bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Improved screening of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP): development of a target product profile (TPP) for resource-limited settings
Authors: Kirby Rebecca P , Malik Aeesha N J , Palamountain Kara M , Gilbert Clare E
Published: July 2023

Background

As more preterm infants survive, complications of preterm birth, including retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), become more prevalent. ROP rates and blindness from ROP are higher in low-income and middle-income countries, where exposure to risk factors can be higher and where detection and treatment of ROP are under-resourced or non-existent. Access to low-cost imaging devices would improve remote screening capabilities for ROP.

Methods

Target product profiles (TPPs) are developed early in the medical device development process to define the setting, target user and range of product requirements. A Delphi-like process, consisting of an online survey and consensus meeting, was used to develop a TPP for an ROP imaging device, collecting feedback on a proposed set of 64 product requirements.

Results

Thirty-six stakeholders from 17 countries provided feedback: clinicians (72%), product developers (14%), technicians (6%) and other (8%). Thirty-six per cent reported not currently screening for ROP, with cited barriers including cost (44%), no training (17%) and poor image quality (16%). Among those screening (n=23), 48% use more than one device, with the most common being an indirect ophthalmoscope (87%), followed by RetCam (26%) and smartphone with image capture (26%). Consensus was reached on 53 (83%) product requirements. The 11 remaining were discussed at the consensus meeting, and all but two achieved consensus.

Conclusions

This TPP process was novel in that it successfully brought together diverse stakeholders to reach consensus on the product requirements for an ROP imaging devices. The resulting TPP provides a framework from which innovators can develop prototypes.
Disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs associated with different diabetes risks in patients with rheumatoid arthritis
Authors: Su Yu-Jih , Chen Hui-Ming , Chan Tien-Ming , Cheng Tien-Tsai , Yu Shan-Fu , Chen Jia-Feng , Lin Chun-Yu , Hsu Chung-Yuan
Published: July 2023

Objectives

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis are prone to developing diabetes, which may lead to various sequelae and even cardiovascular diseases, the most common cause of death in such patients. Previous research has shown that some rheumatoid arthritis treatments may help prevent the development of diabetes. This study aimed to investigate whether patients using disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) may have different levels of risk for diabetes and to analyse other risk factors for diabetes.

Methods

This cohort study used data from the Chang Gung Research Database. 5530 adults with rheumatoid arthritis but without diabetes were eligible for the analysis. The endpoint of this study was new-onset diabetes, defined as an HbA1c value ≥7% during follow-up. The entire follow-up period was divided into monthly subunits. These 1-month units were then divided into methotrexate (MTX) monotherapy, any biological DMARDs (bDMARDs), MTX combination, other conventional DMARDs (cDMARDs) and non-DMARDs.

Results

A total of 546 participants (9.87%) developed diabetes between 2001 and 2018. The risk of diabetes was significantly lower in the bDMARD periods (HR 0.51; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.83), MTX combination periods (HR 0.50; 95% CI 0.32 to 0.78) and other cDMARD periods (HR 0.56; 95% CI 0.37 to 0.84) than in the MTX monotherapy periods. Individual drug analysis showed that hydroxychloroquine (HR 0.52; 95% CI 0.42 to 0.65) reduced the risk of diabetes. Tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors (HR 0.69; 95% CI 0.46 to 1.03) tended to be protective.

Conclusion

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis may have different levels of risk of diabetes depending on the treatment options.
Heat and mass transfer analysis of nonmiscible couple stress fluid in a porous saturated channel
Authors: Yadav Pramod Kumar , Kumar Ankit , Chamkha Ali J.
Published: July 2023

The present flow problem analyzes the impact of radiative heat and mass transfer with inclined magnetic field on thermal exchange and entropy production of two immiscible nature of electrically conducting couple stress fluid in a static porous saturated conduit. In this model, the lower and upper porous regions of the rectangular channel are occupied by two different types of couple stress fluids. The static horizontal parallel plates of the porous duct are completely isothermal and the flow of immiscible fluid through the porous duct develops because of a constant pressure gradient at the entry zone of the duct. The Brinkman model is utilized in the modeling of fluid flow through porous saturated domain and Rosseland’s approximation is utilized to compute the radiative thermal exchange effect on nonmiscible couple stress fluid. In this work, authors have analyzed the effect of various thermo-physical parameters such as the Hartmann number (Ha), permeability parameter (Da), Schmidt number (Sc), Soret number (Sr) and couple stress parameter ([Formula: see text]) on the entropy generation characteristics, Bejan number distribution, thermal behavior, concentration distribution and flow characteristics of immiscible couple stress fluid which passes through the porous channel. The parameters Ha, Da, [Formula: see text], Sc, Sr correspond to magnetic field effect, permeability of porous media, couple stress, mass diffusion and thermal diffusion, respectively. The most significant findings of this research work are as follows:

• In a porous saturated channel, the immiscible couple stress fluid velocity, entropy production number and thermal profile get enhanced on increasing the couple stress parameter. • On increasing the Hartmann number and decreasing the permeability of porous region, the thermal properties and entropy production number both decrease. • The couple stress fluid’s concentration field and Bejan number distribution get decreased on enhancing Soret number Sr and Schmidt number Sc. • The entropy generation near the wall of the channel rapidly increases on increasing the Schmidt number and Soret number.

