bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mothers of children with down syndrome: A qualitative study of experiences of breastfeeding and breastfeeding support
Authors: Jönsson Lisbeth , Olsson Tyby Christina , Hullfors Sara , Lundqvist Pia
Published: May 2022

Background

Children with down syndrome (DS) are breastfed to a lesser extent than infants in general, despite research showing that it is possible for these children to breastfeed successfully.

Aim

The aim was to describe how mothers of children with DS experienced breastfeeding and breastfeeding support from healthcare professionals.

Method

A qualitative study with an inductive approach. Individual interviews were performed with seven mothers from southern Sweden. The interviews were analysed using qualitative content analysis.

Result

The mothers felt that the support varied, as some healthcare professionals were supportive, while others had preconceptions regarding breastfeeding and DS. They also experienced that the guidelines could be an obstacle in the encounter with healthcare professionals thereby affecting the possibility to establish breastfeeding. Information and support were important to the mothers, and when insufficient, they turned to the internet for help.

Conclusions

Mothers felt that healthcare professionals were bound to ward routines and guidelines, which could be contrary to their own and the family's wishes. They were also sensitive to the attitudes of healthcare professionals, which can affect their own state of mind. Healthcare professionals' preconceptions regarding breastfeeding and DS have not changed, despite research showing that infants with DS can breastfeed successfully. Increased awareness of the possibility to breastfeed an infant with DS is needed to provide better support to mothers.
Validating and testing a measure of anti‐semitism on support for QAnon and vote intention for Trump in 2020
Authors: Levin Ines , Filindra Alexandra , Kopstein Jeffrey S.
Published: May 2022

Objective

Knowledge on anti‐semitism and its effects as an attitude is limited. We seek to assess its relationship with other out‐group measures and its predictive ability on political judgments. We seek to (a) study the properties of a measure of anti‐semitism; (b) explore the relationship between anti‐semitism and other frequently used measures of out‐group attitudes; (c) assess the key demographic predictors of endorsement of anti‐semitic beliefs; (d) evaluate the predictive ability of our measure of anti‐semitism in models predicting support for the QAnon conspiracy theory and vote for Trump in the 2020 election.

Data and Methods

This study utilizes two national online surveys fielded in January and August 2020 that are weighted to match the U.S. population. We utilize a Bayesian factor analytic approach to assess the relationship between various out‐group measures. We also use regression analyses to predict the correlates of anti‐semitism and to test the relationship between anti‐semitism and support for QAnon and for Trump.

Results

Our results show that anti‐semitism shares more variance with xenophobia than anti‐black prejudice suggesting that people tend to perceive Jews as national outsiders not as racial others. Furthermore, anti‐semitism is a strong positive predictor of both support for QAnon and intent to vote for Donald Trump.
Combined thermographic phosphor and digital image correlation (TP + DIC) for simultaneous temperature and strain measurements
Authors: Jones Elizabeth M. C. , Jones Amanda R. , Winters Caroline
Published: May 2022

Thermographic phosphors (TP) are combined with stereo digital image correlation (DIC) in a novel diagnostic, TP + DIC, to measure full‐field surface strains and temperatures simultaneously. The TP + DIC method is presented, including corrections for nonlinear CMOS camera detectors and generation of pixel‐wise calibration curves to relate the known temperature to the ratio of pixel intensities between two distinct wavelength bands. Additionally, DIC is employed not only for strain measurements but also for accurate image registration between the two cameras for the two‐colour ratio method approach of phosphoric thermography. TP + DIC is applied to characterize the thermo‐mechanical response of 304L stainless steel dog bones during tensile testing at different strain rates. The dog bones are patterned for DIC with Mg3F2GeO4:Mn (MFG) via aerosol deposition through a shadow mask. Temperatures up to 425°K (150°C) and strains up to 1.0 mm/mm are measured in the localized necking region, with conservative noise levels of 10°K and 0.01 mm/mm or less. Finally, TP + DIC is compared to the more established method of combining infrared (IR) thermography with DIC (IR + DIC), with results agreeing favourably. Three topics of continued research are identified, including cracking of the aerosol‐deposited phosphor DIC features, incomplete illumination for pixels on the border of the phosphor features, and phosphor emission evolution as a function of applied substrate strain. This work demonstrates the combination of phosphor thermography and DIC and lays the foundation for further development of TP + DIC for testing in combined thermo‐mechancial environments.
Peripartum hyponatraemia: an overview of physiology, prevention and management
Authors: Demertzidou Eleftheria , Zill‐E‐Huma Rabia , Modi Mona
Published: May 2022

Key content

Hyponatraemia in labour is a common but underreported condition. It can cause considerable complications, altering the management of labour, and fetal and maternal outcomes.

Pregnant women are predisposed to hyponatraemia because of the physiological changes in water and sodium homeostasis occurring in pregnancy and the peripartum period.

Prevention is key to improving women’s wellbeing in the peripartum period. Fluid balance charts, alongside the partogram, should be an integral part of any low and high‐risk labour management strategy.

There is an urgent need for national guidance to enable clinicians to make appropriate decisions.

Learning objectives

To understand sodium homeostasis in pregnancy and be aware of the importance of fluid balance in labour.

To know how to prevent hyponatraemia and to detect the condition in its early stages.

