bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The prognostic significance of a negative PSMA-PET scan prior to salvage radiotherapy following radical prostatectomy
Authors: Adebahr Sonja , Althaus Alexander , Scharl Sophia , Strouthos Iosif , Farolfi Andrea , Serani Francesca , Lanzafame Helena , Trapp Christian , Koerber Stefan A. , Peeken Jan C. , Vogel Marco M. E. , Vrachimis Alexis , Spohn Simon K. B. , Grosu Anca-Ligia , Kroeze Stephanie G. C. , Guckenberger Matthias , Fanti Stefano , Hruby George , Emmett Louise , Belka Claus , Schmidt-Hegemann Nina-Sophie , Henkenberens Christoph , Aebersold Daniel M. , Wiegel Thomas , Afshar-Oromieh Ali , Zamboglou Constantinos , Shelan Mohamed
Published: September 2023

Aim

The optimal management for early recurrent prostate cancer following radical prostatectomy (RP) in patients with negative prostate-specific membrane antigen positron-emission tomography (PSMA-PET) scan is an ongoing subject of debate. The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome of salvage radiotherapy (SRT) in patients with biochemical recurrence with negative PSMA PET finding.

Methods

This retrospective, multicenter (11 centers, 5 countries) analysis included patients who underwent SRT following biochemical recurrence (BR) of PC after RP without evidence of disease on PSMA-PET staging. Biochemical recurrence-free survival (bRFS), metastatic-free survival (MFS) and overall survival (OS) were assessed using Kaplan-Meier method. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression assessed predefined predictors of survival outcomes.

Results

Three hundred patients were included, 253 (84.3%) received SRT to the prostate bed only, 46 (15.3%) additional elective pelvic nodal irradiation, respectively. Only 41 patients (13.7%) received concomitant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). Median follow-up after SRT was 33 months (IQR: 20–46 months). Three-year bRFS, MFS, and OS following SRT were 73.9%, 87.8%, and 99.1%, respectively. Three-year bRFS was 77.5% and 48.3% for patients with PSA levels before PSMA-PET ≤ 0.5 ng/ml and > 0.5 ng/ml, respectively. Using univariate analysis, the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade > 2 (p = 0.006), metastatic pelvic lymph nodes at surgery (p = 0.032), seminal vesicle involvement (p < 0.001), pre-SRT PSA level of > 0.5 ng/ml (p = 0.004), and lack of concomitant ADT (p = 0.023) were significantly associated with worse bRFS. On multivariate Cox proportional hazards, seminal vesicle infiltration (p = 0.007), ISUP score >2 (p = 0.048), and pre SRT PSA level > 0.5 ng/ml (p = 0.013) remained significantly associated with worse bRFS.

Conclusion

Favorable bRFS after SRT in patients with BR and negative PSMA-PET following RP was achieved. These data support the usage of early SRT for patients with negative PSMA-PET findings.
A phase I study of the ceramide nanoliposome in patients with advanced solid tumors
Authors: Ciner Aaron , Gourdin Theodore , Davidson Jeff , Parette Mylisa , Walker Susan J. , Fox Todd E. , Jiang Yixing
Published: September 2023

Purpose

Ceramide is a sphingolipid metabolite that deactivates multiple oncogenic signaling pathways and promotes cell death. In-vivo data demonstrate single-agent anti-cancer activity and enhanced efficacy with combination strategies. This phase I dose-escalation trial evaluated Ceramide nanoLiposomes (CNL) in patients with advanced solid tumors and no standard treatment option.

Methods

The primary objective was to establish the maximum tolerated dose. Secondary objectives included determining the recommended phase II dose, the safety and tolerability, the pharmacokinetic profile and preliminary anti-tumor efficacy.

Results

15 patients with heavily pretreated metastatic disease enrolled. Safety data were analyzed for all patients, while pharmacokinetic data were available for 14 patients. There were no grade 3 or higher treatment-related adverse events. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached and there were no dose-limiting toxicities. The most common grade 1 or 2 treatment-related adverse events included headache, fatigue, constipation, nausea and transaminitis. The maximum concentration and area under the curve increased with dose. Clearance was consistent between doses and was observed mainly through the liver without significant hepatotoxicity. The half-life ranged from 20 to 30 h and the volume of distribution was consistent with a lipophilic drug.

Conclusions

CNL exhibited an encouraging safety profile and pharmacokinetic parameters, with some signals of efficacy including prolonged stable disease in 1 patient with refractory pancreatic cancer. Pre-clinical data indicate potential synergy between CNL and multiple systemic therapies including chemotherapy, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Future studies are planned investigating CNL in combination strategies.

