bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Modelling and visualization for the analysis and comprehension of the acoustic performance of buildings through the implementation of a building information modelling–based methodology
Authors: de la Hoz-Torres María L. , Aguilar Antonio J. , Martínez-Aires M. Dolores , Ruiz Diego P.
Published: September 2022

Technical and technological advances have revolutionised the architecture, engineering, and construction industries in recent decades. Building information modelling (BIM) methodology has become essential in the process of information management and the development of building projects. This study aims to analyse the potential advantages of the implementation of BIM-based models for the acquisition of theoretical and procedural knowledge about building acoustics. This procedure was implemented as part of a problem-solving exercise in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) university degrees. For this purpose, three-dimensional (3D) BIM models were generated to assess the contribution of their implementation in the process of visualization, comprehension, and analysis of the acoustic behaviour of buildings. The participants' experiences and satisfaction with the BIM models were measured through a questionnaire. The results showed a high level of satisfaction among the participants and good potential for the application of 3D models based on BIM methodology for the acquisition of knowledge and practical skills in building acoustics. These results highlight the potential of BIM models to provide information for understanding the procedure followed during data collection in the experimental analysis and to facilitate the understanding of system behavior.
The effect of hearing protection worn by talker and/or target listener on speech production in quiet and noise
Authors: Vaziri Ghazaleh , Giguère Christian , Dajani Hilmi R.
Published: September 2022

Speech production while wearing hearing protectors poses significant challenges due to their occlusion effect and disruption of the Lombard effect. An experiment was conducted with 24 individuals as they read a list of 12 sentences in open ears and while wearing an earmuff in quiet and in four different noises [pink, International Female Fluctuating Masker (IFFM), speech-spectrum noise (SSnoise), and helicopter] at two levels (70 and 85 dBA). An acoustic manikin, fitted or not with an identical protector, served as the target listener. In noise, speech levels decreased when the talkers wore the earmuff but increased when the target listener was fitted with the earmuff. When the earmuff was used by both the talkers and target listener, speech levels were lower by 3–6 dB at the higher noise level compared to when they were both open ears. Speech levels were typically lower, but extended speech intelligibility index estimates were consistently higher, in fluctuating (IFFM, helicopter) than in continuous noises (pink, SSnoise). Talkers' pitch frequency and voice spectrum measurements followed very closely the changes in speech levels, showing no evidence of compensatory voice modifications. Implications of the lower talker speech levels when wearing hearing protectors are discussed in terms of protector selection, training, and individuals with hearing loss.
Translatome and transcriptome co-profiling reveals a role of TPRXs in human zygotic genome activation
Authors: Zou Zhuoning , Zhang Chuanxin , Wang Qiuyan , Hou Zhenzhen , Xiong Zhuqing , Kong Feng , Wang Qiujun , Song Jinzhu , Liu Boyang , Liu Bofeng , Wang Lijuan , Lai Fangnong , Fan Qiang , Tao Wenrong , Zhao Shuai , Ma Xiaonan , Li Miao , Wu Keliang , Zhao Han , Chen Zi-Jiang , Xie Wei
Published: September 2022

Translational regulation plays a critical role during the oocyte-to-embryo transition (OET) and zygotic genome activation (ZGA). Here, we integrated ultra-low-input ribosome profiling (Ribo-lite) with messenger RNA sequencing to co-profile the translatome and transcriptome in human oocytes and early embryos. Comparison with mouse counterparts identified widespread differentially translated gene functioning in epigenetic reprogramming, transposon defense, and small RNA biogenesis, in part driven by species-specific regulatory elements in 3′ untranslated regions. Moreover, PRD-like homeobox transcription factors, includingTPRXL,TPRX1, andTPRX2, are highly translated around ZGA.TPRX1/2/Lknockdown leads to defective ZGA and preimplantation development. Ectopically expressed TPRXs bind and activate key ZGA genes in human embryonic stem cells. These data reveal the conservation and divergence of translation landscapes during OET and identify critical regulators of human ZGA.
Protect the vulnerable from monkeypox
Authors: Titanji Boghuma
Published: September 2022

Recent declines in monkeypox infections have elicited comments such as “cautiously optimistic” and “we’re turning a corner.” Indeed, this trend in large cities in the United States and Europe, as well as a global decline in new cases of 21% (according to the World Health Organization), is encouraging. However, if we don’t prioritize and protect the most vulnerable populations, the outbreak will not end any time soon.
The Contribution of Kaposi’s Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus ORF7 and Its Zinc-Finger Motif to Viral Genome Cleavage and Capsid Formation
Authors: Iwaisako Yuki , Watanabe Tadashi , Futo Manami , Okabe Rimiko , Sekine Yuichi , Suzuki Youichi , Nakano Takashi , Fujimuro Masahiro
Published: September 2022

In herpesviral capsid formation, the viral terminase complex cleaves the TR sites on newly synthesized tandemly repeating genomes and inserts an appropriate genomic unit into an immature capsid. Herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) UL28 is a subunit of the terminase complex that cleaves the replicated viral genome.
RcgA and RcgR, Two Novel Proteins Involved in the Conjugative Transfer of Rhizobial Plasmids
Authors: Castellani Lucas G. , Luchetti Abril , Nilsson Juliet F. , Pérez-Giménez Julieta , Struck Ben , Schlüter Andreas , Pühler Alfred , Niehaus Karsten , Romero David , Pistorio Mariano , Torres Tejerizo Gonzalo
Published: September 2022

