bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Has Psychology Anything to offer the Teacher?
Authors: Boyle D. G.
Published: November 2023

The view put forward is that psychology’s contributions to the teacher lie primarily in offering conceptual schemes (an example of which is presented) in terms of which the interactions between teachers and learners can be analysed; and in providing a source of ideas on children’s cognitive development. With respect to the latter, the views of Piaget as applied to education are discussed, and it is argued that their use to the teacher is negligible. Finally the attempts to define and assess creativity in children are discussed: the conclusion is that these attempts are quasi-political in nature and are based upon abuse of the technology of mental measurement.
The publication dates of the printed issues of the Bulletin de la Société zoologique de France (1816–2015)
Authors: FRÉTEY THIERRY
Published: November 2023

The publication dates of the printed issues of the Bulletin de la Société zoologique de France from 1876 to 2015 (volumes 1–139) were searched. Of the 3953 new nomina published, no less than 1224 (31 %) appeared after the ostensible year of the volume. Information on the issues, their pagination, publication dates, as well as the new nomina contained in each issue are detailed. An index indicating the actual year of publication of these published new nomina is also provided.
Two new species of eriophyoid mites (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) associated with Callerya Endl. and supplementary descriptions of Fujianacarus wisterianis from China
Authors: RUAN HONG-YAN , SHOU RU-FANG , LIAN RAN-RAN , TAN MENG-CHAO
Published: November 2023

Two new eriophyid mite species (Acari: Prostigmata: Eriophyoidea) were described from the host plants of the genus Callerya Endl. during a field survey in China: Tetra nitidae sp. nov. vagrant on leaves of Callerya nitida (Bentham) R. Geesink (Leguminosae), and Calepitrimerus calleryus sp. nov. vagrant on leaves of Callerya tsui (F. P. Metcalf) Z. Wei & Pedley. Both species caused no apparent symptoms in their host plants. Additionally, this paper provides a supplementary morphological description and illustrations of Fujianacarus wisterianis Song, Xue & Hong, 2008 (Eriophyoidea).
The G-20 Opportunity for India
Authors: Saran Shyam
Published: November 2023

The forthcoming G-20 summit in New Delhi offers India the opportunity to represent the concerns and aspirations of the Global South even while serving as a bridge between the developed and the developing world. A large number of preparatory meetings have been hosted by India in several important domains such as finance, public health, climate change and the digital economy, among others. These promise substantive outcomes at the summit but the key will be practical follow-up. The summit is overshadowed by the sharp divisions among members over the ongoing Ukraine War. It will be a challenge for India to keep the focus on the urgent need for countries to work together on cross-national and cross-domain issues. The summit opens up an expanded diplomatic space for India and raises its regional and international profile.
Introduction to the special issue: Tackling inequality and providing sustainable welfare through eco-social policies
Authors: Fritz Martin , Lee Jayeon
Published: November 2023

We are increasingly witnessing the social and ecological crises of our time becoming entangled and amplifying each other. The current policy responses from national states and international governance bodies remain within the dominant framework of economic growth-centred strategies. In this editorial, we argue that a new paradigm of sustainable welfare is needed, which includes eco-social policies addressing social and ecological sustainability concerns in integrated ways. We first demonstrate how social and ecological problems are interconnected and why green growth approaches fail to tackle them. As an alternative, and as a pointer to a social security system that can help people navigate the dire straits of increasing eco-social risks, we present the foundations and principles of sustainable welfare, and discuss how this, according to Kuhn, can be understood as a new social policy paradigm. In the second part of this editorial, we introduce the papers brought together in this special issue. The cutting-edge research of the contributing authors includes theoretical and conceptual advances, empirical case studies from different European countries, and transnational studies. Each paper discusses the implications of its findings for European social security systems.
Is life brighter when your phone is not? The efficacy of a grayscale smartphone intervention addressing digital well-being
Authors: Dekker Cynthia A. , Baumgartner Susanne E.
Published: November 2023

In response to the growing public concern about digital well-being, many tools have been developed for individuals to reduce their screen time. An understudied but promising self-nudge intervention is turning off smartphone screen colors (i.e., grayscaling). Since a grayscale setting is available on all smartphones, it has the potential to be an easily implemented intervention. The main aim of the current study was to assess the efficacy of a grayscale intervention by addressing its effects on both objective smartphone behavior as well as on daily subjective indicators of digital well-being. Participants’ smartphone use was tracked for 2 weeks ( N  =  84). The first week served as a baseline measure, followed by a 1-week grayscale intervention. Findings indicate that daily screen time was significantly reduced by 20 min, yet the daily number of phone unlocks did not change, suggesting deep-rooted checking habits. Moreover, grayscaling improved perceived control over one's smartphone use, and reduced perceived overuse, online vigilance, and stress, but did not affect productivity or sleep quality. Overall, findings indicate that grayscaling is an effective strategy to reduce screen time and improve digital well-being.
The uncontroversial ‘thingness’ of AI
Authors: Suchman Lucy
Published: November 2023

This commentary starts with the question ‘How is it that AI has come to be figured uncontroversially as a thing, however many controversies “it” may engender?’ Addressing this question takes us to knowledge practices that philosopher of science Helen Verran has named a ‘hardening of the categories’, processes that not only characterise the onto-epistemology of AI but also are central to its constituent techniques and technologies. In a context where the stabilization of AI as a figure enables further investments in associated techniques and technologies, AI's status as controversial works to reiterate both its ontological status and its agency. It follows that interventions into the field of AI controversies that fail to trouble and destabilise the figure of AI risk contributing to its uncontroversial reproduction. This is not to deny the proliferating data and compute-intensive techniques and technologies that travel under the sign of AI but rather to call for a keener focus on their locations, politics, material-semiotic specificity, and effects, including their ongoing enactment as a singular and controversial object.
Institutional Ownership, Capital Structure and Performance of SMEs in China
Authors: Duppati Geeta , Gulati Rachita , Matlani Neha , Kijkasiwat Ploypailin
Published: November 2023

