bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibiotic‐loaded bone substitutes therapy in the management of the moderate to severe diabetic foot infection: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Lin Xinyi , Wu Yan , Huang Hong , Peng Ruihan , Huang FuHua , Hong Lvrong , Chen WenZhuan
Published: December 2022

In recent years, local antibiotic‐loaded bone substitutes (ALBS) have been used increasingly in the treatment of diabetic foot infection (DFI). The meta‐analysis aimed to analyse the efficacy of ALBS on patients with moderate to severe DFI (with or without osteomyelitis). With an appropriate search strategy, 7 studies were selected for analysis (2 RCTs and 5 cohort studies). The result showed that the application of ALBS effectively reduced the length of hospital stay (WMD −5.55; 95% CI: −9.85 to −1.26;P = 0.01), the recurrence rates (RR 0.33; 95% CI: 0.15 to 0.69;P = 0.003) and the mortality rates (RR 0.22; 95% CI: 0.06 to 0.82;P = 0.02). Compared to the control groups, however, there was no difference in healing rates (RR 1.06; 95% CI: 0.96 to 1.18;P = 0.26), healing time (WMD −1.44; 95% CI: −3.37 to −0.49;P = 0.14), the number of debridement (WMD −1.98; 95% CI: −4.08 to 0.12;P = 0.06) and major amputation rates (RR 0.76; 95% CI: 0.35 to 1.61;P = 0.47). The ALBS appears to have some beneficial effects as an adjunct to standard surgery in the treatment of DFI with or without osteomyelitis, as it reduces recurrence rates, mortality rates, and length of hospital stay, but there was no statistically significant difference in enhancing wound healing.
Estimation of all-cause noise exposure for U.S. adults from national survey data
Authors: Humes Larry E. , Moore Brian C. J.
Published: December 2022

Millions of adults are at risk of hearing loss resulting from exposure to occupational and recreational noises. Data from the combined National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2011–2012 and 2015–2016 datasets were used to establish the prevalence of occupational and recreational noise exposures through self-report questions. For recreational noise exposures, NHANES asked about the use of firearms, including the use of hearing protection devices (HPDs) while shooting, and off-work exposures to very loud noise. For work exposures, NHANES asked about exposures to loud and very loud noise. For four of these five questions, graded responses on a 5- or 7-point scale were available. Receiver-operating-characteristic analyses were used to optimize the criterion response for identification of hearing loss for each question with graded responses using the unweighted data. Correlations among the graded responses supported reduction to two measures: (1) rounds fired combined with use of HPDs while shooting and (2) work exposure to loud and very loud noise combined. Logistic-regression analyses of various measures of pure-tone hearing loss were performed to examine the effects of recreational and occupational noise exposures on hearing loss. The odds of hearing loss were significantly greater for those who reported recreational and combined noise exposures.
Contralateral inhibition of distortion product otoacoustic emissions in young noise-exposed Veterans
Authors: Bramhall Naomi F. , Kampel Sean D. , Reavis Kelly M. , Konrad-Martin Dawn
Published: December 2022

Although animal models show a clear link between noise exposure and damage to afferent cochlear synapses, the relationship between noise exposure and efferent function appears to be more complex. Animal studies indicate that high intensity noise exposure reduces efferent medial olivocochlear (MOC) reflex strength, whereas chronic moderate noise exposure is associated with a conditioning effect that enhances the MOC reflex. The MOC reflex is predicted to improve speech-in-noise perception and protects against noise-induced auditory damage by reducing cochlear gain. In humans, MOC reflex strength can be estimated by measuring contralateral inhibition of distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). The objective of this study was to determine the impact of military noise exposure on efferent auditory function by measuring DPOAE contralateral inhibition in young Veterans and non-Veterans with normal audiograms. Compared with non-Veteran controls, Veterans with high levels of reported noise exposure demonstrated a trend of reduced contralateral inhibition across a broad frequency range, suggesting efferent damage. Veterans with moderate noise exposure showed trends of reduced inhibition from 3 to 4 kHz but greater inhibition from 1 to 1.5 kHz, consistent with conditioning. These findings suggest that, in humans, the impact of noise exposure on the MOC reflex differs depending on the noise intensity and duration.
Perspectives on Postmatch Fatigue From 300 Elite European Soccer Players
Authors: Di Salvo Valter , Bonanno Daniele , Modonutti Mattia , Scanavino Andrea , Donatelli Claudio , Pigozzi Fabio , Lolli Lorenzo
Published: December 2022

Purpose: To examine the general perspectives of elite soccer players on the time course of perceived postmatch fatigue and the influence of away matches on subjective perceptions. Methods: Adopting a cross-sectional study design, we invited 371 subjects from 14 top-division European clubs competing in the Belgian First Division A, English Premier League, French Ligue 1, Italian Serie A, Portuguese Primeira Liga, Russian Premier League, and Swiss Premier League to take part in a short survey on general issues relating to postmatch fatigue measurement and tracking in professional soccer. Results: Three hundred male professional soccer players completed the short questionnaire. For perceptions relevant to the time course of postmatch fatigue, two-thirds of respondents (67%) indicated higher postmatch fatigue perceived 2 days (48 h) after an official competition. Among these respondents, a higher proportion of answers was observed in wide midfielders (74%), attackers (74%), and central midfielders (68%). Approximately two-thirds of respondents (63%) indicated more than usual and much more than usual perceived postmatch fatigue following away matches. Conclusions: For the first time, our investigation addressed practical aspects that remained unexplored and fundamental to the definition of an optimal player management process following a competition. From a practical standpoint, perspectives of individual elite soccer players substantiated the notion of implementing processes with dedicated recovery protocols within 48 hours postmatch and highlighted the need for differential strategies addressing the additional burden of away matches and travel.
Understanding the call of the monopole
Authors: Flicker Felix
Published: December 2022

