bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
PENDAMPINGAN DIGITALISASI SEKOLAH SMPIT AJIMUTU GLOBAL INSANI TAMBUN UTARA-BEKASI MENUJU MANAJEMEN SEKOLAH BERBASIS DIGITAL
Authors: Saryoko Andi , Aziz Faruq , Elyana Instianti , Kurniyawantoro Kurniyawantoro , Saputra Bagas Eka
Published: October 2024

In the digital era, the application of information technology in schools is crucial to enhance the efficiency and quality of educational management. This Community Service (PkM) activity aims to assist Sekolah Menengah Pertama Islam Terpadu (SMPIT) Ajimutu Global Insani Tambun Utara-Bekasi in implementing digital-based school management. The main objective of this activity is to optimize the school's management system through a tailored application that meets the school's needs, called DigiMS (Digital School Management). DigiMS will be built web-based which will be hosted and use a domain name, and a mobile-based application will be created which will be submitted to the Playstore. The method used includes stages of analyzing the existing school management system, developing the DigiMS application, providing training for staff and teachers on how to use the application, and monitoring and evaluating the application's implementation. Data was collected through direct observations at the partner school, interviews with staff, and efficiency measurements before and after the implementation of the digital system. The results of this activity showed a significant increase in operational efficiency, especially in student data management, financial administration, and internal and external communication. The main conclusion from this program is that adopting digital-based management through DigiMS can improve the effectiveness of school management and ease staff workloads in their daily tasks. Additionally, this program has a positive impact on the school's readiness to face the challenges of the digital era. This program is part of the 2024 Fiscal Year PKM Grant from Kemdikbudristek-DRTPM, conducted by lecturers and students from Universitas Nusa Mandiri.
Age-related spatial ecology of Audouin’s gull during the non-breeding season
Authors: Ponti R , Morera-Pujol V , Sallent Á , González-Solís J , Ramos R
Published: October 2024

For vulnerable and endangered migratory species, an important and often overlooked aspect of conservation is their non-breeding distributions. For long-lived species, an additional constraint is the lack of data on juvenile movements. Individual relationships between age, movement ecology, and habitat preference for long-lived migratory birds remain understudied. According to the exploration-refinement hypothesis, adults should select better and more productive areas for foraging than inexperienced juveniles. Here, we explored the differences in migratory patterns, habitat selection, and foraging behaviour between juvenile and adult Audouin’s gulls Ichthyaetus audouinii, a species listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN. We captured 4 juveniles and 6 adults in the San Pedro colony (SE Spain) and equipped them with high-resolution 5 min programmed GPS loggers to track their postnuptial or first migration and subsequent non-breeding destinations. Our findings show that juveniles tended to migrate longer distances than adults, that the time spent foraging between age groups did not differ, and that adults used a greater variety of habitats than juveniles and positively selected some foraging habitats, such as waterbodies. Age-related differences in migratory patterns and habitat exploitation during the non-breeding period can be explained by the avoidance of competition between juveniles and adults and the adults’ greater experience in foraging performance. Our results bring important insights into the age-related differences in habitat exploitation of a Vulnerable seabird, which could help improve conservation strategies across its non-breeding range.
Assessing the suitability of habitat for the Endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard
Authors: Michael KH , Baring R , Gardner MG
Published: October 2024

Species that have undergone range declines due to human activities present an unstable species-environment relationship and require integrative approaches for their conservation. The pygmy bluetongue lizard Tiliqua adelaidensis occupies vacant spider burrows and is found on private grazing properties. Without active conservation management, the species faces climate-induced extinction. Translocation to more southerly environments is considered a mitigation strategy. We used predictive distribution modelling (MaxEnt) combined with field surveys to identify potential translocation sites. Two species were potentially reliable indicators of suitable habitat: brush wire grass Aristida behriana and trapdoor spider Blakistonia aurea. Habitat suitability maps produced using these species found that, despite the importance of B. aurea burrows for lizard occupancy, A. behriana was a more suitable indicator species. Our field surveys compared habitat quality at lizard-occupied sites to potential translocation sites but did not reveal factors associated with higher lizard occupancy at current sites. Spider burrow availability was lower at potential translocation sites but a higher proportion were high-quality trapdoor spider burrows. Only one potential translocation site was found to be suitable; attributed to having trapdoor spider burrows, grasshoppers, and sheep grazing management. This site was a private property listed for sale during the surveys. Given that translocations of pygmy bluetongues are inevitable and this is the first suitable translocation site identified, we highlight the necessity of long-term measures to safeguard potential translocation sites on private property before any planned translocation occurs. Integrating conservation strategies with agricultural practices offers a chance to safeguard private properties so wildlife and agriculture may co-exist.
Adolescenti - cieľová skupina? 11.ročník Košických dní sociálnej práce.
Authors:   Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice, Lovašová Soňa , Bérešová Veronika
Published: October 2024