Trial registration

This study is registered under ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT02834611.
Rapid Detection of blaKPC in Carbapenem-Resistant Enterobacterales Based on CRISPR/Cas13a
Authors: Liang Mingjun , Xiao Bin , Chen Lidan , Huang Xiaoyan , Li Jinchao , Kuang Zhenzhan , Chen Xinping , Huang Xiuna , Sun Zhaohui , Li Linhai
Published: September 2023

Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase (KPC) is a crucial enzyme that causes carbapenem resistance in Enterobacterales, and infections by these "superbugs" are extremely challenging to treat. Therefore, there is a pressing need for a rapid and accurate KPC detection test to control the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacterales (CREs). In this study, we established a novel method for detection of blaKPC, the gene responsible for encoding KPC, based on a recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA) and a CRISPR/Cas13a reaction coupled to fluorophore activation (termed RPA-Cas13a assay). We carefully selected a pair of optimal amplification primers for blaKPC and achieved a lower limit of detection of approximately 2.5 copies/μL by repeatedly amplifying a recombinant plasmid containing blaKPC. The RPA-Cas13a assay demonstrated a sensitivity of 96.5% and specificity of 100% when tested on 57 blaKPC-positive CRE strains, which were confirmed by DNA sequencing. Moreover, in 311 sputum samples, the theoretical antibiotic resistance characteristics of blaKPC-positive strains obtained by the RPA-Cas13a assay were highly consistent with the results of antibiotic susceptibility test (Kappa = 0.978 > 0.81, P < 0.01). In conclusion, the RPA-Cas13a system is a simple and one-hour efficient technology for the detection of a potentially fatal antibiotic resistance gene.
A novel method of carotid artery wall imaging: black-blood CT
Authors: Lu Yao , Cao Ruoyao , Jiao Sheng , Li Ling , Liu Chao , Hu Hailong , Ma Zhuangfei , Jiang Yun , Chen Juan
Published: September 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the application of black-blood CT (BBCT) in carotid artery wall imaging and its accuracy in disclosing stenosis rate and plaque burden of carotid artery.

Methods

A total of 110 patients underwent contrast-enhanced CT scan with two phases, and BBCT images were obtained using contrast-enhancement (CE)-boost technology. Two radiologists independently scored subjective image quality on black-blood computerized tomography (BBCT) images using a 4-point scale and then further analyzed plaque types. The artery stenosis rate on BBCT was measured and compared with CTA. The plaque burden on BBCT was compared with that on high-resolution intracranial vessel wall MR imaging (VW-MR imaging). The kappa value and intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) were used for consistency analysis. The diagnostic accuracy of BBCT for stenosis rate and plaque burden greater than 50% was evaluated by AUC.

Results

The subjective image quality scores of BBCT had good consistency between the two readers (ICC = 0.836, p < 0.001). BBCT and CTA had a good consistency in the identification of stenosis rate (p < 0.001). There was good consistency between BBCT and VW-MR in diagnosis of plaque burden (p < 0.001). As for plaque burden over 50%, BBCT had good sensitivity (93.10%) and specificity (73.33%), with an AUC of 0.950 (95%CI 0.838–0.993). Compared with CTA, BBCT had higher consistency with VW-MR in disclosing low-density plaques and mixed plaques (ICC = 0.931 vs 0.858, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

BBCT can not only display the carotid artery wall clearly but also accurately diagnose the stenosis rate and plaque burden of carotid artery.

Clinical relevance statement

Black-blood CT, as a novel imaging technology, can assist clinicians and radiologists in better visualizing the structure of the vessel wall and plaques, especially for patients with contraindication to MRI.

Key Points

• Black-blood CT can clearly visualize the carotid artery wall and plaque burden.

• Black-blood CT is superior to conventional CTA with more accurate diagnosis of the carotid stenosis rate and plaque burden features.
Reconnection of Infinitely Thin Antiparallel Vortices and Coherent Structures
Authors: Iakunin Sergei , Vega Luis
Published: September 2023

One of the characteristic features of turbulent flows is the emergence of many vortices which interact, deform, and intersect, generating a chaotic movement. The evolution of a pair of vortices, e.g., condensation trails of a plane, can be considered as a basic element of a turbulent flow. This simple example nevertheless demonstrates very rich behavior which still lacks a complete explanation. In particular, after the reconnection of the vortices some coherent structures with the shape of a horseshoe emerge. They have a high level of complexity generated by the interaction of waves running from the reconnection region. These structures also turn to be very reminiscent to the ones obtained from the localized induction approximation applied to a polygonal vortex. It can be considered as an evidence that a pair of vortices creates a corner singularity during the reconnection. In this work we focus on a study of the reconnection phenomena and the emerged structures. In order to do it we present a new model based on the approximation of an infinitely thin vortex, which allows us to focus on the chaotic movement of the vortex center line. The main advantage of the developed model consists in the ability to go beyond the reconnection time and to see the coherent structures. It is also possible to define the reconnection time by analyzing the fluid impulse.
Hysteroscopic versus histopathological agreement in the diagnosis of chronic endometritis: results from a retrospective observational study
Authors: Pérez-Cejuela Belén Almoguera , Vitale Salvatore Giovanni , Pérez-Medina Tirso , Rios-Vallejo Mar , Della Corte Luigi , Vicente Ana Royuela , Angioni Stefano , Calles-Sastre Laura
Published: September 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the agreement rate between hysteroscopy and pathological examination in case of chronic endometritis.

