bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics and diagnostic accuracy of preliminary diagnoses in adults with infections in Danish emergency departments: a multicentre combined cross-sectional and diagnostic study
Authors: Skjøt-Arkil Helene , Cartuliares Mariana B , Heltborg Anne , Lorentzen Morten Hjarnø , Hertz Mathias Amdi , Kaldan Frida , Specht Jens Juel , Graumann Ole , Lindberg Mats Jacob Hermansson , Mikkelsen Patrick Asbjørn , Nielsen SL , Jensen Janne , Røge Birgit Thorup , Rosenvinge Flemming S , Mogensen Christian Backer
Published: December 2024

Objective

Rapid and accurate infection diagnosis is a prerequisite for appropriate antibiotic prescriptions in an ED. Accurately diagnosing acute infections can be difficult due to nonspecific symptoms and limitations of diagnostic testing. The accuracy of preliminary diagnoses, established on the initial clinical assessment, depends on a physician’s skills and knowledge. It has been scarcely studied, and knowledge of how infected patients present at EDs today is needed to improve it. Based on expert reference diagnoses and a current ED population, this study aimed to characterise adults presenting at EDs with suspected infection to distinguish between infections and non-infections and to investigate the accuracy of the preliminary infection diagnoses.

Design

This study was multicentre with a design that combined a cross-sectional study and a diagnostic study with a prospective enrolment.

Setting

Multicenter study including EDs at three Danish hospitals.

Participants

Adults admitted with a preliminary diagnosis of an infectious disease.

Outcome measures

Data were collected from medical records and participant interviews. The primary outcome was the reference diagnosis made by two medical experts on chart review. Univariate logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with infectious diseases.

Results

We included 954 patients initially suspected of having an infection, with 81% later having an infectious disease confirmed by experts. Parameters correlating to infection were fever, feeling unwell, male sex, high C-reactive protein, symptoms onset within 3 days, high heart rate, low oxygen saturation and abnormal values of neutrophilocytes and leucocytes. The three main conditions were community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) (34%), urinary tract infection (UTI) with systemic symptoms (21%) and cellulitis (10%). The sensitivity of the physician’s preliminary infection diagnoses was 87% for CAP, 74% for UTI and 77% for other infections.

Conclusions

Four out of five patients with a preliminary infection diagnosis, established on initial clinical assessment, were ultimately confirmed to have an infectious disease. The main infections included CAP, UTI with systemic symptoms and cellulitis. Physicians’ preliminary infection diagnoses were moderately in accordance with the reference diagnoses.

Trial registration number

NCT04661085,NCT04681963,NCT04667195.
Intracerebral arterial blood pressure in the vasculature distal to large vessel occlusions in patients with ischemic stroke: correlation with clinical and imaging parameters
Authors: Umhau Moritz , Schmitt Niclas , Jesser Jessica , Hilgenfeld Tim , Chen Min , Ringleb Peter A , Möhlenbruch Markus A , Breckwoldt Michael O , Bendszus Martin , Vollherbst Dominik F
Published: December 2024

Introduction

Mechanical thrombectomy is a highly effective treatment for acute ischemic stroke (AIS) caused by large vessel occlusions (LVO). However, our understanding of the pathophysiology of AIS is still limited, particularly regarding the ischemic microenvironment distal to the occlusion.

Aim

To investigate the relationship between the intracerebral blood pressure (BP) distal to an LVO and clinical and imaging parameters.

Methods

In this single-center prospective study, intracerebral BPs proximal and distal to the occluding clot were measured during thrombectomy in patients with AIS of the anterior circulation caused by LVO. BPs were correlated with imaging parameters and clinical data using Spearman’s rank correlation and linear regression.

Results

25 patients were included. A significant correlation was found between the mean arterial pressure (MAP) distal to the occlusion and the baseline Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (Spearman r=0.503, P=0.014) and baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score (r=−0.439, P=0.036). No significant correlation was observed between the MAP distal to the occlusion and collateral scores (eg, MAP vs American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology score (r=0.307, P=0.165) or modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score (pre-mRS vs 90-day mRS; r=0.013, P=0.952)). Systemic MAPs did not correlate with the MAP distal to the clot (eg, R2=0.029, P=0.593).

Conclusion

The intracerebral BP measured in the ischemic vasculature distal to the LVO correlates with the extent of the ischemic core and the clinical severity at baseline, but not with collateral scores, systemic BPs, or functional outcome. These results shed light on the pathophysiology of BP mechanisms in AIS and can be the basis for further research in this field.
Preferences for online or in-person STI testing vary by where a person lives and their cultural background: a survey of young Australians
Authors: Cardwell Ethan T , Walsh Olivia , Chang Shanton , Coombe Jacqueline , Fairley Christopher K , Hocking Jane S , Kong Fabian Yuh Shiong , Ludwick Teralynn
Published: December 2024

Objectives

The objectives are to explore the acceptability of online sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing services among young Australians (16–29 years) and how this may vary between sociodemographic populations.

Methods

A cross-sectional, online survey (using both closed and open-ended questions) of Australians aged 16–29 years. Of 905 participants, 781 (86%) responded to the question on preference for online versus in-person STI testing and are included in this analysis. Logistic regression was used to identify sociodemographic factors associated with STI testing preferences (online vs in-person). Adjusted ORs (AOR) are reported for each sociodemographic factor. Content analysis was used to code open-ended responses explaining the reasons for the participant’s testing preference.

