bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Short Proof for the Riemann Hypothesis
Authors: Vega Frank
Published: November 2023

The Riemann hypothesis is a conjecture that the Riemann zeta function has its zeros only at the negative even integers and complex numbers with real part $\frac{1}{2}$. It is considered by many to be the most important unsolved problem in pure mathematics. Let $\Psi(n) = n \cdot \prod_{q \mid n} \left(1 + \frac{1}{q} \right)$ denote the Dedekind $\Psi$ function where $q \mid n$ means the prime $q$ divides $n$. Define, for $n \geq 3$; the ratio $R(n) = \frac{\Psi(n)}{n \cdot \log \log n}$ where $\log$ is the natural logarithm. Let $N_{n} = 2 \cdot \ldots \cdot q_{n}$ be the primorial of order $n$. There are several statements equivalent to the Riemann hypothesis. We state that if for every large enough prime number $q_{n}$, there exists another prime $q_{n'} > q_{n}$ such that $R(N_{n'}) \leq R(N_{n})$, then the Riemann hypothesis is true. In this note, using our criterion, we prove that the Riemann hypothesis is true.
Perspectives on Mental Health Digital Platforms: A Usability Study with Ergonomics Design Students
Authors: Ngabo-Woods Harold , Asensio-Cuesta Sabina
Published: November 2023

The prevalence of mental health issues has reached alarming levels globally. In response, the integration of technology in mental health care, particularly through mental health apps, has emerged as a promising frontier for delivering scalable and accessible therapeutic interventions. However, the effectiveness of these apps is contingent upon their usability. This study explores the critical link between the usability of mental health apps and their efficacy in managing mental health symptoms. Focusing on university students, the research investigates how usability influences user experience, engagement, and adherence to mental health interventions. It also examines the role of usability in reducing barriers to seeking professional help and the variations in usability perceptions. Through a usability study of a mental health app pilot platform, this research seeks to provide actionable insights for future design and development, emphasizing the need for user-friendly interfaces that effectively support mental health outcomes. The findings aim to contribute to the broader understanding of digital mental health interventions and their role in addressing the escalating mental health crisis.
Hybrid Water Cultures: implications for service relations with diverse water users in Sydney, Australia
Authors: Lopes Abby Mellick , Sofoulis Zoë
Published: November 2023

How do diverse communities encounter and respond to government water services? This paper explores shifting cultural dynamics of a diverse group of Mandarinspeaking migrants in Sydney, Australia and implications for services in the context of a research project with a major water utility. Significant challenges for water services in Australia were unpacked. The central challenge we explore in this paper is the validity of the operational category of the ‘average customer’ which had been relatively stable for Sydney Water for over a century. However, in the last 20 years, the culture of Australia has shifted away from Europe and toward Asia. Questions around communication, information sharing, governance and management, were provoked. The take up of our research in Sydney Water’s customer education and engagement strategies has fostered more diverse and inclusive representations and points to the value of nuanced social and cultural research in service design contexts.
Adopting a co-design approach to foster collaborative capacity and reflexivity in Social Prescribing. A Service Ecosystem Design perspective
Authors: Farina Isabel , Sangiorgi Daniela , Bertotti Marcello , Torri Emanuele , Dias Sonia , Marques Maria J. , Alves Regina
Published: November 2023

The article aims to explore potential areas of intervention by Service Design to enhance the non-clinical intervention called Social Prescribing (SP). We propose the example of two co-design workshops delivered as training modules for a pilot study in Portugal and in Italy for young people defined as NEETs (Not in Education, Employment or Training) informed by a previous case study research based in the UK where SP is established. We would like to discuss the “collaborative capacity” role that design can play as it will support the future emergence of co-creative activities in the ecosystem generated by Social Prescribing. This paper is the first step of the exploration of the relevance of the contribution of novel conceptual frameworks evolving from Service Ecosystem Design. This paper is part of a still ongoing research and we are discussing emerging questions that will guide further explorations on the topic, both theoretically and empirically.
Democratizing Ideation: A Critical Need for Business Innovation
Authors: Lobo Sylvan , Das Bhaskarjyoti , Mahamuni Ravi
Published: November 2023

Businesses constantly need novel ideas to sustain and grow. Ideation techniques often rely on human skills. It is difficult for untrained participants to be creative and arrive at high-quality ideas in quantity. Service design aids businesses to enhance their product and service offerings. Ideation processes in service design and business context need special attention considering the variety of stakeholders involved and their limited familiarity with creative techniques. We aim to make ideation more democratic and accessible to business stakeholders with a focus on quantity as well as quality. Using action research and research-through-design methods, we explored several approaches to enable collaborative ideation. We did this by leveraging creative techniques to enhance participants’ abilities to ideate effectively across design workshops. We discuss key takeaways and challenges from our experience, pointing towards looking at ideation as a lifecycle and the need to integrate service design sensitivity to ideation.
Designing a sustainable collaborative food service for entrepreneurs in a university environment
Authors: Farias Larissa , Soares Carol , Bursztyn Ivan , Cipolla Carla
Published: November 2023

