bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influenza Vaccination in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients: Methods to Improve Immunogenicity and Future Directions
Authors: Peak Erica , MD  , Thomas Lora , MD
Published: February 2024

Purpose of Review

To review the recent literature surrounding immune responses to influenza vaccination in solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients, in addition to reviewing future directions for novel vaccine technologies to help improve immunogenicity in this vulnerable population.

Recent Findings

While organ transplantation remains a lifesaving treatment for those with organ failure, infections account for many complications in the post-transplant period. Influenza virus is the most common vaccine-preventable illness, but organ transplant recipients often mount an inferior immune response to vaccination compared to the general population. Due to their impaired immune responses to vaccinations, various studies have examined utilizing different strategies to increase immunogenicity to influenza vaccines in this patient population, including the use of booster doses, high-dose vaccines, and vaccines with adjuvants. Trials with high-dose influenza vaccines and booster doses have shown increased immunogenicity when compared to single standard-dose influenza vaccine. Although these strategies may improve immune responses to influenza vaccines to variable degrees, it is still unknown what the optimal method to provide protection against influenza infection in SOT recipients is. While more studies need to be conducted in the SOT population, there is promising new influenza vaccine technology development with mRNA vaccines, universal influenza vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies.

As SOT recipients exhibit reduced immunity to vaccines, efforts to increase immunogenicity to influenza vaccine in the transplant population have focused on adjuvanted vaccines, booster doses, and high-dose vaccines. Future directions in this field include mRNA influenza vaccines, universal influenza vaccines, and monoclonal antibodies, but there is no definitive timeline for these products to become available at this time. The authors of this study favor a high-dose influenza vaccination approach for organ transplant recipients, due to ease of administration and demonstrated favorable safety profile.
Reimagining Philanthropy in the Global South
Authors: El-Erian Mohamed A.
Published: February 2024

While there have always been high levels of philanthropic giving in the Global South, the urgency and unexpectedness of COVID-19 transformed the parameters within which philanthropy operates. 'Reimagining Philanthropy in the Global South' examines how newer models of philanthropy are tackling development challenges, including poverty, inequality and access to healthcare and education, and questions how organisations are coping with structural changes in donor-driven philanthropy; how changes in traditional grant making are impacting the imperatives of recipient organisations; and how indigenous philanthropy is making a difference. The chapters provide frank assessments of the priorities, challenges and opportunities of emerging market philanthropy, and the lessons learned from the pandemic. The authors highlight the deeper issues at play, as well as offering ideas and positive examples of how diverse stakeholders are coming together to solve social challenges in creative and practical ways. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.
Introduction to Galaxy Formation and Evolution
Authors: Cimatti Andrea , Fraternali Filippo , Nipoti Carlo
Published: February 2024

Present-day elliptical, spiral and irregular galaxies are large systems made of stars, gas and dark matter. Their properties result from a variety of physical processes that have occurred during the nearly fourteen billion years since the Big Bang. This comprehensive textbook, which bridges the gap between introductory and specialized texts, explains the key physical processes of galaxy formation, from the cosmological recombination of primordial gas to the evolution of the different galaxies that we observe in the Universe today. In a logical sequence, the book introduces cosmology, illustrates the properties of galaxies in the present-day Universe, then explains the physical processes behind galaxy formation in the cosmological context, taking into account the most recent developments in this field. The text ends on how to find distant galaxies with multi-wavelength observations, and how to extract the physical and evolutionary properties based on imaging and spectroscopic data.
Longitudinal associations between German and English language competencies in Grade 9 and educational success
Authors: Jindra Christoph , Schipolowski Stefan , A. Sachse Karoline , Stanat Petra
Published: February 2024

Abstract: Standards-based monitoring of student achievement assumes that the assessments measure relevant competencies and skills for educational success. Students who reach proficiency levels in the assessments designed to represent the standards should be more successful in their schooling career than students reaching lower proficiency levels. However, empirical evidence for the predictive validity of test results and, specifically, proficiency levels used in educational monitoring is scarce. We report associations between proficiency levels reached in a German large-scale educational monitoring study ( N = 1183, Mage = 15.5 and 49% female) based on National Educational Standards for German and English and two indicators of school success observed afterwards. First, we describe the relation between proficiency levels and the highest achieved degree in secondary education. Second, we describe the relation between proficiency levels and grades in English and German exams, taken at the end of secondary level I as part of the central exit examination (Grade 10). Using ordered logistic regressions, we find a strong relation between proficiency levels measured by the tests and both outcomes. Results indicate, for example, that students who failed the minimum standard for the first secondary school-leaving certificate in German reading have twice the probability of leaving school without a degree compared to students who just passed the minimum standard. Our findings show that proficiencies assessed in the large-scale educational monitoring study have substantial predictive power for students' educational careers.
Körperliche Aktivität als Therapieoption bei ADHS?
Authors: Mehren Aylin , Philipsen Alexandra
Published: February 2024