Mysterious magnetic noise of elusive particles is finally understood
Protein import into peroxisomes occurs through a nuclear pore–like phase
Authors: Gao Yuan , Skowyra Michael L. , Feng Peiqiang , Rapoport Tom A.
Published: December 2022

Peroxisomes are ubiquitous organelles whose dysfunction causes fatal human diseases. Most peroxisomal proteins are imported from the cytosol in a folded state by the soluble receptor PEX5. How folded cargo crosses the membrane is unknown. Here, we show that peroxisomal import is similar to nuclear transport. The peroxisomal membrane protein PEX13 contains a conserved tyrosine (Y)– and glycine (G)–rich YG domain, which forms a selective phase resembling that formed by phenylalanine-glycine (FG) repeats within nuclear pores. PEX13 resides in the membrane in two orientations that oligomerize and suspend the YG meshwork within the lipid bilayer. Purified YG domains form hydrogels into which PEX5 selectively partitions, by using conserved aromatic amino acid motifs, bringing cargo along. The YG meshwork thus forms an aqueous conduit through which PEX5 delivers folded proteins into peroxisomes.
Genetic and Environmental Investigation of a Novel Phenylamino Acetamide Inhibitor of the Pseudomonas aeruginosa Type III Secretion System
Authors: Fang Liwei , Banerjee Biswarup , Yuan Xiaochen , Zeng Quan , Liang Cuirong , Chen Xin , Yang Ching-Hong
Published: December 2022

New antimicrobial therapies are urgently needed, since antibiotic resistance in human pathogens has become one of the world’s most urgent public health problems. Antivirulence therapy has been considered a promising alternative for the management of infectious diseases, as antivirulence compounds target only the virulence factors instead of the growth of bacteria, and they are therefore unlikely to affect commensal microorganisms.
Antibiotic Tolerance and Treatment Outcomes in Cystic Fibrosis Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Infections
Authors: Lu Kuan-Yi , Wagner Nikki J. , Velez Amanda Z. , Ceppe Agathe , Conlon Brian P. , Muhlebach Marianne S.
Published: December 2022

Chronic MRSA infections remain challenging to treat in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). The ability of the bacterial population to survive high concentrations of bactericidal antibiotics, including vancomycin, despite lacking resistance is considered one of the main reasons for treatment failures.
A review of cyberinfrastructure for machine learning and big data in the geosciences
Authors: Sun* Ziheng , Cristea Nicoleta , Tong Daniel , Tullis Jason , Chester Zachary , Magill Andrew
Published: December 2022

The use of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) methods in the geosciences can be categorized into three types, those that: (1) accelerate computationally expensive Earth system models; (2) fill the vacuum where numerical and physics-based models struggle; and (3) enable and enlighten data-driven discoveries. To achieve these tasks, many cyberinfrastructure (CI) systems are required. This chapter reviews the cutting-edge CI aiding the implementation of AI in the geosciences. Each technique presented is evaluated to assist geoscientists in determining how appropriate it is. Use cases in the subdomains of seismology, hydrology, and climatology are introduced to help readers understand the workflows. Challenges and future opportunities for CI development center on big data, provenance, interoperability, and heterogeneity due to the scale and complexity that future AI models in the geosciences will require.
Tropospheric Ozone Concentration on the Territory of Russia in 2021
Authors: Andreev V. V. , Arshinov M. Yu. , Belan B. D. , Belan S. B. , Davydov D. K. , Demin V. I. , Dudorova N. V. , Elansky N. F. , Zhamsueva G. S. , Zayakhanov A. S. , Ivlev G. A. , Kozlov A. V. , Konovaltseva L. V. , Kotel’nikov S. N. , Kuznetsova I. N. , Lapchenko V. A. , Lezina E. A. , Obolkin V. A. , Postylyakov O. V. , Potemkin V. L. , Savkin D. E. , Senik I. A. , Stepanov E. V. , Tolmachev G. N. , Fofonov A. V. , Khodzher T. V. , Chelibanov I. V. , Chelibanov V. P. , Shirotov V. V. , Shukurov K. A.
Published: December 2022

Ozone is one of the most toxic admixtures in the troposphere. Therefore, it is among the main pollutants and its concentration is monitored. This work represents an overview of continuous measurements of the ozone content in the troposphere on the territory of Russia throughout 2021 carried out on an initiative of scientific and educational institutions at 17 stations in different Russian regions. The monitoring results showed that the daily average ozone concentration exceeded the MPCd.alevel during a major part of the year at all observation sites, and by a factor of two or even three at a number of stations. At six stations, concentrations in excess of the maximum permissible one-time concentration MPCm.owere recorded. This requires a more comprehensive analysis of the composition and concentration of ozone precurcors and the development of measures to reduce their emission into the atmosphere.
Direct and Inherited Epigenetic Changes in the Nervous System Caused by Intensive Locomotion: Possible Adaptive Significance
Authors: Mezheritskiy M. I. , Dyakonova V. E.
Published: December 2022

