bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In Situ Tumor Vaccine for Lymph Nodes Delivery and Cancer Therapy Based on Small Size Nanoadjuvant
Authors: Zhang Huilin , Zhang Yiwei , Hu Haili , Yang Wenqin , Xia Xue , Lei Lei , Lin Ruyi , Li Jiamei , Li Yuan , Gao Huile
Published: April 2023

Tumor vaccine is a promising cancer treatment modality, however, the convenient antigens loading in vivo and efficient delivery of vaccines to lymph nodes (LNs) still remain a formidable challenge. Herein, an in situ nanovaccine strategy targeting LNs to induce powerful antitumor immune responses by converting the primary tumor into whole‐cell antigens and then delivering these antigens and nanoadjuvants simultaneously to LNs is proposed. The in situ nanovaccine is based on a hydrogel system, which loaded with doxorubicin (DOX) and nanoadjuvant CpG‐P‐ss‐M. The gel system exhibits ROS‐responsive release of DOX and CpG‐P‐ss‐M, generating abundant in situ storage of whole‐cell tumor antigens. CpG‐P‐ss‐M adsorbs tumor antigens through the positive surface charge and achieves charge reversal, forming small‐sized and negatively charged tumor vaccines in situ, which are then primed to LNs. Eventually, the tumor vaccine promotes antigens uptake by dendritic cells (DCs), maturation of DCs, and proliferation of T cells. Moreover, the vaccine combined with anti‐CTLA4 antibody and losartan inhibits tumor growth by 50%, significantly increasing the percentage of splenic cytotoxic T cells (CTLs), and generating tumor‐specific immune responses. Overall, the treatment effectively inhibits primary tumor growth and induces tumor‐specific immune response. This study provides a scalable strategy for in situ tumor vaccination.
Coordination‐Driven One‐Step Rapid Self‐Assembly Synthesis of Dual‐Functional Ag@Pt Nanozyme
Authors: Du Zaihui , Zhu Longjiao , Wang Pengfei , Lan Xinyue , Lin Shenghao , Xu Wentao
Published: April 2023

Realizing high‐precise and adjustable regulation of engineering nanozyme is important in nanotechnology. Here, Ag@Pt nanozymes with excellent peroxidase‐like and antibacterial effects are designed and synthesized by nucleic acid and metal ions coordination‐driven one‐step rapid self‐assembly. The adjustable NA‐Ag@Pt nanozyme is synthesized within 4 min using single‐stranded nucleic acid as templates, and peroxidase‐like enhancing FNA‐Ag@Pt nanozyme is received by regulating functional nucleic acids (FNA) based on NA‐Ag@Pt nanozyme. Both Ag@Pt nanozymes that are developed not only has simple and general synthesis approaches, but also can produce artificial precise adjustment and possess dual‐functional. Moreover, when lead ion‐specific aptamers as FNA are introduced to NA‐Ag@Pt nanozyme, the Pb2+ aptasensor is successfully constructed by increasing electron conversion efficiency and improving the specificity of nanozyme. In addition, both nanozyme has good antibacterial properties, with ~100% and ~85% antibacterial efficiency against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus, respectively. This work provides a synthesis method of novelty dual‐functional Ag@Pt nanozymes and successful application in metal ions detection and antibacterial agents.
High‐Quality Lead Acetate–Based Ruddlesden–Popper Perovskite Films for Efficient Solar Cells
Authors: Xu Yuanhuan , Wen Xuemiao , Zheng Guanhaojie , Wang Yufei , Li Yaohui , Li Bolun , Yang Yuzhao , Liang Jianshu , Chen Dongcheng , Hou Lintao , Cai Wanzhu , Qing Jian
Published: April 2023

The 2D Ruddlesden–Popper perovskites (RPPs), consisting of alternating organic spacer layers and inorganic layers, are emerging photovoltaic materials because of their highly tunable optoelectronic properties and improved stability compared to their 3D counterparts. Nonhalide lead sources attract increasing attention in 3D perovskites, whereas the lead sources for RPPs are limited to lead halides. Herein, nonhalide lead source of lead acetate is investigated for high‐quality RPP films by a dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO)‐assisted delayed annealing process. The incorporation of DMSO in the lead acetate–based precursor solution regulates the crystallization process, resulting in RPP films with distinctly enhanced crystallinity, reduced trap density, vertical crystal orientation, and graded phase distribution. Consequently, the optimized RPP solar cell with an inverted planar structure delivers a champion power conversion efficiency of 17.3%. Herein, future developments of nonhalide lead sources are spurred to fabricate RPP films with high device performance.
Multifunctional Additives to Enhanced Perovskite Solar Cell Performance
Authors: Wang Kai , Yu Bo , Lin Changqing , Yao Ruohe , Yu Huangzhong , Wang Hong
Published: April 2023

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have been developing rapidly in recent years, in which the choice of additives plays a crucial role. Herein, a new small molecule is introduced named 5‐ADI with amino and carbonyl groups as an additive for perovskite. Specifically, the carbonyl group in 5‐ADI can interact with undercoordinated Pb2+ to passivate the perovskite defects. Moreover, the amino group can effectively immobilize I− atoms and inhibit ion migration, and it can synergistically passivate defects and improve photovoltaic performance. Meanwhile, the 5‐ADI treatment makes energy levels match well. Consequently, high‐quality perovskite film with fewer defects is produced due to 5‐ADI treatment improves the crystallinity of perovskite. The device fabricated with 5‐ADI additive achieves a power conversion efficiency of 22.42%. Besides, 5‐ADI can act as a barrier against water to promote perovskite moisture stability. In general, a superior strategy for defect passivation in PSCs is provided.
Study on Efficient Use of High‐Manganese Pig Iron
Authors: Zhao Bin , Wu Wei , Yang Yong , Liang Qiang , Zhang Na , Chu Xiaorui
Published: April 2023