Recenzovaný zborník príspevkov z vedeckej konferencie s medzinárodnou účasťou konanej dňa 1.12.2023 v Košiciach Predkladaný zborník zhromažďuje príspevky z 11. ročníka konferencie zameranej na adolescentov, reflektujúcich aktuálne interdisciplinárne otázky, ktorým čelí táto veková skupina. Skladá sa z 12 odborných príspevkov, ktoré sa zaoberajú rôznymi aspektmi adolescentného života, vrátane osamelosti, rizikového správania a fenoménu radikalizácie. Príspevky sú rozdelené do tematických sekcií, čo umožňuje čitateľom jednoduchšiu orientáciu v obsahu. Témy zahŕňajú prevenciu radikalizácie, rodinné faktory a mechanizmy kyberšikanovania. Zborník ponúka teoretické aj praktické poznatky, ktoré sú cenné pre odborníkov v oblasti sociálnej práce, psychológie a ďalších pomáhajúcich profesií, s cieľom prispieť k lepšiemu pochopeniu súčasných výziev adolescentov a navrhnúť účinné riešenia.
Historiography of the Shoemaking and Footwear Industry in the Bohemian Lands from Economic, Social, Regional and Urban History Perspectives: State of Research and New Approaches
Authors:   Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague, Jemelka Martin , Ševeček Ondřej
Published: October 2024

The history of shoemaking and the footwear industry is a well-established topic in Czech economic and social, as well as regional and urban historiography. A broad range of topics and approaches to this area of research can be found in Czech historiography. One drawback of the continuous interest in the history of shoemaking and the footwear industry is the lack of suitable methodology and the existence of many as yet unexplored topics, especially as regards the period after 1945. This study presents an overview, based on chronology and genre, of the existing historiographical work in the fi eld of economic, social, regional and urban history. It also draws attention to the so-called New Product History (Produktgeschichte), a methodological perspective not yet established in the Czech environment. Its advantage lies in its broad contextualization of the history of a particular product by conducting a historical analysis of the product life cycle (historische Produktlinienanalyse).
Evidencián innen, evidencián túl : A cholecystadrenázs helye akut cholecystitis kezelésében
Authors: Herczeg András , Fülöp András , Daradics Noémi , Szijártó Attila
Published: October 2024

Az epehólyag-kövesség leggyakoribb szövődménye az akut calculosus cholecystitis. Korszerű ellátási algoritmusában az akut szakban elvégzett cholecystectomia térnyerése figyelhető meg. A műtéti indikáció felállításában azonban a gyulladás súlyosságán, illetve fennállásának idején túl a beteg általános állapota, műtéti teherbírása is kulcsfontosságú szempont. Azon betegek körében, akiknél az akut műtét túl magas rizikót jelent, széles körben elfogadott és alkalmazott alternatív eljárás az epehólyag perkután drenázsa, amely salvage-beavatkozásként a szeptikus állapot rapid javulásához vezethet. Indikációja a cholecystitis ellátásának hazánkban is alapját képező Tokyo Guideline legfrissebb, 2018-as kiadásában is rögzített. Azonban a drenált betegek további gondozása, a drén behelyezésének optimális időzítése, a dréneltávolítás, illetve a későbbi cholecystectomia feltételei nem kellően tisztázottak, egyértelmű ajánlás jelenleg még nem áll rendelkezésünkre. Jelen közleményünk célja az elérhető irodalmi adatok áttekintése mellett a klinikánkon is alkalmazott gyakorlat bemutatása, összefoglalása.
Emerging Concepts in Bronchiectasis: Diagnosis, Pathophysiology, and Relevance in Lung Disease
Authors: Humphry Nicola
Published: October 2024

This symposium took place during the 2024 European Respiratory Society
(ERS) Congress held in Vienna, Austria. The main objective was to discuss the
clinical aspects, diagnosis, and pathophysiology of bronchiectasis, a chronic,
abnormal dilation of the bronchi, and its association with other lung diseases. The
current understanding of the characteristics and prevalence of bronchiectasis in
patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and alpha 1 antitrypsin
(AAT) deficiency was discussed, as well as the relationship between the extent of
traction bronchiectasis and exacerbations in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF).
The overarching message from the symposium was that advances are being made
in elucidating the pathophysiology of bronchiectasis, and this is helping clinicians
to understand why it occurs in patients with COPD and AAT deficiency. Increased
characterisation of bronchiectasis is needed, including the understanding of its
aetiology, disease development and progression, and the role of biomarkers in
clinical management. This may help to identify treatable traits leading to personalised
therapy with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial drugs in the future.
Bronchiectasis Exacerbations: Are We Doing Everything We Can?
Authors: Roberts Eleanor
Published: October 2024