Extrachromosomal DNA elements, such as plasmids, allow for the adaptation of bacteria to new environments by conferring new determinants. Via conjugation, plasmids can be transferred between members of the same bacterial species, different species, or even to organisms belonging to a different kingdom.
Infant Mode of Delivery Shapes the Skin Mycobiome of Prepubescent Children
Authors: Wang Yan-Ren , Zhu Ting , Kong Fan-Qi , Duan Yuan-Yuan , Galzote Carlos , Quan Zhe-Xue
Published: September 2022

Human skin is permanently colonized by microbes starting at birth. The hygiene hypothesis suggests that a lack of early-life immune imprinting weakens the body’s resilience against atopic disorders later in life.
The Two-Component System CpxRA Represses Salmonella Pathogenicity Island 2 by Directly Acting on the
ssrAB
Regulatory Operon
Authors: León-Montes Nancy , Nava-Galeana Jessica , Rodríguez-Valverde Diana , Soria-Bustos Jorge , Rosales-Reyes Roberto , Rivera-Gutiérrez Sandra , Hirakawa Hidetada , Ares Miguel A. , Bustamante Víctor H. , De la Cruz Miguel A.
Published: September 2022

SPI-2 encodes a type III secretion system (T3SS) that is a hallmark for the species
Salmonella enterica
, which is essential for the survival and replication within macrophages. Expression of SPI-2 genes is positively controlled by the two-component system SsrAB.
Erratum to: Application of the Tikhonov Regularization Method in Problems of Ellipsometic Porometry of Low-K Dielectrics
Authors: Gaidukasov R. A. , Myakon’kikh A. V. , Rudenko K. V.
Published: September 2022

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1063739722550017
Changes in industry marketing payments to physicians during the covid-19 pandemic: quasi experimental, difference-in-difference study
Authors: Inoue Kosuke , Figueroa Jose F , Kondo Naoki , Tsugawa Yusuke
Published: September 2022

Objective

To determine changes in industry marketing payments to physicians due to the covid-19 pandemic.

Design

Quasi experimental, difference-in-difference study.

Data source

US nationwide database of licensed physicians, the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System, which was linked to a database of industry marketing payments made to physicians, Open Payments.

Population

All licensed US physicians from 2018 to 2020 and those who received payments from industry.

Main outcome measures

Changes in the value and the number of monthly industry payments physician received before (January-February 2020) and during the pandemic (April-December 2020) were assessed, adjusting for physicians’ characteristics (gender and specialty). As the control, data for the same months in 2019 were used. Industry payments by type of payments (eg, meals, travel, consulting fees, speaker compensation, honorariums), were also examined.

Results

Among 880 589 US physicians included in this study, 267 463 (30.4%) physicians received a total of 4 117 482 non-research payments with $626 million ($710 per physician; £610; €708) in 2020 (40-44% decrease from $1047m in 2018 and $1115m in 2019). Industry payments decreased significantly in the months of the covid-19 pandemic (adjusted change in the value of −48.4%; 95% confidence interval −50.6 to −46.2; P<0.001; and adjusted change in the number of −47.4%, 95% confidence interval −47.7 to −47.1; P<0.001), particularly for meals and travel fees. No evidence was seen of a decrease in the number of industry payments for consulting and honorariums. A similar pattern was observed across physicians’ gender and specialty.

Conclusions

Industry payments to physicians, particularly those involving physical interactions such as meals and travel, substantially decreased during the pandemic. How such changes affect prescription practices and the quality of clinical practice in the long term should be investigated.
Safety and efficacy of plasma transfusion from exercise-trained donors in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease: protocol for the ExPlas study
Authors: Tari Atefe R , Berg Helene Haugen , Videm Vibeke , Bråthen Geir , White Linda R , Røsbjørgen Ragnhild Nyhus , Scheffler Katja , Dalen Havard , Holte Espen , Haberg Asta K , Selbaek Geir , Lydersen Stian , Duezel Emrah , Bergh Sverre , Logan-Halvorsrud Kjell Rune , Sando Sigrid Botne , Wisløff Ulrik
Published: September 2022

Introduction

Given that exercise training reduces the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease (AD), induces changes in the blood composition and has widespread systemic benefits, it is reasonable to hypothesise that exercised plasma (ExPlas) may have rejuvenative properties. The main objective is to test safety and tolerability of transfusing ExPlas from young, healthy, fit adults to patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early AD. The study is a pilot for a future efficacy study. The key secondary objectives are examining the effect of plasma transfusions on cognitive function, fitness level, vascular risk profile, assessment of cerebral blood flow and hippocampal volume, quality of life, functional connectivity assessed by resting state functional MRI and biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

