bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Data from Targeting Tumor-Associated Sialic Acids Using Chimeric Switch Receptors Based on Siglec-9 Enhances the Antitumor Efficacy of Engineered T Cells
Authors: Eisenberg Vasyl , Hoogi Shiran , Katzman Erel , Ben Haim Nimrod , Zur-Toledano Raphaelle , Radman Maria , Reboh Yishai , Zadok Oranit , Kamer Iris , Bar Jair , Sagi Irit , Hendel Ayal , Cohen Cyrille J.
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Cancer exploits different mechanisms to escape T-cell immunosurveillance, including overexpression of checkpoint ligands, secretion of immunosuppressive molecules, and aberrant glycosylation. Herein, we report that IFNγ, a potent immunomodulator secreted in the tumor microenvironment, can induce α2,6 hypersialylation in cancer cell lines derived from various histologies. We focused on Siglec-9, a receptor for sialic acid moieties, and demonstrated that the Siglec-9+ T-cell population displayed reduced effector function. We speculated that Siglec-9 in primary human T cells can act as a checkpoint molecule and demonstrated that knocking out Siglec-9 using a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/Cas9 system enhanced the functionality of primary human T cells. Finally, we aimed to augment cancer-specific T-cell activity by taking advantage of tumor hypersialylation. Thus, we designed several Siglec-9–based chimeric switch receptors (CSR), which included an intracellular moiety derived from costimulatory molecules (CD28/41BB) and different hinge regions. In an antigen-specific context, T cells transduced with Siglec-9 CSRs demonstrated increased cytokine secretions and upregulation of activation markers. Moreover, T cells equipped with specific Siglec-9 CSRs mediated robust antitumor activity in a xenograft model of human tumors. Overall, this work sheds light on tumor evasion mechanisms mediated by sialylated residues and exemplifies an approach to improve engineered T cell–based cancer treatment.

See related Spotlight by Abken, p. 1310
Figure 1 from Combined Oxygen-Enhanced MRI and Perfusion Imaging Detect Hypoxia Modification from Banoxantrone and Atovaquone and Track Their Differential Mechanisms of Action
Authors: O’Connor James P.B. , Tessyman Victoria , Little Ross A. , Babur Muhammad , Forster Duncan , Latif Ayşe , Cheung Susan , Lipowska-Bhalla Grazyna , Higgins Geoff S. , Asselin Marie-Claude , Parker Geoff J.M. , Williams Kaye J.
Published: October 2024

Determining drug mechanism of action in Calu6 cells in vitro. A, Increased retention of the fluorescent cytotoxic metabolite of banoxantrone, AQ4, as oxygen concentration decreased, with (B) example images shown for cells exposed to 10 µmol/L of banoxantrone differing oxygenation conditions. C and D, Clonogenic survival assays showed that banoxantrone became increasingly cytotoxic with reduced oxygenation whereas the impact of atovaquone on survival was not affected by oxygen level. E, A total of 10 µmol/L atovaquone completely ablated OCR under normoxia while banoxantrone had no effect. F, Under hypoxia (3% O2), OCR ablation was observed at 1 µmol/L atovaquone and while a trend toward reduced OCR was observed for banoxantrone this was not significant.
Supplementary Table 1 from SREBP-Dependent Regulation of Lipid Homeostasis Is Required for Progression and Growth of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ishida Chiaki T. , Myers Stephanie L. , Kubota Casie S. , Shao Wei , McGuire Meredith R. , Liu Chune , Ewachiw Theodore E. , Mukhopadhyay Debaditya , Ke Suqi , Wang Hao , Rasheed Zeshaan A. , Anders Robert A. , Espenshade Peter J.
Published: October 2024

Table S1. Primer sequences used for quantitative PCR
Empowering Natural Killer Cells to Combat Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Perspective on CAR-NK Cell Therapy
Authors: Gierschek Fenja , Schlueter Juliane , Kühnel Ines , Feigl Frederik Fabian , Schmiedel Dominik , Prüfer Maren , Buchinger Leon , Cerwenka Adelheid , Cappel Claudia , Huenecke Sabine , Köhl Ulrike , Wels Winfried S. , Ullrich Evelyn ,   on behalf of the Translational Oncology Consortium “NKfit4AML” sponsored by the German Cancer Aid
Published: October 2024

Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a high relapse rate and still limited therapeutic options. Natural killer (NK) cell-based immunotherapy has the potential to improve outcomes for patients with AML. Summary: Recent preclinical studies and early-stage clinical trials aim to enhance the intrinsic anti-leukemic properties of NK cells by selectively targeting AML cells with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). Furthermore, NK and CAR-NK cells can be combined with other therapeutic modalities or engineered further to overcome the immunosuppressive microenvironment, and treatment resistance of AML blasts and leukemia-initiating cells (LIC). Key Messages: In this review, we summarize preclinical studies with cytokine-stimulated or genetically engineered NK cells derived from different cell sources for the treatment of AML and their translation into early-phase clinical trials. We also provide an overview of promising recent developments toward innovative NK cell-based therapies that may be implemented in the near future.
Non-contact power system fault diagnosis: a machine learning approach with electromagnetic current sensing
Authors: Nehete Amit L. , Bankar Deepak S. , Asati Ritika , Khadse Chetan
Published: October 2024

