bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Body-size reductions in dacryoconarid tentaculitoids during Late Devonian warming
Authors: Prow-Fleischer Ashley N. , Lu Zunli , Meehan Kimberly C. , Yang Zonglin , Ivany Linda C. , Payne Jonathan L.
Published: September 2024

Body size is an essential factor in an organism's survival, and when paired with paleoenvironmental proxies, size trends can provide insights into a lineage's evolutionary responses to changing environmental conditions. This study explores the diversity and body-volume trends of dacryoconarid tentaculitoids, globally abundant marine zooplankton, in the Devonian of the Appalachian Basin (eastern United States), spanning the late Givetian through the middle Frasnian punctata carbon isotope excursion. Using statistical approaches to model trends, we find evidence of a gradual, within-lineage reduction in styliolinid adult body sizes starting at the Givetian-Frasnian boundary. This reduction is followed by a significant decrease in both adult and initial chamber volumes during the punctata excursion. At the Givetian-Frasnian boundary, annulated forms (nowakiids) become rare and smooth forms (styliolinids) begin to dominate the assemblage. Using pre-existing geological and geochemical data sets, we consider environmental factors, including sea level, anoxia, nutrient availability, and temperature, as potential drivers of body-size reductions. Bottom-water anoxia most likely did not influence body-size trends of this pelagic group, but frequent water-column overturning in the Frasnian or other exchange between deep and shallow water may have affected taxonomic composition, favoring styliolinids. Sea-surface temperature correlates inversely with body size, suggesting that warming beginning in the early Frasnian may have contributed to gradual, long-term size reductions. Rising temperatures through the middle Frasnian may have led to the disappearance of dacryoconarids in the northern Appalachian Basin after the excursion.
Emotion regulation profiles in Syrian refugees and migrants in Germany: self-efficacy, resilience and well-being comparisons
Authors: Churbaji Dana , Schlechter Pascal , Nickerson Angela , Morina Nexhmedin
Published: September 2024

Background

Emotion regulation (ER) plays a central role in psychopathology. Understanding person-centred patterns of ER strategies is crucial for prevention and intervention strategies. However, there is a paucity of research on ER profiles and their psychological correlates in forcibly displaced people (FDP).

Objective

This study aimed to identify habitual ER profiles and to examine the predictive role of different psychological variables on these profiles in Syrian FDP in Germany.

Method

In a sample of 991 individuals, we conducted a latent profile analysis (LPA) to assess habitual reappraisal and suppression of emotion as ER strategies, as well as self-efficacy, resilience, well-being comparisons, trauma exposure and International Classification of Diseases 11th Revision post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms as potential predictors of ER profile membership.

Results

LPA identified four distinct ER profiles: high regulators (12.8%), low regulators (20.6%), reappraisal regulators (25.1%) and suppressive regulators (41.5%). In multinomial regression analysis, self-efficacy, resilience, appetitive well-being comparisons and trauma exposure were significantly associated with profile membership, while PTSD and aversive well-being comparisons showed no significant association. High regulators exhibited the highest levels of self-efficacy, resilience and appetitive well-being comparisons, followed by reappraisal, suppressive and low regulators. Additionally, high regulators reported the highest number of traumatic events, followed by suppressive and low regulators.

Conclusions

Our results indicate a higher adaptiveness in high regulation ER profiles as opposed to low regulation ER profiles.

Clinical implications

Given that most FDP in our sample relied predominantly on one ER strategy, developing interventions that focus on cultivating a broad repertoire of ER strategies may be beneficial.
Optimising remote monitoring for cardiac implantable electronic devices: a UK Delphi consensus
Authors: Ahmad Shumaila , Straw Sam , Gierula John , Roberts Eleri , Collinson Jason , Swift Matthew , Monkhouse Chris , Broadhurst Lucy , Allan Annabel , Jamil Haqeel A , Dixon Anne , Black Paula , Pinnell Ian , Law Hannah , Archer Natalie , Ahmed Fozia , Paton Maria F
Published: September 2024

Background

Remote monitoring (RM) is recommended for the ongoing management of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices (CIEDs). Despite its benefits, RM adoption has increased the workload for cardiac rhythm management teams. This study used a modified Delphi method to develop a consensus on optimal RM management for adult patients with a CIED in the UK.

Methods

A national steering committee comprising cardiac physiologists, cardiologists, specialist nurses, support professionals and a patient representative developed 114 statements on best RM practices, covering capacity, support, service delivery, coordination and clinical escalation. An online questionnaire was used to gather input from UK specialists, with consensus defined as ≥75% agreement.

Results

Between 16 October 2023 and 4 December 2023, 115 responses were received. Of the statements, 79 (69%) achieved high agreement (≥90%), 20 (18%) showed moderate agreement (75%–89%) and 15 (13%) did not achieve consensus. The highest agreement focused on patient education and support, while the lowest concerned workload distribution.

