bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparison of granisetron and palonosetron in triplet anti-emetic prophylaxis in non-small cell lung cancer patients receiving cisplatin-based highly emetogenic chemotherapy
Authors: Araz Murat , Beypinar Ismail , Inci Fatih , Koral Lokman , Kocak Mehmet Zahid , Korkmaz Mustafa , Demirkiran Aykut , Eryilmaz Melek Karakurt , Artac Mehmet
Published: August 2024

Introduction

We compared the efficacy of first-generation granisetron and second-generation palonosetron in triplet anti-emetic prophylaxis in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving cisplatin-based high emetogenic chemotherapy (HEC).

Methods

This prospective, multicenter, non-randomized, observational study was conducted between June 2018 and December 2021. Patients diagnosed with NSCLC who received triplet anti-emetic prophylactic treatment with aprepitant and dexamethasone plus granisetron or palonosetron before the first cycle of chemotherapy were included in the study. At the end of the first week after chemotherapy, the emesis scale was applied to the patients during the outpatient control. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) and total control (TC).

Results

One hundred twenty-one patients were included in the study. Sixty-one patients were in the granisetron group and 60 patients were in the palonosetron group. CR was higher with granisetron in the acute phase (70.5% vs. 58.3%, p = 0.16; respectively) and higher with palonosetron in the delayed phase (61.7% vs. 55.7%, p = 0.5; respectively), although not statistically significant. The TC rates were also not significantly different between the groups (54.1% vs.57.6%, p = 0.69).

Conclusions

There was no significant difference between granisetron and palonosetron in both acute and delayed control of emesis in NSCLC patients receiving cisplatin-based HEC.
Topology optimization of adaptive sandwich plates with magnetorheological core layer for improved vibration attenuation
Authors: Zare Maryam , Sedaghati Ramin
Published: August 2024

In this study the optimum topology distribution of the magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) layer in an adaptive sandwich plate is investigated. The adaptive sandwich plate consists of an MR elastomer layer embedded between two thin elastic plates. A finite element model has been first formulated to derive the governing equations of motion. A design optimization methodology incorporating the developed finite element model has been subsequently developed to identify the optimum topology treatment of the MR layer to enhance the vibration control in wide-band frequency range. For this purpose, the dynamic compliance and density of each element are defined as the objective function and design variables in the optimization problem, respectively. The method of the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP), is extended for material properties interpolation leading to a new MRE-based penalization (MREP) model. Method of moving asymptotes (MMA) has been subsequently utilized to solve the optimization problem. The developed finite element model and design optimization method are first validated using benchmark problems. The proposed design optimization methodology is then effectively utilized to investigate the optimal topologies of the magnetorheological elastomer (MRE) core layer in MRE-based sandwich plates under various boundary and loading conditions. Results show the effectiveness of the proposed design optimization methodology for topology optimization of MRE-based sandwich panels to mitigate the vibration in wide range of frequencies.
Low-velocity impact behavior of foam-based sandwich composite reinforced with warp-knitted spacer fabric; numerical and experimental study
Authors: Dodankeh Amirhossein , Dabiryan Hadi
Published: August 2024

The aim of this research is to investigate experimentally and numerically the low-velocity impact behavior of foam-based composites reinforced with warp-knitted spacer fabric (WKSF). To prepare different foam-based composites, the structural parameters of WKSFs including cell size, position, and Z-fiber height were considered. A drop weight impact test with an initial energy of 5J was carried out to examine the low-velocity impact behavior of composites, followed by experimental analyses of Mises, shear, and normal stress on various composite components. Thereafter, the impact behavior of the composites was simulated using ABAQUS/CAE software. The comparison between experimental and numerical results showed a maximum error of 9.79% in predicting the acceleration of impactor. In addition, the results revealed significant stress disparities among samples. Stress analysis showed complex patterns across samples, emphasizing structural parameter influence on stress tolerance and load-bearing capabilities. Notably, Z-fibers displayed substantial stress tolerance, while the matrix predominantly undergoes shear stress. Consequently, the ideal structure for low-velocity impact applications includes small cell size, high thickness, and non-facing hexagonal cells.
Tobacco and Nicotine Products Adverse Health Events: Findings From the FDA Safety Reporting Portal
Authors: Barrientos Steven Alec , Dabroy Danny , Ebrahimi Kalan Mohammad , Laestadius Linnea Irina , Ben Taleb Ziyad
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The FDA oversees regulatory aspects of all U.S. tobacco products. Understanding the impact of emerging health trends and incidents associated with various tobacco and nicotine products is vital for public health. This study utilizes the FDA’s Tobacco Product Problem Reports (TPPRs) to characterize and track adverse health events (AHEs) associated with tobacco and nicotine products over time, considering the impact of EVALI and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

FDA TPPRs from 2017-2022 provided information on AHEs related to various tobacco products. After data cleaning, 839 reports were categorized by two independent coders based on affected health category, frequency of AHEs reports, and proportion of AHEs per each health category. Additionally, variations in AHEs over time were assessed, considering major health events like EVALI and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Results

