bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunogenic Potential and Therapeutic Efficacy of Multi‐Epitope Encapsulated Silk Fibroin Nanoparticles against Pseudomonas aeruginosa‐Mediated Urinary Tract Infections
Authors: Rezvanirad Azam , Habibi Mehri , Farokhi Mehdi , Asadi Karam Mohammad Reza
Published: May 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) causing urinary tract infections (UTIs) are a major concern among hospital‐acquired infections. The need for an effective vaccine that reduces the infections is imperative. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of a multi‐epitope vaccine encapsulated in silk fibroin nanoparticles (SFNPs) against P. aeruginosa‐mediated UTIs. A multi‐epitope is constructed from nine proteins of P. aeruginosa using immunoinformatic analysis, expressed, and purified in BL21 (DE3) cells. The encapsulation efficiency of the multi‐epitope in SFNPs is 85% with a mean particle size of 130 nm and 24% of the encapsulated antigen is released after 35 days. The vaccine formulations adjuvanted with SFNPs or alum significantly improve systemic and mucosal humoral responses and the cytokine profile (IFN‐γ, IL‐4, and IL‐17) in mice. Additionally, the longevity of the IgG response is maintained for at least 110 days in a steady state. In a bladder challenge, mice treated with the multi‐epitope admixed with alum or encapsulated in SFNPs demonstrate significant protection of the bladder and kidneys against P. aeruginosa. This study highlights the promising therapeutic potential of a multi‐epitope vaccine encapsulated in SFNPs or adjuvanted with alum against P. aeruginosa infections.
Exploring mental time travel experiences and their influence on behavioral intentions and learning
Authors: Barhorst Jennifer Brannon , Krey Nina , McLean Graeme
Published: May 2023

Drawing on cognitive science research, this study presents mental time travel experiences to the marketing literature and explores their value to brands. Specifically, we examine how marketing stimuli can be used to elicit mental time travel experiences and the impact these experiences have on important brand outcomes including purchase intentions, word of mouth, loyalty intentions, and learning. We do so with two studies using branded experiences from two marketing campaigns across four different conditions: augmented reality, a 360° website, a video, and a static image. Results identify positive episodic memories as an important primer of mental time travel experiences and that mental time travel to the past is a key factor to influencing purchase intentions, word of mouth, loyalty intentions, and learning. We also show that cognitive load can have an inhibiting effect on mental time travel's ability to influence purchase intentions, word of mouth, and loyalty intentions. Finally, we demonstrate that a state of immersion can enhance mental time travel's ability to influence learning.
Motion‐compensated low‐rank reconstruction for simultaneous structural and functional UTE lung MRI
Authors: Tan Fei , Zhu Xucheng , Chan Marilynn , Zapala Matthew A. , Vasanawala Shreyas S. , Ong Frank , Lustig Michael , Larson Peder E. Z.
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Three‐dimensional UTE MRI has shown the ability to provide simultaneous structural and functional lung imaging, but it is limited by respiratory motion and relatively low lung parenchyma SNR. The purpose of this paper is to improve this imaging by using a respiratory phase‐resolved reconstruction approach, named motion‐compensated low‐rank reconstruction (MoCoLoR), which directly incorporates motion compensation into a low‐rank constrained reconstruction model for highly efficient use of the acquired data.

Theory and Methods

The MoCoLoR reconstruction is formulated as an optimization problem that includes a low‐rank constraint using estimated motion fields to reduce the rank, optimizing over both the motion fields and reconstructed images. The proposed reconstruction along with XD and motion state–weighted motion‐compensation (MostMoCo) methods were applied to 18 lung MRI scans of pediatric and young adult patients. The data sets were acquired under free‐breathing and without sedation with 3D radial UTE sequences in approximately 5 min. After reconstruction, they went through ventilation analyses. Performance across reconstruction regularization and motion‐state parameters were also investigated.

Results

The in vivo experiments results showed that MoCoLoR made efficient use of the data, provided higher apparent SNR compared with state‐of‐the‐art XD reconstruction and MostMoCo reconstructions, and yielded high‐quality respiratory phase‐resolved images for ventilation mapping. The method was effective across the range of patients scanned.

Conclusion

The motion‐compensated low‐rank regularized reconstruction approach makes efficient use of acquired data and can improve simultaneous structural and functional lung imaging with 3D‐UTE MRI. It enables the scanning of pediatric patients under free‐breathing and without sedation.
Reinforcing mechanically reclaimed polyurethane foam wastes‐based elastomer with modified recycled polyester fibers
Authors: Duan Ruoxuan , Wei Lingfei , Coates Phil , Kelly Adrian , Wang Chao , Chen Binxia , Zhou Zehang , Lu Canhui
Published: May 2023