The smelting process of high‐manganese pig iron is studied to determine ways to efficiently utilize the by‐product of manganese‐rich slag. This process consists of two stages: 1) demanganese and carbon retention and 2) decarbonization and dephosphorization. In the first stage, oxygen is supplied at 0.5–2.0 Nm3 t−1 min−1. The temperature is controlled between 1300 and 1400 °C by adding iron ore to the molten bath. Ultimately, high‐manganese slag, which contains more than 50% manganese oxide and semisteel with 3.2% carbon, is produced. In the second stage, oxygen is supplied at 2.0−5.0 Nm3 t−1 min−1 and slag‐forming materials are added to the molten bath for the dephosphorization and desulfurization of the hot metal. Consequently, the iron oxide, manganese oxide, and silicon oxide contents of the high‐manganese slag and the carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur contents of the semisteel are 10.8–15.3%, 70–77%, and 3–7%, and 3.2–4.2%, 0.3–1.0%, 0.12–0.22%, and 0.01–0.024%, respectively. The main mineral phases of high‐manganese slag, 2MnO·SiO2 and FeO·MnO·SiO2, are suitable for the preparation of high‐carbon ferromanganese raw materials. After further smelting, clean molten steel containing 0.03−0.08%, 0.08−0.20%, 0.005−0.02%, and 0.01−0.024% carbon, manganese, phosphorus, and sulfur, respectively, is obtained.
Ingress of Li into Solid Electrolytes: Cracking and Sparsely Filled Cracks
Authors: Mukherjee Dipayan , Hao Shuai , Shearing Paul R. , McMeeking Robert M. , Fleck Norman A. , Deshpande Vikram S.
Published: April 2023

The growth of Li dendrites in a solid electrolyte is commonly idealized by a pressure‐filled crack. Recent observations in both garnet and sulfide electrolytes show that sparsely filled cracks exist prior to shorting of the cell, thereby invalidating this assumption. Herein, a variational principle that uses the Onsager formalism to couple Li deposition into the crack, elastic deformation of the electrolyte, and cracking of the electrolyte with the electrochemical driving forces and dissipation within the electrolyte and interfaces is developed. Consistent with observations, it is shown that Li ingress and cracking occur together for garnet electrolytes, but the cracks are sparsely filled. This sparse filling is a direct consequence of the mismatch between the elastic opening of the cracks and the deposition of Li into the cracks across the crack flanks. An increase in the resistance of Li ingress into the tips of Li filaments results in crack propagating ahead of the Li filaments, as observed for sulfide electrolytes. In such cases, the cracks are largely dry. The results provide a framework to model Li ingress into solid electrolytes and explain why the observations are qualitatively so different from dendrites in liquid electrolytes.
Live foldscope imaging of two environmentally beneficial earthworm species and their early developmental stages
Authors: Ganesan Mijithra , Christyraj Johnson Retnaraj Samuel Selvan , Yesudhason Beryl Vedha , Mohan Manikandan , Christyraj Jackson Durairaj Selvan
Published: April 2023

Earthworms are extensively referred as farmer's friends, play a vital role in maintaining soil fertility and promoting agricultural sustainability. Based on the ecological distribution of numerous species in soil the epigeic earthworms were taken into consideration as they have an excellent source for vermicomposting. In addition to this, earthworms also have a tremendous regeneration ability varies depending on the species. Eudrilus eugeniae and Perionyx excavatus are the two epigeic earthworm species were taken for the study. Species identification of newly hatched and juvenile earthworms are very difficult, due to its smaller size, immature body segments, and absence of clitellum. Here, we used foldscope (a paper‐microscope) as an ideal tool for species identification by live examining the morphological characteristics, internal organs, and regeneration ability of newly hatched and juvenile earthworms, precisely. Notably, clear differentiation in the arrangement of setae and numbers of hearts present in both species were observed using a foldscope microscope. Regeneration studies reveals that both the species have prodigious regeneration potential at their newly hatched and juvenile stages which is identified and documented with foldscope. However, both species are environmentally and economically important, and their precise identification is very vital for environmental restoration, research, and agriculture practices.
Environmental justice in Nigeria: A narration of residents’ experience in Ile‐Ife
Authors: Olowoporoku Oluwaseun , Daramola Oluwole , Soumah Momodou , Olaniyi Kamilu , Odeyemi Gbenga
Published: April 2023