This paper aims to describe the service design of a collaborative entrepreneurship in a university environment that seeks to improve the local food in line with sustainability concepts. Design Science Research was adopted as a research method and generated an artifact, a collaborative business service of sustainable gastronomic products. This method adopted a three-cycle structure: relevance, design and rigor. To support the construction of the artifact, service design and codesign approaches were considered. The result of this process includes carrying out activities with an interdisciplinary team of researchers, as well as the participation of entrepreneurs in codesign workshops. The solution is a service implemented for collaborative entrepreneurship for university students who work under the concepts of sustainable gastronomy. The results can promote insights in new service proposals that foster the entrepreneurship of sustainable gastronomy in academic environments and help in the qualification of students as entrepreneurs.
Implementation of design tools for relational thinking in design for social innovation - a pluralistic perspective from Weitou Village’s oyster reef restoration project
Authors: Jiang Jixiang , Wu Yizao , Zhang Shu
Published: November 2023

When faced with an increasingly complex environmental crisis, the topic of an ontological transition from the current dualistic-driven ontology to a relational one is gaining importance in multidisciplinary discussions. Modern design has been considered as an essential part of the responsibility for the current crisis, and transformation is imminent (Fry, T., 2019; Fry, T., & Tlostanova, M., 2020). Moreover, a key research direction is emerging: to open up design ontology discussions by incorporating pluralistic cultural perspectives. Service design has grown dramatically in China in recent years (ArtTech innozone&CSDC,2020). On one hand, its development has included many Western-centered design paradigms and methods to establish disciplinary standards. On the other hand, Chinese service designers have gradually begun to reflect on their cultural roots and the complexities of the domestic situation, ultimately developing localized solutions. In 2022, Upbeing and Chinese Service Design Community (CSDC) organized a summer school in Quanzhou, Fujian Province with four tailor-made themes according to the local context. And they hope to use those themes to explore localized transformation and adaptive design development to achieve social innovation amidst China’s diverse geography.
Designing for Logic Hybridity in New Service Development: A Case of the Estonian Youth Mental Health Systems
Authors: Kubinyi Eva Liisa , Lazier Meghan , Mõtus Maarja , Vink Josina
Published: November 2023

Amid the shift to embrace systems thinking within service design, there is often a tendency to reduce many coexisting systems into one. This paper builds on recent literature that calls for a more mindful approach to working with plurality amid and between systems in service design. Using a research through design approach in the context of Estonia youth mental health systems, this paper presents a framework for holding onto the tensions that arise between multiple logics in new service development and maintaining logic hybridity in the service design process. By exploring how such a framework informs service design decisions and its implications, this research offers inspiration for thoughtfully negotiating plurality in practice.
Designing for informal co-production in mental healthcare: an innovative psychiatry program and the strategies from a territorial lab
Authors: De Luca Federico , Sangiorgi Daniela
Published: November 2023

This paper reflects on the process of co-producing mental health with informal actors, patients, health and social providers. In particular, this research examines the potential of territorial laboratories as places of experimentation for co-producing services for recovery. The Case study examined is the Brescia Recovery Co-Lab in Italy, developed with the aim to facilitate territorial experimentation of co-produced mental health and wellbeing services and initiatives with users, family members, local actors and service providers at the community level. Through a thematic analysis of the interviews, five main factors emerged that influence the co-production of mental health with informal resources: Time, Value, Participation, Co-design and Scale. The core of these factors concerns the experimentation with practices outside the traditional organisational logics typical of territorial laboratories, structures that favour dynamic co-production in mental health.
What is the value of using a non-accessible service for users with disabilities?
Authors: Sardella Nayara , Quaresma Manuela
Published: November 2023

The subject of accessibility has been gaining prominence and space in the academic literature in recent years, with the advance of technology. However, there is still little discussion about the challenges designers face in applying accessibility to digital interfaces in a dynamic environment, such as the job market, and the impact this has on the accessibility of the interface and the service provided. This paper aims to bring a discussion and reflection about how the process of applying accessibility in interfaces happens inside organizations and how designers deal with the subject – raising questions regarding the value in use of the service delivered to users with disabilities. For this, a literature review was carried out, in which it was possible to identify that most digital interfaces are still not accessible for the final customer with disabilities, making the value of use questionable.
Social Lab: Toward Value-Driven R&D&I in Collaboration with Citizens
Authors: Watanabe Kentaro , Akasaka Fumiya , Mitake Yuya , Kojima Kazuhiro
Published: November 2023