The emerging finding of this research work exhibits excellent agreement with previously published work. This research work can be utilized in food processing, petroleum products and chemical process.
Query Interface for Smart City Internet of Things Data Marketplaces: A Case Study
Authors: Hamed Naeima , Gaglione Andrea , Gluhak Alex , Rana Omer , Perera Charith
Published: July 2023

Cities are increasingly becoming augmented with sensors through public, private, and academic sector initiatives. Most of the time, these sensors are deployed with a primary purpose (objective) in mind (e.g., deploy sensors to understand noise pollution) by a sensor owner (i.e., the organization that invests in sensing hardware, e.g., a city council). Over the past few years, communities undertaking smart city development projects have understood the importance of making the sensor data available to a wider community—beyond their primary usage. Different business models have been proposed to achieve this, including creating data marketplaces. The vision is to encourage new startups and small and medium-scale businesses to create novel products and services using sensor data to generate additional economic value. Currently, data are sold as pre-defined independent datasets (e.g., noise level and parking status data may be sold separately). This approach creates several challenges, such as (i) difficulties in pricing, which leads to higher prices (per dataset); (ii) higher network communication and bandwidth requirements; and (iii) information overload for data consumers (i.e., those who purchase data). We investigate the benefit of semantic representation and its reasoning capabilities toward creating a business model that offers data on demand within smart city Internet of Things data marketplaces. The objective is to help data consumers (i.e., small and medium enterprises) acquire the most relevant data they need. We demonstrate the utility of our approach by integrating it into a real-world IoT data marketplace (developed by the
synchronicity-iot.eu
project). We discuss design decisions and their consequences (i.e., tradeoffs) on the choice and selection of datasets. Subsequently, we present a series of data modeling principles and recommendations for implementing IoT data marketplaces.
Vapor Deposition-Assisted Sulfurization Synthesis of S-doped WO3 Nanorods and Their Enhanced Photoactivity
Authors: Liang Yuan-Chang , Chen Bo-Yue
Published: July 2023

The hydrothermally derived WO3 nanorods were doped with sulfur through a simple vapor deposition-assisted sulfurization process at 550 °C. By changing the sulfurization duration from 1 to 10 min, the sulfur doping contents in the WO3 nanorods are 1.49–3.27 at%. After sulfurization treatments, the microstructural analysis reveals a phase transition from hexagonal to monoclinic structure for the WO3 nanorods. Furthermore, the sulfurization treatments result in a rugged surface feature of the WO3 nanorods. Compared with the pristine WO3 nanorods, sulfur-doping altered the energy band gap of the S-doped WO3 nanorods. The marked red shift of the absorption edge of the WO3 nanorods occurred after sulfurization treatments. Among various S-doped WO3 photocatalysts, the S-doped WO3 nanorods with an optimal S content of 2.26 at% exhibit superior photoelectrochemical (PEC) properties. The results show that the photoactivity of WO3 nanorods can be tuned by adjusting sulfurization duration, and the sulfur-doped WO3 nanorods with an appropriate sulfur content are feasible in applications of photoexcited devices with high efficiency.
Two Specific Behaviors of Breakdown Occurrence Depending on N2 Annealing Temperature in Poly-Si/SiN/Poly-Si Capacitors
Authors: Kurita Hisatsugu , Nakamura Masataka , Miyagawa Hayato , Kamigaki Yoshiaki
Published: July 2023

A time-dependent dielectric breakdown assessment was performed on a poly-Si/SiN/poly-Si capacitor to investigate the dependence of the breakdown occurrence on the N2 annealing temperature. We identified two specific behaviors of the breakdown occurrence dependent on the N2 annealing temperature: a peak at around 900 °C and a monotonic increase at temperatures above 1000 °C. Electron spin resonance spectroscopy was used to observe defects in the SiN film on the Si substrate, and the two behaviors showed good correlations with two types of changes in the defect densities: Pb centers on the Si substrate at the SiN/Si interface and an unidentified spectrum showing a local maximum at 900 °C; and E′ centers in the SiO2 film at the SiN/Si interface and K centers in the SiN film showing a monotonic increase at higher temperatures. We propose that the two specific behaviors of breakdown occurrence can be attributed to not only bulk defects in the SiN film but also defects near the SiN/Si interface.
Cu-Doped ZnO Nanoparticle Electrode for Precise and Rapid Sodium Ion Detection in Water Samples
Authors: Samreen Sadaf , Ali Muhammad Saquib , Akhtar Muhammad Wasim , Qamber Ghulam , Khan Muhammad Yasir , Abbas Syed Zeeshan
Published: July 2023

