bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phase II Study to Determine the Antitumor Activity and Safety of Simlukafusp Alfa (FAP-IL2v) Combined with Atezolizumab in Esophageal Cancer
Authors: Prenen Hans , Deva Sanjeev , Keam Bhumsuk , Lindsay Colin R. , Lugowska Iwona , Yang James C. , Longo Federico , de Miguel Maria , Ponz-Sarvise Mariano , Ahn Myung-Ju , Gumus Mahmut , Champiat Stephane , Italiano Antoine , Salas Sébastien , Perets Ruth , Arslan Cagatay , Cho Byoung C. , Evers Stefan , Boetsch Christophe , Marbach Daniel , Dejardin David , Sleiman Nassim , Ardeshir Caroline , Richard Muriel , Charo Jehad , Kraxner Anton , Keshelava Nino , Teichgräber Volker , Moreno Victor
Published: May 2024

Purpose:

In this study, we report the results from the esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cohort of a phase II, noncomparative, basket study evaluating the antitumor activity and safety of fibroblast activation protein–IL2 variant (FAP-IL2v) plus atezolizumab in patients with advanced/metastatic solid tumors (NCT03386721).

Patients and Methods:

Eligible patients had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 to 1; measurable metastatic, persistent, or recurrent esophageal SCC; progression on ≥1 prior therapy; and were checkpoint inhibitor–naïve. Patients received FAP-IL2v 10 mg plus atezolizumab 1,200 mg intravenously every 3 weeks, or FAP-IL2v weekly for 4 weeks and then every 2 weeks plus atezolizumab 840 mg intravenously every 2 weeks. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR).

Results:

In the response-evaluable population (N = 34), the best confirmed ORR was 20.6% [95% confidence interval (CI), 10.4–36.8], with a complete response seen in 1 patient and partial responses in 6 patients. The disease control rate was 44.1% (complete response = 2.9%; partial response = 17.6%; stable disease = 23.5%), and the median duration of response was 10.1 mon/ths (95% CI, 5.6–26.7). The median progression-free survival was 1.9 months (95% CI, 1.8–3.7). Analysis of response by PDL1 expression (Ventana SP263) resulted in an ORR of 26.7% for patients with PDL1-positive tumors (tumor area positivity cutoff ≥1%; n = 15) and 7.1% for patients with PDL1-negative tumors (tumor area positivity cutoff <1%; n = 14). Overall, the treatment combination was tolerable, and adverse events were consistent with the known safety profiles of each drug.

Conclusions:

FAP-IL2v plus atezolizumab demonstrated clinical activity and was tolerable in patients with previously treated esophageal SCC.
Outcomes Following a False-Positive Multi-Cancer Early Detection Test: Results from DETECT-A, the First Large, Prospective, Interventional MCED Study
Authors: Lennon Anne M. , Buchanan Adam H. , Rego Seema P. , Choudhry Omair A. , Elias Paul Z. , Sadler Jennifer R. , Roberta Julia , Zhang Yongqiang , Flake Darl D. , Honushefsky Ashley , Salvati Zachary M. , Sheridan Kathleen , Wagner Eric S. , Fishman Elliot K. , Papadopoulos Nickolas , Beer Tomasz M.
Published: May 2024

Guideline recommended standard of care screening is available for four cancer types; most cancer-related deaths are caused by cancers without standard of care screening. DETECT-A is the first prospective interventional trial evaluating a multi-cancer early detection (MCED) blood test (CancerSEEK) in women without a history of cancer, providing the first opportunity to assess the long-term outcomes of individuals with false-positive (FP) MCED results. This prospective analysis of DETECT-A participants with FP results evaluates the performance of an imaging-based diagnostic workflow and examines cancer risk following a FP result. This analysis included all DETECT-A participants with a positive CancerSEEK test and subsequent flourine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography-IV contrast-enhanced computed tomography (18-F-FDG PET-CT) imaging and clinical workup indicating no evidence of cancer within 1 year of enrollment (n = 98). Medical records, study interactions, and study surveys were used to assess cancer incidence, treatments, and clinical outcomes through August 2023. Ninety-five of 98 participants with a FP result remained cancer-free with a median follow-up of 3.6 years (IQR: 2.5–4.1) from determination of FP status. Three incident cancers were observed over the follow-up period. One bilateral stage IIIC ovarian cancer was diagnosed 1.9 years after determination of FP status; two stage I breast cancers were diagnosed 0.1 and 1.6 years from determination of FP status. The annual incidence rate of cancer during follow-up from FP determination was 1.0% (95% confidence interval, 0.2%–2.8%). Participants with a positive CancerSEEK test who underwent 18-F-FDG PET-CT and clinical workup without cancer findings had low risk for cancer over the following several years.