Digitalization is an important driver of valuable service offerings in most industrial sectors. With the increasing use of digital technologies, the negative consequences of digitalization have also attracted attention. To address this issue, R&D organizations need to ensure that their R&D&I process and its results are in alignment with desirable services that create value and mitigate citizens’ social concerns. This requires a close partnership with citizens. However, attempts to take the values of citizens as a driver of technology R&D&I remain limited and tend to be temporary. Therefore, we introduce the concept of the “social lab” as an R&D&I scheme emphasizing service and value as core elements to foster the R&D&I of digital technology in a socially acceptable manner. We introduce our development of a social lab and discuss the required processes and challenges, especially for developing citizen partnership.
Take-it-back Service: meta-scenario for white-good appliances
Authors: Conte Adele Cagnato , Dos Santos Aguinaldo , Barbosa Ana Beatriz Avelino , Graciano Bheatriz Silvano , Andrade Bruna , Daros Carolina , Lied Gabriel , Do Amaral Júlio César
Published: November 2023

The need to change the consumer behavior in relation to the disposal of home appliances promotes a discussion to create a meta-scenario for a take it back service that can create value in the relationship between Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) consumers and manufactures. This paper presents a study on home appliances' take-it-back service using Internet of Things (IoT) sensors integrated into a collaborative digital platform, focusing on promoting transparency for consumers. The research method was a systematic literature review combined with a range of Service Design Tools. The study first introduces an explanation of reverse logistics and its relationship with the IoT. Service Design tools such as Focus Group, Card Sorting, Tomorrow’s Headlines, and Storyboard, were used for a better understanding of the problem and to support the generation of alternatives process. The insertion of emerging technologies as a key factor to the meta-scenario proposed corroborates with the change in the consumer behavior for sustainability, and it helps the user for better decision-making.
Life events as an approach for service ecosystem design: lessons learned from the Finnish public services
Authors: Caba Núria Solsona , Turunen Taija
Published: November 2023

Life event services have emerged worldwide as an approach for designing public services by addressing significant transitions in life and building an ecosystem around them. We study this approach as an opportunity to engage the ecosystem in a novel manner. Empirically, we investigated three digital public service cases in Finland that leverage the life events approach. Life transitions make gaps between systems visible to the large and complex network of value-creators. Life events is a unifying term for public administrations, cross-sector organisations, and communities involved as providers. Whilst this approach uncovers an underserved set of actors and situational motivations, it provides the service ecosystem with a shared purpose. Our analysis establishes four demands for designing service ecosystems around life transitions: semantic interoperability, ecosystem governance, segmentation model and purpose-driven approach.
Exploring the Systemic and Speculative dimensions into Service Design
Authors: Lin Zijun , Villari Beatrice
Published: November 2023

The scale and process of Service Design are expanding and evolving as the emerging challenges they face become increasingly complex and uncertain. In order to cope with the systemic complexity and uncertainty of future changes when designing service (eco)systems, more holistic and speculative dimensions are needed to be considered. In the field of design, Systemic Design and Speculative Design are considered to have the capacities to deal with systemic complexity and critically consider future uncertainty. Therefore, this study aims to explore from the theoretical level to the operational level to understand if and how Systemic Design and Speculative Design can help to expand the Systemic and Speculative dimensions into Service Design. Through literature review and expert interviews, this paper presents the theoretical relationships between these three approaches and discusses the opportunities and criticalities of approach integration. In the end, we propose three future research directions and open up open questions about Service Design evolution in Systemic and Speculative dimensions.
How the COVID-19 changed the urban mobility ecosystem: A perspective for new hybrid services
Authors: Leão Jessica , Sarmento Teresa , Feliz Vladimiro
Published: November 2023

The unfettered expansion of cities is pushing our environment to the brink, as it faces a slew of unprecedented challenges that are intensifying the already critical issue of climate change. Part of the responsibility is due to the high carbon emissions generated by transport, rising demand for transportation, and an increased digitalized world where e-commerce grows. Mobility patterns changed during the last two and a half years due to the pandemic restrictions and consequent lifestyle changes. This paper focuses on a study in the city of Porto, Portugal. It contributes to an understanding of the main changes in frequency and mobility choices and urban mobility trends for this sector, focusing on sustainable urban mobility. In addition, it seeks to bring the service design lens to the analysis and visualization of the interactions of mobility services before and during the pandemic and propose solutions for a hybrid context characterized by cycles of restrictions and flexibilization of sanitary measures. The findings are a launching pad to implement new business models focused on sustainable new hybrid services.
How bio-inspired solutions have influenced the built environment design in hot and humid climates
Authors: Solano Thasnee , Bernal Ana , Mora Dafni , Chen Austin Miguel
Published: November 2023

The rapid increase in the population, which has been concentrated mainly in urban areas, has caused an environmental imbalance over the years since the built environment developed as a foreign element to the ecosystem, which prevents having resilient environments capable of adapting to the challenges posed by climate change. This research aims to provide an updated knowledge base of bio-inspired strategies emulated in hot and humid climates to achieve an efficient built environment, restoring resources, and bringing nature closer to cities. A systematic review is conducted based on keyword selection to answer i) what has been achieved in built environments to be more efficient and sustainable (including tropical climates) and ii) how natural patterns, strategies, and models are mimicked. Implementing these strategies is very little in regions with hot and humid climates. Bio-inspired approaches are concentrated in those that try to emulate the functions of nature, followed by approaches that imitate the form of nature, biomimicry, and biomimetics being the most used approaches, leading to the development of efficient and resilient cities.
Neisseria meningitidis accumulate in large organs during meningococcal sepsis
Authors: Brusletto Berit Sletbakk , Hellerud Bernt Christian , Øvstebø Reidun , Brandtzaeg Petter
Published: November 2023