Results

Among the participants, 75% (588/781) preferred online testing over in-person testing. 677 (87%) provided reasons for their preference in an associated, open-ended question. Multivariable analysis found that the odds of preferring online services were significantly increased for those living in rural compared with metropolitan areas (AOR=1.7, 1.0–2.9). The odds of preferring online testing over in-person testing were significantly decreased for those of Asian descent (AOR=0.4, 0.2–0.6) and for those who reported having previously tested for an STI (0.6, 0.4–0.9). Convenience and privacy were key factors from the content analysis underlining preferences for online testing services but tended to be voiced by participants with certain sociodemographic characteristics (ie, men who have sex with men and older participants). Factors related to trust and convenience underscored preferences related to in-person testing.

Conclusions

It is clear that there is considerable interest among young people in using online STI testing, but it may not be right for all individuals. Understanding what factors associated with online testing are valued by young users can help inform marketing strategies that highlight these value propositions in their messaging. Further research is needed to engage young people and develop a high-quality, usable online service.
High-intensity interval training with blood-flow restriction enhances sprint and maximal aerobic power in male endurance athletes
Authors: Bourgeois Hubert , Paradis-Deschênes Pénélope , Billaut François
Published: December 2024

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) can improve endurance performance. We investigated the concurrent impact of HIIT and blood-flow restriction (BFR) as a novel approach to further enhance maximal aerobic and anaerobic physiology and performances in trained athletes. In a randomized controlled trial, eighteen endurance-trained males ([Formula: see text]O2peak 65.6 ± 5.1 mL.min−1.kg−1) included three sessions of HIIT per week (sets of 15 s efforts at 100% maximal aerobic power, interspersed by 15 s recovery) into their usual training for 3 weeks, either with restriction imposed on both lower limbs at 50%–70% of arterial occlusion pressure (BFR group, n = 10) or without (CTL group, n = 8), and were tested for sprint and endurance exercise performance. The total mechanical work developed during a 30 s Wingate test increased only in BFR (3.6%, P = 0.02). During the Wingate, changes in near-infrared spectroscopy-derived vastus lateralis muscle oxygenation (Δ(deoxy[Hb + Mb]), % arterial occlusion) were attenuated after BFR training (−8.8%, P = 0.04). The maximal aerobic power measured during an incremental cycling test increased only in BFR (4.5%, P = 0.0004), but there was no change in [Formula: see text]O2peak among groups. Both groups improved 5 km cycling time trial performance, but BFR displayed a concomitant greater elevation in [H+] (11%, P = 0.02). Changes in other blood variables (e.g., pH, lactate, bicarbonate and potassium ion concentration, and hemoglobin) were not different between groups. Combining short-duration HIIT performed at 100% aerobic power with BFR elicited greater changes in sprint performance and maximal aerobic power in endurance athletes, associated with locomotor muscle metabolic adaptations but no meaningful effect on cardiorespiratory fitness.
Polarizabilities from kaon Compton scattering
Authors: Stamen Dominik , Dammann Jan Luca , Korte Yannis , Kubis Bastian
Published: December 2024

The polarizabilities of light pseudoscalar mesons can be extracted from differential cross sections for Compton scattering near threshold. While this has been accomplished for charged pions employing Primakoff reactions, a corresponding measurement for kaons will be affected by the presence of the

$$K^*(892)$$

K
∗

(
892
)

resonance not too far from threshold. We propose a method to extend the energy range serviceable for this purpose by reconstructing the

$$K^*(892)$$

K
∗

(
892
)

contribution model-independently from its

$$K\pi $$

K
π

intermediate state, using dispersion theory. We point out that, in contrast to the charged-pion analog, there is likely no strong hierarchy between sum and difference of electric and magnetic dipole polarizabilities; we discuss the sensitivity to disentangling both by improved experimental angular coverage.
ARIMA-SVR Ensemble Model for Forecasting the Grain Yields in China with the CEEMDAN Components
Authors: Nie Song , Jiang Zhi-Qiang
Published: December 2024

China’s grain security remains a worldwide concern due to its massive population and rapid urbanization. Although the China’s total grain yield has steadily increased in recent years, this growth exhibits temporal and spatial variations. This study used the Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) method to analyze the variations in China’s total grain yield of three staple grains at different temporal and spatial scales from 1990 to 2022, and examined the impact of different grains and producing regions on total grain yield fluctuations. At the temporal scale, the CEEMDAN decomposition reveals that the total grain yield of China’s three staple grains comprises two fluctuation components and one trend component, exhibiting quasi-triennial short-period fluctuations and quasi-quindecennial long-period fluctuations. On the spatial scale, it is found that the primary grain-producing zones wield the greatest impact on total grain yield fluctuations, followed by the primary sales territories and balanced production–consumption regions. Subsequently, an ARIMA-SVR ensemble forecasting model is proposed based on the CEEMDAN components. The forecasting results indicate that the total yield of China’s three staple grains will increase from 2023 to 2025, but the annual growth rate is expected to be lower than that in the past three years. Our results highlight the necessity of maintaining vigilance in policy-making to ensure food security.
On some characterizations of generalized s-convex functions
Authors: Akhter Ehtesham , Ali Musavvir
Published: December 2024