To learn about the fetal impact of maternal hyponatraemia and the need for neonatal involvement in these cases.
Comparing Three Different Decoupling Control Approaches for Roll-to-Roll Printing Systems
Authors: Zhang Tao , Zheng Ying , Chen Zhihua , Deng Zhonghua
Published: May 2022

An appropriate register control method for a roll-to-roll (R2R) printing system must achieve not only high register accuracy but also the smoothness of the control signal and simple implementation. This paper compares recent register control approaches, i.e., model-based feed-forward proportional differential (MFPD), direct-decoupling proportional differential (DDPD) control, and fully decoupled proportional differential (FDPD) control, with three main performance indexes including register accuracy, implementation difficulty and smoothness of control signal. The mutual conversion between the different defined register errors in the three control methods is derived, so that the different defined register errors can be reciprocally transformed. According to the proposed mutual conversion analysis, the most appropriate conditions for using the three decoupling control methods are provided, which is very useful for the control method selection in industrial applications. Experiments and comparison are carried out to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed mutual conversion, which verify the derived most appropriate conditions of the three decoupling control methods.
How Does Past Performance of Competitors Influence Designers’ Cognition, Behaviors, and Outcomes?
Authors: Shergadwala Murtuza N. , Panchal Jitesh H. , Bilionis Ilias
Published: May 2022

Existing literature on information sharing in contests has established that sharing contest-specific information influences contestant behaviors, and thereby, the outcomes of a contest. However, in the context of engineering design contests, there is a gap in knowledge about how contest-specific information such as competitors’ historical performance influences designers’ actions and the resulting design outcomes. To address this gap, the objective of this study is to quantify the influence of information about competitors’ past performance on designers’ belief about the outcomes of a contest, which influences their design decisions, and the resulting design outcomes. We focus on a single-stage design competition where an objective figure of merit is available to the contestants for assessing the performance of their design. Our approach includes (i) developing a behavioral model of sequential decision making that accounts for information about competitors’ historical performance and (ii) using the model in conjunction with a human-subject experiment where participants make design decisions given controlled strong or weak performance records of past competitors. Our results indicate that participants spend greater efforts when they know that the contest history reflects that past competitors had a strong performance record than when it reflects a weak performance record. Moreover, we quantify cognitive underpinnings of such informational influence via our model parameters. Based on the parametric inferences about participants’ cognition, we suggest that contest designers are better off not providing historical performance records if past contest outcomes do not match their expectations setup for a given design contest.
Wrench Capability Analysis and Control Allocation of a Collaborative Multi-Drone Grasping Robot
Authors: Li Zhongmou , Bégoc Vincent , Chriette Abdelhamid , Fantoni Isabelle
Published: May 2022

This paper presents the wrench capability analysis, the controller design, and experimental results of an aerial robot flying gripper. This robot uses four quadrotors to actuate four fingers such as to grasp and manipulate large size objects. The yaw motion of each quadrotor is used to open/close one of the four fingers. A method is proposed to analyze its manipulability considering inequality constraints such as the propellers’ capabilities and equality constraints such as the yaw torque applied by each quadrotor to open or close a finger and the equilibrium conditions of passive joints. This allows concluding on the full manipulability of the robot and evaluating its force and torque capabilities. A dynamic control allocation algorithm is implemented to distribute the control effort among all quadrotors while guaranteeing an achievable solution satisfying the aforementioned constraints. A proof of concept is realized and allows presenting preliminary experimental results of the flying gripper.
Sport Participation, Extracurricular Activity Involvement, and Psychological Distress: A Latent Class Analysis of Canadian High School Student-Athletes
Authors: Sabourin Camille , Turgeon Stéphanie , Martin Laura , Rathwell Scott , Bruner Mark , Cairney John , Camiré Martin
Published: May 2022

Although psychological distress has been shown to increase during adolescence, participation in organized activities may have protective effects. The present study aimed to identify whether there is a relationship between high school student-athletes’ breadth of participation in organized activities and psychological distress, using a latent class analysis. Canadian adolescent-athletes (n = 930) in Grades 11 and 12 completed an online survey that measured: (a) high school sport participation, (b) community sport participation, (c) nonsport extracurricular activities participation, and (d) psychological distress. The latent class analysis indicated that a two-class model (i.e., Class 1 = narrower breadth, low distress; Class 2 = wider breadth, moderate distress) was most appropriate. Results indicated that despite the divergent probability of organized activity participation, participants in both classes had a low to moderate probability of presenting elevated levels of psychological distress. However, levels of psychological distress were still higher than other Canadian adolescent populations, suggesting that overscheduling could be of concern. Gender and time (i.e., prior/during COVID-19 pandemic) were significant covariates in the model.
Image Repair Using Social Identity Leadership: An Exploratory Analysis of the National Football League’s Response to the National Anthem Protests
Authors: Read Daniel , Lock Daniel
Published: May 2022