Background

Neisseria meningitidis (Nm) is the cause of epidemic meningitis and fulminant meningococcal septicemia. The clinical presentations and outcome of meningococcal septic shock is closely related to the circulating levels of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) and of Neisseria meningitidis DNA (Nm DNA). We have previously explored the distribution of Nm DNA in tissues from large organs of patients dying of meningococcal septic shock and in a porcine meningococcal septic shock model.

Objective

1) To explore the feasibility of measuring LPS levels in tissues from the large organs in patients with meningococcal septic shock and in a porcine meningococcal septic shock model. 2) To evaluate the extent of contamination of non-specific LPS during the preparation of tissue samples.

Patients and methods

Plasma, serum, and fresh frozen (FF) tissue samples from the large organs of three patients with lethal meningococcal septic shock and two patients with lethal pneumococcal disease. Samples from a porcine meningococcal septic shock model were included. Frozen tissue samples were thawed, homogenized, and prepared for quantification of LPS by Pyrochrome® Limulus Amoebocyte Lysate (LAL) assay.

Results

N. meningitidis DNA and LPS was detected in FF tissue samples from large organs in all patients with meningococcal septic shock. The lungs are the organs with the highest LPS and Nm DNA concentration followed by the heart in two of the three meningococcal shock patients. Nm DNA was not detected in any plasma or tissue sample from patients with lethal pneumococcal infection. LPS was detected at a low level in all FF tissues from the two patients with lethal pneumococcal disease. The experimental porcine meningococcal septic shock model indicates that also in porcinis the highest LPS and Nm DNA concentration are detected in lungs tissue samples. The quantification analysis showed that the highest concentration of both Nm DNA and LPS are in the organs and not in the circulation of patients with lethal meningococcal septic shock. This was also shown in the experimental porcine meningococcal septic shock model.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that LPS can be quantified in mammalian tissues by using the LAL assay.
Pair density wave and superconductivity in a kinetically frustrated doped Emery model on a square lattice
Authors: Jiang Hong-Chen , Devereaux Thomas Peter
Published: November 2023

The quest to understand the nature of superconductivity in the cuprates has spotlighted the pair density wave (PDW)–a superconducting state characterized by a spatially modulated order parameter. Despite significant advances in understanding PDW properties, conclusively demonstrating its presence in systems pertinent to cuprate superconductors remains elusive. In this study, we present a systematic density-matrix renormalization group study to investigate the Emery model (or the three-band Hubbard model) on two-leg square cylinders with negative electron hopping term tpp between adjacent oxygen sites. Kinetic frustration - introduced by changing the sign of oxygen-oxygen hopping - leads to a much reduced Cu-Cu antiferromagnetic exchange along with an enlarged charge transfer energy that changes the local properties of the model. At light doping levels, our findings reveal a ground state remarkably consistent with a PDW, exhibiting mutually commensurate superconducting (SC), charge, and spin density wave correlations. Intriguingly, the dominant SC pairing is observed between neighboring oxygen sites, diverging from the expected Cu sites in the positive tpp case. When the system incorporates moderate near-neighbor interactions, particularly an attractive Vpp between adjacent oxygen sites, the SC correlations become quasi-long-ranged, accompanied by a pronounced divergence in the PDW susceptibility. When the attractive Vpp increases further, the system gives way to an unconventional d-wave superconductivity.
Real-world practices of hormone monitoring during ovarian stimulation in assisted reproductive technology: a global online survey
Authors: Sachs-Guedj Noemie , Hart Roger , Requena Antonio , Vergara Vanessa , Polyzos Nikolaos P.
Published: November 2023

Objective

The aim of this study is to understand the global practice of routine hormonal monitoring (HM) during ovarian stimulation (OS) in the context of assisted reproductive technique (ART) treatment.

Methods

An open-access questionnaire was available to 3,845 members of IVF-Worldwide.com from September 8 to October 13, 2021. The survey comprised 25 multiple-choice questions on when and how ultrasound (US) and hormone tests were conducted during ovarian stimulation OS. For most questions, respondents were required to select a single option. Some questions allowed the selection of multiple options.

Results

In all, 528 (13.7%) members from 88 countries responded to the questionnaire. Most respondents (98.9%) reported using US to monitor OS cycles. HM was used by 79.5% of respondents during any of the cycle monitoring visits and was most commonly performed on the day of, or a day prior to final oocyte maturation. Overall, 87% of respondents claimed adjusting the dose of gonadotropin during OS, with 61.7% adjusting the dose based on hormonal levels. Oestradiol (E2) was the most frequently monitored hormone during all visits and was used by 74% of respondents for the prediction of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS). On or a day prior to ovulation triggering (OT), the number of respondents who measured progesterone increased from 34.3% in the second/third visit to 67.7%. Approximately one-third of respondents measured luteinizing hormone during all visits.