Excessive consumption of sodium ions (Na+) can result in high blood pressure, linked to various health issues. To regulate Na+ intake and manage food flavour, it is crucial to determine the Na+ content in food in real time. Researchers have developed an electrochemical sensor that utilizes cyclic voltammetry (CV) to detect Na+ at room temperature to address this concern. The sensor used a Cu-doped ZnO-modified electrode and was found to be highly selective in detecting Na+. The Cu-doped ZnO nanoparticles (Cu-ZnONPs) were synthesized using a solution process and placed on a glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The sensor exhibited excellent sensitivity, selectivity, linear response, stability, and reproducibility in detecting Na+. It had a low detection limit of 0.1 ppm for known water samples and was successfully employed to measure Na+ levels in actual water samples. This electrochemical sensor is a valuable tool for the real-time measurement of Na+ levels in drinking water samples.
Phase-Transition Induced Optimization of Energy Storage and Temperature Stability of NaNbO3 Doped BNBST Ceramics
Authors: Jin Zhengquan , Wu Xiusheng , Shi Sijia , Wen Hongjuan , Cao Jufang
Published: July 2023

The 0.5Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3−0.5Ba0.3Sr0.7TiO3 (BNBST) ceramic is a relatively good relaxation component with tripartite phase and tetragonal phase coexisting at room temperature. Tripartite R3c is a polar phase, which can transform to long range ordered ferroelectric structures under the action of an applied electric field, exhibiting large remnant polarization (P
r), which limits its application in energy storage. In this work, we designed NaNbO3 (NN) modified Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3-Ba0.3Sr0.7TiO3 ceramics to prepare (1−x) (0.5Bi0.5Na0.5TiO3−0.5Ba0.3Sr0.7TiO3)−xNaNbO3 (abbreviated as (1−x)BNBST-Xnn, x = 0, 0.05, 0.10, 0.15, 0.20, 0.25) relaxor ferroelectrics. By increasing the NN amount, the phase composition is regulated to induce the transformation of the polar phase R3c to the weakly polar phase P4bm, leading to a smaller P
r. The ferroelectric test results show that the ceramic sample with x = 0.1 achieves a high effective energy storage density (W
rec = 2.58 J cm−3) and energy storage efficiency (ƞ = 91%) at 140 kV cm−1.
Heart Failure with Preserved Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction: A Complex Conundrum Simply Not Limited to Diastolic Dysfunction
Authors: Lopez-Candales Angel , Asif Talal , Sawalha Khalid , Norgard Nicholas B.
Published: July 2023

Over the last two decades, the changing paradigm of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) has transformed our understanding not only of the pathophysiology of this clinical entity but also the diagnostic and therapeutic approaches aimed at treating this complex patient population. No longer HFpEF should be seen as simply left ventricular diastolic dysfunction but as a group of that in addition of having small and thick left ventricles with abnormal diastolic filling patterns as their main pathophysiologic abnormality; they also have whole host of different abnormalities. In fact, this heterogeneous clinical entity embodies numerous mechanisms and is linked to multiorgan dysfunction, with hypertension and obesity playing a major role. Although we have gained an enormous amount of understanding not only on the causes but also the downstream effects of HFpEF, there is still much to be learned before we can fully comprehend this complex clinical entity. It is the main intention of this review to synthesize the most recent attributes, mechanism, diagnostic tools, and most useful therapeutic alternatives to be considered when evaluating patients either complaining of dyspnea on exertion as well as exercise intolerance or those recently admitted with HF symptoms but with normal LVEF in the absence of any other valvular abnormalities
Robust Personal Identification Using Wearable Devices Based on LSTM and CNN
Authors: Choi Jiwoo , Choi Sangil , Kang Taewon
Published: July 2023

Various studies exist to identify individuals. Personal identification research based on inertial data, that is, acceleration and angular velocity acquired with an inertial sensor, is also one of these efforts. In fact, when learning inertial data with convolutional neural network (CNN), it is known to be able to identify individuals with high accuracy. However, we found that the individual identification model using inertial data significantly lowers the performance of recognition from 99% to 81% when the shoes worn by the individual change. This paper deals with solving this problem by using a gait cycle extracted from inertial data. First, we study a method to detect the gait cycle using long short‐term memory, a representative recurrent neural network model. Second, the CNN model using the gait cycle is implemented, and then the model is evaluated with the typical performance evaluation indicators such as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1‐score. As a result, it is confirmed that the proposed model can identify individuals with more than 90% accuracy even when the shoes worn are different.
Supplementary Dataset S1 from Phase I trial of Ganitumab plus Dasatinib to Cotarget the Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1 Receptor and Src Family Kinase YES in Rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Akshintala Srivandana , Sundby R. Taylor , Bernstein Donna , Glod John W. , Kaplan Rosandra N. , Yohe Marielle E. , Gross Andrea M. , Derdak Joanne , Lei Haiyan , Pan Alexander , Dombi Eva , Palacio-Yance Isabel , Herrera Kailey R. , Miettinen Markku M. , Chen Helen X. , Steinberg Seth M. , Helman Lee J. , Mascarenhas Leo , Widemann Brigitte C. , Navid Fariba , Shern Jack F. , Heske Christine M.
Published: July 2023

Fusion-positive RMS enhancer sites; Universal DNAase-hypersensitivity sites; YES1 and IGF1R region sets
Supplementary Figure S11 from Dissecting the Mechanisms Underlying the Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) Mediated by T-Cell Bispecific Antibodies
Authors: Leclercq-Cohen Gabrielle , Steinhoff Nathalie , Albertí Servera Llucia , Nassiri Sina , Danilin Sabrina , Piccione Emily , Yángüez Emilio , Hüsser Tamara , Herter Sylvia , Schmeing Stephan , Gerber Petra , Schwalie Petra , Sam Johannes , Briner Stefanie , Jenni Sylvia , Bianchi Roberta , Biehl Marlene , Cremasco Floriana , Apostolopoulou Katerina , Haegel Hélène , Klein Christian , Umaña Pablo , Bacac Marina
Published: July 2023