This article examines the relationship between ownership, leverage, and performance for Chinese small and medium enterprises (SMEs). Our study sheds light on how institutional ownership affects the performance of Chinese SMEs. We use agency and the pecking order perspective as background theories for analysing the relationships between institutional ownership, capital structure, and firm performance. We use a range of regression estimations for robustness checks and include Quantile regression, static and dynamic panel regression models, and a two-step system Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) approach to explore data covering 2009–2015. Our findings show that institutional investor’s ownership affects the performance of Chinese SMEs positively and significantly. The negative relationship between leverage and performance indicates the dominance of family ownership in Chinese SMEs, where firms rely more on retained earnings for financing, which aligns with the pecking order theory (POT) perspective. The results also suggest that institutional ownership could mitigate agency issues in Chinese SMEs.

JEL Classification: G30, G38, G39
Strategic Pauses Relieve Listeners from the Effort of Listening to Fast Speech: Data Limited and Resource Limited Processes in Narrative Recall by Adult Users of Cochlear Implants
Authors: O’Leary Ryan M. , Neukam Jonathan , Hansen Thomas A. , Kinney Alexander J. , Capach Nicole , Svirsky Mario A. , Wingfield Arthur
Published: November 2023

Speech that has been artificially accelerated through time compression produces a notable deficit in recall of the speech content. This is especially so for adults with cochlear implants (CI). At the perceptual level, this deficit may be due to the sharply degraded CI signal, combined with the reduced richness of compressed speech. At the cognitive level, the rapidity of time-compressed speech can deprive the listener of the ordinarily available processing time present when speech is delivered at a normal speech rate. Two experiments are reported. Experiment 1 was conducted with 27 normal-hearing young adults as a proof-of-concept demonstration that restoring lost processing time by inserting silent pauses at linguistically salient points within a time-compressed narrative (“time-restoration”) returns recall accuracy to a level approximating that for a normal speech rate. Noise vocoder conditions with 10 and 6 channels reduced the effectiveness of time-restoration. Pupil dilation indicated that additional effort was expended by participants while attempting to process the time-compressed narratives, with the effortful demand on resources reduced with time restoration. In Experiment 2, 15 adult CI users tested with the same (unvocoded) materials showed a similar pattern of behavioral and pupillary responses, but with the notable exception that meaningful recovery of recall accuracy with time-restoration was limited to a subgroup of CI users identified by better working memory spans, and better word and sentence recognition scores. Results are discussed in terms of sensory-cognitive interactions in data-limited and resource-limited processes among adult users of cochlear implants.
Metabolomics and machine learning approaches for diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers screening in sepsis
Authors: She Han , Du Yuanlin , Du Yunxia , Tan Lei , Yang Shunxin , Luo Xi , Li Qinghui , Xiang Xinming , Lu Haibin , Hu Yi , Liu Liangming , Li Tao
Published: November 2023

Background

Sepsis is a life-threatening disease with a poor prognosis, and metabolic disorders play a crucial role in its development. This study aims to identify key metabolites that may be associated with the accurate diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis.

Methods

Septic patients and healthy individuals were enrolled to investigate metabolic changes using non-targeted liquid chromatography-high-resolution mass spectrometry metabolomics. Machine learning algorithms were subsequently employed to identify key differentially expressed metabolites (DEMs). Prognostic-related DEMs were then identified using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. The septic rat model was established to verify the effect of phenylalanine metabolism-related gene MAOA on survival and mean arterial pressure after sepsis.

Results

A total of 532 DEMs were identified between healthy control and septic patients using metabolomics. The main pathways affected by these DEMs were amino acid biosynthesis, phenylalanine metabolism, tyrosine metabolism, glycine, serine and threonine metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism. To identify sepsis diagnosis-related biomarkers, support vector machine (SVM) and random forest (RF) algorithms were employed, leading to the identification of four biomarkers. Additionally, analysis of transcriptome data from sepsis patients in the GEO database revealed a significant up-regulation of the phenylalanine metabolism-related gene MAOA in sepsis. Further investigation showed that inhibition of MAOA using the inhibitor RS-8359 reduced phenylalanine levels and improved mean arterial pressure and survival rate in septic rats. Finally, using univariate and multivariate cox regression analysis, six DEMs were identified as prognostic markers for sepsis.

Conclusions

This study employed metabolomics and machine learning algorithms to identify differential metabolites that are associated with the diagnosis and prognosis of sepsis patients. Unraveling the relationship between metabolic characteristics and sepsis provides new insights into the underlying biological mechanisms, which could potentially assist in the diagnosis and treatment of sepsis.

Trial registration

This human study was approved by the Ethics Committee of the Research Institute of Surgery (2021–179) and was registered by the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (Date: 09/12/2021, ChiCTR2200055772).
The association between albumin and mortality in patients with acute kidney injury: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Yang Kaibi , Yang Nan , Sun Wenbo , Dai Limiao , Jin Juan , Wu Juan , He Qiang
Published: November 2023

Background

While the association between decreased serum albumin (ALB) levels and increased risk of acute kidney injury (AKI) is well established, the risk of death among patients with AKI with low serum ALB levels is unclear. We aimed to evaluate the association between serum ALB levels in patients with AKI and mortality, and help guide their clinical management.