Modern power system protection schemes incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) techniques. However, in a conventional way, most of these schemes rely on the data of current and voltage collected from current transformer (CT) and potential transformer (PT) respectively. CTs suffer from the drawback of core saturation and impact the accuracy and effectiveness of intelligent methods. Also, it has the constraints of size, safety, and economy. The research here explores the effectiveness of magnetic sensors in advanced power system protection schemes as an alternative to traditional current sensing. In the presented work, a novel dataset is prepared by transforming transmission line currents into magnetic field components. Several supervised as well as unsupervised machine learning algorithms have been applied to this data instead of traditional currents and voltage for fault prediction. The paper discusses the comparative evaluation of these algorithms based on various performance metrices which reveals that Gaussian Naïve Bayes (GNB), K-nearest neighbor (KNN), random forest (RF), and extreme gradient boost (XGB) algorithms excel in fault detection, while multilayer perceptron (MLP) and KNN performs better fault classification. The findings promise the potential for developing compact, safe, and cost-effective protection schemes utilizing magnetic field sensors.
Relationship Between Renin, Aldosterone, Aldosterone-to-Renin Ratio and Arterial Stiffness and Left Ventricular Mass Index in Young Adults
Authors: Ananda Roshan A. , Gwini StellaMay , Beilin Lawrence J. , Schlaich Markus P. , Stowasser Michael , Young Morag J. , Adler Brendan , Fuller Peter J. , Mori Trevor A. , Yang Jun
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:

Primary aldosteronism, characterized by renin-independent aldosterone production, is associated with adverse cardiovascular remodeling and outcomes. Elevated cardiovascular risk is observed even in subclinical forms of primary aldosteronism according to studies conducted primarily in middle-aged and elderly populations. This study aimed to assess whether early changes in primary aldosteronism biomarkers during young adulthood are associated with arterial stiffness and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) before the onset of overt disease.

METHODS:

The Raine Study is a longitudinal, population-based cohort study in Western Australia that enrolled women during pregnancy. We analyzed the data from the offspring of these women at 17 (2006–2009) and 27 (2016–2018) years of age. Participants with elevated high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (>10 mg/L) and female participants who were on oral contraception were excluded. Pulse wave velocity and aortic augmentation index were measured by SphygmoCor Pulse Wave System at both ages, and aortic distensibility and LVMI were measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging at 27 years. Multivariable linear regression was used to examine the relationship between plasma renin, aldosterone, or aldosterone-to-renin ratio and arterial stiffness and LVMI. Mediation analysis was used to test the role of systolic blood pressure.

RESULTS:

This study included 859 participants at 17 (38.0% female) and 758 participants at 27 (33.2% female) years of age. Females had lower renin concentration at both 17 (20.7 mU/L versus 25.7 mU/L;
P
<0.001) and 27 (12.0 mU/L versus 15.4 mU/L;
P
<0.001) years of age; hence, the aldosterone-to-renin ratio was significantly higher at both 17 (18.2 versus 13.5;
P
<0.001) and 27 (21.0 versus 15.6;
P
<0.001) years of age in females compared with males. At 27 years of age, a significant association was detected between aldosterone and LVMI in males (β=0.009 [95% CI, 0.001–0.017];
P
=0.027) and between aldosterone-to-renin ratio and LVMI in females (β=0.098 [95% CI, 0.001–0.196];
P
=0.050) independently of systolic blood pressure and other confounders. No association was found between primary aldosteronism biomarkers and measures of arterial stiffness (pulse wave velocity, aortic augmentation index, and aortic distensibility) at either age.

CONCLUSIONS:

Aldosterone concentration and aldosterone-to-renin ratio were positively associated with the LVMI in young males and females, respectively, independently of systolic blood pressure. Long-term follow-up is required to determine whether the relationship persists over time, and clinical trials are needed to assess the cardiovascular benefits of early interventions to block aldosterone.
A new Oreolalax (Anura: Megophryidae) from the Hoang Lien Range, northwest Vietnam
Authors: NGUYEN LUAN THANH , TAPLEY BENJAMIN , KANE DANIEL , TRAN TUYET-DZUNG THI , CUI JIAXIN , ROWLEY JODI J. L.
Published: October 2024