Methods and analysis

ExPlas is a double-blinded, randomised controlled clinical single-centre trial. Patients up to 75 years of age with diagnosis early symptomatic phase AD will be recruited from two Norwegian hospitals. ExPlas is plasma drawn by plasmapheresis once a month for 4 months, from a total of 30 fit male donors (aged 18–40, BMI≤27 kg/m2 and maximal oxygen uptake>55 mL/kg/min). All units will be virus inactivated by the Intercept method in accordance with procedures at St. Olavs University Hospital. Comparison with isotonic saline allows differentiation from a non-blood product. The main study consists of 6 rounds of examinations in addition to 12 plasma transfusions divided over three 4-week periods during study year-1. It is also planned to conduct follow-up examinations 2 and 5 years after baseline

Ethics and dissemination

Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants and participation is voluntary. All participants have a next of kin who will follow them throughout the study to represent the patient’s interest. The study is approved by the Regional Committee for Medical and Health Research Ethics (REK 2018/702) and the Norwegian Medicines Agency (EudraCT No. 2018-000148-24). The study will be published in an open access journal and results will be presented at numerous national and international meetings as well as on social media platforms.

Trial registration number

EudraCT No. 2018-000148-24. ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05068830
Effectiveness and costs of a new framework for selecting absorbent urinary incontinence products compared with current practice: a cohort study
Authors: Schreuder Miranda C , van der Worp Henk , Balkestein Beate , Malmberg Alec GGA , van den Bos Tine , Dekker Janny H , de Boer Michiel R , Vermeulen Karin M , Blanker Marco H
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To improve continence care in the Netherlands, a new framework has been developed in which a shift has been made from incontinence severity as the sole criterion for selecting incontinence products to a focus on patient need for daily life activities. The impact of the framework on daily care has not been assessed. We aimed to compare treatment effectiveness and costs between participants who did and did not undergo re-evaluation according to the new framework.

Design

Cohort study

Setting

Twelve pharmacies in the Netherlands

Participants

Existing users of absorbent incontinence materials for urinary incontinence.

Interventions

Participants were offered the option to have their incontinence products re-evaluated within the new framework at their pharmacy.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Effectiveness and cost outcomes were assessed at 3 and 6 months through questionnaires. These questionnaires included the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire (ICIQ) Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Quality of Life Module, ICIQ Urinary Incontinence Short Form, ICIQ Absorbent Pads, questions about satisfaction and the iPCQ and iMCQ.

Results

303 users consented and 279 completed the baseline questionnaire. Of these participants, 72 agreed to a re-evaluation of their incontinence materials. There was a small improvement at 3 months in the re-evaluation group compared with the other group on most outcomes. However, these improvements were not clinically relevant. Moreover, these differences did not change much from 3 to 6 months. Small differences were also observed in the changes in costs, but with very wide CIs on both sides of zero (€99.38; 95% CI −633.48 to 832.23).

Conclusions

The current study showed no clinically relevant effect of a newly implemented framework for selecting incontinence materials in pharmacies when compared with an existing method. Given that the study also showed no differences in effectiveness and costs, introducing the new framework in pharmacies may not lead to better incontinence care.
Better use of inhaled medication in asthma and COPD through training, preparation and counselling: the On TRACk study protocol for a cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Paske R te , van Dijk Liset , Linn Annemiek J , van Boven Job F M , Koster Ellen S , Vervloet Marcia
Published: September 2022

Introduction

About 70% of patients with asthma and/or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) use their inhaled medication incorrectly, leading to reduced disease control, higher healthcare use and costs. Adequate guidance from the pharmacy team from first dispense onwards can benefit patients in the long run. We propose an intervention (‘On TRACk’) to improve medication adherence and inhaler technique of adult patients with asthma and/or COPD. This intervention focuses on training pharmacy technicians (PTs) in patient-centred communication and inhalation instruction skills. In addition, patients are actively involved in refill consultations at the pharmacy. The aim of this study is to improve inhaler technique and better inhaled medication adherence among patients with asthma and/or COPD. This paper describes the study protocol.

Methods and analysis

A cluster randomised controlled trial (RCT) with an intervention and control group of 15 pharmacies each will be conducted. Per intervention pharmacy, two PTs will be trained online. Each PT will include five patients who will prepare their second and third dispense counselling sessions by selecting three topics they wish to discuss. Pharmacies in the control cluster provide usual care. In total, 300 patients (150 per group) will be included. Up to 12 months after inclusion, patients complete 3-monthly follow-up questionnaires. Both a process evaluation and a cost-effectiveness analysis will be performed alongside the trial. Trial effectiveness on the patient level will be evaluated after the 12-month follow-up period.

Patient data will be collected through questionnaires and pharmacy refill data. Patients’ inhaler technique will be visually assessed by PTs. Semistructured interviews with PTs and patients will be conducted regarding implementation and fidelity. Direct and indirect health costs will be collected to assess cost-effectiveness.

The primary outcome is adherence to inhalation maintenance medication measured with pharmacy refill data. Secondary outcomes are inhaler technique, persistence, patients’ attitudes towards medication, self-efficacy in medication use and communication with their PTs.

Ethics and dissemination

The study was approved by the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam Ethics Committee (number: 2020.358). Results will be presented at (inter)national conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals. If proven to be (cost-)effective, the intervention should be considered for reimbursement and implementation in Dutch community pharmacies.