Methods

The included patients were those diagnosed with AKI and admitted to Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital between January 2018 and December 2020. The clinical endpoint was all-cause mortality rate at 90-days and 1-year. Patients were divided into four groups according to the quartiles (Qs) of ALB measurements at admission. Cumulative survival curves were calculated using Kaplan–Meier analysis, and Cox proportional risk models were used to assess the association between serum ALB levels and 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality.

Results

This study included 740 patients with AKI. Patients with measured ALB values were classified into quartiles: Q1 ≤ 26.0 g/L (n = 188); Q2 = 26.1–30.5 g/L (n = 186); Q3 = 30.6–34.7 g/L (n = 183); Q4 ≥ 34.8 g/L (n = 183). Univariate analysis using Cox regression showed that for every 10 g/L increase in ALB, the 90-day and 1-year mortality decreased by 29%. Among the four subgroups, patients with lower ALB levels had a higher risk of death. After adjusting for demographics, comorbid conditions, inflammatory index, and medicine, the lowest ALB quartile (ALB < 26 g/L) was associated with increased risk of 90-day mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.76; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.30 to 2.38, P < 0.001) and 1-year all-cause mortality (HR, 1.79; 95% CI, 1.33 to 2.41, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

ALB levels in patients with AKI were significantly correlated with prognosis, and the higher the level, the better the prognosis. Compared to patients with ALB ≥ 34.8 g/L, patients with 26.1 g/L < ALB ≤ 30.5 g/L had an increased risk of 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality of approximately 40%, and patients with ALB ≤ 26.0 g/L had an increased risk of 90-day and 1-year all-cause mortality of approximately 76% and 79%, respectively.
Cardiometabolic comorbidities in autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: a 16-year retrospective cohort study
Authors: Chen Li-Chi , Chu Yi-Chi , Lu Tzongshi , Lin Hugo Y.-H. , Chan Ta-Chien
Published: November 2023

Background

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most prevalent hereditary kidney disease and the fourth leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT). Nevertheless, there is a paucity of epidemiological research examining the risk factors and survival on RRT for ADPKD. Thus, we aimed to investigate the cumulative effects of cardiometabolic comorbidities, including hypertension (HTN), type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), and dyslipidemia (DLP) to clinical outcomes in ADPKD.

Methods

We identified 6,142 patients with ADPKD aged ≥ 20 years from 2000 to 2015 using a nationwide population-based database. HTN, DM, and DLP diagnoses before or at the time of ADPKD diagnosis and different combinations of the three diagnoses were used as the predictors for the outcomes. Survival analyses were used to estimate the adjusted mortality risk from cardiometabolic comorbidities and the risk for renal survival.

Results

Patients with ADPKD who developed ESRD had the higher all-cause mortality (HR, 5.14; [95% CI: 3.88–6.80]). Patients with all three of the diseases had a significantly higher risk of entering ESRD (HR:4.15, [95% CI:3.27–5.27]), followed by those with HTN and DM (HR:3.62, [95% CI:2.82–4.65]), HTN and DLP (HR:3.54, [95% CI:2.91–4.31]), and HTN alone (HR:3.10, [95% CI:2.62–3.66]) compared with those without any three cardiometabolic comorbidities.

Conclusions

Our study discovered the cumulative effect of HTN, DM, and DLP on the risk of developing ESRD, which reinforces the urgency of proactive prevention of cardiometabolic comorbidities to improve renal outcomes and overall survival in ADPKD patients.
RC48-ADC treatment for patients with HER2-expressing locally advanced or metastatic solid tumors: a real-world study
Authors: Wang Ping , Xia Lei
Published: November 2023

Background

RC48-antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) link humanized anti-HER2 immunoglobulin with monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). Clinical trials suggest promising antitumor activity in HER2-expressing solid tumors. This study probes RC48-ADC’s efficacy and safety in patients with HER2-expressing advanced or metastatic solid tumors.

Method

Data was collected from 23 advanced cancer patients treated with RC48-ADC at our oncology center between July 2021 and December 2022. These patients exhibited at least 1 + expression of HER2 immunohistochemistry, had previously experienced at least one failed systemic chemotherapy, and were treated with RC48-ADC until the occurrence of intolerable adverse reactions or disease progression. The primary endpoint was the disease control rate (DCR), and secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), objective response rate (ORR), and safety.

Results

23 of 25 screened patients received RC48 treatment. The ORR was 43.5% (95% CI, 23.2-63.7%) with a median PFS of 6.0 months (95% CI, 4.8–7.4). In the low-to-medium HER2 expression subgroup, ORR was 37.5%, median PFS 5.75 months. In the high HER2 expression subgroup, ORR was 57.1%, median PFS 7 months. For the cohort combining RC48 with PD-1 inhibitors, ORR was 53.8%, median PFS 8 months. In the concurrent local radiation therapy subgroup, ORR was 40.0%, median PFS 6.0 months. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were anemia (60.8%), leukopenia (56.2%), raised transaminases (52.17%), and neutropenia (43.5%). Five patients (21.7%) experienced Grade 3 symptoms, including anemia (21.7%) and neutropenia (14.0%). No Grade 4 adverse reactions or deaths were reported.