Supplementary Figure S11. Single cell RNA-sequencing of whole blood treated with 0.2 μg/mL CD20-TCB was performed using the BD Rhapsody platform. A. UMAP plots of neutrophils colored by treatment. B. UMAP plots showing IL-1β (IL1B), IL-1Ra (IL1RN), IL-6 (IL6), IP-10 (CXCL10), IL-8 (CXCL8), TNF-α (TNF), MCP-1 (CCL2), MIP-1α (CCL3), MIP-1β (CCL4) gene expression within neutrophil clusters identified above. C. Violin plots showing the kinetics of gene expression distribution in neutrophils. The cytokine and cytokine receptor genes are listed on the y axis. The color code on the right side of the violin plots represents the median gene expression. The untreated condition corresponds to the pooled baseline and untreated samples. N= 4 donors (baseline, and 20 hrs) and n=2 donors (2 hrs, 4 hrs and 6 hrs).
Data from Phase I trial of ganitumab plus dasatinib to cotarget the insulin-like growth factor 1 receptor and Src family kinase YES in rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Akshintala Srivandana , Sundby R. Taylor. , Bernstein Donna , Glod John W. , Kaplan Rosandra N. , Yohe Marielle E. , Gross Andrea M. , Derdak Joanne , Lei Haiyan , Pan Alexander , Dombi Eva , Palacio-Yance Isabel , Herrera Kailey R. , Miettinen Markku M. , Chen Helen X. , Steinberg Seth M. , Helman Lee J. , Mascarenhas Leo , Widemann Brigitte C. , Navid Fariba , Shern Jack F. , Heske Christine M.
Published: July 2023

Abstract
Purpose: Antibodies against IGF-1R have shown meaningful but transient tumor responses in patients with rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS). The SRC family member YES has been shown to mediate IGF-1R antibody acquired resistance, and cotargeting IGF-1R and YES resulted in sustained responses in murine RMS models. We conducted a phase I trial of the anti-IGF-1R antibody ganitumab combined with dasatinib, a multi-kinase inhibitor targeting YES, in RMS patients (NCT03041701). Patients and Methods: Patients with relapsed/refractory alveolar or embryonal RMS and measurable disease were eligible. All patients received ganitumab 18 mg/kg intravenously every 2 weeks. Dasatinib dose was 60 mg/m2/dose (max 100 mg) oral once daily [dose level (DL)1] or 60 mg/m2/dose (max 70 mg) twice daily (DL2). A 3+3 dose escalation design was used, and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) was determined based on cycle 1 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs). Results: Thirteen eligible patients, median age 18 years (range 8-29) enrolled. Median number of prior systemic therapies was 3; all had received prior radiation. Of 11 toxicity-evaluable patients, 1/6 had a DLT at DL1 (diarrhea) and 2/5 had a DLT at DL2 (pneumonitis, hematuria) confirming DL1 as MTD. Of nine response-evaluable patients, one had a confirmed partial response (PR) for four cycles, and one had stable disease (SD) for six cycles. Genomic studies from cell-free DNA correlated with disease response. Conclusions: The combination of dasatinib 60 mg/m2/dose daily and ganitumab 18 mg/kg every two weeks was safe and tolerable. This combination had a disease control rate of 22% at five months.
How Much Evidence Is Enough? Research Sponsor Experiences Seeking Regulatory Acceptance of Digital Health Technology-Derived Endpoints
Authors: Perry Brian , Kehoe Lindsay , Swezey Teresa , Le Masne Quentin , Goldhahn Jörg , Staley Alicia , Corneli Amy
Published: July 2023

Introduction: Digital health technologies (DHTs) provide opportunities for real-time data collection and assessment of patient function. However, use of DHT-derived endpoints in clinical trials to support medical product labelling claims is limited. Methods: From November 2020 through March 2021, the Clinical Trials Transformation Initiative (CTTI) conducted a qualitative descriptive study using semi-structured interviews with sponsors of clinical trials that used DHT-derived endpoints. We aimed to learn about their experiences, including their interactions with regulators and the challenges they encountered. Using applied thematic analysis, we identified barriers to and recommendations for using DHT-derived endpoints in pivotal trials. Results: Sponsors identified five key challenges to incorporating DHT-derived endpoints in clinical trials. These included (1) a need for additional regulatory clarity specific to DHT-derived endpoints, (2) the official clinical outcome assessment qualification process being impractical for the biopharmaceutical industry, (3) a lack of comparator clinical endpoints, (4) a lack of validated DHTs and algorithms for concepts of interest, and (5) a lack of operational support from DHT vendors. Discussion/Conclusion: CTTI shared the interview findings with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and during a multi-stakeholder expert meeting. Based on these discussions, we provide several new and revised tools to aid sponsors in using DHT-derived endpoints in pivotal trials to support labelling claims.
Relationship Between In-Hospital Adverse Events and Hospital Performance on 30-Day All-cause Mortality and Readmission for Patients With Heart Failure
Authors: Wang Yun , Eldridge Noel , Metersky Mark L. , Rodrick David , Eckenrode Sheila , Mathew Jasie , Galusha Deron H. , Peterson Andrea A. , Hunt David , Normand Sharon-Lise T. , Krumholz Harlan M.
Published: July 2023

BACKGROUND:

Hospitals with high mortality and readmission rates for patients with heart failure (HF) might also perform poorly in other quality concepts. We sought to evaluate the association between hospital performance on mortality and readmission with hospital performance rates of safety adverse events.