At the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress 2024, two experts in bronchiectasis, Pieter Goeminne, Department of Respiratory Diseases, Vitaz Saint-Nicholas Hospitals, Belgium, and Michal Shteinberg, Pulmonology Institute and CF Center – Carmel Medical Center; Israel Institute of Technology; and The B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel, discussed bronchiectasis’ pathogenesis and exacerbations, along with unmet needs regarding diagnosis and treatment. Bronchiectasis is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease with a rising prevalence. Commonly associated conditions/related comorbidities of bronchiectasis include post-infective diseases and other airway conditions (such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease [COPD] and asthma), although the cause of bronchiectasis may remain unknown in over a third of patients. Development of bronchiectasis involves the intersection of four pathogenic components: chronic infections, airway ciliary dysfunction, chronic inflammation (mostly neutrophilic), and structural lung damage, commonly known as the ‘vicious vortex.’ In particular, bronchiectasis development, progression, and exacerbation also involve upregulated and dysregulated neutrophil function. Exacerbations in bronchiectasis are marked by symptoms of increased cough, sputum changes, decreased lung function, and fatigue, among others. Careful clinical examination and awareness of bronchiectasis symptoms are needed to properly diagnose and treat the initial condition and prevent exacerbations. Triggers for exacerbations can be endogenous, such as neutrophil or eosinophil increases, as well as exogenous, including the presence of infectious agents and pollution. Research regarding treatment for bronchiectasis is limited, but European guidelines recommend airway clearance techniques and antibiotics during exacerbations. To enable more targeted treatment for bronchiectasis from first occurrence, to limit exacerbations, and during an exacerbation, there are unmet needs for better identification of resistant genes, treatments for pathogens and inflammation, and biomarkers of exacerbation triggers.
From Augustus’s Soup to Augustus Gloop: The Persistence of Punishing ‘Bad Eaters’ in Nineteenth-century Children’s Literature and Beyond
Authors: Lodge Sara
Published: October 2024

While previous accounts of the function of food in children’s literature have mainly focused on fiction, this article examines nineteenth-century poetry and drama where ‘bad eating’ is constructed as a form of anti-social behaviour that children should be warned against and should learn to despise in others as well as themselves. Poetry for children, throughout the century, is designed to be repeated orally, often learned by heart and thus internalised: its emblematic characters, secured in memory by rhyme and metre, therefore have particular staying power in childhood consciousness that makes the trope of the ‘bad eater’ especially durable. Theatrical representations, likewise, serve to set the image of the unruly child eater within comic traditions that offer his or her body as an absurd spectacle at which the audience can confidently scoff. These tropes and images have a literary longevity that both reflects and sustains aspects of blame around ‘anti-social’ eating, which children internalise from a young age.
Cartografías de memoria y experiencias migratorias de niños/as: un análisis visual
Authors: Hedrera-Manara Luciana , Mazzucchelli Nicole , Íñiguez-Rueda Lupicinio
Published: October 2024

Los estudios sobre infancia, migración y memoria se han focalizado principalmente en la perspectiva del mundo adulto o institucional y en la esfera nacional. Este artículo expone los resultados de una investigación que tiene por objetivo identificar la construcción de memoria colectiva de niños/as en torno a sus experiencias migratorias hacia Barcelona. Con un enfoque cualitativo y mediante la elaboración de cartografías se da cuenta de cómo los recuerdos se elaboran desde procesos de identidad, pertenencia y afectividad. Se aborda un análisis conjunto de memoria colectiva y migración, que aporta a la articulación de dichos campos de estudio a través de narrativas visuales de niños y niñas como protagonistas de sus experiencias. Se concluye que, en las memorias, la afectividad juega un rol central. A través de ésta, los/as niños/as subvierten las temporalidades de la infancia y construyen memorias transnacionales configuradas por identidades híbridas.
Världens bästa biogassystem: Ett BRC innovationsprojekt
Authors: Lindfors Axel , Eklund Mats , Brunzell Anna , Erjeby Erik , Hirsch Tomas , Ammenberg Jonas , Cordova Stephanie , Feiz Roozbeh , Gustafsson Marcus , Johansson Maria , Lindkvist Emma , Prade Thomas , Schnürer Anna , Tonderski Karin , Shakeri Yekta Sepehr
Published: October 2024

I denna studie undersöktes potentialen för etableringen av nya biogassystem inom ett geografiskt område som utgjordes av Region Sörmlands kommuner samt kommunerna Södertälje, Nykvarn, Norrköping och Söderköping. Anledningen till studien är det studerade områdets förhållandevis låga nuvarande biogasproduktion samt den stora potentiella efterfrågan på biogas i området, då SSAB i framtiden kommer behöva biogas till sin fossil-fria stålbearbetning. I studien studerades den tekniska och administrativa potentialen, det vill säga vad som är möjligt att producera under dagens administrativa villkor samt med dagens (och en nära framtids) teknik. Potentialen undersöktes utifrån fyra olika potentialer: rötbar biomassapotential, biogaspotential, koldioxidproduktionspotential och näringscirkulationspotential. Resultatet visar på en biogaspotential mellan 380 och 540 GWh per år vilket skulle motsvara en stor ökning från dagens produktion på mellan 50 och 60 GWh per år. Ytterligare 100 GWh per år skulle kunna produceras av koldioxiden genom biometanisering men då krävs stora mängder vätgas. Angående näringscirkulationspotentialen så kan biogödseln (som samproduceras med biogas i biogasanläggningar) uppfylla cirka tre fjärdedelar av kvävebehovet, nära hela fosforbehovet och fyra gånger kaliumbehovet i det studerade områdets jordbruk. Det studerade området delades upp i fem produktionsområden för att öka upplösningen i studien. Dessa områden valdes för att de skulle kunna utgöra delområden som är stora nog för att etablera biogasanläggning av den storlek som krävs för att förvätska biogasen och samtidigt undvika alltför långa transportsträckor för substrattransporter. Detta svarar upp mot trenden att etablera större och större biogasanläggningar samt ett ökat fokus på förvätskad biogas. Dock kan mindre anläggningar vara nödvändiga för att uppnå vissa delar av potentialen i områden med små, men betydelsefulla, substratmängder. Det produktionsområde med störst potential var Söderköping/Norrköping men det betyder nödvändigtvis inte att det är det mest lovande produktionsområdet att börja mer fokuserade implementeringsstudier i då andra faktorer så som lönsamhet inte undersökts i denna studie. Fortsatta studier bör fokusera på hur lantbruksrelaterade substrat kan användas inom biogasproduktion. Här kan studier fokusera på olika områden, exempelvis hur biogasanläggningar kan drivas stabilt på enbart grönmassa (till exempel vall och mellangrödor) och hur ökad odling för biogasproduktion påverkar mat- och foderproduktion, individuella lantbrukare samt åkermarkens långsiktiga hälsa. Dessutom behövs implementeringsstudier för att realisera potentialen, dessa bör fokusera på att undersöka specifika etableringsmöjligheter utifrån ekonomiska, tekniska, logistiska och administrativa perspektiv.
TRÊS CENAS: IMAGINÁRIOS MAOÍSTAS NA ARTE LATINO-AMERICANA
Authors: Longoni Ana
Published: October 2024