Conclusion

RC48-ADC shows promising efficacy and manageable safety in HER2-expressing advanced or metastatic solid tumor patients.
Kidney-type glutaminase is a biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma: a prospective study
Authors: Zhang Laizhu , Su Ke , Liu Qi , Li Binghua , Wang Ye , Cheng Chunxiao , Li Yunzheng , Xu Chun , Chen Jun , Wu Hongyan , Zhu Mengxia , Mai Xiaoli , Cao Yajuan , Peng Jin , Yue Yang , Ding Yitao , Yu Decai
Published: November 2023

Purpose

The pathological diagnosis and prognosis prediction of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is challenging due to the lack of specific biomarkers. This study aimed to validate the diagnostic and prognostic efficiency of Kidney-type glutaminase (GLS1) for HCC in prospective cohorts with a large sample size.

Methods

A total of 1140 HCC patients were enrolled in our prospective clinical trials. Control cases included 114 nontumour tissues. The registered clinical trial (ChiCTR-DDT-14,005,102, chictr.org.cn) was referred to for the exact protocol. GLS1 immunohistochemistry was performed on the whole tumour section. The diagnostic and prognostic performances of GLS1 was evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve and Cox regression model.

Results

The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, Youden index, and area under the curve of GLS1 for the diagnosis of HCC were 0.746, 0.842, 0.979, 0.249, 0.588, and 0.814, respectively, which could be increased to 0.846, 0.886, 0.987,0.366, 0.732, and 0.921 when combined with glypican 3 (GPC3) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP), indicating better diagnostic performance. Further, we developed a nomogram with GPC3 and GLS1 for identifying HCC which showed good discrimination and calibration. GLS1 expression was also related with age, T stage, TNM stage, Edmondson–Steiner grade, microvascular invasion, Ki67, VEGFR2, GPC3, and AFP expression in HCC. GLS1 expression was negatively correlated with disease-free survival (P < 0.001) probability of patients with HCC.

Conclusions

It was validated that GLS1 was a sensitive and specific biomarker for pathological diagnosis of HCC and had prognostic value, thus having practical value for clinical application.
Living with COPD: understanding patient experiences through the lens of photovoice
Authors: Sumner Jennifer , Bundele Anjali , Shankar Ravi , Chong Lin Siew , Kowitlawakul Yanika , Mukhopadhyay Amartya
Published: November 2023

Background

Conventional quantitative or qualitative methodologies may not encompass the wide array of experiences of individuals living with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). We used a novel approach – photovoice—to understand the impact of COPD on activities of daily living (ADLs) in a multicultural Asian country.

Methods

We recruited a purposive sample of eight patients from the outpatient clinics of the National University Health System, Singapore, between December 2020 and August 2021. We adopted a photovoice approach for data collection; participants were invited to take photos of how ADLs were impacted by COPD and attend a follow-up interview. An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis method was used to analyze the data. Data saturation was reached by the seventh patient.

Results

COPD and the resulting breathlessness had a profound and diverse impact on our participants’ lives. Living with COPD required substantial changes to how everyday tasks are performed, and participants learnt new strategies to deal with such tasks. A mixture of active and passive coping styles was evident. Feelings of frustration, anxiety and a sense of isolation were also reported. Contextual factors impacting ADLs included challenging climatic conditions and the local popularity of traditional or alternative medicine.

Conclusion

The photovoice technique improved our understanding of the lived experiences of COPD patients and can benefit those who struggle to articulate their views by offering a different way to communicate beyond conventional interviewing.
Leveraging a disulfidptosis/ferroptosis-based signature to predict the prognosis of lung adenocarcinoma
Authors: Ma Xiaoqing , Deng Zilin , Li Zhen , Ma Ting , Li Guiqing , Zhang Cuijia , Zhang Wentao , Chang Jin
Published: November 2023

Background

Disulfidptosis and Ferroptosis are two novel forms of cell death. Although their mechanisms differ, research has shown that there is a relationship between the two. Investigating the connection between these two forms of cell death can further deepen our understanding of the development and progression of cancer, and provide better prediction models for accurate prognosis.

Methods

In this study, RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data, clinical data, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) data, and single-cell sequencing data were obtained from public databases. We used weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) and unsupervised clustering to identify new Disulfidptosis/Ferroptosis-Related Genes (DFRG), and constructed a LASSO COX prognosis model that was externally validated. To further explore this novel signature, pathway and function analysis was performed, and differences in gene mutation frequency between high- and low-risk groups were studied. Importantly, we also conducted research on immune checkpoint, immune cell infiltration levels and immune resistance indicators, in addition to analyzing real clinical immunotherapy data.

Results

We have identified four optimal disulfidptosis/ferroptosis-related genes (ODFRGs) that are differentially expressed and associated with the prognosis of Lung Adenocarcinoma (LUAD). These genes include GMPR, MCFD2, MRPL13, and SALL2. Based on these ODFRGs, we constructed a robust prognostic model in this study, and the high-risk group showed significantly lower overall survival (OS) compared to the low-risk group. Furthermore, this model can also predict the immunotherapy outcomes of LUAD patients to some extent.
Effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei supplementation on the single-cell fecal parasitome in children with celiac disease autoimmunity: a randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Hurych Jakub , Oscarsson Elin , Håkanson Åsa , Jirků-Pomajbíková Kateřina , Jirků Milan , Aronson Carin Andrén , Cinek Ondřej , Agardh Daniel ,   the HEDIMED Investigator Group
Published: November 2023

Background

Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 positively affect the fecal bacteriome in children with celiac disease autoimmunity after 6 months of supplementation. The aim of the present investigation was to study the effects of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum HEAL9 and Lacticaseibacillus paracasei 8700:2 on the single-cell parasitome, with a primary focus on Blastocystis.