The sharing of environmental cost by residents in various residential areas in the developing world is perceived to be unfair. This study therefore assessed residents’ experiences of environmental justice in Ile‐Ife, Nigeria. Three residential areas were identified in the study area and samples were selected using systematic sampling. Using availability and condition of urban infrastructure, severity of environmental problems and residents’ involvement in environmental issues, the study examined environmental justice in the study area. The study established a variation in environmental issues across identified residential areas. The severity of environmental problem measured through an index tagged Severity of Environmental Problem (SEPI) revealed that environmental problems was most severe in the core (SEPI = 4.00), followed by the peripheral area (SEPI = 3.71) and least in the transition area (SEPI = 3.56). On the condition of available environmental infrastructure, the study revealed that the conditions of infrastructure were most improved in the peripheral area (ICI = 3.07), followed by the core (ICI = 2.67) and the least in the transition area (ICI = 2.42). The study concluded that residents’ experiences of environmental justice differ significantly across the different residential zones as reflected by residents’ socio‐economic characteristics. Furthermore, it established that age, gender, educational status, and number of years spent in the area can be used to explain the differences in residents’ experience of environmental justice in the study area. To enhance the liveability, the study recommends adequate provision of environmental amenities needed by each category of people in the city.
Application of GIS‐based DRASTIC model and its validation with Solute Transport Model in the assessment of groundwater vulnerability index: A case study from coal mining region of India
Authors: Saw Shivam , Singh Prasoon Kumar , Mahato Jaydev Kumar , Patel Rohit , Deoli Vaibhav , Singh Lakshman
Published: April 2023

The intensive Coal mining in Dhanbad, India, is crucial for contaminating the groundwater resources. The present work aims to estimate the vulnerability of aquifers to contamination with the aid of a GIS‐based DRASTIC approach. This is finally validated by comparing the concentration of the contaminant computed by the Solute Transport Model. Using the soil moisture flow and pollutant transport model, an effort is made to validate the vulnerability of groundwater pollution. The vulnerability maps showed that some of this region's western southwest, and northern part lies in the highly vulnerable region. The major influential parameters in the present study for mapping the vulnerability are shallow depth to groundwater, higher net recharge and more permeable vadose zone. Furthermore, the surrounding mining activities are highly accountable for depleting groundwater superiority in the present research area. These vulnerability maps can be later on effectively used for environmental development and managing future water resources. The Solute Transport Model does not compute vulnerability; instead, it computes the concentration of the contaminant.
Quantitative phase deformability cytometry for noninvasive high‐throughput characterization of cells
Authors: Xiao Qinru , He Yanping , Rahman Md Habibur , Cheng Guangyao , Zhou Renjie , Ho Yi‐Ping
Published: April 2023

Currently available deformability cytometry, combining microfluidics with the bright‐field high‐speed imaging system, has allowed label‐free mechanical characterizations of cells at a rate of hundreds of cells per second. However, the poor contrast between the signal and background under bright‐field imaging, especially for abnormal cells or cells treated with drugs, may produce artifacts during the recognition of cellular contours and subsequently bias the analysis of cellular deformability. In this study, a quantitative phase deformability cytometry (QPDC), constructed from a quantitative phase imaging system, is demonstrated with an improved signal‐to‐noise ratio of the acquired images and mitigated image artifacts, allowing a truthful illustration of cellular contours, especially for cells subjected to actin depolymerization. We have also demonstrated that the phase value extracted from captured images may provide an additional biophysical characteristic of cells. The presented QPDC platform is therefore expected to complement the existing deformability cytometry and expand the capacity of label‐free characterization of cells for biological and clinical applications.
AF‐TigerNet: A lightweight anchor‐free network for real‐time Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) detection
Authors: Liu Bohan , Qu Zhilin
Published: April 2023

Monitoring the critically endangered Amur tiger (Panthera tigris altaica) is crucial for the conservation of the natural environment. This paper proposes a novel lightweight deep‐learning network for detecting Amur tigers in mobile and resource‐constrained environments, like those using unmanned aerial vehicles. The network uses an anchor‐free mechanism with modified CSPNet and cross stage partial (CSP)‐path aggregation network (PAN) structures, which improves the model's feature extraction capabilities. Label assignment strategy is also improved to stabilize the model training process. Additionally, the random Mosaic and Mixup data augmentation strategy is utilized to address the overfitting issue due to insufficient data in the data set. The model achieves 55.5% mean average precision (mAP [0.5:0.95]) with only 0.617 million parameters and 73.58 frames per second on mobile CPU with pixels input. Results show that the model is an accurate, fast, and practical detector of the Amur tiger, serving as a reference for wildlife detectors of other species.
Didier Daeninckx, Le roman noir de l’Histoire (2019): Dismantling the Tale of French History through Disseminated Micro-Histories
Authors: Jacquelin Alice
Published: April 2023

This chapter examines the excavation of memories and truths that officialdom would rather remain buried in the work of French noir novelist Didier Daeninckx. It examines Daeninckx’s (Le roman noir de l’Histoire. Lagrasse: Verdier, 2019) magnum opus Le roman noir de l’Histoire. This is not a novel as historical document or as historical mimesis but rather a collection of seventy-six short stories that collectively recount eleven periods in French and European history from 1855 to 2030—and where the emphasis is placed on the kaleidoscopic nature of ‘history from below’, that is, individual fragments that do not necessarily add up to a coherent whole. The chapter argues that Daeninckx’s move from the crime novel to short stories (where crimes occur) complicates the genre’s typical preference for linearity where a single investigation is brought to resolution.
Explainability of Probabilistic Bisimilarity Distances for Labelled Markov Chains
Authors: Rady Amgad , van Breugel Franck
Published: April 2023

Probabilistic bisimilarity distances measure the similarity of behaviour of states of a labelled Markov chain. The smaller the distance between two states, the more alike they behave. Their distance is zero if and only if they are probabilistic bisimilar. Recently, algorithms have been developed that can compute probabilistic bisimilarity distances for labelled Markov chains with thousands of states within seconds. However, say we compute that the distance of two states is 0.125. How does one explain that 0.125 captures the similarity of their behaviour?