Among the 839 reports, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) were the primary product of concern, comprising 90.6% (n = 760) of all reports, surpassing traditional cigarettes (5.1%; n = 43) and other products. Notably, 45.6% of reports (n = 383) identified the neurological system as the most frequently mentioned health category, each reporting at least one AHE. This was followed by the respiratory (39.1%; n = 328) and digestive (10.7%; n = 90) systems. Among all reported AHEs, respiratory system issues were most frequent (25.9%; n = 512), closely followed by neurological (25.2%; n = 499) and digestive (6.6%; n = 131) concerns. Most reports occurred in 2019 (65.7%; n = 551), coinciding with the EVALI outbreak, with a subsequent decline post-Q3 2019, highlighting the potential impact of specific health crises on reporting trends.

Conclusion

E-cigarettes dominated adverse health reports, particularly affecting the neurological and respiratory systems, with a peak in 2019. Our findings provide insights to regulatory entities and future research, enhancing understanding of AHEs in lesser-explored bodily systems, such as the neurological and digestive systems. This study emphasizes the need for ongoing and improved surveillance of emerging tobacco products to protect public health.
Hemorrhagic Shock Caused by Spontaneous Bleeding from Early Gastric Cancer Was Successfully Cured by Emergency Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: A Case Report
Authors: Wang PengFei , Zhang Hui , Xu ShaoCe , Zhang YanNing , Ma HuiMing , Feng Jie , Wang Xiang , Zhang DeKui
Published: August 2024

Cases and studies of protruding early gastric cancer (EGC) combined with spontaneous bleeding are relatively rare. The current study present a female patient aged 70 to 75 years old with hemorrhagic shock caused by spontaneous bleeding from EGC type 0-Isp, which was successfully cured by rapid emergency endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD).
Memory and materiality: The becoming of biographic objects after war and forced displacement
Authors: Sonnleitner Julia
Published: August 2024

The social life of things, in the aftermath of war and forced displacement, is associated with change in significance and value. Against a background of massive destruction and dispossession, object survival is exceptional. However, not every object that survives gains value equally. Private possessions that survive might not be attended to or be discarded. This complicates a straightforward coupling of person and surviving object. In this paper, the becoming of biographic objects is addressed. My interview partners fled the war in Yugoslavia in the 1990s as children. The objects they presented in biographic interviews have accompanied them throughout their lives. Rather than being mere prompts to tell life stories, these biographic objects, I suggest with Barad’s study, emerged in tandem with the biographic subject. By example of a wartime letter and a childhood object, I demonstrate how these things become biographic objects as they afford social action at various points in people's lives. My main argument is that things come to be biographic objects because they afford agency in specific socio-historic constellations.
The experimental and numerical simulation of interface shear behavior between ECC and coal gangue concrete
Authors: Zhao Weiping , Li Xinxin , Li Guangjie
Published: August 2024

Composite concrete structures are designed to integrate various concrete types at different levels, thereby improving their shear properties. In this paper, the effects of the interfacial keyway, reinforcement ratio, and pouring sequence on the shear strength of concrete-coal gangue concrete interface are studied by experiments and analyses. A total of 10 specimens were made, and the push-off test was carried out. Nonlinear finite element simulation was carried out using ABAQUS, and the influence of keyway angle on crack development was studied based on the extended finite element method (XFEM). It is found that the remarkable tensile and crack stability of engineered cementitious composites (ECC) has a positive effect on the shear strength of the ECC-coal gangue concrete interface. The ultimate shear strength of the interface and the ductility of the interface under shear load are significantly improved by interfacial shear reinforcement. The introduction of an interfacial keyway improves the shear strength of the concrete interface, and the number of keyways has the most significant effect on the interfacial shear strength. The angle between the crack propagation direction and interface will increase with the increase of keyway angle, the simulation results are in good agreement with the experiments.
On being a ‘passive observer’: The corporeal and affective dimensions of power in observational research on trafficked women in criminal proceedings
Authors: FitzGerald Sharron
Published: August 2024

In this article, I analyse the methodological issues that arise when I accept a judge's invitation to observe her hear women testify in criminal proceedings against their traffickers at the district courthouse in X, Germany. I develop a theoretical framework using Pierre Bourdieu's theory of embodied power and his methods of epistemic reflexivity and participant objectivation, and feminist engagements with affect theory. I use my fieldwork experience with a judicial gatekeeper and in conducting ethnographic observational research ‘behind the scenes of formal law’ to interrogate how bodies, emotions and affects inform power in the spaces of criminal law. Specifically, I approach bodies, emotions and affects as conceptual tools with which to interrogate how power transmits when I ‘enter’ and ‘read’ the field, and make claims to ‘know’ the subject under study. Core to my analysis is a critical process of self-reflection, through which I challenge the assumptions that underpin my assessment of my research participants’ ability to consent to participate in my study.
Clustering of biphenyl oxamide ions by chiral recognition
Authors: Kobetić Renata , Portada Tomislav , Dabić Dario
Published: August 2024