Conclusions

There is strong agreement on best practices for RM of CIEDs among UK healthcare professionals. Key recommendations include ensuring patient access, providing adequate resources, adopting new working methods, enhancing patient education, establishing clear clinical escalation pathways and standardising national policies. Implementing these best practices, tailored to local capabilities, is essential for effective and equitable RM services across the UK.
Spatial colocalization and combined survival benefit of natural killer and CD8 T cells despite profound MHC class I loss in non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Wessel Remziye E , Ageeb Nardin , Obeid Joseph M , Mauldin Ileana S , Goundry Kate A , Hanson Gabriel F , Hossain Mahdin , Lehman Chad , Gentzler Ryan D , Wages Nolan A , Slingluff Craig L , Bullock Timothy N J , Dolatshahi Sepideh , Brown Michael G
Published: September 2024

Background

Major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) loss is frequent in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) rendering tumor cells resistant to T cell lysis. NK cells kill MHC-I-deficient tumor cells, and although previous work indicated their presence at NSCLC margins, they were functionally impaired. Within, we evaluated whether NK cell and CD8 T cell infiltration and activation vary with MHC-I expression.

Methods

We used single-stain immunohistochemistry (IHC) and Kaplan-Meier analysis to test the effect of NK cell and CD8 T cell infiltration on overall and disease-free survival. To delineate immune covariates of MHC-I-disparate lung cancers, we used multiplexed immunofluorescence (mIF) imaging followed by multivariate statistical modeling. To identify differences in infiltration and intercellular communication between IFNγ-activated and non-activated lymphocytes, we developed a computational pipeline to enumerate single-cell neighborhoods from mIF images followed by multivariate discriminant analysis.

Results

Spatial quantitation of tumor cell MHC-I expression revealed intratumoral and intertumoral heterogeneity, which was associated with the local lymphocyte landscape. IHC analysis revealed that high CD56+cell numbers in patient tumors were positively associated with disease-free survival (HR=0.58, p=0.064) and overall survival (OS) (HR=0.496, p=0.041). The OS association strengthened with high counts of both CD56+and CD8+cells (HR=0.199, p<1×10−3). mIF imaging and multivariate discriminant analysis revealed enrichment of both CD3+CD8+T cells and CD3–CD56+NK cells in MHC-I-bearing tumors (p<0.05). To infer associations of functional cell states and local cell–cell communication, we analyzed spatial single-cell neighborhood profiles to delineate the cellular environments of IFNγ+/–NK cells and T cells. We discovered that both IFNγ+NK and CD8 T cells were more frequently associated with other IFNγ+lymphocytes in comparison to IFNγ–NK cells and CD8 T cells (p<1×10–30). Moreover, IFNγ+lymphocytes were most often found clustered near MHC-I+tumor cells.

Conclusions

Tumor-infiltrating NK cells and CD8 T cells jointly affected control of NSCLC tumor progression. Coassociation of NK and CD8 T cells was most evident in MHC-I-bearing tumors, especially in the presence of IFNγ. Frequent colocalization of IFNγ+NK cells with other IFNγ+lymphocytes in near-neighbor analysis suggests NSCLC lymphocyte activation is coordinately regulated.
Attainment of EULAR/ERA-EDTA targets of therapy with current immunosuppressive regimens and adjustments in treatment: a multicentre, real-life observational study
Authors: Pappa Maria , Kosmetatou Maria , Pieta Antigone , Nikoloudaki Myrto , Liapis Nektarios Marios , Tsalapaki Christina , Chalkia Aglaia , Argyriou Evangelia , Dimitroulas Theodoros , Cheila Myrto , Demirtzoglou Georgios , Papagoras Charalampos , Goules Andreas , Katsiari Christina , Vassilopoulos Dimitrios , Sidiropoulos Prodromos , Boki Kyriaki A , Sfikakis Petros P , Liapis George , Gakiopoulou Harikleia , Voulgari Paraskevi V , Boumpas Dimitrios T , Bertsias George , Tektonidou Maria G , Fanouriakis Antonis
Published: September 2024

Objective

To estimate real-life European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology (EULAR)/European Renal Association (ERA)-European Dialysis and Transplantation Association (EDTA) response rates and predictors for no response in patients with lupus nephritis (LN) managed with conventional immunosuppressive therapies.

Methods

Ambidirectional cohort study of patients with new-onset LN (period 2014–to date). Response rates in the first year were calculated, and all treatment modifications were recorded. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess determinants of failure to respond at 12 months.

Results

140 patients were included (81.4% women, median (IQR) age at LN diagnosis 38 (22) years). Among them, 32.1% presented with nephrotic range proteinuria, 28.6% with glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min, 76.6% had proliferative and 19.7% class V LN. Initial treatment consisted of cyclophosphamide in 51.4% of patients (84.7% high-dose, 15.3% low-dose) and mycophenolate in 32.1%. 120 patients had available data at 12 months. EULAR/ERA-EDTA renal response rates at 3, 6 and 12 months were achieved by 72.6%, 78.5% % and 69.2% of patients, respectively. In multivariate analysis, increased Chronicity Index at baseline was associated with failure to achieve either complete or partial response at 12 months (OR 2.26, 95% CI 1.35 to 3.77). Notably, 20% of patients required treatment modifications due to suboptimal response during the first 12 months, with the addition of or switch to a different immunosuppressive drug in seven and nine patients, respectively.