Polyurethane foams are widely used in daily life due to their superior performance. However, it is very challenging to recycle and reuse waste polyurethane foams since the three‐dimensional crosslinking network structure makes them non‐melting and insoluble. In this work, a low‐cost, green, room‐temperature solid‐state shear milling method is proposed to break the cross‐linking bonds of waste polyurethane foam (crosslinking density decreases from 0.768 to 0.489 mol dm−3). The recycled polyurethane (RPU) powders regain their thermoplastic processability. Recycled waste polyester (PET) fibers are modified through plasma treatment and used as reinforcing fillers for the reprocessed RPU elastomer. Compared to original PET fibers, modified polyester (m‐PET) fibers construct strong interfacial interactions and physical interlocks with RPU matrix, leading to significantly enhanced mechanical properties. Molecular dynamics studies demonstrate that RPU/m‐PET composites have higher cohesive energy density and lower free volume, and significantly improved compatibility, which greatly promotes stress dissipation upon stretching. This study provides a feasible strategy for the high‐value recycling of waste polymer materials.
Multienzyme‐Mimetic Activity of Gold/Cerium Oxide Nanozyme
Authors: Xin Qi , Wang Li , Ruan Haiyan , Liu Ling , Sun Si , Zhang Jing , Wu Menglin , Mu Xiaoyu , Wang Hao , Zhang Shaofang , Zhang Xiao‐Dong
Published: May 2023

Redox‐active nanozymes offer low‐cost controlled synthesis, high stability, and tunable catalytic properties over natural enzymes, which have attracted wide attention in the field of disease diagnosis and treatment. However, the improvement of catalytic activity remains an important challenge for nanozymes. Herein, the Au/CeO2 nanozymes is developed to achieve enhanced multiple enzyme‐mimetic activity. The Au/CeO2 nanozymes at 5% doping possess best peroxidase‐like activity with threefold higher catalytic rate than CeO2. For catalase‐mimic catalysis, the Au/CeO2 nanozymes at 5% doping also exhibited a 1.5‐fold enhanced reaction rate higher than pure CeO2. The superoxide dismutase (SOD)‐like capacity of Au/CeO2 nanozymes is proportional to Au content. The Au/CeO2 nanozymes at 10% doping show optimal SOD‐like capacity of 60.2 U mg−1. In vitro experiments validate the regulation ability of intracellular oxidative stress and inflammation. Au/CeO2 nanozymes can reduce lipopolysaccharide‐ or H2O2‐induced oxidative damage by scavenging excess ROS in nerve cell. Therefore, Au/CeO2 can be used as a promising antioxidant in disease treatment, and the study offers general guidelines for achieving enhanced biocatalytic property through atomic doping.
Engineering of Vacancy Defects in WS2 Monolayer by Rare‐Earth (Er, Tm, Lu) Doping: A First‐Principles Study
Authors: Zhao Yang , Yan Bing , Liang Xianxiao , Liu Shaoxiang , Shi Xuan , Zhao Hongquan
Published: May 2023

Vacancy defects in two‐dimensional (2D) materials are critical to their properties. The substitutional doping in vacancy defects by rare‐earth atoms results in diverse material versatilities, but the effects and the corresponding mechanisms are far from being answered. Herein, the electronic and optical properties of vacancy defects and lanthanide rare‐earth (RE = Er, Tm, Lu) doping in WS2 monolayers are studied based on density functional theory with Hubbard correction (DFT + U). The formation energies of defective and doped systems are calculated under W‐rich and S‐rich conditions, respectively. The bandgap of WS2 with one W‐defect in a 4 × 4 × 1 supercell changes from direct to indirect, while S‐defect does not change the bandgap type of the supercell. When RE atoms are doped in the W‐defect, the bandgap returns to direct. WS2 supercells with intrinsic defects and Lu doped in [W] defect show the nonmagnetic property, while Er‐ and Tm‐doped supercells show obvious magnetic properties. The imaginary part of dielectric function and absorption coefficients increase drastically from visible to near‐infrared as RE atoms substitute W sites, and the bandgap shrinks due to the rise of the valance band maximum. This work proves RE doping in 2D WS2 is an effective technique for bandgap and carrier engineering.
Black Salve (or Escharotics). A Picture About an Unorthodox Medical Preparation in Oncology
Authors: Borkens Yannick
Published: May 2023

Alternative medicine methods and treatments enjoy great popularity. However, many users fail to recognise the dangers associated with these methods. One of these is called Black Ointment or Black Salve. Oncologists and attending physicians should be aware of alternative medical methods such as these and be in a position to provide appropriate advice, intervention, if necessary, at any time when counselling patients in difficult situations.
A facile synthesis and luminescence properties of CeF3:Tb3+ via polyol method
Authors: Yue Dan , Zhang Lisha , Wang Haojie , Liu Deri , Yang Xiaotong , Lu Zhiqiang , Li Mingjia , Li Weidong , Chen Dong , Wang Zhenling
Published: May 2023

Sugar gourd shaped CeF3:Tb3+ has been successfully synthesized by polyol method. The phase, morphology and fluorescent properties of CeF3:Tb3+ were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), infrared spectroscopy (IR) and photoluminescence (PL) spectra, respectively. It can be seen that the volume changes of giethylene glycol (DEG) and H2O content did not affect the phase structure of CeF3:Tb3+. The emission spectrum of CeF3:Tb3+ shows the characteristic emissions of Tb3+ ion, indicating that an energy transfer from Ce3+ to Tb3+ occurs in CeF3:Tb3+, and the decay time of CeF3:Tb3+ was not affected by the change of DEG content.
Subgroup Membership in GL(2,Z)
Authors: Lohrey Markus
Published: May 2023