METHODS:

This cross-sectional study linked the 2009 to 2019 patient-level adverse events data from the Medicare Patient Safety Monitoring System, a randomly selected medical records-abstracted patient safety database, to the 2005 to 2016 hospital-level HF-specific 30-day all-cause mortality and readmissions data from the United States Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Hospitals were classified to one of 3 performance categories based on their risk-standardized 30-day all-cause mortality and readmission rates: better (both in <25th percentile), worse (both >75th percentile), and average (otherwise). Our main outcome was the occurrence (yes/no) of one or more adverse events during hospitalization. A mixed-effect model was fit to assess the relationship between a patient's risk of having adverse events and hospital performance categories, adjusted for patient and hospital characteristics.

RESULTS:

The study included 39 597 patients with HF from 3108 hospitals, of which 252 hospitals (8.1%) and 215 (6.9%) were in the better and worse categories, respectively. The rate of patients with one or more adverse events during a hospitalization was 12.5% (95% CI, 12.1–12.8). Compared with patients admitted to better hospitals, patients admitted to worse hospitals had a higher risk of one or more hospital-acquired adverse events (adjusted risk ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.06–1.44]).

CONCLUSIONS:

Patients admitted with HF to hospitals with high 30-day all-cause mortality and readmission rates had a higher risk of in-hospital adverse events. There may be common quality issues among these 3 measure concepts in these hospitals that produce poor performance for patients with HF.
Widely Agreeable Moral Principles Support Efforts to Reduce Wild Animal Suffering
Authors: Katz Tristan David
Published: July 2023

Every day, wild animals suffer and die from myriad natural causes. For those committed to non-speciesism, what wild animal suffering entails for us morally is a question of the utmost importance, and yet there remains significant disagreement at the level of normative theory. In this paper I argue that in situations of moral urgency environmental managers and policy makers should refer to widely-agreeable moral principles for guidance. I claim that the principles of beneficence, non-maleficence, autonomy and justice do well to capture our widely-held values, and that the first three principles all support large-scale interventions in nature. I then argue that balancing these against non-maleficence will still allow for the careful consideration of interventions, although is unlikely to support lethal methods. This argument is intended to provide a reasonable starting point for theory-agnostic decision makers, and places the burden of proof on those who oppose intervention.
Redescription of the Australian endemic nudibranch Dendrodoris maugeana Burn, 1962 (Gastropoda: Opisthobranchia: Doridoidea): new and reviewed features important for future phylogenetic analyses of porostomes
Authors:   School of Marine Biology & Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia, BRODIE GILIANNE D.
Published: July 2023

The anatomy of the temperate Australian doridoidean nudibranch Dendrodoris maugeana Burn, 1962 was examined for the first time. This investigation was undertaken to address a recognised gap in our taxonomic knowledge and to increase our understanding of the structural diversity found within the radula-less taxon Dendrodoris. The structural detail of the ptyaline gland, oesophagus and pharynx in D. maugeana were the same as that found in other members of the genus. However, ptyaline gland shape, gonad position and form, prostate gland arrangement and vaginal-wall structure were different to any other member of the genus previously investigated. The ptyaline gland was found to have elongate, dorsal extensions, the gonad was totally separated from the digestive gland, the prostate gland was intimately folded around the bursa copulatrix, and the vagina contained ciliated pouches. In addition, the results contradict previous interpretations of the pharynx, oesophagus and salivary glands used in recent phylogenetic analyses of porostomes. This knowledge will contribute to elucidation of homologous structures and clarification of the relationships between radula-less (porostome) and radula-bearing doridoidean nudibranchs.
Histological changes in the gonad of the blacklip pearl oyster (Pinctada margaritifera Linnaeus, 1758) during the reproductive season in north Queensland, Australia
Authors:   Pearl Oyster Research Group, School of Marine Biology & Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia., ACOSTA-SALMON HECTOR , SOUTHGATE PAUL C. ,   Pearl Oyster Research Group, School of Marine Biology & Aquaculture, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland 4811, Australia.
Published: July 2023

Histological changes in the gonad of cultured blacklip pearl oysters (Pinctada margaritifera) were studied during the main reproductive season. Collection of oysters from culture stock held at Magnetic Island and Orpheus Island, north Queensland, was conducted between August 2003 and February 2004 and oysters from each site were collected every month. Samples of gonad tissue from the oysters were processed for histological analysis. The sex ratio of oysters at both sites was skewed towards males. Active gonad development was recorded in all months during the study. Results of this study indicate that reproduction of P. margaritifera at Orpheus Island and Magnetic Island is a continuous process between August and February, as shown by the presence of ripe and partially spawned oysters during the majority of this period.
Framework for the Advancement of Inclusion, Equity, and Justice in the Weather, Water, and Climate Enterprise
Authors: Tipton Emma , White Lauren , Higgins Paul
Published: July 2023