Conclusion

Globally, most ART specialists (~80%) use HM, along with US, for monitoring OS, especially for the prevention of OHSS.
Effects of stellate ganglion block on perimenopausal hot flashes: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Li Ying , Chang Jia , Shi Gaoxiang , Zhang Wenjing , Wang Hui , Wei Lingyun , Liu Xiaochun , Zhang Weiwei
Published: November 2023

Background

Hot flashes are common symptoms afflicting perimenopausal women. A stellate ganglion block (SGB) is believed to be an effective treatment for hot flashes; however, more evidence is needed to evaluate its safety and efficacy in relieving perimenopausal hot flashes.

Objective

To investigate the efficacy and safety of SGB for the treatment of perimenopausal hot flashes.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial was conducted at Shanxi Bethune Hospital. Forty perimenopausal women with hot flashes were recruited from April 2022 to November 2022 and randomly assigned to receive either 6 consecutive SGB treatments or 6 consecutive saline placebo treatments. The primary outcome was the change in hot flash symptom score from baseline to 12 weeks after treatment. The secondary outcomes were the change in hot flash symptom score from baseline to 12 weeks after treatment and the post-treatment Kupperman Index (KI) and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores.

Results

Of the 40 randomized subjects, 35 completed the study. All the variables were significantly improved. During 12 weeks of follow-up, the hot flash scores, Kupperman Menopause Scale scores, and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale scores decreased significantly. Two subjects in the SGB treatment group experienced transient hoarseness, and the incidence of related adverse events was 10%. No related adverse events occurred in the control group.

Conclusion

Compared to the control treatment, SGB treatment was a safe and effective nonhormone replacement therapy that significantly relieved perimenopausal hot flashes and effectively improved sleep quality. Additional studies are needed to assess the long-term efficacy of this therapy.
Isotopic niches of diadromous fishes inform on interspecific competition in an obstructed catchment
Authors: Lizé Anne , Teichert Nils , Roussel Jean-Marc , Acou Anthony , Feunteun Eric , Carpentier Alexandre
Published: November 2023

Competition arises when species share a limited resource, but this can be avoided through niche partitioning. Despite the large body of literature on diadromous fishes, very few studies have focused on niche partitioning when competing for resources. Diadromous fishes are suffering a global decline throughout their range in part due to their peculiar life history traits as they migrate from the sea to freshwater to spawn or the reverse. They are particularly sensitive to river fragmentation induced by barriers. Dams for instance are expected to alter the spatial distribution and resource exploitation of diadromous fishes as well as other organisms. Here, we studied the ecological niche of six taxa of diadromous fishes, temporally co-occurring in the same land–sea continuum obstructed by two river dams. We used Bayesian mixing models run on C and N isotopes to infer the various habitats used and the origin of the trophic carbon in muscle and scale tissues of diadromous fishes. Results showed that the sub-adults of Anguilla anguilla, juveniles of Petromyzon marinus, and Salmo trutta exploit mainly the freshwater, or marine part for adults of Lampetra fluviatilis, whereas juveniles of Platichthys flesus and Mugilidae use all the habitats of the land–sea continuum. In the freshwater habitat, the microphytobenthos and biofilm are the main sources of carbon used, while in the marine habitat, the basal carbon sources are more diverse. The analyses of niche overlaps between diadromous fishes demonstrate that the widest isotopic niches, observed for A. anguilla and P. flesus, also have more impact within the community. Results are discussed in terms of intra- and interspecific competition between these diadromous fishes and their generalist/specialist strategies in an obstructed catchment.
DIALing-up the preclinical characterization of gene-modified adoptive cellular immunotherapies
Authors: Giardino Torchia Maria Letizia , Moody Gordon
Published: November 2023

The preclinical characterization of gene modified adoptive cellular immunotherapy candidates for clinical development often requires the use of mouse models. Gene-modified lymphocytes (GML) incorporating chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) and T-cell receptors (TCR) into immune effector cells require in vivo characterization of biological activity, mechanism of action, and preclinical safety. Typically, this characterization involves the assessment of dose-dependent, on-target, on-tumor activity in severely immunocompromised mice. While suitable for the purpose of evaluating T cell-expressed transgene function in a living host, this approach falls short in translating cellular therapy efficacy, safety, and persistence from preclinical models to humans. To comprehensively characterize cell therapy products in mice, we have developed a framework called “DIAL”. This framework aims to enable an end-to-end understanding of genetically engineered cellular immunotherapies in vivo, from infusion to tumor clearance and long-term immunosurveillance. The acronym DIAL stands for Distribution, Infiltration, Accumulation, and Longevity, compartmentalizing the systemic attributes of gene-modified cellular therapy and providing a platform for optimization with the ultimate goal of improving therapeutic efficacy. This review will discuss both existent and emerging examples of DIAL characterization in mouse models, as well as opportunities for future development and optimization.
Acquisition of complement fixing antibodies targeting Plasmodium falciparum merozoites in infants and their mothers in Uganda
Authors: Mortazavi Susanne E. , Lugaajju Allan , Nylander Maria , Danielsson Lena , Tijani Muyideen Kolapo , Beeson James G. , Persson Kristina E. M.
Published: November 2023

Background

Antibody-mediated complement fixation has previously been associated with protection against malaria in naturally acquired immunity. However, the process of early-life development of complement-fixing antibodies in infants, both in comparison to their respective mothers and to other immune parameters, remains less clear.