Prevention Relevance: This study provides multiyear clinical outcomes data following a false-positive multi-cancer early detection test for individuals participating in a prospective interventional trial. It provides a preliminary performance assessment of an imaging-based diagnostic workflow following a false-positive multi-cancer early detection test.
FIGURE 6 from Humanized Patient-derived Xenograft Models of Disseminated Ovarian Cancer Recapitulate Key Aspects of the Tumor Immune Environment within the Peritoneal Cavity
Authors: Steinkamp Mara P. , Lagutina Irina , Brayer Kathryn J. , Schultz Fred , Burke Danielle , Pankratz Vernon S. , Adams Sarah F. , Hudson Laurie G. , Ness Scott A. , Wandinger-Ness Angela
Published: May 2024

HALO analysis of tumor vascularization. A, The levels of VEGF-A in PDX ascites fluid was measured by ELISA. B, To quantify tumor vascularization in huPDX versus non-huPDX tumors, vessels were labeled with anti-CD31 antibody and vessel area was determined by analyzing scanned slides. The tumor tissue was masked on the basis of H&E staining (green) and CD31 labeled vessels were detected (red). Vessel density was calculated using the tissue classifier analysis software on the HALO platform. C, The quantification of vascular density (% vascular area) across whole sections of huPDX and non-huPDX samples. Values are the average vascular densities among samples (n = 2–3). huPDX18 sections showed increased vascular density compared to non-huPDX18 (P < 0.015, unpaired t test). D and E, Comparison of vascularity in representative images from huPDX18 (D) and non-huPDX18 (E) labeled with anti-CD31 antibody. Scale bar, 200 μm.
FIGURE 4 from Humanized Patient-derived Xenograft Models of Disseminated Ovarian Cancer Recapitulate Key Aspects of the Tumor Immune Environment within the Peritoneal Cavity
Authors: Steinkamp Mara P. , Lagutina Irina , Brayer Kathryn J. , Schultz Fred , Burke Danielle , Pankratz Vernon S. , Adams Sarah F. , Hudson Laurie G. , Ness Scott A. , Wandinger-Ness Angela
Published: May 2024

Detection of TAMs in huNBSGW PDX tumor sections. A, Serial sections of huNBSGW PDX tumor tissue were labeled with human-specific antibodies against a mitochondrial protein to label all human cells and the TAM marker CD68. Scale bar, 100 μm. B, Quantification of the number of TAMs using HALO software to identify CD68+ cells. Values are no. of positive cells/100,000 cells. The box plots indicate the mean, minimum, and maximum. Black dots indicate values for each tumor analyzed (n = 2–3).
FIGURE 3 from Humanized Patient-derived Xenograft Models of Disseminated Ovarian Cancer Recapitulate Key Aspects of the Tumor Immune Environment within the Peritoneal Cavity
Authors: Steinkamp Mara P. , Lagutina Irina , Brayer Kathryn J. , Schultz Fred , Burke Danielle , Pankratz Vernon S. , Adams Sarah F. , Hudson Laurie G. , Ness Scott A. , Wandinger-Ness Angela
Published: May 2024

Analysis of human cytokine levels in huPDX and non-huPDX models indicates their origin. A–C, Examples of the subtypes of cytokines in huPDX. A, PDX-intrinsic cytokines. B, Immune cell–dependent cytokines. C, Immune cell–influenced cytokines. D–F, Tables of cytokine levels in ascites fluid. Levels are presented as the natural log of the least squares means (non-huPDX n = 7, huPDX n = 7) D. PDX-intrinsic cytokines (levels >1 in non-huPDX). Factors with detectable levels in only one or two PDX models are listed separately. E, Immune cell–dependent cytokines with non-huPDX levels <1. F, Factors with detectable levels in the non-huPDX, but significantly increased levels in the huPDX.
Supplementary Figure S8 from LP-184, a Novel Acylfulvene Molecule, Exhibits Anticancer Activity against Diverse Solid Tumors with Homologous Recombination Deficiency
Authors: Kulkarni Aditya , Zhou Jianli , Biyani Neha , Kathad Umesh , Banerjee Partha P. , Srivastava Shiv , Prucsi Zsombor , Solarczyk Kamil , Bhatia Kishor , Ewesuedo Reginald B. , Sharma Panna
Published: May 2024

Figure S8 shows mouse body weight changes in selected TNBC PDX models following LP-184 treatment
Supplementary Figure S3 from LP-184, a Novel Acylfulvene Molecule, Exhibits Anticancer Activity against Diverse Solid Tumors with Homologous Recombination Deficiency
Authors: Kulkarni Aditya , Zhou Jianli , Biyani Neha , Kathad Umesh , Banerjee Partha P. , Srivastava Shiv , Prucsi Zsombor , Solarczyk Kamil , Bhatia Kishor , Ewesuedo Reginald B. , Sharma Panna
Published: May 2024

Figure S3 shows viability of parental or BRCA2 depleted PC3M cells in response to LP-184 or Olaparib
FIGURE 5 from LP-184, a Novel Acylfulvene Molecule, Exhibits Anticancer Activity against Diverse Solid Tumors with Homologous Recombination Deficiency
Authors: Kulkarni Aditya , Zhou Jianli , Biyani Neha , Kathad Umesh , Banerjee Partha P. , Srivastava Shiv , Prucsi Zsombor , Solarczyk Kamil , Bhatia Kishor , Ewesuedo Reginald B. , Sharma Panna
Published: May 2024

LP-184 and PARPi combination showed strong in vitro synergy. A and B, LP-184 and olaparib/rucaparib synergy in the HRD prostate cancer cell line 22RV1. Cells were treated by 5*4 combinations of LP-184 (0, 60, 120, 240, 480 nmol/L) and olaparib/rucaparib (0, 450, 1,350, 4,050 nmol/L) for 10 days. Cell viability at each combination was used as input for SynergyFinder 3.0 (29) to generate the graphs. C, Treatment of LP-184 as a single agent and in combination with olaparib in OVCAR3 cell line. OVCAR3 cells were treated by combinations of LP-184 and olaparib at various concentrations as shown for 10 days. Cell survival was normalized by the viability of untreated cells.
FIGURE 2 from LP-184, a Novel Acylfulvene Molecule, Exhibits Anticancer Activity against Diverse Solid Tumors with Homologous Recombination Deficiency
Authors: Kulkarni Aditya , Zhou Jianli , Biyani Neha , Kathad Umesh , Banerjee Partha P. , Srivastava Shiv , Prucsi Zsombor , Solarczyk Kamil , Bhatia Kishor , Ewesuedo Reginald B. , Sharma Panna
Published: May 2024