It is shown that the subgroup membership problem for a virtually free group can be decided in polynomial time when all group elements are represented by so-called power words, i.e., words of the form $$p_1^{z_1} p_2^{z_2} \cdots p_k^{z_k}$$

p
1

z
1

p
2

z
2

⋯

p
k

z
k

. Here the $$p_i$$

p
i

are explicit words over the generating set of the group and all $$z_i$$

z
i

are binary encoded integers. As a corollary, it follows that the subgroup membership problem for the matrix group $$\textsf{GL}(2,\mathbb {Z})$$

GL
(
2
,
Z
)

can be decided in polynomial time when elements of $$\textsf{GL}(2,\mathbb {Z})$$

GL
(
2
,
Z
)

are represented by matrices with binary encoded integers. For the same input representation, it also shown that one can compute in polynomial time the index of a given finitely generated subgroup of $$\textsf{GL}(2,\mathbb {Z})$$

GL
(
2
,
Z
)

.
Flexible supply meets flexible demand: prosumer impact on strategic hydro operations
Authors: Hassanzadeh Moghimi Farzad , Chen Yihsu , Siddiqui Afzal S.
Published: May 2023

Ambitious climate packages promote the integration of variable renewable energy (VRE) and electrification of the economy. For the power sector, such a transformation means the emergence of so-called prosumers, i.e., agents that both consume and produce electricity. Due to their inflexible VRE output and flexible demand, prosumers will potentially add endogenous net sales with seasonal patterns to the power system. With its vast hydro reservoirs and ample transmission capacity, the Nordic region is seemingly well positioned to cope with such intermittent VRE output. However, the increased requirement for flexibility may be leveraged by incumbent producers to manipulate prices. Via a Nash-Cournot model with a representation of the Nordic region’s spatio-temporal features and reservoir volumes, we examine how hydro producers’ ability to manipulate electricity prices through temporal arbitrage is affected by (i) VRE-enabled prosumers and (ii) the latter plus a high CO$$_2$$2price. We find that hydro reservoirs could exploit prosumers’ patterns of net sales to conduct temporal arbitrage more effectively, viz., by targeting periods in which prosumers are net buyers (net sellers) to withhold (to “dump”) water. Meanwhile, a higher CO$$_2$$2price would further enhance hydro reservoirs’ market power because flexible price-taking thermal plants would be unable to ramp up production in order to counter such producers’ strategy to target VRE’s intermittency. Hence, in spite of a flexible demand side to complement additional intermittent VRE output, strategic hydro producers may still exacerbate price manipulation in a future power sector via more tailored exercise of market power.
Population dynamics of the common shrew (Sorex araneus) in Central European forest clearings
Authors: Dokulilová Martina , Krojerová-Prokešová Jarmila , Heroldová Marta , Čepelka Ladislav , Suchomel Josef
Published: May 2023

The population dynamics of shrews (Soricidae) are not well known even though they form an important part of forest ecosystems and represent suitable bioindicators of ecosystem quality. The aim of this study was to evaluate the population dynamics of shrews in mountain and upland forest clearings in four study areas within the Czech Republic and to reveal how climatic factors influenced fluctuations in their abundance for a decade (2007–2017). In total, we trapped 7,538 individuals of 18 small mammal species. From 760 individuals of seven shrew species, the common shrew (Sorex araneus) was significantly dominated in all study areas. We did not observe any significant, regular multi-annual cycles of the common shrew. However, a cross-correlation in density fluctuation of this species was detected in all mountain areas indicating the influence of environmental factors acting on a larger geographical scale. The autumn abundance of shrews was dependent on the subset of climatic variables, together explaining 56% of the variance in the linear regression model. Except for the length of the snow cover of ≥ 5 cm, all other significant variables were associated with North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO). Longer duration of snow cover during the winter before trapping, higher average NAO value during months before trapping, and NAO value in September influenced negatively the autumn abundance of shrews, contrary, higher value of NAO in May and October increased the abundance. Our results demonstrate the sensitivity of shrews to winters with a longer period of snow cover and to climatic oscillations associated with the NAO, whose effect is monthly dependent and probably indirectly influencing shrews through their prey.
Efficacy of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy on Academic Stress Among Rural Community Secondary School Economics Students: A Randomized Controlled Evaluation
Authors: Eneogu Njideka D. , Ugwuanyi Chiamaka K. , Ugwuanyi Christian S.
Published: May 2023

This study evaluated the effect of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on the academic stress of rural community secondary school economic students. The study adopted the pre-test, post-test randomized control trial experimental design. The economics academic stress questionnaire (EASQ) was used for data collection using 168 secondary school economics students sampled from rural community schools in Southeast Nigeria. The instrument was validated by three experts in the area of the study and the internal consistency reliability index of the items was estimated as 0.83 using the Cronbach Alpha method. A pre-treatment assessment (pre-test) was conducted using the EASQ to collect baseline data. After that, the experimental group was exposed to 60 min of the CBT program once a week for 8 weeks. The data collected were analysed using mixed-design repeated analysis of variance. The findings of the study revealed that CBT had a significant effect on the management of academic stress among rural community secondary schools economics students. Based on the findings of the study, it can be concluded that the use of CBT intervention will be helpful in the management of academic stress among rural community secondary school economics students. The implication of that is that CBT intervention is effective in the reduction of psychological problems and discomfort among students in order to improve their academic achievement.
Structural and thermal characteristics of Ge30−xSbxTe10Se60 (0 ≤ x ≤ 20) glasses for electronic devices
Authors: Soraya M. M. , Abdel-Wahab Fouad , Elamin A. A. , Shaaban E. R. , Ali Karrar N. N.
Published: May 2023

