bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
National Indifference Concept and Contemporary WWII Military Reenactment in Czech Lands: A Comparative View of the Groups Reenacting Hultschin and Estonian SS Conscripts
Authors: Wohlmuth Petr
Published: August 2024

For the first time in the Czech Republic, a research project on contemporary military re-enactment has been carried out based on oral history. The research team managed to record memory narratives of, among others, three military reenactment associations, two of which still engage in a controversial reenactment of Wehrmacht Heer units (coming from the Hultschin/Hlučín/Hulczyn region). At the same time, the third reenacts Estonian SS units. In the spirit of post-positivist oral history, the collected narratives have been analysed primarily to reveal the cultural content, forms, and processes that shape the historical subjectivity of the narrators, that is, the way they understand themselves in history. One key cultural form the narrators use is the so-called ‘national indifference’. The reenactors refuse to identify themselves ethno-culturally (and ideologically) with German or Czech/Czechoslovak warring sides. These cultural forms are further augmented with the concept of an ‘ordinary soldier’, which is well-known in reenactment studies. As a result, reenactors self-interpret themselves as subjects who reenact Axis German armies, but consciously, within liminal contexts, whilst rejecting Nazi ideology, which makes them significantly more acceptable in Czech military reenactment milieus. In this respect, the study provides a comparative view of the Hultschin and Czech Estonian SS reenactors within the context of reenactor associations.
Tradução da “Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool” para o Português Brasileiro
Authors: Macena Mateus de Lima , Ferro Débora Cavalcante , Silva Maria Eduarda de Carvalho Macário da , Rocha Marianna Victória Cerqueira , Paula Déborah Tenório da Costa , Silva Júnior André Eduardo , Praxedes Dafiny Rodrigues Silva , Bueno Nassib Bezerra
Published: August 2024

A Brief Physical Activity Assessment Tool (BPAAT) é uma ferramenta prática, válida e facilmente aplicável para avaliar o nível de atividade física em estudos populacionais ou ambientes de atenção primária à saúde. A tradução e equivalência semântica dessa ferramenta para o português brasileiro são fundamentais para futuros estudos e sua integração no cotidiano dos profissionais de saúde. Portanto, o objetivo deste estudo foi propor a tradução e estabelecer a equivalência semântica da ferramenta BPAAT para o português brasileiro. O estudo foi realizado por meio de plataforma digital, recrutando indivíduos adultos (de 18 a 60 anos) das cinco regiões do Brasil. Cinco etapas foram realizadas para a tradução e equivalência semântica do instrumento: tradução dos instrumentos do idioma de origem (inglês) para o idioma de destino (português brasileiro); síntese das traduções; back translation; avaliação por comitê de especialistas; e avaliação do instrumento pela população-alvo. Um total de 18 especialistas na área e 130 indivíduos da população em geral foram consultados para avaliar a tradução da ferramenta. Em média, ambos os grupos de avaliadores classificaram a clareza, adequação e compreensão das duas questões da BPAAT com uma pontuação ≥ 4 de 5. Além disso, ambos os grupos forneceram sugestões sobre a inclusão de exemplos de atividades físicas e sugeriram substituições de palavras. A versão atual da ferramenta apresenta escores satisfatórios de clareza, adequação e compreensão pela população em geral, possibilitando sua ampla utilização na atenção primária à saúde e na pesquisa científica brasileira.
Epidural analgesia in labour and the risk of emergency caesarean: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Salfarlie Nadia
Published: August 2024

Background/Aims

A Cochrane review reported that epidural analgesia had no effect on the risk of emergency caesarean section; there was a discrepancy between these findings and the author's clinical observations, prompting the author to evaluate labour outcomes for women with and without epidural analgesia. The aim was to establish whether the author's clinical observations were supported by data.

Methods

A retrospective review of the outcomes of 200 labours with and without epidural analgesia was carried out, limited to women the author had personally cared for. A subsequent trust-wide analysis of labours was conducted to explore wider trends in analgesia and emergency caesarean section.

Results

In the personal review, epidural analgesia was associated with a more than two-fold increase in risk of emergency caesarean section, regardless of the underlying obstetric risk factors (from 14.7% to 36.4%). A similar trend was found across the trust.

Conclusions

Epidural analgesia in labour is associated with increased risk of an emergency caesarean section. Potential reasons for the discrepancy with the Cochrane review findings include differences in anaesthetic practice, timing and dilation at the time of receiving epidural analgesia, and evidence that women taking part in a randomised controlled trial experience better outcomes than those receiving routine care.
Breastfeeding knowledge assessment tools among nursing and midwifery students: a systematic review
Authors: Hamdoune Meryem , Jounaidi Khaoula
Published: August 2024

Background/Aims

Training nursing and midwifery students is essential to support breastfeeding reinforcement plans. Various scales have been developed to assess knowledge acquired during training. This study was conducted to explore these instruments.

Methods

A systematic review of online databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Science-Direct, Cochrane Library and PubMed) was performed. Studies published in English from 2013 were included.

Results

Five studies that used validated instruments were included in the review. An additional scale, the breastfeeding knowledge assessment form, was identified but had only been tested once. Most tools were designed to assess mothers' knowledge, and no instruments were developed for nursing and midwifery students. Factors that influenced knowledge and its acquisition among nursing and midwifery students included the lack of training courses on breastfeeding for undergraduate students.