Conclusions

More than two-thirds of patients with LN attain EULAR/ERA-EDTA response rates by 12 months, but 20% require therapy modifications within this time period. Patients with increased chronicity in baseline biopsy, when combined with histological activity, are at higher risk for a lack of clinical response.
Top 100 most-cited articles on pediatric anesthesia from 1990 to 2023
Authors: Qian Minyue , Zhong Jia , Lu Zhongteng , Zhang Wenyuan , Zhang Kai , Jin Yue
Published: September 2024

Pediatric anesthesia presents greater challenges than does adult anesthesia. This bibliometric analysis aimed to analyze the top 100 most cited articles to be better understand the hot spots and prospects in pediatric anesthesia. Articles and reviews related to pediatric anesthesia were retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection from 1990 to 2023. A bibliometric analysis of the top 100 most cited articles was also performed using information such as topics, author names, countries, institutions, publication years, and journals. A total of 32 831 articles were identified, with a total of 32 230 citations for the top 100 articles. The peak period for pediatric anesthesia research was from 2005 to 2009. The USA has emerged as the most active country in pediatric anesthesia research. Major journals published includedAnesthesia and Analgesia,Anesthesiology, andPediatrics, underscoring their authority in the field. Clinical studies on the top 100 most cited articles have focused on different stages of the perioperative period, the use of different anesthetic agents, and adverse outcomes in pediatric patients. The current study conducted a bibliometric analysis of the top 100 most cited articles in the field of pediatric anesthesia. Such insights are valuable for identifying research hot spots, assessing academic impact and collaboration in pediatric anesthesia, and guiding future research directions.
QEYSSat 2.0—white paper on satellite-based quantum communication missions in Canada
Authors: Jennewein Thomas , Simon Christoph , Fougères André , Babin François , Asadi Faezeh Kimiaee , Kuntz Katanya B. , Maisonneuve Mathieu , Moffat Brian , Mohammadi Kimia , Panneton Denis
Published: September 2024

We present the white paper developed during the QEYSSat 2.0 study, which was undertaken between June 2021 and March 2022. The study objective was to establish a technology road-map for a Canada-wide quantum network enabled by satellites. We survey the state-of-art in quantum communication technologies, identify the main applications and architectures, review the technical readiness levels and technology bottlenecks and identify a future mission scenario. We report the findings of a dedicated one-day workshop that included Canadian stakeholders from government, industry and academia to gather inputs and insights for the applications and technical road-map. We also provide an overview of the Quantum EncrYption and Science Satellite (QEYSSat) mission expected to launch in 2024–2025 and its anticipated outcomes. One of the main outcomes of this study is that developing the main elements for a Canada-wide quantum internet will have the highest level of impact, which includes Canada-wide entanglement distribution and teleportation. We present and analyze a possible future mission (“QEYSSat 2.0”) that would enable long-range quantum teleportation across Canada as an important step towards this vision.
Generalization of conformal Hamada operators
Authors: Rachwał Lesław , do Vale Públio Rwany B. R.
Published: September 2024

The six-derivative conformal scalar operator was originally found by Hamada in its critical dimension of spacetime, $$d=6$$

d
=
6

. We generalize this construction to arbitrary dimensions d by adding new terms cubic in gravitational curvatures and by changing its coefficients of expansion in various curvature terms. The consequences of global scale-invariance and of infinitesimal local conformal transformations are derived for the form of this generalized operator. The system of linear equations for coefficients is solved giving explicitly the conformal Hamada operator in any d. Some singularities in construction for dimensions $$d=2$$

d
=
2

and $$d=4$$

d
=
4

are noticed. We also prove a general theorem that a scalar conformal operator with n derivatives in $$d=n-2$$

d
=
n
-
2

dimensions is impossible to construct. Finally, we compare our explicit construction with the one that uses conformal covariant derivatives and conformal curvature tensors. We present new results for operators built with different orders of conformal covariant derivatives.
THE FRACTAL FUNCTION APPROXIMATION AND ITS APPLICATION TO AERODYNAMIC MODELING
Authors: CUI JINLEI , XU ZHIXIONG , QIAN WEIQI , HE LEI , LI BING , CHEN HAI
Published: September 2024

The fractal function approximation is an important branch of fractal theory. Compared with the ordinary function approximation, its advantage is that it can not only improve the accuracy of the approximation, but also maintain the fractional-dimensional characteristics of the objective function. However, in the process of studying the fractal function approximation, it is inevitable to calculate the fractal dimension of the sum function after adding multiple functions. This paper systematically sorts out and computes the fractal dimension of sum functions for different cases, so as to make a good theoretical foundation for fractal function approximation. Finally, considering that the change of aircraft aerodynamic value has fractional dimension characteristics, the use of the fractional function to approximate the aerodynamic numerical function has an inherent advantage, and the use of fractional calculus for aerodynamic modeling can more accurately measure the maximum angle of attack. Therefore, the application of fractional calculus and fractal function approximation theory in aerodynamic numerical modeling has been discussed in detail at the end of this paper, and the corresponding fractional aerodynamic modeling process is also demonstrated.
The Semantic Reader Project
Authors: Lo Kyle , Chang Joseph Chee , Head Andrew , Bragg Jonathan , Zhang Amy X. , Trier Cassidy , Anastasiades Chloe , August Tal , Authur Russell , Bragg Danielle , Bransom Erin , Cachola Isabel , Candra Stefan , Chandrasekhar Yoganand , Chen Yen-Sung , Cheng Evie Yu-Yen , Chou Yvonne , Downey Doug , Evans Rob , Fok Raymond , Hu Fangzhou , Huff Regan , Kang Dongyeop , Kim Tae Soo , Kinney Rodney , Kittur Aniket , Kang Hyeonsu B. , Klevak Egor , Kuehl Bailey , Langan Michael J. , Latzke Matt , Lochner Jaron , MacMillan Kelsey , Marsh Eric , Murray Tyler , Naik Aakanksha , Nguyen Ngoc-Uyen , Palani Srishti , Park Soya , Paulic Caroline , Rachatasumrit Napol , Rao Smita , Sayre Paul , Shen Zejiang , Siangliulue Pao , Soldaini Luca , Tran Huy , van Zuylen Madeleine , Wang Lucy Lu , Wilhelm Christopher , Wu Caroline , Yang Jiangjiang , Zamarron Angele , Hearst Marti A. , Weld Daniel S.
Published: September 2024