This review is devoted to the analysis of works that investigated the long-term effects of species-specific forms of intensive locomotion on the cognitive functions of animals and humans, which can be transmitted to the next generation. To date, the anxiolytic and cognitive-enhancing long-term effects of intensive locomotion have been demonstrated in humans, rodents, fish, insects, mollusks, and nematodes. In rodents, changes in the central nervous system caused by intense locomotion can be transmitted through the maternal and paternal line to the descendants of the first generation. These include reduced anxiety, improved spatial learning and memory, increased levels of brain neurotrophic factor and vascular endothelial growth factor in the hippocampus and frontal cortex. The shift of the balance of histone acetylation in the hippocampus of rodents towards hyperacetylation, and the balance of DNA methylation towards demethylation manifests itself both as a direct and as a first-generation inherited effect of motor activity. The question about the mechanisms that link locomotion with an increase in the plasticity of a genome in the brain of descendants remains poorly understood, and invertebrate model organisms can be an ideal object for its study. Currently, there is a lack of a theoretical model explaining why motor activity leads to long-term improvement of some cognitive functions that can be transmitted to the next generation and why such an influence could have appeared in evolution. The answer to these questions is not only of fundamental interest, but it is necessary for predicting therapeutic and possible side effects of motor activity in humans. In this regard, the article pays special attention to the review of ideas on the evolutionary aspects of the problem. We propose our own hypothesis, according to which the activating effect of intensive locomotion on the function of the nervous system could have been formed in evolution as a preadaptation to a possible entry into a new environment.
Detection of sudomotor alterations evaluated by Sudoscan in patients with recently diagnosed type 2 diabetes
Authors: García-Ulloa Ana Cristina , Almeda-Valdes Paloma , Cuatecontzi-Xochitiotzi Teresa Enedina , Ramírez-García Jorge Alberto , Díaz-Pineda Michelle , Garnica-Carrillo Fernanda , González-Duarte Alejandra , Narayan K M Venkat , Aguilar-Salinas Carlos Alberto , Hernández-Jiménez Sergio
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) causes morbidity and affects the quality of life. Before diabetes diagnosis, neuropathic damage may be present. Sudoscan provides accurate measurement of the sudomotor function. This study aimed to assess the abnormalities detected by Sudoscan, offered estimates of DPN prevalence, and investigated the relationship between metabolic and clinical parameters. Additionally, we evaluated the diagnostic accuracy of the Sudoscan compared with monofilament and tuning fork tests for detecting DPN.

Research design and methods

Cross-sectional descriptive study including patients with type 2 diabetes for <5 years since diagnosis. We investigated the presence of DPN using a 128 Hz tuning fork test, the 10 g monofilament, and the sudomotor dysfunction in feet using Sudoscan. We compared patients with and without alterations in the Sudoscan. A logistic regression model analyzed variables independently associated with sudomotor dysfunction.

Results

From 2013 to 2020, 2243 patients were included, 55.1% women, age 51.8 years, and 17.1% with normal weight. Monofilament tests and/or tuning fork examination were abnormal in 29% (95% CI 0.23% to 0.27%) and 619 patients (27.6%, 0.25% to 0.29%) had sudomotor alterations. In logistic regression analysis, age (β=1.01, 0.005–1.02), diastolic blood pressure (β=0.98, 0.96–0.99), heart rate (β=1.01, 1.00–1.02), glucose (β=1.00, 1.00–1.03), albuminuria (β=1.001, 1.000–1.001), beta-blockers=1.98, 1.21–3.24) and fibrate use=0.61, 0.43–0.87) were associated with sudomotor dysfunction. The AUC (area under the curve) for Sudoscan was 0.495 (0.469–0.522), with sensitivity and specificity of 24% and 71%, respectively.

Conclusion

The Sudoscan identified an important proportion of patients with dysfunction, allowing prompt intervention to decrease the risk for complications.

Trial registration number

NCT02836808.
Physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue in the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak in Hong Kong: population-based, cross-sectional study
Authors: Yan Elsie , Ng Haze K L , Lai Daniel W L , Lee Vincent W P
Published: December 2022

Objectives

To examine the physical, psychological and pandemic fatigue during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to explore the correlates of fatigue using a representative, population-based, community sample of Chinese adults in Hong Kong.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Telephone surveys in Hong Kong from December 2020 to January 2021 (during the fourth wave of COVID-19 outbreak).

Participants

1255 adults living in Hong Kong aged 18 years or older sampled using a multistage approach (53% women).

Main outcome measures

Physical and psychological fatigue: The Fatigue Assessment Scale (with a cut-off score of 22). Pandemic fatigue: Adherence to six disease prevention measures (DPM) recommended by the government.

Results

About 25.7% of the participants were feeling fatigued physically and psychologically. Physical and psychological fatigue was not directly associated with pandemic fatigue, and their association was fully mediated by self-perceived disruptions of COVID-19-related restrictions in daily life. Results from the hierarchical regression analysis showed that higher levels of fatigue were associated with economically inactive status (B=0.18, SE=0.04, p<0.001), having family or friend infected with COVID-19 before or during the study (B=0.17, SE=0.01, p<0.001), lower acceptability of DPM (B=−0.16, SE=0.03, p<0.001), greater disruptions in daily life (B=0.22, SE=0.02, p<0.001), and greater trust in authorities in ending the pandemic (B=0.11, SE=0.02, p<0.001).