Methods

A retrospective observational study carried out at Gynecology and Obstetrics Department, Puerta de Hierro Hospital, Autónoma University of Madrid, Spain, from January 2021 to June 2022 was performed by obtaining data from 115 medical records of women who underwent office hysteroscopies that was compared with the findings of final histological examination of endometrial biopsy. Cohen's kappa index was used to evaluate this agreement rate. In addition, sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive value and diagnostic accuracy were obtained.

Results

The agreement between hysteroscopic findings and histological examination showed a modest result with a Cohen’s kappa index of 34%. In addition, we obtained a specificity of 70% and a sensitivity of 64%. The positive and negative predictive value were 60.8% and 73.4%, respectively. An excellent agreement rate (100%) between histological and hysteroscopic results was observed in presence of hyperemia and micropolyps.

Conclusion

Although the sample size is not as large as that of other studies published so far, the first glance of our experience is that hysteroscopic signs are not yet sufficient to make an accurate diagnosis of chronic endometritis, thus requiring a histopathological confirmation to make it.
Lap. Nissen fundoplication leads to better respiratory symptom control than Toupet in the long term of 20 years
Authors: Gehwolf Philipp , Agerer Teresa , Stacul Nadine , Kienzl-Wagner Katrin , Schäfer Aline , Berchtold Valeria , Cakar-Beck Fergül , Elisabeth Gasser , Wykypiel Heinz
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Having performed anti-reflux surgery for thirty years, it was important to reexamine our patients in the long term to enlarge the body of evidence concerning classical and extraesophageal symptoms that are differently controlled by Nissen or Toupet fundoplication.

Objectives

We report a cohort of 155 GERD patients who underwent fundoplication within a tailored approach between 1994 and 2000. Changes in the perioperative functional outcome, GERD symptoms, and quality of life are being analyzed 10 and 20 years after the operation.

Results

The operation resulted in a superior quality of life compared to a patient cohort treated with PPI therapy. We found that both surgical methods (laparoscopic Nissen fundoplication and laparoscopic Toupet fundoplication) cure classical symptoms equally (heartburn, regurgitation, and dysphagia). GERD patients receiving a Toupet fundoplication seem more likely to suffer from extraesophageal GERD symptoms 10 and 20 years after surgery than patients with a Nissen fundoplication. On the other hand, some patients with Nissen fundoplication report dysphagia even 10 and 20 years after surgery.

Conclusion

Both the laparoscopic Nissen and Toupet fundoplications provide excellent symptom control in the long term. Moreover, the Nissen fundoplication seems to be superior in controlling extraesophageal reflux symptoms, but at the expense of dysphagia. In summary, tailoring the operation based on symptoms seems advantageous.
Integrative landscape analysis of prognostic model biomarkers and immunogenomics of disulfidptosis-related genes in breast cancer based on LASSO and WGCNA analyses
Authors: Liu Shuyan , Zheng Yiwen , Li Shujin , Du Yaoqiang , Liu Xiaozhen , Tang Hongchao , Meng Xuli , Zheng Qinghui
Published: September 2023

Background

Disulfidptosis is a novel type of programmed cell death. However, the value of disulfidptosis-related genes (DRGs) in the prediction of breast cancer prognosis is unclear.

Methods

RNA-seq data of 1231 patients, together with information on patient clinical characteristics and prognosis, were downloaded from TCGA. DRGs were identified between cancerous and non-cancerous tissues. The LASSO algorithm was used to assign half of the samples to the training set. Risk scores were used for construction of a prognostic model for risk stratification and prognosis prediction, and the clinical applicability was examined using a line diagram. The relationships between risk scores, immune cell infiltration, molecular subtypes, and responses to immunotherapy and chemotherapy were examined.

Results

We identified and obtained four DRG-related prognostic lncRNAs (AC009097.2, AC133552.5, YTHDF3-AS1, and AC084824.5), which were used for establishing the risk model. Longer survival was associated with low risk. The DRG-associated lncRNAs were found to independently predict patient prognosis. The AUCs under the ROCs for one-, three-, and 5-year survival in the training cohort were 0.720, 0.687, and 0.692, respectively. The model showed that the high-risk patients had reduced overall survival as well as high tumor mutation burdens. Furthermore, high-risk patients showed increased sensitivity to therapeutic drugs, including docetaxel, paclitaxel, and oxaliplatin.