Thermal characterization of different compositions of Ge30−xSbxTe10Se60 (x = 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 at.%) glassy materials has been investigated through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The tested glasses have been synthesized by melt-quench technique. Glassy materials display compositional phase separation at x = 0, 5, 10, 15 at.%. For additional increase in Sb content at x = 20 at.%, the separation of phases combines in the glass matrix. The glass transition temperature (Tg), initial temperature of crystallization (Tc), peak crystallization temperature (Tp) and melting temperature (Tm) were found to be affected by both heating rate and composition. It is noticed that the increasing of antimony mass percentage in the glassy matrix is leading to decrease in Tg, Tc, Tp and Tm values. The melting temperature (Tm) of these glasses was found in the range 733–746 K for the first phase and in the range 740–792 K for the second phase. The activation energy of glass transition (Eg), activation energy for crystallization (Ec), Avrami index (n) and fragility index (Fi) were calculated using these specific temperatures. Eg decreases with increasing Sb content in all studied samples, but Eg is increasing in the sample with Sb content of 20%, and hence, it varies between 102.7 and 110.6 kJ approximately, whereas (Ec) decreases with the increase in the Sb content in all the tested samples and varies between 283 and 339 kJ. The fragility index varies between 10 and 26 indicating that the melts of these glasses are strong, and the fragility is minimum. The results were discussed in terms of the average coordination number NC and chemical bond approach.
Raman Spectroscopic Analysis of Highly-Concentrated Antibodies under the Acid-Treated Conditions
Authors: Sato Yusui , Nagatoishi Satoru , Noguchi Shintaro , Tsumoto Kouhei
Published: May 2023

Purpose

Antibody drugs are usually formulated as highly-concentrated solutions, which would easily generate aggregates, resulting in loss of efficacy. Although low pH increases the colloidal dispersion of antibodies, acid denaturation can be an issue. Therefore, knowing the physical properties at low pH under high concentration conditions is important.

Methods

Raman spectroscopy was used to investigate pH-induced conformational changes of antibodies at 50 mg/ml. Experiments in pH 3 to 7 were performed for human serum IgG and recombinant rituximab.

Results

We detected the evident changes at pH 3 in Tyr and Trp bands, which are the sensitive markers of intermolecular interactions. Thermal transition analysis over the pH range demonstrated that the thermal transition temperature (Tm) was highest at pH 3. Acid-treated and neutralized one showed higher Tm than that of pH 7, indicating that their extent of intermolecular interactions correlated with the Tm values. Onset temperature was clearly different between concentrated and diluted samples. Colloidal analyses confirmed the findings of the Raman analysis.

Conclusion

Our studies demonstrated the positive correlation between Raman analysis and colloidal information, validating as a method for evaluating antibody conformation associated with aggregation propensities.
Impact of feed additives and host-related factors on bacterial metabolites, mucosal integrity and immune response in the ileum of broilers
Authors: Duangnumsawang Yada , Zentek Jürgen , Vahjen Wilfried , Tarradas Joan , Boroojeni Farshad Goodarzi
Published: May 2023

The present study aimed to investigate the effect of age, breed, and sex of broilers, as well as a probiotic or phytobiotic product on mucosal morphology, bacterial metabolites, and immune traits in the ileum of broilers. A total of 2,880 one-day-old male and female broiler chicks from two breeds (Ross308® and Cobb500®) were randomly assigned to 72 pens. Broilers were offered a wheat-soybean diet without (CO), or with either a probiotic (PO; 2.4 × 109 CFU/kg of Bacillus subtilis DSM32324 and DSM32325 and B. amyloliquefaciens DSM25840) or a phytobiotic (PY; grape extract, 165 ppm procyanidin and 585 ppm polyphenols of the diet) product. The trial was conducted with a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of diet, breed, and sex in a completely randomized design (6 replicate-pens per treatment). At day 7, 21, and 35, one chicken per pen was slaughtered for collecting ileal tissue to evaluate of histomorphology and mRNA expression, as well as ileal digesta to measure bacterial metabolites. Data were subjected to ANOVA (the main factors; age, diet, breed, and sex) and Four-Way ANOVA (interactions) using GLM procedure. Overall, the concentration of acetate and total short chain fatty acids reached the peak and lactate decreased to its lowest on day 21, but their concentrations at day 7 and 35 were similar (p > 0.05). Spermine, spermidine, and ammonia decreased after day 7, while putrescine and cadaverine increased after day 21 (p < 0.05). mRNA expression of cytokines, mucin 2 (MUC2) and claudin 5 (CLDN5) was similar; increased from day 7 to 21 and decreased afterward (p < 0.05). Villus height, crypt depth and villus surface area increased with age (p < 0.05). Acidic goblet cells (GC) number and density increased after day 21 (p < 0.05). Ross broilers showed higher D-lactate concentration and IFN-γ expression, while Cobb broilers had greater IL-4, IL-6 and TNF-α expression and higher total GC number (p < 0.05). Female displayed higher villus height and GC number and density (mixed and total GC) than male (p < 0.05). The effect of dietary treatment was not found on any investigated variables (p > 0.05). In conclusion, aging of broilers affected ileal histomorphology, cytokine expression, and barrier integrity, as well as bacterial activity. These observed impacts could be attributed to host-microbiota interaction and the direct effects of bacterial metabolites on intestinal cells and immune system.
Estimation of glycemic index in a dietary formulation targeted to support enteral and oral nutritional needs
Authors: Bhoite Rachana , Shobana Shanmugam , Pratti Varalakshmi Lalithya , Satyavrat Vinita , Gayathri Rajagopal , Anjana Ranjit Mohan , Mohan Viswanathan
Published: May 2023