Generalized [Formula: see text]-convex functions are a new class of generalized convex functions that have been established in this paper. In a similar sense, a new class of generalized [Formula: see text]-convex sets is introduced as a generalization of [Formula: see text]-convex sets. Additionally, a number of fundamental characteristics of generalized [Formula: see text]-convex functions are investigated, both for general and differentiable cases. Furthermore, adequate criteria for optimality are defined for both unconstrained and inequality-constrained programming, and this is demonstrated using generalized [Formula: see text]-convexity.
Meet the Motivational Robot That Predicts Your Future Feelings
Authors: Chen Rui , Minato Takashi , Sakai Kurima , Kanda Takayuki
Published: December 2024

This study explores the potential benefits of robots having the capability to anticipate people’s mental states in an exercise context. We designed 80 utterances for a robot with associated gestures that exhibit a range of emotional characteristics and then performed a 23-person data collection to investigate the effects of these robot behaviors on human mental states during exercise. The results of cluster analysis revealed that (1) utterances with similar meanings had the same effect and (2) the effects of a certain cluster on different people depend on their emotional state. On the basis of these findings, we proposed a robotic system that anticipates the effect of utterances on the individual’s future mental state, thereby choosing utterances that can positively impact the individual. This system incorporates three main features: (1) associating the relevant events detected by sensors with a user’s emotional state; (2) anticipating the effects of robot behavior on the user’s future mental state to choose the next behavior that maximizes the anticipated gain; and (3) determining appropriate times to provide coaching feedback, using predefined rules in the motion module for timing decisions. To evaluate the proposed system’s overall performance comprehensively, we compare robots equipped with the system’s unique features to those lacking these features. We design the baseline condition that lacks these unique features, opting for periodic random selection of utterances for interaction based on the current context. We conducted a 21-person experiment to evaluate the system’s performance. We found that participants perceived the robot to have a good understanding of their mental states and that they enjoyed the exercises more and put in more effort due to the robot’s encouragement.
EMC3 is critical for CFTR function and calcium mobilization in the mouse intestinal epithelium
Authors: Penrod Sarah , Tang Xiaofang , Moon Changsuk , Whitsett Jeffrey A. , Naren Anjaparavanda P. , Huang Yunjie
Published: December 2024

We generated mice in which endoplasmic reticulum membrane protein complex (EMC) subunit 3 was deleted from intestinal epithelium cells and studied the molecular functions of EMC in vivo. Our findings demonstrate the importance of intestinal EMC in the biogenesis of membrane proteins in vivo, including CFTR, and highlight its critical role in maintaining intracellular calcium homeostasis and, consequently, in calcium-dependent functions in the intestine and beyond.
Gut Microbiota–Mediated hsa_circ_0126925 Targets BCAA Metabolic Enzyme BCAT2 to Exacerbate Colorectal Cancer Progression
Authors: Yao Huihui , Xu Jiancheng , Zhou Aina , Shen Danyang , Dong Qiuchen , Yang Xiaodong , Li Mengyu , Mi Xiuwei , Lu Yang , Zhong Runze , Shi Xinyu , Tai Qingliang , Chen Guoliang , Shi Bo , Sun Liang , Zhou Diyuan , Yao Yizhou , He Songbing
Published: December 2024

Recent evidence indicates that a high-fat diet can promote tumor development, especially colorectal cancer, by influencing the microbiota. Regulatory circular RNA (circRNA) plays an important role in modulating host–microbe interactions; however, the specific mechanisms by which circRNAs influence cancer progression by regulating these interactions remain unclear. Here, we report that consumption of a high-fat diet modulates the microbiota by specifically upregulating the expression of the noncoding RNA hsa_circ_0126925 (herein, referred to as circ_0126925) in colorectal cancer. Acting as a scaffold, circ_0126925 hinders the recruitment of the E3 ubiquitin ligase tripartite motif-containing protein 21 (TRIM21) to branched-chain amino acid transaminase 2 (BCAT2), leading to reduced degradation of BCAT2. This reduction in targeted degradation of BCAT2 can protect tumors from limited branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) interference by improving the metabolism of BCAAs in colorectal cancer. Taken together, these data demonstrate that circ_0126925 plays a critical role in promoting the progression of colorectal cancer by maintaining BCAA metabolism and provide insight into the functions and crosstalk of circ_0126925 in host–microbe interactions in colorectal cancer.

Implications: This study preliminarily confirms that circRNAs do indeed respond to microbiota/microbial metabolites, providing further evidence for the potential development of circRNAs as diagnostic tools and/or therapeutic agents to alleviate microbiome-related pathology in humans.
Natural Killer Cell–Mediated Cytotoxicity Shapes the Clonal Evolution of B-cell Leukemia
Authors: Buri Michelle C. , Shoeb Mohamed R. , Bykov Aleksandr , Repiscak Peter , Baik Hayeon , Dupanovic Alma , David Faith O. , Kovacic Boris , Hall-Glenn Faith , Dopa Sara , Urbanus Jos , Sippl Lisa , Stofner Susanne , Emminger Dominik , Cosgrove Jason , Schinnerl Dagmar , Poetsch Anna R. , Lehner Manfred , Koenig Xaver , Perié Leïla , Schumacher Ton N. , Gotthardt Dagmar , Halbritter Florian , Putz Eva M.
Published: December 2024