Conclusions

There is a lack of such instruments specifically designed for nursing and midwifery students. A comprehensive training module should be included in undergraduate curricula based on WHO and the UNICEF educational requirements.
Radiological predictors of outcomes in hip arthroscopy for femoroacetabular impingement
Authors: Wagner Moritz , Schaller Luca , Endstrasser Franz , Vavron Petr , Braito Matthias , Schmaranzer Ehrenfried , Schmaranzer Florian , Brunner Alexander
Published: August 2024

Aims

Hip arthroscopy has gained prominence as a primary surgical intervention for symptomatic femoroacetabular impingement (FAI). This study aimed to identify radiological features, and their combinations, that predict the outcome of hip arthroscopy for FAI.

Methods

A prognostic cross-sectional cohort study was conducted involving patients from a single centre who underwent hip arthroscopy between January 2013 and April 2021. Radiological metrics measured on conventional radiographs and magnetic resonance arthrography were systematically assessed. The study analyzed the relationship between these metrics and complication rates, revision rates, and patient-reported outcomes.

Results

Out of 810 identified hip arthroscopies, 359 hips were included in the study. Radiological risk factors associated with unsatisfactory outcomes after cam resection included a dysplastic posterior wall, Tönnis grade 2 or higher, and over-correction of the α angle. The presence of acetabular retroversion and dysplasia were also significant predictors for worse surgical outcomes. Notably, over-correction of both cam and pincer deformities resulted in poorer outcomes than under-correction.

Conclusion

We recommend caution in performing hip arthroscopy in patients who have three positive acetabular retroversion signs. Acetabular dysplasia with a lateral centre-edge angle of less than 20° should not be treated with isolated hip arthroscopy. Acetabular rim-trimming should be avoided in patients with borderline dysplasia, and care should be taken to avoid over-correction of a cam deformity and/or pincer deformity.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(8):775–782.
Five-year outcomes for patients sustaining severe fractures of the lower limb from the Wound Healing in Surgery for Trauma (WHIST) trial
Authors: Costa Matthew L. , Achten Juul , Knight Ruth , Campolier Marta , Massa M. S.
Published: August 2024

Aims

The aims of this study were to report the outcomes of patients with a complex fracture of the lower limb in the five years after they took part in the Wound Healing in Surgery for Trauma (WHIST) trial.

Methods

The WHIST trial compared negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT) dressings with standard dressings applied at the end of the first operation for patients undergoing internal fixation of a complex fracture of the lower limb. Complex fractures included periarticular fractures and open fractures when the wound could be closed primarily at the end of the first debridement. A total of 1,548 patients aged ≥ 16 years completed the initial follow-up, six months after injury. In this study we report the pre-planned analysis of outcome data up to five years. Patients reported their Disability Rating Index (DRI) (0 to 100, in which 100 = total disability), and health-related quality of life, chronic pain scores and neuropathic pain scores annually, using a self-reported questionnaire. Complications, including further surgery related to the fracture, were also recorded.

Results

A total of 1,015 of the original patients (66%) provided at least one set of outcome data during the five years of follow-up. There was no evidence of a difference in patient-reported disability between the two groups at five years (NPWT group mean DRI 30.0 (SD 26.5), standard dressing group mean DRI 31.5 (SD 28.8), adjusted difference -0.86 (95% CI -4.14 to 2.40; p = 0.609). There was also no evidence of a difference in the complication rates at this time.

Conclusion

We found no evidence of a difference in disability ratings between NPWT compared with standard wound dressings in the five years following the surgical treatment of a complex fracture of the lower limb. Patients in both groups reported high levels of persistent disability and reduced quality of life, with little evidence of improvement during this time.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2024;106-B(8):858–864.
Serum albumin-to-globulin ratio and CRP-to-albumin ratio did not outperform serum CRP in diagnosing periprosthetic joint infections
Authors: Luger Markus , Böhler Christoph , Puchner Stephan E. , Apprich Sebastian , Staats Kevin , Windhager Reinhard , Sigmund Irene K.
Published: August 2024

Aims

Serum inflammatory parameters are widely used to aid in diagnosing a periprosthetic joint infection (PJI). Due to their limited performances in the literature, novel and more accurate biomarkers are needed. Serum albumin-to-globulin ratio (AGR) and serum CRP-to-albumin ratio (CAR) have previously been proposed as potential new parameters, but results were mixed. The aim of this study was to assess the diagnostic accuracy of AGR and CAR in diagnosing PJI and to compare them to the established and widely used marker CRP.

Methods

From 2015 to 2022, a consecutive series of 275 cases of revision total hip (n = 129) and knee arthroplasty (n = 146) were included in this retrospective cohort study. Based on the 2021 European Bone and Joint Infection Society (EBJIS) definition, 144 arthroplasties were classified as septic. Using receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis, the ideal thresholds and diagnostic performances were calculated. The areas under the curve (AUCs) were compared using the z-test.