Background

Enteral nutrition (EN) is the preferred method to extend nutritional support and mitigate the chances of malnutrition in patients who are critically ill. In these patients, the risk of hyperglycemia is high and can result in poor clinical outcomes and delayed recovery. Hence, estimation of the glycemic index (GI) of supplements used in EN becomes important to reduce all such risks.

Objective

To estimate the GI of a nutritional supplement formulated for critically ill patients during hospitalization and after recovery.

Methods

Ten healthy participants (mean age: 25 years; mean body mass index: 21 kg/m2) were included in the study. The test food was a high protein energy dense supplement, that derived 25 g of available carbohydrates which was fed to all the participants. The reference food used was 27.5 g of glucose monohydrate drink. Capillary blood glucose was measured at fasting (0 min) and at an interval of 15 min till 120 min, after consuming the reference and test food, for estimating the GI. Glycemic index values were computed by using the method suggested by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the the World Health Organization (WHO).

Results

The mean GI of the test food was 39 ± 3 when calculated using the internationally recognized GI protocol.

Conclusion

The GI of the test food was found to be in the category of low GI.
The Art of Humour in the Teatro Breve and Comedias of Calderón de la Barca
Authors: Bergman Ted L. L.
Published: May 2023

Parody, satire and a number of other comic techniques are shown to play an unsuspected but integral part in Calderon's work.
Emerging Neurotechnologies: Implications for Professional Relations and Communication
Authors: Suresh Hrishikesh , Warsi Nebras M. , Sankar Tejas , Ibrahim George M.
Published: May 2023

Rapid advances in neurotechnology and neurosurgery are positioned to revolutionize care for patients suffering from debilitating neurological and psychiatric disease. Enthusiasm for the adoption of these technologies is tempered by ethical dilemmas regarding resource allocation, provision of care, communication with patients and other providers, and other potential pitfalls. In the present work, we discuss bioethical implications of novel neurotechnologies for medical practice. In particular, we examine the implications of neurotechnological advancement through the lens of professional communication. Emerging challenges within this domain are presented in the context of physician interactions with four key partners: (i) patients; (ii) other physicians; (iii) industry; and (iv) society-at-large. Anticipated issues as well as mitigation strategies are discussed as they relate to communication with these stakeholders.
Placebo Effects and Neuromodulation: Ethical Considerations and Recommendations
Authors: Mollica Adriano , Greben Rachel , Cyr Marieve , Olson Jay A. , Burke Matthew J.
Published: May 2023

Placebo-controlled trials are the gold standard of evaluating treatment efficacy in clinical research. Neuromodulation is emerging as an important treatment pathway for many neuropsychiatric conditions, and placebo control arms of these trials require careful design with unique considerations (e.g., sham devices that mimic active stimulation, blinding effectiveness). Inherent to placebo-controlled trials are ethical concerns, such as deception, and potential harm of not receiving the active treatment. In this article, we outline important ethical considerations of placebo-controlled trials across neuromodulation approaches and provide recommendations on how ethical principles can be adhered to going forward. We specifically address issues of autonomy and respect for persons, beneficence, and justice. Within the context of this ethical framework, we also discuss factors influencing placebo effects in neuromodulation, the importance of adequate blinding, and alternative trial designs that could be considered.
Patient Safety in Canadian Epilepsy Monitoring Units: A Survey of Current Practices
Authors: Nguyen Emmanuelle , Li Jimmy , Nguyen Dang Khoa , Bou Assi Elie
Published: May 2023

Background:

Guidelines on epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) standards have been recently published. We aimed to survey Canadian EMUs to describe the landscape of safety practices and compare these to the recommendations from the new guidelines.

Methods:

A 34-item survey was created by compiling questions on EMU structure, patient monitoring, equipment, personnel, standardized protocol use, and use of injury prevention tools. The questionnaire was distributed online to 24 Canadian hospital centers performing video-EEG monitoring (VEM) in EMUs. Responses were tabulated and descriptively summarized.

Results:

In total, 26 EMUs responded (100% response rate), 50% of which were adult EMUs. EMUs were on average active for 23.4 years and had on average 3.6 beds. About 81% of respondents reported having a dedicated area for VEM, and 65% reported having designated EMU beds. Although a video monitoring station was available in 96% of EMUs, only 48% of EMUs provided continuous observation of patients (video and/or physical). A total of 65% of EMUs employed continuous heart monitoring. The technologist-to-patient ratio was 1:1–2 in 52% of EMUs during the day. No technologist supervision was most often reported in the evening and at night. Nurse-to-EMU-patient ratio was mostly 1:1–4 independent of the time of day. Consent forms were required before admission in 27% of EMUs.