The megophryid genus Oreolalax is comprised of 19 species, most of which are endemic to China. A single species, Oreolalax sterlingae, is the only member of the genus known from Vietnam. During fieldwork on Mount Po Ma Lung in the Hoang Lien Range of northwest Vietnam, we encountered individuals of both Oreolalax sterlingae and another, morphologically divergent species of Oreolalax. Analyses of morphological and molecular data reveal that these individuals represent a previously undescribed species of Oreolalax which we describe as new to science. The new species, Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov., is sister to Oreolalax xiangchengensis and can be diagnosed from all other congeneric species by the combination of the following characters: (1) SVL of adult male 38.0 mm, N=1; adult female 46.2 mm, N=1; (2) narrow supratympanic fold; (3) no visible tympanum; (4) head longer than wide; (5) vocal sac absent; (6) absence of subarticular tubercles on hands; (7) basal interdigital webbing on hind feet; (8) ventral surface mottled with grey and creamy white; (9) dorsal surface of head and body covered in rounded, evenly spaced and similar sized tubercles; (10) presence of dark bars on limbs; (11) greyish white and creamy white spots on the flanks, and (12) a bicoloured iris. Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. is only known from a single site of high elevation bamboo forest, where it is sympatric with Oreolalax sterlingae. Both Oreolalax adelphos sp. nov. and O. sterlingae are almost certain to occur in neighbouring Jinping County in Yunnan Province, China. The new species of Oreolalax likely qualifies for being assessed as Data Deficient in accordance with the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species categories and criteria.
Sixty-one years later: a second species of Scolebythus Evans (Hymenoptera: Scolebythidae) from southern Madagascar
Authors: BRAZIDEC MANUEL
Published: October 2024

Despite recent advances in the systematics and taxonomy of the relictual family Scolebythidae, the type genus Scolebythus Evans, 1963 remained monospecific for more than sixty years. Here, I describe and illustrate Scolebythus bekilyensis sp. nov. from a female specimen collected in southern Madagascar. This discovery emphasizes on the endemism of this genus, which is unique within the Scolebythidae for being restricted to one biogeographic realm, and suggests that potential new species are yet to be discovered in this megadiverse region.
Decadal Prediction Centers Prepare for a Major Volcanic Eruption
Authors: Sospedra-Alfonso Reinel , Merryfield William J. , Toohey Matthew , Timmreck Claudia , Vernier Jean-Paul , Bethke Ingo , Wang Yiguo , Bilbao Roberto , Donat Markus G. , Ortega Pablo , Cole Jason , Lee Woo-Sung , Delworth Thomas L. , Paynter David , Zeng Fanrong , Zhang Liping , Khodri Myriam , Mignot Juliette , Swingedouw Didier , Torres Olivier , Hu Shuai , Man Wenmin , Zuo Meng , Hermanson Leon , Smith Doug , Kataoka Takahito , Tatebe Hiroaki
Published: October 2024

The World Meteorological Organization’s Lead Centre for Annual-to-Decadal Climate Prediction issues operational forecasts annually as guidance for regional climate centers, climate outlook forums, and national meteorological and hydrological services. The occurrence of a large volcanic eruption such as that of Mount Pinatubo in 1991, however, would invalidate these forecasts and prompt producers to modify their predictions. To assist and prepare decadal prediction centers for this eventuality, the Volcanic Response activities under the World Climate Research Programme’s Atmospheric Processes and Their Role in Climate (APARC) and the Decadal Climate Prediction Project (DCPP) organized a community exercise to respond to a hypothetical large eruption occurring in April 2022. As part of this exercise, the Easy Volcanic Aerosol forcing generator was used to provide stratospheric sulfate aerosol optical properties customized to the configurations of individual decadal prediction models. Participating centers then reran forecasts for 2022–26 from their original initialization dates and, in most cases, also from just before the eruption at the beginning of April 2022, according to two candidate response protocols. This article describes various aspects of this APARC/DCPP Volcanic Response Readiness Exercise (VolRes-RE), including the hypothesized volcanic event, the modified forecasts under the two protocols from the eight contributing centers, the lessons learned during the coordination and execution of this exercise, and the recommendations to the decadal prediction community for the response to an actual eruption.
Queering COVID-19: A Synergistic Approach to Theorizing Pandemic Inequalities
Authors: Mackenzie Sonja , Sánchez-Rivera R
Published: October 2024

COVID-19 has amplified social, economic, racial, gendered and sexual inequalities from its earliest days, yet distinct contemporary experiences of COVID-related inequalities around the globe warrant further analysis. Social scientists have theorized COVID-19 and its stratifications through various analytic axes, including critical race theory, decolonial thought and queer theory, and have identified the disparate impact of COVID-19 on LGBTQ+ communities in varied global contexts. However, the ‘queering’ of COVID-19 remains a timely project. In this article, we assess how the production and (re)production of discourses and practices that further pathologize people outside the hetero-patriarchal norm is an integral part of the ways in which a queering of COVID should be conceptualized. We understand queering COVID-19 as a theoretical stance that de-centres heteronormative and binary-gendered social structures and brings a critical eye to the normative political, biomedical and economic projects therein.
Investigating energy performance of build-to-rent buildings in england
Authors: Li Ying Yan , Hong Sung Min , Watkins Brogan , Wilkinson Samuel
Published: October 2024

The domestic sector made up 16% of UK’s total greenhouse gas emissions in 2021. The build-to-rent market is experiencing a rapid expansion, but the energy performance and distinctiveness of this building sector are still generally undiscovered. Therefore, 423 build-to-rent flats from three build-to-rent developments in England were evaluated with top-down approach. Energy use intensities of flats were compared against domestic energy benchmarks and design targets. Possible determinants of energy consumption in build-to-rent flats, including EPC rating, number of bedrooms, air permeability, glazing area and glazing orientation were investigated through correlation analyses. Research discovers discrepancy between actual energy performance of the studied flats and design targets supporting UK’s 2050 net zero target. In this case study, number of bedrooms is identified as the most noticeable factor influencing energy consumption. Results of this study provide an introductory insight of the build-to-rent sector and serve as a starting point to encourage further exploration.