Conclusion

The risk score model was effective for predicting both prognosis and sensitivity to therapeutic drugs, suggesting its possible usefulness for the management of patients with breast cancer.
The impact of β-glucan on the therapeutic outcome of experimental Trichinella spiralis infection
Authors: Elgendy Dina I. , Othman Ahmad A. , Eid Mohamed M. , El-Kowrany Samy I. , Sallam Fersan A. , Mohamed Dareen A. , Zineldeen Doaa. H.
Published: September 2023

Trichinellosis is a cosmopolitan zoonosis that is caused mainly byTrichinella spiralisinfection. The human disease ranges from mild to severe and fatality may occur. The treatment of trichinellosis still presents a challenge for physicians. Anti-inflammatory drugs are usually added to antiparasitic agents to alleviate untoward immuno-inflammatory responses and possible tissue damage but they are not without adverse effects. Thus, there is a need for the discovery of safe and effective compounds with anti-inflammatory properties. This study aimed to evaluate the activity of β-glucan during enteral and muscular phases of experimentalT. spiralisinfection as well as its therapeutic potential as an adjuvant to albendazole in treating trichinellosis. For this aim, mice were infected withT. spiralisand divided into the following groups: early and late β-glucan treatment, albendazole treatment, and combined treatment groups. Infected mice were subjected to assessment of parasite burden, immunological markers, and histopathological changes in the small intestines and muscles. Immunohistochemical evaluation of NF-κB expression in small intestinal and muscle tissues was carried out in order to investigate the mechanism of action of β-glucan. Interestingly, β-glucan potentiated the efficacy of albendazole as noted by the significant reduction of counts of muscle larvae. The inflammatory responses in the small intestine and skeletal muscles were mitigated with some characteristic qualitative changes. β-glucan also increased the expression of NF-κB in tissues which may account for some of its effects. In conclusion, β-glucan showed a multifaceted beneficial impact on the therapeutic outcome ofTrichinellainfection and can be regarded as a promising adjuvant in the treatment of trichinellosis.
From ductile damage to unilateral contact via a point-wise implicit discontinuity
Authors: Daneshyar Alireza , Herrmann Leon , Kollmannsberger Stefan
Published: September 2023

Ductile damage models and cohesive laws incorporate the material plasticity entailing the growth of irrecoverable deformations even after complete failure. This unrealistic growth remains concealed until the unilateral effects arising from the crack closure emerge. We address this issue by proposing a new strategy to cope with the entire process of failure, from the very inception in the form of diffuse damage to the final stage, i.e. the emergence of sharp cracks. To this end, we introduce a new strain field, termed discontinuity strain, to the conventional additive strain decomposition to account for discontinuities in a continuous sense so that the standard principle of virtual work applies. We treat this strain field similar to a strong discontinuity, yet without introducing new kinematic variables and nonlinear boundary conditions. In this paper, we demonstrate the effectiveness of this new strategy at a simple ductile damage constitutive model. The model uses a scalar damage index to control the degradation process. The discontinuity strain field is injected into the strain decomposition if this damage index exceeds a certain threshold. The threshold corresponds to the limit at which the induced imperfections merge and form a discrete crack. With three-point bending tests under pure mode I and mixed-mode conditions, we demonstrate that this augmentation does not show the early crack closure artifact which is wrongly predicted by plastic damage formulations at load reversal. We also use the concrete damaged plasticity model provided in Abaqus commercial finite element program for our comparison. Lastly, a high-intensity low-cycle fatigue test demonstrates the unilateral effects resulting from the complete closure of the induced crack.
Geschlechtsspezifische Ergebnisse des Dresdner Kinder- und Jugendkopfschmerzprogrammes DreKiP
Authors: Zaranek Laura , Sobe Hanna , Richter Matthias , Hübler Anke , Berner Reinhard , von der Hagen Maja , Koch Thea , Sabatowski Rainer , Klimova Anna , Goßrau Gudrun
Published: September 2023

Hintergrund

Mädchen und Frauen sind häufiger von Kopfschmerzen betroffen als Jungen und Männer. Der Einfluss des Geschlechts auf die Wirksamkeit von Kopfschmerztherapien ist bisher kaum untersucht. Wir prüften geschlechterspezifische Unterschiede im ambulanten multimodalen Dresdner Kinder- und Jugendkopfschmerzprogramm DreKiP.

Methoden

140 Patienten mit primären Kopfschmerzen wurden in einem 15-stündigen strukturiertem Gruppenprogramm behandelt. Zu Beginn des Programms (T0) sowie 6 (T1) und 12 Monate (T2) nach dem Ende wurden Daten zu kopfschmerzbedingter Einschränkung der Alltagsfähigkeit (PedMIDAS), Kopfschmerzfrequenz, -intensität und schmerzbedingter Alltagseinschränkung (P-PDI) erhoben. Retrospektiv wurden diese Daten für Mädchen und Jungen getrennt analysiert.

Ergebnisse

Von 91 Patienten (9–19 Jahre, Median = 15; 71,4 % weiblich) lagen Daten für mindestens zwei Messzeitpunkte vor.