LP-184 response is enhanced in HRD prostate cancer cell lines. Dose–response curves for 3-day treatment of PC3M cells with LP-184 in parental and ATM stable knockdown (A), and in parental and BRCA2 stable knockdown (B), in comparison with olaparib in parental and ATM stable knockdown (C), and in parental and BRCA2 stable knockdown (D). Data shown as mean ± SEM.
FIGURE 1 from LP-184, a Novel Acylfulvene Molecule, Exhibits Anticancer Activity against Diverse Solid Tumors with Homologous Recombination Deficiency
Authors: Kulkarni Aditya , Zhou Jianli , Biyani Neha , Kathad Umesh , Banerjee Partha P. , Srivastava Shiv , Prucsi Zsombor , Solarczyk Kamil , Bhatia Kishor , Ewesuedo Reginald B. , Sharma Panna
Published: May 2024

LP-184 induces DNA DSBs and triggers DNA repair. The colon cancer cell line DLD1 and its isogenic BRCA2 KO cell line DLD1-BRCA2 were treated with vehicle (0.1% DMSO), 400 nmol/L LP-184, or etoposide for 24 hours. A total of 193,052 nuclei in the vehicle group, 137,489 nuclei in the LP-184 group, and 34,405 nuclei in the etoposide group were surveyed. Double-strand DNA breaks were directly detected using the double-strand DNA breaks with STRIDE (dSTRIDE) technology and DSB foci (yellow) were quantified using an algorithmic approach. Cells were also stained with DAPI (blue), gamma-h2ax (gH2AX, Ser139, red). A, Representative images of DSB staining (dSTRIDE) and gH2AX. Each dot represents the number of DSB foci (B) or gamma-H2AX foci (C) in one nucleus. The median for each group is represented by the short black line. Unpaired Student t test was conducted to compare the mean numbers between groups. D, LP-184’s IC50 were measured in DLD1-WT and DLD1-BRCA2 using a 72-hour cell viability assay. ****, P < 0.001.
Hardware implementation of type-2 fuzzy logic control for single axis solar tracker
Authors: Krismanto Awan Uji , Muhammad Davi Labib Radimas Putra , Setiadi Herlambang , Lomi Abraham , Abdillah Muhammad
Published: May 2024

Solar tracker widely maximizes solar energy harvesting by maintaining a perpendicular relative position between the sun and the solar panel. Single and dual-axis solar tracker controllers are the most control mechanisms that are widely implemented. The single-axis solar tracker (SAST) is preferable between those two control mechanisms due to economic and simpler control algorithm features. Many control algorithms have been proposed to improve the performance of SAST. The conventional proportional integral derivative (PID) controller has major limitations mainly corresponding to slower response. Moreover, it cannot handle the uncertainties of the sunlight. To overcome the problem, type 2-fuzzy logic control (T2-FLC) is proposed. The single-axis solar tracker controller based on T2-FLC is applied in Arduino and implemented in the hardware environment. It was monitored that the T2-FLC provides much better responses than the conventional controllers in terms of better dynamic response and more efficiency in harvesting solar energy.
Smart solar maintenance: IoT-enabled automated cleaning for enhanced photovoltaic efficiency
Authors: Ramalingam Puviarasi , Kathirvel Jayashree , Adaikalam Arul Doss , Somasundaram Deepa , Sreenivasan Pushpa
Published: May 2024

This innovative project aims to increase the effectiveness and user experience of solar panel systems by introducing a state-of-the-art dust and speck removal system. Leveraging cutting-edge technology, the system demonstrates a remarkable 32% increase in power output compared to dirty solar panels. The approach is characterized by its reliance on the universe as the system controller, reducing the need for manual intervention and minimizing the workforce required for panel cleaning. The proposed timed system utilizes water and wipers, facilitated by internet of things (IoT) technology, microcontrollers, and sensor modules for efficient and automated operation. An Android application provides user control and notifications about ongoing processes. The system’s adaptability for various settings is emphasized, offering a portable solution. The smart IoT based automatic solar panel cleaning ensures reliable performance, underscoring the project’s commitment to improve scalability, cost-efficiency, performance, integrity, and consistency.
Hybrid RIS-assisted interference mitigation for heterogeneous networks
Authors: Soumana Hamadou Abdel Nasser , Wa Maina Ciira , Soidridine Moussa Moindze
Published: May 2024

Reconfigurable intelligent surfaces (RIS) have evolved as a low-cost and energy- efficient option to increase wireless communication capacity. In this research, we suggest using hybrid RIS (H-RIS) to reduce interference in heterogeneous networks (HetNet). In contrast to traditional passive RIS, a hybrid RIS is suggested, which is fitted with a few active elements to not only reflect but also amplify incident signals for a significant performance increase. By jointly optimising the passive and active coefficients of the H-RIS, we aim to maximise the rate of the small cell user (SUE). We presented an effective alternating optimisation (AO)-based phase shift matrix coefficients (AO-PMC) technique to tackle this problem by iteratively optimising these variables because the optimisation problem is not convex. The simulation results demonstrate that, in comparison to the passive RIS-assisted HetNet scheme and the scheme without RIS, the suggested scheme, with just 8% of active elements, can enable HetNet to gain superior spectral efficiency (SE) and energy efficiency (EE). The outcomes also demonstrate that, in the majority of the cases taken into account, H-RIS can outperform the active RIS-assisted HetNet scheme.
Enhancing authenticity and trust in social media: an automated approach for detecting fake profiles
Authors: Unni Manu Vasudevan , S. Jeevananda , Kalapurackal Jacob Joseph , Fatma Saba
Published: May 2024