Gels created by self-assembly of small organic molecules are dynamic soft materials that have unique properties and demanding characterization. Four chiral gelators, with two valinol- or leucinoloxamido arms attached to the 2,2′-positions of the proatropisomeric biphenyl group were chosen to show that the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESI-MS) could be used to differentiate the gelation feature of the chiral compounds 1-4 and also to shed light on the gelation processes. By inspecting the gelation of several solvents, we showed that 1 ( R, R) proved to be the most efficient gelator, forming the largest observable assemblies in the gas phase. The strong intermolecular H-bonds hold single-charged assemblies consisting of up to five monomer units detectable by ESI MS. Enantiomer 1 ( R, R) is a good gelator due to favorable intramolecular interactions that remain preserved in the gas phase. Compound 3 ( meso) does not have gelator properties and detected signals of larger assemblies in the gas phase. So, the detected signals correlate with the conformations of the studied compounds. MS could be used to elucidate the preferential type of noncovalent interaction due to the chiral recognition. The study paves a novel way to investigate the influence of chirality on the molecular assembly and consequently macroscopic properties and functions of materials.
Wasserstein bi-classifier adversarial learning network for machinery fault diagnostics
Authors: Fan Yalun , Guo Liang , Yu Yaoxiang , Sun Yi , Luo Tao , Hou Kexin , Li Weilin , Gao Hongli
Published: August 2024

In industrial applications of machinery fault diagnostics, deep learning has been widely adopted to process large amounts of monitoring data. Unfortunately, due to the domain discrepancy, diagnostic models trained with source domain data suffer from degraded diagnostic performance on the target domain. To address this problem, a Wasserstein bi-classifier adversarial learning network (WBALN) is proposed. Specifically, WBALN consists of a feature extractor, two classifiers, and a discrepancy metric based on Wasserstein distance. A two-stream optimization strategy is used in the training process, which involves jointly performing bi-classifier adversarial learning and Wasserstein generative adversarial network (WGAN)-based adversarial learning. In the bi-classifier training stream, a min-max game is conducted between a discrepancy detector composed of two classifiers and the feature extractor to reduce the disparity between these classifiers. In the WGAN-based training stream, a Wasserstein adversarial discrepancy (WAD) is applied in combination with the original classifier as a domain discriminator, which achieves fault diagnosis and distribution alignment through a unified objective. This WAD enables WBALN to achieve sufficient feature alignment using the predicted discriminative information. In addition, the utilization of the nuclear-norm is useful for ensuring the determinacy and diversity of predictions. Except for ordinary domain adaptation, WBALN is also extended for challenging problems about inter-class imbalanced domain adaptation. The performance of the proposed WBALN is verified through multiple experiments on two bearing datasets.
Gender-Specific Long-Term Results After Elective Open Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Depending on the Site of Distal Anastomosis
Authors: Annunziata Sonny Gennaro , Epple Jasmin , Schmitz-Rixen Thomas , Böckler Dittmar , Grundmann Reinhart T.
Published: August 2024

Objective

Analysis of gender-specific differences in short- and long-term outcome after elective open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair (OAR) regarding the distal anastomosis.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, data from 4853 patients of a German health insurance company undergoing OAR for infrarenal abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) between 2010 and 2016 were analysed. The patients were followed through 2018.

Results

A total of 4050 (83.5%) men and 803 (16.6%) women underwent OAR. Women were older than men (72.9 ± 8.7 vs 69.8 ± 8.5 years; P < .001). A tube graft was used in 2644 (54.5%) patients, an aorto-biiliac bifurcated graft in 1657 (34.1%) and an aorto-bifemoral bifurcated graft in 552 (11.4%). Perioperative mortality was not significantly different between men (5.7%) and women (6.5%) in the total patient population ( P = .411). This was true for aorto-aortic tube grafting ( P = .361), aorto-biiliac reconstructions ( P = 1.000) and aorto-bifemoral reconstructions ( P = .345). Kaplan-Meier estimated long-term survival of men after 9 years was better than that of women (55.0% vs 43.8%; P = .006). However, separated by the site of the distal anastomosis, this was only true for aorto-aortic reconstructions (survival men vs women 56.0% vs 42.1%; P = .005), not for aorto-biiliac and aorto-bifemoral reconstructions. In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, age over 80 years, heart failure, aorto-bifemoral reconstruction, chronic kidney disease stage 3-5, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, peripheral artery disease, arterial hypertension, but not gender ( P = .531), had a negative impact on long-term survival.