Mädchen zeigten zu allen Zeitpunkten eine signifikant höhere Kopfschmerzfrequenz als Jungen (Mediane Kopfschmerztage/letzte 3 Monate zu T0: ♀ 43, ♂ 20; T1: ♀ 32, ♂ 12; T2: ♀ 28, ♂ 9) sowie eine numerisch höhere kopfschmerzbedingte Alltagseinschränkung. Es zeigten sich signifikante Effekte über die Zeit mit Abnahme der Kopfschmerzfrequenz (F (2,88) = 5,862; p = 0,004) und Verbesserung der Alltagsfunktion (F (2,92) = 5,340; p = 0,006).

Eine geschlechtsspezifische Therapieantwort zeigte sich nicht.

Diskussion

Therapieinhalte des DreKiP zeigten bei Mädchen und Jungen mit primären Kopfschmerzen Effekte. Höhere Kopfschmerzfrequenzen und Alltagseinschränkung bei Mädchen können vor allem hormonelle, aber auch psychosoziale Ursachen haben und sollten in Edukationsmaßnahmen aufgegriffen werden.
User experiences with simulated cyber-physical attacks on smart home IoT
Authors: Huijts N. M. A. , Haans A. , Budimir S. , Fontaine J. R. J. , Loukas G. , Bezemskij A. , Oostveen A. , Filippoupolitis A. , Ras I. , IJsselsteijn W. A. , Roesch E. B.
Published: September 2023

With the Internet of Things (IoT) becoming increasingly prevalent in people’s homes, new threats to residents are emerging such as the cyber-physical attack, i.e. a cyber-attack with physical consequences. In this study, we aimed to gain insights into how people experience and respond to cyber-physical attacks to their IoT devices. We conducted a naturalistic field experiment and provided 9 Dutch and 7 UK households, totalling 18 and 13 participants respectively, with a number of smart devices for use in their home. After a period of adaptation, simulated attacks were conducted, leading to events of varying noticeability (e.g., the light going on or off once or several times). After informing people simulated attacks had occurred, the attacks were repeated one more time. User experiences were collected through interviews and analysed with thematic analyses. Four relevant themes were identified, namely (1) the awareness of and concern about privacy and security risks was rather low, (2) the simulated attacks made little impression on the participants, (3) the participants had difficulties with correctly recognizing simulated attacks, and (4) when informed about simulated attacks taking place; participants noticed more simulated attacks and presented decision rules for them (but still were not able to identify and distinguish them well—see Theme 3). The findings emphasise the need for training interventions and an intrusion detection system to increase detection of cyber-physical attacks.
A comparison principle for doubly nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations
Authors: Bögelein Verena , Strunk Michael
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we derive a comparison principle for non-negative weak sub- and super-solutions to doubly nonlinear parabolic partial differential equations whose prototype is $$\begin{aligned} \partial _t u^q - {{\,\textrm{div}\,}}{\big (|\nabla u|^{p-2}\nabla u \big )}=0 \qquad \text{ in } \Omega _T, \end{aligned}$$

∂
t

u
q

-

div

(

|
∇
u
|

p
-
2

∇
u

)

=
0

in

Ω
T

,

with $$q>0$$

q
>
0

and $$p>1$$

p
>
1

and $$\Omega _T:=\Omega \times (0,T)\subset \mathbb {R}^{n+1}$$

Ω
T

:
=
Ω
×

(
0
,
T
)

⊂

R

n
+
1

. Instead of requiring a lower bound for the sub- or super-solutions in the whole domain $$\Omega _T$$

Ω
T

, we only assume the lateral boundary data to be strictly positive. The main results yield some applications. Firstly, we obtain uniqueness of non-negative weak solutions to the associated Cauchy–Dirichlet problem. Secondly, we prove that any weak solution is also a viscosity solution.
The ecological dynamics of trumpet improvisation
Authors: Rooney Miles
Published: September 2023

The nature of music improvisation continues to provide an interesting showcase of the multifaceted and skilful ways we engage with and act within our environments. Improvising musicians are somehow able to generate musical material in real time that adaptively navigates musical situations. In this article I explore the broader aspects of improvised activity—such as our bodily interactions with the instrument and environment—as they relate to improvised music-making. I do so by drawing upon principles from the embodied cognitive sciences, namely ecological and dynamical systems approaches. Firstly, I introduce the concept of affordances to illustrate the bidirectional relationship between improvisor and environment. I then take a dynamical view, exploring the ways that a trumpet player coordinates their body with their instrument and engages with trumpet affordances in order to navigate musical situations. I continue this dynamical view, taking the improviser to be an adaptive system whose behaviours are self-organised responses to a set of constraints. To conclude, I situate my research within the wider 4E approach. I advocate that ‘E’ approaches, which take seriously the role of the body–instrument–environment relationship, provide an insightful perspective on the nature of improvisation.
Transcriptomic analyses during development reveal mechanisms of integument structuring and color production
Authors: Stuckert Adam M. M. , Freeborn Layla , Howell Kimberly A. , Yang Yusan , Nielsen Rasmus , Richards-Zawacki Corinne , MacManes Matthew D.
Published: September 2023