Practical application: This paper specifically focuses on build-to-rent buildings within the domestic sector. Energy use situations of build-to-rent flats in the UK were investigated with actual measured data provided by a build-to-rent developer. Results demonstrate the discrepancy between energy use in the build-to-rent flats being studied and existing domestic benchmarks. This paper provides insights to researchers, building developers and policymakers regarding the energy performance of this upsurging build-to-rent building sector and its associated influencing factors. It also contributes ideas on the importance of data sharing and development of energy benchmarking of the build-to-rent sector.
Through the Lens of Neoclassical Realism: Understanding the Decline in Malaysia– India Relations Under Mahathir 2.0
Authors: Gill Don McLain
Published: October 2024

This article suggests that since the end of the Cold War, Malaysia’s foreign policy towards a rising India has significantly intertwined with its overarching hedging calculations vis-à-vis the burgeoning power competition between the United States and China. Hedging, based on the conceptualization of Dr Cheng-Chwee Kuik, incorporates a largely structure-induced logic that encompasses a survival-driven, risk-averse and insurance-seeking behaviour to ensure the survival of less powerful states without putting all eggs in one great power’s basket due to concerns over future uncertainty. While the US and China are the most immediate and consequential structural factors impacting Malaysian foreign policy, Kuik presents the concept of dominance-denial as a sub-element of hedging, where a less powerful state aims to forge positive and functional ties with all major powers in the system based on its economic and security interests. Strengthening ties with India has been crucial in Putrajaya’s dominance-denial strategy. However, while Malaysia–India economic and defence ties continued to grow since the 1990s, bilateral relations backslid in 2019 due to former Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamed’s provocative stance towards New Delhi, leading to a considerable decline in economic relations. Therefore, this article seeks to theoretically explain these constraints in the relations between Putrajaya and New Delhi through a neoclassical realist lens in order to supplement Kuik’s hedging framework.
Case Series of Akathisia in Palliative Medicine: Patient Perspective and Efficacy of Procyclidine in Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Murphy David , Maher Senan , Kennedy Grace , Looi Steven , Minogue Riana , Brassil Maeve , McDonnell Tara , Mannion Eileen , Waldron Dympna
Published: October 2024

Aims

Akathisia is a disturbing, reversible but under-diagnosed extrapyramidal side effect of medications used in palliative medicine. We assessed patients’ subjective experience of akathisia and response to procyclidine, an anticholinergic used to treat extrapyramidal effects. We also aimed to discuss future areas of research and alternatives to akathisia-causing medications.

Methods

Suitable patients were retrospectively identified by palliative medicine physicians in a tertiary hospital and a chart review was undertaken. Information gathered included the account of their experience of akathisia, use of inciting medications, treatment, and outcome.

Results

20 patients were identified, 12 females, 8 males. Mean number of days on the inciting drug(s) to onset of akathisia symptoms was 18.1. Mean number of days from commencing inciting drug(s) to diagnosis was 20.9. Patients’ descriptions revealed similarities including feeling “locked in” and a need to constantly move. One patient described a “glass coffin” enclosing her. 16 patients had full response to treatment with procyclidine, 3 had partial response requiring up-titration of dosing, response was not documented in 1.

Conclusions

Akathisia is an elusive symptom that can have dramatic reversibility when treated. Lack of recognition causes unnecessary patient suffering. Procyclidine appears to aid diagnosis and be an effective treatment. Protocols to reduce incidence and guide diagnosis and management are proposed. Further studies are required, in which subjective outcome measures are used and medications to treat akathisia are studied. Recognition remains challenging, causing significant distress for palliative patients, for whom quality of life is paramount.
Fibroadenoma With Multiple Epidermal Inclusion Cysts Masquerading as Malignancy: An Underreported Entity With Review of Literature
Authors: Spoorthy Rekha Y.C. , Ramachandra Rao Ramkumar Kurpad , Sandeep S. , Vivek T.G.
Published: October 2024

Fibroadenomas in postmenopausal women are quite uncommon, and so are epidermal inclusion cysts in the breast. The coexistence of both is very rare, and very limited literature is available about this occurrence. We report a postmenopausal female patient with complaints of breast lump masquerading as malignancy on triple assessment which upon subsequent histopathological evaluation was confirmed to be fibroadenoma with intervening multiple epidermal inclusion cysts. In addition, the epidermal inclusions cysts were seen within the fibroadenoma without any association with the overlying skin and adnexa, adding to its rarity. So far, this is probably the fourth such case report to be documented in the literature with such coexistence and the first of its kind to be reported in a postmenopausal woman.
Metastatic Malignant Pseudomyogenic Hemangioendothelioma: An Exceedingly Rare Entity That Challenges Conventional Paradigms
Authors: Thomas Zachariah , Georgy Josh Thomas , Ponmar Madhurima , Thumaty Divya Bala , Prabhu Anne Jennifer , Singh Ashish
Published: October 2024