Events such as player protests can create image crises that require sport organizations to engage in political issues. In this manuscript, we blend image repair theory with the social identity approach to leadership to advance knowledge about how sport organizations communicate in response to crises. Applying a discursive social psychology framework to analyze 21 NFL communications and interview statements, we explored how the NFL’s rhetoric evolved in response to the 2016–2020 national anthem and Black Lives Matter protests. The NFL augmented its traditionally militarized patriot identity as the crisis progressed, to address the social change issues raised by protestors. We show that sport organizations use rhetoric to mobilize support for their version of events to manage threats to organizational image. Accordingly, we provide theoretical and managerial implications arguing that apolitical identities are increasingly untenable in sport.
Marking actinides for separation: Resonance-enhanced multiphoton charge transfer in actinide complexes
Authors: Matsuda Shohei , Yokoyama Keiichi , Yaita Tsuyoshi , Kobayashi Tohru , Kaneta Yui , Simonnet Marie , Sekiguchi Tetsuhiro , Honda Mitsunori , Shimojo Kojiro , Doi Reisuke , Nakashima Nobuaki
Published: May 2022

Precise separation and purification of f-block elements are important and challenging especially for the reduction of nuclear waste and the recycling of rare metals but are practically difficult mainly because of their chemical similarity. A promising way to overcome this difficulty is controlling their oxidation state by nonchemical processes. Here, we show resonance-enhanced multiphoton charge transfer in actinide complexes, which leads to element-specific control of their oxidation states owing to the distinct electronic spectra arising from resonant transitions between f orbitals. We observed oxidation of trivalent americium in nitric acid. In addition, we found that the coordination of nitrates is essential for promoting the oxidation reaction, which is the first finding ever relevant to the primary process of photoexcitation via resonant transitions of f-block elements. The resonance-enhanced photochemical process could be used in the nuclear waste management, as it would facilitate the mutual separation of actinides, such as americium and curium.
A basement membrane discovery pipeline uncovers network complexity, regulators, and human disease associations
Authors: Jayadev Ranjay , Morais Mychel R. P. T. , Ellingford Jamie M. , Srinivasan Sandhya , Naylor Richard W. , Lawless Craig , Li Anna S. , Ingham Jack F. , Hastie Eric , Chi Qiuyi , Fresquet Maryline , Koudis Nikki-Maria , Thomas Huw B. , O’Keefe Raymond T. , Williams Emily , Adamson Antony , Stuart Helen M. , Banka Siddharth , Smedley Damian ,   Genomics England Research Consortium, Sherwood David R. , Lennon Rachel
Published: May 2022

Basement membranes (BMs) are ubiquitous extracellular matrices whose composition remains elusive, limiting our understanding of BM regulation and function. By developing a bioinformatic and in vivo discovery pipeline, we define a network of 222 human proteins and their animal orthologs localized to BMs. Network analysis and screening in
C. elegans
and zebrafish uncovered BM regulators, including ADAMTS, ROBO, and TGFβ. More than 100 BM network genes associate with human phenotypes, and by screening 63,039 genomes from families with rare disorders, we found loss-of-function variants in
LAMA5
,
MPZL2
, and
MATN2
and show that they regulate BM composition and function. This cross-disciplinary study establishes the immense complexity of BMs and their impact on in human health.
Aerial-aquatic robots capable of crossing the air-water boundary and hitchhiking on surfaces
Authors: Li Lei , Wang Siqi , Zhang Yiyuan , Song Shanyuan , Wang Chuqian , Tan Shaochang , Zhao Wei , Wang Gang , Sun Wenguang , Yang Fuqiang , Liu Jiaqi , Chen Bohan , Xu Haoyuan , Nguyen Pham , Kovac Mirko , Wen Li
Published: May 2022

Many real-world applications for robots—such as long-term aerial and underwater observation, cross-medium operations, and marine life surveys—require robots with the ability to move between the air-water boundary. Here, we describe an aerial-aquatic hitchhiking robot that is self-contained for flying, swimming, and attaching to surfaces in both air and water and that can seamlessly move between the two. We describe this robot’s redundant, hydrostatically enhanced hitchhiking device, inspired by the morphology of a remora (
Echeneis naucrates
) disc, which works in both air and water. As with the biological remora disc, this device has separate lamellar compartments for redundant sealing, which enables the robot to achieve adhesion and hitchhike with only partial disc attachment. The self-contained, rotor-based aerial-aquatic robot, which has passively morphing propellers that unfold in the air and fold underwater, can cross the air-water boundary in 0.35 second. The robot can perform rapid attachment and detachment on challenging surfaces both in air and under water, including curved, rough, incomplete, and biofouling surfaces, and achieve long-duration adhesion with minimal oscillation. We also show that the robot can attach to and hitchhike on moving surfaces. In field tests, we show that the robot can record video in both media and move objects across the air/water boundary in a mountain stream and the ocean. We envision that this study can pave the way for future robots with autonomous biological detection, monitoring, and tracking capabilities in a wide variety of aerial-aquatic environments.
The Effect of Rifampicin on Darunavir, Ritonavir, and Dolutegravir Exposure within Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells: a Dose Escalation Study
Authors: De Nicolò Amedeo , Calcagno Andrea , Motta Ilaria , De Vivo Elisa , D’Avolio Antonio , Di Perri Giovanni , Wiesner Lubbe , Ebrahim Isma-eel , Maartens Gary , Orrell Catherine , McIlleron Helen
Published: May 2022

Ritonavir-boosted darunavir (DRV/r) and dolutegravir (DTG) are affected by induction of metabolizing enzymes and efflux transporters caused by rifampicin (RIF). This complicates the treatment of people living with HIV (PLWH) diagnosed with tuberculosis. Recent data showed that doubling DRV/r dose did not compensate for this effect, and hepatic safety was unsatisfactory.
Ascending Reproductive Tract Infection in Pig-Tailed Macaques Inoculated with Mycoplasma genitalium
Authors: Aguila Laarni Kendra T. , Patton Dorothy L. , Gornalusse German G. , Vojtech Lucia N. , Murnane Robert D. , Wood Gwendolyn E.
Published: May 2022