Conclusions

Fatigue affected many individuals during the pandemic. Disruptions of DPM in daily life may serve as a mediator in the association between pandemic fatigue and physical and psychological fatigue, reflecting the need of effective interventions to reduce self-perceived disruptions of COVID-19-related restrictions in the general population. Resources should be allocated to provide sufficient services to individuals vulnerable to fatigue during the prolonged pandemic.
‘Dynamic zero-COVID’ policy and viral clearance during an omicron wave in Tianjin, China: a city-wide retrospective observational study
Authors: Feng Yahui , Shao Hongxia , Gong Xiaowen , Song Zhen , Xie Yan , Qi Saibing , Shi Lixia , Hu Yu , Liu Xueou , Liu Xiaolong , Shen Qiujin , Wu Qi , Cheng Tao , Jiang Wentao , Wu Junping , Chen Junren
Published: December 2022

Objective

To report how the Chinese mainland battled its first omicron wave, which happened in Tianjin, a metropolis with 14 million residents. We also sought to better understand how clinical features affected the timing of viral clearance.

Design

A retrospective study of the omicron wave in Tianjin between 8 January 2022 and 3 March 2022.

Setting

Except for the first cases on 8 January, all the omicron cases were identified through PCR mass testing in the residential communities. Residential quarantine and serial PCR mass testing were dynamically adjusted according to the trends of new cases.

Participants

All the 417 consecutive PCR-positive cases identified through mass screening of the entire city’s 14 million residents. 45.3% of the cases were male, and the median age was 37 (range 0.3–90). 389 (93%) cases had complete data for analysing the correlation between clinical features and the timing of viral clearance.

Main outcome and measure

Time to viral clearance.

Results

Tianjin initiated the ‘dynamic zero-COVID’ policy very early, that is, when daily new case number was ≈0.4 cases per 1 000 000 residents. Daily new cases dropped to <5 after 3 February, and the number of affected residential subdivisions dropped to ≤2 after 13 February. 64% (267/417) of the cases had no or mild symptoms. The median interval from hospital admission to viral clearance was 10 days (range 3–28). An exploratory analysis identified a feature cluster associated with earlier viral clearance, with HRs of 3.56 (95% CI 1.66 to 7.63) and 3.15 (95% CI 1.68 to 5.91) in the training and validation sets, respectively.

Conclusions

The ‘dynamic zero-COVID’ policy can suppress an omicron wave within a month. It might be possible to predict in advance which cases will require shorter periods of isolation based on their clinical features.
Cohort profile: Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants in Europe and Africa Prospective (RODAM-Pros) cohort study
Authors: Agyemang Charles , van der Linden Eva L , Antwi-Berko Daniel , Nkansah Darko Samuel , Twumasi-Ankrah Sampson , Meeks Karlijn , van den Born Bert-Jan H , Henneman Peter , Owusu-Dabo Ellis , Beune Erik
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The Research on Obesity and Diabetes among African Migrants (RODAM) prospective (RODAM-Pros) cohort study was established to identify key changes in environmental exposures and epigenetic modifications driving the high burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk among sub-Saharan African migrants.

Participants

All the participants in the RODAM cross-sectional study that completed the baseline assessment (n=5114) were eligible for the follow-up of which 2165 participants (n=638 from rural-Ghana, n=608 from urban-Ghana, and n=919 Ghanaian migrants in Amsterdam, the Netherlands) were included in the RODAM-Pros cohort study. Additionally, we included a subsample of European-Dutch (n=2098) to enable a comparison to be made between Ghanaian migrants living in the Netherlands and the European-Dutch host population.

Findings to date

Follow-up data have been collected on demographics, socioeconomic status, medical history, psychosocial environment, lifestyle factors, nutrition, anthropometrics, blood pressure, fasting blood, urine and stool samples. Biochemical analyses included glucose metabolism, lipid profile, electrolytes and renal function, liver metabolism and inflammation. In a subsample, we assessed DNA methylation patterns using Infinium 850K DNA Methylation BeadChip. Baseline results indicated that migrants have higher prevalence of CVD risk factors than non-migrants. Epigenome-wide association studies suggest important differences in DNA methylation between migrants and non-migrants. The follow-up study will shed further light on key-specific environmental exposures and epigenetic modifications contributing to the high burden of CVD risk among sub-Saharan African migrants.

Future plans

Follow-up is planned at 5-year intervals, baseline completed in 2015 and first follow-up completed in 2021.
Production and possible reduction of greenhouse gases produced during GI endoscopy activity: a systematic review of available literature
Authors: Perisetti Abhilash , Desai Madhav , Bourke Michael J , Penman Ian , Repici Alessandro , Reddy Duvvur Nageshwar , Tajiri Hisao , Rex Douglas K , Hassan Cesare , Sharma Prateek
Published: December 2022

Background and aims

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) that trap heat in the atmosphere are composed of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane, nitrous oxide and fluorinated gases (synthetic hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and nitrogen trifluoride). In the USA, the health sector accounts for 8.5% of total GHG emissions. The primary objective of this systematic review was to critically analyse the carbon emissions data from GI endoscopic activity.