Zusammenfassung: Körperliche Aktivität als Präventions- und Therapieoption von psychischen Erkrankungen rückt zunehmend in den Fokus aktueller Forschung. Insbesondere Verbesserungen in kognitiven Funktionen, Aufmerksamkeitsleistungen, Impulsivität und Hyperaktivität könnten Sport zu einer vielversprechenden Behandlungsoption für die Aufmerksamkeitsdefizit-/Hyperaktivitätsstörung (ADHS) machen. In dem vorliegenden narrativen Übersichtsartikel wird der aktuelle Forschungsstand zu Sporteffekten bei Kindern und Jugendlichen sowie Erwachsenen mit ADHS dargestellt und bewertet. Während Studien zu den kurzfristigen Auswirkungen einer einmaligen körperlichen Aktivität robuste Effekte auf die Aufmerksamkeit und Inhibitionskontrolle zeigen, sind bisherige Ergebnisse zur Wirkung auf weitere Symptombereiche der ADHS sowie bei Erwachsenen gemischt. Randomisierte kontrollierte Studien zu regelmäßiger sportlicher Aktivität sind bislang rar und zeigen eine hohe Heterogenität, ermutigen jedoch zu weiterer Forschung in dem Bereich.
Alpträume bei Kindern und Jugendlichen
Authors: Thünker Johanna , Pietrowsky Reinhard
Published: February 2024

Das Manual bietet eine praxisorientierte Anleitung zur Behandlung von Kindern und Jugendlichen, die unter häufigen und belastenden Alpträumen leiden. Es basiert auf der „Imagery Rehearsal Therapy“, die seit Jahren erfolgreich zur Behandlung von Alpträumen und posttraumatischen Alpträumen bei Erwachsenen eingesetzt wird und nachweislich zu einem deutlichen Rückgang der Häufigkeit und der Belastung durch Alpträume führt. Wesentliches Element dieses Therapieansatzes ist die Modifikation des Alptraums in eine nicht bedrohliche Traumgeschichte und die wiederholte Imagination dieses neuen Traumverlaufs.
Die Alptraumtherapie umfasst eine Diagnostiksitzung und acht einstündige Therapiesitzungen im Einzelsetting mit den Elementen Edukation, Alptraumrekonstruktion, Entspannung, Imagination und Alptraummodifikation. Es handelt sich um ein vollständiges Therapieprogramm, das bei Bedarf aber auch in eine weitere therapeutische Intervention integriert werden kann. Das Manual ist geeignet zur Behandlung von allein auftretenden Alpträumen und Alpträumen im Kontext anderer Störungen, wie etwa einer Posttraumatischen Belastungsstörung (PTBS). Das therapeutische Vorgehen bei Kindern und Jugendlichen wird ausführlich beschrieben. Das Programm wurde bereits erfolgreich mit Kindern durchgeführt und in seiner Wirksamkeit überprüft. Zahlreiche (Online-)Arbeitsmaterialien und illustrierte Fallbeispiele unterstützen die Anwendung.
Implementation and Evaluation of Wet Bulb Globe Temperature Within Non‐Urban Environments in the Community Land Model Version 5
Authors: Buzan Jonathan R.
Published: February 2024

Global heat stress is a phenomenon that impacts the livelihood of humans worldwide. Due to climate change, heatwaves are already increasing negatively impact outdoor laborers and activities. However, calculating heat stress on a global scale is disparaged due to the interplay and treatment of temperature, humidity, and radiation. To help resolve this issue, the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT), a standardized heat stress metric, is implemented into the Community Land Model (CLM5), the land surface component of the Community Earth System Model (CESM2). This resolves a long lasting, complex issue within global heat stress: the treatment of solar and thermal radiation. A default configuration of CLM5 is executed and shows the advantages of simulating the WBGT within multiple environments. Additionally, two commonly used WBGT approximations are implemented for solar exposed (sWBGT) and shaded (FiWBGT) conditions. The 1995 Chicago Heatwave is examined as a case study, focusing on the rural regions impacted by the heatwave. Derivative functions of labor capacity show that assumptions about calculating a non‐linear algorithm generate non‐negligible biases that can grossly over or underestimate the impact of heat stress on future climate change projections. For example, a difference of 0.5°C from WBGT can result in >10% change in labor capacity. Using a conservative difference of ±0.3°C, 100% of land surface extreme sWBGT values and >77% extreme shaded conditions (FiWBGT) differ from WBGT. Therefore, to accurately assess the direct exposure, risk, and damage from climate change on people, it is critical to implement diagnostics directly into Earth system models.
Individual variations in motives for nicotine self-administration in male rats: evidence in support for a precision psychopharmacology
Authors: Garcia-Rivas Vernon , Fiancette Jean-François , Tostain Jessica , de Maio Giulia , Ceau Matias , Wiart Jean-François , Gaulier Jean-Michel , Deroche-Gamonet Véronique
Published: February 2024