Mycoplasma genitalium
is a sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen that causes urogenital disease in men and women.
M. genitalium
infections can persist for months to years and can ascend to the upper reproductive tract in women where it is associated with serious sequelae including pelvic inflammatory disease, tubal factor infertility, and preterm birth. An animal model is needed to understand immune evasion strategies that allow persistence, mechanisms of ascending infection, and factors associated with clearance.
Human Monoclonal Antibodies to Escherichia coli Outer Membrane Protein A Porin Domain Cause Aggregation but Do Not Alter
In Vivo
Bacterial Burdens in a Murine Sepsis Model
Authors: Fowler Benjamin D. , Kose Nurgun , Reidy Joseph X. , Handal Laura S. , Skaar Eric P. , Crowe James E.
Published: May 2022

Escherichia coli
is one of the most frequent human pathogens, increasingly exhibits antimicrobial resistance, and has complex interactions with the host immune system.
E. coli
exposure or infection can result in the generation of antibodies specific for outer membrane protein A (OmpA), a multifunctional porin. We identified four OmpA-specific naturally occurring antibodies from healthy human donor B cells and assessed their interactions with
E. coli
and OmpA.
Homologs of the Escherichia coli F Element Protein TraR, Including Phage Lambda Orf73, Directly Reprogram Host Transcription
Authors: Gopalkrishnan Saumya , Ross Wilma , Akbari Madeline S. , Li Xintian , Haycocks James R. J. , Grainger David C. , Court Donald L. , Gourse Richard L.
Published: May 2022

TraR is a distant homolog of the transcription factor DksA and the founding member of a large family of small proteins encoded by proteobacterial phages and conjugative plasmids. Reprogramming transcription during the stringent response requires the interaction of DksA not only with RNA polymerase but also with the stress-induced regulatory nucleotide ppGpp.
Stability of SARS-CoV-2-Encoded Proteins and Their Antibody Levels Correlate with Interleukin 6 in COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Li Wangyang , Kitsios Georgios D. , Bain William , Wang Chenxiao , Li Tiao , Fanning Kristen V. , Deshpande Rushikesh , Qin Xuebin , Morris Alison , Lee Janet S. , Zou Chunbin
Published: May 2022

SARS-CoV-2, the etiological cause of COVID-19, carries 29 genes in its genome. However, our knowledge of the viral proteins in biological and biochemical aspects is limited.
Vaccinia Virus Attenuation by Codon Deoptimization of the A24R Gene for Vaccine Development
Authors: Lorenzo María M. , Nogales Aitor , Chiem Kevin , Blasco Rafael , Martínez-Sobrido Luis
Published: May 2022

The family
poxviridae
includes multiple viruses of medical and veterinary relevance, being vaccinia virus (VV) the prototypic member in the family. VV was used during the smallpox vaccination campaign to eradicate variola virus (VARV), which is considered a credible bioterrorism threat.
On the Generation of Plasma Jets in the Kilojoule Plasma Focus Device
Authors: Polukhin S. N. , Nikulin V. Ya. , Silin P. V.
Published: May 2022

Abstract—

Laser–optic methods were used to study the properties of plasma jets generated in the KJ Plasma Focus device. Measurements of the plasma jet velocity were conducted immediately after its appearance. During the first 10 ns, the average velocity is about 5 × 107 cm/s, which corresponds to energy of 18 keV for the ions of nitrogen, which was the working gas of the PF setup. The jet density and velocity decrease manifold over distance of 2–3 cm from its generation point. The experiments confirm that the main reason of jet generation is the necking of the pinch. It was found that after the pinch decay, a new plasma column appears, which propagates in the axial direction.
Diffuse lymphadenopathy and fever without a rash: an atypical presentation of secondary syphilis
Authors: Michaels Arianna , Hughes Rachel , Capone Alia , Smith Kelly Lacy
Published: May 2022

A woman in her 30s presented to the emergency department with 4 days of fever, headache and back pain. The patient was admitted for pain control, inability to tolerate oral intake and intravenous antibiotics for presumed diagnosis of pyelonephritis. Following admission, CT of the abdomen/pelvis showed multiple prominent pelvic and inguinal lymph nodes, and the patient was noted to have anterior and posterior cervical and submandibular lymphadenopathy on examination. The differential diagnosis was broadened to infectious, haematological, malignant and autoimmune aetiologies of diffuse lymphadenopathy. Workup included serum studies, imaging, lumbar puncture and lymph node biopsy. Rapid plasma reagin (RPR) returned positive with titre 1:16 and confirmatory reactiveTreponema pallidumparticle agglutination. With an otherwise unrevealing workup, the diagnosis of secondary syphilis was confirmed. This case highlights the differential and diagnostic approach for diffuse lymphadenopathy and an unusual presentation of secondary syphilis. Additionally, it indicates that secondary syphilis can be present even with a relatively low RPR titre.
Occult tension pneumothorax discovered following imaging for adult trauma patients in the modern major trauma system: a multicentre observational study
Authors: Naumann David N , Sellon E , Mitchinson S , Tucker H , Marsden M E R , Norris-Cervetto E , Bafitis V , Smith T , Bradley R , Alzarrad A , Naeem S , Smith G , Dillane S , Humphrys-Eveleigh A , Wordsworth M , Sanchez-Thompson N , Bootland D , Brown L
Published: May 2022

Background

Tension pneumothorax following trauma is a life-threatening emergency and radiological investigation is normally discouraged prior to treatment in traditional trauma doctrines such as ATLS. Some trauma patients may be physiologically stable enough for diagnostic imaging and occult tension pneumothorax is discovered radiologically. We assessed the outcomes of these patients and compared them with those with clinical diagnosis of tension pneumothorax prior to imaging.