Neste artigo a autora “investiga o impacto da revolução chinesa na arte latino-americana através de diferentes contextos artísticos ocorridos entre os anos de 1950 e 1980”. Especificamente, analisa “a viagem que pintor argentino Juan Carlos Castagnino fez à China em 1953; a elaboração das ideias estéticas de Mao Tsé-Tung na produção do escritor argentino Ricardo Piglia”. Também situa “a transformação da obra pictórica da argentina Diana Dowek e da colombiana Clemencia Lucena como resultado da militância maoísta a partir do final da década de 1960”. E, finalmente, posiciona "Carpeta Negra", produzida pelo grupo peruano Taller NN em 1988, como “uma inquietante apropriação de Mao, em chave pop, em pleno conflito armado entre a guerrilha maoísta Sendero Luminoso e o Estado peruano”. A partir destas perspectivas, o artigo aborda “a presença do imaginário maoísta nos atritos entre arte e política durante momentos históricos convulsivos na Argentina, Colômbia e Peru”.
Diurnal activity and resting time allocation of the West African giraffe in an agropastoral human-dominated landscape
Authors: Hejcmanová Pavla , Gašparová Kateřina , Fedorova Tamara , Vukelić Mara , Fennessy Julian , Moussa Zabeirou Abdoul Razack , Rabeil Thomas , Brandlová Karolína
Published: October 2024

Resting is an integral component of animal behavior, contributing to one’s fitness through careful optimization strategies. In large herbivores, resting periods are driven by availability of food, presence of predators, and thermoregulation. A combination of these drivers leads to high variability in resting behaviors and their time allocation throughout the day. However, these drivers are rarely evaluated in the wild. Megaherbivores, including giraffe (Giraffa spp.), adopt social resting strategies, which enable them to optimize the cost–benefit ratio, with rest and vigilance varying with group size and composition. We investigated resting behavior of the West African giraffe (G. camelopardalis peralta) living in a human-populated landscape dominated by agropastoralism activities in Niger. Through direct observation, we evaluated the influence of group size and composition, and presence of livestock and humans on giraffe resting behavior. We concluded that giraffe increased their resting time with shorter distance to other giraffe and livestock. Livestock did not negatively impact giraffe behavior; rather, they provided a kind of “safe environment”. Human presence resulted in only minor changes in vigilance of giraffe and did not significantly affect their resting time. Our findings highlight a positive instance of human–giraffe coexistence in a human-dominated landscape, attributed to the long-term benefits of conservation efforts.
Statistical refinement of patient-centered case vignettes for digital health research
Authors: Kopka Marvin , Feufel Markus A.
Published: October 2024

Digital health research often relies on case vignettes (descriptions of fictitious or real patients) to navigate ethical and practical challenges. Despite their utility, the quality and lack of standardization of these vignettes has often been criticized, especially in studies on symptom-assessment applications (SAAs) and self-triage decision-making. To address this, our paper introduces a method to refine an existing set of vignettes, drawing on principles from classical test theory. First, we removed any vignette with an item difficulty of zero and an item-total correlation below zero. Second, we stratified the remaining vignettes to reflect the natural base rates of symptoms that SAAs are typically approached with, selecting those vignettes with the highest item-total correlation in each quota. Although this two-step procedure reduced the size of the original vignette set by 40%, comparing self-triage performance on the reduced and the original vignette sets, we found a strong correlation (r = 0.747 to r = 0.997, p < .001). This indicates that using our refinement method helps identifying vignettes with high predictive power of an agent's self-triage performance while simultaneously increasing cost-efficiency of vignette-based evaluation studies. This might ultimately lead to higher research quality and more reliable results.
Application of intelligent self-organizing algorithms in UAV cooperative inspection of power distribution networks
Authors: Sun Zeyu , Liao Jiacheng
Published: October 2024