Results

AGR, CAR, and CRP were associated with PJI (p < 0.001). Sensitivities were 62.5% (95% CI 54.3 to 70.0), 73.6% (95% CI 65.8 to 80.1), and 71.5% (95% CI 63.6 to 78.3), respectively. Specificities were calculated with 84.7% (95% CI 77.5 to 89.9), 86.3% (95% CI 79.2 to 91.2), and 87.8% (95% CI 80.9 to 92.4), respectively. The AUC of CRP (0.797 (95% CI 0.750 to 0.843)) was significantly higher than the AUC of AGR (0.736 (95% CI 0.686 to 0.786), p < 0.001), and similar to AUC of CAR (0.799 (95% CI 0.753 to 0.846), p = 0.832). Decreased sensitivities were observed in PJIs caused by low-virulence organisms (AGR: 60%, CAR: 78%) compared to high-virulence pathogens (AGR: 80%, p = 0.042; CAR: 88%, p = 0.158). Higher sensitivities were seen in acute haematogenous (AGR: 83%, CAR: 96%) compared to chronic PJIs (AGR: 54%, p = 0.001; CAR: 65%, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Serum AGR and CAR showed limited diagnostic accuracy (especially in low-grade and chronic infections) and did not outperform the established marker CRP in our study. Hence, neither parameter can be recommended as an additional tool for diagnosing PJI.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2024;13(8):372–382.
Beam attenuation coefficient for different water turbidities
Authors: Lodovisi Chiara , Gerardi Fabrizio , Moriconi Claudio , Betti Silvello
Published: August 2024

Interest in underwater optical communications has grown in recent years. A key aspect for the development of such systems is the modeling of light signal propagation in turbid water. In this paper, we present an experimental estimation of the light beam attenuation coefficient by varying the turbid water conditions with pollutants and also considering sea and lake water. The estimation of the beam attenuation coefficient c is based on laboratory measurements of the optical signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) for underwater transmissions and an analytical model of c as a function of SNR. To assess the reliability of the estimation procedure, c has been estimated in the case of clear water and the value obtained is very close to that reported in many studies. Next, c has been estimated for different water conditions. In particular, the results show that the value of c for polluted waters varies between 2.875m−1 and 15.675m−1. In addition, the values of c for lake and clear sea water are 0.6m−1 and 0.9m−1, respectively.
Assembly-induced nonuniform deformation prediction and control method for circular flange connectors with spacers in an optical lens support structure
Authors: Xu Long , Pei Yong-Chen , Wang Dongping , Hua Yangyang
Published: August 2024

Widely utilized in engineering, circular flange connections are typically secured by multiple bolts, but always result in nonuniform deformations that significantly impact the system shape and position accuracies. Numerous scholars have studied the deformation characteristics under various structures, external loads, bolt preloads, and tightening sequences in classical rough mechanical systems, but there is a lack of research regarding a high-precision optical system. In optical systems, nonuniform deformation of the support structure can be transmitted to the lens, causing astigmatic aberrations and affecting imaging accuracy. In the optical lens support structure as a circular flange connector, spacers need to be introduced to adjust the gap between two parts for controlling the optical path. These spacers tend to be more flexible than the support structures, thereby significantly affecting assembly-induced nonuniform deformations. However, the influence of spacers has been overlooked in previous works and thus needs to be investigated. In this paper, the effects of spacer parameters and bolt tightening sequences on the assembly-induced nonuniform deformation are investigated by the finite element method, which is verified experimentally, and an empirical formula is proposed to predict the nonuniform assembly-induced deformation based on the FEM results. According to the prediction results, a method for controlling the assembly-induced nonuniform deformation by optimizing the bolt preload distribution is proposed. The influence rules can guide the optimization of spacers and the bolt tightening process. The prediction and control method can effectively predict and reduce the assembly-induced nonuniform deformation of the circular flange with a spacer, reducing the aberration caused by the assembly and improving the accuracy of high-precision optical systems.
Full-field amplitude speckle decorrelation angiography
Authors: Mansutti Giulia , Villiger Martin , Bouma Brett E. , Uribe-Patarroyo Néstor
Published: August 2024

We propose a new simple and cost-effective optical imaging technique, full-field amplitude speckle decorrelation angiography (FASDA), capable of visualizing skin microvasculature with high resolution, and sensitive to small, superficial vessels with slow blood flow and larger, deeper vessels with faster blood flow. FASDA makes use of a laser source with limited temporal coherence, can be implemented with cameras with conventional frame rates, and does not require raster scanning. The proposed imaging technique is based on the simultaneous evaluation of two metrics: the blood flow index, a contrast-based metric used in laser speckle contrast imaging, and the adaptive speckle decorrelation index (ASDI), a new metric that we defined based on the second-order autocorrelation function that considers the limited speckle modulation that occurs in partially-coherent imaging. We demonstrate excellent delineation of small, superficial vessels with slow blood flow in skin nevi using ASDI and larger, deeper vessels with faster blood flow using BFI, providing a powerful new tool for the imaging of microvasculature with significantly lower hardware complexity and cost than other optical imaging techniques.
Prism-enhanced wide-angle broadband nonreciprocal thermal radiation in a Weyl semimetal grating structure
Authors: Liu Zhicheng , Li Haohang , Xiao Jinjie , Luo Fuyong , Chen Junshen , Cui Ruoheng , Li Zhiqi , Shen Jian , Li Chaoyang
Published: August 2024