Conclusion

If possible, an aorto-aortic tube graft should be preferred to aorto-biiliac and aorto-bifemoral reconstructions in OAR. Patients selected for aorto-bifemoral artery reconstruction exhibit higher perioperative morbidity and mortality as well as worse long-term survival compared to patients selected for an intra-abdominal reconstruction. In the multivariate regression analysis, gender was not an independent risk factor for either short- or long-term outcomes.
The heterogeneous origins of religion as a category in law in the United Kingdom: Implications for education
Authors: Lundie David
Published: August 2024

This paper examines the origins of ‘religion or belief’ as a protected characteristic as it came to be enshrined in the Equality Act 2010. In relation to the Equality Act 2010, heteronomous definitions, derived from race relations legislation can tend toward a conflation of race and religion. An example of this is the Mandla v Park Grove School case (1978) which determined the right of a Sikh boy to wear a turban to school through the application of the Race Relations Act 1976. Later jurisprudence including Begum v Denbigh High School (2006) and legislation such as the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006 further draws upon the language of race to treat of religion or belief, resulting in a heterogeneous (mis)representation of religion which tends both toward essentialism and a deficit model of religiosity. With reference to education, a Christian welfarist orientation toward ‘religious instruction’ can be traced back to 1788, in the 20th century this begins to be supplanted by a concern for ‘religious neutrality’ derived from colonial practices of governance in India. Drawing on these, it is possible to recover a more positive and authentic definition of the role of religion in UK law.
Unisex Fashion as a Social Practice: A Comparative Study Between Young Heterosexual Consumers in the United States and China
Authors: Jiang Xinxin , Michelsen Meg
Published: August 2024

Using Alan Warde’s tripartite model of practice theory (understanding, procedure, and engagement) as our theoretical framework, we compare how young heterosexual consumers in the United States and China understand, follow the perceived rules of, and engage with unisex fashion, and how different socio-cultural values and political ideologies in these two countries shape consumers’ gendered perceptions and practice of unisex style. We interviewed 15 participants in each country. Our findings suggest that unisex fashion is a more routinized practice for US participants, who appreciate gender fluidity due to a long history of fighting for gender equality and the current political emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion. Chinese participants, however, demonstrate a more deliberate and reflexive attitude. While they claim to embrace unisex fashion to express their gender identity, they are still restricted by a heteropatriarchal definition of gender, particularly with the recent revival of traditional gender ideologies advocated by the Chinese leadership. This comparative study of a gender-related fashion practice contributes to a reappraisal of cultural meaning within practice theories. We hope this study will stimulate further intellectual interest in the intersections of fashion studies, consumption research, and cultural sociology.
Numerical study of the linear and non-linear damping in an acoustically forced cold-flow test rig with coupled cavities
Authors: Marchal David , Schmitt Thomas , Fougnie Alexandre , Ducruix Sébastien
Published: August 2024

Quantifying the oscillation amplitude of thermoacoustic instabilities remains a critical and challenging issue, as it is a complex balance between driving and damping processes. The New Pressurized Coupled Cavities (NPCCs) setup designed for the study of acoustic damping is analyzed in this work. It is a cold-flow test rig mimicking the geometry of a liquid rocket engine and equipped with an acoustic forcing device. The chamber 1T mode triggers a strong non-linear harmonic response, while the 1T1L and 1T2L exhibit weak non-linearities. Disturbance energy budgets are used in large-eddy simulations to characterize the damping phenomena with the 1T2L and 1T1L forcing. The correct global damping of the system is retrieved, and local damping contributions are extracted. Then, a non-linear term representing the energy transfer to the harmonics is derived from non-linear acoustics theory. Combined with a linear model, this model correctly retrieves the limit-cycle of the 1T mode.
Requirements for nurses’ competencies in home care: An integrative review – a mixed-method approach
Authors: Ranta Liisa , Kaunonen Marja
Published: August 2024

Home care supports clients in living at home. Among home care professionals, nurses are the largest group. The aim of this integrative review was to examine literature results of competencies that were required of nurses when working in home care. The review process followed the method by Whittemore and Knafl. A database search was conducted using CINAHL, PubMed and Cochrane. The PRISMA search strategy was used in the process. Nine selected articles were evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute criteria. The content analysis was used in analysing data. Eight competencies were defined: nursing practice at home; managing in changing situations; technological competence; communication and interpersonal skills; teamworking; continuous development; leadership and management skills; and personality factors in home care. The review suggested that nurses experienced a need for several competence requirements when working alone. Looking after patients with multiple health problems and having changing situations at work need continuous competence development. Situations to update and develop competence in daily work are needed. Further research is needed to confirm competence requirements for both registered and licensed practical nurses. The PRISMA checklist was used to guideline manuscript reporting.
Evidence of Potential Natural Products for the Management of Hypertrophic Scars
Authors: Meetam Thunyaluk , Angspatt Apichai , Aramwit Pornanong
Published: August 2024