Skin coloration and patterning play a key role in animal survival and reproduction. As a result, color phenotypes have generated intense research interest. In aposematic species, color phenotypes can be important in avoiding predation and in mate choice. However, we still know little about the underlying genetic mechanisms of color production, particularly outside of a few model organisms. Here we seek to understand the genetic mechanisms underlying the production of different colors and how these undergo shifting expression patterns throughout development. To answer this, we examine gene expression of two different color patches(yellow and green) in a developmental time series from young tadpoles through adults in the poison frog Oophaga pumilio. We identified six genes that were differentially expressed between color patches in every developmental stage (casq1, hand2, myh8, prva, tbx3, and zic1). Of these, hand2, myh8, tbx3, and zic1 have either been identified or implicated as important in coloration in other taxa. Casq1 and prva buffer Ca2+ and are a Ca2+ transporter, respectively, and may play a role in preventing autotoxicity to pumiliotoxins, which inhibit Ca2+-ATPase activity. We identify further candidate genes (e.g., adh, aldh1a2, asip, lef1, mc1r, tyr, tyrp1, xdh), and identify a suite of hub genes that likely play a key role in integumental reorganization during development (e.g., collagen type I–IV genes, lysyl oxidases) which may also affect coloration via structural organization of chromatophores that contribute to color and pattern. Overall, we identify the putative role of a suite of candidate genes in the production of different color types in a polytypic, aposematic species.
Genuine Memory Deficits as Assessed by the Free and Cued Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) in the Behavioural Variant of Frontotemporal Dementia. A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Study
Authors: Macchitella Luigi , Tosi Giorgia , Giaquinto Francesco , Iaia Marika , Rizzi Ezia , Chiarello Ylenia , Bertoux Maxime , Angelelli Paola , Romano Daniele Luigi
Published: September 2023

The current diagnostic criteria for the behavioural variant of frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD) foresee a relative sparing of long-term memory. Although bvFTD patients were thought to report secondary memory deficits associated with prefrontal dysfunctions, some studies indicated the presence of a “genuine memory deficit” related to mesial temporal lobe dysfunctions. Among various neuropsychological tests, the Free and Cue Selective Reminding Test (FCSRT) has been recommended to distinguish genuine from apparent amnesia. We conducted a systematic review and a random effect Bayesian meta-analysis to evaluate the nature and severity of memory deficit in bvFTD. Our objective was to determine whether the existing literature offers evidence of genuine or apparent amnesia in patients with bvFTD, as assessed via the FCSRT. On 06/19/2021, we conducted a search across four databases (PMC, Scopus, Web of Science, and PubMed). We included all studies that evaluated memory performance using the FCSRT in patients with bvFTD, as long as they also included either cognitively unimpaired participants or AD groups. We tested publication bias through the Funnel plot and Egger’s test. To assess the quality of studies, we used the Newcastle-Ottawa quality assessment scale adapted for cross-sectional studies. We included 16 studies in the meta-analysis. The results showed that bvFTD patients perform better than AD patients (pooled effects between 0.95 and 1.14), as their memory performance stands between AD and control groups (pooled effects between − 2.19 and − 1.25). Moreover, patients with bvFTD present both genuine and secondary memory disorders. As a major limitation of this study, due to our adoption of a rigorous methodology and stringent inclusion criteria, we ended up with just 16 studies. Nonetheless, our robust findings can contribute to the ongoing discussion on international consensus criteria for bvFTD and the selection of appropriate neuropsychological tools to facilitate the differential diagnosis between AD and bvFTD.
Hemispheric Asymmetry in TMS-Induced Effects on Spatial Attention: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Wang Ting , de Graaf Tom , Tanner Lisabel , Schuhmann Teresa , Duecker Felix , Sack Alexander T.
Published: September 2023

Hemispheric asymmetry is a fundamental principle in the functional architecture of the brain. It plays an important role in attention research where right hemisphere dominance is core to many attention theories. Lesion studies seem to confirm such hemispheric dominance with patients being more likely to develop left hemineglect after right hemispheric stroke than vice versa. However, the underlying concept of hemispheric dominance is still not entirely clear. Brain stimulation studies using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) might be able to illuminate this concept. To examine the putative hemispheric asymmetry in spatial attention, we conducted a meta-analysis of studies applying inhibitory TMS protocols to the left or right posterior parietal cortices (PPC), assessing effects on attention biases with the landmark and line bisection task. A total of 18 studies including 222 participants from 1994 to February 2022 were identified. The analysis revealed a significant shift of the perceived midpoint towards the ipsilateral hemifield after right PPC suppression (Cohen’s d = 0.52), but no significant effect after left PPC suppression (Cohen’s d = 0.26), suggesting a hemispheric asymmetry even though the subgroup difference does not reach significance (p = .06). A complementary Bayesian meta-analysis revealed a high probability of at least a medium effect size after right PPC disruption versus a low probability after left PPC disruption. This is the first quantitative meta-analysis supporting right hemisphere-specific TMS-induced spatial attention deficits, mimicking hemineglect in healthy participants. We discuss the result in the light of prominent attention theories, ultimately concluding how difficult it remains to differentiate between these theories based on attentional bias scores alone.
Précis of Philosophy, Literature and Understanding: On Reading and Cognition
Authors: Mikkonen Jukka
Published: September 2023