In the rapidly evolving technological landscape, the advent of collaborative Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) inspections represents a revolutionary leap forward in the monitoring and maintenance of power distribution networks. This innovative approach harnesses the synergy of UAVs working together, marking a significant milestone in enhancing the reliability and efficiency of infrastructure management. Despite its promise, current research in this domain frequently grapples with challenges related to efficient coordination, data processing, and adaptive decision-making under complex and dynamic conditions. Intelligent self-organizing algorithms emerge as pivotal in addressing these gaps, offering sophisticated methods to enhance the autonomy, efficiency, and reliability of UAV collaborative inspections. In response to these challenges, we propose the MARL-SOM-GNNs network model, an innovative integration of Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning, Self-Organizing Maps, and Graph Neural Networks, designed to optimize UAV cooperative behavior, data interpretation, and network analysis. Experimental results demonstrate that our model significantly outperforms existing approaches in terms of inspection accuracy, operational efficiency, and adaptability to environmental changes. The significance of our research lies in its potential to revolutionize the way power distribution networks are inspected and maintained, paving the way for more resilient and intelligent infrastructure systems. By leveraging the capabilities of MARL for dynamic decision-making, SOM for efficient data clustering, and GNNs for intricate network topology understanding, our model not only addresses current shortcomings in UAV collaborative inspection strategies but also sets a new benchmark for future developments in autonomous infrastructure monitoring, highlighting the crucial role of intelligent algorithms in advancing UAV technologies.
Evaluation of STK17B as a cancer immunotherapy target utilizing highly potent and selective small molecule inhibitors
Authors: Scheuplein Felix , Renner Florian , Campbell John E. , Campbell Robert , De Savi Chris , Eckmann Jan , Fischer Holger , Ge Jie , Green Luke , Jakob Peter , Kim Joseph L. , Kinkema Caitlin , McGinn Katie , Medina Ricardo , Müller Annemarie , Perez Nisha , Perola Emanuele , Timsit Yoav , Traore Tary , Hopfer Ulrike , Tyanova Stefka , Tzouros Manuel , Wang Ruduan , Woessner Richard , Dorsch Marion , Bischoff James R.
Published: October 2024

Introduction

The serine/threonine kinase 17B (STK17B) is involved in setting the threshold for T cell activation and its absence sensitizes T cells to suboptimal stimuli. Consequently, STK17B represents an attractive potential target for cancer immunotherapy.

Methods

To assess the potential of STK17B as an immuno-oncology target, we developed potent and selective tool compounds from starting points in Blueprint Medicines Corporation's proprietary kinase inhibitor library. To characterize these molecules, enzyme and cellular assays for STK17A and STK17B were established to drive chemistry optimization. Mass spectrometry-based phosphoproteomics profiling with tool inhibitors led to the identification of Ser19 on myosin light chain 2 as STK17B substrate, which is then developed into a flow cytometry-based pharmacodynamic readout of STK17B inhibition both in vitro and in vivo.

Results

In a mouse T cell activation assay, STK17B inhibitors demonstrated the ability to enhance interleukin-2 (IL-2) production. Similarly, treatment with STK17B inhibitors resulted in stronger cytokine secretion in human T cells activated using a T cell bispecific antibody. Subsequent chemistry optimization led to the identification of a highly selective and orally bioavailable tool compound, BLU7482. In vivo, STK17B inhibition led to dose-dependent modulation of myosin light chain 2 phosphorylation and enhanced priming of naïve T cells, as determined by upregulation of CD69, IL-2 and interferon-γ secretion. In line with increased T cell activation, treatment with STK17B inhibitor enhanced antitumor activity of anti–PD-L1 antibody in the MCA205 model.

Conclusions

In summary, we successfully identified and optimized STK17B kinase inhibitors which led to increased T cell responses in vitro and in vivo. This allowed us to evaluate the potential of STK17B inhibition as an approach for cancer immunotherapy.
Lesional senescent CD4+ T cells mediate bystander cytolysis and contribute to the skin pathology of human cutaneous leishmaniasis
Authors: Covre Luciana Polaco , Fantecelle Carlos Henrique , Garcia de Moura Renan , Oliveira Lopes Paola , Sarmento Isabela Valim , Freire-de-Lima Celio Geraldo , Decote-Ricardo Debora , de Matos Guedes Herbert Leonel , da Fonsceca-Martins Alessandra Marcia , de Carvalho Lucas Pedreira , de Carvalho Edgar Marcelino , Mosser David M. , Falqueto Aloisio , Akbar Arne N. , Gomes Daniel Claudio Oliveira
Published: October 2024

Cytotoxic activity is a hallmark of the immunopathogenesis in human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL). In this study, we identified accumulation of CD4+ granzyme B producing T cells with increased cytotoxic capacity in CL lesions. These cells showed enhanced expression of activating NK receptors (NKG2D and NKG2C), diminished expression of inhibitory NKG2A, along with the upregulation of the senescence marker CD57. Notably, CD4+ T cells freshly isolated from CL lesions demonstrated remarkable capacity to mediate NL-like bystander cytolysis. Phenotypic analyses revealed that lesional CD4+ T cells are mainly composed of late-differentiated effector (CD27-CD45RA-) and terminally differentiated (senescent) TEMRA (CD27-CD45RA+) subsets. Interestingly, the TEMRA CD4+ T cells exhibited higher expression of granzyme B and CD107a. Collectively, our results provide the first evidence that senescent cytotoxic CD4+ T cells may support the skin pathology of human cutaneous leishmaniasis and, together with our previous findings, support the notion that multiple subsets of cytotoxic senescent cells may be involved in inducing the skin lesions in these patients.
Development of VIIRS-OLCI chlorophyll-a product for the coastal estuaries
Authors: Gilerson Alexander , Malinowski Mateusz , Agagliate Jacopo , Herrera-Estrella Eder , Tzortziou Maria , Tomlinson Michelle C. , Meredith Andrew , Stumpf Richard P. , Ondrusek Michael , Jiang Lide , Wang Menghua
Published: October 2024