Trial registration number

NL9750.
Role of social comparison in preparedness for practice as a junior doctor in Singapore: a longitudinal qualitative study
Authors: Chen Shiwei , Smith Helen , Bartlam Bernadette , Low-Beer Naomi , Chow Aloysius , Rosby Lucy Victoria , Shelat Vishalkumar G , Cleland Jennifer
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To date, most research on medical graduates’ preparedness for practice has conceptualised preparedness as something possessed by the individual. However, new doctors work within social settings with other people and, given this, we argue that preparedness has a social and comparative dimension. The aim of this paper is to explore medical students’/graduates’ self-assessments of their preparedness for practice using the lens of social comparison theory.

Setting

We invited medical students from one of Singapore’s three medical schools who were in their final-year Student Assistantship Programme to participate in semi-structured interviews, and follow-up interviews 6 months later when they were working as junior doctors. Data was collected from two cohorts, in 2018 and 2019. Initial analysis of interview transcripts was inductive and thematic. Social comparison theory was used for subsequent theory-driven analysis.

Participants

31 participants took part, of whom 21 also engaged in follow-up interviews.

Results

We identified three uses of social comparison: as coping strategy to manage uncertainties in transitions where there was no formal, objective testing of their performance; as a means to confirm their self-perceived preparedness (upwards or downwards, eg, being better or worse prepared than comparator others); and as the basis for decision-making (eg, changing career choices).

Conclusions

Senior medical students and newly-graduated doctors compare themselves with peers and near-peers in terms of prior learning and current performance to evaluate and understand their own performance at work. Future studies need to examine further how the feeling of preparedness or unpreparedness generated from social comparisons may affect subsequent clinical performance and professional development.
Feasibility of a new electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) system for an advanced therapy clinical trial in immune-mediated inflammatory disease (PROmics): protocol for a qualitative feasibility study
Authors: Hughes Sarah E , McMullan Christel , Rowe Anna , Retzer Ameeta , Malpass Rebecca , Bathurst Camilla , Davies Elin Haf , Frost Chris , McNamara Gary , Harding Rosie , Price Gary , Wilson Roger , Walker Anita , Newsome Philip N , Calvert Melanie
Published: September 2022

Introduction

The use of electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) systems to capture PRO data in clinical trials is increasing; however, their feasibility, acceptability and utility in clinical trials of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are not yet well understood. This protocol describes a qualitative study that aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of ePRO data capture using a trial-specific ePRO system (the PROmics system) within an advanced therapy trial involving patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and Crohn’s disease).

Methods and analysis

This protocol for a remote, qualitative, interview-based feasibility study is embedded within the POLARISE trial, a single-arm, phase II, multisite ATMP basket trial in the UK. 10–15 patients enrolled in the POLARISE trial and 10–15 research team members at the trial sites will be recruited. Participants will take part in semistructured interviews which will be transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically according to the framework method. Data collection and analysis will occur concurrently and iteratively. Researcher triangulation will be used to achieve a consensus-based analysis, enhancing rigour and trustworthiness.

Ethics and dissemination

This study was approved by the London—West London and GTAC Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 21/LO/0475). Informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to data collection. The study findings will be published in peer-review journals and disseminated via conference presentations and other media. Our patient and public involvement and engagement group and ATMP stakeholder networks will be consulted to maximise dissemination and impact.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN80103507.
Pharmacy program to improve care for veterans with transient ischaemic attack: a pilot implementation evaluation
Authors: Rattray Nicholas , Damush Teresa M , Myers Laura , Perkins Anthony J , Homoya Barbara , Knefelkamp Christopher , Fleming Breanne , Kingsolver Andrea , Boldt Amy , Ferguson Jared , Zillich Alan , Bravata Dawn M
Published: September 2022

Background

Early evaluation and effective communication to manage transient ischaemic attacks (TIA) may lead to a reduction of up to 70% in recurrent events for patients with TIA/minor stroke, along with reduced costs and lengths of hospital stay.

Methods

We conducted a single site pilot evaluation of a clinical pharmacy programme to improve medication management among TIA patients. The programme included a structured protocol, online identification tool, and a templated discharge checklist. Primary effectiveness measures were change in systolic blood pressure (SBP) 90 days post discharge and prescription of high/moderate potency statins. Contextual aspects and clinical perspectives on the implementation process were evaluated through prospective semistructured interviews with key informants.

Results

The analysis included 75 patients in the preimplementation group and 61 in the postimplementation group. The mean SBP at 90 days post discharge was significantly lower in the post implementation period (pre implementation, 133.3 mm Hg (SD 17.8) vs post implementation, 126.8 mm Hg (16.6); p=0.045). The change in SBP from discharge to 90 days post discharge was greater in the postimplementation period (15.8 mm Hg (20.5) vs 24.8 mm Hg (23.2); p=0.029). The prescription of high/moderate potency statins were similar across groups (pre implementation, 66.7% vs post implementation, 77.4%; p=0.229). Front-line clinicians involved in the pilot study reported positively on the acceptability, appropriateness and feasibility of implementing the protocol without additional cost and within current scope of practice.