Methods

Stool samples were collected from 78 Swedish children with celiac disease autoimmunity participating in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial to either receive a mixture of supplementation with L. plantarum HEAL9 and L. paracasei 8700:2 (n = 38) or placebo (n = 40). A total of 227 stool samples collected at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of intervention, respectively, were retrospectively analyzed for Blastocystis by quantitative real-time PCR and subtyped by massively parallel amplicon sequencing. Other single-cell parasites were detected by untargeted 18S rDNA amplicon sequencing and verified by real-time PCR. The relation between the parasites and the bacteriome community was characterized by using 16S rDNA profiling of the V3-V4 region.

Results

Three different single-cell protists were identified, of which the highest prevalence was found for Dientamoeba fragilis (23.1%, 18/78 children), followed by Blastocystis (15.4%, 12/78) and Entamoeba spp. (2.6%, 2/78). The quantity of the protists was stable over time and not affected by probiotic intervention (P = 0.14 for Blastocystis, P = 0.10 for D. fragilis). The positivity of the protists was associated with increased bacteriome diversity (measured by multiple indices, P < 0.03). Bacterial composition was influenced by the presence of the protists: positivity of Blastocystis was inversely associated with Akkermansia (at the levels of the genus as well as its family, order, class and phylum); P < 0.002), Faecalibacterium (P = 0.003) and Romboutsia (P = 0.029); positivity of D. fragilis was inversely associated with families Enterobacteriaceae (P = 0.016) and Coriobacteriaceae (P = 0.022) and genera Flavonifractor (P < 0.001), Faecalibacterium (P = 0.009), Lachnoclostridium (P = 0.029), Ruminococcus (P < 0.001) and Granulicatella (P = 0.018).

Conclusions

The prevalence of single-cell protists is low in children with celiac disease autoimmunity. The colonization was stable regardless of the probiotic intervention and associated with increased diversity of the fecal bacteriome but inversely associated with some beneficial bacteria.

Graphical Abstract
Adenosine-induced splenic switch-off on [15O]H2O PET perfusion for the assessment of vascular vasodilatation
Authors: Inkinen Satu Irene , Hippeläinen Eero , Uusitalo Valtteri
Published: November 2023

Background

Splenic switch-off (SSO) is a marker of adequate adenosine-induced vasodilatation on cardiac magnetic resonance perfusion imaging. We evaluate the feasibility of quantitative assessment of SSO in myocardial positron emission tomography (PET) perfusion imaging using [15O]H2O.

Methods

Thirty patients underwent [15O]H2O PET perfusion with adenosine stress. Time-activity curves, as averaged standardized uptake values (SUVavg), were extracted from dynamic PET for spleen and liver. Maximum SUVavg, stress and rest spleen-to-liver ratio (SLR), and the splenic activity concentration ratio (SAR) were computed. Optimal cut-off values for SSO assessment were estimated from receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for maximum SUVavg and SLR. Also, differences between coronary artery disease, myocardial ischemia, beta-blockers, and diabetes were assessed. Data are presented as median [interquartile range].

Results

In concordance with the SSO phenomenon, both the spleen maximum SUVavg and SLR were lower in adenosine stress when compared to rest perfusion (8.1 [6.5, 9.2] versus 16.4 [13.4, 19.0], p < 0.001) and (0.81 [0.63, 1.08] versus 1.86 [1.73, 2.06], p < 0.001), respectively. During adenosine stress, the SSO effect was most prominent 40–160 s after radiotracer injection. Cut-off values of 12.6 and 1.57 for maximum SUVavg and SLR, respectively, were found based on ROC analysis. No differences in SAR, SLRRest, or SLRStress were observed in patients with coronary artery disease, myocardial ischemia, or diabetes.

Conclusions

SSO can be quantified from [15O]H2O PET perfusion and used as a marker for adequate adenosine-induced vasodilatation response. In contrary to other PET perfusion tracers, adenosine-induced SSO is time dependent with [15O]H2O.
Cost-utility analysis of Palbociclib + letrozole and ribociclib + letrozole versus Letrozole monotherapy in the first-line treatment of metastatic breast cancer in Iran using partitioned survival model
Authors: Darvishi Ali , Daroudi Rajabali , Fazaeli Ali Akbar
Published: November 2023

Background

Palbociclib and Ribociclib are cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 oral molecular inhibitors that have the potential to improve overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and quality of life in patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC). The objective of this study was to analyze the cost-utility of Palbociclib and Ribociclib in comparison with Letrozole monotherapy as the first-line treatment for hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2–) MBC patients in Iran.

Methods

A Cost-Utility Analysis (CUA) was conducted using a partitioned survival model (PSM) from the perspective of the Iranian healthcare system. The comparative strategies considered were Palbociclib + Letrozole, Ribociclib + Letrozole, and Letrozole monotherapy. The model was structured with a 1-month cycle length and a 15-year time horizon. Clinical safety, efficacy, and survival data in terms of PFS and OS for Palbociclib + Letrozole and Ribociclib + Letrozole were obtained from the latest updates of the PALOMA-1, 2, and MONALEESA-2 studies, respectively. Direct medical costs, including drug costs, visits, hospitalization, CT scans, bone x-rays, monitoring and laboratory testing, as well as medication side effects, were considered. Uncertainty evaluations were performed through deterministic sensitivity analysis and probabilistic sensitivity analysis. Excel 2016 and TreeAge 2020 were used for all stages of the evaluation.