Fake profile detection on social media is a critical task intended for detecting and alleviating the existence of deceptive or fraudulent user profiles. These fake profiles, frequently generated with malicious intent, could engage in different forms of spreading disinformation, online fraud, or spamming. A range of techniques is employed to solve these problems such as natural language processing (NLP), machine learning (ML), and behavioural analysis, to examine engagement patterns, user-generated content, and profile characteristics. This paper proposes an automated fake profile detection using the coyote optimization algorithm with deep learning (FPD-COADL) method on social media. This multifaceted approach scrutinizes user-generated content, engagement patterns, and profile attributes to differentiate genuine user accounts from deceptive ones, ultimately reinforcing the authenticity and trustworthiness of social networking platforms. The presented FPD-COADL method uses robust data pre-processing methods to enhance the uniformness and quality of data. Besides, the FPD-COADL method applies deep belief network (DBN) for the recognition and classification of fake accounts. Extensive experiments and evaluations on own collected social media datasets underscore the effectiveness of the approach, showcasing its potential to identify fake profiles with high scalability and precision.
Efficient and robust disaster recovery system using cloud-based algorithms with data integrity
Authors: Gurulakshmanan Gurumoorthi , Amarnath Raveendra Nandhavanam
Published: May 2024

Incorporating cloud-based algorithms for disaster recovery (DR), it explores data replication, failover, virtual machine (VM) migration, and consistency algorithms. These algorithms play a pivotal role in safeguarding data and system continuity during unforeseen disruptions. Data replication ensures redundancy, failover algorithms swiftly transition to backup resources, VM migration facilitates resource optimization, and consistency algorithms maintain data integrity. Leveraging cloud technology enhances the effectiveness of these algorithms, providing robust DR solutions critical for business continuity in today's digital landscape. The recent growth in popularity of internet services on a massive scale has also raised the demand for stable underpinnings. Despite the fact that DR for big data is frequently overlooked in security research, the majority of existing approaches use a narrow, endpoint-centric approach. The significance of DR strategies has grown as cloud storage has become the norm for more data. But traditional cloud-centric DR techniques may be expensive, thus less expensive alternatives are being sought. There is persistent concern in the information technology (IT) community about whether or not cloud service providers (CPs) can guarantee data and service continuity in the event of a disaster.
The object detection model uses combined extraction with KNN and RF classification
Authors: Kurniati Florentina Tatrin , Manongga Daniel HF , Sembiring Irwan , Wijono Sutarto , Huizen Roy Rudolf
Published: May 2024

Object detection plays an important role in various fields. Developing detection models for 2D objects that experience rotation and texture variations is a challenge. In this research, the initial stage of the proposed model integrates the gray-level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) and local binary patterns (LBP) texture feature extraction to obtain feature vectors. The next stage is classifying features using k-nearest neighbors (KNN) and random forest (RF), as well as voting ensemble (VE). System testing used a dataset of 4,437 2D images, the results for KNN accuracy were 92.7% and F1-score 92.5%, while RF performance was lower. Although GLCM features improve performance on both algorithms, KNN is more consistent. The VE approach provides the best performance with an accuracy of 93.9% and an F1-score of 93.8%, this shows the effectiveness of the ensemble technique in increasing object detection accuracy. This study contributes to the field of object detection with a new approach combining GLCM and LBP as feature vectors as well as VE for classification.
Sampled-data observer design for sensorless control of wind energy conversion system with PMSG
Authors: Zaggaf Mohammed Hicham , Mansouri Adil , El Magri Abdelmounime , Watil Aziz , Lajouad Rachid , Bahatti Lhoussain
Published: May 2024

This paper presents a nonlinear observer for a variable-speed wind energy conversion system (WECS) utilizing a permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG). The study addresses the design of high-gain sampled-data observers based on the nonlinear WECS model, supported by formal convergence analysis. An essential aspect of this observer design is the incorporation of a time-varying gain, significantly enhancing system performance. Convergence of estimation errors is demonstrated using the input-to-state stability method. Simulation of the proposed observer is conducted using the MATLAB-Simulink tool. The obtained results are presented and analyzed to showcase the overall effectiveness of the proposed system.
Smart distance alert system with Blynk integration for safer gadget use
Authors: Ismail Syila Izawana , Ismail Nuraiza , Mohd Zaki Aisyah Hannah , Omar Suziana , Mohamed Syazilawati
Published: May 2024

Gadgets have certainly become an integral part of our daily lives. From smartphones and tablets to laptops and smartwatches, we rely on these devices to stay connected, entertained, and productive throughout the day. Excessive usage of gadgets for a long time and unhealthy habits will lead to health problems such as myopia. Using gadgets at a close distance is one of the most common unhealthy habits among gadget users, especially children. This study, called "smart distance alert system" is developed to address the unhealthy habit of using gadgets at a close distance. The developed prototype operates by measuring the distance between the user and the gadget screen using an ultrasonic sensor. The buzzer and vibration motor work as an alert system, activating when the distance is less than 50 cm. Parents or guardians will get notifications through the Blynk application. The entire prototype is controlled by NodeMicrocontroller unit.
Estrategia didáctica para el desarrollo de habilidades cognitivas
Authors: Valderrama Camilo Andrés , Rodríguez Torres Camilo Enrique , Uribe Gómez Pedro Pablo
Published: May 2024