Methods

A multicentre civilian–military collaborative network of six major trauma centres in the UK collected observational data from adult patients who had a diagnosis of traumatic tension pneumothorax during a 33-month period. Patients were divided into‘radiological’(diagnosis following CT/CXR) or‘clinical’(no prior CT/CXR) groups. The effect of radiological diagnosis on survival was analysed using multivariable logistic regression that included the covariates of age, gender, comorbidities and Injury Severity Score.

Results

There were 133 patients, with a median age of 41 (IQR 24–61); 108 (81%) were male. Survivors included 49 of 59 (83%) in the radiological group and 59 of 74 (80%) in the clinical group (p=0.487). Multivariable logistic regression showed no significant association between radiological diagnosis and survival (OR 2.40, 95% CI 0.80 to 7.95; p=0.130). There was no significant difference in mortality between the groups.

Conclusion

Radiological imaging may be appropriate for selected trauma patients at risk of tension pneumothorax if they are considered haemodynamically stable. Trauma patients may be physiologically stable enough for radiological imaging but have occult tension pneumothorax because they did not have the typical clinical presentation. The historical dogma of the‘forbidden scan’no longer applies to such patients.
Novel microenvironment-based classification of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma with therapeutic implications
Authors: Martin-Serrano Miguel A , Kepecs Benjamin , Torres-Martin Miguel , Bramel Emily R , Haber Philipp K , Merritt Elliot , Rialdi Alexander , Param Nesteene Joy , Maeda Miho , Lindblad Katherine E , Carter James K , Barcena-Varela Marina , Mazzaferro Vincenzo , Schwartz Myron , Affo Silvia , Schwabe Robert F , Villanueva Augusto , Guccione Ernesto , Friedman Scott L , Lujambio Amaia , Tocheva Anna , Llovet Josep M , Thung Swan N , Tsankov Alexander M , Sia Daniela
Published: May 2022

Objective

The diversity of the tumour microenvironment (TME) of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has not been comprehensively assessed. We aimed to generate a novel molecular iCCA classifier that incorporates elements of the stroma, tumour and immune microenvironment (‘STIM’ classification).

Design

We applied virtual deconvolution to transcriptomic data from ~900 iCCAs, enabling us to devise a novel classification by selecting for the most relevant TME components. Murine models were generated through hydrodynamic tail vein injection and compared with the human disease.

Results

iCCA is composed of five robust STIM classes encompassing both inflamed (35%) and non-inflamed profiles (65%). The inflamed classes, namedimmune classical(~10%) andinflammatory stroma(~25%), differ in oncogenic pathways and extent of desmoplasia, with theinflammatory stromashowing T cell exhaustion, abundant stroma andKRASmutations (p<0.001). Analysis of cell–cell interactions highlights cancer-associated fibroblast subtypes as potential mediators of immune evasion. Among the non-inflamed classes, thedesert-like class(~20%) harbours the lowest immune infiltration with abundant regulatory T cells (p<0.001), whereas thehepatic stem-likeclass (~35%) is enriched in ‘M2-like’ macrophages, mutations inIDH1/2andBAP1,andFGFR2fusions. The remaining class (tumour classical: ~10%) is defined by cell cycle pathways and poor prognosis. Comparative analysis unveils high similarity between aKRAS/p19murine model and theinflammatory stromaclass (p=0.02). The KRAS-SOS inhibitor, BI3406, sensitises aKRAS-mutant iCCA murine model to anti-PD1 therapy.

Conclusions

We describe a comprehensive TME-based stratification of iCCA. Cross-species analysis establishes murine models that align closely to human iCCA for the preclinical testing of combination strategies.
Collateral status and recanalization after endovascular treatment for acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Uniken Venema Simone M , Dankbaar Jan Willem , Wolff Lennard , van Es Adriaan C G M , Sprengers Marieke , van der Lugt Aad , Dippel Diederik W J , van der Worp H. Bart
Published: May 2022

Background

Successful recanalization and good collateral status are associated with good clinical outcomes after endovascular treatment (EVT) for acute ischemic stroke, but the relationships among them are unclear.

Objective

To assess if collateral status is associated with recanalization after EVT and if collateral status modifies the association between successful recanalization and functional outcome.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data from the MR CLEAN Registry, a multicenter prospective cohort study of patients with a proximal anterior occlusion who underwent EVT in the Netherlands. We determined collateral status with a previously validated four-point visual grading scale and defined successful recanalization as an extended Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction score ≥2B. Functional outcome was determined using the modified Rankin Scale score at 90 days. We assessed, with multivariable logistic regression models, the associations between (1) collateral status and successful recanalization, (2) successful recanalization and functional outcome, (3) collateral status and functional outcome. An interaction of collateral status and successful recanalization was assessed. Subgroup analyses were performed for patients treated with intravenous thrombolysis.