Coastal waters require monitoring of chlorophyll-a concentration (Chl-a) in a wide range of Chl-a from a few mg/m3 to hundreds of mg/m3, which is of interest to the fisheries industry, evaluation of climate change effects, ecological modeling and detection of Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs). Monitoring can be carried out from the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) and Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) Ocean Color (OC) satellite sensors, which are currently on orbit and are expected to be the main operational OC sensors at least for the next decade. A Neural Network (NN) algorithm, which uses VIIRS M3-M5 reflectance bands and an I1 imaging band, was developed to estimate Chl-a in the Chesapeake Bay, for the whole range of Chl-a from clear waters in the Lower Bay to extreme bloom conditions in the Upper Bay and the Potomac River, where Chl-a can be used for bloom detection. The NN algorithm demonstrated a significant improvement in the Chl-a retrieval capabilities in comparison with other algorithms, which utilize only reflectance bands. OLCI NIR/red 709/665 nm bands red edge 2010 algorithm denoted as RE10 was also explored with several atmospheric corrections from EUMETSAT, NOAA and NASA. Good consistency between the two types of algorithms is shown for the bloom conditions and the whole range of waters in the Chesapeake Bay (with RE10 switch to OC4 for lower Chl-a) and these algorithms are recommended for the combined VIIRS-OLCI product for the estimation of Chl-a and bloom monitoring. The algorithms were expanded to the waters in Long Island Sound, demonstrating good performance.
Incidence rate of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome complicated with acute pancreatitis: a meta-analysis
Authors: Ye Zhenzhen , Liu Xiaoqing , Ding Sheng , Lu Ling , Zhang Tianchen , Zhou Wenfang , Dong Yonghai
Published: October 2024

Background

Acute pancreatitis (AP) is a rare but serious complication in patients diagnosed with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). When AP complicates HFRS, the clinical outcome significantly worsens and the risk of mortality increases. However, the incidence of AP in HFRS patients and its associated mortality risk remain unclear. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a meta-analysis to determine the AP incidence rate in HFRS patients and assess the impact of AP on mortality in these patients.

Methods

We systematically searched seven databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EMBase, Sinomed, Chinese National Knowledge Infrastructure, WanFang Data, and Chongqing VIP) for relevant studies on HFRS complicated by AP. The studies were selected using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria based on the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome, and Study design principle. Two independent reviewers screened the studies, and the quality of the included studies was assessed using the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality and the Newcastle-Ottawa Evaluation Scale (NOS).

Results

In total, 11 studies, encompassing 1,218 HFRS patients, met the inclusion criteria. The overall incidence of HFRS complicated by AP was 8.5% (95% CI for r 5.9–11.1%). The HFRS patients with AP had a significantly higher risk of mortality than those without AP (OR = 3.668, 95% CI for OR 1.112–12.031). No statistically significant differences were observed in the subgroup and meta-regression analyses.

Conclusion

Although the incidence of AP in HFRS patients is not high, it significantly increases the risk of mortality in these patients. Future large-scale prospective studies are required to further validate these findings.
Redefining retinal vessel segmentation: empowering advanced fundus image analysis with the potential of GANs
Authors: Almarri Badar , Naveen Kumar Baskaran , Aditya Pai Haradi , Bhatia Khan Surbhi , Asiri Fatima , Mahesh Thyluru Ramakrishna
Published: October 2024

Retinal vessel segmentation is a critical task in fundus image analysis, providing essential insights for diagnosing various retinal diseases. In recent years, deep learning (DL) techniques, particularly Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs), have garnered significant attention for their potential to enhance medical image analysis. This paper presents a novel approach for retinal vessel segmentation by harnessing the capabilities of GANs. Our method, termed GANVesselNet, employs a specialized GAN architecture tailored to the intricacies of retinal vessel structures. In GANVesselNet, a dual-path network architecture is employed, featuring an Auto Encoder-Decoder (AED) pathway and a UNet-inspired pathway. This unique combination enables the network to efficiently capture multi-scale contextual information, improving the accuracy of vessel segmentation. Through extensive experimentation on publicly available retinal datasets, including STARE and DRIVE, GANVesselNet demonstrates remarkable performance compared to traditional methods and state-of-the-art deep learning approaches. The proposed GANVesselNet exhibits superior sensitivity (0.8174), specificity (0.9862), and accuracy (0.9827) in segmenting retinal vessels on the STARE dataset, and achieves commendable results on the DRIVE dataset with sensitivity (0.7834), specificity (0.9846), and accuracy (0.9709). Notably, GANVesselNet achieves remarkable performance on previously unseen data, underscoring its potential for real-world clinical applications. Furthermore, we present qualitative visualizations of the generated vessel segmentations, illustrating the network’s proficiency in accurately delineating retinal vessels. In summary, this paper introduces GANVesselNet, a novel and powerful approach for retinal vessel segmentation. By capitalizing on the advanced capabilities of GANs and incorporating a tailored network architecture, GANVesselNet offers a quantum leap in retinal vessel segmentation accuracy, opening new avenues for enhanced fundus image analysis and improved clinical decision-making.
Role of artificial intelligence in staging and assessing of treatment response in MASH patients
Authors: Akpinar Reha , Panzeri Davide , De Carlo Camilla , Belsito Vincenzo , Durante Barbara , Chirico Giuseppe , Lombardi Rosa , Fracanzani Anna Ludovica , Maggioni Marco , Arcari Ivan , Roncalli Massimo , Terracciano Luigi M. , Inverso Donato , Aghemo Alessio , Pugliese Nicola , Sironi Laura , Di Tommaso Luca
Published: October 2024