Este es un estudio de caso donde se identifican las habilidades cognitivas de los estudiantes que se encuentran en el proceso de formación para ser docentes del área de tecnología. En él se propone el desarrollo de unidades didácticas, cuyo énfasis reside en procesos gráficos como una estrategia que facilita el desarrollo y fortalecimiento de habilidades cognitivas. El referente conceptual más impor-tante de este trabajo es la taxonomía de Bloom, que permite no solo el descu-brimiento de las fortalezas de los estudiantes en aspectos relacionados con las habilidades cognitivas de conocimiento, comprensión y evaluación, sino tam-bién develar las debilidades cognitivas en términos de la aplicación y el análisis frente a representaciones gráficas. Lo anterior implica la necesidad de reforzar desde espacios académicos transversales aquellas habilidades que presenten bajo rendimiento y, al mismo tiempo, cuestionar el planteamiento teórico de Bloom en términos de la secuencialidad existente entre los niveles cognitivos.
Repeat Placental Growth Factor-Based Testing in Women With Suspected Preterm Preeclampsia: A Stratified Analysis of the PARROT-2 Trial
Authors: Hurrell Alice , Webster Louise , Sparkes Jenie , Battersby Cheryl , Brockbank Anna , Clark Katherine , Duhig Kate E. , Gill Carolyn , Green Marcus , Hunter Rachael M. , Seed Paul T. , Vowles Zoe , Myers Jenny , Shennan Andrew H. , Chappell Lucy C. , Gill Carolyn , McDonnell Sian , Peers Beth , Yulia Angela , Ferry Orla , Maher Martin , Pickering Francis , Smith Annabel , Thompson Hilary , Basak Sambita , Dudgeon Lucy , Ficquet Jo , Rich Mel , O’Brien Clare , Willson Seren , Chados Nikolaos , Bishop Linda , Bahl Rachna , Smart Brittany , Arya Rita , Roughley Lindsay , Mehta Anku , Campbell Deniesha , Girling Jo , Ryan Grace , Trepte Lauren , Biswas Chandrima , Obiozo Chinwe , Verghese Lynda , Ahuja Ashwin , Davies Sarah , Morris Katie , Davison Jessica , Regan Maeve , Myers Jenny , Barry Natalie , McBean Mel , Jennings Jacqui , Sharp Andrew , Holt Siobhan , Stirrat Laura , Jack Elaine , Bapir Mihraban , Gowans Sharon , Alexander Hazel , Hinshaw Kim , Hewitt Lesley
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND:

PlGF (placental growth factor)-based testing reduces severe maternal adverse outcomes. Repeat PlGF-based testing is not associated with improved perinatal or maternal outcomes. This planned secondary analysis aimed to determine whether there is a subgroup of women who benefit from repeat testing.

METHODS:

Pregnant individuals with suspected preterm preeclampsia were randomized to repeat revealed PlGF-based testing, compared with usual care where testing was concealed. Perinatal and maternal outcomes were stratified by trial group, by initial PlGF-based test result, and by PlGF-based test type (PlGF or sFlt-1 [soluble fms-like tyrosine kinase-1]/PlGF ratio).

RESULTS:

A total of 1252 pregnant individuals were included. Abnormal initial PlGF-based test identified a more severe phenotype of preeclampsia, at increased risk of adverse maternal and perinatal outcomes. Repeat testing was not significantly associated with clinical benefit in women with abnormal initial results.

Of women with a normal initial result, 20% developed preeclampsia, with the majority at least 3 to 4 weeks after initial presentation. Repeat test results were more likely to change from normal to abnormal in symptomatic women (112/415; 27%) compared with asymptomatic women (163/890; 18%). A higher proportion of symptomatic women who changed from normal to abnormal were diagnosed with preeclampsia, compared with asymptomatic women.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results do not demonstrate evidence of the clinical benefit of repeating PlGF-based testing if the initial result is abnormal. Judicious use of repeat PlGF-based testing to stratify risk may be considered at least 2 weeks after a normal initial test result, particularly in women who have symptoms or signs of preeclampsia.

REGISTRATION:

URL: XXX; Unique identifier: ISRCTN85912420.
Prospective Validation of First-Trimester Screening for Preterm Preeclampsia in Nulliparous Women (PREDICTION Study)
Authors: Guerby Paul , Audibert Francois , Johnson Jo-Ann , Okun Nanette , Giguère Yves , Forest Jean-Claude , Chaillet Nils , Mâsse Benoit , Wright David , Ghesquiere Louise , Bujold Emmanuel
Published: May 2024

BACKGROUND:

Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF) studies suggest that preterm preeclampsia can be predicted in the first trimester by combining biophysical, biochemical, and ultrasound markers and prevented using aspirin. We aimed to evaluate the FMF preterm preeclampsia screening test in nulliparous women.