The term cancer immunoediting describes the dual role by which the immune system can suppress and promote tumor growth and is divided into three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape. The role of NK cells has mainly been attributed to the elimination phase. Here, we show that NK cells play a role in all three phases of cancer immunoediting. Extended co-culturing of DNA-barcoded mouse BCR/ABLp185+ B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) cells with NK cells allowed for a quantitative measure of NK cell–mediated immunoediting. Although most tumor cell clones were efficiently eliminated by NK cells, a certain fraction of tumor cells harbored an intrinsic primary resistance. Furthermore, DNA barcoding revealed tumor cell clones with secondary resistance, which stochastically acquired resistance to NK cells. NK cell–mediated cytotoxicity put a selective pressure on B-ALL cells, which led to an outgrowth of primary and secondary resistant tumor cell clones, which were characterized by an IFNγ signature. Besides well-known regulators of immune evasion, our analysis of NK cell–resistant tumor cells revealed the upregulation of genes, including lymphocyte antigen 6 complex, locus A (Ly6a), which we found to promote leukemic cell resistance to NK cells. Translation of our findings to the human system showed that high expression of LY6E on tumor cells impaired their physical interaction with NK cells and led to worse prognosis in patients with leukemia. Our results demonstrate that tumor cells are actively edited by NK cells during the equilibrium phase and use different avenues to escape NK cell–mediated eradication.
Figure S6 from Pan-Cancer Analysis of Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Cell Lines
Authors: Dodson Anne E. , Shenker Sol , Sullivan Pamela , Nayak Sumeet U. , Middleton Chris , McGuire Michael , Chipumuro Edmond , Mishina Yuji , Tobin Erica R. , Cadzow Louise , Wylie Andrew A. , Sangurdekar Dipen
Published: December 2024

Additional associations of HRD predictions with genomic features and genetic dependencies
Figure 2 from Pan-Cancer Analysis of Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Cell Lines
Authors: Dodson Anne E. , Shenker Sol , Sullivan Pamela , Nayak Sumeet U. , Middleton Chris , McGuire Michael , Chipumuro Edmond , Mishina Yuji , Tobin Erica R. , Cadzow Louise , Wylie Andrew A. , Sangurdekar Dipen
Published: December 2024

HR gene alterations in CHORD-HRD cell lines. A, Potential causes of HRD in CHORD-HRD cell lines. Top: CHORD-HRD probabilities are shown as the sum of BRCA1- and BRCA2-type probabilities. Bottom: Colored bars indicate biallelic loss of BRCA1, BRCA2, or FANCC (BRCA1MT, BRCA2MT, or FANCCMT) or promoter hypermethylation of BRCA1 (BRCA1me). The lighter BRCA2MT color for HCC1428 represents the presence of a secondary mutation. B, Correlation between CHORD-HRD probabilities and NBR2 promoter methylation levels in WT BRCA1/2 cell lines. Colors represent CHORD classifications. Pearson correlation coefficient (R) and Benjamini–Hochberg–adjusted P value (q) are shown in gray.
Data from Pan-Cancer Analysis of Homologous Recombination Deficiency in Cell Lines
Authors: Dodson Anne E. , Shenker Sol , Sullivan Pamela , Nayak Sumeet U. , Middleton Chris , McGuire Michael , Chipumuro Edmond , Mishina Yuji , Tobin Erica R. , Cadzow Louise , Wylie Andrew A. , Sangurdekar Dipen
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) drives genomic instability in multiple cancer types and renders tumors vulnerable to certain DNA-damaging agents such as PARP inhibitors. Thus, HRD is emerging as an attractive biomarker in oncology. A variety of in silico methods are available for predicting HRD; however, few of these methods have been applied to cell lines in a comprehensive manner. Here, we utilized two of these methods, “Classifier of HOmologous Recombination Deficiency” and “HRDsum” scores, to predict HRD for 1,332 cancer cell lines and 84 noncancerous cell lines. Cell lines with biallelic mutations in BRCA1 or BRCA2, which encode key components of the homologous recombination pathway, showed the strongest HRD predictions, validating the two methods in cell lines. A small subset of BRCA1/2 wild-type cell lines was also classified as HRD, several of which showed evidence of epigenetic BRCA1 silencing. Similar to HRD in patient samples, HRD in cell lines was associated with p53 loss, was mutually exclusive with microsatellite instability, and occurred most frequently in breast and ovarian cancer types. In addition to validating previously identified associations with HRD, we leveraged cell line–specific datasets to gain new insights into HRD and its relation to various genetic dependency and drug sensitivity profiles. We found that in cell lines, HRD was associated with sensitivity to PARP inhibition in breast cancer but not at a pan-cancer level. By generating large-scale, pan-cancer datasets on HRD predictions in cell lines, we aim to facilitate efforts to improve our understanding of HRD and its utility as a biomarker.
Significance:
HRD is common in cancer and can be exploited therapeutically, as it sensitizes cells to DNA-damaging agents. Here, we scored more than 1,300 cancer cell lines for HRD using two different bioinformatic approaches, thereby enabling large-scale analyses that provide insights into the etiology and features of HRD.
Long-Term Survival after Stereotactic Radiotherapy Combined with Immunotherapy in a Patient with Recurrent Oral Cancer
Authors: Polanowski Paweł , Howorus Marlena , Nasiek Aleksandra , Kozub Anna , Pietruszka Agnieszka , Drosik-Rutowicz Katarzyna , Polanowska Katarzyna , Składowski Krzysztof
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Recurrent oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) poses significant challenges in treatment, requiring a multifaceted approach for effective management. Case Presentation: We present the case of a 68-year-old patient with a history of keratonizing SCC of the mandibular gingiva, treated with surgical resection, adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) to a total dose of 60 Gy in 30 fractions and 6 cycles of concurrent chemotherapy. After 6 years of follow-up, the patient experienced a local late recurrence in clinical stage rT4N0M0 requiring palliative chemotherapy (6 cycles of PF regimen). Due to progression, nivolumab-based immunotherapy was administered. After the 11th cycle of immunotherapy, high-dose re-irradiation (18 Gy in 3 fractions) was applied due to subsequent progression. The addition of stereotactic RT to the immunotherapy allowed nivolumab to be continued until cycle 64, ensuring long-term disease stabilization with acceptable tolerability. Consecutive palliative chemotherapy included paclitaxel and methotrexate. Conclusion: This case highlights the complex management of recurrent oral SCC, emphasizing the role of combining stereotactic RT with nivolumab in prolonging the administration of immunotherapy.
Arquipélago Gulag: narrador híbrido e estrutura polifônica
Authors: Silva Lorena Lopes
Published: December 2024