Recent studies indicate that it is challenging to achieve both wide spectral and wide angular selectivity in existing structures for implementing infrared nonreciprocal thermal radiation. Therefore, it is essential to broaden the spectral coverage and angular range for different wavelengths. To overcome these limitations, a novel structure based on Weyl semimetal (WSM) and prism is designed in this study. The results show that strong nonreciprocity exceeding 0.8 is achieved in the wavelength range of 10.2-13.8µm at incident angles of 40°-80°. By studying the magnetic field distribution, the physical mechanism of broadband wide-angle nonreciprocal thermal radiation is revealed, which can be verified by impedance matching theory. Furthermore, the addition of a prism to the grating structure enhances nonreciprocal radiation and broadens the spectral range of strong nonreciprocal radiation.
SDD-Net: self-supervised dual-domain dual-path single-pixel imaging
Authors: Guo Zhengmin , Zhou Pei , Zhu Jiangping
Published: August 2024

Existing supervised deep-learning single-pixel imaging methods mostly require paired label data to pre-train the network. Such training methods consume a considerable amount of time to annotate the dataset and train the network. Additionally, the generalization ability of the network model limits the practical application of deep learning single-pixel imaging. Especially for complex scenes or specific applications, precise imaging details pose challenges to existing single-pixel imaging methods. To address this, this paper proposes a self-supervised dual-domain dual-path single-pixel imaging method. Using a self-supervised approach, the entire network training only requires measuring the light intensity signal values and projection pattern images, without the need for actual labels to reconstruct the target image. The dual-domain constraint between the measurement domain and the image domain can better guide the uniqueness of image reconstruction. The structure-texture dual-path guides the network to recover the specificity of image structure information and texture information. Experimental results demonstrate that this method can not only reconstruct detailed information of complex images but also reconstruct high-fidelity images from low sampling rate measurements. Compared with the current state-of-the-art traditional and deep learning methods, this method exhibits excellent performance in both imaging quality and efficiency. When the sampling rate is 5.45%, the PSNR and SSIM indicators are improved by 5.3dB and 0.23, respectively. The promotion of this technology will contribute to the application of single-pixel imaging in military and real-time imaging fields.
Dispersive terahertz metasurface fed by a horn antenna for highly oriented 2D beam steering
Authors: Zhou Qi , Wang Mao , Qin Hua , Tu Rui , Yu Run , Cai Xinhang , Jin Lin , Sun Jiandong , Zhang Jinfeng , Li Xinxing
Published: August 2024

Highly oriented beam steering will enhance power density and field of view (FOV) in terahertz wireless links. Metasurface can be constructed by deliberate arrangement of subwavelength meta-cells to manipulate the wavefront. This paper explores a dispersive metasurface with a specific phase gradient patterned in a 2-inch aperture, allowing for collimated beamforming and two-dimensional (2D) beam steering by a combination of frequency tuning and metasurface rotation. The metasurface is directly fed by a horn antenna, ensuring a compact integration. Simulation and experiment in the 80-110 GHz band revealed that the gain band crucial for FOV and efficiency is mainly constrained by the nonlinear phase dispersion of the meta-cells. Efforts to optimize the phase linearity resulted in a more efficient metasurface with a gain of 35.7 dBi and an efficiency of 76.6% at 400 GHz. A FOV of 22.5° in the elevation was guaranteed with gain in the 325-500 GHz band (a bandwidth of 42.4%). Imaging of two scattering balls was demonstrated at a distance of 4.1 meters by using the metasurface for 2D beam steering.
3D Flame Reconstruction via Improved NeRF and Radiative Transfer Modeling
Authors: Chang Jun , Ting Li , Huang Yi
Published: August 2024

Confronted with the constraints of traditional 3D tomographic technology in the reconstruction of flame fields, we introduce a 3D flame reconstruction method grounded in deep learning. Traditional techniques face challenges in high-resolution imaging, camera array configuration, and complex lighting conditions, which restrict their potential in industrial applications. To overcome these shortcomings, this paper introduces Neural Radiance Fields (NeRF) technology, an innovative implicit representation method capable of generating high-resolution, realistic flame images.
The primary contribution of this paper is the combination of NeRF technology with a radiative transfer model, deriving cumulative transmittance and body reconstruction formulas, which enhance the precision of flame radiative characteristic simulation. Through the deep learning model, NeRF, augmented by the radiative transfer model, is capable of implicitly learning and representing the absorption coefficient and color information of the flame, enabling the rendering of high-fidelity images from any perspective. The model constructed in this paper not only improves the accuracy of flame 3D reconstruction but also reduces the dependence on camera calibration, saving system costs.
Experimental results show that the method proposed in this paper can effectively reconstruct high-resolution instantaneous flame morphologies from sparse viewpoints, providing a new perspective for the study of 3D flame field information and contributing to the development of more efficient and environmentally friendly industrial combustion processes.
Comparison between the Smart Triage model and the Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment guidelines in triaging children presenting to the emergency departments of two public hospitals in Kenya
Authors: Kamau Stephen , Kigo Joyce , Mwaniki Paul , Dunsmuir Dustin , Pillay Yashodani , Zhang Cherri , Nyamwaya Brian , Kimutai David , Ouma Mary , Mohammed Ismael , Gachuhi Keziah , Chege Mary , Thuranira Lydia , Ansermino J Mark , Akech Samuel
Published: August 2024

