bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical effectiveness of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir on the short‐ and long‐term outcome in high‐risk children with COVID‐19
Authors: Wu Jheng‐Yan , Chen Chia‐Chen , Liu Mei‐Yuan , Hsu Wan‐Hsuan , Tsai Ya‐Wen , Liu Ting‐Hui , Pin‐Chien Sung , Huang Po‐Yu , Chuang Min‐Hsiang , Lee Mei‐Chuan , Hung Kuo‐Chuan , Yu Tsung , Lai Chih‐Cheng
Published: May 2024

This study investigated the clinical effectiveness of nirmatrelvir plus ritonavir (NMV‐r) on short‐term outcome and the risk of postacute sequelae of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) infection (PASC) among pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). This retrospective cohort study used the TriNetX research network to identify pediatric patients between 12 and 18 years with COVID‐19 between January 1, 2022 and August 31, 2023. The propensity score matching (PSM) method was used to match patients receiving NMV‐r (NMV‐r group) with those who did not receive NMV‐r (control group). Two cohorts comprising 633 patients each (NMV‐r and control groups), with balanced baseline characteristics, were identified using the PSM method. During the initial 30 days, the NMV‐r group showed a lower incidence of all‐cause hospitalization, mortality, or ED visits (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.546, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.372–0.799, p = 0.002). Additionally, the NMV‐r group had a significantly lower risk of all‐cause hospitalization compared with the control group (HR = 0.463, 95% CI: 0.269–0.798), with no deaths occurring in either group. In the 30–180‐day follow‐up period, the NMV‐r group exhibited a non‐significantly lower incidence of post‐acute sequelae of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (PASC), encompassing symptoms such as fatigue, cardiopulmonary symptoms, pain, cognitive impairments, headache, dizziness, sleep disorders, anxiety, and depression, compared to the control group. This study underscores the potential effectiveness of NMV‐r in treating high‐risk pediatric patients with COVID‐19, demonstrating significant reductions in short‐term adverse outcomes such as emergency department visits, hospitalization, or mortality within the initial 30‐day period. Additionally, NMV‐r shows promise in potentially preventing the development of PASC.
Revisiting two indices measuring high‐frequency daily variability
Authors: Liu Qi , Fu Congbin , Xu Zhongfeng
Published: May 2024

High‐frequency daily variability (HFDV), as a fundamental aspect of climate variability, has drawn increasing attention due to its crucial impacts on public health, regional ecosystems and economic growth rates. The statistical metrics are of great importance to measure the changes in HFDV. In this study, we compared two common statistical metrics of monthly HFDV, including the standard deviation (SD) and the day‐to‐day difference (DTDx), for various variables (temperature, specific humidity and horizontal wind) using the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis dataset. Here, we show that the SD of daily variables includes mainly sub‐semiannual variability (<180 days), while DTDx can separate the synoptic variability (<12 days, DTD1), submonthly variability (<25 days, DTD3) and subseasonal variability (<60 days, DTD5) from other temporal scales. Moreover, a wider dominant timescale of DTDx causes a higher climatological mean and a closer relationship with SD. We also find that the linear trend in SD exhibits remarkable differences from that of the DTDx nearly all over the world, which can be explained by the significant change in the autocorrelation with different lag days under climate change. Our findings highlight that the DTDx is superior to SD in measuring HFDV, especially in a changing climate.
Thyroid Cancer Incidence Among Korean Individuals: A Comparison of South Korea and the United States
Authors: Kim Dohun , Li Guan , Moon Peter K. , Ma Yifei , Sim Soohyun , Park Sung Y. , Oh Minkyung , Megwalu Uchechukwu C.
Published: May 2024

Objective

To compare thyroid cancer incidence rates and trends between Korean, non‐Korean Asian, and non‐Hispanic White populations in the United States, and between the US Korean population and the South Korean population.

Method

Population‐based analysis of cancer incidence data. Cases of thyroid cancer diagnosed during 1999–2014 from the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 9 detailed Asian/Pacific Islander subgroup incidence and population dataset were included. Incidence rates were obtained from the datasets, and annual percent change (APC) of the incidence rates was calculated using Joinpoint regression analysis.

Results

Thyroid cancer incidence rate for 1999–2014 was significantly higher for South Korea (48.05 [95% CI 47.89–48.22] per 100,000 person‐years) than for the US Korean population (11.12 [95% CI 10.49–11.78] per 100,000 person‐years), which was slightly higher than the Non‐Korean Asian population (10.23 [95% CI 10.02–10.43] per 100,000 person‐years), and slightly lower than the Non‐Hispanic White population (12.78 [95% CI 12.69–12.87] per 100,000 person‐years). Incidence rates in South Korea increased dramatically (average APC 17.9, 95% CI 16.0–19.9), significantly higher than the US Korean population (average APC 5.0, 95% CI 3.1–6.8), which was similar to the non‐Korean Asian (average APC 2.5, 95% CI 0.9–4.2) and the non‐Hispanic White (average APC 5.1, 95% CI 4.7–5.6) populations.

Conclusions

South Korea's high thyroid cancer incidence rates cannot be attributed to genetic factors, but are likely due to health care system factors.