Results

The base case results indicated that, despite its lower effectiveness, Letrozole monotherapy was the most cost-effective strategy, while Palbociclib + Letrozole and Ribociclib + Letrozole were not cost-effective. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) for Palbociclib + Letrozole and Ribociclib + Letrozole compared to Letrozole monotherapy were estimated at $137,302 and $120,478 per quality-adjusted life-year (QALY), respectively, which exceeded the target threshold of $4565. Deterministic sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the CUA results were not sensitive to changes in the values of uncertain variables. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis also indicated that Palbociclib + Letrozole and Ribociclib + Letrozole had no chance of being cost-effective based on changes in various parameters and simulations.

Conclusions

Palbociclib and Ribociclib showed significant efficacy in combination with Letrozole, as evidenced by improvements in PFS. However, in the first-line treatment of MBC in Iran, these strategies were not cost-effective compared to Letrozole monotherapy.
Interception of Epoxide ring to quorum sensing system in Enterococcus faecalis and Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Refai Mohammed Y. , Elazzazy Ahmed M. , Desouky Said E. , Abu-Elghait Mohammed , Fayed Eman A. , Alajel Sulaiman M. , Alajlan Abdullah A. , Albureikan Mona O. , Nakayama Jiro
Published: November 2023

Quorum sensing inhibitor (QSI) has been attracting attention as anti-virulence agent which disarms pathogens of their virulence rather than killing them. QSI marking cyclic peptide-mediated QS in Gram-positive bacteria is an effective tool to overcome the crisis of antibiotic-dependent chemotherapy due to the emergence of drug resistance strain, e.g., methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Vancomycin resistant Enterococci (VRE). From a semi-large-scale screening thus far carried out, two Epoxide compounds, Ambuic acid and Synerazol, have been found to efficiently block agr and fsr QS systems, suggesting that the Epoxide group is involved in the mode of action of these QSIs. To address this notion, known natural Epoxide compounds, Cerulenin and Fosfomycin were examined for QSI activity for the agr and fsr systems in addition to in silico and SAR studies. As a result, most of investigated Epoxide containing antibiotics correlatively interfere with QSI activity for the agr and fsr systems under sublethal concentrations.
FedEem: a fairness-based asynchronous federated learning mechanism
Authors: Gu Wei , Zhang Yifan
Published: November 2023

Federated learning is a mechanism for model training in distributed systems, aiming to protect data privacy while achieving collective intelligence. In traditional synchronous federated learning, all participants must update the model synchronously, which may result in a decrease in the overall model update frequency due to lagging participants. In order to solve this problem, asynchronous federated learning introduces an asynchronous aggregation mechanism, allowing participants to update models at their own time and rate, and then aggregate each updated edge model on the cloud, thus speeding up the training process. However, under the asynchronous aggregation mechanism, federated learning faces new challenges such as convergence difficulties and unfair model accuracy. This paper first proposes a fairness-based asynchronous federated learning mechanism, which reduces the adverse effects of device and data heterogeneity on the convergence process by using outdatedness and interference-aware weight aggregation, and promotes model personalization and fairness through an early exit mechanism. Mathematical analysis derives the upper bound of convergence speed and the necessary conditions for hyperparameters. Experimental results demonstrate the advantages of the proposed method compared to baseline algorithms, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed method in promoting convergence speed and fairness in federated learning.
Extracellular vesicles derived from endothelial cells modulate macrophage phenotype in vitro
Authors: He Zhizhen , Greven Johannes , Shi Yulong , Qin Kang , Zhao Qun , Zhang Xing , Buhl Eva Miriam , Eschweiler Jörg , Hildebrand Frank , Balmayor Elizabeth Rosado
Published: November 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) mediate cell-to-cell communication by horizontally transferring biological materials from host cells to target cells. During exposure to pathogens, pathogen-associated molecular patterns (e.g., lipopolysaccharide, LPS) get in contact with endothelial cells and stimulate the secretion of endothelial cell-derived EVs (E-EVs). The triggered EVs secretion is known to have a modulating influence on the EVs-receiving cells. Macrophages, a major component of innate immunity, are polarized upon receiving external inflammatory stimuli, in which toll-like receptor4 (TLR4)—nuclear factor kappa B (NFκB) pathway plays a key role. However, the functions of LPS-induced E-EVs (ELPS-EVs) in modulating macrophage phenotype and activation remain elusive. We collected the EVs from quiescent endothelial cells (ENor-EVs) and ELPS-EVs to detect their stimulatory role on NR8383 macrophages. Isolated EVs were characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM), western blot assay, and nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA). NR8383 macrophages were stimulated with ELPS-EVs, ENor-EVs, or PBS for 24 h. Hereafter, the uptake of EVs by the macrophages was investigated. Upon EVs stimulation, cellular viability was determined by MTT assay, while macrophage phenotype was analyzed by flow cytometry and immunofluorescence analysis. Furthermore, a western blot assay was conducted to evaluate the potentially involved TLR4–NFκB pathway. Interestingly, upon exposure to LPS, endothelial cells secreted significantly higher amounts of EVs (i.e., ELPS-EVs) when compared to quiescent cells or cells in PBS. The ELPS-EVs were also better internalized by NR8383 macrophages than ENor-EVs. The cellular viability of ELPS-EVs-treated macrophages was 1.2 times higher than those in the ENor-EVs and PBS groups. In addition, ELPS-EVs modulated NR8383 macrophages towards a proinflammatory macrophage M1-like phenotype. This was indicated by the significantly upregulated expressions of proinflammatory macrophage biomarkers CD86 and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) observed in ELPS-EVs-treated macrophages. The TLR4–NFκB signaling pathway was substantially activated in ELPS-EVs-treated macrophages, indicated by the elevated expressions of makers TLR4 and phosphorylated form of nuclear factor kappa B p65 subunit (p-NFκBp65). Overall, our results indicate that E-EVs play a crucial role in macrophage phenotype modulation under inflammatory conditions.
Feline mammary carcinoma-derived extracellular vesicle promotes liver metastasis via sphingosine kinase-1-mediated premetastatic niche formation
Authors: Chang Yi-Chih , Liu Hao-Ping , Chuang Hsiao-Li , Liao Jiunn-Wang , Kao Pei-Ling , Chan Hsun-Lung , Chen Ter-Hsin , Wang Yu-Chih
Published: November 2023