Background and Aims

The risk of disease progression in MASH increases proportionally to the pathological stage of fibrosis. This latter is evaluated through a semi-quantitative process, which has limited sensitivity in reflecting changes in disease or response to treatment. This study aims to test the clinical impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in characterizing liver fibrosis in MASH patients.

Methods

The study included 60 patients with clinical pathological diagnosis of MASH. Among these, 17 received a medical treatment and underwent a post-treatment biopsy. For each biopsy (n = 77) a Sirius Red digital slide (SR-WSI) was obtained. AI extracts >30 features from SR-WSI, including estimated collagen area (ECA) and entropy of collagen (EnC).

Results

AI highlighted that different histopathological stages are associated with progressive and significant increase of ECA (F2: 2.6% ± 0.4; F3: 5.7% ± 0.4; F4: 10.9% ± 0.8; p: 0.0001) and EnC (F2: 0.96 ± 0.05; F3: 1.24 ± 0.06; F4: 1.80 ± 0.11, p: 0.0001); disclosed the heterogeneity of fibrosis among pathological homogenous cases; revealed post treatment fibrosis modification in 76% of the cases (vs 56% detected by histopathology).

Conclusion

AI characterizes the fibrosis process by its true, continuous, and non-categorical nature, thus allowing for better identification of the response to anti-MASH treatment.
Multi-stage semi-supervised learning enhances white matter hyperintensity segmentation
Authors: Duarte Kauê T. N. , Sidhu Abhijot S. , Barros Murilo C. , Gobbi David G. , McCreary Cheryl R. , Saad Feryal , Camicioli Richard , Smith Eric E. , Bento Mariana P. , Frayne Richard
Published: October 2024

Introduction

White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) are frequently observed on magnetic resonance (MR) images in older adults, commonly appearing as areas of high signal intensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) MR scans. Elevated WMH volumes are associated with a greater risk of dementia and stroke, even after accounting for vascular risk factors. Manual segmentation, while considered the ground truth, is both labor-intensive and time-consuming, limiting the generation of annotated WMH datasets. Un-annotated data are relatively available; however, the requirement of annotated data poses a challenge for developing supervised machine learning models.

Methods

To address this challenge, we implemented a multi-stage semi-supervised learning (M3SL) approach that first uses un-annotated data segmented by traditional processing methods (“bronze” and “silver” quality data) and then uses a smaller number of “gold”-standard annotations for model refinement. The M3SL approach enabled fine-tuning of the model weights with the gold-standard annotations. This approach was integrated into the training of a U-Net model for WMH segmentation. We used data from three scanner vendors (over more than five scanners) and from both cognitively normal (CN) adult and patients cohorts [with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease (AD)].

Results

An analysis of WMH segmentation performance across both scanner and clinical stage (CN, MCI, AD) factors was conducted. We compared our results to both conventional and transfer-learning deep learning methods and observed better generalization with M3SL across different datasets. We evaluated several metrics (F-measure, IoU, and Hausdorff distance) and found significant improvements with our method compared to conventional (p < 0.001) and transfer-learning (p < 0.001).

Discussion

These findings suggest that automated, non-machine learning, tools have a role in a multi-stage learning framework and can reduce the impact of limited annotated data and, thus, enhance model performance.
Can the radiomics features of intracranial aneurysms predict the prognosis of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage?
Authors: Huang Tianxing , Li Wenjie , Zhou Yu , Zhong Weijia , Zhou Zhiming
Published: October 2024

Objectives

This study attempted to determine potential predictors among radiomics features for poor prognosis in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH), develop models for prediction, and verify their predictive power.

Methods

In total, 252 patients with aSAH were included in this study and categorized into favorable and poor outcome groups based on the modified Rankin Scale score 3 months after event. Radiomics features of the ruptured intracranial aneurysm extracted from computed tomography angiography images were selected using least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression and 10-fold cross-validation. A radiomics score was created by selecting the optimal features. Other risk factors for a poor prognosis were screened using multivariate regression analysis. Three models (clinical, aneurysm, and clinical-aneurysm combined models) were developed. The performance of the models was assessed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. A clinical-aneurysm combined nomogram was constructed to forecast the risk of poor prognosis in patients with aSAH.

Results

A total of three clinical variables and six radiomics features were shown to have a significant association with poor prognosis in patients with aSAH. In the training cohort, the clinical, aneurysm, and clinical-aneurysm combined models had areas under the ROC curves of 0.846, 0.762, and 0.893, respectively. In the testing cohort, these models had areas under the ROC curves of 0.848, 0.753, and 0.869, respectively.