In this paper, we address this question by returning to the definition of probabilistic bisimilarity distances proposed by Desharnais, Gupta, Jagadeesan, and Panangaden more than two decades ago. We use a slight variation of their logic to construct for each pair of states a sequence of formulas that explains the probabilistic bisimilarity distance of the states. Furthermore, we present an algorithm that computes those formulas and we show that each formula can be computed in polynomial time.

We also prove that our logic is minimal. That is, if we leave out any operator from the logic, then the resulting logic no longer provides a logical characterization of the probabilistic bisimilarity distances.
Subgame Optimal Strategies in Finite Concurrent Games with Prefix-Independent Objectives
Authors: Bordais Benjamin , Bouyer Patricia , Roux Stéphane Le
Published: April 2023

We investigate concurrent two-player win/lose stochastic games on finite graphs with prefix-independent objectives. We characterize subgame optimal strategies and use this characterization to show various memory transfer results: 1) For a given (prefix-independent) objective, if every game that has a subgamealmost-surely winningstrategy also has a positional one, then every game that has a subgameoptimalstrategy also has a positional one; 2) Assume that the (prefix-independent) objective has a neutral color. If everyturn-basedgame that has a subgame almost-surely winning strategy also has a positional one, then every game that has afinite-choice(notion to be defined) subgame optimal strategy also has a positional one.

We collect or design examples to show that our results are tight in several ways. We also apply our results to Büchi, co-Büchi, parity, mean-payoff objectives, thus yielding simpler statements.
Probing anomalous ZZγ and Zγγ couplings at the e+e− colliders using optimal observable technique
Authors: Jahedi Sahabub , Lahiri Jayita
Published: April 2023

Abstract

We study the anomalous ZZγ and Zγγ couplings that can be probed via Zγ production at the e+e− colliders. We take Standard Model Effective Field Theory (SMEFT) approach to examine these anomalous neutral triple gauge couplings in a model independent way. There are four independent dimension-8 operators that generate these gauge interactions, one of them is CP-conserving and rest three are CP-violating. We adopt optimal observable technique to extract the sensitivity at which these anomalous couplings can be probed at future e+e− colliders and then compare the results with the latest experimental limit obtained at the LHC. We also study the impact and advantage of beam polarization in these precision measurements. Statistical limit (95% C.L.) on individual anomalous couplings as well as the correlation between various couplings have been discussed in detail.
Essential Spectrum and Feller Type Properties
Authors: BenAmor Ali , Güneysu Batu , Stollmann Peter
Published: April 2023

We give necessary and sufficient conditions for a regular semi-Dirichlet form to enjoy a new Feller type property, which we call weak Feller property. Our characterization involves potential theoretic as well as probabilistic aspects and seems to be new even in the symmetric case. As a consequence, in the symmetric case, we obtain a new variant of a decomposition principle of the essential spectrum for (the self-adjoint operators induced by) regular symmetric Dirichlet forms and a Persson type theorem, which applies e.g. to Cheeger forms on $$\mathsf {RCD^*}$$

RCD
∗

spaces.
On classical tensor categories attached to the irreducible representations of the general linear supergroups $$GL(n\vert n)$$
Authors: Heidersdorf Th. , Weissauer R.
Published: April 2023

We study the quotient of $$\mathcal {T}_n = Rep(GL(n|n))$$

T
n

=
R
e
p

(
G
L

(
n
|
n
)

)

by the tensor ideal of negligible morphisms. If we consider the full subcategory $$\mathcal {T}_n^+$$

T
n
+

of $$\mathcal {T}_n$$

T
n

of indecomposable summands in iterated tensor products of irreducible representations up to parity shifts, its quotient is a semisimple tannakian category $$Rep(H_n)$$

R
e
p
(

H
n

)

where $$H_n$$

H
n

is a pro-reductive algebraic group. We determine the $$H_n$$

H
n

and the groups $$H_{\lambda }$$

H
λ

corresponding to the tannakian subcategory in $$Rep(H_n)$$

R
e
p
(

H
n

)

generated by an irreducible representation $$L(\lambda )$$

L
(
λ
)

. This gives structural information about the tensor category Rep(GL(n|n)), including the decomposition law of a tensor product of irreducible representations up to summands of superdimension zero. Some results are conditional on a hypothesis on 2-torsion in $$\pi _0(H_n)$$

π
0

(

H
n

)

.
CUP-Syndrom – Diagnostik aus Sicht der Pathologie
Authors: Pauli Chantal
Published: April 2023

Problemstellung

Die histologische und immunhistochemische Aufarbeitung von Tumormaterial aus Metastasen eines bis dahin unbekannten Primärtumors („cancer of unknow primary“, CUP) ist ein wichtiges Werkzeug zur Identifizierung ihrer Herkunft, reicht aber hierfür ohne klinisch-onkologische und radiologische Beurteilung oft nicht aus.