Pseudomyogenic hemangioendothelioma (PMHE), a rare soft tissue tumor predominantly affecting young adults, often presents as multiple nodules in various tissue planes of a limb. Malignant transformation and metastatic disease are unusual and pose diagnostic and therapeutic challenges. A 17-year-old patient from Western India, with a history of recurrent excisions for a toe swelling presented to our center for evaluation and management. A below-knee amputation was performed, and histopathology revealed PMHE. Adjuvant therapy was deemed unnecessary given the borderline nature of the tumor. Shortly thereafter, he developed features of local recurrence and underwent above-knee amputation. An expert histopathological review confirmed the diagnosis and noted features of malignant transformation–progression to a higher grade with greater cytological atypia, confluent growth, and increased mitotic activity over time. Upon further distant progression in the lung, he was started on a palliative regimen of weekly paclitaxel, vinblastine, and propranolol but eventually succumbed to his illness. In contrast to conventional descriptions of low mitotic activity, minimal nuclear atypia, and absence of necrosis, our patient exhibited increased mitotic rates, nuclear atypia, and evolving necrosis in serial histopathological evaluations. The fulminant clinical progression within a short interval was also atypical. Our patient's clinical course underscores the need for meticulous histopathological and molecular characterization and vigilant clinical surveillance after resection in patients with PMHE. Providing the standard of care for malignant disease in the adjuvant setting is challenging owing to the rarity and the lack of treatment guidelines.
Discrete time stability of augmented Lagrangian formalism based underactuated inverse dynamics control method
Authors: Zana Roland R. , Zelei Ambrus
Published: October 2024

Stability problems of robotic systems arise sometimes suddenly, seemingly for no reason. The digital time sampling is often the main cause of these instabilities. Discrete models, which are capable of the prediction of stability, are available for low-degree-of-freedom template models of linear position and force control. However, for the inverse dynamics control of underactuated systems, the literature has a lack of generally applicable results related to the effect of time discretization. Several control approaches are available in the literature out of which a widely used one, the augmented Lagrangian formalism and its stability properties are analysed in this work. Theoretical stability properties are obtained for a generally usable, linear, underactuated, two-degree-of-freedom constrained template model. The actuator dynamics, the finite difference approximation of the feedback velocity and the filtering of the feedback data are considered in the model. These phenomena strongly affects the stability properties. The theoretically obtained stability maps are experimentally validated on an underactuated crane-like indoor robot. The position and orientation accuracy of the robot were assessed: the absolute position error was below 30 mm and the orientation error was below 3°.
Dynamic responses of locomotive axle box bearings under varying operating conditions
Authors: Wang Yukun , Wang Zhiwei , Song Shuqi , Allen Paul , Wang Ruichen , Zhang Weihua
Published: October 2024

Axle box bearings (ABBs) are a vital component of a railway locomotive, ensuring their reliable performance requires an in-depth understanding of their dynamic behaviour. This work theoretically derives a locomotive–track longitudinal–vertical coupled dynamics model that takes detailed dynamics of the ABBs into account. The model considers a number of complex interactions, such as non-linear contact and friction forces within the ABB, wheel–rail interactions, and track irregularities. The motions of ABB are coupled with the wheelset and bogie frame, allowing detailed investigation of the ABB dynamic behaviour during operation. The correctness of the proposed model is verified in both the time and frequency domains by comparing with field test. The dynamic characteristics of ABBs under varying operating conditions were comprehensively investigated. The results demonstrate that track irregularities have a non-negligible influence on the dynamic forces of the locomotive ABB. Furthermore, the axle load transfer occurs during loading conditions, which leads to significant differences in vertical and longitudinal dynamic interactions within the ABBs across wheelsets. It is clear that the operating conditions of the locomotive should be suitably considered in the dynamic assessment, operation, and maintenance of ABBs.
Reconstituting the ‘good woman’: Gendered visual politics on social media during 2021 state election in West Bengal, India
Authors: Banerjee Rituparna , Mitra Saumava
Published: October 2024

This paper explores the visual politics of gender in electoral politics in West Bengal (WB). We examine how women political candidates visually construct their non-verbal political performance on social media, and how such visuals relate to social mores and societal expectations surrounding femininity. Drawing on theories of the social construction of gender and visual political communication, we conducted a content analysis of 1,033 visual artefacts from eight individual women candidates and 205 from the Facebook and X (formerly Twitter) pages of the four main political parties taking part in the January-April 2021 electoral campaign for state-level elections in WB. We analysed how these candidates construct gendered relationships with the electorate through different cues on the platforms, such as sartorial choices (traditional or Western attire), use of culture-specific religious symbols (sindoor or vermillion, bindi – forehead marking worn by married Hindu women), and gendered/non-gendered political actions like cooking or serving food, giving speeches or meeting constituents in political processions. Our findings about the visually performed politics show a combination of cultural, political, and gender signifiers, which are mediated and remain connected to societal expectations, and historical narratives. The candidates’ negotiation of these aspects, in turn, underscores a reproduction of colonial legacies and, in the present day, an ongoing production of societal differences. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on visual politics of gender, particularly in Asian contexts. It sheds light on the nuanced ways women politicians use social media to construct their visual identities, and how the deployment of body politics into the relatively ‘new’ online sphere reifies ‘old’ social, political, cultural symbolisms, and norms regarding gender. In this way, this article highlights the importance of considering pre-digital forms of gendered identity construction and visual representation when analysing the contested terrain of digital visibilities.
Precise motion control for a space mining robot based on improved African vultures optimization
Authors: Wang Baiyi , Liu Xinhua , Rydel Marek , Hua Dezheng , Stanislawski Rafal , Wang Hui , Feng Ke , Li Zhixiong
Published: October 2024