Level of Evidence

3 Laryngoscope, 134:4156–4160, 2024
A bridge between worlds: Embedding research in telepractice co‐design with disability community
Authors: Benz Cloe
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Co‐production approaches are increasingly being advocated for as a way of addressing the research translatory gap while including patient and public involvement in development of services they access, and particularly in disability service provision. Embedded research (ER) is a method which integrates the researcher within the target organization to better facilitate both co‐production of research outputs and the reduction of the research translation gap. The aim of this reflection is to better understand the commonalities and differences between ER in a disability context to accounts published in academic literature.

Method

A review of embedded researcher literature was completed in combination with a personal reflection of lived experience as an embedded researcher within a disability support service organization. The reflective process included review of research journal entries and other records of lived experience (photographs, audio recordings, drawings) maintained throughout the period in the role of embedded researcher. A reflexive thematic analysis process was used.

Results

I reflect throughout the article upon five themes which highlight both the commonalities between my experiences and those of other embedded researchers as well as instances where they differed. The five themes include (1) A knowledge bridge, (2) Considerations of positionality, (3) Ethical complexity, (4) Anticipating change, and (5) Existing in the in‐between together.

Conclusion

Experiences of ER appear to transcend the discipline in which the research is being embedded, and while the lived experience in a disability host organization was invaluable in facilitating a successful co‐produced research project, significant avenues for improvement exist in terms of ethical frameworks, methodological guidance, and communities of support.
Half‐life extension of single‐domain antibody–drug conjugates by albumin binding moiety enhances antitumor efficacy
Authors: Li Quanxiao , Kong Yu , Zhong Yuxuan , Huang Ailing , Ying Tianlei , Wu Yanling
Published: May 2024

Single‐domain antibody–drug conjugates (sdADCs) have been proven to have deeper solid tumor penetration and intratumor accumulation capabilities due to their smaller size compared with traditional IgG format ADCs. However, one of the key challenges for improving clinical outcomes of sdADCs is their abbreviated in vivo half‐life. In this study, we innovatively fused an antihuman serum albumin (αHSA) nanobody to a sdADCs targeting oncofetal antigen 5T4, conferring serum albumin binding to enhance the pharmacokinetic profiles of sdADCs. The fusion protein was conjugated with monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE) at s224c site mutation. The conjugate exhibited potent cytotoxicity against various tumor cells. Compared with the nonalbumin‐binding counterparts, the conjugate exhibited a 10‐fold extended half‐life in wild‐type mice and fivefold prolonged serum half‐life in BxPC‐3 xenograft tumor models as well as enhanced tumor accumulation and retention in mice. Consequently, n501–αHSA–MMAE showed potent antitumor effects, which were comparable to n501–MMAE in pancreatic cancer BxPC‐3 xenograft tumor models; however, in human ovarian teratoma PA‐1 xenograft tumor models, n501–αHSA–MMAE significantly improved antitumor efficacy. Moreover, the conjugate showed mitigated hepatotoxicity. In summary, our results suggested that fusion to albumin‐binding moiety as a viable strategy can enhance the therapeutic potential of sdADCs through optimized pharmacokinetics.
APA research examines substance use predictors in youth
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: May 2024

Sociodemographic factors are considered the most robust predictors — followed by cultural and environmental factors — of the likelihood of substance use initiation among youth according to a new study that examined substance use initiation predictors and was published in the May issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.
MHFA pilot in correctional setting benefits COs, inmates
Authors: Canady Valerie A.
Published: May 2024

Observing the need and opportunity for corrections officers to effectively respond to at‐risk inmates experiencing a mental health crisis, Rutgers Health researchers, with the assistance of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing, conducted a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) pilot program in a prison setting. The evidence‐based intervention was aimed at corrections officers (COs), who are considered to be the first line of response in a correctional setting.
Qatar's National Mental Health Study—The World Mental Health Qatar
Authors: Khaled Salma Mawfek , Al‐Abdulla Majid , Tulley Iain , Al‐Thani Sheik Mohammed , Woodruff Peter W.
Published: May 2024

Background

We provide an overview of Qatar's first epidemiological study on prevalence, predictors, and treatment contact for mood and anxiety disorders.

Aims

We highlight the importance of the three‐pronged study, its aims, and its key components.

Materials & Methods

The first component comprised a probability‐based representative survey of Qatari and non‐Qatari (Arab) adult males and females recruited from the general population and interviewed using the International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI version 3.3). The second component, a clinical reappraisal study, assessed concordance between diagnoses based on the CIDI and independent clinical assessments conducted by trained clinical interviewers. The third component comprised a resting‐state functional magnetic resonance imaging study of healthy survey respondents who were matched to patients with psychosis.

Results

5000 survey interviews provided data on prevalence and treatment of common mental disorders. Clinical re‐interviews (N = 485) provided important diagnostic validity data. Finally, state‐of‐the art structural and functional brain markers for psychosis were also collected (N = 100).

Discussion

Descriptive epidemiological data were collected to inform future mental health priorities in Qatar and situates these within a global context.

Conclusion

The study fills important gaps in regional and global estimates and establish necessary baseline to develop comprehensive risk estimates for mental health in Qatar’s young population.
Twelve‐month prevalence, persistence, severity, and treatment of mood and anxiety disorders in Qatar's national mental health study
Authors: Khaled Salma M. , Al‐Thani Sheik Mohammed , Sampson Nancy A. , Kessler Ronald C. , Woodruff Peter W. , Alabdulla Majid
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To estimate 12‐month prevalence, persistence, severity, and treatment of mental disorders and socio‐demographic correlates in Qatar.