The significant heterogeneity in smoking behavior among smokers, coupled with the inconsistent efficacy of approved smoking cessation therapies, supports the presence of individual variations in the mechanisms underlying smoking. This emphasizes the need to shift from standardized to personalized smoking cessation therapies. However, informed precision medicine demands precision fundamental research. Tobacco smoking is influenced and sustained by diverse psychopharmacological interactions between nicotine and environmental stimuli. In the classical experimental rodent model for studying tobacco dependence, namely intravenous self-administration of nicotine, seeking behavior is reinforced by the combined delivery of nicotine and a discrete cue (nicotine+cue). Whether self-administration behavior is driven by the same psychopharmacological mechanisms across individual rats remains unknown and unexplored. To address this, we employed behavioral pharmacology and unbiased cluster analysis to investigate individual differences in the mechanisms supporting classical intravenous nicotine self-administration (0.04 mg/kg/infusion) in male outbred Sprague–Dawley rats. Our analysis identified two clusters: one subset of rats sought nicotine primarily for its reinforcing effects, while the second subset sought nicotine to enhance the reinforcing effects of the discrete cue. Varenicline (1 mg/kg i.p.) reduced seeking behavior in the former group, whereas it tended to increase in the latter group. Crucially, despite this fundamental qualitative difference revealed by behavioral manipulation, the two clusters exhibited quantitatively identical nicotine+cue self-administration behavior. The traditional application of rodent models to study the reinforcing and addictive effects of nicotine may mask individual variability in the underlying motivational mechanisms. Accounting for this variability could significantly enhance the predictive validity of translational research.
Pramipexole restores behavioral inhibition in highly impulsive rats through a paradoxical modulation of frontostriatal networks
Authors: Magnard Robin , Fouyssac Maxime , Vachez Yvan M. , Cheng Yifeng , Dufourd Thibault , Carcenac Carole , Boulet Sabrina , Janak Patricia H. , Savasta Marc , Belin David , Carnicella Sebastien
Published: February 2024

Impulse control disorders (ICDs), a wide spectrum of maladaptive behaviors which includes pathological gambling, hypersexuality and compulsive buying, have been recently suggested to be triggered or aggravated by treatments with dopamine D2/3 receptor agonists, such as pramipexole (PPX). Despite evidence showing that impulsivity is associated with functional alterations in corticostriatal networks, the neural basis of the exacerbation of impulsivity by PPX has not been elucidated. Here we used a hotspot analysis to assess the functional recruitment of several corticostriatal structures by PPX in male rats identified as highly (HI), moderately impulsive (MI) or with low levels of impulsivity (LI) in the 5-choice serial reaction time task (5-CSRTT). PPX dramatically reduced impulsivity in HI rats. Assessment of the expression pattern of the two immediate early genes C-fos and Zif268 by in situ hybridization subsequently revealed that PPX resulted in a decrease in Zif268 mRNA levels in different striatal regions of both LI and HI rats accompanied by a high impulsivity specific reduction of Zif268 mRNA levels in prelimbic and cingulate cortices. PPX also decreased C-fos mRNA levels in all striatal regions of LI rats, but only in the dorsolateral striatum and nucleus accumbens core (NAc Core) of HI rats. Structural equation modeling further suggested that the anti-impulsive effect of PPX was mainly attributable to the specific downregulation of Zif268 mRNA in the NAc Core. Altogether, our results show that PPX restores impulse control in highly impulsive rats by modulation of limbic frontostriatal circuits.
Ruxolitinib induces apoptosis and pyroptosis of anaplastic thyroid cancer via the transcriptional inhibition of DRP1-mediated mitochondrial fission
Authors: Guo Ya-wen , Zhu Lei , Duan Yan-ting , Hu Yi-qun , Li Le-bao , Fan Wei-jiao , Song Fa-huan , Cai Ye-feng , Liu Yun-ye , Zheng Guo-wan , Ge Ming-hua
Published: February 2024

Anaplastic thyroid carcinoma (ATC) has a 100% disease-specific mortality rate. The JAK1/2-STAT3 pathway presents a promising target for treating hematologic and solid tumors. However, it is unknown whether the JAK1/2-STAT3 pathway is activated in ATC, and the anti-cancer effects and the mechanism of action of its inhibitor, ruxolitinib (Ruxo, a clinical JAK1/2 inhibitor), remain elusive. Our data indicated that the JAK1/2-STAT3 signaling pathway is significantly upregulated in ATC tumor tissues than in normal thyroid and papillary thyroid cancer tissues. Apoptosis and GSDME-pyroptosis were observed in ATC cells following the in vitro and in vivo administration of Ruxo. Mechanistically, Ruxo suppresses the phosphorylation of STAT3, resulting in the repression of DRP1 transactivation and causing mitochondrial fission deficiency. This deficiency is essential for activating caspase 9/3-dependent apoptosis and GSDME-mediated pyroptosis within ATC cells. In conclusion, our findings indicate DRP1 is directly regulated and transactivated by STAT3; this exhibits a novel and crucial aspect of JAK1/2-STAT3 on the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics. In ATC, the transcriptional inhibition of DRP1 by Ruxo hampered mitochondrial division and triggered apoptosis and GSDME-pyroptosis through caspase 9/3-dependent mechanisms. These results provide compelling evidence for the potential therapeutic effectiveness of Ruxo in treating ATC.
Protein thermal sensing regulates physiological amyloid aggregation
Authors: Marijan Dane , Momchilova Evgenia A. , Burns Daniel , Chandhok Sahil , Zapf Richard , Wille Holger , Potoyan Davit A. , Audas Timothy E.
Published: February 2024

To survive, cells must respond to changing environmental conditions. One way that eukaryotic cells react to harsh stimuli is by forming physiological, RNA-seeded subnuclear condensates, termed amyloid bodies (A-bodies). The molecular constituents of A-bodies induced by different stressors vary significantly, suggesting this pathway can tailor the cellular response by selectively aggregating a subset of proteins under a given condition. Here, we identify critical structural elements that regulate heat shock-specific amyloid aggregation. Our data demonstrates that manipulating structural pockets in constituent proteins can either induce or restrict their A-body targeting at elevated temperatures. We propose a model where selective aggregation within A-bodies is mediated by the thermal stability of a protein, with temperature-sensitive structural regions acting as an intrinsic form of post-translational regulation. This system would provide cells with a rapid and stress-specific response mechanism, to tightly control physiological amyloid aggregation or other cellular stress response pathways.
Structural basis for excitatory neuropeptide signaling
Authors: Kalienkova Valeria , Dandamudi Mowgli , Paulino Cristina , Lynagh Timothy
Published: February 2024