Conclusion:

Canadian EMUs performed decently in terms of there being dedicated space for VEM, continuous heart monitoring, and adequate nurse-to-patient ratios. Other practices were quite variable, and adjustments should be made on a case-by-case basis to adhere to the latest guidelines.
Change of government and interest groups' preference attainment on the formulation of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP): from Conte to Draghi
Authors: Pritoni Andrea , Bitonti Alberto , Montalbano Giuseppe
Published: May 2023

This article focuses on how the 20 main Italian interest groups evaluated the contents of the Italian National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). In comparing its two versions (Conte Draft and Draghi Plan), we want to understand whether the change of government impacted on the contents of the NRRP and, in turn, on interest groups' preference attainment. To do so, we coded around 800 public statements following a multi-media approach. Interest groups' general appraisal for the NRRP grew with the change of government, while business groups greatly increased their degree of preference attainment. This within-case longitudinal comparison assesses the importance of governments' partisan composition to account for interest groups' success in the policymaking.
The cognate facilitation effect on lexical access in bilingual aphasia: Evidence from the Boston Naming Test
Authors: Marte Manuel Jose , Peñaloza Claudia , Kiran Swathi
Published: May 2023

Most cognate research suggests facilitation effects in picture naming, but how these effects manifest in bilinguals after brain damage remains unclear. Additionally, whether this effect is captured in clinical measures is largely unknown. Using data from the Boston Naming Test, we examined the naming of cognates and noncognates, the extent of cognate facilitation produced, and the individual differences in bilingual language experience associated with naming outcomes in forty Spanish–English bilingual persons with aphasia (BPWA) relative to thirty-one Spanish–English healthy bilinguals (HB). Results suggest that naming performance in L1 and L2 in both groups is modulated by lexical frequency, bilingual language experience, and by language impairment in BPWA. Although the two groups showed similarities, they deviated in benefit drawn from the extent of phoneme/grapheme overlap in cognate items. HB showed an association between cognate facilitation and bilingual language experience, while cognate facilitation in BPWA was only associated with L2 language impairment.
Erfassung grafomotorischer Fähigkeiten im schulischen Kontext
Authors: Maurer Michelle N. , Wyss Judith Sägesser , Truxius Lidia , Eckhart Michael
Published: May 2023

Zusammenfassung: Grafomotorische Fähigkeiten sind zentral für das Erlernen einer leserlichen und automatisierten Handschrift und für schulischen Erfolg. Mit dem grafomotorischen Screening GRAFOS 1 ( Sägesser & Eckhart, 2016 ) können die zentralen Prädiktoren der Grafomotorik – visuomotorische Integration und Feinmotorik – anhand der Genauigkeit, mit der geometrische Formen abgezeichnet werden, erfasst werden. Das Ziel war es, das Screening um fünf komplexere Formen zu erweitern. Das Screening soll dadurch einerseits Anwendung finden in der Verlaufsdiagnostik von älteren Kindern, andererseits eine zuverlässige Erfassung interindividueller Unterschiede im gesamten Leistungsspektrum ermöglichen. Anhand einer Stichprobe von N = 474 Kindern im Alter von 6 – 9 Jahren wurden die zentralen Testgütekriterien des erweiterten Screenings untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Schwierigkeit des Screenings erhöht werden konnte und visuo- und feinmotorische Fähigkeiten im gesamten Leistungsspektrum objektiv, reliabel und valide erfasst werden können. Die Identifikation von Kindern mit grafomotorischem Förderbedarf anhand des erweiterten Screenings wird in einer aktuellen Normierung an einer repräsentativen Stichprobe differenziert untersucht.
Woodland Establishment Reduces Nutrient Losses to Waterbodies in Urban Catchments: A Review of the Evidence
Authors: Hutchins Michael G. , Qu Yueming , Baker Henry J.
Published: May 2023

Systematic review of peer‐reviewed literature was undertaken to establish benefits of urban forests on reducing nutrient concentrations in adjacent or downstream waterbodies. Following screening, a small number of articles (40) were found relevant, representing studies quantifying non‐point source nutrient losses from urban and peri‐urban environments. Evidence was split between plot‐ and catchment‐scale. Plot‐scale studies often included evaluations of engineered nature‐based solutions. At catchment‐scale, studies of streamwater quality typically investigated influence of contributory catchment nutrient sources. Wide ranges of beneficial reductions were apparent, and at both scales not all studies identified significant benefits. Summarizing against this backdrop, at plot (micro‐) scale woodland reduces mean concentrations in runoff, soil or groundwater by an average of 44.2% for total nitrogen (TN) and 47.0% for total phosphorus (TP). At catchment (meso‐) scale, evidence suggests a 20% areal addition of forest at the expense of mixed urban fabric can reduce mean concentrations by 15.7% and 12.6% for TN and TP respectively. Additionally, some articles reveal potential drawbacks reducing benefits provided specifically by street trees and riparian woodland. Leaf litter falling on impervious surfaces can heighten risk of TP leaching to streams, but has little impact on TN. Riparian woodland was found to have complex water quality impacts. Canopy cover suppresses stream channel biological nitrogen uptake, which based on all evidence appears considerable. However, unshaded headwaters can foster accelerated primary productivity with undesirable downstream consequences. Overall, gathering further evidence is encouraged, given current uncertainties, especially to address differences between impervious, permeable and riparian urban woodland settings.
Metasurface designed with quantitative field distributions
Authors: Wang Shuai , Yang Yuanmu
Published: May 2023