Design

The GI endoscopy carbon cycle was evaluated at preprocedural, intraprocedural and postprocedural levels. We performed a systematic literature search of articles published on these issues until 30 June 2022 and discussed these available data on endoscopy unit GHG carbon cycle, barriers to reduce GHG emissions and potential solutions. The inclusion criteria were any full-text articles (observational, clinical trials, brief communications, case series and editorials) reporting waste generation from GI endoscopy. Abstracts, news articles and conference proceedings were excluded.

Results

Our search yielded 393 records in PubMed, 1708 in Embase and 24 in Google Scholar. After application of inclusion and exclusion factors, we focused on 9 fulllength articles in detail, only 3 of them were cross-sectional studies (all from the USA), the others reviews or position statements. Therefore, the quality of the studies could not be assessed due to heterogeneity in definitions and amount of emissions.

Conclusions

Recognition of carbon emissions generated by GI endoscopy activity is critical. Although multiple limitations exists for quantification of these emission, there is an urgent need for collecting proper data as well as examining novel methods for reduction of these emissions for a sustainable endoscopic practices in the future.
Preconditioning of the immune system modulates the response of papillary thyroid cancer to immune checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Pani Fabiana , Yasuda Yoshinori , Rousseau Sylvie T , Bermea Kevin C , Roshanmehr Solmaz , Wang Rulin , Yegnasubramanian Srinivasan , Caturegli Patrizio , Adamo Luigi
Published: December 2022

Background

The response of solid tumors such as papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is highly variable. The biological basis of this variability remains unknown.

Methods

To test the hypothesis that preconditioning of the immune system modulates the therapeutic effect of ICIs, we used a murine model where PTC and iodine exacerbated thyroiditis (IET) can be induced in a temporally predictable fashion. A total of 122 mice were divided into 3 experimental groups. In the first one, named concomitant IET and PTC (No.=40), IET, and PTC were induced at the same time; in the second one, named pre-existing IET (No.=44), IET was induced prior to the induction of PTC; in the third one, named no IET (No.=38), only PTC was induced. Following disease induction, mice of each group were treated with anti-PD-1 antibody, anti-lymphocyte activation gene 3 antibody (anti-Lag3), anti-T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain 3 antibody (anti-Tim3), or IgG control. Ten weeks after the initial ICI injection, mice were sacrificed to collect the thyroid gland for histological analysis, to quantify the incidence and burden of PTC, and to perform high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing of infiltrating CD45+cells.

Results

In the concomitant IET and PTC group, ICI treatment reduced PTC incidence (p=0.002 comparing treatment with any ICI vs control), while it had no effect in the pre-existing IET and no IET groups. Single-cell sequencing of thyroidal CD45+cells showed that the different ICIs tested had both specific and shared effects on all the components of the thyroidal immune cell infiltrate. The shared effect of the tested ICIs was dependent on the presence of pre-existing versus concomitant IET. In the context of concomitant IET, ICI treatment resulted in the modulation of a greater number of pathways related to both innate and adaptive immunity.

Conclusions

Response to ICIs depends on the status of the immune system of the treated individual. Modulation of the immune system should be explored as a tool to improve response to ICIs in patients with PTC or other forms of cancer.
Human CD19-specific switchable CAR T-cells are efficacious as constitutively active CAR T-cells but cause less morbidity in a mouse model of human CD19+malignancy
Authors: Pennell Christopher A , Campbell Heather , Storlie Meghan D , Bolivar-Wagers Sara , Osborn Mark J , Refaeli Yosef , Jensen Michael , Viaud Sophie , Young Travis S , Blazar Bruce R
Published: December 2022

Current Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies for B-cell malignancies are constitutively active and while efficacious, can cause morbidity and mortality. Their toxicities might be reduced if CAR T-cell activity was regulatable rather than constitutive. To test this, we compared the efficacies and morbidities of constitutively active (conventional) and regulatable (switchable) CAR (sCAR) T-cells specific for human CD19 (huCD19) in an immune-competent huCD19+transgenic mouse model.

Conventional CAR (CAR19) and sCAR T-cells were generated by retrovirally transducing C57BL/6 (B6) congenic T-cells with constructs encoding antibody-derived single chain Fv (sFv) fragments specific for huCD19 or a peptide neoepitope (PNE), respectively. Transduced T-cells were adoptively transferred into huCD19 transgenic hemizygous (huCD19Tg/0) B6 mice; healthy B-cells in these mice expressedhuCD19Tg. Prior to transfer, recipients were treated with a lymphodepleting dose of cyclophosphamide to enhance T-cell engraftment. In tumor therapy experiments, CAR19 or sCAR T-cells were adoptively transferred intohuCD19Tg/0mice bearing a syngeneic B-cell lymphoma engineered to express huCD19. To regulate sCAR T cell function, a switch protein was generated that contained the sCAR-specific PNE genetically fused to an anti-huCD19 Fab fragment. Recipients of sCAR T-cells were injected with the switch to link sCAR effector with huCD19+target cells. Mice were monitored for survival, tumor burden (where appropriate), morbidity (as measured by weight loss and clinical scores), and peripheral blood lymphocyte frequency.

CAR19 and sCAR T-cells functioned comparably regarding in vivo expansion and B-cell depletion. However, sCAR T-cells were better tolerated as evidenced by the recipients’ enhanced survival, reduced weight loss, and improved clinical scores. Discontinuing switch administration allowed healthy B-cell frequencies to return to pretreatment levels.