Ethics and justice are central to advancing humanity and the human experience. An ethical and just world is the best possible world. Active effort encompassing all aspects of society, including the sciences, is almost certainly needed in order to achieve such a world. Moreover, the rate and breadth of scientific advancement and the societal benefits that result from science also depend on the promotion of inclusion, equity, and justice (IEJ). The framework developed here aims to 1) affirm the need for urgent cultural change toward a more inclusive, equitable, and just community; 2) honor, welcome, and serve all; 3) recognize and dismantle racist and inequitable systems and structures that have excluded, marginalized, or ignored people and communities; 4) promote a shared vision of success in IEJ for the WWC enterprise; 5) promote the inclusion of people from all groups within the enterprise and the equitable sharing of the benefits from science among all people; 6) inspire and enable all members of the enterprise to actively advance IEJ; 7) provide guidance, support, and resources to enable efforts across all levels of organization to advance IEJ; and 8) demonstrate a commitment to progress over the long term.
Retrospective cohort study of the characteristics of traveller patients presenting to the accident and emergency department of a regional hospital in Hong Kong
Authors: Leung Lok Man , Ng Lo Wa , Ko Shing , Wong Oi Fung , Shih Yau Ngai
Published: July 2023

Background:

Traveller patients have distinctive clinical characteristics compared to non-traveller patients. Local information about the clinical features of traveller patients is lacking.

Objectives:

The objective of this study is to evaluate the clinical characteristics of traveller patients presenting to a hospital near the Hong Kong International Airport.

Methods:

This was a single-centred, retrospective cohort study. Medical records of all traveller patients presenting to the Accident and Emergency Department of North Lantau Hospital in Hong Kong from 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2019 were reviewed. The demographics, triage category, presentation, outcomes and disposal were retrospectively evaluated and compared between traveller and non-traveller patients.

Results:

There were 528 traveller patients attending the Accident and Emergency Department of North Lantau Hospital during the study period, constituting 0.6% of total annual attendance. About one-third of the traveller patients required admission. The most common discharge diagnoses were gastrointestinal diseases (14.8%), followed by trauma (12.9%) and other neurological diseases (12.9%). Traveller patients had a higher rate of being triaged as critical and emergency categories (p < 0.001), higher admission rate (p < 0.001), higher need for active resuscitation (p < 0.001) and escort (p < 0.001) when compared to non-traveller patients. Around 1.3% of traveller patients presented with out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and were eventually certified dead in Accident and Emergency Department.

Conclusion:

The traveller population constitutes a small proportion of the patient population, but they can have a significant impact on the Accident and Emergency Departments in high-impact traveller areas. Additional resources such as manpower support and training programmes would be beneficial for Accident and Emergency Departments in high-impact traveller areas.
Fibrin-Associated Large B-Cell Lymphoma (FA-LBCL) Involving Solid Organs as Necrotic Cystic Lesions—A Rare Entity with Potential Diagnostic Pitfalls: A Two-Case Series and Review of the Literature
Authors: Jia Liwei , Xing Changhong , Kandathil Asha , Rosado Flavia , Chen Weina , Ramakrishnan Geethakumari Praveen
Published: July 2023

Fibrin-associated large B-cell lymphoma (FA-LBCL) is a rare subtype of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoma, recognized as an independent entity per the 5th edition of the WHO classification of hematolymphoid neoplasms. It is usually associated with longstanding chronic inflammation and arises within fibrinous material in confined anatomic spaces. We report the clinicopathologic manifestations of two patients of FA-LBCL involving the adrenal gland and kidney. Both tumors were diagnosed after presenting as cystic masses on imaging studies. These lymphomas were non-invasive, with microscopic aggregates of large B-lymphoma cells along/within cystic wall and admixed with fibrinous material and without prominent inflammation. By immunohistochemistry and in-situ hybridization, lymphoma cells were positive for CD45, PAX5, CD79a, MUM1, BCL2, PD-L1, and EBV/EBER (Epstein-Barr virus encoded small RNA) with a high proliferation index. Both patients remain in remission after management with complete surgical resection and additional chemo-immunotherapy in one patient. Considering its rarity, scant tumor cells, and varied clinical presentations, FA-LBCL may pose diagnostic challenges, especially when presenting as extensively necrotic cystic lesions, needing multidisciplinary collaboration in formulating management.
IS-Seq: a bioinformatics pipeline for integration sites analysis with comprehensive abundance quantification methods
Authors: Yan Aimin , Baricordi Cristina , Nguyen Quoc , Barbarossa Luigi , Loperfido Mariana , Biasco Luca
Published: July 2023

Background

Integration site (IS) analysis is a fundamental analytical platform for evaluating the safety and efficacy of viral vector based preclinical and clinical Gene Therapy (GT). A handful of groups have developed standardized bioinformatics pipelines to process IS sequencing data, to generate reports, and/or to perform comparative studies across different GT trials. Keeping up with the technological advances in the field of IS analysis, different computational pipelines have been published over the past decade. These pipelines focus on identifying IS from single-read sequencing or paired-end sequencing data either using read-based or using sonication fragment-based methods, but there is a lack of a bioinformatics tool that automatically includes unique molecular identifiers (UMI) for IS abundance estimations and allows comparing multiple quantification methods in one integrated pipeline.