Methods

We conducted the first national population‐based telephone survey of Arab adults between 2019 and 2022 using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview and estimated 12‐month DSM‐5 mood and anxiety disorders and their persistence (the proportion of lifetime cases who continue to meet 12‐month criteria).

Results

The 12‐month prevalence of any disorder was 21.1% (10.4% mild, 38.7% moderate, and 50.9% severe) and was associated with: younger age, female, previously married, and with persistence of any disorder. Persistence was 74.7% (64.0% mood and 75.6% anxiety) and was significantly associated with secondary education or lower. Minimally adequate treatment received among those with any 12‐month mental disorder was 10.6% (74.6% in healthcare and 64.6% non‐healthcare sectors). Severity and the number of disorders significantly associated with each other and with treatment received (χ
2 = 7.24, p = 0.027) including adequate treatment within the mental health specialty sector (χ
2 = 21.42, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Multimorbidity and sociodemographics were associated with 12‐month mental disorder. Treatment adequacy in Qatar are comparable to high‐income countries. Low treatment contact indicate need for population‐wide mental health literacy programes in addition to more accessible and effective mental health services.
SPICER: Self‐supervised learning for MRI with automatic coil sensitivity estimation and reconstruction
Authors: Hu Yuyang , Gan Weijie , Ying Chunwei , Wang Tongyao , Eldeniz Cihat , Liu Jiaming , Chen Yasheng , An Hongyu , Kamilov Ulugbek S.
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To introduce a novel deep model‐based architecture (DMBA), SPICER, that uses pairs of noisy and undersampled k‐space measurements of the same object to jointly train a model for MRI reconstruction and automatic coil sensitivity estimation.

Methods

SPICER consists of two modules to simultaneously reconstructs accurate MR images and estimates high‐quality coil sensitivity maps (CSMs). The first module, CSM estimation module, uses a convolutional neural network (CNN) to estimate CSMs from the raw measurements. The second module, DMBA‐based MRI reconstruction module, forms reconstructed images from the input measurements and the estimated CSMs using both the physical measurement model and learned CNN prior. With the benefit of our self‐supervised learning strategy, SPICER can be efficiently trained without any fully sampled reference data.

Results

We validate SPICER on both open‐access datasets and experimentally collected data, showing that it can achieve state‐of‐the‐art performance in highly accelerated data acquisition settings (up to ). Our results also highlight the importance of different modules of SPICER—including the DMBA, the CSM estimation, and the SPICER training loss—on the final performance of the method. Moreover, SPICER can estimate better CSMs than pre‐estimation methods especially when the ACS data is limited.

Conclusion

Despite being trained on noisy undersampled data, SPICER can reconstruct high‐quality images and CSMs in highly undersampled settings, which outperforms other self‐supervised learning methods and matches the performance of the well‐known E2E‐VarNet trained on fully sampled ground‐truth data.
Effect of particle size on liver MRI R2* relaxometry: Monte Carlo simulation and phantom studies
Authors: Li Xiaoben , Wang Changqing , Huang Jinhong , Reeder Scott B. , Hernando Diego
Published: May 2024

Purpose

To investigate the effect of particle size on liver by Monte Carlo simulation and phantom studies at both 1.5 T and 3.0 T.

Methods

Two kinds of particles (i.e., iron sphere and fat droplet) with varying sizes were considered separately in simulation and phantom studies. MRI signals were synthesized and analyzed for predicting , based on simulations by incorporating virtual liver model, particle distribution, magnetic field generation, and proton movement into phase accrual. In the phantom study, iron‐water and fat‐water phantoms were constructed, and each phantom contained 15 separate vials with combinations of five particle concentrations and three particle sizes. measurements in the phantom were made at both 1.5 T and 3.0 T. Finally, differences in predictions or measurements were evaluated across varying particle sizes.

Results

In the simulation study, strong linear and positively correlated relationships were observed between predictions and particle concentrations across varying particle sizes and magnetic field strengths (). The relationships were affected by iron sphere size (), where smaller iron sphere size yielded higher predicted , whereas fat droplet size had no effect on predictions () for constant total fat concentration. Similarly, the phantom study showed that measurements were relatively sensitive to iron sphere size () unlike fat droplet size ().

Conclusion

Liver is affected by iron sphere size, but is relatively unaffected by fat droplet size. These findings may lead to an improved understanding of the underlying mechanisms of relaxometry in vivo, and enable improved quantitative MRI phantom design.
The impact of pregnancy and childbirth on stress urinary incontinence in women previously submitted to mid‐urethral sling: A systematic review and metanalysis
Authors: Ruffolo Alessandro Ferdinando , Lallemant Marine , Garabedian Charles , Deseure Aurore , Kerbage Yohan , Rubod Chrystèle , Cosson Michel
Published: May 2024

Introduction

There is no guideline or clinical consensus concerning the mid‐urethral sling (MUS) operation for stress urinary incontinence (SUI) and future pregnancies. The aim of this systematic review and metanalysis is to evaluate the impact of pregnancy and of delivery on SUI in women who previously sustained a MUS surgery.

Methods

We performed a systematic review and meta‐analysis, according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guidelines, and selected seven publications for inclusion in the analysis.