Hypertrophic scarring is an aberrant wound-healing response to reestablish dermal integrity after an injury and can cause significant abnormalities in physical, aesthetic, functional, and psychological symptoms, impacting the patient's quality of life. There is currently no gold standard for preventing and treating hypertrophic scars. Therefore, many researchers have attempted to search for antihypertrophic scar agents with greater efficacy and fewer side effects. Natural therapeutics are becoming attractive as potential alternative anti-scarring agents because of their high efficacy, safety, biocompatibility, low cost, and easy accessibility. This review demonstrates various kinds of natural product-based therapeutics, including onion, vitamin E, Gotu kola, green tea, resveratrol, emodin, curcumin, and others, in terms of their mechanisms of action, evidence of efficacy and safety, advantages, and disadvantages when used as anti-scarring agents. We reviewed the literature based on data from in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials. A total of 23 clinical trials were identified in this review; most clinical trials were ranked as having uncertain results (level of evidence 2b; n = 16). Although these natural products showed beneficial effects in both in vitro and in vivo studies of potential anti-scarring agents, there was limited clinical evidence to support their efficacy due to the limited quality of the studies, with individual flaws including small sample sizes, poor randomization, and blinding, and short follow-up durations. More robust and well-designed clinical trials with large-scale and prolonged follow-up durations are required to clarify the benefits and risks of these agents.
Feasibility of Freedom of Information Requests for Amputee Epidemiology in the United Kingdom
Authors: Kirker Stephen G B
Published: August 2024

Introduction:

While each of the 44 National Health Service commissioned artificial limb clinics in the United Kingdom record information about their own prosthetic limb users, these are not collated to give a national picture of amputee epidemiology. The requirement to respond to Freedom of Information (FoI) requests within 20 working days offers another way of extracting data from all centres, and this study describes a first attempt to use this method to update national epidemiological data.

Methods:

Questions were sent to the FoI email addresses of all 44 centres, requesting numbers of adult unilateral below-knee amputees, adult unilateral above or through-knee amputees and child unilateral above or through-knee amputees (all of K2 level mobility), numbers of people consistently using a prosthesis with a single axis myoelectric hand, and access to an occupational therapist with skills to teach someone to use a myoelectric hand. A FoI request was sent to NHS England seeking release of data that they collect every month from all the prosthetic services which they commission in England.

Results:

All but one of the UK centres responded, the great majority within 31 days. Incomplete results were generally due to centres finding the questions ambiguous and many did not record mobility levels consistently. While 33 centres had access to skilled occupational therapy, only 4 reported more than 10 patients who constantly used a single axis myoelectric hand. Eighteen centres were unable to provide complete data, and the remainder reported a ranges of 5 to 992 below-knee amputees, 7 to 574 adult above-knee amputees and 0 to 137 child above-knee amputees, suggesting different approaches to managing missing mobility level data.

Conclusions:

Freedom of Information requests are an inexpensive way of gathering data from NHS prosthetic clinics, which can identify age, sex, level of amputation but not activity levels or use of a prosthesis and hence only gives limited demographic information of the amputee cohort.
The price of politics: What the 2020 oil shocks in Nigeria teach us about transactional political systems
Authors: Miller Jared
Published: August 2024

Political spending—funds that elite actors use to buy and sell political power—is the lifeblood of Nigerian politics. It fuels backroom deals, forges political coalitions, and is the means to incite or end violence. To date, political spending in Nigeria has largely been financed by its immense oil revenues flowing through the government. It is natural to assume that political budgets should rise and fall with oil’s boom-and-bust cycles, but the reality is not so straightforward. Based on an analysis of the 2020 oil crash in Nigeria, this paper examines how traumatic decarbonization—the sudden, unplanned loss of oil revenues—did not lead to a reduction in political budgets but did force a change in how they were funded and channeled. Despite the loss in oil revenues, patronage and the “contractocracy,” government contracts used to funnel rents to the elite, were protected and expanded massively in 2021 with funding from domestic and international loans. The 2020 oil crash demonstrated the resilience and rising cost of transactional politics in Nigeria, even when it came at the expense of the Nigerian people. Through this analysis, the paper further examines systemically corrupt political systems and how political actors adapt to changes in available political finance.
Inference Instruction for Students With Reading Disabilities
Authors: Barth Amy E. , Ankrum Ethan R. , Newman Thomas Cathy
Published: August 2024

U.S. national data indicate that approximately 90% of rural students with a reading disability read at or below basic levels of reading proficiency. A growing body of research demonstrates that the ability to make inferences is essential for reading comprehension but particularly difficult for students with reading disabilities. Compounding matters, rural special educators often have limited resources available to support students with reading disabilities, largely served in general education classrooms. In this Practice in Action article, we support rural special educators who must innovatively collaborate with general education teachers to ensure high quality and specialized reading instruction and support inclusive and equitable learning environments by (a) defining inferencing, (b) reviewing College and Career Readiness Anchor Standards that support inferencing, (c) discussing the inference skills of students with or at-risk for reading disabilities, (d) outlining components of effective inference instruction, and (e) offering recommendations for how to teach inferencing using a graphic organizer.
Prediction of mutation-induced protein stability changes based on the geometric representations learned by a self-supervised method
Authors: Li Shan Shan , Liu Zhao Ming , Li Jiao , Ma Yi Bo , Dong Ze Yuan , Hou Jun Wei , Shen Fu Jie , Wang Wei Bu , Li Qi Ming , Su Ji Guo
Published: August 2024

Background

Thermostability is a fundamental property of proteins to maintain their biological functions. Predicting protein stability changes upon mutation is important for our understanding protein structure–function relationship, and is also of great interest in protein engineering and pharmaceutical design.