A new method for designing metasurfaces has been proposed and demonstrated, which allows for the generation of precise quantitative field distributions. This unique approach involves combining a tandem neural network with an iterative algorithm to optimize the metasurface design, enabling accurate control over the intensity and polarization of the resulting field. This strategy is both efficient and robust and has the potential to accelerate the development of metasurface devices with complex functionalities.
Circulating PACAP levels are associated with increased amygdala-default mode network resting-state connectivity in posttraumatic stress disorder
Authors: Clancy Kevin J. , Devignes Quentin , Kumar Poornima , May Victor , Hammack Sayamwong E. , Akman Eylül , Casteen Emily J. , Pernia Cameron D. , Jobson Sydney A. , Lewis Michael W. , Daskalakis Nikolaos P. , Carlezon William A. , Ressler Kerry J. , Rauch Scott L. , Rosso Isabelle M.
Published: May 2023

The pituitary adenylate cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP) system is implicated in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and related amygdala-mediated arousal and threat reactivity. PTSD is characterized by increased amygdala reactivity to threat and, more recently, aberrant intrinsic connectivity of the amygdala with large-scale resting state networks, specifically the default mode network (DMN). While the influence of PACAP on amygdala reactivity has been described, its association with intrinsic amygdala connectivity remains unknown. To fill this gap, we examined functional connectivity of resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in eighty-nine trauma-exposed adults (69 female) screened for PTSD symptoms to examine the association between blood-borne (circulating) PACAP levels and amygdala-DMN connectivity. Higher circulating PACAP levels were associated with increased amygdala connectivity with posterior DMN regions, including the posterior cingulate cortex/precuneus (PCC/Precun) and left angular gyrus (lANG). Consistent with prior work, this effect was seen in female, but not male, participants and the centromedial, but not basolateral, subregions of the amygdala. Clinical association analyses linked amygdala-PCC/Precun connectivity to anxious arousal symptoms, specifically exaggerated startle response. Taken together, our findings converge with previously demonstrated effects of PACAP on amygdala activity in PTSD-related processes and offer novel evidence for an association between PACAP and intrinsic amygdala connectivity patterns in PTSD. Moreover, these data provide preliminary evidence to motivate future work ascertaining the sex- and subregion-specificity of these effects. Such findings may enable novel mechanistic insights into neural circuit dysfunction in PTSD and how the PACAP system confers risk through a disruption of intrinsic resting-state network dynamics.
TFEB inhibition induces melanoma shut-down by blocking the cell cycle and rewiring metabolism
Authors: Ariano C. , Costanza F. , Akman M. , Riganti C. , Corà D. , Casanova E. , Astanina E. , Comunanza V. , Bussolino F. , Doronzo G.
Published: May 2023

Melanomas are characterised by accelerated cell proliferation and metabolic reprogramming resulting from the contemporary dysregulation of the MAPK pathway, glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Here, we suggest that the oncogenic transcription factor EB (TFEB), a key regulator of lysosomal biogenesis and function, controls melanoma tumour growth through a transcriptional programme targeting ERK1/2 activity and glucose, glutamine and cholesterol metabolism. Mechanistically, TFEB binds and negatively regulates the promoter of DUSP-1, which dephosphorylates ERK1/2. In melanoma cells, TFEB silencing correlates with ERK1/2 dephosphorylation at the activation-related p-Thr185 and p-Tyr187 residues. The decreased ERK1/2 activity synergises with TFEB control of CDK4 expression, resulting in cell proliferation blockade. Simultaneously, TFEB rewires metabolism, influencing glycolysis, glucose and glutamine uptake, and cholesterol synthesis. In TFEB-silenced melanoma cells, cholesterol synthesis is impaired, and the uptake of glucose and glutamine is inhibited, leading to a reduction in glycolysis, glutaminolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Moreover, the reduction in TFEB level induces reverses TCA cycle, leading to fatty acid production. A syngeneic BRAFV600E melanoma model recapitulated the in vitro study results, showing that TFEB silencing sustains the reduction in tumour growth, increase in DUSP-1 level and inhibition of ERK1/2 action, suggesting a pivotal role for TFEB in maintaining proliferative melanoma cell behaviour and the operational metabolic pathways necessary for meeting the high energy demands of melanoma cells.
Sibling competition, dispersal and fitness outcomes in humans
Authors: Nitsch Aïda , Faurie Charlotte , Lummaa Virpi
Published: May 2023