This précis gives an overview of my book Philosophy, Literature, and Understanding: On Reading and Cognition which is the subject of a book symposium in Philosophia. The overview covers the book’s four chapters that explore i) the nature of literary imagination, ii) the epistemic value of narratives, iii) the concepts of cognition, knowledge and understanding with regard to fiction, and iv) evidence for claims about the epistemic impact of literary works on their readers.
Understanding the Current Geographic Disposition of the Jewish Population of England and Wales: Growth and Contraction
Authors: Sapiro Philip
Published: September 2023

The release in March/April 2023 of England and Wales 2021 Census complete data on “usual residents” by the Office for National Statistics provides an opportunity to analyze, understand and comment on the current geographic disposition of Anglo–Jewry. The analysis presented in this paper incorporates data from the 2001 and 2011 censuses, and makes use of a geodemographic assessment of Jewish communities developed from the 2011 census, setting the scene for changes which have taken place, particularly in the last 10 years. Estimates of the scale of births, deaths and net migration in the 2011–2021 period have been developed to explain why the changes in population have taken place. The potential impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the census results is also considered. A total of 26 sub-communities in the London and Manchester areas, together with 34 free-standing communities, each with more than 200 Jewish residents, have been analyzed in detail. Unexpected changes in Stamford Hill, Gateshead and Bristol are investigated. A total of 42 smaller communities (60–200 members) are also identified. The paper shows that an understanding of the socio-economic characteristic of each of the communities explains their changes in population since 2011, particularly when factors such as “meta-suburbanisation” in the London fringe area, the impact of student numbers in university towns, and special factors affecting Haredi areas are also taken into account. The picture presented is one of a stable (indeed slightly growing) overall population, but with a large variation in fortunes of the many communities which make up Anglo–Jewry.
American Jewish Chaplains: Adopting an American Form
Authors: Horowitz Bethamie , Cadge Wendy , Weisberg Joseph
Published: September 2023

This article represents the first field-wide treatment of American Jewish chaplains. As fewer Jews, like members of all religious backgrounds in the USA, are religiously affiliated and regularly join or participate in local congregations, Jews and other Americans will likely find ways to address their spiritual–religious needs outside of congregational life, in settings such as hospitals, military, universities, elder care, and other settings where “life happens.” Chaplains are religious professionals who work in these settings. While many people have done the work of chaplains—caring for others, attending to the dying, helping people engage with their spiritual–existential struggles—the evolution of those who consider themselves Jewish chaplains and their wrestling with the term chaplain, itself Christian, is at the center of the analyses offered here. We begin with a brief historical overview and then describe their work today. Our analysis is based on a series of historical and sociological inquiries carried out in 2021–2022. In the face of largely Protestant norms and expectations that shaped chaplaincy, American Jews—who made up the first non-Christian clergy to become chaplains in state and private settings—have engaged with and shifted the concept of chaplaincy and the training required to be eligible for these positions. The case of Jewish chaplains illuminates ways of navigating the seams of Jewishness in American life.
Examining How Headspace Impacts Mindfulness Mechanisms Over an 8-Week App-Based Mindfulness Intervention
Authors: Gavrilova Larisa , Zawadzki Matthew J.
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Theoretical work proposed that mindfulness interventions function by enhancing various mindfulness mechanisms, including acceptance, attention monitoring, decentering, self-compassion, and nonreactivity. However, much of what is currently known about the effects of mindfulness interventions on mindfulness mechanisms comes from studies assessing these mechanisms pre- and post-treatment, which provides limited insights into how these mechanisms develop over the course of a mindfulness intervention. The present randomized, waitlist-controlled trial investigated how the proposed mindfulness mechanisms change over the course of an 8-week app-based mindfulness intervention (Headspace).

Method

A sample of university employees (n = 132; 76.5% female; age M ± SD = 38.5 ± 11.1; 54.5% White) was randomly assigned to participate in a mindfulness intervention (n = 92) or to a waitlist control group (n = 40). Mindfulness mechanisms were assessed using ecological momentary assessment, with participants providing reports on mindfulness mechanisms five times daily for four days during the baseline (pre-treatment), 2nd, 5th, and 8th weeks, resulting in a total of 6,327 assessments.

Results

Changes in the mechanisms of acceptance-attention and nonreactivity were observed from the second week of the intervention onwards, with marginal effects for decentering. These effects showed a steady linear increase in the mindfulness group.

Conclusions

Results demonstrate the potential for rapid and sustained improvements in mindfulness mechanisms following an app-based mindfulness intervention.