Background

Feline mammary carcinoma (FMC) is one of the most prevalent malignancies of female cats. FMC is highly metastatic and thus leads to poor disease outcomes. Among all metastases, liver metastasis occurs in about 25% of FMC patients. However, the mechanism underlying hepatic metastasis of FMC remains largely uncharacterized.

Results

Herein, we demonstrate that FMC-derived extracellular vesicles (FMC-EVs) promotes the liver metastasis of FMC by activating hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) to prime a hepatic premetastatic niche (PMN). Moreover, we provide evidence that sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1) delivered by FMC-EV was pivotal for the activation of HSC and the formation of hepatic PMN. Depletion of SK1 impaired cargo sorting in FMC-EV and the EV-potentiated HSC activation, and abolished hepatic colonization of FMC cells.

Conclusions

Taken together, our findings uncover a previously uncharacterized mechanism underlying liver-metastasis of FMC and provide new insights into prognosis and treatment of this feline malignancy.
Tretinoin Enhances the Effects of Chemotherapy in Juvenile Myelomonocytic Leukemia Using an Ex Vivo Drug Sensitivity Assay
Authors: Stieglitz Elliot , Gu Christine J. , Richardson Michelle , Kita Ryosuke , Santaguida Marianne T. , Ali Kamran A. , Strachan Debbie C. , Dhar Anukriti , Yam George , Anderson Wade , Anderson Erica , Hübner Juwita , Tasian Sarah K. , Loh Mignon L. , Lacher Markus D.
Published: November 2023

Using Notable's ex vivo platform, researchers have identified new preclinical combination therapies in JMML.
Development of perovskite-gallium arsenide double-junction photovoltaic devices
Authors: Μανιδάκης Εμμανουήλ
Published: November 2023

Τα ηλιακά κύτταρα περοβσκίτη αποτελούν σήμερα την πιο γρήγορα αναπτυγμένη τεχνολογία φωτοβολταϊκών (PV), καθώς συνδυάζουν χαμηλό κόστος κατασκευής, υψηλές αποδόσεις μετατροπής και δυνατότητα εναπόθεσης σε εύκαμπτα υποστρώματα. Από την άλλη πλευρά, τα ηλιακά κύτταρα με βάση το GaAs εξακολουθούν να θεωρούνται ως η τεχνολογία αναφοράς στη βιομηχανία φωτοβολταϊκών, επιδεικνύοντας τις υψηλότερες αποδόσεις φωτοβολταϊκών στον τομέα. Σε αυτή τη διατριβή, συνδυάζουμε τα πλεονεκτήματα των δύο συστημάτων υλικών για να παρέχουμε ένα υψηλής απόδοσης ηλιακό κύτταρο περοβσκίτη/GaAs με βελτιωμένα χαρακτηριστικά. Αντίστοιχα, έχουμε κατασκευάσει διατάξεις ηλιακών κυψελών που βασίζονται σε GaAs με απόδοση φωτοβολταϊκών που φτάνουν τις τιμές ~15%, συγκρίσιμες με τις αναφερόμενες τιμές για ηλιακά κύτταρα GaAs παρόμοιου σχεδιασμού. Έχουμε αναπτύξει βελτιστοποιημένες συνταγές για την εναπόθεση κάθε στρώματος μιας φωτοβολταϊκής συσκευής πλήρους περοβσκίτη, συμπεριλαμβανομένου του ενεργού στρώματος περοβσκίτη, των στρωμάτων μεταφοράς ηλεκτρονίων και οπών και των μεταλλικών επαφών. Συγκεκριμένα, έχουμε συνθέσει με επιτυχία «κόκκινους» περοβσκίτες με ενεργειακό χάσμα γύρω στα 650 nm που απαιτούνται σε διαδοχικές δομές περοβσκίτη/GaAs και κατασκευάσαμε «κόκκινα» ηλιακά κύτταρα περοβσκίτη με απόδοση Φ/Β έως και ~6,5%. Αυτή η σχετικά μέτρια τιμή πιθανότατα οφείλεται στις συνθήκες εναπόθεσης «εκτός glove-box» στο εργαστήριό μας. Ωστόσο, συνδυάζοντας μια ηλιακή κυψέλη περοβσκίτη 1,77 eV που παρέχεται από μια συνάδελφο ομάδα μαζί με τις δικές μας ηλιακές κυψέλες GaAs, καταφέραμε να επιδείξουμε μια διάταξη τεσσάρων ακροδεκτών σε συνδυασμό με απόδοση φωτοβολταϊκών κοντά στο 23%, αναδεικνύοντας το πλεονέκτημα της διαδοχικής διαμόρφωσης. Τέλος, δείξαμε ότι η εναπόθεση του MAPbI3 σε φυσικά υποστρώματα GaAs μπορεί να παράξει ένα γιγάντιο φαινόμενο παθητικοποίησης στα GaAs, ένα φαινόμενο που φαίνεται να είναι πλήρως αναστρέψιμο, με την έννοια ότι το στρώμα περοβσκίτη μπορεί εύκολα να ξεπλυθεί και η ένταση του PL και τα φασματικά χαρακτηριστικά του υποστρώματος GaAs έχουν αποκατασταθεί πλήρως στην αρχική τους κατάσταση.
Ο ρόλος της υποθερμίας σε ασθενείς με αυξημένη ενδοκράνια πίεση και μελέτη προγνωστικών παραγόντων
Authors: Υγροπούλου Όλγα
Published: November 2023