Conclusions

Implementation of a clinical protocol outlining medication management and provider communication to ensure rapid postdischarge treatment of TIA patients was associated with SBP improvements. The pilot evaluation demonstrates how clinical pharmacists may play a role in treating low frequency, high stakes cerebrovascular events where early treatment and follow-up are critical.
Financial stress during COVID-19: implications for parenting behaviour and child well-being
Authors: McGill Megan G , Purkey Eva , Davison Colleen M , Watson Autumn , Bayoumi Imaan
Published: September 2022

Background

Family financial stress and parenting behaviours are each associated with child behaviours. We sought to explore the association between parent financial stress and child socioemotional and behavioural difficulties during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine parenting behaviour, including overreactive and lax parenting approaches, as a potential mediator to this relationship.

Methods

Cross-sectional sample of parent and child data pairings in Ontario, Canada between April and November of 2020. Linear models were used to describe the relationships between financial worry, child Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) total difficulties and parenting behaviours measured by the Parenting Scale 8-item (PS-8), which includes measures of both overreactive and lax parenting tendencies. Formal mediation testing was performed to assess the potential mediating role of parenting behaviour.

Results

528 parent and child pairs were enrolled from largely European ancestry (78%), female (93%) and varied household income levels. Analysis revealed increased financial worry during the COVID-19 pandemic was significantly associated with increased child SDQ total difficulties scores (β=0.23, SE=0.10, p=0.03). This relationship was mediated by reported parenting behaviour, independent of parent education, household income, parent age, parent sex, parent anxiety and child sex (total effect: β=0.69, p=0.02, average causal mediation effects: β=0.50, p=0.02, average direct effects: β=0.19, p=0.08).

Conclusion

Financial stress during the COVID-19 pandemic was associated with poorer child social and emotional well-being. Parenting behaviours measured by the PS-8 significantly mediated these effects. This work supports the importance of policies aimed to alleviate family financial stresses and highlights the potential impact such policies have on child well-being.
TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP in patients with melancholic, atypical and anxious depression: an antibody array analysis related to somatic symptoms
Authors: Liu Hongmei , Wu Xiaohui , Wang Yun , Liu Xiaohua , Peng Daihui , Wu Yan , Chen Jun , Su Yun'ai , Xu Jia , Ma Xiancang , Li Yi , Shi Jianfei , Yang Xiaodong , Rong Han , Forti Marta Di , Fang Yiru
Published: September 2022

Background

The association between inflammation and major depressive disorder (MDD) remains poorly understood, given the heterogeneity of patients with MDD.

Aims

We investigated inflammatory markers, such as interleukin (IL)-6, high-sensitivity C reactive protein (hsCRP) and tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in melancholic, atypical and anxious depression and explored whether baseline inflammatory protein levels could indicate prognosis.

Methods

The sample consisted of participants (aged 18–55 years) from a previously reported multicentre randomised controlled trial with a parallel-group design registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, including melancholic (n=44), atypical (n=37) and anxious (n=44) patients with depression and healthy controls (HCs) (n=33). Subtypes of MDD were classified according to the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, Self-Rated Version and the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale. Blood levels of TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP were assessed using antibody array analysis.

Results

Patients with MDD, classified according to melancholic, atypical and anxious depression subtypes, and HCs did not differ significantly in baseline TNF-α, IL-6 and hsCRP levels after adjustment. In patients with anxious depression, hsCRP levels increased significantly if they experienced no pain (adjusted (adj.) p=0.010) or mild to moderate pain (adj. p=0.038) compared with those with severe pain. However, the patients with anxious depression and severe pain showed a lower trend in hsCRP levels than patients with atypical depression who experienced severe pain (p=0.022; adj. p=0.155). Baseline TNF-α (adj. p=0.038) and IL-6 (adj. p=0.006) levels in patients in remission were significantly lower than those in patients with no remission among the participants with the atypical depression subtype at the eighth-week follow-up.

Conclusions

This study provides evidence of differences in inflammatory proteins in patients with varied symptoms among melancholic, atypical and anxious depression subtypes. Further studies on the immunoinflammatory mechanism underlying different subtypes of depression are expected for improved individualised therapy.

Trial registration number

NCT03219008.
Nemvaleukin alfa, a novel engineered IL-2 fusion protein, drives antitumor immunity and inhibits tumor growth in small cell lung cancer
Authors: Pan Yuanwang , Hao Yuan , Han Han , Chen Ting , Ding Hailin , Labbe Kristen E , Shum Elaine , Guidry Kayla , Hu Hai , Sherman Fiona , Geng Ke , Stephens Janaye , Chafitz Alison , Tang Sittinon , Huang Hsin-Yi , Peng Chengwei , Almonte Christina , Lopes Jared E , Losey Heather C , Winquist Raymond J , Velcheti Vamsidhar , Zhang Hua , Wong Kwok-Kin
Published: September 2022

Background

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC) is a deadly disease with a 5-year survival of less than 7%. The addition of immunotherapy to chemotherapy was recently approved as first-line treatment; however, the improved clinical benefit is modest, highlighting an urgent need for new treatment strategies. Nemvaleukin alfa, a novel engineered interleukin-2 fusion protein currently in phase I–III studies, is designed to selectively expand cytotoxic natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+T cells. Here, using a novel SCLC murine model, we investigated the effects of a mouse version of nemvaleukin (mNemvaleukin) on tumor growth and antitumor immunity.