In our mouse model, sCAR T-cells killed huCD19+healthy and malignant B-cells and were better tolerated than CAR19 cells. Our data suggest sCAR might be clinically superior to the current FDA-approved therapies for B-cell lymphomas due to the reduced acute and chronic morbidities and mortality, lower incidence and severity of side effects, and B-cell reconstitution on cessation of switch administration.
Imaging and haemodynamic parameters associated with clinical outcomes following isolated tricuspid valve surgery
Authors: Hariri Essa , Layoun Habib , Hansen Jonathan , Abou Hassan Ossama , Kassab Joseph , Kassis Nicholas , Cremer Paul C , Hanna Mazen , Mentias Amgad , Flamm Scott D , Daou Remy , Griffin Brian , Elgharably Haytham , Unai Shinya , Pettersson Gosta , Kapadia Samir , Harb Serge C
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Isolated tricuspid valve surgery (TVS) may be associated with high morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to investigate the association of preoperative imaging and haemodynamic data derived from echocardiography (ECHO), cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) and right heart catheterisation (RHC) with postoperative outcomes following TVS.

Methods

In a retrospective cohort study, patients who underwent isolated TVS at our institution between 2012 and 2020 were screened and followed up to 1 year. We only included those who had all three tests before surgery: ECHO, CMR and RHC. Patients with congenital heart disease, infective endocarditis and those who underwent concomitant valve or pericardial surgery were excluded. The primary outcome was a composite of mortality and congestive heart failure at 1 year. Time-to-event analyses at 1 year and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were performed.

Results

A total of 60 patients were included (mean age of 60±14 years, 63% women), of whom 67% underwent TV repair. The primary outcome occurred in 16 patients (27%) with a 1-year mortality of 7%. It was associated with ECHO-derived right ventricular (RV) free wall strain and RHC-derived RV systolic and diastolic as well as mean pulmonary pressures. On multivariable Cox regression analysis, only RV systolic and diastolic pressures were significantly associated with the primary outcome at 1 year (HRs=5.9 and 3.4, respectively, p<0.05).

Conclusion

Baseline invasive haemodynamic assessment could have a strong association with clinical outcomes and help risk-stratify patients undergoing isolated TVS.
Comparison between ultrasound-guided multi-injection intertransverse process and thoracic paravertebral blocks for major breast cancer surgery: a randomized non-inferiority trial
Authors: Zhang Hongye , Qu Zongyang , Miao Yongsheng , Zhang Yuelun , Qian Lulu , Hua Bin , Hua Zhen
Published: December 2022

Background

This study investigated whether a novel multi-injection intertransverse process block could provide non-inferior analgesia and recovery quality following major breast cancer surgery compared with the multi-injection thoracic paravertebral block.

Methods

Eighty-eight females who underwent mastectomy plus sentinel or axillary lymph node dissection were randomized to receive either intertransverse process block or thoracic paravertebral block, both performed at T2–6 with 5 mL of 0.5% ropivacaine per level. The primary outcome was the worst resting pain score (11-point Numerical Rating Scale) within 30 min in the recovery room. The secondary outcome was recovery quality (15-item quality of recovery scale) 24 hours after surgery, which was tested following a gatekeeping procedure.

Results

The worst resting pain scores were 0 (0, 1) in the intertransverse process block group vs 0.5 (0, 2) in the thoracic paravertebral block group, with a median difference of 0 (95% CI 0 to 0); the upper 95% CI limit was lower than the prespecified non-inferiority margin of 1 point (non-inferiority p<0.001). Aggregate scores of recovery quality at 24 hours postoperatively were 137.5 (126.5, 142.8) and 137.5 (127.8, 145.0) for the intertransverse process and thoracic paravertebral block groups, respectively, with a median difference of −1 (95% CI −6 to 3); the lower 95% CI limit was larger than the prespecified non-inferiority margin of −8 (non-inferiority p=0.006).

Conclusions

Compared with a multi-injection thoracic paravertebral block, the multi-injection intertransverse process block provided non-inferior analgesia within 30 min in the recovery room and recovery quality at 24 hours following major breast cancer surgery in females.

Trial registration number

ChiCTR2000037963.
Palliative medicine favourably influences end-of-life cancer care intensity: a large retrospective database study
Authors: Chiaruttini Maria Vittoria , Corli Oscar , Pizzuto Massimo , Nobili Alessandro , Fortini Gianpaolo , Fortino Ida , Leoni Olivia , Bosetti Cristina
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Hospice and home palliative care have been associated to a reduction of aggressive treatments in the end-of-life, but data in the Italian context are scanty. Therefore, we aim to investigate the role of palliative care on indicators of end-of-life intensity of care among patients with cancer in Lombardy, the largest Italian region.

Methods

Within a retrospective study using the healthcare utilisation databases of Lombardy, Italy, we selected all residents who died in 2019 with a diagnosis of cancer. We considered as exposure variables admission to palliative care and time at palliative care admission, and as indicators of aggressive care hospitalisations, diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, in-hospital death, emergency department visits and chemotherapy over a time window of 30 days before death; chemotherapy in the last 14 days was also considered.