Results

Recurrence of SUI after childbirth in women previously submitted to MUS was 22% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 18.0%−26.0%; I2 = 0%) while the reintervention rate for SUI the 5% (95% CI: 2.0%−8.0%; I2 = 47.34%) in the included studies. There was not statistically significant difference between women who delivered (both vaginally and by caesarian section) or not after MUS in SUI recurrence (RR 1.01, 95% CI 0.73−1.40; p = 0.96 and I2—test of 41% p = 0.18) and in SUI reintervention (RR 1.45, 95% CI 0.91−2.30; p = 0.12 and I2—test of 0% p = 0.38) with homogeneity among studies. There was no difference between women who delivered vaginally or by caesarian section both for recurrence of SUI (RR 1.24, 95%CI 0.77‐2.01; p = 0.37 and I2—test of 0% p = 0.60) and reintervention (RR 1.61, 95% CI 0.76−3.42; p = 0.22 and I2—test of 0% p = 0.47). BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, urinary incontinence (UI) before and during pregnancy emerged as risk factors for postpartum UI relapse.

Conclusion

Childbirth do not affect SUI relapse or reintervention in women previously submitted to MUS. In the same population of patients, no difference was highlighted concerning the mode of delivery for the outcome SUI relapse or reintervention. Previous MUS surgery may not be an appropriate indication for cesarean birth in subsequent pregnancy.
Privacy‐protected object detection through trustworthy image fusion
Authors: Zhang Chao , Zhang Jinmei , Yun Lijun , Zhang Jun , Su Junbo
Published: May 2024

The neural network‐based technologies have emerged as a potent method for image fusion, object detection, and other computer vision tasks as the rapid development of deep learning. Multi‐band infrared images, in particular, capture a more extensive range of radiation details and information compared to conventional single‐band infrared images. Consequently, the fusion of multi‐band infrared images can provide more features for object detection. However, it is crucial to consider that infrared images may contain sensitive information, potentially leading to privacy concerns. Ensuring datasets privacy protection plays a crucial role in the fusion and tracking process. To address both the need for improved detection performance and the necessity for privacy protection in the infrared environment, we proposed a procedure for object detection based on multi‐band infrared image datasets and utilized the transfer learning technique to migrate knowledge learned from external infrared data to internal infrared data, thereby training the infrared image fusion model and detection model. The procedure consists of several steps: (1) data preprocessing of multi‐band infrared images, (2) multi‐band infrared image fusion, and (3) object detection. Standard evaluation metrics for image fusion and object detection ensure the authenticity of the experiments. The comprehensive validation experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed procedure in object detection tasks. Furthermore, the transfer learning can train our datasets and update the model without exposing the original data. This aspect of transfer learning is particularly beneficial for maintaining the privacy of multi‐band infrared images during the fusion and detection processes.
Clinical and patient reported outcomes using autologous fibrin sealant as adjunct to diode light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation‐assisted gingival depigmentation: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Krishna Duddukuri Murali , Sruthima Gottumukkala NVS , Penmetsa Gautami S. , Ramesh Konathala SV , Kumar Pasupuleti Mohan , Beldhi Manisha
Published: May 2024

Background

Gingival depigmentation is quite an invasive procedure and often results in healing by secondary intention, postoperative morbidity, and repigmentation. Autologous fibrin sealant (AFS), a platelet concentrate commonly used due to its adhesive nature and presence of growth factors, has shown good clinical results and improved healing with anti‐inflammatory properties. Hence, the current study aims to evaluate clinical outcomes and patient reported outcomes (PROs) with the adjunctive use of AFS along with Diode light amplification by stimulated emission of radiation (LASER) in gingival depigmentation.

Methodology

This was a randomized double blinded split mouth clinical trial including 10 participants (six females and four males) in age range of 20 to 50 years with gingival hyperpigmentation (Dummet's index 2–3). Test (AFS) and control (no AFS [N‐AFS]) groups received Diode LASER depigmentation with and without adjunctive application of AFS, respectively, along with periodontal dressing. Clinical outcomes assessed were postoperative healing (Landry healing index) and repigmentation. PROs were patient comfort and aesthetics. Healing was assessed at 7 and 15 days and 1 month postoperatively. Repigmentation was assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. Patient comfort was assessed immediately after surgery and 1 week postoperatively using visual analog scale (VAS). Aesthetics was assessed at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively using VAS.

Results

Better early postoperative healing was found at 1 (4.7 ± 0.516, p = 0.043) and 2 weeks (5.0 ± 0.0, p = 0.048) postoperatively in AFS group. No significant difference between the groups was observed in postoperative discomfort, that is, AFS‐1.4 ± 0.516 and N‐AFS‐1.7 ± 0.483 (p = 0.591), aesthetic satisfaction (AFS‐0.1 ± 0.316, N‐AFS‐0.3 ± 0.483, p = 0.168), and repigmentation (p = 0.00).