Vorgehen

Bei der initialen CUP-Situation tragen die histologische und immunhistochemische Aufarbeitung sowie die klinisch-radiologische Korrelation wesentlich zur Identifikation des Primärtumors bei. Mittlerweile gibt es akzeptierte Richtlinien, denen man während der CUP-Diagnostik folgen kann. Mittels molekularer Diagnostik werden Veränderungen auf der Ebene von Nukleinsäuren untersucht, was u. a. auch Hinweise für den Primärtumor geben kann. Gelingt es trotz breiter und interdisziplinärer Diagnostik nicht, den Primärtumor zu identifizieren, handelt es sich um ein CUP-Syndrom. Liegt eine echte CUP-Situation vor, gilt es, den Tumor so gut wie möglich einer Tumorklasse oder einer bestimmten therapiesensitiven Untergruppe zuzuordnen, so dass die bestmögliche Therapie erfolgen kann. Für eine endgültige Zuordnung zu einem Primärtumor oder eine Einstufung als CUP ist jedoch ein Abgleich mit medizinisch-onkologischen und bildgebenden Befunden unentbehrlich.

Schlussfolgerung

Beim Verdacht auf ein CUP-Syndrom ist eine enge interdisziplinäre Abstimmung zwischen Pathologie, medizinischer Onkologie und Bildgebung unerlässlich, um eine tragfähige Einstufung als CUP oder eine Identifizierung eines anzunehmenden Primärtumors zu erreichen, im Interesse einer möglichst spezifischen und wirksamen Therapie für die betroffenen Personen.
Long axial field of view (LAFOV) PET-CT: implementation in static and dynamic oncological studies
Authors: Dimitrakopoulou-Strauss Antonia , Pan Leyun , Sachpekidis Christos
Published: April 2023

Long axial field of view (LAFOV) PET-CT scanners have been recently developed and are already in clinical use in few centers worldwide. Although still limited, the hitherto acquired experience with these novel systems highlights an increased sensitivity as their main advantage, which results in an increased lesion detectability. This attribute, alternatively, allows a reduction in PET acquisition time and/or administered radiotracer dose, while it renders delayed scanning of satisfying diagnostic accuracy possible. Another potential advantage of the new generation scanners is CT-less approaches for attenuation correction with the impact of marked reduction of radiation exposure, which may in turn lead to greater acceptance of longitudinal PET studies in the oncological setting. Further, the possibility for the first time of whole-body dynamic imaging, improved compartment modeling, and whole-body parametric imaging represent unique characteristics of the LAFOV PET-CT scanners. On the other hand, the advent of the novel LAFOV scanners is linked to specific challenges, such as the high purchase price and issues related to logistics and their optimal operation in a nuclear medicine department. Moreover, with regard to its research applications in oncology, the full potential of the new scanners can only be reached if different radiopharmaceuticals, both short and long-lived ones, as well as novel tracers, are available for use, which would, in turn, require the appropriate infrastructure in the area of radiochemistry. Although the novel LAFOV scanners are not yet widely used, this development represents an important step in the evolution of molecular imaging. This review presents the advantages and challenges of LAFOV PET-CT imaging for oncological applications with respect to static and dynamic acquisition protocols as well as to new tracers, while it provides an overview of the literature in the field.
Efficacy and safety of nilotinib as frontline treatment in elderly (> 65 years) chronic myeloid leukemia patients outside clinical trials
Authors: Luciano Luigia , Latagliata Roberto , Gugliotta Gabriele , Annunziata Mario , Tiribelli Mario , Martino Bruno , Sica Antonello , Esposito Maria Rosaria , Bocchia Monica , Galimberti Sara , Sorà Federica , Albano Francesco , Palmieri Raffaele , Pregno Patrizia , Dragani Matteo , Iovine Maria , Sica Simona , Iurlo Alessandra , Castagnetti Fausto , Rosti Gianantonio , Breccia Massimo
Published: April 2023

Here, we report real-world evidence on the safety and efficacy of nilotinib as a first-line treatment in elderly patients with chronic phase CML, treated in 18 Italian centers. Sixty patients aged > 65 years (median age 72 years (65–84)) were reported: 13 patients were older than 75 years. Comorbidities were recorded at baseline in 56/60 patients. At 3 months of treatment, all patients obtained complete hematological response (CHR), 43 (71.6%) an early molecular response (EMR), while 47 (78%) reached a complete cytogenetic response (CCyR). At last follow-up, 63.4% of patients still had a deep molecular response (MR4 or better), 21.6% reached MR3 as best response and 11.6% persisted without MR. Most patients (85%) started the treatment at the standard dose (300 mg BID), maintained at 3 months in 80% of patients and at 6 months in 89% of them. At the last median follow-up of 46.3 months, 15 patients discontinued definitively the treatment (8 due to side effects, 4 died for unrelated CML causes, 1 for failure, 2 were lost to follow-up). One patient entered in treatment-free remission. As to safety, 6 patients (10%) experienced cardiovascular events after a median time of 20.9 months from the start. Our data showed that nilotinib could be, as first-line treatment, effective and relatively safe even in elderly CML patients. In this setting, more data in the long term are needed about possible dose reduction to improve the tolerability, while maintaining the optimal molecular response.
Validating real-time three-dimensional echocardiography against cardiac magnetic resonance, for the determination of ventricular mass, volume and ejection fraction: a meta-analysis
Authors: Dissabandara Thilini , Lin Kelly , Forwood Mark , Sun Jing
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Real-time three-dimensional echocardiography (RT3DE) is currently being developed to overcome the challenges of two-dimensional echocardiography, as it is a much cheaper alternative to the gold standard imaging method, cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR). The aim of this meta-analysis is to validate RT3DE by comparing it to CMR, to ascertain whether it is a practical imaging method for routine clinical use.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis method was used to synthesise the evidence and studies published between 2000 and 2021 were searched using a PRISMA approach. Study outcomes included left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVESV), left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular mass (LVM), right ventricular end-systolic volume (RVESV), right ventricular end-diastolic volume (RVEDV) and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). Subgroup analysis included study quality (high, moderate), disease outcomes (disease, healthy and disease), age group (50 years old and under, over 50 years), imaging plane (biplane, multiplane) and publication year (2010 and earlier, after 2010) to determine whether they explained the heterogeneity and significant difference results generated on RT3DE compared to CMR.