Results

Our cohort included 26 539 individuals; of these, 14 320 (54%) were admitted to palliative care before death. Individuals who were admitted to palliative care had an odds ratio (OR) of 0.27 for one hospitalisation, 0.14 for ≥2 hospitalisations, 0.25 for hospital stay ≥12 days, 0.38 for minor diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, 0.18 for major diagnostic/therapeutic procedures, 0.02 for in-hospital death, 0.35 for one emergency department visit, 0.29 for ≥2 emergency department visits and 0.66 for chemotherapy use in the last 30 days; the OR was 0.56 for chemotherapy use in the last 14 days.

Conclusions

This large real-world analysis confirms and further support the importance of palliative care assistance for patients with cancer in the end- of- life; this is associated to a significant reduction in unnecessary treatments.
Solidification process and changing the physical behavior of PCM with involve of nanoparticles
Authors: Elqahtani Zainab Mufarreh , Talabany Ziyad Jamil , Alwadai Norah , Khan Salah Ud-Din , Saad Hosam A. , Hussin Amira M
Published: December 2022

To attain a new system with a higher rate of freezing, two approaches were utilized in this paper namely: (1) loading alumina nanoparticles; (2) involving curved walls. The geometry has two cold surfaces and pure PCM is water. The convection role in this mechanism is very low and so the related terms have been neglected in modeling. By adding source term of freezing in energy equations and removing the advection terms, the final form of mathematical model will appear. Finite element method, by involving the implicit technique, has been selected for simulations and to increase the correctness of code, an adaptive grid has been utilized. For better description of efficacy of alumina nanoparticles, influences of size and amount of powders have been examined. As greater sizes are utilized, the period firstly decreases around 19.98% then it augments around 49.13%. Besides, the dispersion of powders results in 70.06% reduction in freezing time.
Construction of Uninorms on Bounded Lattices with Incomparable Elements that are Neither Conjunctive Nor Disjunctive
Authors: Çaylı Gül Deniz
Published: December 2022

This paper investigates uninorms that are neither conjunctive nor disjunctive on bounded lattices. New methods are introduced for construction of such uninorms, where some restrictions on the identity and the annihilator are considered. In particular, new types of idempotent uninorms on bounded lattices are obtained. Furthermore, some specific examples are provided to illustrate that these constructions differ from the existing ones.
Time Series Forecasting Using Range Regression Automata
Authors: Badhiye Sagarkumar S. , Chatur Prashant N. , Raghuwanshi Mukesh M.
Published: December 2022

Time Series (TS) models are well-known techniques that help to predict the weather in a certain time period. The traditional TS prediction models take more prediction time, overfitting and under-fitting of training data. In addition, state-of-art method like regression automata technique’s computational complexity is high due to the learning process based on heuristic method. In this study, learning process of the Cellular Automata (CA) is performed by the Support Vector Regression (SVR) method. The better discretize property of the SVR increases the learning rate and reduces the complexity of the CA. The proposed model is named as a Range Regression Automata Model based on Support Vector (RRAMSV) and this model calculates the multiple temperature attributes like soil temperature, air temperature, relative humidity and soil humidity. The proposed RRAMSV method has higher performance in most of the time-series prediction compared to Range Linear Regression (RLR), Range Logistic Regression (RLOR) and Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) — Long Short Term Memory (LSTM). The proposed RRAMSV method has Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of 0.06 and existing CNN-LSTM method has 1.65 MAE.
Real-Time Hybrid Simulation Using Nonlinear Autoregressive with Exogenous Input Model through Data-Driven Arbitrary Polynomial Chaos Surrogate
Authors: Chen Meng-Hui , Chen Cheng , Gao Xiao-Shu , Guo Tong , Xu Wei-Jie
Published: December 2022

The current practice of real-time hybrid simulation (RTHS) often requires specialized finite element programs for computational modeling of the analytical substructures. Considering the limited nonlinear modeling capacity or the increasing computation cost for complex modeling, surrogate models of the analytical substructure provide novel alternatives for RTHS to avoid finite element analysis with fast computation. This study explores the use of arbitrary polynomial chaos expansion (APC) and nonlinear autoregressive with exogenous input (NARX) model to emulate the dynamic behavior of analytical substructures in RTHS. The NARX model training can be conducted numerically in an off-line mode using existing general purpose finite element analysis software, and its implementation presents minimum computational demands on the RTHS equipment. RTHS of a single-degree-of-freedom structure with a self-centering viscous damper is conducted as proof of concept to experimentally demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed APC-NARX-based approach. The APC is further compared with other metamodeling techniques including polynomial chaos expansion (PCE) and Kriging to surrogate NARX model coefficients to account for ground motion uncertainties in RTHS. It is demonstrated that APC-NARX modeling with optimal order enables better accuracy of RTHS results than those of Kriging- and PCE-NARX.
Defect Detection Scheme of Pins for Aviation Connectors Based on Image Segmentation and Improved RESNET-50
Authors: Yang Hailong , Liu Yinghao , Xia Tian
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a new detection method of pin defects based on image segmentation and ResNe-50 is proposed, which realizes the defect detection of faulty pins in many aviation connectors. In this paper, a new dataset image segmentation method is used to segment many aviation connectors in a single image to generate a dataset, which reduces the tedious work of manually labeling the dataset. In the defect detection model, based on ResNet-50, a ResNet-B residual structure is introduced to reduce the loss of features during information extraction; a continuously differentiable CELU is used as the activation function to reduce the neuron death problem of ReLU; a new deformable convolution network (DCN v2) is introduced as the convolution kernel structure of the model to improve the recognition of aviation connectors with prominent geometric deformation pin recognition. The improved model achieved 97.2% and 94.4% accuracy for skewed and missing pins, respectively, in the experiments. The detection accuracy improved by 1.91% to 96.62% compared to the conventional ResNet-50. Compared with the traditional model, the improved model has better generalization ability.
An Improved Evolutionary Structure Optimization Method for Smooth Topology Design of Structures
Authors: Wang Leijia , Yue Wenhui , Zhu Mingqiao
Published: December 2022