Scholarly publications are key to the transfer of knowledge from scholars to others. However, research papers are information-dense, and as the volume of the scientific literature grows, the greater the need for new technology to support scholars. In contrast to the process of
finding
papers, which has been transformed by Internet technology, the experience of
reading
research papers has changed little in decades. For instance, the PDF format for sharing papers remains widely used due to its portability but has significant downsides, inter alia, static content and poor accessibility for low-vision readers. This paper explores the question “Can recent advances in AI and HCI power intelligent, interactive, and accessible reading interfaces—even for legacy PDFs?” We describe the Semantic Reader Project, a collaborative effort across multiple institutions to explore automatic creation of dynamic reading interfaces for research papers. Through this project, we’ve developed a collection of novel reading interfaces and evaluated them with study participants and real-world users to show improved reading experiences for scholars. We’ve also released a production research paper reading interface that will continuously incorporate novel features from our research as they mature. We structure this paper around five key opportunities for AI assistance in scholarly reading —discovery, efficiency, comprehension, synthesis, and accessibility—and present an overview of our progress and discuss remaining open challenges.
Electrochemical Detection of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in Wastewater by Amino C-dot-MOF/GCE
Authors: Chen Shaohua , Wang Yihua , Zhang Biao , Li Mingming , Zhang Jinhua , Hu Qiangfei , Qian Quan , Liu Hui
Published: September 2024

Carbon dots(C-dots) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have found widespread applications in sensing, energy storage, and catalysis, yet their utilization in electrochemical sensing remains relatively limited. This study focuses on the preparation of C-dots/UiO-66-NH2 as a modified material on glassy carbon electrodes to detect cadmium and lead ions in water using electrochemical methods. The material was created by utilizing m-phenylenediamine as a C-dots source and amino-functionalized zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks, combining these two popular materials. The presence of amino groups in the structure facilitated the complexation with metal ions, providing an effective interface for metal ion adsorption. Under optimized deposition conditions, C-dots/UiO-66-NH2 demonstrated excellent linearity and low detection limits for metal ions (Cd2+ and Pb2+) within the concentration range of 30 to 180 μg l−1. The limits of detection (LOD) were LOD(Cd) = 2.16 μg l−1 and LOD(Pb) = 1.08 μg l−1 for individual detection, and LOD(Cd) = 2.62 μg l−1 and LOD(Pb) = 1.36 μg l−1 for simultaneous detection. These results highlight the suitability of C-dots/UiO-66-NH2 for the determination of Cd2+ and Pb2+ in water. Furthermore, the C-dots/UiO-66-NH2/GCE sensor exhibited robust immunity to interference and maintained detection stability, showcasing its potential for practical applications.
Development and Characterization of Soy Protein Isolate/Xylose Film
Authors: Chen Mingqiao , Yuan Qinghua , Lin Zhidan
Published: September 2024

This paper used different concentrations of xylose as a cross‐linker to initiate the Maillard reaction with the soy protein isolate matrix. The mechanical performance and moisture resistance of the soy protein isolate film were enhanced. Measuring the specific wavelength absorbance, free amino group concentration, and fluorescence spectrum of the cross‐linked result revealed the alteration of the soy protein isolate. Simultaneously, composite films made by crosslinking soy protein isolate with xylose were thoroughly investigated. Mechanical properties, contact angle measurement, water vapour transmission rate, optical properties, and thermal performance were used to determine the film’s fundamental properties, and the interaction relationship between soy protein isolate, xylose, and glycerol was studied using infrared spectroscopy. The study found that the modified SPI film outperformed the unmodified film, particularly when the xylose content was 20%. The tensile strength reached 6.26 MPa, and the water vapour permeability was reduced to 5.45 × 10−8 g·mm/m2·s·Pa. It also exhibited excellent UV resistance and good thermal stability.
MHD Convection with Joule Heating and Internal Heat Generation in a Two‐Layer Discretely Heated Chamber Partly Filled with Porous Medium
Authors: Hasan Nahid , Deb Niloy , Saha Sumon
Published: September 2024