Results

We measured complement-fixing antibodies in newborns and their mothers in a malaria endemic area over 5 years follow-up and found that infants’ complement-fixing antibody levels were highest at birth, decreased until six months, then increased progressively until they were similar to birth at five years. Infants with high levels at birth experienced a faster decay of complement-fixing antibodies but showed similar levels to the low response group of newborns thereafter. No difference was observed in antibody levels between infant cord blood and mothers at delivery. The same result was found when categorized into high and low response groups, indicating placental transfer of antibodies. Complement-fixing antibodies were positively correlated with total schizont-specific IgG and IgM levels in mothers and infants at several time points. At nine months, complement-fixing antibodies were negatively correlated with total B cell frequency and osteopontin concentrations in the infants, while positively correlated with atypical memory B cells and P. falciparum-positive atypical memory B cells.

Conclusion

This study indicates that complement-fixing antibodies against P. falciparum merozoites are produced in the mothers and placentally-transferred, and they are acquired in infants over time during the first years of life. Understanding early life immune responses is crucial for developing a functional, long lasting malaria vaccine.
Looking into the prevalence of bycatch juveniles of critically endangered elasmobranchs: a case study from pelagic longline and trammel net fisheries of the Asinara Gulf (western Mediterranean)
Authors: Scacco Umberto , Gennari Enrico , Di Crescenzo Simone , Fanelli Emanuela
Published: November 2023

Bycatch of cartilaginous species is considered one of the main drivers for the dramatic declines observed in many populations. Pelagic longlines and passive nets impact many species depending on their life stage and habitat use. Here, we present an updated list of incidental catches collected through a 4-year fishery-dependent survey. We documented the bycatch of four critically endangered species, particularly 13 individuals of Isurus oxyrinchus, Prionace glauca, and Mobula mobular by longlines and one specimen of Lamna nasus by trammel nets in the Asinara Gulf (Northern Sardinia, Italy). As almost all specimens were juveniles or newborns, we explored and discussed the potential drivers explaining their prevalence in the sample. Despite our low sample size, of the four possible options discussed, the role of the Asinara Gulf as an Important Shark and Ray Area (ISRA) for large pelagic elasmobranch species is one worth considering.
Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation treatment for severe asthma had unexpected adverse effects: a case report
Authors: Wang Yun , Zhang Weimin , Chen Xingxing , Cheng Xuping , Jiang Xuandong
Published: November 2023

Asthma, a chronic respiratory ailment, affects millions worldwide. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) has gained traction as a life-saving intervention for patients with severe asthma who are unresponsive to conventional treatments. However, complications associated with ECMO, including electrolyte imbalances and hemorrhage, can have significant clinical implications. This case report highlights a 49 years-old male patient with severe asthma who developed pronounced hypokalemia and hemorrhage following venovenous ECMO (VVECMO) therapy. Despite potassium supplementation, serum potassium levels continued declining before normalizing after 24 h. The patient subsequently experienced gastrointestinal bleeding, cerebral hemorrhage, and extensive cerebral infarction, ultimately resulting in a deep coma. Hypokalemia during ECMO therapy can result from a rapid reduction of carbon dioxide, β-receptor agonist use, corticosteroid use, and diuretic administration. Hemorrhage is another common ECMO complication, often linked to heparin anticoagulation therapy. Clinicians should be aware of potential complications and adopt appropriate prevention and management strategies when using ECMO in patients with severe asthma.
Agromyces chromiiresistens sp. nov., Novosphingobium album sp. nov., Sphingobium arseniciresistens sp. nov., Sphingomonas pollutisoli sp. nov., and Salinibacterium metalliresistens sp. nov.: five new members of Microbacteriaceae and Sphingomonadaceae from polluted soil
Authors: Liu Ze-Shen , Wang Ke-Huan , Cai Man , Yang Mei-Ling , Wang Xiao-Kang , Ma Hong-Lin , Yuan Yi-Han , Wu Lin-Huan , Li De-Feng , Liu Shuang-Jiang
Published: November 2023