Methods

A novelRb1−/−p53−/−p130−/−SCLC model that mimics human disease was generated. After confirming tumor burden by MRI, mice were randomized into four treatment groups: vehicle, mNemvaleukin alone, chemotherapy (cisplatin+etoposide) alone, or the combination of mNemvaleukin and chemotherapy. Tumor growth was measured by MRI and survival was recorded. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and peripheral blood immune cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Cytokine and chemokine secretion were quantified and transcriptomic analysis was performed to characterize the immune gene signatures.

Results

mNemvaleukin significantly inhibited SCLC tumor growth, which was further enhanced by the addition of chemotherapy. Combining mNemvaleukin with chemotherapy provided the most significant survival benefit. Profiling of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes revealed mNemvaleukin expanded the total number of tumor-infiltrating NK and CD8+T cells. Furthermore, mNemvaleukin increased the frequencies of activated and proliferating NK and CD8+T cells in tumors. Similar immune alterations were observed in the peripheral blood of mNemvaleukin-treated mice. Of note, combining mNemvaleukin with chemotherapy had the strongest effects in activating effector and cytotoxic CD8+T cells. mNemvaleukin alone, and in combination with chemotherapy, promoted proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine production, which was further confirmed by transcriptomic analysis.

Conclusions

mNemvaleukin, a novel cytokine-based immunotherapy, significantly inhibited murine SCLC tumor growth and prolonged survival, which was further enhanced by the addition of chemotherapy. mNemvaleukin alone, and in combination with chemotherapy, drove a strong antitumor immune program elicited by cytotoxic immune cells. Our findings support the evaluation of nemvaleukin alone or in combination with chemotherapy in clinical trials for the treatment of SCLC.
Utility of the ACR-1997, SLICC-2012 and EULAR/ACR-2019 classification criteria for systemic lupus erythematosus: a single-centre retrospective study
Authors: Lu Wentian , Zhong Ying , Weng Chenghua , Wang Qing , Tang Mei , Liu Zhichun , Xue Leixi
Published: September 2022

Background and aims

Several different versions of classification criteria, including the American College of Rheumatology (ACR)-1997, Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics (SLICC)-2012 and European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)/ACR-2019 classification criteria, have been launched in the past decades. The current study aimed to investigate the performance of these three classification criteria for diagnosing patients with SLE in a Chinese cohort.

Methods

352 patients with SLE and 385 controls with other diseases who had the detection results of ANA were enrolled into the study. Various clinical parameters were estimated, such as demographics variables, clinical characteristics and other variables related to three criteria.

Results

The current study demonstrated great diagnostic ability of the three criteria; and the receiver operating characteristic curve and the area under curve (AUC) were used to evaluate the diagnostic ability of three criteria: ACR-1997 (AUC=0.972), SLICC-2012 (AUC=0.986) and EULAR/ACR-2019 (AUC=0.983). Despite lower specificity of the SLICC-2012 and EULAR/ACR-2019 classification criteria, their sensitivity is significantly improved than ACR-1997. Of note, we also compared the median time interval between the appearance of the earliest item and fulfilment of the three sets of criteria, suggesting the SLICC-2012 and EULAR/ACR-2019 could achieve earlier diagnosis. Adjusting the thresholds of the EULAR/ACR-2019 criteria from 10 to 12, the specificity and accuracy significantly increased.

Conclusion

The SLICC-2012 and EULAR/ACR-2019 performed well in Chinese patients with SLE and showed better early diagnosis ability. In addition, by adjusting the classification threshold, the accuracy of the EULAR/ACR-2019 classification criteria was improved.
A rare cause of young-onset dementia
Authors: Watson-Fargie Taylor , Davies Rhys , Heath Craig , Davenport R J
Published: September 2022

A 39-year-old woman developed progressive cognitive impairment with neuropsychiatric features, bruxism and seizures; she had a background of recurrent bony fractures. The case formed the clinicopathological conference at the Association of British Neurologists Annual meeting 2022.
Democratization of terrorism: an analysis of vehicle-based terrorist events
Authors: Houser Ryan Scott
Published: September 2022

Objectives

The COVID-19 pandemic inspired social changes that promote outdoor activities including eating at restaurants, which may linger in a world hyperfocused on disease transmission prevention, increasing the vulnerabilities to vehicle-based terrorism. Vehicle ramming attacks started to transition from a relatively rare method of attack to one of the most lethal forms of terrorism in Western countries just prior to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2. This study aims to provide a historical analysis of the terrorism-based attacks using vehicles between 1970 and 2019.

Methods

This study uses the methodology suggested by Tinet alin which the Global Terrorism Database hosted by the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism was searched retrospectively for data. Data was collected from the database using the internal search function for terror events between January 1, 1970 and December 31, 2019 which used a vehicle as a means of attack.

Results

There were 257 recorded terror attacks that involved some type of vehicle between 1970 and 2019. The attacks resulted in 808 fatalities and 1715 injuries when excluding the September 11 attacks. 76 events occurred at the West Bank and Gaza Strip, 25 in the USA, 16 in Israel, and 14 in the UK. Of the 257 terror incidents, 71% (183) occurred within the last 6-year span of inquiry.