Rapid signaling between neurons is mediated by ligand-gated ion channels, cell-surface proteins with an extracellular ligand-binding domain and a membrane-spanning ion channel domain. The degenerin/epithelial sodium channel (DEG/ENaC) superfamily is diverse in terms of its gating stimuli, with some DEG/ENaCs gated by neuropeptides, and others gated by pH, mechanical force or enzymatic activity. The mechanism by which ligands bind to and activate DEG/ENaCs is poorly understood. Here we dissected the structural basis for neuropeptide-gated activity of a neuropeptide-gated DEG/ENaC, FMRFamide-gated sodium channel 1 (FaNaC1) from the annelid worm Malacoceros fuliginosus, using cryo-electron microscopy. Structures of FaNaC1 in the ligand-free resting state and in several ligand-bound states reveal the ligand-binding site and capture the ligand-induced conformational changes of channel gating, which we verified with complementary mutagenesis experiments. Our results illuminate channel gating in DEG/ENaCs and offer a structural template for experimental dissection of channel pharmacology and ion conduction.
Research on hydrogen leakage and diffusion mechanism in hydrogenation station
Authors: Zhang Zenggang , Shang Mingheng
Published: February 2024

As a clean, efficient and sustainable energy carrier, hydrogen energy has been accepted as one of the main directions of future energy development. In this paper, a hydrogenation station providing compressed hydrogen outside was adopted as the research object. Based on finite element method and virtual nozzle model, the influence of leakage of main equipment in hydrogenation station on the distribution of combustible hydrogen was investigated, including hydrogen storage tank group, tube trailer, compressor chamber and hydrogenator. The results showed that the shape and volume of the combustible hydrogen cloud generated by the leak were influenced by obstacles, hydrogen storage pressure, and wind velocity. The disturbance of external wind and the decrease in hydrogen storage pressure will have a positive impact on the reduction of leaked volume. The diffusion of combustible hydrogen clouds can be exacerbated by complex structure of obstacles, while partition wall in the adopted hydrogenation station model can limit the combustible hydrogen cloud in the process area. These conclusions can provide guidance and reference for the risk prevention measures of hydrogenation station.
Comparative mitochondrial genome brings insights to slight variation in gene proportion and large intergenic spacer and phylogenetic relationship of mudskipper species
Authors: Muhala Valdemiro , Guimarães-Costa Aurycéia , Bessa-Silva Adam Rick , Rabelo Luan Pinto , Carneiro Jeferson , Macate Isadola Eusébio , Watanabe Luciana , Balcázar Oscar David , Gomes Grazielle Evangelista , Vallinoto Marcelo , Sampaio Iracilda
Published: February 2024

Fish mitochondrial genome have been largely studied worldwide for evolutionary and other genetic purposes and the structure and gene organization are commonly conservative. However, several studies have demonstrated that this scenario may present variations in some taxa, showing differentiation on the gene rearrangement. In this study, the complete mitogenome of terrestrial fish Boleophthalmus dussumieri was generated and compared with other species of the Exudercidae fishes. The newly complete mitogenome generated is circular and 16,685 bp of length, and it contained 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs), two ribosomal RNA (rRNAs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), and one control region (CR), with high conservative structure, like other Mudskippers. Most of the PCG showed similar codon usage bias. The gene length was found to be different specially for the CR, 12S rRNA gene and ND5 gene in some taxon. All the Boleophthalmus species showed a gene duplication in the CR, except for B. dussumieri, and they presented a long intergenic spacer specially on the tRNA-Pro/ OH Tandem duplication/random loss (TDRL) and dimer-mitogenome and nonrandom loss (DMNL) are suitable to explain the mitogenome rearrangement observed in this study. The phylogenetic analysis well supported the monophyly of all mudskipper species and the analysis positioned the Periophthalmus clade as the most basal of the terrestrial fishes. This finding provides basis and brings insights for gene variation, gene rearrangements and replications showing evidence for variety of mitochondrial structure diversity within mudskippers.
Barbary macaques show sex-related differences in body weight based on anthropogenic food exposure despite comparable female–male stable isotope ratios
Authors: Saiyed Sana T. , Fuentes Agustin , Shaw Eric , Schurr Mark R. , Gettler Lee T.
Published: February 2024

As the human–primate interface expands, many nonhuman primate (NHP) populations exploit anthropogenic foods to survive, while some populations opportunistically target them. Though anthropogenic food consumption is sometimes associated with greater reproductive output and survival in these populations, there is a dearth of research on possible health effects. We explore how differential exposure to anthropogenic foods is linked to variation in isotopic compositions (δ13C and δ15N) and body weights in Barbary macaques (Macaca sylvanus) in the Upper Rock Nature Reserve, Gibraltar. We placed monkeys into three categories based on anthropogenic food exposure. We then analyzed individuals for isotopic signatures (N = 147) and body weight measurements (N = 80). Using the lowest exposure category as the comparison, we found body weights and δ15N values, but not δ13C values, significantly differed across key categories. Within categories, we found no significant associations between sex and δ13C or δ15N values, suggesting that individuals within categories consumed similar foods regardless of sex. We found a significant interaction effect between category and sex for predicting body weights. These results suggest that sex plays a role in how anthropogenic foods are accessed and consumed regardless of exposure, which may result in differential health profiles for female and male macaques.
Impact of prescribed opioid use on development of dementia among patients with chronic non-cancer pain
Authors: Oh Tak Kyu , Song In-Ae
Published: February 2024