Εισαγωγή: Η διάσωση κάθε στοιχείου του νευρικού ιστού είναι κύριος στόχος της νευροχειρουργικής και της διαχείρισης του ασθενούς στο περιβάλλον της εντατικής θεραπείας. Σε αυτή την πρακτική η νευροπροστασία και η νευροπροφύλαξη, μεταξύ άλλων χρησιμοποιούν τη στοχευμένη διαχείριση της θερμοκρασίας. Ο βασικός στόχος είναι η μείωση του μεταβολικού ρυθμού του νευρικού ιστού που προκαλείται από τη μειωμένη θερμοκρασία, η επακόλουθη μείωση των απαιτήσεων σε O2 και η διατήρηση ενός ισορροπημένου μεταβολικού και ενεργειακού περιβάλλοντος. Σκοπός: Ο κύριος σκοπός της παρούσας μελέτης είναι να διερευνήσει το ρόλο της υποθερμίας σε σχέση με την έκβαση των ασθενών, που εισήχθησαν στη ΜΕΘ με βλάβες του ΚΝΣ και τη διερεύνηση της σχέσης της υποθερμίας με εξειδικευμένους κλινικούς, εργαστηριακούς και απεικονιστικούς δείκτες. Υλικό μέθοδος: Η παρούσα μελέτη ορίζεται ως αναδρομική μελέτη παρατήρησης. Στη μελέτη εντάχθηκαν συνολικά 79 ασθενείς με ενδοκράνια παθολογία, που εισήχθησαν στη ΜΕΘ του ΓΝ Ιωαννίνων «Γ. Χατζηκώστα». Αποτελέσματα:Η υποθερμία των ασθενών δεν αποτέλεσεανεξάρτητο προγνωστικό παράγοντα για την κλινική έκβαση. Επαληθεύτηκεόμως ο επιβαρυντικός της ρόλος σε σχέση με διάφορες ενδοκράνιες παθολογίες όπως (ενδοκοιλιακή, υπαραχνοειδής αιμορραγία, διάχυτο εγκεφαλικό οίδημα κ.α) καθώς καιμε τις υψηλές τιμές της κλίμακας έκτασης εγκεφαλικής βλάβης(Marshall) αλλά και τις χαμηλές τιμές τηςκλίμακας Γλασκώβης GCS. Η ουρία και η κρεατινίνη επίσης αποτέλεσαν στη μελέτη μας προγνωστικούς δείκτες έκβασης σε αντίθεση με τις διαταραχές πηκτικότητας.Ο λόγος ουδετερόφιλων προς λεμφοκύτταρα (NLR) προτείνεται ως πολύτιμος προγνωστικός δείκτης έκβασης σε ασθενείς με τραυματικές κακώσεις του εγκεφάλου. Η ανισοκορία και η μυδρίαση αποτελούν ανεξάρτητους προγνωστικούς παράγοντες κακής έκβασης, Συμπεράσματα: Η πρωτογενής διαχείριση των συμβάντων του εγκεφάλου, αλλά και των δευτερογενών βλαβών είναι ιδιαίτερα σημαντική. Ωστόσο η έρευνα δεν έχει αποκαλύψει επαρκώς το ρόλο της υποθερμίας ή της στοχευμένης διαχείρισης της θερμοκρασίας. Η έρευνα πρέπει να επικεντρωθεί τόσο στην έκβαση, όσο και στις μακροχρόνιες συνέπειες των συμβάντων του εγκεφάλου.
Single-shot non-line-of-sight imaging based on chromato-axial differential correlography
Authors: Liu Lingfeng , Zhu Shuo , Zhang Wenjun , Bai Lianfa , Guo Enlai , Han Jing
Published: November 2023

Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) imaging is a challenging task aimed at reconstructing objects outside the direct view of the observer. Nevertheless, traditional NLOS imaging methods typically rely on intricate and costly equipment to scan and sample the hidden object. These methods often suffer from restricted imaging resolution and require high system stability. Herein, we propose a single-shot high-resolution NLOS imaging method via chromato-axial differential correlography, which adopts low-cost continuous-wave lasers and a conventional camera. By leveraging the uncorrelated laser speckle patterns along the chromato-axis, this method can reconstruct hidden objects of diverse complexity using only one exposure measurement. The achieved background stability through single-shot acquisition, along with the inherent information redundancy in the chromato-axial differential speckles, enhances the robustness of the system against vibration and colored stain interference. This approach overcomes the limitations of conventional methods by simplifying the sampling process, improving system stability, and achieving enhanced imaging resolution using available equipment. This work serves as a valuable reference for the real-time development and practical implementation of NLOS imaging.