Conclusion

By 2016, vehicle attacks were the most lethal form of attack comprising just over half of all terrorism-related deaths in that year. Large gatherings such as festivals, sporting events, and now outdoor seating at restaurants, leave a number of people highly vulnerable to a vehicle ramming attacks depending on established countermeasures. The increased prevalence of outdoor activities and gatherings in a post-COVID-19 world will further expose large numbers of people to the potential vulnerabilities of vehicle-based terrorism. The scale of the casualties from a vehicle-based terror attack can overwhelm traditional resources and strain the abilities of the healthcare sector. Counterterrorism and disaster medicine specialists are crucial players in educating first responders and emergency medicine providers, allowing them to adequately prepare for an evolving threat in a world devastated by COVID-19.

Level of evidence

VI.
Momentum transport properties of a hot and dense QCD matter in a weak magnetic field
Authors: Rath Shubhalaxmi , Dash Sadhana
Published: September 2022

We have studied the momentum transport properties of a hot and dense QCD matter in the presence of weak magnetic field by determining the shear ($$\eta $$
η
) and bulk ($$\zeta $$
ζ
) viscosities in the relaxation time approximation of kinetic theory. The dependence of $$\eta $$
η
and $$\zeta $$
ζ
on the temperature has been explored in the presence of weak magnetic field (B-field) and finite chemical potential ($$\mu $$
μ
). It is observed that both shear and bulk viscosities get decreased in the presence of a weak magnetic field, whereas the finite chemical potential increases these viscosities, specifically at low temperatures. This study is important to understand the sound attenuation through the Prandtl number (Pr), the nature of the flow through the Reynolds number (Re), the fluidity and location of transition point of the matter through the ratios $$\eta /s$$

η
/
s

and $$\zeta /s$$

ζ
/
s

(s is the entropy density), respectively. The Prandtl number is observed to increase in the weak magnetic field, whereas the presence of a finite chemical potential reduces its magnitude as compared to the scenario of absence of B-field and $$\mu $$
μ
. However, Pr still remains larger than unity, indicating that the energy dissipation due to the sound attenuation is mostly governed by the momentum diffusion. It is noticed that the weak magnetic field makes the Reynolds number larger, whereas the chemical potential makes it smaller than that in the absence of B-field and $$\mu $$
μ
. We have observed that the ratio $$\eta /s$$

η
/
s

decreases in the weak magnetic field regime, whereas the finite chemical potential increases its value, but the ratio $$\zeta /s$$

ζ
/
s

is found to decrease in the presence of weak magnetic field as well as finite chemical potential.
Symmetric wormholes in Einstein-vector–Gauss–Bonnet theory
Authors: Barton Simon , Kiefer Claus , Kleihaus Burkhard , Kunz Jutta
Published: September 2022

We construct wormholes in Einstein-vector–Gauss–Bonnet theory where a real massless vector field is coupled to the higher curvature Gauss–Bonnet invariant. We consider three coupling functions which depend on the square of the vector field. The respective domains of existence of wormholes possess as their boundaries (i) black holes, (ii) solutions with a singular throat, (iii) solutions with a degenerate throat and (iv) solutions with cusp singularities. Depending on the coupling function wormhole solutions can feature a single throat or an equator surrounded by a double throat. The wormhole solutions need a thin shell of matter at the throat, in order to be symmetrically continued into the second asymptotically flat region. These wormhole spacetimes allow for bound and unbound particle motion as well as light rings.
Schottky’s forgotten step to the Ising model
Authors: Folk Reinhard , Holovatch Yurij
Published: September 2022

A longstanding problem in natural science and later in physics was the understanding of the existence of ferromagnetism and its disappearance under heating to high temperatures. Although a qualitative description was possible by the Curie–Weiss theory, it was obvious that a microscopic model was necessary to explain the tendency of the elementary magnetons to prefer parallel ordering at low temperatures. Such a model was proposed in 1922 by Schottky within the old Bohr–Sommerfeld quantum mechanics and claimed to explain the high values of the Curie temperatures of certain ferromagnets. Based on this idea Ising formulated a new model for ferromagnetism in solids. Simultaneously the old quantum mechanics was replaced by new concepts of Heisenberg and Schrödinger and the discovery of spin. Thus Schottky’s idea was outperformed and finally replaced in 1928 by Heisenberg exchange interaction. This led to a reformulation of Ising’s model by Pauli at the Solvay conference in 1930. Nevertheless one might consider Schottky’s idea as a forerunner of this development explaining and asserting that the main point is the Coulomb energy leading to the essential interaction of neighboring elementary magnets.
Exciton states in metal halide perovskites under the effect of carrier-longitudinal optical phonon coupling
Authors: Liu Bao-Tong , Chen Ying-Jie
Published: September 2022