Determining how sibling interactions alter the fitness outcomes of dispersal is pivotal for the understanding of family living, but such studies are currently scarce. Using a large demographic dataset on pre-industrial humans from Finland, we studied dispersal consequences on different indicators of lifetime reproductive success according to sex-specific birth rank (a strong determinant of dispersal in our population). Contrary to the predictions of the leading hypotheses, we found no support for differential fitness benefits of dispersal for either males or females undergoing low vs. high sibling competition. Our results are inconsistent with both hypotheses that family members could have different fitness maximizing strategies depending on birth rank, and that dispersal could be mainly driven by indirect fitness benefits for philopatric family members. Our study stresses the need for studying the relative outcomes of dispersal at the family level in order to understand the evolution of family living and dispersal behaviour.
Multi-criteria assignment problems for optimising the emergency medical services (EMS), considering non-homogeneous speciality of the emergency departments and EMS crews
Authors: Drabecki Mariusz , Toczyłowski Eugeniusz , Pieńkosz Krzysztof , Honisz Grzegorz , Kułak Klaudia
Published: May 2023

Dispatching of the EMS crews (ambulances) to awaiting patients and then directing the patients, that are already onboard, to appropriate Emergency Departments (ED), is a nontrivial decision problem. In many emergency medical systems it is handled by the Medical Dispatcher using various strategies—sometimes preferring the closest unit. However, applying a wrong strategy may result in transferring acute-state patients, who require very specialised medical aid, to low-speciality EDs with insufficient treatment capabilities. Then, they would need to be re-transferred to referential units, prolonging substantially the time to receive treatment. In some cases such a delay might make the treatment less effective or even impossible. In this work we propose two multi-criteria mathematical optimisation problems—the first one allows us to calculate the ambulance-to-patient assignment, the second one—to establish the patient-to-hospital assignment. These problems not only take the time-to-support criterion into consideration but also optimise for the speciality of care received by each patient. The ED dispatching problem proposed allows both for direct transfers of patients to referential units and for re-transferring them from non-referential EDs. The performance of the proposed approach is tested in simulations with real-life emergency cases from the NEMSIS data set and compared with classic assignment strategies. The tests showed the proposed approach is able to produce better and more fit-for-purpose dispatching results than other strategies tested. Additionally, we propose a framework for embedding the proposed optimisation problems in the current EMS/ED dispatching process.
Graph matching and deep neural networks based whole heart and great vessel segmentation in congenital heart disease
Authors: Yao Zeyang , Xie Wen , Zhang Jiawei , Yuan Haiyun , Huang Meiping , Shi Yiyu , Xu Xiaowei , Zhuang Jian
Published: May 2023

Congenital heart disease (CHD) is one of the leading causes of mortality among birth defects, and due to significant variations in the whole heart and great vessel, automatic CHD segmentation using CT images has been always under-researched. Even though some segmentation algorithms have been developed in the literature, none perform very well under the complex structure of CHD. To deal with the challenges, we take advantage of deep learning in processing regular structures and graph algorithms in dealing with large variations and propose a framework combining both the whole heart and great vessel segmentation in complex CHD. We benefit from deep learning in segmenting the four chambers and myocardium based on the blood pool, and then we extract the connection information and apply graph matching to determine the categories of all the vessels. Experimental results on 68 3D CT images covering 14 types of CHD illustrate our framework can increase the Dice score by 12% on average compared with the state-of-the-art whole heart and great vessel segmentation method in normal anatomy. We further introduce two cardiovascular imaging specialists to evaluate our results in the standard of the Van Praagh classification system, and achieves well performance in clinical evaluation. All these results may pave the way for the clinical use of our method in the incoming future.
Novel tricyclic pyrrolo-quinolines as pharmacological correctors of the mutant CFTR chloride channel
Authors: Renda Mario , Barreca Marilia , Borrelli Anna , Spanò Virginia , Montalbano Alessandra , Raimondi Maria Valeria , Bivacqua Roberta , Musante Ilaria , Scudieri Paolo , Guidone Daniela , Buccirossi Martina , Genovese Michele , Venturini Arianna , Bandiera Tiziano , Barraja Paola , Galietta Luis J. V.
Published: May 2023

F508del, the most frequent mutation in cystic fibrosis (CF), impairs the stability and folding of the CFTR chloride channel, thus resulting in intracellular retention and CFTR degradation. The F508del defect can be targeted with pharmacological correctors, such as VX-809 and VX-445, that stabilize CFTR and improve its trafficking to plasma membrane. Using a functional test to evaluate a panel of chemical compounds, we have identified tricyclic pyrrolo-quinolines as novel F508del correctors with high efficacy on primary airway epithelial cells from CF patients. The most effective compound, PP028, showed synergy when combined with VX-809 and VX-661 but not with VX-445. By testing the ability of correctors to stabilize CFTR fragments of different length, we found that VX-809 is effective on the amino-terminal portion of the protein that includes the first membrane-spanning domain (amino acids 1–387). Instead, PP028 and VX-445 only show a stabilizing effect when the second membrane-spanning domain is included (amino acids 1–1181). Our results indicate that tricyclic pyrrolo-quinolines are a novel class of CFTR correctors that, similarly to VX-445, interact with CFTR at a site different from that of VX-809. Tricyclic pirrolo-quinolines may represent novel CFTR correctors suitable for combinatorial pharmacological treatments to treat the basic defect in CF.