METHODS:

We conducted a prospective multicenter cohort study of nulliparous women recruited at 11 to 14 weeks. Maternal characteristics, mean arterial blood pressure, PAPP-A (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A), PlGF (placental growth factor) in maternal blood, and uterine artery pulsatility index were collected at recruitment. The risk of preterm preeclampsia was calculated by a third party blinded to pregnancy outcomes. Receiver operating characteristic curves were used to estimate the detection rate (sensitivity) and the false-positive rate (1-specificity) for preterm (<37 weeks) and for early-onset (<34 weeks) preeclampsia according to the FMF screening test and according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria.

RESULTS:

We recruited 7554 participants including 7325 (97%) who remained eligible after 20 weeks of which 65 (0.9%) developed preterm preeclampsia, and 22 (0.3%) developed early-onset preeclampsia. Using the FMF algorithm (cutoff of ≥1 in 110 for preterm preeclampsia), the detection rate was 63.1% for preterm preeclampsia and 77.3% for early-onset preeclampsia at a false-positive rate of 15.8%. Using the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists criteria, the equivalent detection rates would have been 61.5% and 59.1%, respectively, for a false-positive rate of 34.3%.

CONCLUSIONS:

The first-trimester FMF preeclampsia screening test predicts two-thirds of preterm preeclampsia and three-quarters of early-onset preeclampsia in nulliparous women, with a false-positive rate of ≈16%.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02189148.
When Nurses Travel: Labor Supply Responses to Peak Demand for Nurses
Authors: Gottlieb Joshua D. , Zenilman Avi
Published: May 2024

We study how a market uses temporary workers to accommodate extraordinary demand shocks. When COVID-19 surges, hospitals need additional nurses—especially in specialties central to COVID-19 care. By comparing markets for COVID-relevant and other specialties, we show that the market for travel nurses expands dramatically and estimate travel nurse labor supply across space. Supply is quite elastic, as workers can choose to travel where they are needed. Workers travel longer distances to temporary jobs when payment increases, suggesting that an integrated national market facilitates reallocation when demand spikes. But when national cases peak, travel distance is less responsive to local demand.
Exporting, Global Sourcing, and Multinational Activity: Theory and Evidence from the United States
Authors: Antràs Pol , Fadeev Evgenii , Fort Teresa C. , Tintelnot Felix
Published: May 2024

Multinational firms (MNEs) dominate trade flows, yet their foreign production decisions are often ignored in firm-level studies of exporting and importing. Using newly merged data on US firms' trade and global production, we show that MNEs are more likely to trade with countries that are proximate to their affiliates. We rationalize these patterns with a new source of firm-level scale economies that arises when fixed costs to source from, or sell in, a market are shared across the MNE's plants. These shared fixed costs create interdependencies between firms' production and trade locations that generate third-market responses to trade policy changes.
Opioid Use, Mortality Risks and Crime: Insights from a Rapid Reduction in Heroin Supply
Authors: Moore Timothy J. , Schnepel Kevin T.
Published: May 2024

In 2001, a large and sustained supply shock halted a heroin epidemic in Australia. We use drug offenses to identify individual opioid users and examine how the shock affected their mortality risks and criminal activity over the next eight years. Initially, gains from fewer overdoses are offset by drug substitution and more crime, including homicides. Most adverse effects dissipate over time, while persistent mortality reductions save the lives of around one in 48 individuals in our sample. Our results demonstrate that reducing the supply of illicit opioids can lead to meaningful longer-term improvements, even when the short-term effects are ambiguous.
Kelvin–Helmholtz Instability “Tube” and “Knot” Dynamics. Part III: Extension of Elevated Turbulence and Energy Dissipation into Increasingly Viscous Flows
Authors: Fritts David C. , Wang Ling , Lund Tom , Geller Marvin A.
Published: May 2024

A companion paper by Fritts et al. reviews extensive evidence for Kelvin–Helmholtz instability (KHI) “tube” and “knot” (T&K) dynamics at multiple altitudes in the atmosphere and in the oceans that reveal these dynamics to be widespread. A second companion paper by Fritts and Wang reveals KHI T&K events at larger and smaller scales to arise on multiple highly stratified sheets in a direct numerical simulation (DNS) of idealized, multiscale gravity wave–fine structure interactions. These studies reveal the diverse environments in which KHI T&K dynamics arise and suggest their potentially ubiquitous occurrence throughout the atmosphere and oceans. This paper describes a DNS of multiple KHI evolutions in wide and narrow domains enabling and excluding T&K dynamics. These DNSs employ common initial conditions but are performed for decreasing Reynolds numbers (Re) to explore whether T&K dynamics enable enhanced KHI-induced turbulence where it would be weaker or not otherwise occur. The major results are that KHI T&K dynamics extend elevated turbulence intensities and energy dissipation rates ε to smaller Re. We expect these results to have important implications for improving parameterizations of KHI-induced turbulence in the atmosphere and oceans.

Significance Statement

Turbulence due to small-scale shear flows plays important roles in the structure and variability of the atmosphere and oceans extending to large spatial and temporal scales. New modeling reveals that enhanced turbulence accompanies Kelvin–Helmholtz instabilities (KHIs) that arise on unstable shear layers and exhibit what were initially described as “tubes” and “knots” (T&K) when they were first observed in early laboratory experiments. We perform new modeling to explore two further aspects of these dynamics: 1) can KHI T&K dynamics increase turbulence intensities compared to KHI without T&K dynamics for the same initial fields and 2) can KHI T&K dynamics enable elevated turbulence and energy dissipation extending to more viscous flows? We show here that the answer to both questions is yes.
Thinking with two heads: The poetics of asat in early-modern India
Authors: Bronner Yigal , Shulman David
Published: May 2024