We aimed to examine the association between opioid use and the development of dementia in patients with chronic non-cancer pain in South Korea. Data were extracted from the National Health Insurance Service database in South Korea. Adult patients diagnosed with musculoskeletal diseases with chronic non-cancer pain between 2010 and 2015 were included in the analysis. Patients who were prescribed opioids regularly and continuously for ≥ 90 days were classified as opioid users. In total, 1,261,682 patients with chronic non-cancer pain were included in the final analysis, of whom 21,800 (1.7%) were opioid users. From January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2020, 35,239 (2.8%) patients with chronic non-cancer pain were newly diagnosed with dementia. In the multivariable model, opioid users showed a 15% higher risk of developing dementia than the control group. Additionally, opioid users showed a 15% and 16% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease and unspecified dementia, respectively, than the control group, but did not show any significant differences for vascular dementia. Among adult patients with chronic non-cancer pain, opioid users were at a higher risk of developing dementia than the control group; the risk was significantly higher for Alzheimer’s disease but not for vascular dementia in this study. Our results suggest that in patients with CNCP, public health strategies should target opioid users for early dementia detection and intervention.
Centromeric AA motif in KIR as an optimal surrogate marker for precision definition of alloimmune reproductive failure
Authors: Gil Laborda Raquel , de Frías Edgard Rodríguez , Subhi-Issa Nabil , de Albornoz Elena Carrillo , Meliá Elena , Órdenes Marcos , Verdú Victoria , Vidal Juan , Suárez Esther , Santillán Isabel , Ordóñez Daniel , Pintado-Vera David , González Villafáñez Victoria , Lorenzo Ángel , Fariñas Manuel , Rodríguez-Paíno Mario , Núñez Beltrán María , García Segovia Áurea , del Olmo Ainhoa , Martín Cañadas Fernando , Daurelio Rosa , de la Fuente Alfonso , González Casbas José Manuel , Cabezuelo Vega , Ros Berruezo Francisco , Moreno Hidalgo Miguel Ángel , Iniesta Silvia , Bueno Beatriz , Martínez Acera Álvaro , Izquierdo Alexandra , Vicario José Luis , Fernández-Arquero Miguel , Sánchez-Ramón Silvia
Published: February 2024

Throughout pregnancy, the decidua is predominantly populated by NK lymphocytes expressing Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIR) that recognize human leukocyte antigen-C (HLA-C) ligands from trophoblast cells. This study aims to investigate the association of KIR-HLA-C phenotypes in couples facing infertility, particularly recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) and recurrent implantation failure (RIF), in comparison to a reference population and fertile controls. This observational, non-interventional retrospective case–control study included patients consecutively referred to our Reproductive Immunology Unit from 2015 to 2019. We analyzed the frequencies of KIR and HLA-C genes. As control groups, we analyzed a reference Spanish population for KIR analysis and 29 fertile controls and their male partners for KIR and HLA-C combinations. We studied 397 consecutively referred women with infertility and their male partners. Among women with unexplained RPL (133 women) and RIF (176 women), the centromeric (cen)AA KIR genotype was significantly more prevalent compared to the reference Spanish population (p = 0.001 and 0.02, respectively). Furthermore, cenAA was associated with a 1.51-fold risk of RPL and a 1.2-fold risk of RIF. Conversely, the presence of BB KIR showed a lower risk of reproductive failure compared to non-BB KIR (OR: 0.12, p < 0.001). Women and their partners with HLA-C1C1/C1C1 were significantly less common in the RPL-Group (p < 0.001) and RIF-Group (p = 0.002) compared to the control group. Moreover, the combination of cenAA/C1C1 in women with C1C1 partners was significantly higher in the control group than in the RPL (p = 0.009) and RIF (p = 0.04) groups, associated with a 5-fold increase in successful pregnancy outcomes. In our cohort, the cenAA KIR haplotype proved to be a more accurate biomarker than the classic AA KIR haplotype for assessing the risk of RPL and RIF, and might be particularly useful to identify women at increased risk among the heterogeneous KIR AB or Bx population. The classification of centromeric KIR haplotypes outperforms classical KIR haplotypes, making it a better indicator of potential maternal–fetal KIR-HLA-C mismatch in patients.
Analysis of clinicopathologic and imaging features of dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Huang Ketuan , He Yongfei , Liang Tianyi , Mo Shutian , Liao Yuan , Gao Qiang , Liao Xiwen , Han Chuangye , Zhu Guangzhi , Peng Tao
Published: February 2024