There are many unidentified microbes in polluted soil needing to be explored and nominated to benefit the study of microbial ecology. In this study, a taxonomic research was carried out on five bacterial strains which were isolated and cultivated from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and heavy metals polluted soil of an abandoned coking plant. Phylogenetical analysis showed that they belonged to the phyla Proteobacteria and Actinobacteria, and their 16S rRNA gene sequence identities were lower than 98.5% to any known and validly nominated bacterial species, suggesting that they were potentially representing new species. Using polyphasic taxonomic approaches, the five strains were classified as new species of the families Microbacteriaceae and Sphingomonadaceae. Genome sizes of the five strains ranged from 3.07 to 6.60 Mb, with overall DNA G+C contents of 63.57–71.22 mol%. The five strains had average nucleotide identity of 72.38–87.38% and digital DNA-DNA hybridization of 14.0–34.2% comparing with their closely related type strains, which were all below the thresholds for species delineation, supporting these five strains as novel species. Based on the phylogenetic, phylogenomic, and phenotypic characterizations, the five novel species are proposed as Agromyces chromiiresistens (type strain H3Y2-19aT = CGMCC 1.61332T), Salinibacterium metalliresistens (type strain H3M29-4T = CGMCC 1.61335T), Novosphingobium album (type strain H3SJ31-1T = CGMCC 1.61329T), Sphingomonas pollutisoli (type strain H39-1-10T = CGMCC 1.61325T), and Sphingobium arseniciresistens (type strain H39-3-25T = CGMCC 1.61326T). Comparative genome analysis revealed that the species of the family Sphingomonadaceae represented by H39-1-10T, H39-3-25T, and H3SJ31-1T possessed more functional protein-coding genes for the degradation of aromatic pollutants than the species of the family Microbacteriaceae represented by H3Y2-19aT and H3M29-4T. Furthermore, their capacities of resisting heavy metals and metabolizing aromatic compounds were investigated. The results indicated that strains H3Y2-19aT and H39-3-25T were robustly resistant to chromate (VI) and/or arsenite (III). Strains H39-1-10T and H39-3-25T grew on aromatic compounds, including naphthalene, as carbon sources even in the presence of chromate (VI) and arsenite (III). These features reflected their adaptation to the polluted soil environment.
Environmental bacteria increase population growth of hydra at low temperature
Authors: Miklós Máté , Cseri Karolina , Laczkó Levente , Kardos Gábor , Fraune Sebastian , Tökölyi Jácint
Published: November 2023

Multicellular organisms engage in complex ecological interactions with microorganisms, some of which are harmful to the host’s health and fitness (e.g., pathogens or toxin-producing environmental microbiota), while others are either beneficial or have a neutral impact (as seen in components of host-associated microbiota). Although environmental microorganisms are generally considered to have no significant impact on animal fitness, there is evidence suggesting that exposure to these microbes might be required for proper immune maturation and research in vertebrates has shown that developing in a sterile environment detrimentally impacts health later in life. However, it remains uncertain whether such beneficial effects of environmental microorganisms are present in invertebrates that lack an adaptive immune system. In the present study, we conducted an experiment with field-collected Hydra oligactis, a cold-adapted freshwater cnidarian. We cultured these organisms in normal and autoclaved lake water at two distinct temperatures: 8°C and 12°C. Our findings indicated that polyps maintained in sterilized lake water displayed reduced population growth that depended on temperature, such that the effect was only present on 8°C. To better understand the dynamics of microbial communities both inhabiting polyps and their surrounding environment we conducted 16S sequencing before and after treatment, analyzing samples from both the polyps and the water. As a result of culturing in autoclaved lake water, the polyps showed a slightly altered microbiota composition, with some microbial lineages showing significant reduction in abundance, while only a few displayed increased abundances. The autoclaved lake water was recolonized, likely from the surface of hydra polyps, by a complex albeit different community of bacteria, some of which (such as Pseudomonas, Flavobacteriaceae) might be pathogenic to hydra. The abundance of the intracellular symbiont Polynucleobacter was positively related to hydra population size. These findings indicate that at low temperature environmental microbiota can enhance population growth rate in hydra, suggesting that environmental microorganisms can provide benefits to animals even in the absence of an adaptive immune system.
Predictors of futile recanalization after endovascular treatment in acute ischemic stroke: a multi-center study
Authors: Sun Yu , Jou Eric , Nguyen Thanh N. , Mofatteh Mohammad , Liang Qingjia , Abdalkader Mohamad , Yan Zile , Feng Mingzhu , Li Xinyuan , Li Guilan , Luo Lanzhu , Lai Yuzheng , Yang Shuiquan , Zhou Sijie , Xu Zhiming , Cai Xiaodong , Chen Yimin
Published: November 2023

Background and objectives

Endovascular thrombectomy (EVT) improves long-term outcomes and decreases mortality in ischemic stroke patients. However, a significant proportion of patients do not benefit from EVT recanalization, a phenomenon known as futile recanalization or reperfusion without functional independence (RFI). In this study, we aim to identify the major stroke risk factors and patient characteristics associated with RFI.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of 297 consecutive patients with ischemic stroke who received EVT at three academic stroke centers in China from March 2019 to March 2022. Patient age, sex, modified Rankin Scale (mRS), National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), Alberta stroke program early CT score (ASPECTS), time to treatment, risk factors and comorbidities associated with cerebrovascular diseases were collected, and potential associations with futile recanalization were assessed. RFI was successful reperfusion defined as modified thrombolysis in cerebral infarction (mTICI) ≥ 2b without functional independence at 90 days (mRS ≥ 3).