Results

The pooled mean differences for were − 5.064 (95% CI − 10.132, 0.004, p > 0.05), 4.654 (95% CI − 4.947, 14.255, p > 0.05), − 0.783 (95% CI − 5.630, 4.065, p > 0.05, − 0.200 (95% CI − 1.215, 0.815, p > 0.05) for LVEF, LVM, RVESV and RVEF, respectively. We found no significant difference between RT3DE and CMR for these variables. Although, there was a significant difference between RT3DE and CMR for LVESV, LVEDV and RVEDV where RT3DE reports a lower value. Subgroup analysis indicated a significant difference between RT3DE and CMR for studies with participants with an average age of over 50 years but no significant difference for those under 50. In addition, a significant difference between RT3DE and CMR was found in studies using only participants with cardiovascular diseases but not in those using a combination of diseased and healthy participants. Furthermore, for the variables LVESV and LVEDV, the multiplane method shows no significant difference between RT3DE and CMR, as opposed to the biplane showing a significant difference. This potentially indicates that increased age, the presence of cardiovascular disease and the biplane analysis method decrease its concordance with CMR.

Conclusion

This meta-analysis indicates promising results for the use of RT3DE, with limited difference to CMR. Although in some cases, RT3DE appears to underestimate volume, ejection fraction and mass when compared to CMR. Further research is required in terms of imaging method and technology to validate RT3DE for routine clinical use.

Graphical abstract
The role of the Nrf2/GSH antioxidant system in cisplatin resistance in malignant rhabdoid tumours
Authors: Hannon Barroeta Patricia , O’Sullivan Maureen J. , Zisterer Daniela M.
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Malignant rhabdoid tumour (MRT) is a rare and aggressive childhood malignancy that occurs in the kidneys or central nervous system and is associated with very poor prognosis. Chemoresistance is a major issue in the treatment of this malignancy leading to an urgent need for a greater understanding of its underlying mechanisms in MRT and novel treatment strategies for MRT patients. The balance between oxidative stress mediated by reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the antioxidant system has become a subject of interest in cancer therapy research. Studies have implicated key players of the antioxidant system in chemotherapeutic including the well-known antioxidant glutathione (GSH) and the transcription factor nuclear erythroid-related factor-2 (Nrf2).  

Methods

This study evaluated the role of these components in the response of MRT cells to treatment with the commonly used chemotherapeutic agent, cisplatin.

Results

This study characterised the basal levels of GSH, ROS and Nrf2 in a panel of MRT cell lines and found a correlation between the expression profile of the antioxidant defence system and cisplatin sensitivity. Results showed that treatment with ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) protected cells from cisplatin-induced ROS and apoptosis. Interestingly, depleting GSH levels with the inhibitor buthionine sulphoximine (BSO) enhanced cisplatin-induced ROS and sensitised cells to cisplatin. Lastly, targeting Nrf2 with the small molecule inhibitor ML385 or by siRNA diminished GSH levels, enhanced ROS and sensitised resistant MRT cells to cisplatin.

Conclusions

These results suggest that targeting the Nrf2/GSH antioxidant system may present a novel therapeutic strategy to combat chemoresistance in rhabdoid tumours.
Magnetic resonance imaging at 9.4 T: the Maastricht journey
Authors: Ivanov Dimo , De Martino Federico , Formisano Elia , Fritz Francisco J. , Goebel Rainer , Huber Laurentius , Kashyap Sriranga , Kemper Valentin G. , Kurban Denizhan , Roebroeck Alard , Sengupta Shubharthi , Sorger Bettina , Tse Desmond H. Y. , Uludağ Kâmil , Wiggins Christopher J. , Poser Benedikt A.
Published: April 2023

The 9.4 T scanner in Maastricht is a whole-body magnet with head gradients and parallel RF transmit capability. At the time of the design, it was conceptualized to be one of the best fMRI scanners in the world, but it has also been used for anatomical and diffusion imaging. 9.4 T offers increases in sensitivity and contrast, but the technical ultra-high field (UHF) challenges, such as field inhomogeneities and constraints set by RF power deposition, are exacerbated compared to 7 T. This article reviews some of the 9.4 T work done in Maastricht. Functional imaging experiments included blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) and blood-volume weighted (VASO) fMRI using different readouts. BOLD benefits from shorter T2* at 9.4 T while VASO from longer T1. We show examples of both ex vivo and in vivo anatomical imaging. For many applications, pTx and optimized coils are essential to harness the full potential of 9.4 T. Our experience shows that, while considerable effort was required compared to our 7 T scanner, we could obtain high-quality anatomical and functional data, which illustrates the potential of MR acquisitions at even higher field strengths. The practical challenges of working with a relatively unique system are also discussed.
Das Vorliegen eines “vernünftigen Grundes” bei der Tötung überzähliger Versuchstiere
Authors: Wagenknecht Tobias , Eusemann Beryl , Schwedhelm Philipp , Schönfelder Gilbert , Bert Bettina
Published: April 2023