The present research presents an innovative approach by integrating magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) flow with resistive heating, integrating a partly permeable layer and interior heat production to scrutinize natural convective flow within a square domain. It also examines both straight and wavy interfaces between the porous and fluid domains. Engaging the Galerkin finite element‐based weighted residual approach, numerical solutions are obtained by unraveling the two‐dimensional Navier–Stokes and thermal energy equations for pure fluid and fluid‐saturated porous domains. The parametric variations include Rayleigh numbers (Ra), porous layer thickness (H), corrugation frequency (f), corrugation amplitude (A), Hartmann number (Ha), and the heat production coefficient (∆). This study assesses the thermal effectiveness of a discrete thermal source, considering variations in porous layer thickness, corrugation frequency and amplitude, magnetic force intensity, and heat production impacts. The discoveries are demonstrated resolvably through the Nusselt number along the warmed edge, thermal performance criterion, and a qualitative portrayal of flow and thermal fields. After extensive analysis, it becomes apparent that reduced thickness of the porous layer, corrugation frequency, and amplitude enhance thermal performance. However, diminished porous layer thickness and corrugation frequency contribute to higher thermal performance criterion (TPC), whereas decreased corrugation amplitude results in a lower TPC. Specifically, the lowest values of H, A, and f result in 11.5%, 0.6%, and 0.1% higher thermal performance, respectively, compared to their highest values. Furthermore, a straight fluid‐saturated porous to the pure fluid domain interface, as opposed to a wavy interface at the highest H, A, and f values, offers a 0.7% improvement in thermal performance.
The Characteristic of Biofilm Formation in ESBL‐Producing K. pneumoniae Isolates
Authors: Gao Xiaofang , Wang Haili , Wu Zhijuan , Sun Pan , Yu Wei , Chen Donghua , Mao Yuhua , Fang Lili , Qian Jia , Li Li , Peng Qian , Han Yanping
Published: September 2024

Klebsiella pneumoniae is a pathogen that commonly causes hospital‐acquired infections. Bacterial biofilms are structured bacterial communities that adhere to the surface of objects or biological tissues. In this study, we investigated the genome homology and biofilm formation capacity of ESBL‐producing K. pneumoniae. Thirty ESBL‐producing K. pneumoniae isolates from 25 inpatients at Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai, were subjected to pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) to estimate genomic relatedness. Based on the chromosomal DNA patterns we obtained, we identified 21 PFGE profiles from the 30 isolates, eight of which had high homology indicating that they may have genetic relationships and/or potential clonal advantages within the hospital. Approximately 84% (21/25) of the clinical patients had a history of surgery, urinary tract catheterization, and/or arteriovenous intubation, all of which may have increased the risk for nosocomial infections. Biofilms were observed in 73% (22/30) of the isolates and that strains did not express type 3 fimbriae did not have biofilm formation capacity. Above findings indicated that a high percentage of ESBL‐producing K. pneumoniae isolates formed biofilms in vitro and even though two strains with cut‐off of PFGE reached 100% similarity, they generated biofilms differently. Besides, the variability in biofilm formation ability may be correlated with the expression of type 3 fimbriae. Thus, we next screened four ESBL‐producing K. pneumoniae isolates (Kpn5, Kpn7, Kpn11, and Kpn16) with high homology and significant differences in biofilm formation using PFGE molecular typing, colony morphology, and crystal violet tests. Kpn7 and Kpn16 had stronger biofilm formation abilities compared with Kpn5 and Kpn11. The ability of above four ESBL‐producing K. pneumoniae isolates to agglutinate in a mannose‐resistant manner or in a mannose‐sensitive manner, as well as RNA sequencing‐based transcriptome results, showed that type 3 fimbriae play a significant role in biofilm formation. In contrast, type 1 fimbriae were downregulated during biofilm formation. Further research is needed to fully understand the regulatory mechanisms which underlie these processes.
Elevated Proportions of Circulating CXCR5+ Follicular Helper T Cells Reflect the Presence of Airway Obstruction in Asthma
Authors: Tsukuda Tsukie Kin , Tsuji Kimiko , Nishimori Akari , Ito Takehiko , Kobayashi Yuka , Suzuki Taro , Yokoyama Akihito
Published: September 2024

Rationale. The progressive decline in lung function observed in asthma is attributed to persistent type 2 airway inflammation and associated airway remodeling. While various immune cells are involved in localized type 2 airway inflammation, whether these reflect the presence of airway obstruction due to persistent type 2 airway inflammation remains unclear. This study aimed to explore whether the proportions of immune cells in peripheral blood indicate the presence of type 2 inflammation and airway obstruction in asthmatics. Materials and Methods. Using flow cytometry, we identified and quantified Group 2 innate lymphocytes, T helper 2 cells, follicular helper T cells, and T helper 17 cells in peripheral blood samples from 49 individuals with asthma. We then conducted cross‐sectional analyses to assess relationships between levels of these immune cells and lung function parameters, including the percentage predicted forced expiratory volume in 1 s (%FEV1). We also examined correlations between the proportions of immune cells and type 2 biomarkers. Results. Proportions of CXCR5+ follicular helper T cells in human peripheral blood, as opposed to Group 2 innate lymphoid cells (ILC2) or T helper 2 cells, were significantly higher in cases with %FEV1 < 80% compared to those with %FEV1 ≥ 80%. Further, these proportions correlated negatively with %FEV1 and positively with blood eosinophil counts. Conclusions. The proportion of circulating follicular helper T cells, but not T helper 2 cells or Group 2 innate lymphoid cells, may reflect the presence of airway obstruction caused by persistent type 2 inflammation.
Refractory Myasthenia Gravis and Concurrent Alopecia Areata Postthymectomy With Improvements After Cortisone Taper: A Case Report
Authors: Alghalyini Baraa , Dahman Huda , Zaidi Abdul Rehman Zia , Raziq Fathima Aasiya Tehreemah , Alswes Mohammad Amin
Published: September 2024