The Gulag Archipelago, by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, first published in 1973, exposes the Soviet repressive system through a polyphonic narrative, constructed from over two hundred letters from former zeks and the author's own experience in the Gulags. The work gives voice to those who lived in the camps, establishing a constant dialogue with the official version of Soviet history at the time and constructing historical truth from the testimony of witnesses. This article analyzes how Solzhenitsyn employs polyphony, according to Mikhail Bakhtin's concept, in the construction of an epic novel resulting from an artistic investigative experiment, which relies on a hybrid narrator, both monophonic and polyphonic. Additionally, it explores the role of polyphonic narration in the representation of traumatic events, in light of Walter Benjamin's reflections on the decline of narrative.
No palácio de inverno
Authors: Magalhães Clara Drummond de Andrade
Published: December 2024

Translation of Larisa Reisner’s “In the Winter Pallace” (V zimnem dvortse), preceded by a brief contextualization regarding who the author was.
Sympathetic Response to 1-Leg Cycling Exercise Predicts Exercise Capacity in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Badrov Mark B. , Tobushi Tomoyuki , Notarius Catherine F. , Keys Evan , Nardone Massimo , Cherney David Z. , Mak Susanna , Floras John S.
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:

In heart failure, sympathetic excess and exercise intolerance impair quality of life. In heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, exercise stimulates a reflex increase in muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA) that relates inversely to peak oxygen uptake (V̇O
2peak
). Whether similar sympathoexcitatory responses are present in heart failure with preserved EF (HFpEF) and relate to V̇O
2peak
are unknown.

METHODS:

In 13 patients with HFpEF (70±6 years), 17 comorbidity-matched controls (CMC; 67±8 years), and 18 healthy controls (65±8 years), we measured heart rate, blood pressure, and MSNA (microneurography) during (1) 7-minute baseline; (2) 2-minute isometric handgrip (40% maximal voluntary contraction) or rhythmic handgrip (50% and 30% maximal voluntary contraction) exercise, followed by 2-minute postexercise circulatory occlusion; and (3) 4-minute 1-leg cycling (2 minutes each at mild and moderate intensity). V̇O
2peak
was obtained by open-circuit spirometry.

RESULTS:

Resting MSNA was higher and V̇O
2peak
was lower in HFpEF versus CMCs and healthy controls (all
P
<0.05). During handgrip, MSNA increased in all groups (all
P
<0.05); in HFpEF, MSNA was greater than CMCs and healthy controls during HG and postexercise circulatory occlusion at 40% isometric handgrip (all
P
<0.05) and HG only at 50% and 30% rhythmic handgrip (all
P
<0.05). During cycling, MSNA (bursts·min
−1
) decreased during mild (−4±4;
P
=0.01) and moderate (−8±6;
P
<0.001) cycling in healthy controls, was unchanged during mild (+1±7;
P
=0.42) and moderate (+2±8;
P
=0.28) cycling in CMCs, yet increased in HFpEF during mild (+8±8;
P
<0.001) and moderate (+9±10;
P
<0.001) cycling. In HFpEF, the change in MSNA during moderate cycling related inversely to relative (
r
=−0.72;
R
2
=0.51;
P
<0.01) and percent-predicted (
r
=−0.63;
R
2
=0.39;
P
=0.03) V̇O
2peak
. No statistically significant relationships were detected in controls (
P
>0.05).

CONCLUSIONS:

In contrast to CMCs, patients with HFpEF exhibit augmented MSNA at rest and during exercise. The magnitude of such paradoxical sympathoexcitation during dynamic cycling relates inversely to V̇O
2peak
, consistent with a neurogenic, vasoconstrictor limit on exercise capacity in HFpEF.
Effect of cell-free culture filtrates of Purpureocillium lilacinum on inactivity, mortality and reproduction of Aphelenchoides besseyi
Authors: Philadelphi Sophia Moracchioli , Pascholati Sérgio F. , Holz Sabrina , de Souza Victor H.M.
Published: December 2024