Conclusion

The use of autologous fibrin sealant as adjunct to Diode LASER‐assisted depigmentation in the treatment of gingival pigmentation showed improved clinical outcomes in terms of postoperative healing.
Emerging in‐migration of urban young adults engaging in rural tourism in China
Authors: Tang Shuang Shuang , Zhou Jing , Liu Yi
Published: May 2024

During the rapid urbanisation of China in recent decades, a vast proportion of the labour force left rural hometowns to find employment in cities. In the context of rural revitalisation and tourism development in China, rural tourism is booming, bringing many tourism‐related jobs to the countryside. As a result, some young urban adults have moved to work in rural areas. Based on in‐depth interviews in Su village in Nanjing, China, this study seeks to investigate the motivations of those who choose to work in the countryside and the connections between this and stages in the life course of urbanites in the 90s generation, a cohort that is quite distinct from older cohorts. This study finds that the motivations of these younger workers range from career development and cost reduction to a preference for a rural lifestyle. Engaging in tourism‐related work in rural areas is associated with two life courses (work career and individual/family pathway). This study also finds that the cohort working rural tourism in rural areas is differentiated: while some pursue career development, others aim to escape certain pressures and obligations by ‘lying flat’ in the more congenial rural setting where living costs are lower than in cities. Pro‐tourism rural areas, with an acceptable distance from cities, become valuable places for these youth to resist or balance their life in front of increasingly competitive urban life during their adult transitional period.
A mediastinum‐tumour‐like pulmonary arteriovenous malformation with association to the pulmonary artery treated with surgical resection
Authors: Huang Yung‐Chia , Hsieh Chen‐En , Hsie Yei‐San , Lee Shih‐Wei
Published: May 2024

Key message

Despite embolization being now considered the preferred treatment for PAVM, surgical intervention may be considered if the malformation involves large vessels.
Establishment of chemical fingerprint and determination of main active ingredients in Centellae Herba by HPLC combined with multivariate chemometrics analysis
Authors: Yu Duan , Zhongjing Guo , Zhimin Zhao , Depo Yang , xinjun Xu
Published: May 2024

In this paper, a simple and efficient high‐performance liquid chromatography method was established to analyze the chemical composition fingerprint of Centellae Herba (CHA) and determine five triterpenoid active components in CHA, namely, asiaticoside B (AB), madecassoside, asiaticoside, madecasic acid, and asiaticoic acid. The separation of the compounds was carried out on an XD‐C18 column (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5 µm), the wavelength of the ultraviolet detector was set to 205 nm, and the mobile phase was composed of acetonitrile −0.05% phosphoric acid, 2 mmol/L β‐cyclodextrin aqueous solution, and gradient elution at the flow rate of 1.0 mL/min. A general chromatographic fingerprint consisting of 20 characteristic peaks of 18 batches of CHA samples was established, and the samples were classified and evaluated by similarity analysis, hierarchical cluster analysis, and principal component analysis combined with multivariate econometric analysis. In quantitative analysis, all calibration curves showed good linear regression in the test range (r > 0.999), the average recovery was 96.12%–104.63%, and the relative standard deviations of repeatability and stability were less than 2.00%. The results show that the method is accurate and effective and can be used for the comprehensive quality control of CHA.
Two genotoxic impurities of sulfonate esters in Posaconazole: Synthesis, method validation and mechanism of action
Authors: Li Fangzhen , Liu Weifeng , Zheng Kangle , Luo Hengzhen
Published: May 2024

Sulfonate esters are a class of organic impurities that includes highly potent mutagenic substances that typically need to be controlled down to a low ppm level in pharmaceutical development. In this work, two genotoxic impurities of sulfonate esters in Posaconazole, for example, ((3S,5R)‐5‐((1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)methyl)‐5‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)tetrahydrofuran‐3‐yl)methyl‐4‐methylbenzenesulfonate and (2S,3S)‐3‐ (4‐(4‐(4‐(4‐(((3R,5R)‐5‐((1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)methyl)‐5‐(2,4‐difluorophenyl)tetrahydrofuran‐3‐yl)methoxy)phenyl)piperazin‐1‐yl)phenyl)‐5‐oxo‐4,5‐dihydro‐1H‐1,2,4‐triazol‐1‐yl)pentan‐2‐yl‐4‐methylbenzenesulfonate, were synthesized and characterized. The genotoxicity which was evaluated by two (quantitative) structure‐activity relationships prediction methodologies showed positive. Furthermore, a novel high‐performance liquid chromatography‐tandem mass spectrometry limit test method for detecting these two impurities in Posaconazole has been established and validated. The chromatographic separation of analytes was conducted on an ACQUITY BEH C18 column, and performed with 0.05% methanoic acid‐water and 0.05% methanoic acid‐acetonitrile as mobile phases A and B, respectively. Six batches of commercial‐scale Posaconazole samples were detected by the validated method and the results were in accordance with the Food and Drug Administration acceptance criteria for the genotoxic impurities in drug substances. Finally, a tentative mechanism for these two impurities was proposed, they are generally accepted to undergo an SN2‐type reaction, resulting in 7‐methylguanine as the predominant adduct in double‐stranded DNA.
Tornado‐induced vibration assessment of construction elevator attached to high‐rise buildings
Authors: He Zheng , Gao Maoxing , Liang Tian , Lai Xiao , Lu Yi , Pan Feng
Published: May 2024

As one of major construction facilities, the safety concern about elevator outer‐attached to slender high‐rise buildings during construction needs to be seriously addressed. To specifically identify the risk of such slender building–elevator systems in extreme tornado wind field, a safety assessment strategy using the critical velocity envelope is systematically developed. To overcome the difficulties in modeling such building–elevator system, a modified generalized flexural‐shear model developed previously was employed to reach an efficient estimate on the response of a case high‐rise building under simulated tornado wind excitations. To account for the effect of the flexibility of high‐rise building on the response of its attached construction elevator, the response of the elevator was obtained by finite element analysis with applied wind forces, as well as the displacement excitations at its supports with the building. To simulate the typical failure modes of elevator in all states, some critical reference velocity‐based envelopes were generated for the safety assessment where the factors of wind velocity, wind direction, and cage level are systematically addressed. The safety envelopes of the building–elevator system were proved to be instinctively efficient for the assessment of its wind resistance under various scenarios.
Unveiling the potential of Satureja calamintha nepeta: A study on its phytochemical composition and antibacterial activity
Authors: Hayani Mouhcine , Benabbouha Tariq , Nachit Wafaa , Byadi Said , Chefira Khalil , Aboulmouhajir Aziz , Tounsi Abdessamad , Zair Touriya
Published: May 2024