Space mining robots can develop and utilize abundant mineral resources in the outer space to solve the problem of the depletion of earth mineral resources. However, the motion errors of space mining robots in complex environments on the outer space surface of asteroids greatly hinder its applications. To bridge this research gap, a precise motion controller of the space mining robot is proposed in this study. Firstly, the kinematics model of robot’s wheels and the whole vehicle dynamics model in soft soil are established. Then, the optimal PID motion controller is developed based on the improved African vultures optimization algorithm (IAVOA). The Henon chaotic mapping, nonlinear adaptive incremental inertial weight factor and reverse learning competition strategy are introduced to optimize the initial population position, position update method and optimal solution output, respectively. Meanwhile, the excellent optimization performance of IAVOA is also validated by test results of nine benchmark functions. Lastly, the performance of controller is verified by simulations and experiments. The simulation results show that the proposed IAVOA-PID controller is superior to the original PID and AVOA-PID controller with faster response time and smaller overshoot. The experiment results show the space mining robot with the assistance of proposed motion controller can move with a trajectory error of less than 0.2 m and a motion error of less than 0.01 m.
Memory and displacement: Syrian-Kurdish refugees navigating the middle east, Israel, and the holocaust
Authors: Jikeli Gunther
Published: October 2024

Syrian refugees have become a significant minority in Germany over the past decade, with approximately one million now residing in the country. Most of them plan to stay and are eager to integrate into German society. Alongside practical challenges such as uncertain legal status, securing housing, finding employment, facing racism, and learning the German language, they must also navigate an ideological environment where common views on the Middle East, Islam, Israel, Jews, and the Holocaust differ significantly from those in their home country. This necessitates a certain degree of adaptation. Based on qualitative interviews with more than 200 Arab and Kurdish Syrian refugees, we examine self-perceptions, views on developments in the Middle East, and attitudes toward Jews. Significant differences emerged between Arab and Kurdish respondents. Especially among Syrian Kurds, there’s a noticeable openness to challenge antisemitic attitudes, often motivated by a rejection of Arab nationalist ideology and anti-Zionist propaganda. Syrian Kurds often perceive Jews and Israel more favorably than Arab Syrians. Their history of discrimination and oppression in Syria contributes to their rejection of hatred of Jews and Israel.
Rubber Extrusion - Some Aspects and Open Questions*
Authors: Haberstroh E. , Kiel A.
Published: October 2024

The rheology of rubber compounds is considerably more complex than that of thermoplastic melts, since both the viscoelastic material behaviour of the rubber and the way in which the rheological properties of the rubber are influenced by the fillers are of importance. Models for describing flow and vulcanisation behaviour and also models for describing parts (sections) of the extrusion process have frequently been derived from the field of thermoplastics and are based on simplifying assumptions which fail to consider some of the phenomena specific to rubber. When the extrusion process is analysed, certain special processing properties of rubber are encountered, such as increased shear rates due to fillers, yield stress phenomena and wall-slippage effects. These have to be taken into consideration in order to achieve a more precise description of the processes involved. The essential advances in rheology and in process modelling are leading to a better understanding of the process and hence to improvements in product quality, raw material utilisation and energy input. This paper shows the possibilities and constraints of present-day process description for a number of sub-areas of rubber extrusion and puts forward open questions.
The CRITIC-AHP performance degradation staged fusion evaluation of wet clutch friction components
Authors: Wu Jianpeng , Li Pengpeng , Wang Liyong , Cui Jiahao , Yang Chengbing , Han Shuai
Published: October 2024

The performance of wet clutches plays a crucial role in the efficiency and durability of mechanical transmission systems. As a vital component of the clutch, the degradation of friction components directly affects its stability and reliability. To investigate the performance degradation of friction components, we establish a multi-indicator evaluation system and conduct an accelerated life test, which is validated by an accelerated model. Next, we build a Random Forest model to classify the friction stage. Criteria Importance through Intercriteria Correlation (CRITIC) and the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is proposed to assign weights for each degradation indicator during different stages. A Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) scoring method combines indicator weights to construct a CRITIC-AHP staged fusion evaluation model of friction components. Notably, the average relative error of the evaluation results of the model is 9.35%.
Endovascular treatment of a large bone cement pulmonary embolism: Case report
Authors: Lu Xia , Shen Yang , Zhao Wenjun , Wang Xiang
Published: October 2024