Results

Here we present mutDDG-SSM, a deep learning-based framework that uses the geometric representations encoded in protein structure to predict the mutation-induced protein stability changes. mutDDG-SSM consists of two parts: a graph attention network-based protein structural feature extractor that is trained with a self-supervised learning scheme using large-scale high-resolution protein structures, and an eXtreme Gradient Boosting model-based stability change predictor with an advantage of alleviating overfitting problem. The performance of mutDDG-SSM was tested on several widely-used independent datasets. Then, myoglobin and p53 were used as case studies to illustrate the effectiveness of the model in predicting protein stability changes upon mutations. Our results show that mutDDG-SSM achieved high performance in estimating the effects of mutations on protein stability. In addition, mutDDG-SSM exhibited good unbiasedness, where the prediction accuracy on the inverse mutations is as well as that on the direct mutations.

Conclusion

Meaningful features can be extracted from our pre-trained model to build downstream tasks and our model may serve as a valuable tool for protein engineering and drug design.
Parental and healthcare provider attitudes towards the Healthy Child Programme in England: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Rahman Tahmid , Freer Joseph , Cordani Isabella , Papasavva Michael , Dunkel Leo , Walton Robert , Storr Helen L. , Prendergast Andrew J. , Orr Joanna
Published: August 2024

Background

The Healthy Child Programme (HCP) in England, delivered by Health Visitors (HV) and Nursery Nurses (NN), aims to assess growth and development in pre-school age children. This qualitative analysis aimed to evaluate the perceptions and experiences of HCP providers and parents located in a London borough.

Methods

This qualitative analysis is part of a larger study piloting an automated growth screening algorithm in a London borough. We conducted three focus group discussions; two with parents of pre-school children participating in the pilot study, one in English (n = 6) and one in Sylheti (n = 5), and one with HVs and NNs (n = 11). Sampling was purposeful, and written informed consent was obtained. Groups were facilitated by the same bilingual researcher using semi-structured topic guides. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis and assessed for intercoder reliability.

Results

Three broad themes were identified in the data: (1) lack of clarity around the role of the HV and NN; (2) a lack of resources; and (3) a desire for a preventative service. Underlying these themes was a sense of disempowerment shown by HVs/NNs and parents, as well as systemic issues in terms of the accessibility and practicality of the service. Nevertheless, parents and HVs/NNs all stressed the importance of the service in providing information, reassurance and advice.

Conclusions

Various challenges prevent the HCP from providing equitable and effective care to every child. However, the service was recognised as very valuable by users and providers despite systemic difficulties.
Epigenetic modification of ferroptosis by non-coding RNAs in cancer drug resistance
Authors: Wang Hongquan , Fleishman Joshua S. , Cheng Sihang , Wang Weixue , Wu Fan , Wang Yumin , Wang Yu
Published: August 2024

The development of drug resistance remains a major challenge in cancer treatment. Ferroptosis, a unique type of regulated cell death, plays a pivotal role in inhibiting tumour growth, presenting new opportunities in treating chemotherapeutic resistance. Accumulating studies indicate that epigenetic modifications by non-coding RNAs (ncRNA) can determine cancer cell vulnerability to ferroptosis. In this review, we first summarize the role of chemotherapeutic resistance in cancer growth/development. Then, we summarize the core molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis, its upstream epigenetic regulation, and its downstream effects on chemotherapeutic resistance. Finally, we review recent advances in understanding how ncRNAs regulate ferroptosis and from such modulate chemotherapeutic resistance. This review aims to enhance general understanding of the ncRNA-mediated epigenetic regulatory mechanisms which modulate ferroptosis, highlighting the ncRNA-ferroptosis axis as a key druggable target in overcoming chemotherapeutic resistance.
Critical but commonly neglected factors that affect contrast medium administration in CT
Authors: McDermott Michael C. , Wildberger Joachim E. , Bae Kyongtae T.
Published: August 2024

Objective

Past decades of research into contrast media injections and optimization thereof in radiology clinics have focused on scan acquisition parameters, patient-related factors, and contrast injection protocol variables. In this review, evidence is provided that a fourth bucket of crucial variables has been missed which account for previously unexplained phenomena and higher-than-expected variability in data. We propose how these critical factors should be considered and implemented in the contrast-medium administration protocols to optimize contrast enhancement.

Methods

This article leverages a combination of methodologies for uncovering and quantifying confounding variables associated with or affecting the contrast-medium injection. Engineering benchtop equipment such as Coriolis flow meters, pressure transducers, and volumetric measurement devices are combined with small, targeted systematic evaluations querying operators, equipment, and the physics and fluid dynamics that make a seemingly simple task of injecting fluid into a patient a complex and non-linear endeavor.

Results

Evidence is presented around seven key factors affecting the contrast-medium injection including a new way of selecting optimal IV catheters, degraded performance from longer tubing sets, variability associated with the mechanical injection system technology, common operator errors, fluids exchanging places stealthily based on gravity and density, wasted contrast media and inefficient saline flushes, as well as variability in the injected flow rate vs. theoretical expectations.