Several triage systems have been developed, but little is known about their performance in low-resource settings. Evaluating and comparing novel triage systems to existing triage scales provides essential information about their added value, reliability, safety, and effectiveness before adoption. This study included children aged < 15 years who presented to the emergency departments of two public hospitals in Kenya between February and December 2021. We compared the performance of Emergency Triage Assessment and Treatment (ETAT) guidelines and Smart Triage (ST) models (ST model with independent triggers, and recalibrated ST model with independent triggers) in categorizing children into emergency, priority, and non-urgent triage categories. Sankey diagrams were used to visualize the distribution of children into similar or different triage categories by ETAT and ST models. Sensitivity, specificity, negative and positive predictive values for mortality and admission were calculated. 5618 children were enrolled, and the majority (3113, 55.4%) were aged between one and five years of age. Overall admission and mortality rates were 7% and 0.9%, respectively. ETAT classified 513 (9.2%) children into the emergency category compared to 1163 (20.8%) and 1161 (20.7%) by the ST model with independent triggers and recalibrated model with independent triggers, respectively. ETAT categorized 3089 (55.1%) children as non-urgent compared to 2097 (37.4%) and 2617 (46.7%) for the respective ST models. ETAT classified 191/395 (48.4%) admitted patients as emergencies compared to more than half by all the ST models. ETAT and ST models classified 25/49 (51%) and 39/49 (79.6%) deceased children as emergencies. Sensitivity for admission and mortality was 48.4% and 51% for ETAT and 74.9% and 79.6% for the ST models, respectively. Smart Triage shows potential for identifying critically ill children in low-resource settings, particularly when combined with independent triggers and performs comparably to ETAT. Evaluation of Smart Triage in other contexts and comparison to other triage systems is required.
COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness among South Asians in Canada
Authors: Chanchlani Rahul , Shah Baiju R. , Bangdiwala Shrikant I. , de Souza Russell J. , Luo Jin , Bolotin Shelly , Bowdish Dawn M. E. , Desai Dipika , Everett Karl , Lear Scott A. , Loeb Mark , Punthakee Zubin , Sherifali Diana , Wahi Gita , Anand Sonia S.
Published: August 2024

We evaluated the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines among South Asians living in Ontario, Canada compared to non-South Asians and compared the odds of symptomatic COVID-19 infection and related hospitalizations and deaths among non-vaccinated South Asians and non-South Asians. This was a test negative design study conducted in Ontario, Canada between December 14, 2020 and November 15, 2021. All eligible individuals >18 years with symptoms of COVID-19 were subdivided by ethnicity (South Asian vs other) and vaccination status (vaccinated versus not). The primary outcome was vaccine effectiveness as defined by COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and deaths, and secondary outcome was the odds of COVID-19 infections, hospitalizations, and death comparing non-vaccinated South Asians to non-vaccinated non-South Asians. 883,155 individuals were included. Among South Asians, two doses of COVID-19 vaccine prevented 93.8% (95% CI 93.2, 94.4) of COVID-19 infections and 97.5% (95% CI 95.2, 98.6) of hospitalizations and deaths. Among non-South Asians, vaccines prevented 86.6% (CI 86.3, 86.9) of COVID-19 infections and 93.1% (CI 92.2, 93.8) of hospitalizations and deaths. Non-vaccinated South Asians had higher odds of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection compared to non-vaccinated non-South Asians (OR 2.35, 95% CI 2.3, 2.4), regardless of their immigration status. COVID-19 vaccines are effective in preventing infections, hospitalizations and deaths among South Asians living in Canada. The observation that non-vaccinated South Asians have higher odds of symptomatic COVID-19 infection warrants further investigation.
Pediatric and adolescent HIV viral load coverage and suppression rates in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic in 12 PEPFAR-supported sub-Saharan African countries in 2019 and 2020
Authors: Carpenter Deborah , Hast Marisa , Buono Nicole , Hrapcak Susan , Sato Kimi , Mrina Rosemary , Cox Mackenzie Hurlston , Agaba Patricia Aladi , Vrazo Alexandra C. , Wolf Hilary , Rivadeneira Emilia D. , Shang Judith D. , Mayer Magdalene Mange , Prao Aka Herve , Longuma Henri Onema , Kabwe Constantin , Lwana Patricia Nyembo , Tilahun Tsegaye , Ts’oeu Mamorapeli , Mutisya Immaculate , Omoto Lennah Nyabiage , Cowan Jessica Greenberg , Deus Maria Ines Jorge Tomo de , Fagbamigbe Omodele Johnson , Ene Uzoma , Ikpeazu Akudo , Ndlovu Mduduzi B. , Matiko Eva , Schaad Nicolas , Bisimba Jema , Lema Elizabeth , Musokotwane Kebby , Maphosa Talent , Buthelezi Buyile , Olarinoye Adegbenga , Lawal Ismail , Mukungunugwa Solomon , Mwambona Janet Tulibonywa , Wondimu Teferi , Kathure Immaculate Anne , Igboelina Onyeka Donald , Nzima Valery Nxima , Bissai Rosine Grace , Lenka Matjeko , Shasha Willibrord , Olivier N’guetta-Kan , Matsinhe Mѐrcia , Wate Argentina , Godfrey Lingenda , Alexander Heather , Alemnji George , Lecher Shirley
Published: August 2024