Results

Here we present IS-Seq a bioinformatics pipeline that can process data from paired-end sequencing of both old restriction sites-based IS collection methods and new sonication-based IS retrieval systems while allowing the selection of different abundance estimation methods, including read-based, Fragment-based and UMI-based systems.

Conclusions

We validated the performance of IS-Seq by testing it against the most popular  analytical workflow available in the literature (INSPIIRED) and using different scenarios. Lastly, by performing extensive simulation studies and a comprehensive wet-lab assessment of our IS-Seq pipeline we could show that in clinically relevant scenarios, UMI quantification provides better accuracy than the currently most widely used sonication fragment counts as a method for IS abundance estimation.
Sociodemographic and environmental factors associated with diarrhoeal illness in children under 5 years in Uganda, 2016: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ssekandi Nathan , Tlotleng Nonhlanhla , Naicker Nisha
Published: July 2023

Background

Uganda is among the 10 countries in the sub-Saharan Africa region that have the highest prevalence of diarrhoeal disease. Evidence suggests that the severity of childhood diarrhoeal disease is escalated through various sociodemographic and environmental factors.

Objectives

To assess prevalence of diarrheal illness in children below the age of 5 years in Uganda in 2016 and associated factors.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was employed that analyzed secondary data from the 2016 Uganda Demography and Health Surveys. Children with and without diarrhea were compared. A logistic regression was used to determine sociodemographic and environmental factors associated with diarrheal illness in children with statistical significance at p < 0.05.

Results

The prevalence of childhood diarrhoeal illness for children below the age of 5 years in Uganda was 20.9% (n = 2838/13,753). There was a statistically significant difference when comparing children diarrhoeal with the following sociodemographic factors: caregiver’s age, child’s age and gender and duration of breastfeeding (p < 0.0001). Children with a caregiver aged between 15 and 24 years (aOR;1.42; 95% CI:1.24–1.62) and 25–34 years (aOR;1.19; 95% CI:1.04–1.37) were more likely to report diarrhoeal disease, compared to those with a caregiver aged 35–49 years. For environmental factors, households using springs water, access to health facility and children who received a dose of vitamin A had a decreased risk of reporting children diarrhoeal.

Conclusion

Significant factors in the study like caregiver’s age, gender and duration of breastfeeding will create the opportunity for all interventions to shift their focus to these factors thus a better evidence-based approach to reducing of diarrhoeal disease will be achieved in the country.
Hypokalemia after rituximab administration in nephrotic syndrome: two case reports
Authors: Song Yiyun , Ding Lin , An Xin , Zhao Yi , Li Xianhua , Yang Xiangdong , Xiao Xiaoyan
Published: July 2023

Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is an effective treatment for nephrotic syndrome. Hypokalemia is a rare adverse reaction among patients treated with rituximab although there have been extensive reports of acute and chronic adverse events with the administration of rituximab. We herein report two cases of symptomatic hypokalemia after intravenous rituximab administration in our center, to help health professionals consider the possibility of acute hypokalemia after rituximab administration, monitor potassium timely and develop an appropriate treatment plan.
Transcriptional analysis of the expression and prognostic value of lipid droplet-localized proteins in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Yize , Liang Xue , Lian Qinghai , Liu Liwen , Zhang Baoyu , Dong Zihui , Liu Kunpeng
Published: July 2023

The accumulation of lipid droplets (LDs) in hepatocytes is the main pathogenesis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), which is also the key risk factor for the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). LDs behaviors are demonstrated to be associated with HCC advancement, and are tightly regulated by a subset protein localized on the surface of LDs. However, the role of LDs-localized protein in HCC has been rarely investigated. This study is focused on the transcriptional dynamic and prognostic value of LDs-localized protein in HCC. Firstly, we summarized the known LDs-localized proteins, which are demonstrated by immunofluorescence according to previous studies. Next, by the use of GEPIA/UALCAN/The Human Protein Atlas databases, we screened the transcriptional change in tumor and normal liver tissues, and found that 13 LDs-localized proteins may involve in the progression of HCC. Then we verified the transcriptional changes of 13 LDs-localized proteins by the use of HCC samples. Moreover, based on the assays of fatty liver of mice and human NAFLD liver samples, we found that the hepatic steatosis mainly contributed to the transcriptional change of selected LDs-localized proteins, indicating the involvement of these LDs-localized proteins in the negative role of NAFLD in HCC progression. Finally, we focused on the role of PLIN3 in HCC, and revealed that NAFLD status significantly promoted PLIN3 transcription in HCC tissue. Functional studies revealed that PLIN3 knockdown significantly limited the migration and chemosensitivity of hepatoma cells, suggesting the positive role of PLIN3 in HCC progression. Our study not only revealed the transcriptional change and prognostic value of lipid droplet-localized proteins in HCC, but also built the correlation between HCC and hepatic steatosis.
The relationship between role ambiguity, emotional exhaustion and work alienation among chinese nurses two years after COVID-19 pandemic: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhang Hong-li , Wu Chao , Yan Jia-ran , Liu Jun-hua , Wang Pei , Hu Meng-yi , Liu Fang , Qu Huan-min , Lang Hong-juan
Published: July 2023

Background

work alienation is receiving increasing attention as a psychological risk at work, and little is known about the mechanisms of role ambiguity and work alienation in nurses in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. This article aims to examine how role ambiguity affects work alienation among Chinese nurses during the two years after COVID-19 pandemic and verify emotional exhaustion as mediators.