To meet the needs of industrial production, an improved evolution structural optimization (ESO) method with high efficiency is proposed. The optimized design variables with intermediate density were designed using the windowed evolution structural optimization (WESO) method to increase the stability of the algorithm. The efficient calculation method of the element node sensitivity was established, which realizes the establishment of level set functions, smooth topological design of structures and the updating of design variables. The stability of the proposed algorithm was verified by the Zhou–Rozvany problem, two- and three-dimensional (3D) numerical results. The effectiveness and efficiency of the proposed algorithm was further verified by numerical comparison with other topology optimization frameworks. Lastly, the improved windowed ESO method was applied to the initial configuration design of the double-deck bridge structure, which not only provides guidance for its initial design but also demonstrates the applicability of the method in complex structural systems.
Gradient ρ-Einstein solitons on almost Co-Kähler manifolds
Authors: Biswas Gour Gopal , De Uday Chand
Published: December 2022

The aim of this paper is to characterize almost co-Kähler manifolds and co-Kähler three-manifolds whose metrices are the gradient [Formula: see text]-Einstein solitons. At first we prove that a proper [Formula: see text]-almost co-Kähler manifold with [Formula: see text] does not admit gradient [Formula: see text]-Einstein soliton. It is also shown that if a proper [Formula: see text]-Einstein almost co-Kähler manifold with constant coefficients admits a gradient [Formula: see text]-Einstein soliton, then either the manifold is a [Formula: see text]-almost co-Kähler manifold or the soliton is trivial. Next, we prove that in case of co-Kähler three-manifold the manifold is of constant scalar curvature. Moreover, either the manifold is flat or the gradient of the potential function is collinear with the Reeb vector field [Formula: see text]. Finally, we construct two examples to illustrate our results.
Evaluation of Diurnal Variations in Urban Surface Temperature with Earth Observations System
Authors: Rana Diksha , Kumari Maya , Kumar Deepak , Jaiswal Neeru
Published: December 2022

Rapid urbanisation causes the ‘heat island’ problem in megacities worldwide. The industrialisation has fuelled the increase in the urbanisation in Indian cities. This work measures and characterises Ahmedabad’s heat island variations (India). The study uses two satellite passes of the MODIS sensor over the summer for the last three years to assess urban heat island intensity (UHII). Sentinel-2B records are used to create a land-use map. The study considers the impact of land-use patterns on summer UHII diurnal fluctuations. Daily diurnal changes in land surface temperature (LST) are being analysed. Locations and land-use land-cover patterns affect UHII. Satellite observations show greater LST values during the day than at night, however, UHII is stronger at night. Urban UHII is stronger rural UHII. Lower vegetation cover area is one of the key causes of UHII development, as seen in the region’s Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) values.
Perfect JC-algebras
Authors: Jamjoom Fatmah B.
Published: December 2022

Perfect C∗-algebras were introduced by Akeman and Shultz in [Perfect C*-algebras, Mem. Amer. Math. Soc. 55(326) (1985)] and they form a certain subclass of C*-algebras determined by their pure states, and for which the general Stone–Weierstrass conjecture is true. In this paper, we introduce the notion of perfect JC-algebras, and we use the strong relationship between a JC-algebra A and its universal enveloping C∗-algebra [Formula: see text], to establish that if [Formula: see text] is perfect and A is of complex type, then A is perfect. It is also shown that every scattered JC-algebra of complex type is perfect, and the same conclusion holds for every JC-algebra of complex type whose primitive spectrum is Hausdorff.
Surface Effects on the Frequency Dispersion of Flexural Waves in Timoshenko Nanobeams
Authors: Jia Ning , Wei Peijun
Published: December 2022

The surface effects play an important role in nanobeams. Based on a recently developed theory of surface elastodynamics, a model of the flexural wave propagation in Timoshenko nanobeams is established, in which the surface effects characterized by surface energy and surface inertia are introduced. It is found that when the size of a beam is comparable with nanometers, the surface energy effect would enhance the wave speed, while the surface inertial one would reduce it. An interesting phenomenon discovered is that with an increasing wave frequency, the dominant role transits from the surface energy effect to the surface inertial effect. The two kinds of surface effects exhibit a frequency-dependent competitive mechanism. In contrast to the macroscopic beams, due to the surface effects, the frequency dispersion of flexural waves in nanobeams becomes size-dependent. Furthermore, a comparison of the Timoshenko nanobeam and the Euler one indicates that the shear deformation effect and rotary inertial one cannot be neglected for a large wave number, which would prominently decrease the wave speed. Besides, when the size of the beam is large enough, the surface effects can be neglected and the present results can degenerate to the classical Timoshenko ones. The present results should be helpful not only for deep understanding of the dispersive mechanism of flexural waves in nanobeams, but also for optimal design of nanobeam-based acoustic wave devices.