The early period of the COVID-19 pandemic limited access to HIV services for children and adolescents living with HIV (C/ALHIV). To determine progress in providing care and treatment services, we describe viral load coverage (VLC) and suppression (VLS) (<1000 copies/ mL) rates during the COVID-19 pandemic in 12 United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)-supported countries. Data for children (0–9 years) and adolescents (10–19 years) on VLC and VLS were analyzed for 12 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries between 2019 (pre-COVID-19) and 2020 (during COVID-19). We report the number of viral load (VL) tests, and percent change in VLC and VLS for patients on ART. For 12 countries, 181,192 children had a VL test during the pre-COVID-19 period compared with 177,683 December 2020 during COVID-19. VLC decreased from 68.8% to 68.3% overall. However, 9 countries experienced an increase ranging from a 0.7%-point increase for Tanzania and Zimbabwe to a 15.3%-point increase for Nigeria. VLS increased for all countries from 71.2% to 77.7%. For adolescents the number with a VL test increased from 377,342 to 402,792. VLC decreased from 77.4% to 77.1%. However, 7 countries experienced an increase ranging from 1.8% for Mozambique to 13.8% for Cameroon. VLS increased for all countries from 76.8% to 83.8%. This analysis shows variation in HIV VLC across 12 SSA countries. VLS consistently improved across all countries demonstrating resilience of countries during 2020. Countries should continue to improve clinical outcomes from C/ALHIV despite service disruptions that may occur during pandemic response.
Multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative pathogenic bacteria isolated from poultry in the Noakhali region of Bangladesh
Authors: Munim Md. Adnan , Das Shuvo Chandra , Hossain Md. Murad , Hami Ithmam , Topu Mridul Gope , Gupta Shipan Das
Published: August 2024

Rapidly increasing antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains in Bangladesh’s food and farm animals stem from the excessive and inappropriate use of antibiotics. To assess the prevalence of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacteria in poultry chicks, we sought to isolate and identify strains carrying antimicrobial resistance genes. Isolation and identification involved biochemical tests, 16S rRNA sequencing, and PCR screening of species-specific genes. MDR patterns were evaluated using CLSI guidelines with seventeen antibiotics across twelve classes. Targeted gene sequences were amplified for the detection of Extended-spectrum β-Lactamase (ESBL), carbapenem, tetracycline, sulfonamide, and colistin resistance genes. Common isolates, such as Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Proteus penneri, and Enterobacter hormaechei, exhibited average Multiple Antimicrobial Resistance (MAR) indices of 0.66, 0.76, 0.8, 0.84, and 0.81, 0.76, 0.84, 0.41 for broiler and layer chicken, respectively. Providencia stuartii and Salmonella enterica, exclusive to broiler samples, had MAR indices of 0.82 and 0.84, respectively. Additional isolates Morganella morganii, Aeromonas spp., and Wohlfahrtiimonas chitiniclastica were found in layers (Average MAR indices: 0.73, 0.71, and 0.91). Notably, M. morganii, E. hormaechei and W. chitiniclastica were identified for the first time in Bangladeshi poultry chicken, although their evolution is yet to be understood. In this study, Pan-drug resistance was observed in one P. stuartii (broiler) and one Aeromonas spp. (layer) with a MAR index 1, while all isolates exhibited MAR indices >0.2, indicating MDR. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) gene screening identified blaTEM, blaSHV, tetA, and sul1 in a majority of the MDR strains. Interestingly, E. coli (lactose positive and negative) and E. hormaechei were exclusively found to possess the tetB gene. In addition, E. coli (lactose negative), Klebsiella pneumoniae, Enterobacter hormaechei, M. morganii, and P. stuartii were observed to carry the colistin-resistant mcr-1 gene, whereas sul2 was detected in E. coli (lactose positive and negative), E. hormaechei, P. stuartii, and P. penneri. These findings emphasize the health risk of our consumers of both broiler and layer chickens as they have turned into a potent reservoir of various AMR gene carrying MDR and Pan-drug resistant bacteria.
High red blood cell distribution width attenuates the effectiveness of Immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy: An exploratory study using a clinical data warehouse
Authors: Matsumoto Hiromi , Fukushima Taichi , Kobayashi Nobuaki , Higashino Yuuki , Muraoka Suguru , Ohtsu Yukiko , Hirata Momo , Somekawa Kohei , Kaneko Ayami , Nagasawa Ryo , Kubo Sousuke , Tanaka Katsushi , Murohashi Kota , Fujii Hiroaki , Watanabe Keisuke , Horita Nobuyuki , Hara Yu , Kaneko Takeshi
Published: August 2024

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved outcomes in cancer treatment but are also associated with adverse events and financial burdens. Identifying accurate biomarkers is crucial for determining which patients are likely to benefit from ICIs. Current markers, such as PD-L1 expression and tumor mutation burden, exhibit limited predictive accuracy. This study utilizes a Clinical Data Warehouse (CDW) to explore the prognostic significance of novel blood-based factors, such as the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and red cell distribution width (RDW), to enhance the prediction of ICI therapy benefit.

Methods

This retrospective study utilized an exploratory cohort from the CDW that included a variety of cancers to explore factors associated with pembrolizumab treatment duration, validated in a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patient cohort from electronic medical records (EMR) and CDW. The CDW contained anonymized data on demographics, diagnoses, medications, and tests for cancer patients treated with ICIs between 2017–2022. Logistic regression identified factors predicting ≤2 or ≥5 pembrolizumab doses as proxies for progression-free survival (PFS), and Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis was used to examine their predictive ability. These factors were validated by correlating doses with PFS in the EMR cohort and re-testing their significance in the CDW cohort with other ICIs. This dual approach utilized the CDW for discovery and EMR/CDW cohorts for validating prognostic biomarkers before ICI treatment.