Überzählige Versuchstiere lassen sich auch bei bester Versuchsplanung und sorgfältigstem
Zuchtmanagement nicht vermeiden, da bei der Zucht von Versuchstieren regelmäßig Tiere entstehen,
die aufgrund verschiedenster Kriterien im geplanten Tierversuch, für den sie ursprünglich gezüchtet
wurden, nicht eingesetzt werden können. Insbesondere bei genetisch veränderten Tieren scheidet
eine Vermittlung oder Weiterverwendung für andere Versuchszwecke oder als Futtertier regelmäßig
aus. Viele Einrichtungen können diese überzähligen Tiere aufgrund fehlender Haltungskapazitäten
auch nicht bis an ihr natürliches Lebensende halten. In der Praxis stellt sich daher die ethisch und
rechtlich viel diskutierte Frage, ob überzählige Versuchstiere unter Annahme eines vernünftigen
Grundes nach 1 S. 2 TierSchG getötet werden dürfen. Im Kern geht es dabei um die im Einzelfall
stets vorzunehmende Abwägung des Tierschutzes gem. Art. 20a GG und der Wissenschaftsfreiheit gem.
Art. 5 Abs. 3 GG. Der vorliegende Beitrag möchte insbesondere untersuchen, ob eine Verfütterung
von überzähligen Versuchstieren und die Unmöglichkeit einer artgerechten Haltung unter Einbeziehung
aktueller Rechtsprechung für sich genommen ausreichen können, um eine Tötung von überzähligen
Versuchstieren aus vernünftigem Grund zu rechtfertigen.
Existence proof of librational invariant tori in an averaged model of HD60532 planetary system
Authors: Danesi Veronica , Locatelli Ugo , Sansottera Marco
Published: April 2023

We investigate the long-term dynamics of HD60532, an extrasolar system hosting two giant planets orbiting in a 3:1 mean motion resonance. We consider an average approximation at order one in the masses which results (after the reduction in the constants of motion) in a resonant Hamiltonian with two libration angles. In this framework, the usual algorithms constructing the Kolmogorov normal form approach do not easily apply and we need to perform some untrivial preliminary operations, in order to adapt the method to this kind of problems. First, we perform an average over the fast angle of libration which provides an integrable approximation of the Hamiltonian. Then, we introduce action-angle variables that are adapted to such an integrable approximation. This sequence of preliminary operations brings the Hamiltonian in a suitable form to successfully start the Kolmogorov normalization scheme. The convergence of the KAM algorithm is proved by applying a technique based on a computer-assisted proof. This allows us to reconstruct the quasi-periodic motion of the system, with initial conditions that are compatible with the observations.
Alterations to unionid transformation during agricultural and urban contaminants of emerging concern exposures
Authors: Rzodkiewicz Lacey D. , Annis Mandy L. , Woolnough Daelyn A.
Published: April 2023

Highly imperiled unionids have a complex life cycle including the metamorphosis of an obligate parasite life stage, larval glochidia, to the juvenile stage. Despite the known vulnerabilities of both glochidia and juveniles to pollutants, little is known on how metamorphosis success may be affected by chemical stress. Disruption of the transformation process in which glochidia encyst on the gills of a host fish, could lead to lowered recruitment and population declines. Transformation rates of Lampsilis cardium on host fish Micropterus salmoides were empirically derived from experimental exposures to low, medium, or high concentrations of an agricultural or urban mixture of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) over two exposure durations. Transformation was characterized by: (1) a zero-inflated Poisson general linear mixed effects model to compare difference in transformation between exposure durations and (2) time response curves to describe the transformation curve using long-term exposure data. Lampsilis cardium transformation was similar between exposure durations. When compared to controls, CEC stress significantly reduced juvenile production (p « 0.05) except for the agricultural medium treatment and tended to increased encapsulation duration which while statistically insignificant (p = 0.16) may have ecological relevancy. Combining the empirically derived reduction of transformation rates with parameters values from the literature, a Lefkovich stage-based population model predicted strong declines in population size of L. cardium for all treatments if these results hold in nature. Management focus on urban CECs may lead to best conservation efforts though agricultural CECs may also have a concentration dependent impact on transformation and therefore overall recruitment and conservation success.
The urban population agglomeration capacity and its impact on economic efficiency in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration
Authors: Lin Jinping , Yang Shan , Liu Yanghui , Zhu Yiheng , Cai Anning
Published: April 2023