Results

We included 2717 patients, of whom 1898 (70%) had successful recanalization. There was no relationship between collateral status and successful recanalization (adjusted common OR (95% CI) of grades 1, 2, and 3 vs 0: 1.19 (0.82 to 1.72), 1.20 (0.83 to 1.75), and 1.10 (0.74 to 1.63), respectively). Successful recanalization (acOR (95% CI): 2.15 (1.84 to 2.52)) and better collateral grades (acOR (95% CI) of grades 1, 2, and 3 vs 0: 2.12 (1.47 to 3.05), 3.46 (2.43 to 4.92), and 4.16 (2.89 to 5.99), respectively) were both associated with a shift towards better functional outcome, without an interaction between collateral status and successful recanalization. Results were similar for the subgroup of thrombolysed patients.

Conclusions

Collateral status is not associated with the probability of successful recanalization after EVT and does not modify the association between successful recanalization and functional outcome.
Distal cerebral vasospasm treatment following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage using the Comaneci device: technical feasibility and single-center preliminary results
Authors: Thiery Louis , Carle Xavier , Testud Benoit , Boulouis Gregoire , Habert Paul , Tradi Farouk , Reyre Anthony , Lehmann Pierre , Dory-Lautrec Philippe , Stellmann Jan-Patrick , Girard Nadine , Brunel Herve , Hak Jean-Francois
Published: May 2022

Background

Balloon-assisted mechanical angioplasty for cerebral vasospasm following aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) has a number of limitations, including transient occlusion of the spastic blood vessel. Comaneci is an FDA-approved device for temporary coil embolization assistance which has recently also been approved for the treatment of distal symptomatic refractory vasospasm. We aimed to report the feasibility, efficacy and safety of our experience with Comaneci angioplasty for refractory distal vasospasm (up to the second segment of the cerebral arteries) following aSAH.

Methods

This is a retrospective analysis of a prospective series of 18 patients included between April 2019 and June 2021 with aSAH and symptomatic vasospasm refractory to medical therapy, who were treated using Comaneci-17-asssisted mechanical distal angioplasty. Immediate angiographic results, procedure-related complications, and clinical outcomes were assessed. Inter-rater reliability of the scores was determined using the intraclass correlation coefficient.

Results

Comaneci-assisted distal angioplasty was performed in 18 patients, corresponding to 31 target arteries. All distal anterior segments were easily accessible with the Comaneci-17 device. Vasospasm improvement after Comaneci mechanical angioplasty was seen in 22 distal arteries (71%) (weighted Cohen’s kappa (κw) 0.73, 95% CI 0.69 to 0.93). Vasospasm recurrence occurred in three patients (16.67%) and delayed cerebral infarction in three patients (16.67%), with a mean±SD delay between onset of symptoms and imaging follow-up (MRI/CT) of 32.61±8.93 days (κw0.98, 95% CI 0.88 to 1).

Conclusion

This initial experience suggests that distal mechanical angioplasty performed with the Comaneci-17 device for refractory vasospasm following aSAH seems to be safe, with good feasibility and efficacy.
Predictors of early neurologic deterioration (END) following stroke thrombectomy
Authors: Bhole Rohini , Nouer Simonne S , Tolley Elizabeth A , Turk Aquilla , Siddiqui Adnan H , Alexandrov Andrei V , Arthur Adam S , Mocco J
Published: May 2022

Background

Early neurologic deterioration (END) following ischemic stroke is a serious event and is associated with poor outcomes. However, the incidence and predictors of END after stroke thrombectomy for emergent large vessel occlusion are largely unknown.

Methods

The baseline characteristics of patients enrolled in the COMPASS trial (NCT02466893) were analyzed. The primary outcome was worsening of ≥4 National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) points 24 hours post thrombectomy (4+ END24) and the secondary outcome was deterioration of ≥2 points (2+ END24).

Results

Among 270 patients, 27 (10%) developed 4+ END24and 42 (16%) had 2+ END24. Those with 4+ END24were older (76.4±12.9 vs 70.9±12.9 years; p=0.04), had a higher prevalence of hypertension (96% vs 69%; p=0.003), diabetes (41% vs 27%; p=0.13) and higher pretreatment systolic blood pressure (SBP) (170.4±32.6 vs 157.6±28.1 mmHg; p=0.03). More 4+ END24patients had failed reperfusion: Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction ≤2a (26% vs 8%; p=0.003). In unadjusted analysis, older patients and those with hypertension, diabetes, elevated SBP and failed reperfusion had higher odds of 4+ END24. In adjusted analysis, age increase by 5 years led to an increase in 4+ END24of 28%, diabetes increased odds of 2.6 and failed reperfusion increased odds of 4.5. In the multivariable analysis for the secondary outcome, age (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.109 to 1.593), diabetes (OR 2.7; 95% CI 1.247 to 5.764) and failed reperfusion (OR 7.2; 95% CI 0.055 to 0.349) were also significant predictors of 2+ END24.