Conclusion

The radiomics characteristics of ruptured intracranial aneurysms are valuable to predict prognosis after aSAH. The clinical-aneurysm combined model exhibited the best among the three models. The clinical-aneurysm combined nomogram is a reliable and effective tool for predicting poor prognosis in patients with aSAH.
Follicle-stimulating hormone induces depression-like phenotype by affecting synaptic function
Authors: Huang Liqin , Sun Shangqi , Jiang Gege , Xie Guanfeng , Yang Yunying , Chen Sichun , Luo Jiaying , Lv Chen , Li Xiang , Liao Jianming , Wang Zhihao , Zhang Zhaohui , Xiong Jing
Published: October 2024

Depression is one of the most common affective disorders in people’s life. Women are susceptibility to depression during puberty, peripartum and menopause transition, when they are suffering from sex hormone fluctuation. A lot of studies have demonstrated the neuroprotective effect of estrogen on depression in women, however, the effect of FSH on depression is unclear. In this study, we investigated the role of FSH on depression in mice. Our study demonstrated that FSH induced depression-like behaviors in mice in a dose-dependent manner. This induction was associated with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines, including IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α in both serum and hippocampal tissues. Additionally, FSH treatment resulted in impaired synaptic plasticity and a reduction in the expression of key synaptic proteins. It is noteworthy that the depression-like behaviors, inflammatory cytokines expression and synaptic plasticity impairment induced by FSH could be alleviated by knocking down the expression of FSH receptor (FSHR) in the hippocampus of the mice. Therefore, our findings reveal that FSH may play an important role in the pathogenesis of depression and targeting FSH may be a potential therapeutic strategy for depression during hormone fluctuation in women.
A rare case report of hemolysis in a newborn: hereditary elliptocytosis
Authors: Jiang Shouliang , Lu Ruifeng , Tang Jun
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Hereditary Elliptocytosis (HE) comprises clinically and genetically heterogeneous red cell membranopathies resulting from defects in the horizontal linkage between red blood cell (RBC) membrane and cytoskeletal proteins, which affect mechanical stability and deformability, thereby reducing RBC lifespan. The principal defect in HE is due to dysfunction or deficiency of RBC cytoskeletal proteins.

Case description

This study reported a case of severe hemolysis occurring within one day after birth in a term newborn. High-throughput sequencing was used to characterize the pathogenic gene variation in this child and to study the correlation between the identified variation and its corresponding phenotypic characteristics.

Conclusion

HE is caused by monoallelic mutations, which justify the phenotypic heterogeneity observed in patients. Furthermore, molecular analysis using high-throughput sequencing enables diagnosis in disorders with highly variable heterogeneity. HE can also present with severe hemolysis during the neonatal period.
Multifunctional nanomaterials composed entirely of active pharmaceutical ingredients for synergistically enhanced antitumor and antibacterial effects
Authors: An Qi , Wang Dongmei , Huang Liang , Chen Xiangyu , Wang Chuan
Published: October 2024

Introduction

Multifunctional nanomaterials are emerging as promising tools for treating both cancer and bacterial infections. However, integrating dual therapeutic capabilities into a single system remains challenging. This study presents multifunctional nanoparticles (ECI-NPs) based on Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) oligomers, Curcumin (CUR), and Indocyanine Green (ICG) for combined cancer and bacterial treatment.

Methods

ECI-NPs were synthesized via oxidative coupling of EGCG, CUR, and ICG. The nanoparticles were characterized for stability, size, drug loading, and release profiles. Cellular uptake, phototoxicity in melanoma cells, and antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were also evaluated.

Results

ECI-NPs demonstrated optimal stability, high drug loading, and controlled release. Cellular studies showed increased uptake and greater phototoxicity in melanoma cells compared to free drugs. ECI-NPs also exhibited enhanced anticancer effects and strong antibacterial activity, outperforming the individual components.

Discussion

The polyphenol-based ECI-NPs offer synergistic therapeutic effects, overcoming the limitations of free drugs in terms of solubility and efficacy. This dual-function platform shows potential for broader biomedical applications, addressing challenges in cancer and bacterial infections. Further research will focus on in vivo studies and clinical translation.
Dephasing-assisted transport in a tight-binding chain with a linear potential
Authors: Jacob Samuel L. , Bettmann Laetitia P. , Lacerda Artur M. , Zawadzki Krissia , Clark Stephen R. , Goold John , Mendoza-Arenas Juan José
Published: October 2024

An environment interacting with a quantum system can enhance transport through the suppression of quantum effects responsible for localization. In this paper, we study the interplay between bulk dephasing and a linear potential in a boundary-driven tight-binding chain. A linear potential induces Wannier-Stark localization in the absence of noise, while dephasing induces diffusive transport in the absence of a tilt. We derive an approximate expression for the steady-state current as a function of both dephasing and tilt which closely matches the exact solution for a wide range of parameters. From it, we find that the maximum current occurs for a dephasing rate equal to the period of Bloch oscillations in the Wannier-Stark localized system. We also find that the current displays a maximum as a function of the system size, provided that the total potential tilt across the chain remains constant. Our results can be verified in current experimental platforms and represents a step forward in analytical studies of environment-assisted transport.