Results

Of the 297 initial patients assessed, 231 were included in the final analyses after the application of the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Patients were divided by those who had RFI (n = 124) versus no RFI (n = 107). Older age (OR 1.041, 95% CI 1.004 to 1.073; p = 0.010), chronic kidney disease (OR 4.399, 0.904–21.412; p = 0.067), and higher 24-h NIHSS (OR 1.284, 1.201–1.373; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of RFI. Conversely, an mTICI score of 3 was associated with a reduced likelihood of RFI (OR 0.402, 0.178–0.909; p = 0.029).

Conclusion

In conclusion, increased age, higher 24-h NIHSS and lack of an mTICI score of 3 were independently associated with RFI and have potential prognostic values in predicting patients that are less likely to respond to EVT recanalization therapy.
Building nonenhanced CT based radiomics model in discriminating arteriovenous malformation related hematomas from hypertensive intracerebral hematomas
Authors: Xie Huanhuan , Dong Fei , Zhang Ruiting , Yu Xinfeng , Xu Peng , Tang Yinshan , Huang Peiyu , Wang Chao
Published: November 2023

Objective

To develop and validate radiomics models on non-enhanced CT for discrimination of arteriovenous malformation (AVM) related hematomas from hypertensive intracerebral hematomas.

Materials and methods

A total of 571 patients with acute intraparenchymal hematomas and baseline non-enhanced CT scans were retrospectively analyzed, including 297 cases of AVM related hematomas and 274 cases of hypertensive intracerebral hematomas. The patients were divided into training and validation cohorts in a 7:3 ratio with a random seed. A total of 1,688 radiomics features of hematomas were extracted from non-enhanced CT. Then, the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression was applied to select features and construct the radiomics models. In this study, a radiomics-based model was constructed that based on the radiomics features only. Furthermore, a combined model was constructed using radiomics features, clinical characteristics and radiological signs by radiologists’ evaluation. In addition, we compared predictive performance of the two models for discrimination of AVM related hematomas from hypertensive intracerebral hematomas.

Results

A total of 67 radiomics features were selected to establish radiomics signature via LASSO regression. The radiomics-based model was constructed with 2 classifiers, support vector machine (SVM) and logistic regression (LR). AUCs of the radiomics-based model in the training set were 0.894 and 0.904, in validation set were 0.774 and 0.782 in SVM classifier and LR classifier, respectively. AUCs of the combined model (combined with radiomics, age and calcification) in the training set were 0.976 and 0.981, in validation set were 0.896 and 0.907 in SVM classifier and LR classifier, respectively. The combined model showed greater AUCs than radiomics-based model in both training set and validation set.

Conclusion

The combined model using radiomics, age and calcification showed a satisfactory predictive performance for discrimination of AVM related hematomas from hypertensive intracerebral hematomas and hold great potential for personalized clinical decision.
Freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease with glucocerebrosidase mutations: prevalence, clinical correlates and effect on quality of life
Authors: Ou Ruwei , Li Chunyu , Wei Qianqian , Liu Kuncheng , Lin Junyu , Yang Tianmi , Xiao Yi , Jiang Qirui , Cheng Yangfan , Hou Yanbing , Zhang Lingyu , Song Wei , Chen Xueping , Lai Xiaohui , Shang Huifang
Published: November 2023

Objectives

Mutations in glucocerebrosidase (GBA1) can change the clinical phenotype of Parkinson’s disease (PD). This study aimed to explore the clinical characteristics of freezing of gait (FOG) in PD patients with GBA1 mutations.

Methods

A whole-exome sequencing analysis was used to identify the GBA1 mutations (pathogenic or likely pathogenic) and exclude other PD-related gene mutations. A forward binary logistic regression model was conducted to identify the associated factors of FOG. The stepwise multiple linear regression analysis models were used to explore the effect of FOG on quality of life.

Results

The prevalence of FOG in patients with GBA1 mutations (30/95, 31.6%) was significantly higher than those in patients without GBA1 mutations (152/760, 20%) (p = 0.009). A higher (i.e., worse) Unified PD Rating Scale part III score (OR = 1.126, 95%CI = 1.061–1.194, p < 0.001) and a lower (i.e., worse) Montreal Cognitive Assessment score (OR = 0.830, 95%CI = 0.713–0.967, p = 0.017) were significantly associated with FOG in PD patients with GBA1 mutations. The presence of FOG was significantly associated with the decreased (i.e., worse) score of PD Questionnaire 39 after adjustment for sex, age, disease duration, motor score, and non-motor score (B = 14.981, p = 0.001).

Conclusion

FOG is a relatively common disabling symptom in PD patients with GBA1 mutations, which is affected by motor disability and cognitive decline. Quality of life is reduced in patients with FOG and GBA1 mutations.