Results

A total of 609 cases (428 in the exploratory cohort and 181 in the validation cohort) from CDW and 44 cases from EMR were selected for study. CDW analysis revealed that elevated red cell distribution width (RDW) correlated with receiving ≤2 pembrolizumab doses (p = 0.0008), with an AUC of 0.60 for predicting treatment duration. RDW’s correlation with PFS (r = 0.80, p<0.0001) and its weak association with RDW (r = -0.30, p = 0.049) were confirmed in the EMR cohort. RDW also remained significant in predicting short treatment duration across various ICIs (p = 0.0081). This dual methodology verified pretreatment RDW elevation as a prognostic biomarker for shortened ICI therapy.

Conclusion

This study suggests the utility of CDWs in identifying prognostic biomarkers for ICI therapy in cancer treatment. Elevated RDW before treatment initiation emerged as a potential biomarker of shorter therapy duration.
Measuring single-cell susceptibility to antibiotics within monoclonal bacterial populations
Authors: Le Quellec Lena , Aristov Andrey , Gutiérrez Ramos Salomé , Amselem Gabriel , Bos Julia , Baharoglu Zeynep , Mazel Didier , Baroud Charles N.
Published: August 2024

The emergence of new resistant bacterial strains is a worldwide challenge. A resistant bacterial population can emerge from a single cell that acquires resistance or persistence. Hence, new ways of tackling the mechanism of antibiotic response, such as single cell studies are required. It is necessary to see what happens at the single cell level, in order to understand what happens at the population level. To date, linking the heterogeneity of single-cell susceptibility to the population-scale response to antibiotics remains challenging due to the trade-offs between the resolution and the field of view. Here we present a platform that measures the ability of individual E. coli cells to form small colonies at different ciprofloxacin concentrations, by using anchored microfluidic drops and an image and data analysis pipelines. The microfluidic results are benchmarked against classical microbiology measurements of antibiotic susceptibility, showing an agreement between the pooled microfluidic chip and replated bulk measurements. Further, the experimental likelihood of a single cell to form a colony is used to provide a probabilistic antibiotic susceptibility curve. In addition to the probabilistic viewpoint, the microfluidic format enables the characterization of morphological features over time for a large number of individual cells. This pipeline can be used to compare the response of different bacterial strains to antibiotics with different action mechanisms.
Sporadic inclusion body myositis-derived myotube culture revealed muscle cell-autonomous expression profiles
Authors: Suzuki Naoki , Kanzaki Makoto , Koide Masashi , Izumi Rumiko , Fujita Ryo , Takahashi Tadahisa , Ogawa Kazumi , Yabe Yutaka , Tsuchiya Masahiro , Suzuki Masako , Harada Ryuhei , Ohno Akiyuki , Ono Hiroya , Nakamura Naoko , Ikeda Kensuke , Warita Hitoshi , Osana Shion , Oikawa Yoshitsugu , Toyohara Takafumi , Abe Takaaki , Rui Muliang , Ebihara Satoru , Nagatomi Ryoichi , Hagiwara Yoshihiro , Aoki Masashi
Published: August 2024

Sporadic inclusion body myositis (sIBM) is a muscle disease in older people and is characterized by inflammatory cell invasion into intact muscle fibers and rimmed vacuoles. The pathomechanism of sIBM is not fully elucidated yet, and controversy exists as to whether sIBM is a primary autoimmune disease or a degenerative muscle disease with secondary inflammation. Previously, we established a method of collecting CD56-positive myoblasts from human skeletal muscle biopsy samples. We hypothesized that the myoblasts derived from these patients are useful to see the cell-autonomous pathomechanism of sIBM. With these resources, myoblasts were differentiated into myotubes, and the expression profiles of cell-autonomous pathology of sIBM were analyzed. Myoblasts from three sIBM cases and six controls were differentiated into myotubes. In the RNA-sequencing analysis of these “myotube” samples, 104 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were found to be significantly upregulated by more than twofold in sIBM, and 13 DEGs were downregulated by less than twofold. For muscle biopsy samples, a comparative analysis was conducted to determine the extent to which “biopsy” and “myotube” samples differed. Fifty-three DEGs were extracted of which 32 (60%) had opposite directions of expression change (e.g., increased in biopsy vs decreased in myotube). Apolipoprotein E (apoE) and transmembrane protein 8C (TMEM8C or MYMK) were commonly upregulated in muscle biopsies and myotubes from sIBM. ApoE and myogenin protein levels were upregulated in sIBM. Given that enrichment analysis also captured changes in muscle contraction and development, the triggering of muscle atrophy signaling and abnormal muscle differentiation via MYMK or myogenin may be involved in the pathogenesis of sIBM. The presence of DEGs in sIBM suggests that the myotubes formed from sIBM-derived myoblasts revealed the existence of muscle cell-autonomous degeneration in sIBM. The catalog of DEGs will be an important resource for future studies on the pathogenesis of sIBM focusing on primary muscle degeneration.
Carbon system state determines warming potential of emissions
Authors: Winkler Alexander J. , Myneni Ranga , Reimers Christian , Reichstein Markus , Brovkin Victor
Published: August 2024