Conclusion

There remain several critical, but not commonly known, sources of error associated with contrast-medium injections. Elimination of these hidden sources of error where possible can bring immediate benefits and help to drive standardized and optimized contrast-media injections.

Critical relevance statement

This review brings to light the commonly neglected/unknown factors negatively impacting contrast-medium injections and provides recommendations that can result in patient benefits, quality improvements, sustainability increases, and financial benefits by enabling otherwise unachievable optimization.

Key Points

How IV contrast media is administered is a rarely considered source of CT imaging variability.

IV catheter selection, tubing length, injection systems, and insufficient flushing can result in unintended variability.

These findings can be immediately addressed to improve standardization in contrast-enhanced CT imaging.

Graphical Abstract
3D fascicular reconstruction of median and ulnar nerve: initial experience and comparison between high-resolution ultrasound and MR microscopy
Authors: Pušnik Luka , Lechner Lisa , Serša Igor , Cvetko Erika , Haas Philipp , Jengojan Suren Armeni , Snoj Žiga
Published: August 2024

Background

The complex anatomy of peripheral nerves has been traditionally investigated through histological microsections, with inherent limitations. We aimed to compare three-dimensional (3D) reconstructions of median and ulnar nerves acquired with tomographic high-resolution ultrasound (HRUS) and magnetic resonance microscopy (MRM) and assess their capacity to depict intraneural anatomy.

Methods

Three fresh-frozen human upper extremity specimens were prepared for HRUS imaging by submersion in a water medium. The median and ulnar nerves were pierced with sutures to improve orientation during imaging. Peripheral nerve 3D HRUS scanning was performed on the mid-upper arm using a broadband linear probe (10–22 MHz) equipped with a tomographic 3D HRUS system. Following excision, nerves were cut into 16-mm segments and loaded into the MRM probe of a 9.4-T system (scanning time 27 h). Fascicle and nerve counting was performed to estimate the nerve volume, fascicle volume, fascicle count, and number of interfascicular connections. HRUS reconstructions employed artificial intelligence-based algorithms, while MRM reconstructions were generated using an open-source imaging software 3D slicer.

Results

Compared to MRM, 3D HRUS underestimated nerve volume by up to 22% and volume of all fascicles by up to 11%. Additionally, 3D HRUS depicted 6–60% fewer fascicles compared to MRM and visualized approximately half as many interfascicular connections.

Conclusion

MRM demonstrated a more detailed fascicular depiction compared to 3D HRUS, with a greater capacity for visualizing smaller fascicles. While 3D HRUS reconstructions can offer supplementary data in peripheral nerve assessment, their limitations in depicting interfascicular connections and small fascicles within clusters necessitate cautious interpretation.

Clinical relevance statement

Although 3D HRUS reconstructions can offer supplementary data in peripheral nerve assessment, even in intraoperative settings, their limitations in depicting interfascicular branches and small fascicles within clusters require cautious interpretation.

Key Points

3D HRUS was limited in visualizing nerve interfascicular connections.

MRM demonstrated better nerve fascicle depiction than 3D HRUS.

MRM depicted more nerve interfascicular connections than 3D HRUS.

Graphical Abstract
Outcomes of myocardial revascularization in patients with obesity and multivessel coronary artery disease
Authors: Madiyeva Maira I. , Aripov Marat A. , Goncharov Alexey Y. , Zholdasbekova Rakhima Y.
Published: August 2024

Background

There is uncertainty regarding the best revascularization approach—whether coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) or percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI)—for obese patients suffering from multi-vessel coronary artery disease.

Results

406 patients with low and intermediate SYNTAX scores (SS) underwent PCI with drug-eluting stents (n = 200, 100 with SS ≤ 22, and 100 with SS 23–32) and CABG (n = 206, 100 with SS ≤ 22, and 106 with SS 23–32). Patients were also categorized by body mass index (BMI): normal weight (12%, 48 patients), overweight (41.6%, 169 patients), and obese (46.6%, 189 patients). The follow-up period averaged 9 ± 1.9 years. The endpoints of the study were as follows: major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events, a repeat revascularization, diminished left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and high SS (≥ 33) observed over time. When comparing PCI and CABG in overweight individuals, the risk of myocardial infarction (MI) following PCI was greater than after CABG (Hazard Ratio [HR] 2.7, 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 1.1–6.7, p = 0.03). In patients with overweight and Class I obesity, CABG was associated with the risk of coronary atherosclerosis progression (SS ≥ 33) (HR 4.4, 95% CI 1.5–13, p = 0.009 and HR 4.9, 95% CI 1.9–12, p = 0.001, respectively); whereas PCI was connected with the likelihood of repeat revascularization (HR 2.7, 95% CI 1.6–4.55, p < 0.0001 and HR 2, 95% CI 1.3–3.1, p = 0.002, respectively). At the same time, for stented patients, Class III obesity was associated with the risk of repeat revascularization (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.02–6, p = 0.044).