Conclusions

Older patients with acute ischemic stroke who have a history of diabetes or hypertension, with elevated pretreatment SBP and failed reperfusion are at a higher risk of END following stroke thrombectomy for emergent large vessel occlusion.
Environmental contamination byChlamydia trachomatisandNeisseria gonorrhoeae: is it time to change our infection control practices? Results of a regional study
Authors: Ramsden Sophie , Ovens Katie , Griffiths James , Muir Peter , Steele-Nicholson Ann , Horner Paddy J
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) are highly sensitive for the detection ofChlamydia trachomatis(CT) andNeisseria gonorrhoeae(NG) DNA/ribosomal RNA (rRNA). Previous studies have demonstrated contamination of surfaces in sexual health clinics (SHCs) with CT/NG. False positive results can occur if patient samples are contaminated by environmental DNA/rRNA. This can have a dramatic impact on patients’ lives and relationships. Previous attempts to reduce contamination, through staff training alone, have been unsuccessful. We aimed to investigate environmental contamination levels in SHCs and to assess a two-armed intervention aimed at reducing surface contamination.

Methods

Questionnaires were sent to 10 SHCs. Six clinics, with differing characteristics, were selected to participate in sample collection. Each clinic followed standardised instructions to sample surfaces using a CT/NG NAAT swab. Clinics were invited to introduce the two-armed intervention. The first arm was cleaning with a chlorine-based cleaning solution once daily. The second arm involved introducing clinic-specific changes to reduce contamination.

Results

7/10 (70%) clinics completed the questionnaire. Overall, 88/263 (33%) swabs were positive for CT/NG. Clinics 1, 3 and 4 had high levels of contamination, with 28/64 (44%), 17/33 (52%) and 30/52 (58%) swabs testing positive, respectively. Clinics 2 and 6 had lower levels of contamination, with 7/46 (15%) and 6/35 (17%), respectively. 0/33 (0%) of swabs were positive at clinic 5 and this was the only clinic already using a chlorine-based solution to clean all surfaces and delivering twice-yearly clinic-specific infection control training. Following both intervention arms at clinic 1, 2/50 (4%, p<0.0001) swabs tested positive for CT/NG. Clinic 4 introduced each arm separately. After the first intervention, 13/52 (25%, p=0.003) swabs tested positive and following the second arm 4/50 (8%, p<0.0001) swabs were positive.

Conclusions

Environmental contamination is a concern in SHCs. We recommend that all SHCs monitor contamination levels and, if necessary, consider using chlorine-based cleaning products and introduce clinic-specific changes to address environmental contamination.
On light surfaces in black hole thermodynamics
Authors: Pugliese D. , Quevedo H.
Published: May 2022

We discuss the fundamentals of classical black hole (BH) thermodynamics in a new framework determined by light surfaces and their frequencies. This new approach allows us to study BH transitions inside the Kerr geometry. In the case of BHs, we introduce a new parametrization of the metric in terms of the maximum extractable rotational energy or, correspondingly, the irreducible mass, which is an alternative to the spin parametrization. It turns out that BH spacetimes with spins $$a/M= \sqrt{8/9}$$

a
/
M
=

8
/
9

and $$a/M=1/\sqrt{2}$$

a
/
M
=
1
/

2

show anomalies in the rotational energy extraction and surface gravity whereas the case $$a/M=\sqrt{3}/2$$

a
/
M
=

3

/
2

is of particular relevance to study the variations of the horizon area. We find the general conditions under which BH transitions can occur and express them in terms of the masses of the initial and final states. This shows that BH transitions in the Kerr geometry are not arbitrary but depend on the relationship between the mass and spin of the initial and final states. From an observational point of view, we argue that near the BH poles it is possible to detect photon orbits with frequencies that characterize the light surfaces analyzed in this work.
Modeling Seismic-Soil-Pile Interaction (SSPI) Problems for Large Pile Groups
Authors: Zhao Ben , Ho Jiahui , Banerjee Subhadeep , Goh Siang-Huat , Lee Fook-Hou
Published: May 2022

This paper presents a critical review of the current challenges in analyzing large, realistic pile groups in soft clay soil under earthquake shaking. The review focuses on three main essentials of numerical analyses, namely soil behavior and constitutive model, pile and pile-soil interface modeling and computational framework.
Just who do I think I am?
Authors: Yaffe Philip
Published: May 2022

Each "Communication Corner" essay is self-contained; however, they build on each other. For best results, before reading this essay and doing the exercise, go to the first essay "How an Ugly Duckling Became a Swan," then read each succeeding essay.

Good advice is good advice no matter the source. However knowing something about its source can significantly reinforce one's desire to put that good advice into practice.
Noise masking in cochlear synaptopathy: auditory brainstem response vs. auditory nerve response in mouse
Authors: Suthakar Kirupa , Liberman M. Charles
Published: May 2022

Using a masking paradigm, we demonstrate that noise-damaged animals exhibit “improved” performance, i.e., the dynamic range of masker levels over which an ABR remains detectable is increased in regions of damaged cochlear ribbon synapses. Furthermore, the normal masker-induced changes in ABR response latency, used as a biomarker of a healthy cochlear neural population, may reflect a shift in cochlear frequency regions dominating the response, rather than from high- to low spontaneous-rate groups as previously thought.
Phylogeny, Phytomedicines, Phytochemistry, Pharmacological Properties, and Toxicity of Croton gratissimus Burch (Euphorbiaceae)
Authors: Magwilu Kirkland Dingili , Nguta Joseph Mwanzia , Mapenay Isaac , Matara Dorine
Published: May 2022