Dual-phenotype hepatocellular carcinoma (DPHCC) is a new subtype of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the computerized tomography scan (CT) imaging and clinicopathologic features of DPHCC. The CT imaging and clinicopathologic data of 97 HCC cases who underwent radical resection were collected retrospectively. The CT imaging feature was evaluated by the ratio of the average CT value of tumor to liver (TLR) in the plain scan, arterial, portal vein and delayed phases. The association between CT imaging and clinicopathologic features was analyzed using the t-test or chi-square test. Univariate and multivariate recurrence-free survival (RFS) analysis and overall survival (OS) were performed. The positive rates of cytokeratin 7 (CK7) and CK19 were 35.1% and 20.6% respectively. The positive rate of CK19 was significantly higher in cases with age < 47 years (P = 0.005), tumor diameter > 4 cm (P = 0.016) or AFP ≥ 400 ng/ml (P = 0.007). The TLR in the portal vein phase was significantly lower in CK19 positive group (P = 0.024). The recurrence risk was significantly higher in cases with CK19 positive (HR: 2.17, 95% CI 1.16 to 4.04, P = 0.013), tumor diameter > 4 cm (HR: 2.05, 95% CI 1.11 to 3.78, P = 0.019), AFP ≥ 400 ng/ml (HR: 2.50, 95% CI 1.37 to 4.54, P = 0.002) or CA199 ≥ 37 U/ml (HR: 2.23, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.42, P = 0.020). However, imaging features, pathological subtype, CK7 or CK19 expression were not significantly related to HCC OS in the univariate and multivariate analysis (all P > 0.05). The expression of CK19 may be associated with the enhancement feature of the portal vein phase CT image, and CK19 positive may suggest a worse RFS.
Breast cancer detection using enhanced IRI-numerical engine and inverse heat transfer modeling: model description and clinical validation
Authors: Gutierrez Carlos , Owens Alyssa , Medeiros Lori , Dabydeen Donnette , Sritharan Nithya , Phatak Pradyumna , Kandlikar Satish G.
Published: February 2024

Effective treatment of breast cancer relies heavily on early detection. Routine annual mammography is a widely accepted screening technique that has resulted in significantly improving the survival rate. However, it suffers from low sensitivity resulting in high false positives from screening. To overcome this problem, adjunctive technologies such as ultrasound are employed on about 10% of women recalled for additional screening following mammography. These adjunctive techniques still result in a significant number of women, about 1.6%, who undergo biopsy while only 0.4% of women screened have cancers. The main reason for missing cancers during mammography screening arises from the masking effect of dense breast tissue. The presence of a tumor results in the alteration of temperature field in the breast, which is not influenced by the tissue density. In the present paper, the IRI-Numerical Engine is presented as an adjunct for detecting cancer from the surface temperature data. It uses a computerized inverse heat transfer approach based on Pennes’s bioheat transfer equations. Validation of this enhanced algorithm is conducted on twenty-three biopsy-proven breast cancer patients after obtaining informed consent under IRB protocol. The algorithm correctly predicted the size and location of cancerous tumors in twenty-four breasts, while twenty-two contralateral breasts were also correctly predicted to have no cancer (one woman had bilateral breast cancer). The tumors are seen as highly perfused and metabolically active heat sources that alter the surface temperatures that are used in heat transfer modeling. Furthermore, the results from this study with twenty-four biopsy-proven cancer cases indicate that the detection of breast cancer is not affected by breast density. This study indicates the potential of the IRI-Numerical Engine as an effective adjunct to mammography. A large scale clinical study in a statistically significant sample size is needed before integrating this approach in the current protocol.
Development and validation of a GC Orbitrap-MS method for the analysis of phthalate esters (PAE) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) in atmospheric particles and its application for screening PM2.5 from Curitiba, Brazil
Authors: Argamino Cristian Ryan A. , Sebben Bruna G. , da Costa Gabriela , Towers Sam , Bogush Anna , Stevanovic Svetlana , Godoi Ricardo H. M. , Kourtchev Ivan
Published: February 2024

GC Orbitrap-MS method for the analysis of phthalate esters (PAE) and bis(2-ethylhexyl)adipate (DEHA) in atmospheric particles has been developed and applied for screening PM2.5 from Curitiba, Brazil.
Theoretical modeling of contact-separation mode triboelectric nanogenerators from initial charge distribution
Authors: Zhao Hongfa , Wang Hao , Yu Hongyong , Xu Qinghao , Li Xiaosa , Guo Jing , Shao Jiajia , Wang Zhong Lin , Xu Minyi , Ding Wenbo
Published: February 2024

A systematic theoretical analysis for contact-separation mode TENGs is presented, including theoretical models, analysis methods, validation approaches, and extended analysis for applications.
Structure and dynamics of double-stranded DNA rotaxanes
Authors: Song Yeonho , Kim Jun Soo
Published: February 2024

DNA rotaxane, featuring a circular DNA molecule interlocked with a linear DNA axle, has been explored through molecular dynamics simulations to understand its structure and dynamics.
Controlled formation of multi-scale porosity in ionosilica templated by ionic liquid
Authors: Sharma Shilpa , Oberdisse Julian , Alauzun Johan G. , Dieudonné-George Philippe , Bizien Thomas , Akkaya Cansu , Hesemann Peter , Genix Anne-Caroline
Published: February 2024

Synthesis of free-standing ionosilica films with controlled mesoporosity is described by a quantitative combination of sorption isotherms and SAXS.
Organocatalytic enantioselective synthesis of Csp2–N atropisomers via formal Csp2–O bond amination
Authors: Qian Chenxiao , Huang Jing , Huang Tingting , Song Lijuan , Sun Jianwei , Li Pengfei
Published: February 2024