Conclusion

There were no significant weight-related impacts on long-term outcomes among patients who underwent surgery. Whereas in stented patients, Class III obesity was associated with the risk of repeat revascularization. When comparing PCI and CABG, for overweight and Class I obesity patients, CABG was associated with a likelihood of coronary atherosclerosis progression (SS ≥ 33), while PCI was linked to the risk of repeat revascularization. For overweight patients, CABG outperformed PCI in terms of the risk of MI. For other adverse events in patients of different weight categories, PCI and CABG did not reveal any significant benefits.
Neurological applications of focused ultrasound: an introduction and update on clinical and research trends
Authors: Rollins Matthew , Harbaugh Thaddeus , Fawzi Mohamed , Hamed Mohamed , Alkasab Sami , Almekkawy Mohamed , Elhelf Islam
Published: August 2024

Background

Focused ultrasound has emerged as a non-invasive technology with potential for treating various medical conditions, particularly neurological diseases. This article aims to explore recent advancements in the utilization of focused ultrasound for treating neurological conditions.

Results

A comprehensive literature review was conducted to explore current clinical applications and investigational uses of focused ultrasound, aiming to provide an up-todate overview of the field's progress. By employing different combinations of intensity and frequency, focused ultrasound can induce diverse interactions with soft tissues, including tissue ablation, cavitation, and mechanical effects. High-intensity focused ultrasound is utilized for tissue ablation and has received FDA approval for treating medication-refractory essential tremor. Conversely, low-intensity focused ultrasound is employed for neuromodulation and opening the blood–brain barrier, facilitating enhanced drug delivery for treating brain tumors and other neurological conditions. This article reviews ongoing clinical trials investigating focused ultrasound's role in neurological condition treatment.

Conclusion

Focused ultrasound holds significant promise for managing and treating various neurologic conditions. Whether employed for tissue ablation or transiently opening the blood–brain barrier to enhance drug delivery, numerous potential applications exist. Further research is necessary to evaluate its safe implementation and compare clinical outcomes with standard-of-care therapies.
Mapping the landscape of Y90 radioembolisation research: a citation analysis of the top 100 papers
Authors: Mahmood Hassan , Deshwal Avinash , Khalid Aleena , Mc Manus Ethel
Published: August 2024

Background

This study aims to identify trends, research gaps, leading journals, institutions, countries, and authors by examining the top 100 cited Yttrium-90 Radioembolization (Y90) research articles. The insights gained will assist funding and collaboration efforts in Y90 research. The team analyzed 981 articles from 36 peer-reviewed journals, gathering data on authors, publication year, journal, citations, affiliations, keywords, and references. Author affiliations were scrutinized to pinpoint institutions and countries. p values < 0.05 were deemed statistically significant.

Main body of abstract

The most cited paper (703 citations) was authored by Salem et al. (2010), and the journal with the most publications (16) was Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology. There was no significant correlation between journal impact factor and citation metrics. A decreasing trend in the number of top 100 articles was observed since the peak period (2008–2013). Most papers were published in high-impact factor (IF > 3, n = 31/35) and SCImago Q1 journals (86/100), with Northwestern University, Clínica Universidad de Navarra, and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich being the leading institutions. The most prolific authors were Salem, R., Lewandowski, R.J., and Mulcahy, M.F., with Salem, R. as the most influential. A statistically significant positive correlation between collaborative links and published articles was also discovered.

Short conclusion

The top 100 cited articles were primarily published in high-impact journals, and Northwestern University and the USA showed greater productivity and collaboration. These findings have crucial implications for researchers, policymakers, and institutions, aiding in the improvement of Y90 application and understanding in clinical practice.
A quantitative analysis of acoustic field directionality from a seismic airgun array
Authors: Douglass Alexander S. , Abadi Shima , Wood Warren T. , Phrampus Benjamin J.
Published: August 2024

Marine seismic reflection surveys generate high-amplitude impulsive acoustic events using airgun arrays to study the geophysical characteristics of the seabed. These data can be used beyond seismic imaging, including for modeling short-range propagation, considering impacts on marine mammals, and extracting seabed properties and their effect on the acoustic field. Knowledge of the source characteristics is necessary to use these data, and proper modeling of sound propagation from these arrays requires characterization of the array beam pattern. Complex simulations of airgun arrays have been used in the past to model airgun array spectra, but beam patterns have not been thoroughly considered in the literature. Delay-and-sum combinations of these airgun signatures provide a simple beam pattern estimate, but this approach ignores variability in airgun position, timing, amplitude, interactions between airguns, and so on. The use of more complex notional airgun signatures can yield more accurate estimates, but these are more challenging to model and still ignore shot-to-shot variability. Experimentally determined beam patterns are evaluated here, and the variability in the results are considered, showing both similarities and notable differences from simulated results. The experimental results indicate that the source array depth impacts the ghost-free array beam pattern and that variability between shots is enough to significantly alter beam patterns. Overall, the observations suggest that accurate simulation of array beam patterns may require more complexity than is currently considered and that inclusion of uncertainty due to environmental and airgun shot variability is essential.