In early modern India, and particularly South India—from roughly the sixteenth century until the eighteenth—a new literary vogue emerged in all major literary traditions (Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Sanskrit, Persian). With remarkable salience, we find verses built around absurdity of various kinds and modes. Sometimes it is a matter of pushing the existing literary conventions and figures to an impossible extreme. In other cases, we find a fascination with asymmetry, disjunction, skewed causality, and irrealis or counter-factual linguistic forms. Although such experiments with absurdity have precedents in classical kāvya, the evident consistency and intertextual relations among outlandish poems in this period are very striking, as is the fact that the theoreticians of poetics found it necessary to posit a grammar for them (including for poems based on asat, that is, non-existence or sheer impossibility). This essay explores the forms and logical underpinnings that this fashion for the bizarre assumed; we also offer a tentative explanation for the new trend. The prabandha-based poems of absurdity need to be distinguished from the coded texts known in Kannada as beḍagina vacana and in early Hindi as ulaṭbaṃsi, in which an upside-down or inside-out world is created, the goal being to arrest intellection altogether. We also show the distinction between the poetry of the absurd in the early modern texts and the European Dada movement, which aims at unravelling language and enshrines a principle of pure randomality in the choice of words.
An improved memetic algorithm for distributed hybrid flow shop scheduling problem with operation inspection and reprocessing
Authors: Zheng Yu , Peng Ningtao , Qi Hao , Gong Guiliang , Huang Dan , Zhu Kaikai , Liu Jingsheng , Liu Gonggang
Published: May 2024

The classical distributed hybrid flow shop scheduling problem (DHFSP) only considers static production settings while ignores operation inspection and reprocessing. However, in the actual production, the manufacturing environment is usually dynamic; and the operation inspection and reprocessing are very necessary to avoid unqualified jobs from being transported to other production units and to make reasonable arrangements for unqualified and unprocessed jobs. In this paper, we propose a DHFSP with operation inspection and reprocessing (DHFSPR) for the first time, in which the operation inspection and reprocessing as well as the processing time and energy consumption are considered simultaneously. An improved memetic algorithm (IMA) is then designed to solve the DHFSPR, where some effective crossover and mutation operators, a new dynamic rescheduling method (DRM) and local search operator (LSO) are integrated. A total 60 DHFSPR benchmark instances are constructed to verify the performance of our IMA. Extensive experiments carried out demonstrate that the DRM and LSO can effectively improve the performance of IMA, and the IMA has obvious superiority to solve the DHFSPR problem compared with other three well-known algorithms. Our proposed model and algorithm here will be beneficial for the production managers who work with distributed hybrid shop systems in scheduling their production activities by considering operation inspection and reprocessing.
Book review: Joel Lee, Deceptive Majority: Dalits, Hinduism and Underground Religion
Authors: Jodhka Surinder S.
Published: May 2024

Joel Lee, Deceptive Majority: Dalits, Hinduism and Underground Religion, Cambridge University Press, 2021, xviii + 327 pp., ₹706, ISBN 978-1-10882666-2 (Paperback).
Strategies for capturing, managing, and sharing indigenous knowledge
Authors: Dei De-Graft Johnson
Published: May 2024

Indigenous knowledge is considered the cornerstone and the survival of communities, societies, and economies. This study assessed the various sources, means, and strategies for accessing and sharing indigenous knowledge in local communities in Ghana. The pragmatism paradigm which highlights a practical point of view that knowledge is not fixed, but instead views research from different perspectives and realism on the ground was deployed in this study. The choice of pragmatism led to the deployment of the mixed research method in this research, thus combining both qualitative and quantitative research methods concurrently, survey research approach, and cross-section design. The study disclosed that indigenous knowledge which is mainly associated with traditional healers and birth attendants, farmers, religious leaders, clan heads, chief priests, chiefs, curators and information professionals, and opinion leaders, largely exists in oral form and is mainly orally and tacitly managed and shared. Coaching, mentorship, apprenticeship, training, and storytelling as strategies for managing and sharing indigenous knowledge usually take place at shrines, churches, palaces, etc. Other strategies deployed include socialization, durbars, poem recitals, festival celebrations, cultural displays, film shows, exhibitions and displays, and outreach services. These strategies remain informal and undocumented. Hence, verbally and tacitly kept, managed, and shared which makes some of the indigenous knowledge to be lost in the event of the death of knowledge experts and holders in the communities. This calls for the engagement of information professionals to facilitate the documentation and formalization of the strategies in the communities. From the study, information and knowledge workers must be engaged to facilitate the development of manuals and procedures to guide the documentation of indigenous knowledge capturing and sharing. Community leaders need to promote and support initiatives to facilitate the formalization and documentation of all strategies for knowledge capturing and sharing.
Delusions and Delinquencies: A Comparison of Violent and Non-Violent Offenders With Schizophrenia Spectrum Disorders
Authors: Grohmann Malte , Kirchebner Johannes , Lau Steffen , Sonnweber Martina
Published: May 2024