An organocatalyzed asymmetric synthesis of Csp2–N atropisomers by formal Csp2–O amination has been established from 3-alkynyl-3-hydroxyisoindolinones and 1-methylnaphthalen-2-ols.
Correction: Body composition analysis via spatially resolved NIR spectroscopy with multifrequency bioimpedance precision
Authors: Shirshin Evgeny , Yakimov Boris , Davydov Denis , Baev Alexey , Budylin Gleb , Fadeev Nikolay , Kopytina Daria , Urusova Liliya , Pachuashvili Nano , Vasyukova Olga , Mokrysheva Natalia
Published: February 2024

Correction for ‘Body composition analysis via spatially resolved NIR spectroscopy with multifrequency bioimpedance precision’ by Evgeny Shirshin et al., Anal. Methods, 2024, 16, 175–178, https://doi.org/10.1039/D3AY01901B.
Knowledge‐based deep learning system for classifying Alzheimer's disease for multi‐task learning
Authors: Dhaygude Amol Dattatray , Ameta Gaurav Kumar , Khan Ihtiram Raza , Singh Pavitar Parkash , Maaliw Renato R. , Lakshmaiya Natrayan , Shabaz Mohammad , Khan Muhammad Attique , Hussein Hany S. , Alshazly Hammam
Published: February 2024

Deep learning has recently become a viable approach for classifying Alzheimer's disease (AD) in medical imaging. However, existing models struggle to efficiently extract features from medical images and may squander additional information resources for illness classification. To address these issues, a deep three‐dimensional convolutional neural network incorporating multi‐task learning and attention mechanisms is proposed. An upgraded primary C3D network is utilised to create rougher low‐level feature maps. It introduces a new convolution block that focuses on the structural aspects of the magnetic resonance imaging image and another block that extracts attention weights unique to certain pixel positions in the feature map and multiplies them with the feature map output. Then, several fully connected layers are used to achieve multi‐task learning, generating three outputs, including the primary classification task. The other two outputs employ backpropagation during training to improve the primary classification job. Experimental findings show that the authors’ proposed method outperforms current approaches for classifying AD, achieving enhanced classification accuracy and other indicators on the Alzheimer's disease Neuroimaging Initiative dataset. The authors demonstrate promise for future disease classification studies.
Exergetic analyses of air-fuel preheated cogeneration plants in food production
Authors: Keven Arzu , Karaali Rabi
Published: February 2024

Lower emissions and better performances in food production also affect the cost, the environmental effects, and the quality of the products of the agriculture and food industry. The aim of this study is to investigate and to analyze the exergetic performance of the production of heat exergy and power, to reuse waste heat and to give optimum reaction and to adapt to changing demands of the food production process and agriculture. Because of those reasons, an air fuel preheated (recuperative) cogeneration plant is taken to analyze the exergetic performance and working conditions by using exergy analysis and 1st and 2nd laws of thermodynamics. Energy and exergy efficiencies, combustion chamber and gas-turbine outlet temperatures, electric-heat exergy rates, specific works, and total electric and heat energies and exergies are calculated by taking various environmental temperatures and various excess air coefficient. Effects of the environmental temperatures and the excess air coefficient on the exergetic performance of the recuperative cogeneration plants were calculated, obtained, and discussed. For the best exergetic performance and working conditions, some recommendations were done for agriculture and for the food production process. In that study, it is found that, the recuperative cogeneration plants can obtain and give the best solutions and can adapt to changing demands of heat and electric rates. Also, it was found that, lower ambient temperatures give better electric efficiency, but lower heat exergy and electric rates. However, higher excess air coefficient increases the performance of the recuperative (air fuel preheated) cogeneration plants.
Machine Learning and Deep Learning Guided Assessment of Groundwater Reservoir Hydrodynamic Parameters: A Case Study of The El Haouz Aquifer
Authors: El Mezouary Lhoussaine , Hadri Abdessamad , Kharrou Mohamed Hakim , Fakir Younes , Elfarchouni Abderrahman , Bouchaou Lhoussaine , Chehbouni Abdelghani
Published: February 2024

The Plio-Quaternary aquifer in the EL-Haouz-Mejjate region of Morocco is critical for water supply, necessitating accurate characterization for sustainable management. This study pioneers machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) techniques to elucidate the aquifer’s properties. Supervised algorithms, including random forest, regression, support vector machines, Gaussian process regression and neural networks, are trained on available hydrogeological data. Diverse features capture complex input-output relationships to predict key hydrodynamic factors like hydraulic conductivity and transmissivity fields. Aquifer architecture attributes, including substratum depth, thickness, and height, are also estimated. Model outputs are validated with field measurements, demonstrating promising accuracy. Enhanced hydrodynamic insights improve the conceptual model and groundwater flow modeling confidence. Uncertainties are reduced through this data-driven approach, enabling optimized aquifer management. Overall, this work shows how useful it is to combine ML and DL with traditional hydrogeology in order to get a better understanding of complicated aquifer systems. The techniques pioneered provide a pathway for sustainable management of this vital water resource.
Projection analysis of future drought characteristics in Upper Draa Catchment (Southern Morocco)
Authors: El Qorchi Fadoua , Khebiza Mohammed Yacoubi , Omondi Onyango Augustine , Karmaoui Ahmed , Acharki Siham
Published: February 2024