This case report presents a unique clinical scenario of a 58‐year‐old male suffering from severe refractory myasthenia gravis and concurrent alopecia areata postthymectomy. Myasthenia gravis, a common autoimmune disorder, is characterized by muscle weakness due to autoantibodies targeting neuromuscular junction proteins. Alopecia areata, another autoimmune disease, is often seen in individuals with myasthenia gravis, suggesting a shared immunological basis. The patient’s condition was resistant to conventional treatment, and he developed alopecia areata following thymectomy. Despite the challenges in managing refractory myasthenia gravis and the associated alopecia areata, significant improvements were observed following a cortisone taper. This case highlights the potential therapeutic role of cortisone tapering in managing refractory myasthenia gravis and associated alopecia areata. This case also prompts further exploration into the immunological shifts following thymectomy, particularly its potential role in triggering alopecia areata.
Analysis of Dengue and SARS‐CoV‐2 Coinfection in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Korishetty Vinayaka , Rao Pooja , Shenoy Suchitra , Jeppu Udayalaxmi , B. Keerthiraj
Published: September 2024

Introduction. Coinfection of dengue virus and SARS‐CoV‐2 infections in dengue‐endemic areas is a significant public health concern. Coinfections can result in severe illness. Hence, this study determines the incidence of dengue and COVID‐19 coinfection for a better understanding of the clinical presentation, laboratory parameters, and outcomes including mortality. Methods. The patients admitted to two tertiary hospitals with RT PCR‐proven COVID‐19 infection and dengue positive by NS1 rapid antigen or IgM dengue ELISA for two years between January 2020 and December 2022 were considered. Clinical data were retrieved from medical records including the laboratory findings and outcomes of these patients. The categorical data were analyzed in the form of frequency and proportion. The quantitative data were analyzed in the form of mean, median, and proportion. Results. Out of 2301 confirmed dengue samples and 3718 confirmed COVID‐19 samples, there were 14 cases of coinfection with the presence of COVID‐19 and dengue infection at the same time. ICU admission of 14.2% and mean hospital stay of 7 days were noted. Mainly the symptoms reported were fever at 92.9%, myalgia at 35.7%, and headache, vomiting, and cough at 28.6%. The laboratory findings were elevated lactate dehydrogenase and C‐reactive protein in 100% of patients, elevated ferritin in 92.9%, thrombocytopenia in 71.4%, elevated AST and ALT in 71.4%, and elevated D‐dimer in 57.1% of patients. There was no effect on morbidity and mortality seen among coinfection. Conclusion. COVID‐19 and dengue share similar clinical features and laboratory findings. Diagnosis of one disease cannot rule out the presence of other infections. There might be chances of misdiagnosis or missed diagnosis. Hence, it is important to stress about early detection using specific methods and confirmation of disease with timely management, as it is a potentially new dimension for public health concern and management.
Wound Healing and Acute Dermal Toxicity Studies of Ludwigia octovalvis (Jacq.) P. H. Raven (Onagraceae) in Sprague–Dawley Rats
Authors: Boadi Martin , Gbedema Stephen Yao , Boakye Yaw Duah , Bayor Marcel Tunkumgnen , Aboagye Eugene Agyei
Published: September 2024

Introduction. The aerial part of Ludwigia octovalvis has been used traditionally in some parts of Asia for the management of wounds owing to the presence of phytochemicals such as tannins, flavonoids, and triterpenoids among others. The incidence of wounds, their associated complications, and the cost of wound care are on the increase globally, therefore, the need to develop alternative wound care agents. The aim of this study was to scientifically investigate the wound healing potential of the ethanolic extract of L. octovalvis using the excision wound healing model in rats and also carry out an acute dermal toxicity investigation of the plant extract. Method. A 70% ethanol extract of L. octovalvis was prepared for the wound healing activity using the excision wound healing model in Sprague–Dawley rats. Aqueous creams (1, 3, and 10%) were prepared and topically applied to the wounds once daily according to the groups of animals. The wounds were assessed for rates of wound closure on days 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. Re‐epithelialization periods were also determined. Sections of wound tissues obtained on day 13 were subjected to histological investigations. An acute dermal toxicity of the plant extract was investigated. Results. L. octovalvis treatment (1, 3, and 10%) exhibited a mean percentage wound contraction range of 85.36 ± 7.22–94.14 ± 2.23 on day 11. The extract exhibited re‐epithelialization periods of 17.3 ± 1.2, 19.8 ± 2.6, and 16.0 ± 1.7 days for the 1, 3, and 10% extract creams, respectively, whereas the cream‐only and 1% silver sulfadiazine treatments resulted in a re‐epithelialization period of greater than 28 days. Histopathological investigation revealed enhanced fibroblast infiltration and collagen deposition in the treatment groups. No adverse reaction was observed in the acute dermal toxicity study. Conclusions. Extract of L. octovalvis exhibited wound healing by enhancing wound contraction, re‐epithelialization, fibroblast infiltration, and collagen deposition at the wound site. The extract did not exhibit any toxic reaction in the acute dermal toxicity study.
Selective Adjuvant Ayurvedic Treatment Modulates Immune Response and Oxidative Stress in a Patient with Carcinoma of the Pyriform Fossa, Undergoing Radiotherapy: A Case Study
Authors: Deshmukh Vineeta , Chiplunkar Shubhada , Sardeshmukh Sadanand , Patil Tushar , Shinde Jagdish , Gupta Vidya , Gujar Shweta , Sardeshmukh Nilambari , Pathak Shridevi , Chavan Sandeep , Pradhan Trupti , Godbole Jueelee
Published: September 2024