Satureja calamintha nepeta is a plant native to northwestern Morocco. The purpose of this investigation is to identify the chemical composition and evaluate the antibacterial of the essential oil extracted from this plant. Firstly, a quality inspection of the plant was carried out to quantify its level of metals, especially the heavier ones, using the ICP technique. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry was used to characterize the chemical composition of essential oil. The chromatogram analysis shows the presence of 27 compounds, that is, 99.2% of the essential oil, with 1,8‐cineole (34.34%) and cis‐pinocamphone (11.87%) being the most significant. The antibacterial effectiveness of the essential oil was tested using the disc diffusion method against 6 gram‐positive and gram‐negative pathogens. The essential oil shows strong activity against Escherichia coli and Escherichia vekanda strains, with an MIC value of about 2.80 µg/mL. The authors were benefited from the modeling technique to better understand the antibacterial activity.
Evaluation of vat blue removal by Aspergillus niger using scanning electron microscopy and glucose oxidase enzyme activity
Authors: Lira Pérez Juana , Figueroa Estrada Juan Carlos , García Rivero Mayola , Rodríguez Vázquez Refugio
Published: May 2024

The use of fungi to reduce dye removal in water from diverse industries can be an efficient option for solving environmental problems. However, the mycoremediation processes involved in color removal are unknown. In this article, Aspergillus niger CDBB‐H‐175 was applied for vat blue discoloration (DC). Hence, inactive biomass by two methods (metabolic inhibitor and heat) and active biomass were studied by scanning electron microscopy and enzyme activities to determine the vat blue DC. When using active biomass, 62% of DC, glucose oxidase (GOX) enzyme activity, 1.19 U/mL and 1.43 mg/L of H2O2 were obtained. It was observed that 68% of DC was due to the degradation process and 32% was due to biomass sorption. When the biomass was inactivated with sodium azide, DC increased by 90% (1.45‐fold), low GOX activity (0.138 U/mL), and H2O2 (0.25 mg/L) were detected. High DC might be due to a high dye sorption in hyphae, since an increase in the thickness and morphology of the hyphae were observed by SEM. Inactivated biomass through heating, showed a 69.5% of DC, where 0.01 U/mL GOX and 0.25 mg/L H2O2 were reached, demonstrating that inactivation of A. niger biomass by sodium azide can be considered as an alternative treatment for colored wastewater.
Vulvar oedema secondary to exogenous oestrogen exposure in a paediatric canine patient
Authors: May Natasha , McLean Louise , Pitorri Francesca , Baptista Lara
Published: May 2024

A 12‐week‐old, female, entire miniature dachshund presented with a 3‐week history of progressive vulval enlargement with an associated clear serous sanguinolent discharge. Vulval oedema was noted on clinical exam. Further investigations included a complete cell count, computer tomography and a guarded vaginal swab, which revealed vaginal epithelial cell keratinisation. After thorough anamnesis, the clinical signs were concluded to be a result of exogenous oestrogen exposure.
Philosophy of psychiatry: theoretical advances and clinical implications
Authors: Stein Dan J. , Nielsen Kris , Hartford Anna , Gagné‐Julien Anne‐Marie , Glackin Shane , Friston Karl , Maj Mario , Zachar Peter , Aftab Awais
Published: May 2024

Work at the intersection of philosophy and psychiatry has an extensive and influential history, and has received increased attention recently, with the emergence of professional associations and a growing literature. In this paper, we review key advances in work on philosophy and psychiatry, and their related clinical implications. First, in understanding and categorizing mental disorder, both naturalist and normativist considerations are now viewed as important – psychiatric constructs necessitate a consideration of both facts and values. At a conceptual level, this integrative view encourages moving away from strict scientism to soft naturalism, while in clinical practice this facilitates both evidence‐based and values‐based mental health care. Second, in considering the nature of psychiatric science, there is now increasing emphasis on a pluralist approach, including ontological, explanatory and value pluralism. Conceptually, a pluralist approach acknowledges the multi‐level causal interactions that give rise to psychopathology, while clinically it emphasizes the importance of a broad range of “difference‐makers”, as well as a consideration of “lived experience” in both research and practice. Third, in considering a range of questions about the brain‐mind, and how both somatic and psychic factors contribute to the development and maintenance of mental disorders, conceptual and empirical work on embodied cognition provides an increasingly valuable approach. Viewing the brain‐mind as embodied, embedded and enactive offers a conceptual approach to the mind‐body problem that facilitates the clinical integration of advances in both cognitive‐affective neuroscience and phenomenological psychopathology.
Writing an abstract
Authors: Herbst Elmar , Kopf Sebastian ,   the AGA Research Committee
Published: May 2024