The consequences of global warming will aggravate the impacts of droughts. Future drought patterns are important for planning and policy formulation to mitigate the adverse effect of climate change. Consequently, this study aims at examining the projected the drought characteristics in seven meteorological stations in the Upper Draa Catchment (UDC) during the period from 1980 to 2016 using standardized precipitation index. The future climate scenarios were predicted by the model CNRM-ALADIN63 for three periods (2025–2049, 2050–2074, and 2075–2099). The changes were examined based on two Representative Concentration Pathways scenarios, namely: RCP4.5and RCP8.5. The findings indicated that increasingly extreme droughts are anticipated to occur during (2050-2074) followed by (2025-2049) than (2075-2099) under both scenarios. The results reveal a contrast in drought event frequency between historical data and projections with a noticeable variation of patterns of droughts characteristics across stations and time periods. This accentuates how urgent it is for the Upper Draa Catchment to implement proactive water resource management and adaptive strategies.
Managerial agility and digital transformation of hydraulic basins: A case study of the Guir Hydraulic Basin Agency
Authors: Naciri Said , El Alaoui Aicha
Published: February 2024

This study aims to examine the impact of managerial agility on decision-making and water resources management within the Guir Hydraulic Basin Agency, focusing on digital approaches. Using a primarily quantitative approach, a questionnaire was administered to assess the perception of digital transformation success and the role of managerial agility among staff within the agency. The results underscore the pivotal role of managerial agility in optimizing water resources within the Hydraulic Basin Agency. The perceived success of digital transformation efforts, alongside the emphasis on collaborative decision-making and agile leadership, highlights the significance of this managerial approach. Furthermore, the recognition of digital training and cross-functional collaboration underscores the multifaceted impact of managerial agility on fostering sustainable water management practices. Agile communication emerges as crucial for aligning stakeholders with digital transformation objectives, thereby reinforcing the integral role of managerial agility in driving efficiency and sustainability in water resources management.
Optimizing water productivity for Menara olive cultivar: Exploring the impact of regulated and sustained deficit irrigation strategies in Morocco
Authors: Ibba Khaoula , Er-Raki Salah , Kassout Jalal , Bouizgaren Abdelaziz , Hadria Rachid
Published: February 2024

The agricultural sector in Morocco faces drought challenges due to limited water resources, necessitating the development of irrigation strategies targeted at increasing water production. In this regard, the olive sector can adopt deficit irrigation strategies, to achieve sustainable management practices that improve water productivity and save water used for irrigation. In pursuit of this aim, an experiment was carried out in an olive orchard over two consecutive years (2021 and 2022), comparing water productivity (WP) of four treatments of regulated deficit irrigation (RDI) and two treatments of sustained deficit irrigation (SDI), with fully irrigated trees. The results indicated that over time the RDI strategy, particularly in the T4 treatment, makes it feasible to conserve a substantial amount of irrigation water, approximately 40% during the phase when pit hardening occurs, and 20% during sensitive periods, all without compromising fruit yield. However, the SDI strategy, with its limited water availability, leads to a decline in the fruit yield of Menara olive trees. Out of these treatments, the SDI strategy led to the most substantial decrease in WP, with reductions ranging from 19% to 33% compared to the control T0.
Trainingsbasierte Prähabilitation in der Orthopädie,
Kardiologie und Onkologie
Authors: Abel Rebecca , Zoth Nora , Wilke Christiane , Schmidt Thomas
Published: February 2024

Der Begriff „Prähabilitation“ bezeichnet eine gezielte
physische, psychische und sozialmedizinische Vorbereitung auf eine Operation
oder Behandlung. Dieser Beitrag stellt den aktuellen Forschungsstand zum Thema
trainingsbasierte Prähabilitation dar und zeigt die spezifischen
Charakteristiken der Prähabilitation in den Fachbereichen
Orthopädie, Kardiologie und Onkologie auf.
Tranexamic Acid: An Evergreen Hemostatic Agent
Authors: Franchini Massimo , Focosi Daniele , Mannucci Pier Mannuccio
Published: February 2024

Tranexamic acid (TXA) is an important antifibrinolytic agent, which inhibits plasminogen activation and fibrinolysis. Several controlled randomized trials have investigated the role of TXA in preventing or decreasing blood loss across different surgical interventions or medical conditions characterized by excessive bleeding, consistently documenting its effectiveness and safety. Although the first clinical use of TXA dates back to more than 60 years ago, TXA remains the focus of intense research. This narrative review summarizes the more recent results and indications on the clinical use of TXA.
Adjust or crumble while studying abroad
Authors: Harrison J. Kline , Brower Holly , Brunsting Nelson C.
Published: February 2024

This study provides greater understanding of the student characteristics and practices that affect the success of a study abroad experience as evidenced by students’ adjustment. Two personal characteristics of students, grit and cultural intelligence (CQ), and one learning behavior, reflective thinking, were investigated. The study was conducted among undergraduate students from the United States participating in study abroad semester programs with 309 matched/completed surveys returned. Results show that grit, entailing consistency of interest and perseverance of effort, has a positive effect on student adjustment when abroad. Also, three of the four dimensions of CQ (metacognitive, cognitive, and motivational) positively influenced study abroad; however, behavioral CQ did not have a significant effect. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that reflection and critical reflection have a positive impact on students’ adjustment when abroad. These results can inform the design of study abroad orientation programs to better facilitate cultural adjustment.