The soybean, Glycine max, is a major agricultural commodity in Brazil, significantly affected by a wide range of plant-parasitic nematodes, notably Aphelenchoides besseyi. With no resistant cultivars available or registered nematicides, management options for this nematode are limited. This study investigated the effects of cell-free culture filtrates from three Purpureocillium lilacinum isolates (CCT 7766, UEL PAE 10 and PLI) on A. besseyi inactivity, mortality and reproduction in vitro compared to a water control. Nematodes were treated with P. lilacinum culture filtrates, and their activity was quantified after 24, 48 and 72 h. Mortality was assessed by counting inactive individuals after the addition of a Na2CO3 solution. Reproduction effects were tested by treating nematodes with filtrates and culturing them on Fusarium sp. plates for 21 days. After this period, nematodes that migrated to the lids of the plates were counted under a microscope (100× magnification) to determine the final nematode population. Results indicated 100% reduction in active nematodes across all isolates after 24 h. Culture filtrates exhibited low nematicidal effects, with nematode motility resuming after Na2CO3 exposure. Interestingly, individuals exposed to the CCT 7766 culture filtrate displayed a distinctive phenotype, characterised by impaired motility and partial body paralysis, even after the recovery period. Regarding reproduction, PLI strain significantly reduced the final nematode population – and consequently the reproduction factor – when compared to the water control treatment. This study validates a suitable methodology for effectively assessing the mortality of A. besseyi in vitro, and suggests P. lilacinum as a promising biocontrol agent, although further research is needed to explore its efficacy in agricultural settings.
Collective Sufism in the Maghrib al-Aqṣā: the Mājariyyūn of Safi and the Founding of the Rakb al-Ḥujjāj
Authors: El Hour Rachid , Vázquez Hernández Virginia
Published: December 2024

This paper studies one of the most emblematic Maghrebi ribāṭs (Ṣufī outposts, residences, and centers guidance) in the Islamic West as a prime manifestation of collective Sufism, both in terms of its seminal role in history, at least up until the Portuguese invasion of the Moroccan coasts in the fifteenth century, as well as the importance of its founder, Abū Muḥammad Ṣāliḥ (d. 631/1233), who also founded the ṭarīqa al-mājariyya, a dominant force in the social and religious life of the Maghrib al-Aqṣā. One of this walī Allāh’s most significant acts of renewal was the revival and consolidation of the Hajj amid a period characterized by an acute lack of security in the Mediterranean due to the Crusades, thus countering the legal opinion of a range of revered Maghrebi scholars, including Ibn Rushd al-Jadd, the chief qāḍī of Almoravid Córdoba.

This study focuses on two central aspects: on the one hand, the Ribāṭ of Safi and its historical evolution, and, on the other, the role of the Mājariyyūn in organizing and institutionalizing the Hajj under the Marinids, which makes Safi a unique case in the history of the ribāṭs of the Maghrib al-Aqṣā. Regarding the second aspect dealt with in the study, we would like to clarify that our aim is not to analyze Maghrebi travel literature but rather to highlight the singular role played by the Mājariyyūn in reinstating journeys of pilgrimage to the Islamic holy lands.
From Molecules to Droplets: The Fog and Aerosol Interaction Research Italy (FAIRARI) 2021/22 Campaign
Authors: Neuberger Almuth , Decesari Stefano , Aktypis Andreas , Andersen Hendrik , Baumgardner Darrel , Bianchi Federico , Busetto Maurizio , Cai Jing , Cermak Jan , Dipu Sudhakar , Ekman Annica , Fuzzi Sandro , Gramlich Yvette , Haslett Sophie L. , Heikkinen Liine , Joutsensaari Jorma , Kaltsonoudis Christos , Kangasluoma Juha , Krejci Radovan , Lupi Angelo , Marinoni Angela , Matrali Angeliki , Mattsson Fredrik , Mohr Claudia , Nenes Athanasios , Paglione Marco , Pandis Spyros N. , Patel Anil , Riipinen Ilona , Rinaldi Matteo , Steimer Sarah S. , Stolzenburg Dominik , Sulo Juha , Vasilakopoulou Christina N. , Zieger Paul
Published: December 2024

The Italian Po Valley is one of the most polluted regions in Europe. During winter, meteorological conditions favor long and dense fogs, which strongly affect visibility and human health. In spring, the frequency of nighttime fogs reduces while daytime new particle formation events become more common. This transition is likely caused by a reduction in particulate matter (PM2.5), leading to a decrease in the relevant condensation sink. The physics and chemistry of fog and aerosol have been studied at the San Pietro Capofiume site since the 1980s, but the detailed processes driving the observed trends are not fully understood. Hence, during winter and spring 2021/22, the Fog and Aerosol Interaction Research Italy (FAIRARI) campaign was carried out, using a wide spectrum of approaches, including in situ measurements, outdoor chamber experiments, and remote sensing. Atmospheric constituents and their properties were measured ranging from gas molecules and molecular clusters to fog droplets. One unique aspect of this study is the direct measurement of the aerosol composition inside and outside of fog, showing a slightly greater dominance of organic compounds in the interstitial compared to the droplet phase. Satellite observations of fog provided a spatial context and agreed well with in situ measurements of droplet size. They were complemented with in situ chamber experiments, providing insights into oxidative processes and revealing a large secondary organic aerosol-forming potential of ambient air upon chemical aging. The oxidative potential of aerosol and fog water inferred the impact of aerosol–fog interactions on particle toxicity.
Harnessing UAS and high-resolution satellite imagery to better characterize wind damage and understand tornado behavior
Authors: Wagner Melissa , Coniglio Michael , Rasmussen Erik , Satrio Martin , Bodine David , Candela Dominic , Kennedy Doug , Tirone Elizabeth
Published: December 2024