The relationship between schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD) and violent offending has long been the subject of research. The present study attempts to identify the content of delusions, an understudied factor in this regard, that differentiates between violent and non-violent offenses. Limitations, clinical relevance, and future directions are discussed. Employing a retrospective study design, machine learning algorithms and a comprehensive set of variables were applied to a sample of 366 offenders with a schizophrenia spectrum disorder in a Swiss forensic psychiatry department. Taking into account the different contents and affects associated with delusions, eight variables were identified as having an impact on discriminating between violent and non-violent offenses with an AUC of 0.68, a sensitivity of 30.8%, and a specificity of 91.9%, suggesting that the variables found are useful for discriminating between violent and non-violent offenses. Delusions of grandiosity, delusional police and/or army pursuit, delusional perceived physical and/or mental injury, and delusions of control or passivity were more predictive of non-violent offenses, while delusions with aggressive content or delusions associated with the emotions of anger, distress, or agitation were more frequently associated with violent offenses. Our findings extend and confirm current research on the content of delusions in patients with SSD. In particular, we found that the symptoms of threat/control override (TCO) do not directly lead to violent behavior but are mediated by other variables such as anger. Notably, delusions traditionally seen as symptoms of TCO, appear to have a protective value against violent behavior. These findings will hopefully help to reduce the stigma commonly and erroneously associated with mental illness, while supporting the development of effective therapeutic approaches.
Long-term Risk of Stroke After New-Onset Atrial Fibrillation in Sepsis Survivors: A 2-Year Follow-Up Study
Authors: Ayaz Ahmed , Ibrahim Muhammad , Arshad Ainan
Published: May 2024

Background: Cardiovascular complications such as new-onset atrial fibrillation (NOAF) are common in sepsis and are known to increase the risk of in-hospital mortality and stroke. However, only a handful of studies have evaluated the long-term risk of stroke after NOAF in sepsis survivors. As part of our efforts to address this issue, we conducted the first-ever follow-up study in a developing country evaluating the long-term risk of stroke for sepsis survivors following NOAF. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated all adult patients admitted at the Aga Khan University Hospital between July 2019 and December 2019 with the diagnosis of sepsis. Data was collected from medical records of the included patients. Outcome measures included in-hospital mortality and ischemic stroke within 2 years. Results: Seven hundred thirty patients were included in the study; 415 (57%) were males and 315 (43%) females; mean age was 59.4 ± 18 years. 59 (8%) patients developed NOAF. The risk of stroke within 2 years in sepsis survivors was 3.5%. Six out of 30 (20%) patients in the atrial fibrillation (AF) group developed stroke, whereas 11 out of 448 (2%) patients in the non-AF group developed stroke. NOAF was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke within 2 years (OR = 6.6; 95% CI, 2.3-12.8; P = <.001). Conclusion: We conclude that AF occurred frequently in sepsis patients and was also associated with a 6-fold increase in the risk of ischemic stroke within 2 years. Reliable interventions for identifying high-risk patients for ischemic stroke are still poorly characterized, and this study may serve as a basis for more extensive multicenter studies to identify patients at high risk for ischemic stroke in the aftermath of septic AF and develop precise interventions for preventing it.
Application of smart hydrogel materials in cartilage injury repair: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Guo Juncheng , Yang Yijun , Xiang Yang , Zhang Shufang , Guo Xueyi
Published: May 2024

Objective: Cartilage injury is a common clinical condition, and treatment approaches have evolved over time from traditional conservative and surgical methods to regenerative repair. In this context, hydrogels, as widely used biomaterials in the field of cartilage repair, have garnered significant attention. Particularly, responsive hydrogels (also known as “smart hydrogels”) have shown immense potential due to their ability to respond to various physicochemical properties and environmental changes. This paper aims to review the latest research developments of hydrogels in cartilage repair, utilizing a more systematic and comprehensive meta-analysis approach to evaluate the research status and application value of responsive hydrogels. The goal is to determine whether these materials demonstrate favorable therapeutic effects for subsequent clinical applications, thereby offering improved treatment methods for patients with cartilage injuries. Method: This study employed a systematic literature search method to summarize the research progress of responsive hydrogels by retrieving literature on the subject and review studies. The search terms included “hydrogel” and “cartilage,” covering data from database inception up to October 2023. The quality of the literature was independently evaluated using Review Manager v5.4 software. Quantifiable data was statistically analyzed using the R language. Results: A total of 7 articles were retrieved for further meta-analysis. In the quality assessment, the studies demonstrated reliability and accuracy. The results of the meta-analysis indicated that responsive hydrogels exhibit unique advantages and effective therapeutic outcomes in the field of cartilage repair. Subgroup analysis revealed potential influences of factors such as different types of hydrogels and animal models on treatment effects. Conclusion: Responsive hydrogels show significant therapeutic effects and substantial application potential in the field of cartilage repair. This study provides strong scientific evidence for their further clinical applications and research, with the hope of promoting advancements in the treatment of cartilage injuries.
Country Differences in Older Men’s Hearing Difficulty Disadvantage
Authors: Burns Shane D. , West Jessica S.
Published: May 2024

Objectives: Hearing difficulty is prevalent in older adulthood and projected to increase via global aging, particularly among men. Currently, there is limited research on how this gender disparity might vary by country. Methods: Using 2018 data ( n = 29,480) from the Health and Retirement Study (HRS) international family of studies, we investigate gender disparities in hearing difficulty among respondents ages 55–89 from the United States ( n = 12,566), Mexico ( n = 10,762), and Korea ( n = 6152) with country-specific ordinal logistic regression models that progressively adjust for demographic, social, and health indicators. Results: In the United States, men’s hearing difficulty disadvantage was consistently observed. In Mexico, men’s hearing difficulty disadvantage was explained by the interactive effect of gender and age group but resurfaced after adjusting for comorbidities. In Korea, there was consistently no gender difference in hearing difficulty. Discussion: Our results highlight the heterogeneity in older men’s hearing difficulty disadvantage among a diverse group of aging countries.