Abstracts are the most important part of a manuscript as they are the most widely read. In general, unstructured abstracts must be differentiated from structured abstracts. While the latter follow a clear and obvious structure (e.g., background, aim, methods, results, conclusion), unstructured abstracts are basically written the same way but without this obvious structure. Abstracts are generally written in past tense and the third person, and must follow the instructions provided by each journal or conference. Importantly, the key message of the abstract should align to the main manuscript and should not contain any other or irrelevant information. In this manuscript, for each section of an abstract, tips and tricks are provided for preparing an abstract.
Cyanobacterial Biocrust on Biomineralized Soil Mitigates Freeze–Thaw Effects and Preserves Structure and Ecological Functions
Authors: Kimura Keiichi , Okuro Toshiya
Published: May 2024

Biocrust inoculation and microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) are tools used in restoring degraded arid lands. It remains unclear whether the ecological functions of the two tools persist when these methods are combined and subjected to freeze–thaw (FT) cycles. We hypothesized a synergetic interaction between MICP treatment and biocrust under FT cycles, which would allow both components to retain their ecological functions. We grew cyanobacterial (Nostoc commune) biocrusts on bare soil and on MICP (Sporosarcina pasteurii)-treated soil, subjecting them to repeated FT cycles simulating the Mongolian climate. Generalized linear modeling revealed that FT cycling did not affect physical structure or related functions but could increase the productivity and reduce the nutrient condition of the crust. The results confirm the high tolerance of MICP-treated soil and biocrust to FT cycling. MICP treatment + biocrust maintained higher total carbohydrate content under FT stress. Our study indicates that biocrust on biomineralized soil has a robust enough structure to endure FT cycling during spring and autumn and to promote restoration of degraded lands.
Heterologous expression and structure prediction of a xylanase identified from a compost metagenomic library
Authors: Sousa Joana , Santos-Pereira Cátia , Gomes Joana S. , Costa Ângela M. A. , Santos Andréia O. , Franco-Duarte Ricardo , Linhares João M. M. , Sousa Sérgio F. , Silvério Sara C. , Rodrigues Lígia R.
Published: May 2024

Xylanases are key biocatalysts in the degradation of the β‐1,4‐glycosidic linkages in the xylan backbone of hemicellulose. These enzymes are potentially applied in a wide range of bioprocessing industries under harsh conditions. Metagenomics has emerged as powerful tools for the bioprospection and discovery of interesting bioactive molecules from extreme ecosystems with unique features, such as high temperatures. In this study, an innovative combination of function-driven screening of a compost metagenomic library and automatic extraction of halo areas with in-house MATLAB functions resulted in the identification of a promising clone with xylanase activity (LP4). The LP4 clone proved to be an effective xylanase producer under submerged fermentation conditions. Sequence and phylogenetic analyses revealed that the xylanase, Xyl4, corresponded to an endo-1,4-β-xylanase belonging to glycosyl hydrolase family 10 (GH10). When xyl4 was expressed in Escherichia coli BL21(DE3), the enzyme activity increased about 2-fold compared to the LP4 clone. To get insight on the interaction of the enzyme with the substrate and establish possible strategies to improve its activity, the structure of Xyl4 was predicted, refined, and docked with xylohexaose. Our data unveiled, for the first time, the relevance of the amino acids Glu133 and Glu238 for catalysis, and a close inspection of the catalytic site suggested that the replacement of Phe316 by a bulkier Trp may improve Xyl4 activity. Our current findings contribute to enhancing the catalytic performance of Xyl4 towards industrial applications.

Key points

• A GH10 endo-1,4-β-xylanase (Xyl4) was isolated from a compost metagenomic library

• MATLAB’s in-house functions were developed to identify the xylanase-producing clones

• Computational analysis showed that Glu133 and Glu238 are crucial residues for catalysis

Graphical abstract
Deep learning-driven automated quality assessment of ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography images for diabetic retinopathy
Authors: Jin Yixiao , Gui Fu , Chen Minghao , Chen Xiang , Li Haoxuan , Zhang Jingfa
Published: May 2024

Image quality assessment (IQA) of fundus images constitutes a foundational step in automated disease analysis. This process is pivotal in supporting the automation of screening, diagnosis, follow-up, and related academic research for diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study introduced a deep learning-based approach for IQA of ultra-widefield optical coherence tomography angiography (UW-OCTA) images of patients with DR. Given the novelty of ultra-widefield technology, its limited prevalence, the high costs associated with equipment and operational training, and concerns regarding ethics and patient privacy, UW-OCTA datasets are notably scarce. To address this, we initially pre-train a vision transformer (ViT) model on a dataset comprising 6 mm × 6 mm OCTA images, enabling the model to acquire a fundamental understanding of OCTA image characteristics and quality indicators. Subsequent fine-tuning on 12 mm × 12 mm UW-OCTA images aims to enhance accuracy in quality assessment. This transfer learning strategy leverages the generic features learned during pre-training and adjusts the model to evaluate UW-OCTA image quality effectively. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed method achieves superior performance compared to ResNet18, ResNet34, and ResNet50, with an AUC of 0.9026 and a Kappa value of 0.7310. Additionally, ablation studies, including the omission of pre-training on 6 mm × 6 mm OCTA images and the substitution of the backbone network with the ViT base version, resulted in varying degrees of decline in AUC and Kappa values, confirming the efficacy of each module within our methodology.
Light competition drives species replacement during secondary tropical forest succession
Authors: Matsuo Tomonari , Martínez-Ramos Miguel , Onoda Yusuke , Bongers Frans , Lohbeck Madelon , Poorter Lourens
Published: May 2024