Current strategies to hold surface warming below a certain level, e. g., 1.5 or 2°C, advocate limiting total anthropogenic cumulative carbon emissions to ∼0.9 or ∼1.25 Eg C (1018 grams carbon), respectively. These allowable emission budgets are based on a near-linear relationship between cumulative emissions and warming identified in various modeling efforts. The IPCC assesses this near-linear relationship with high confidence in its Summary for Policymakers (§D1.1 and Figure SPM.10). Here we test this proportionality in specially designed simulations with a latest-generation Earth system model (ESM) that includes an interactive carbon cycle with updated terrestrial ecosystem processes, and a suite of CMIP simulations (ZecMIP, ScenarioMIP). We find that atmospheric CO2 concentrations can differ by ∼100 ppmv and surface warming by ∼0.31°C (0.46°C over land) for the same cumulated emissions (≈1.2 Eg C, approximate carbon budget for 2°C target). CO2 concentration and warming per 1 Eg of emitted carbon (Transient Climate Response to Cumulative Carbon Emissions; TCRE) depend not just on total emissions, but also on the timing of emissions, which heretofore have been mainly overlooked. A decomposition of TCRE reveals that oceanic heat uptake is compensating for some, but not all, of the pathway dependence induced by the carbon cycle response. The time dependency clearly arises due to lagged carbon sequestration processes in the oceans and specifically on land, viz., ecological succession, land-cover, and demographic changes, etc., which are still poorly represented in most ESMs. This implies a temporally evolving state of the carbon system, but one which surprisingly apportions carbon into land and ocean sinks in a manner that is independent of the emission pathway. Therefore, even though TCRE differs for different pathways with the same total emissions, it is roughly constant when related to the state of the carbon system, i. e., the amount of carbon stored in surface sinks. While this study does not fundamentally invalidate the established TCRE concept, it does uncover additional uncertainties tied to the carbon system state. Thus, efforts to better understand this state dependency with observations and refined models are needed to accurately project the impact of future emissions.
Formulations of poly(vinyl alcohol) functionalized silk fibroin nanoparticles for the oral delivery of zwitterionic ciprofloxacin
Authors: Thi Phuong Thao Nguyen , Nguyen Ngoc Yen , Co Van Ben , Thanh Luong Huynh Vu , Nguyen Manh Quan , Pan-On Suchiwa , Pham Duy Toan
Published: August 2024

Fibroin nanoparticles (FNP) have been employed in numerous biomedical applications. However, limited research has focused on the oral delivery of FNP and in-depth molecular interactions between the encapsulated drug and FNP. Therefore, this work developed the FNP, functionalized with poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), to orally deliver the zwitterionic ciprofloxacin, focused on the molecular interactions. The particles were formulated using both desolvation (the drug precipitated during the particles formulation) and adsorption (the drug adsorbed on the particles surfaces) methods. The optimal formula possessed a size of ~630 nm with narrow size distribution (measured by DLS method), spherical shape (determined by SEM), and moderate drug loading (confirmed by FT-IR, XRD, and DSC techniques) of ~50% for the desolvation method and ~43% for the adsorption method. More than 80% of the drug molecules resided on the particle surfaces, mainly via electrostatic forces with fibroin. The drug was physically adsorbed onto FNP, which followed Langmuir model and pseudo second-order kinetics. In the in-vitro simulated gastric condition at pH 1.2, the ciprofloxacin bound strongly with FNP via electrostatic forces, thus hindering the drug release (< 40%). Contrastingly, in the simulated intestinal condition at pH 6.8, the particles could control the drug release rates dependent on the PVA amount, with up to ~100% drug release. Lastly, the particles possessed adequate antibacterial activities on Bacillus subtilis, Escherichia coli, and Salmonella enterica, with MIC of 128, 8, and 32 μg/mL, respectively. In summary, the FNP and PVA functionalized FNP could be a potential oral delivery system for zwitterionic drugs.
Dissolved nitrogen uptake versus nitrogen fixation: Mode of nitrogen acquisition affects stable isotope signatures of a diazotrophic cyanobacterium and its grazer
Authors: Helmer Michelle , Helmer Desiree , Yohannes Elizabeth , Newton Jason , Dietrich Daniel R. , Martin-Creuzburg Dominik
Published: August 2024

Field studies suggest that changes in the stable isotope ratios of phytoplankton communities can be used to track changes in the utilization of different nitrogen sources, i.e., to detect shifts from dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) uptake to atmospheric nitrogen (N2) fixation by diazotrophic cyanobacteria as an indication of nitrogen limitation. We explored changes in the stable isotope signature of the diazotrophic cyanobacterium Trichormus variabilis in response to increasing nitrate (NO3−) concentrations (0 to 170 mg L−1) under controlled laboratory conditions. In addition, we explored the influence of nitrogen utilization at the primary producer level on trophic fractionation by studying potential changes in isotope ratios in the freshwater model Daphnia magna feeding on the differently grown cyanobacteria. We show that δ 15N values of the cyanobacterium increase asymptotically with DIN availability, from -0.7 ‰ in the absence of DIN (suggesting N2 fixation) to 2.9 ‰ at the highest DIN concentration (exclusive DIN uptake). In contrast, δ 13C values of the cyanobacterium did not show a clear relationship with DIN availability. The stable isotope ratios of the consumer reflected those of the differently grown cyanobacteria but also revealed significant trophic fractionation in response to nitrogen utilization at the primary producer level. Nitrogen isotope turnover rates of Daphnia were highest in the absence of DIN as a consequence of N2 fixation and resulting depletion in 15N at the primary producer level. Our results highlight the potential of stable isotopes to assess nitrogen limitation and to explore diazotrophy in aquatic food webs.