Methods

A cross-sectional study design was used to recruit 281 Chinese nurses. Nurses completed online questionnaires containing demographic characteristics, role ambiguity, emotional exhaustion, and work alienation, and SPSS 26.0 and AMOS 24.0 were used for data analysis and structural equation modelling.

Results

work alienation scores were (34.64 ± 10.09), work alienation was correlated with role ambiguity and emotional exhaustion (r1 = 0.521, r2 = 0.755; p < .01), and role ambiguity was positively correlated with emotional exhaustion (r = 0.512; p < .01). A mediating effect of emotional exhaustion between role ambiguity and work alienation held (mediating effect of 0.288, 95% CI: 0.221–0.369, accounting for 74.8% of the total effect).

Conclusion

Role ambiguity has a significant direct effect on nurses’ feelings of alienation and exacerbates alienation through emotional exhaustion. Clarifying roles at work and being less emotionally drained are effective ways to reduce nurses’ feelings of alienation.
Analysis of factors influencing patient delay by patients with pulmonary tuberculosis in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province
Authors: Guo Jing , Feng Yin-Ping , Liu Zhong-Da , Luo Shui-Rong , Wu Qian-Yu
Published: July 2023

Objective

The purpose of this study was to collect data on the current state of patient delay by patients with tuberculosis (TB) in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province who were under the care of a TB-designated hospital from 2011 to 2021 and to analyze the factors that contribute to this problem in order to provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of TB.

Methods

In this observational study, we collected data on patients with pulmonary TB that were reported to the Chinese government's disease prevention and control information system by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital in Lishui City between 2011 and 2021. The data included demographics like age, gender, occupation, household registration, current address, date of symptoms, date of first visit, and etiology results. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the factors influencing patient delay by patients with pulmonary TB.

Results

There were 3,190 cases of pulmonary TB treated in a TB-designated hospital in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province, between 2011 and 2021. Of these, 2,268 involved patient delay, with the delay rate of 71.10% and the median (Q25, Q75) days of patient delay being 36 (25, 72) days. Results of multivariate logistic regression analysis indicated the presence of risk factors-age > 60 years old (OR = 1.367, 95% CI: 1.144 ~ 1.632), pathogen positive (OR = 1.211, 95% CI: 1.033 ~ 1.419), and employed as peasants (OR = 1.353, 95% CI:1.144 ~ 1.601) for patient delay in patients with pulmonary TB. Patients with diabetes mellitus made up 64.94% of the pulmonary TB population, which was lower than the 71.58% of patients without diabetes mellitus (χ2 = 4.602, P = 0.032). Additionally, the presence of diabetes mellitus may be a protective factor in patient delay in patients with pulmonary TB (OR = 0.641, 95% CI: 0.481 ~ 0.856).

Conclusion

High rates of patient delay, age > 60 years old, a positive etiology, and being employed as peasants are all possible risk factors for pulmonary TB in Lishui City, Zhejiang Province.
How education level affects postoperative rehabilitation and follow-up: a single-center experience
Authors: Ji Jin , Yang Yuchen , Chen Zeyu , Zhang Wenhui , Jiang Shaoqin , Shen Xianqi , Zhang Jili , Lin Lu , Qu Min , Wang Yan , Gao Xu
Published: July 2023

Background

Radical prostatectomy remains the fundamental treatment for prostate cancer, and improving patients’ compliance with postoperative follow-ups is essential for improving patients’ quality of life. This study investigates the effect of education levels on patients’ recovery and follow-up after radical prostatectomy.

Methods

Data from 1,112 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy between 2011 and 2020 were collected using medical records, and “pc-follow” systems were used to collect patients’ baseline information, education level, pathological information, number of outpatient visits, the time interval between each visit, and PSA test data.

Results

Regarding postoperative outpatient data, there was no difference in the number of outpatient visits among the different education level groups in Shanghai (P = 0.063). A significant difference was found in the interval between outpatient visits among the groups (P < 0.001). Furthermore, significant differences were detected in the number and duration of outpatient clinic visits among the education level groups in all patients (P = 0.016, P = 0.0027). By contrast, no significant difference was found in the recovery time of urinary continence between all patients and those in Shanghai, grouped according to education level (P = 0.082, P = 0.68). For all patients and patients in the Shanghai area, the number of PSA follow-ups increased gradually with an increasing level of education (P < 0.001, P = 0.0029).

Conclusions

Education level affected the number of postoperative clinic visits, compliance, and the number of PSA tests. However, no significant effect on the recovery of urinary continence was found. Further, clinicians must increase their focus on patients with low education levels to achieve equitable access to health services for all patients.