Croton gratissimus is an important plant in Africa setup and across the globe for its ethnomedicinal uses in managing a wide range of diseases. Its phylogeny, pharmacological properties, ethnomedicinal uses, phytochemistry, and cytotoxicity have been highlighted in various articles and journals. This review article aims to give a comprehensively overviewed literature about Croton gratissimus genus. Authentic literature sources such as books, peer reviewed articles, journals, theses, Google Scholar, Science Direct, and any other validated internet source have been used to develop this review. Croton gratissimus is richly found across different climatic zones because of its ability to adapt to various climatic conditions. It is mainly found in rocky hills as a scrub that is about 12–15 m tall. Its leaves are glossy, green on the top, and silvery underneath. Some of the leaves may look brick red rusty. Croton gratissimus has been explored traditionally to manage a number of diseases among the human race since time immemorial. It has been used to treat different ailments ranging from respiratory tract infections, urinary tract infections, malaria, diabetes, hypertension, dermatological conditions, arthritis, gastrointestinal disorders, fever, sexually transmitted diseases, and infertility. Studies have shown that parts of this plant have antioxidative, antimicrobial, anticholinesterases inhibitory, antidiabetic, antihyperlipidemic, anticonvulsant, antiulcer, antihypertensive, antiproliferative, antiplasmodial, and anti-inflammatory activities. Terpenoids and flavonoids have shown to be the major classes of compounds in this plant. Its toxicity has not been well established; some studies have suggested that Croton gratissimus can cause hepatotoxicity and genotoxicity. More studies are needed to elucidate the compounds and their structures giving this plant a wide range of pharmacological activities, efficacy, safety, and toxicity levels, since the plant has greater ethnomedicinal uses. This would give a great indication of discovering new novelties that can give a breakthrough in drug discovery.
Count-Based Exploration via Embedded State Space for Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Liu Xinyue , Li Qinghua , Li Yuangang
Published: May 2022

Count-based exploration algorithms have shown to be effective in dealing with various deep reinforcement learning tasks. However, existing count-based exploration algorithms cannot work well in high-dimensional state space due to the complexity of state representation. In this paper, we propose a novel count-based exploration method, which can explore high-dimensional continuous state space and combine with any reinforcement learning algorithms. Specifically, by introducing the embedding network to encode the state space and to merge the states with similar key characteristics, we can compress the high-dimensional state space. By utilizing the state binary code to count the occurrence number of states, we generate additional rewards which can encourage the agent to explore the environment. Extensive experimental results on several commonly used environments show that our proposed method outperforms other strong baselines significantly.
Image Encryption Algorithm Based on Artificial Bee Colony Algorithm and Chaotic System
Authors: Zhou Yanqi , Wang Erfu , Song Xiaomeng , Shi Mengna
Published: May 2022

This article proposes an image encryption algorithm based on a chaotic bit-plane decomposition and optimization algorithm of a crossover operator artificial bee colony algorithm. Firstly, use the SHA-256 hash algorithm to calculate the plaintext image’s hash value as the starting value of the fractional Lorenz hyperchaotic system after operation. Utilize the chaotic sequence to permutate plaintext image in a bit plane to obtain the scrambled image. Secondly, block the scrambled image into four subimages of equal size, and count the hash value of each row of each block by the SHA-256 hash algorithm as the starting value of the Sine-Tent-Logistic chaotic system. Use the obtained chaotic sequence to substitute the images. Then, stitch the four sub-block images to get the final encrypted image, and the population is obtained. Finally, use the information entropy of ciphertext image as the fitness function of the artificial bee colony algorithm based on a crossover operator. Select the ciphertext image with the best information entropy from the population as the optimal encrypted image, and then, return the position value of the best honey source meanwhile. The experimental simulation and security analysis indicate that the scheme has an excellent encryption effect and ability to oppose various general attacks.
lncRNA DLEU1 Modulates Proliferation, Inflammation, and Extracellular Matrix Degradation of Chondrocytes through Regulating miR-671-5p
Authors: Wu Xiangkun , Yin Shuai , Yan Lihua , Liu Yongxi , Shang Lilin , Liu Jun
Published: May 2022

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been shown to be involved in the development of osteoarthritis. However, the expression, function, and mechanism of DLEU1 in OA development remain largely unclear. The present reference demonstrates that DLEU1 is overexpressed in OA specimens compared to control cartilages. Inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 induce DLEU1 expression in chondrocytes. Ectopic expression of DLEU1 induces chondrocyte proliferation, degradation of ECM, and inflammation mediators such as IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α secretion. Moreover, we demonstrated that DLEU1 targets miR-671-5p expression in chondrocytes. Overexpression of DLEU1 suppresses miR-671-5p expression in chondrocytes. The expression of miR-671-5p is decreased in OA specimens compared to control cartilages. There is a negative correlation between the expression of miR-671-5p and DLEU1 in OA specimens. Inflammatory mediators IL-1β, TNF-α, and IL-6 suppress miR-671-5p expression in OA specimens. Elevated expression of miR-671-5p suppresses chondrocyte proliferation, degradation of ECM, and secretion of inflammation mediators. DLEU1 overexpression promotes chondrocytes proliferation, degradation of ECM, and secretion of inflammation mediators via regulating miR-671-5p. These results suggested that DLEU1 acts as one destructive role in OA development via regulating miR-671-5p.