Exciton states are essential to comprehend the basal photoelectric properties in metal halide perovskites (MHPs) and provide reference for their future research, in which the exciton binding energy (EBE), determining the balance of the populations between excitons and free carriers, plays an important role in defining the optoelectronic utilization of MHPs. Thereby, we theoretically study the effects of bound potentials, due to the exciton coupling with the longitudinal optical (LO) phonon, between the electron and hole of the exciton on the EBE applying the variational method by using different effective potentials and two trail wavefunctions. We find that the EBE of this kind of materials is not only related to the chemical composition, but also remains inseparable from the space size, dielectric constant and LO-phonon energy, moreover, these correlations are better described by Barentzen potential. In addition, the results also show that the effects of carriers-LO-phonon coupling can explain the relationships between the EBE and exciton active range and effective Bohr radius to a certain extent, and can analyze their intrinsic correlation among these factors. These findings enable us to explain some experimental results and provide some help to understand optical electric dynamics in MHPs.
Group analysis, invariance results, exact solutions and conservation laws of the perturbed fractional Boussinesq equation
Authors: Lashkarian Elham , Motamednezhad Ahmad , Hejazi S. Reza
Published: September 2022

The scope of this work is based on symmetry analysis of perturbed fractional Boussinesq equation. For beginning the group formalism, invariance properties and conservation laws of the nonlinear perturbed fractional Boussinesq equation have been explored generally. This method was first described by Lukashchuk [Commun. Nonlinear Sci. Numer. Simul. 68 (2019) 147–159]. The key subject is that when the order of fractional derivative in a fractional differential equation (FDE) is nearly integers, we can approximate it to a perturbed integer-order differential equation with a small perturbation parameter. For obtaining the results, perturbed and unperturbed symmetries are computed. Then, the methodology of reduction is applied for finding some new solutions by the symmetry operators of the equation. These solutions are obtained by the similarity transformations of the symmetries. Another exact solution will be found with constructing one-dimensional optimal system of the symmetries. Finally, the meaning of nonlinear self-adjointness concept is attended in order to find conservation laws with informal Lagrangians.
Traversable wormholes solutions in f(ℛ,φ,χ) gravity under conformal symmetry
Authors: Ashraf Asifa , Javed Faisal , Zhang Zhiyue , Fatima Ghulam
Published: September 2022

The present analysis deals with the wormhole (WH) solutions in [Formula: see text] gravity, where [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] represent the Ricci scalar, kinetic expression and potential field, respectively. To complete this analysis, we use the WH geometry via spherical spacetime with the anisotropic matter distribution. Further, we consider the Gaussian distribution as non-commutative geometry to complete the analysis under conformal symmetry. We calculate the exact WH shape function by plugging the possible conformal Killing vectors. Further, we have discussed the embedded surface to understand the WH geometry. Furthermore, the Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff equation is considered to discuss the stability of WH configuration with the Gaussian energy density source.
Calculation of the Coulomb Self-Energy of a Spherical Surface with Uniform Surface Charge Density Using the Fourier Transform Method
Authors: Ciftja Orion
Published: September 2022

Undergraduate students in upper levels of physics or engineering programs learn the theory of Fourier series and integral transform method from mathematics courses. Nevertheless, they rarely see the application of such a method to solving problems in calculus-based physics courses that deal with topics such as electrostatics or magnetism. In this work, we illustrate the utility of the Fourier transform method by considering and solving via such a technique a representative problem that arises in electrostatics. The chosen case study is that of a spherical surface with uniform surface charge density and the calculation of its electrostatic Coulomb self-energy. By solving this problem by using the Fourier transform technique we also draw attention to the pedagogical aspects of the treatment. In particular, we stress the point that the Fourier transform method should be treated at more depth in calculus-based physics courses for undergraduate students.
FPGA Acceleration of Probabilistic Sentential Decision Diagrams with High-level Synthesis
Authors: Choi Young-Kyu , Santillana Carlos , Shen Yujia , Darwiche Adnan , Cong Jason
Published: September 2022

Probabilistic Sentential Decision Diagrams (PSDDs) provide efficient methods for modeling and reasoning with probability distributions in the presence of massive logical constraints. PSDDs can also be synthesized from graphical models such as Bayesian networks (BNs) therefore offering a new set of tools for performing inference on these models (in time linear in the PSDD size). Despite these favorable characteristics of PSDDs, we have found multiple challenges in PSDD’s FPGA acceleration. Problems include limited parallelism, data dependency, and small pipeline iterations. In this article, we propose several optimization techniques to solve these issues with novel pipeline scheduling and parallelization schemes. We designed the PSDD kernel with a high-level synthesis (HLS) tool for ease of implementation and verified it on the Xilinx Alveo U250 board. Experimental results show that our methods improve the baseline FPGA HLS implementation performance by 2,200X and the multicore CPU implementation by 20X. The proposed design also outperforms state-of-the-art BN and Sum Product Network (SPN) accelerators that store the graph information in memory.
We, um, have, like, a problem: excessive use of fillers in scientific speech
Authors: Seals Douglas R. , Coppock McKinley E.
Published: September 2022

Although many articles exist on the use of filler words during public speaking, to our knowledge this is the first comprehensive discussion of the issue in the context of scientific presentations and speech in biomedical research. This Personal View discusses the problem of excessive filler use, the underlying causes, and tips for reducing fillers based on a combination of available literature and personal advice from a laboratory with nearly 40 years of experience in mentoring.