We report a case of endovascular treatment of bone cement embolism after percutaneous vertebroplasty. The patient underwent percutaneous vertebroplasty for acute L1 compression fracture. Two weeks later, the patient developed symptoms of pulmonary embolism. Computed tomography pulmonary angiogram confirmed the presence of a bone cement foreign body in the pulmonary artery. Endovascular treatment was performed, and the cement embolism was caught, pulled to the level of the iliac vein, and fixed with stents. At the 1-year follow-up, the patient did not have any complaints, postoperative computed tomography pulmonary angiogram showed no obvious manifestations of pulmonary embolism, and angiography showed that the bone cement was fixed in place and that the iliac veins were normal.
Sociodemographic predictors of successful screening and subsequent randomization in a digital health hypertension intervention
Authors: Miller Hailey N , Askew Sandy , Berger Miriam B , Trefney Elizabeth , Blackman Carr Loneke T , Kay Melissa C , Barnes Cherie , Yang Qing , Tyson Crystal C , Svetkey Laura , Shaw Ryan J , Steinberg Dori M , Bennett Gary G
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Clinical trials often enroll nonrepresentative participant samples, limiting generalizability of trial findings. The current analysis explores the influences of remote recruitment and screening protocols on participation in a digital health intervention (DHI) to promote the evidence-based Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating pattern.

Methods

Nourish was a 12-month randomized controlled trial comparing the effectiveness of a DHI to an attention control arm among US adults with hypertension. Participants were recruited using digital approaches; eligible individuals completed several screening steps. We examined associations between sociodemographics and mobile technology use and completion of each screening step and compared those characteristics between randomized and nonrandomized participants (those consented but were screened out before randomization).

Results

A total of 678 adults consented to participate in Nourish; 44% of those consented were randomized ( n = 301). Those randomized possessed a higher education level ( p < 0.0001); were more likely to use health-related apps ( p < 0.0001) and wearables ( p < 0.0001); and were older ( p = 0.01) than nonrandomized individuals. Randomized adults were more likely to use a desktop/laptop/tablet for Internet access (vs mobile phones) ( p = 0.01). No significant association was observed existed between sex, race, ethnicity, income, or geographic density of residence and subsequent randomization.

Conclusions

Participants with lower education levels or limited experience in using mobile technologies may require additional support to participate in DHIs. Future research is needed to evaluate remote clinical trial procedures and impacts on generalizability to achieve equitable clinical trial participation.
Steroids in severe community-acquired pneumonia
Authors: Ananth Sachin , Mathioudakis Alexander G. , Hansel Jan
Published: October 2024

There is conflicting evidence regarding the use of steroids in severe community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), with previous randomised controlled trials limited by small sample sizes. ESCAPe and CAPE COD are two recently published large trials on steroids in severe CAP. ESCAPe assessed the initiation of methylprednisolone within 72–96 h of hospital admission, while CAPE COD studied the use of hydrocortisone within 24 h of the development of severe CAP. ESCAPe did not show any differences in all-cause 60-day mortality or any of its secondary outcomes. CAPE COD showed that hydrocortisone improved all-cause 28-day mortality and reduced the risk of intubation or vasopressor-dependent shock. Important differences between the trials included the steroid regimens used, timing of steroid administration and baseline characteristics, with more diabetic patients included in ESCAPe. The results of CAPE COD support the initiation of hydrocortisone within 24 h of developing severe CAP, but more research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and optimum dosing regimens for steroids in severe CAP.
Spatial lung imaging in clinical and translational settings
Authors: Mahmutovic Persson Irma , Bozovic Gracijela , Westergren-Thorsson Gunilla , Rolandsson Enes Sara
Published: October 2024

For many severe lung diseases, non-invasive biomarkers from imaging could improve early detection of lung injury or disease onset, establish a diagnosis, or help follow-up disease progression and treatment strategies. Imaging of the thorax and lung is challenging due to its size, respiration movement, transferred cardiac pulsation, vast density range and gravitation sensitivity. However, there is extensive ongoing research in this fast-evolving field. Recent improvements in spatial imaging have allowed us to study the three-dimensional structure of the lung, providing both spatial architecture and transcriptomic information at single-cell resolution. This fast progression, however, comes with several challenges, including significant image file storage and network capacity issues, increased costs, data processing and analysis, the role of artificial intelligence and machine learning, and mechanisms to combine several modalities. In this review, we provide an overview of advances and current issues in the field of spatial lung imaging.
Effects of passive smoking on cortical spreading depolarization in male and female mice
Authors: Takizawa Tsubasa , Ihara Keiko , Unekawa Miyuki , Iba Chisato , Kagawa Shizuko , Watanabe Narumi , Nakayama Shingo , Sakurai Kaori , Miyazaki Naoki , Ishida Noriyuki , Takemura Ryo , Shibata Mamoru , Izawa Yoshikane , Chubachi Shotaro , Fukunaga Koichi , Nakahara Jin
Published: October 2024

Background

Patients with migraine are typically advised to avoid passive smoking because it may aggravate headaches and other health conditions. However, there is insufficient high-quality evidence on the association between passive smoking and migraine, which warrants further investigation using animal models. Therefore, using a mouse model, we examined the effect of passive smoking on susceptibility to cortical spreading depolarization (CSD), the biological basis of migraine with aura.