Introduction: Hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, stage III has poor prognosis with only 25% chance of 5 years of relative survival in such patients in spite of conventional treatment including radical surgery, radiotherapy, and concurrent chemotherapy. Case Presentation: A chronic tobacco-betel nut chewer 62-year-old male patient had dysphagia with hoarseness of voice diagnosed with stage III, grade II malignant pyriform fossa. The patient underwent 9 cycles of neoadjuvant chemotherapy with Inj Paclitaxel 100 mg and Inj Cisplatin 40 mg. He was then referred to our institute for Radical Radiotherapy with concurrent chemotherapy with adjunct Ayurvedic treatment. A total dose of 70 Gy of radiation with cobalt 60 source was administered to the bilateral face and neck, in 35 fractions. Patient also received 6 cycles of concurrent weekly chemotherapy with Inj Cisplatin 40 mg. He received well-planned adjunct Ayurvedic treatment in the form of oral Ayurvedic medicines (OAM) and detoxifying treatment, Panchakarma. All the measured adverse effects of radiotherapy such as Stomatitis, Xerostomia, Taste Alteration, Dysphagia, and Nausea were observed to be remarkably low during and post radiotherapy in this patient. Karnofsky and Quality of Life (QoL) scores revealed patient’s well-being throughout the treatment course. After 5 years, PET CT scan revealed no FDG avid locoregional recurrence or distant organ involvement implying disease-free survival (DFS). Various chemokines, cytokines, and oxidative stress markers were assessed during the course of treatment to observe tumour microenvironment. Conclusion: The present case of Head & Neck Cancer (HNC), stage III, and grade II belonged to high-grade, high-risk hypopharyngeal cancer with poor prognosis. The patient opted for Ayurvedic treatment besides radiotherapy, which continued thereafter for 5 years. We therefore emphasize that in this case, minimum side effects of radiotherapy, immunomodulation, and reduction in inflammation and oxidative stress along with good quality of life can be attributed to OAM and repeated detoxifying Panchakarma treatment supported with healthy diet and good lifestyle. The highlight of the study is the marked effect on the patient’s immune response and reduction in oxidative stress, leading to 5 years and beyond of DFS.
Atherosclerosis on a Chip: A 3-Dimensional Microfluidic Model of Early Arterial Events in Human Plaques
Authors: Maringanti Ranganath , van Dijk Christian G.M. , Meijer Elana M. , Brandt Maarten M. , Li Mingzi , Tiggeloven Vera P.C. , Krebber Merle M. , Chrifi Ihsan , Duncker Dirk J. , Verhaar Marianne C. , Cheng Caroline
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND:

Realistic reconstruction of the in vivo human atherosclerotic environment requires the coculture of different cell types arranged in atherosclerotic vessel–like structures with exposure to flow and circulating cells, presenting challenges for disease modeling. This study aimed to develop a 3-dimensional tubular microfluidic model with quadruple coculture of human aortic smooth muscle cells, human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells, and foam cells to recreate a complex human atherosclerotic vessel in vitro to study the effects of flow and circulating immune cells.

METHODS:

We developed a coculture protocol utilizing BFP (blue fluorescent protein)-labeled human aortic smooth muscle cells, GFP (green fluorescent protein)-labeled human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells, and THP-1 macrophage-derived, Dil-labeled oxidized LDL (low-density lipoprotein) foam cells within a fibrinogen/collagen I–based 3-dimensional ECM (extracellular matrix). Perfusion experiments were conducted for 24 hours on both atherosclerotic vessels and healthy vessels (BFP-labeled human aortic smooth muscle cells and GFP-labeled human umbilical cord vein endothelial cells without foam cells). Additionally, perfusion with circulating THP-1 monocytes was performed to observe cell extravasation and recruitment.

RESULTS:

The resulting vessels displayed early lesion morphology, with a layered composition including an endothelium and media, and foam cells accumulating in the subendothelial space. The layered wall composition of both atherosclerotic and healthy vessels remained stable under perfusion. Circulating THP-1 monocytes demonstrated cell extravasation into the atherosclerotic vessel wall and recruitment to the foam cell core. The qPCR (quantitative polymerase chain reaction) analysis indicated increased expression of atherosclerosis markers in the atherosclerotic vessels and adaptation of vascular smooth muscle cell migration in response to flow and the plaque microenvironment, compared with control vessels.