The severe storms research community continues to strive toward measuring and quantifying wind speeds near the ground in tornadoes as a component of meeting society’s needs of protecting life and property. Current methods to measure and characterize tornadoes and their wind speeds all have limitations, particularly when only vegetation and rural areas are impacted. To address these problems, the National Severe Storms Laboratory (NSSL) and the Cooperative Institute for Severe and High-Impact Weather for Research and Operations (CIWRO) employed Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) technologies and specialized satellites to assess storm damage through finescale mapping of wind damage immediately following storm events. From 2021-2023, NSSL-CIWRO led 48 UAS-based damage assessments spanning the northern High Plains to the Gulf Coast areas. The goals of this work were to improve our knowledge of tornado dynamics as a function of land cover and topography and to better understand mechanisms of wind damage production in convective storms. In parallel, NSSL-CIWRO developed workflows to facilitate rapid sharing of UAS and satellite imagery to National Weather Service Weather Forecast Offices (NWS WFOs) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Operationally, NSSL UAS imagery and derived products have aided traditional ground- and satellite-based surveys and have provided important clues on tornado intensity by detailing damage to vegetation in inaccessible areas. UAS and high-resolution satellite imagery may become a routine and key component to understand tornado and severe weather behavior through analysis of specialized field observations.
Airborne Soil-Derived Dust Hazards in Aviation
Authors: Scherllin-Pirscher Barbara , Nickovic Slobodan , Votsis Athanasios , Cvetkovic Bojan , Amiridis Vassilis , Bolic Tatjana , Brenot Hugues , Brock Greg , Clarkson Rory J. , Durant Adam , Hirtl Marcus , Lekas Theodore I. , Mona Lucia , Nasser Hisham , Ryder Claire L. , Ryuzaki Jun , Suárez-Molina David , Vukovic Vimic Ana , Basart Sara
Published: December 2024

Airborne mineral dust poses a safety challenge for aviation. Several fatal accidents have happened in dust-laden air due to reduced visibility, strong gusty winds, and wind shear. Dust-induced icing also contributed at least to two fatal accidents. Furthermore, atmospheric dust has long- and short-term effects on aircraft operating conditions due to corrosion and abrasion on the aircraft surfaces and molten ingress deterioration of engine hot section components. The combined impact can increase operating and maintenance costs and increase the overall cost of ownership. While the scientific community has started preparing and providing products based on atmospheric dust modeling and observation, there are still important data and information gaps in the fundamental science. These include (i) insufficient data which could be used to better understand the effects of dust on aircraft as well as on ground systems and operations (e.g., four-dimensional information of dust mineralogy, cost–benefit analysis of the impact of dust on aviation along flight routes), (ii) the identification of airborne dust monitoring and modeling products and services that could enable the flow of relevant information in commercial aviation and in decision-making workflows, and (iii) the underdeveloped, unclear, or absent role of dust hazards in regulations and operational procedures as well as in the training, skill set, and knowledge base of pilots. This review is aimed at both academic and aviation stakeholders and presents the current state-of-the-art knowledge at the intersection of dust hazards, aviation safety, and impacts on flight operations and aircraft maintenance.
Diagnosing the Factors That Contribute to the Intermodel Spread of Climate Feedback in CMIP6
Authors: Wang Chenggong , Yang Wenchang , Vecchi Gabriel , Zhang Bosong , Soden Brian J. , Chan Duo
Published: December 2024

The global surface temperature climate feedback parameter λ varies significantly across climate models, and its real-world value remains uncertain. Studies have found that the sea surface temperature (SST) response pattern and atmospheric model physics can each affect the climate feedback parameter in historical and idealized warming simulations. In this study, we design and analyze a series of the targeted atmospheric global climate model (AGCM) experiments to quantify how much the SST (both the warming pattern and the base climatology) and atmospheric model physics contributes to the intermodel spread of the climate feedback parameter and cloud feedback in phase 6 of the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6). We use three AGCMs, HiRAM, AM2.5, and AM4, developed in the Geophysical Fluid Dynamics Laboratory (GFDL), which span a wide range of feedbacks in response to uniform surface warming. The three GFDL models indicate that historical patterns of SST change systematically alter λ, supporting the hypothesized role for a “pattern effect” in historical climate sensitivity. However, we found that forcing one AGCM with the different CO2-induced SST warming patterns or model SST climatology from a suite of climate models from CMIP6 can only reproduce ∼10% the intermodel spread of CO2-induced λ, while the atmospheric model used determines the magnitude of λ (∼45%). This underscores the role of atmospheric model physics in altering λ, particularly the cloud-related schemes. In addition, we demonstrate that the nonlinear interaction between SST and AGCM has a nonnegligible role in affecting λ.
A Refined Method for Altimetry SSH Data Fusion to Enhance the Characterization of Kuroshio Extension: A Case Study
Authors: Zhou Chaojie , Cao Lei , Cui Wei , Huang Ying , Sun Ruili , Zhuang Zhanpeng
Published: December 2024

High-quality merged altimetry sea level products have been instrumental in analyzing oceanic dynamics, spanning global and regional sea level trends, and capturing interannual signals, but effectively characterizing mesoscale features remains a persistent issue. The essence of addressing this challenge lies in the selection of highly correlated data sources for fusion, within the confines of limited discrete observations from sea surface altimeters. To tackle this challenge, we propose a refined method focused on reducing the suboptimal interpolation window size and optimizing the mapping process, particularly emphasizing the enhancement of Kuroshio Extension (KE) characterization. By scrutinizing the spatial and temporal evolution of sea surface temperature (SST) fields, we have devised a modified strategy for selecting altimetry along-track data. This strategic approach facilitates the acquisition of more precise observations on a finer time scale, thereby circumventing the inclusion of altimetry observations with low correlation. To validate the efficacy of this approach, we performed a case study of sea surface height (SSH) data fusion in the KE region. As a result, the portrayal of KE intricacies, encompassing its axis and meandering, has markedly improved in the refined SSH gridded maps. A comparative analysis against drifter observations underscores the efficacy of the refined method. Velocity biases have been substantially reduced from −0.21 to 0.05 m s−1, while the correlation coefficient has surged from 0.64 to 0.90. Concurrently, the root-mean-square error has plummeted from 0.42 to 0.21 m s−1. These improvements signify significant strides toward more accurate and reliable characterizations of oceanic mesoscale features, particularly evident in the nuanced depiction of the KE.