Findings

Fifty C57BL/6 mice (25 males and 25 females) were exposed for one hour to cigarette smoke or room air. Subsequently, potassium chloride (KCl) was administered under isoflurane anesthesia to induce CSD, and the CSD threshold, frequency of induction, and propagation velocity were determined. The threshold to induce CSD (median [interquartile range (IQR)]) was significantly lower in female mice (adjusted p = 0.01) in the smoking group (0.05 [0.05, 0.088]) than in the sham group (0.125 [0.1, 0.15]); however, there was no significant difference in the male mice (adjusted p = 0.77). CSD frequency or propagation velocity did not differ significantly between the two groups for either sex.

Conclusions

Female mice in the smoking group showed lower CSD threshold compared to the sham group, suggesting a potential sex-specific difference in the effect of smoking on the pathogenesis of CSD and migraine with aura. This finding may contribute to the understanding of migraine pathophysiology in association with passive smoking and sex difference.
Elucidation of the mechanisms of fluconazole resistance and repurposing treatment options against urinary Candida spp. isolated from hospitalized patients in Alexandria, Egypt
Authors: Zeitoun Hend , Salem Rawan A. , El-Guink Nadia M. , Tolba Nesrin S. , Mohamed Nelly M.
Published: October 2024

Background

The incidence of fungal urinary tract infections (UTIs) has dramatically increased in the past decades, with Candida arising as the predominant etiological agent. Managing these infections poses a serious challenge to clinicians, especially with the emergence of fluconazole-resistant (FLC-R) Candida species. In this study, we aimed to determine the mechanisms of fluconazole resistance in urinary Candida spp. isolated from hospitalized patients in Alexandria, Egypt, assess the correlation between fluconazole resistance and virulence, and explore potential treatment options for UTIs caused by FLC-R Candida strains.

Results

Fluconazole susceptibility testing of 34 urinary Candida isolates indicated that 76.5% were FLC-R, with a higher prevalence of resistance recorded in non-albicans Candida spp. (88.9%) than in Candida albicans (62.5%). The calculated Spearman’s correlation coefficients implied significant positive correlations between fluconazole minimum inhibitory concentrations and both biofilm formation and phospholipase production. Real-time PCR results revealed that most FLC-R isolates (60%) significantly overexpressed at least one efflux pump gene, while 42.3% significantly upregulated the ERG11 gene. The most prevalent mutation detected upon ERG11 sequencing was G464S, which is conclusively linked to fluconazole resistance. The five repurposed agents: amikacin, colistin, dexamethasone, ketorolac, and sulfamethoxazole demonstrated variable fluconazole-sensitizing activities in vitro, with amikacin, dexamethasone, and colistin being the most effective. However, the fluconazole/colistin combination produced a notable reduction (49.1%) in bladder bioburden, a 50% decrease in the inflammatory response, and tripled the median survival span relative to the untreated murine models.

Conclusions

The fluconazole/colistin combination offers a promising treatment option for UTIs caused by FLC-R Candida, providing an alternative to the high-cost, tedious process of novel antifungal drug discovery in the battle against antifungal resistance.
A chromosome level reference genome of Diviner’s sage (Salvia divinorum) provides insight into salvinorin A biosynthesis
Authors: Ford Scott A. , Ness Rob W. , Kwon Moonhyuk , Ro Dae-Kyun , Phillips Michael A.
Published: October 2024

Background

Diviner’s sage (Salvia divinorum; Lamiaceae) is the source of the powerful hallucinogen salvinorin A (SalA). This neoclerodane diterpenoid is an agonist of the human Κ-opioid receptor with potential medical applications in the treatment of chronic pain, addiction, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Only two steps of the approximately twelve step biosynthetic sequence leading to SalA have been resolved to date.

Results

To facilitate pathway elucidation in this ethnomedicinal plant species, here we report a chromosome level genome assembly. A high-quality genome sequence was assembled with an N50 value of 41.4 Mb and a BUSCO completeness score of 98.4%. The diploid (2n = 22) genome of ~ 541 Mb is comparable in size and ploidy to most other members of this genus. Two diterpene biosynthetic gene clusters were identified and are highly enriched in previously unidentified cytochrome P450s as well as crotonolide G synthase, which forms the dihydrofuran ring early in the SalA pathway. Coding sequences for other enzyme classes with likely involvement in downstream steps of the SalA pathway (BAHD acyl transferases, alcohol dehydrogenases, and O-methyl transferases) were scattered throughout the genome with no clear indication of clustering. Differential gene expression analysis suggests that most of these genes are not inducible by methyl jasmonate treatment.

Conclusions

This genome sequence and associated gene annotation are among the highest resolution in Salvia, a genus well known for the medicinal properties of its members. Here we have identified the cohort of genes responsible for the remaining steps in the SalA pathway. This genome sequence and associated candidate genes will facilitate the elucidation of SalA biosynthesis and enable an exploration of its full clinical potential.