Light competition is thought to drive successional shifts in species dominance in closed vegetations, but few studies have assessed this for species-rich and vertically structured tropical forests. We analyzed how light competition drives species replacement during succession, and how cross-species variation in light competition strategies is determined by underlying species traits. To do so, we used chronosequence approach in which we compared 14 Mexican tropical secondary rainforest stands that differ in age (8–32 year-old). For each tree, height and stem diameter were monitored for 2 years to calculate relative biomass growth rate (RGR, the aboveground biomass gain per unit aboveground tree biomass per year). For each stand, 3D light profiles were measured to estimate individuals’ light interception to calculate light interception efficiency (LIE, intercepted light per unit biomass per year) and light use efficiency (LUE, biomass growth per intercepted light). Throughout succession, species with higher RGR attained higher changes in species dominance and thus increased their dominance over time. Both light competition strategies (LIE and LUE) increased RGR. In early succession, a high LIE and its associated traits (large crown leaf mass and low wood density) are more important for RGR. During succession, forest structure builds up, leading to lower understory light levels. In later succession, a high LUE and its associated traits (high wood density and leaf mass per area) become more important for RGR. Therefore, successional changes in relative importance of light competition strategies drive shifts in species dominance during tropical rainforest succession.
Iterative method for large-scale Timoshenko beam models assessed on commercial-grade paperboard
Authors: Görtz Morgan , Kettil Gustav , Målqvist Axel , Fredlund Mats , Edelvik Fredrik
Published: May 2024

Large-scale structural simulations based on micro-mechanical models of paper products require extensive numerical resources and time. In such models, the fibrous material is often represented by connected beams. Whereas previous micro-mechanical simulations have been restricted to smaller sample problems, large-scale micro-mechanical models are considered here. These large-scale simulations are possible on a non-specialized desktop computer with 128GB of RAM using an iterative method developed for network models and based on domain decomposition. Moreover, this method is parallelizable and is also well-suited for computational clusters. In this work, the proposed memory-efficient iterative method is numerically validated for linear systems resulting from large networks of Timoshenko beams. Tensile stiffness and out-of-plane bending stiffness are simulated and validated for various commercial-grade three-ply paperboards consisting of layers composed of two different types of paper fibers. The results of these simulations show that a linear network model produces results consistent with theory and published experimental data
Sorgebeziehungen in der Betreuung pflegebedürftiger Menschen durch migrantische Live-Ins: Ein Blick durch die Brille der Care-Ethik
Authors: Seidlein Anna-Henrikje , Kuhn Eva , Kohlen Helen
Published: May 2024

Migrantische Pflege- und Betreuungskräfte, die zusammen mit pflegebedürftigen Menschen in ihren Haushalten leben (sog. migrantische Live-Ins), sind eine tragende Säule der ambulanten Langzeitpflege in zahlreichen Ländern – so auch in Deutschland. Zur Arbeits- und Lebenssituation der Live-Ins liegen inzwischen zahlreiche empirische Untersuchungen vor, die damit einhergehende Problemlagen offenbaren. Ein Schlüsselelement der Live-In Arrangements, nämlich die Beziehungen zwischen den Involvierten, wurde bislang jedoch aus ethischer Perspektive noch nicht systematisch untersucht.

Aufbauend auf sozio-empirischen Arbeiten, die die Bedeutung von „Care-Networks“ dargelegt haben, gehen wir von der Annahme aus, dass Live-Ins auf verschiedenen Ebenen in ein Netz von Beziehungen eingebettet sind, die für ihre Arbeits- und Lebenssituation wesentlich sind. Mit Hilfe der vier Care-Phasen Joan Trontos werden in diesem Beitrag bestehende Abhängigkeiten beschrieben und anhand der korrespondierenden vier ethischen Dimensionen reflektiert. Zentral sind die Fragen, wie sich die Abhängigkeiten im Live-In Arrangement auf der Basis des bisherigen Korpus empirischer Studien charakterisieren lassen und wie die Beziehungsstrukturen mit Fokus auf die Elemente Macht, Abhängigkeit und Vertrauen in der Care-ethischen Reflexion eingeordnet werden können.

Auf der Basis dieser Analyse zeigt sich, dass die aus der Gleichzeitigkeit verschiedener Formen von Asymmetrie und gegenseitiger Abhängigkeit resultierende Ambivalenz in Live-In Arrangements allgegenwärtig ist und scheinbar widersprüchliche Beziehungsformen und Emotionen entstehen lässt. Die Verantwortlichkeiten der Beteiligten füreinander sind vage und werden auf der Grundlage impliziter Annahmen und problematischer Rollenerwartungen ständig neu ausgehandelt und auch ohne Aushandlung zugewiesen.

Es gilt künftig, nicht nur auf der Mikroebene des einzelnen häuslichen Pflegearrangements Verantwortlichkeiten aus den unterschiedlichen Positionen und Rollen heraus und mit Blick auf die changierenden Prozesse der Sorgebeziehungen besser zu verstehen und zu klären, sondern sich ebenfalls auf der Meso- und Makroebene – bereichert durch Care-ethische Perspektiven – den drängenden ethischen Fragen und Problemen in Live-In Arrangements zu stellen.