Significance Statement

Accurately characterizing the mesoscale dynamical features of gridded sea surface height (SSH) products remains a significant challenge in oceanographic research. Previous studies have often employed a fixed configuration of critical mapping parameters, limiting the reduction of reconstruction errors. In this study, we address this challenge by proposing a refined method aimed at enhancing the characterization of mesoscale features. Our approach involves modifying the expression of the space–time correlation function and adjusting the size of the suboptimal interpolation window. We achieve this by carefully analyzing the spatial and temporal evolution of sea surface temperature (SST) fields. Through this refined methodology, we aim to improve the portrayal of details within the Kuroshio Extension (KE) region. A comparative analysis against drifter trajectories highlights the substantial benefits of our refined approach. The refined SSH map more accurately captures the interaction between mesoscale eddies and the KE, leading to a more comprehensive depiction of oceanic dynamics in this critical region.
Transoral Robotic Posterior Glottic Scar Lysis and Partial Arytenoidectomy: Report of a Novel Application of TORS for Benign Glottic Surgery
Authors: Panuganti Bharat Akhanda , Jeyarajan Harishanker
Published: December 2024

Objectives:

Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) for benign glottic conditions is scarcely represented in the literature. We aimed in this study to report on the technical feasibility of an explicitly transoral robotic approach for a patient with posterior glottic stenosis, and to highlight extant limitations in exposure and robotic instrumentation of the glottis.

Methods:

Retrospective chart review of a single patient undergoing a TORS approach to maximize the posterior glottic aperture.

Results:

A 42-year-old female patient with posterior glottic stenosis and a tracheotomy was consented for a robotic posterior glottic scar lysis, KTP-laser assisted partial arytenoidectomy, balloon dilation, and steroid injection. The da Vinci Intuitive Surgical single-port robotic platform was used with 2 robotic arms (needle driver and scissors), and an FK-WO transoral retractor with a straight tongue blade was deployed to facilitate endolaryngeal exposure. KTP laser fiber was passed through a robotic, semi-flexible drop-in guide, and manipulated with the needle driver. Case duration was 40 minutes. There were no perioperative or immediate post-operative complications noted on short-term follow-up.

Conclusion:

We demonstrate technical feasibility and equipoise between an explicitly robotic approach and a standard endoscopic approach to posterior glottic stenosis, a common glottic condition. Further technological development and adaptation of surgical technique are necessary to advance benign robotic laryngeal surgery.
Establishment of sex-specific reference intervals for PIVKA-II in Southwest China: A real-world data analysis
Authors: Wei Bin , Zheng Yalin , Li Lixin , Luo Limei , Guo Ying
Published: December 2024

Objective

We aim to establish the sex-related reference intervals (RIs) of PIVKA-II in southwest China by indirect method with the real-world data.

Methods

Between 29 July 2016 and 5 February 2024, PIVKA-II test data were collected from 120,780 healthy adult participants (aged 18 to 97 years) in the Laboratory Information System (LIS) of West China Hospital to establish reference intervals. Additionally, a validation group comprised of 2068 healthy adults was evaluated using the same detection algorithm and platform. Following the CLSI EP28-A3 guideline, Box-Cox transformation was applied for normal transformation, and outliers were identified using the Tukey method. Furthermore, we employed the standard normal deviate test (z-test) recommended by Harris and Boyd to determine whether to stratify reference intervals by age and sex subclasses.

Results

We successfully established population-specific RI for PIVKA-II in southwest China using an indirect method. By utilizing a robust dataset and conducting rigorous statistical analyses, we delineated sex-specific RIs, with values of 0–35 mAU/mL for males and 0–29 mAU/mL for females according to the normal distribution method, and 0–32 mAU/mL for males and 0–28 mAU/mL for females using the non-parametric method. These intervals are more suitable for the local population than those derived from manual methods.

Conclusion

These RIs provide valuable guidance for the accurate interpretation of PIVKA-II levels in the local population.
The Succession Effect: Change Over Time in Women’s Political Leadership Styles in New Zealand
Authors: Tyner Katie
Published: December 2024

Given the worldwide pattern that women leaders are often constrained by expectations to demonstrate proof of masculinity to be considered effective, this study explores whether it is possible for these expectations—and the leadership styles they promote—to change over time. I develop a new methodological tool to measure stereotypically masculine leadership style called the Ferrous Scale and apply the Scale to the three female prime ministers of New Zealand, where I find that Ferrous scores decline with each female prime minister. I conduct interviews with the three women leaders and examine a set of hypotheses on the causal mechanisms behind the apparent erosion of the association between executive office and masculinity in New Zealand, building a theory called the Succession Effect: that a succession of female prime ministers—rather than societal gender progressiveness or partisan affiliation—was the prerequisite in New Zealand to loosen the association between executive office and masculinity.