CONCLUSIONS:

The human 3-dimensional atherosclerosis model demonstrated stability under perfusion and allowed for the observation of immune cell behavior, providing a valuable tool for the atherosclerosis research field.
Management of Patients With Cardiac Arrest Requiring Interfacility Transport: A Scientific Statement From the American Heart Association
Authors: May Teresa L. , Bressler Erin A. , Cash Rebecca E. , Guyette Francis X. , Lin Steve , Morris Nicholas A. , Panchal Ashish R. , Perrin Stacy M. , Vogelsong Melissa , Yeung Joyce , Elmer Jonathan ,   on behalf of the American Heart Association Council on Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Perioperative and Resuscitation; Council on Clinical Cardiology; and Council on Cardiovascular and Stroke Nursing
Published: September 2024

People who experience out-of-hospital cardiac arrest often require care at a regional center for continued treatment after resuscitation, but many do not initially present to the hospital where they will be admitted. For patients who require interfacility transport after cardiac arrest, the decision to transfer between centers is complex and often based on individual clinical characteristics, resources at the presenting hospital, and available transport resources. Once the decision has been made to transfer a patient after cardiac arrest, there is little direct guidance on how best to provide interfacility transport. Accepting centers depend on transferring emergency departments and emergency medical services professionals to make important and nuanced decisions about postresuscitation care that may determine the efficacy of future treatments. The consequences of early care are greater when transport delays occur, which is common in rural areas or due to inclement weather. Challenges of providing interfacility transfer services for patients who have experienced cardiac arrest include varying expertise of clinicians, differing resources available to them, and nonstandardized communication between transferring and receiving centers. Although many aspects of care are insufficiently studied to determine implications for specific out-of-hospital treatment on outcomes, a general approach of maintaining otherwise recommended postresuscitation care during interfacility transfer is reasonable. This includes close attention to airway, vascular access, ventilator management, sedation, cardiopulmonary monitoring, antiarrhythmic treatments, blood pressure control, temperature control, and metabolic management. Patient stability for transfer, equity and inclusion, and communication also must be considered. Many of these aspects can be delivered by protocol-driven care.
Machine Translation Meta Evaluation through Translation Accuracy Challenge Sets
Authors: Moghe Nikita , Fazla Arnisa , Amrhein Chantal , Kocmi Tom , Steedman Mark , Birch Alexandra , Sennrich Rico , Guillou Liane
Published: September 2024

Recent machine translation (MT) metrics calibrate their effectiveness by correlating with human judgment. However, these results are often obtained by averaging predictions across large test sets without any insights into the strengths and weaknesses of these metrics across different error types. Challenge sets are used to probe specific dimensions of metric behavior but there are very few such datasets and they either focus on a limited number of phenomena or a limited number of language pairs. We introduce ACES, a contrastive challenge set spanning 146 language pairs, aimed at discovering whether metrics can identify 68 translation accuracy errors. These phenomena range from basic alterations at the word/character level to more intricate errors based on discourse and real-world knowledge. We conducted a large-scale study by benchmarking ACES on 47 metrics submitted to the WMT 2022 and WMT 2023 metrics shared tasks. We also measure their sensitivity to a range of linguistic phenomena. We further investigate claims that large language models (LLMs) are effective as MT evaluators, addressing the limitations of previous studies by using a dataset that covers a range of linguistic phenomena and language pairs and includes both low- and medium-resource languages. Our results demonstrate that different metric families struggle with different phenomena and that LLM-based methods are unreliable. We expose a number of major flaws with existing methods: Most metrics ignore the source sentence; metrics tend to prefer surface level overlap; and over-reliance on language-agnostic representations leads to confusion when the target language is similar to the source language. To further encourage detailed evaluation beyond singular scores, we expand ACES to include error span annotations, denoted as SPAN-ACES, and we use this dataset to evaluate span-based error metrics, showing that these metrics also need considerable improvement. Based on our observations, we provide a set of recommendations for building better MT metrics, including focusing on error labels instead of scores, ensembling, designing metrics to explicitly focus on the source sentence, focusing on semantic content rather than relying on the lexical overlap, and choosing the right pre-trained model for obtaining representations.
Factors Influencing Students’ Motivation and Academic Performance: The Role of Parental Control and Autonomy Support
Authors: Gordeeva Tamara O. , Nechaeva Darina M. , Sychev Oleg A.
Published: September 2024

Background. The study examines the role of control and autonomy support as two of the most important factors in parenting. A scientific analysis of the consequences of parental control and support for autonomy is necessary both to deepen theoretical understanding of the role of autonomy in relations between parents and children and to develop sound practical recommendations. Objective. The goal is to analyse the direct and indirect (through academic motivation) links of autonomy support and parental control in childhood with the academic achievements of students. Study Participants. Russian university students (N = 281, MA = 19.8, SD = 2.01, 78% female). Methods. Parenting style in childhood (P-PASS), academic motivation, including scales of intrinsic motivation, extrinsic motivation and amotivation, and average academic performance were assessed. Results. The main hypothesis about the positive association between parental autonomy support in childhood and the academic achievements of students, mediated by intrinsic academic motivation, was confirmed. It has been shown that the controlling style is a predictor of external motivation and amotivation, which in turn are negatively related to intrinsic motivation. Conclusion. Results of the study indicate the important role of parental practices, differentiated within self-determination theory for the students’ (de) motivation and academic performance. In particular, the importance of autonomy support and the negative contribution of parental control are shown at much later stages of socialization, the stage of emerging adulthood.