggered, in this paper we challenge that imposition and investigate if this is the best spatial integration strategy. To do so, we study a simplified linear city in a morning peak situation, where we propose seven different line structures, all of them combining a traditional fixed line with on-demand ride-pooling (ODRP): three direct structures, where ODRP can serve full trips, three semi-direct, where a single ODRP vehicle can serve the largest part of a trip, and a base case in which ODRP is restricted to the first and final legs only. Our results show that the base case is optimal only under very specific demand patterns, or when transfer penalties are disregarded. Our analytical approach reveals relevant operational aspects of such integrated systems: namely, that the base case can help increase directness (diminishing detours), and that ODRP can help shorten the routes of the fixed services to decrease operator costs.
Palladium Nanoparticles as a Platform for Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
Authors: Lakkakula Jaya , Satam Yash , Alexander Sophiya , Bose Roshnee , Uddin Imran
Published: September 2024

Palladium nanoparticles (PdNPs) in the past decade have been extensively used in the diagnosis, imaging, and treatment of numerous diseases owing to their unique physical, chemical, and catalytic properties. Previously, Palladium was almost singularly used for catalysis during chemical synthesis in industries. It is only in the past decade that researchers explore its potential in biomedicine. PdNPs can also be used in the imaging and diagnosis of cancer through techniques such as photoacoustic imaging, computed tomography, and flow cytometry-assisted cell sorting. They offer various advantages such as tunability, desirable photothermal and optical properties, thermal stability, antimicrobial properties, and many more. Cancer treatment through conventional techniques and the broad use of cytotoxic therapeutics has reached a plateau. This paved the way to design novel selective and targeted therapies, one of them being PdNPs. PdNPs are most commonly used in synergy with chemotherapy, photothermal therapy, photodynamic therapy, as well as radiotherapy which improves the efficacy of cancer treatment. In this review, several studies are included that summarize the synthesis, characterization, and cytotoxicity of palladium nanoparticles as well as the functionalized PdNP complexes. In addition, the review provides insight into the mechanism of palladium nanoparticles in improving the efficacy and efficiency of synergistic therapies.
Telomere transcripts act as tumor suppressor and are associated with favorable prognosis in colorectal cancer with low proliferating cell nuclear antigen expression
Authors: Kienzl Philip , Deloria Abigail J. , Hunjadi Monika , Hadolt Juliane M. , Haering Max-Felix , Bothien Angrit , Mejri Doris , Korkut-Demirbaş Medina , Sampl Sandra , Weber Gerhard , Pirker Christine , Laengle Severin , Braunschmid Tamara , Dragona Eleni , Marian Brigitte , Gagos Sarantis , Lu Lingeng , Henson Jeremy D. , Lau Loretta M. S. , Reddel Roger R. , Mikulits Wolfgang , Stättner Stefan , Holzmann Klaus
Published: September 2024

Telomeric repeat-containing RNAs (TERRA) and telomerase RNA component (TERC) regulate telomerase activity (TA) and thereby contribute to telomere homeostasis by influencing telomere length (TL) and the cell immortality hallmark of cancer cells. Additionally, the non-canonical functions of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and TERRA appear to be involved in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which is important for cancer progression. However, the relationship between TERRA and patient prognosis has not been fully characterized. In this small-scale study, 68 patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) were evaluated for correlations between telomere biology, proliferation, and EMT gene transcripts and disease outcome. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and the epithelial splicing regulatory proteins 1 and 2 (ESRP1 and ESRP2) showed a positive correlation with TERRA, while TA and TERRA exhibited an inverse correlation. Consistent with previous findings, the present study revealed higher expression levels of TERT and TERC, and increased TA and TL in CRC tumor tissue compared to adjacent non-tumor tissue. In contrast, lower expression levels of TERRA were observed in tumor tissue. Patients with high TERRA expression and low PCNA levels exhibited favorable overall survival rates compared to individuals with the inverse pattern. Furthermore, TERRA suppressed CRC tumor growth in severe combined immunodeficiency disease (SCID) mice. In conclusion, our study extends previously published research on TERRA suggesting its potential therapeutic role in telomerase-positive CRC.
Accelerated SVD-based initialization for nonnegative matrix factorization
Authors: Esposito Flavia , Atif Syed Muhammad , Gillis Nicolas
Published: September 2024

Nonnegative matrix factorization (NMF) is a popular dimensionality reduction technique. NMF is typically cast as a non-convex optimization problem solved via standard iterative schemes, such as coordinate descent methods. Hence the choice of the initialization for the variables is crucial as it will influence the factorization quality and the convergence speed. Different strategies have been proposed in the literature, the most popular ones rely on singular value decomposition (SVD). In particular, Atif et al. (Pattern Recognit Lett 122:53–59, 2019) have introduced a very efficient SVD-based initialization, namely NNSVD-LRC, that overcomes the drawbacks of previous methods, namely, it guarantees that (i) the error decreases as the factorization rank increases, (ii) the initial factors are sparse, and (iii) the computational cost is low. In this paper, we improve upon NNSVD-LRC by using the low-rank structure of the residual matrix; this allows us to obtain NMF initializations with similar quality to NNSVD-LRC (in terms of error and sparsity) while reducing the computational load. We evaluate our proposed solution over other NMF initializations on several real dense and sparse datasets.