This paper constructs and elaborates a theoretical model of urban economic efficiency (UEE) from the perspective of urban scaling law. A framework of urban economic analysis is established with urban population agglomeration capacity (UPAC) as the explanatory factor. Taking the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration (YRDUA) as a case study, explore the influence of UPAC on UEE. The results show that the gap between the UEE in the YRDUA gradually decreases, the spatial agglomeration characteristic weakens, and the UEE among cities leads to a balanced tendency. However, the spatial agglomeration pattern of UPAC becomes more and more significant. (Mega/super) large cities are mostly advanced types, while small cities are lagging types. The influence of UPAC on UEE gradually decreases and diverges from significant positive influence to insignificant influence in advanced cities and significant positive influence in lagging cities. The framework of UEE research provides a more objective way to understand and compare the economic performance of cities of different scales. The empirical study findings provide a basis for decision-making on developing different types of cities.
Information and Explanatory Goodness
Authors: Glass David H.
Published: April 2023

I propose a qualitative Bayesian account of explanatory goodness that is analogous to the Bayesian account of incremental confirmation. This is achieved by means of a complexity criterion according to which an explanation h is good if the reduction in the complexity of the explanandum e brought about by h (the explanatory gain) is greater than the additional complexity introduced by h in the context of e (the explanatory cost). To illustrate the account, I apply it in the context of ad hoc hypotheses.
Sensitivity Analysis of a Physically Based Model to Assess Rainfall-Triggered Shallow Landslides
Authors: Montoya-Araque Exneyder A. , Montoya-Noguera Silvana
Published: April 2023

Rainfall-triggered shallow landslides are one of the most frequent geomorphological processes in tropical mountainous terrains, and they deserve special attention due to their potential negative consequences in society. Such processes involve several variables including those regarding precipitation, terrain morphology, and hydraulic and shear strength parameters of saturated and unsaturated soils. A spatially distributed and physically-based model for transient rainfall infiltration and grid-based regional slope stability analysis (TRIGRS), was implemented. It was used to analyze the influence of the mentioned variables on the triggering of shallow landslides by rainfall. A robust sensitivity analysis was carried out to quantify the influence of parameter variation on the change of the factor of safety ($$\Delta f_\textrm{s}$$

Δ

f
s

) for shallow landslides, including a one-parameter-at-a-time analysis of a unique cell representing the simplest model space. Four combinations of saturated/unsaturated models and finite/infinite infiltration models were analyzed. The interaction among the hydraulic parameters was analyzed through small-multiple plots to observe their influence on $$\Delta f_\textrm{s}$$

Δ

f
s

. It was found that $$\Delta f_\textrm{s}$$

Δ

f
s

is most sensitive to variation in the maximum depth at which the landslide can be triggered, the slope angle, the cohesion, and the friction angle. In addition, it was found that the parameters of the soil–water characteristic curve for unsaturated soils have little influence on $$\Delta f_\textrm{s}$$

Δ

f
s

. Finally, the interactions among the remaining parameters determine the impact of each one of these on $$\Delta f_\textrm{s}$$

Δ

f
s

. Thus, the results showed that when the baseline set of parameters is changed, the influence of each parameter is modified.
Conception and Development of the Warmth/Affection Coding System (WACS): A Novel Hybrid Behavioral Observational Tool for Assessing Parent-to-Child Warmth
Authors: Prasad Ashneeta H. , Keevers Yvette , Kaouar Silvana , Kimonis Eva R.
Published: April 2023

A vast body of research and theory underscores the importance of parental warmth/affection (hereby ‘warmth’ and ‘warmth/affection’ are used interchangeably) as a distinct relational process that is fundamental to core developmental processes including parent-child attachment, socialization, emotion recognition and responsivity, and empathic development. The increasing focus on parental warmth as a viable transdiagnostic and specific treatment target for Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits highlights the critical need for a reliable and valid tool for measuring this construct within clinical contexts. However, existing assessment methods have limitations in their ecological validity, clinical utility, and the comprehensiveness of their coverage of core warmth subcomponents. In response to this clinical and research need, the observational Warmth/Affection Coding System (WACS) was developed to comprehensively measure parent-to-child warmth/affection. This paper chronicles the conception and development of the WACS, which adopts a hybrid approach of utilizing both microsocial and macro-observational coding methods to capture key verbal and non-verbal subcomponents of warmth that are currently underrepresented or poorly captured by existing assessment tools. Recommendations for implementation and future directions are also discussed.
Children’s Talk About Fathers’ Regret: Making Sense of Fathers’ Violence Against Mothers
Authors: Arnell Linda , Källström Åsa
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The aim of this study is to investigate children’s sense-making about their fathers’ attitudes about using violence against the child’s mother. More specifically, we examine various ways in which the children reflect on whether, and if so how, their father showed regret.

Method

This study used data from interviews with 31 children (14 boys and 17 girls) aged between 10 and 14 years, using a semi-structured interview guide. The children’s narratives were analyzed using discourse analysis.

Results

We found that most of the children in this study positioned their fathers as regretful in relation to two discourses—on violence and on fatherhood—that are prominent in the interviews. Some children, however, positioned their fathers as inconsistent or non-regretful, saying they did not express regret emotionally, did not change their behavior, did not communicate regret, or communicated it in a self-contradictory way. In their narratives the children sometimes used interpretative repertoires—about feelings, actions, and communication—to explain why they thought their father did or did not regret his use of violence.

Conclusion

Positioning one’s father as regretful after having committed IPV can be a way to make the father’s attitudes about the violence understandable, both to the children and to others. Discourses on violence and fatherhood can, however, constrain children’s narratives about their fathers’ violence, which is important to keep in mind when working with children who have been exposed to IPV and making decisions that concern them.