Preregistration

The study was preregistered on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03652168.
TRIP13 overexpression in hepatocellular carcinoma: implications for poor prognosis and immune cell infiltration
Authors: Xue Jiapeng , Wu Hongfen , Shi Yun , Li Zhi
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The overexpression of TRIP13 has been observed in many types of cancer and has been identified as an oncogene. However, its role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has not been extensively studied. This study aimed to investigate the expression of TRIP13 in HCC and its impact on immune cell infiltration and prognosis.

Methods

We analyzed TCGA and GSE62232 datasets to assess TRIP13 expression in HCC. Kaplan–Meier and subgroup analysis were performed to examine the correlation between TRIP13 expression and HCC. Univariate and Cox regression analysis were conducted to determine the predictive value of TRIP13 in assessing patient outcomes. A nomogram was developed using TRIP13 mRNA expression to predict HCC prognosis. TRIP13 expression was validated using immunohistochemistry in our patient cohort. Survival and subgroup analyses were conducted to investigate the role of TRIP13 in HCC prognosis.

Results

The results indicated that TRIP13 upregulation in HCC was a strong independent predictor of poor outcome, as determined by Kaplan–Meier and Cox regression analyses. A high AUC value of 0.982 from ROC curves suggested that TRIP13 upregulation could serve as a reliable diagnostic indicator for HCC. The immunohistochemical validation of TRIP13 expression in the patient cohort confirmed its prognostic significance, and high TRIP13 expression was found to be associated with increased infiltration of Th2 cells and decreased infiltration of neutrophils, Th17 cells, and dendritic cells.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that TRIP13 could be a potential prognostic biomarker for HCC.
Role of a Knowledge Leader to Strengthen Economy Through Project Success
Authors: Mubarak Namra , Khan Jabran , Riaz Asim , Jaafar Mastura
Published: September 2023

Although the technical and behavioral aspects of project success have been given due attention by previous scholars, the behavioral aspect demands more attention since the project manager and its employees play a crucial role in determining the success of a project and economy in return. Therefore, this study tested the relationship between knowledge leadership (KL) and project success (PS), along with the mediating role of knowledge sharing (KS) and the moderating role of employees’ work-related curiosity (WRC). Data were collected in three-time lags from 258 employees from information technology (IT) organizations across Pakistan. Purposive sampling technique was employed to approach the respondents. It was found that knowledge leadership facilitated subordinates and created a knowledge sharing environment that enabled the co-workers to share their expertise to accomplish tasks. This study provokes that it is vital for the organizations to choose managers with knowledge leadership capabilities that will promote the ability of the employees to share knowledge and devise approaches to provoke curiosity. There is no previous study identifying the relationship between knowledge leadership and project success. However, innovativeness requires refined mechanisms of knowledge sharing for continuous improvement and corrections.
Obstacles in Identifying Sexual Harassment in Academia: Insights from Five European Countries
Authors: Hagerlid Mika , Štulhofer Aleksandar , Redert Anita , Jakić Irma , Schoon Wiebke , Westermann Melina , Deverchin Cynthia , de Graaf Hanneke , Janssen Erick , Löfgren Charlotta
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Experiences of sexual harassment are common among university students. At the same time, research shows that victims and bystanders find it difficult to determine when an incident meets the criteria for sexual harassment. The aim of this study therefore was to obtain a richer and deeper understanding of the obstacles that university students encounter in identifying sexual harassment in the academic environment.

Methods

Individual interviews and focus groups were conducted with a total of 85 students at the bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral level in five European countries (Belgium, Croatia, Germany, the Netherlands and Sweden) between 2020 and 2022. Thematic analysis was used to identify obstacles in identifying sexual harassment.

Results

The obstacles described by participants were found to fall into three main categories: (1) preconceived notions about what constitutes sexual harassment that did not necessarily concur with lived experiences, (2) navigating an often blurred or ambiguous line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviour and (3) the existence of competing interpretations of what had happened.

Conclusions

The results point to a gap between the participants’ lived experiences and their interpretations of them, which include difficulties positioning their experiences within their theoretical understanding of sexual harassment.

Policy Implications

Measures to counteract the obstacles faced by victims and bystanders in identifying sexual harassment in academia should target this cognitive gap, for instance by addressing the stereotypes that characterize preconceived notions about sexual harassment.
Reactions to science communication: discovering social network topics using word embeddings and semantic knowledge
Authors: de Lima Bernardo Cerqueira , Baracho Renata Maria Abrantes , Mandl Thomas , Porto Patricia Baracho
Published: September 2023

Social media platforms that disseminate scientific information to the public during the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the importance of the topic of scientific communication. Content creators in the field, as well as researchers who study the impact of scientific information online, are interested in how people react to these information resources. This study aims to devise a framework that can sift through large social media datasets and find specific feedback to content delivery, enabling scientific content creators to gain insights into how the public perceives scientific information, and how their behavior toward science communication (e.g., through videos or texts) is related to their information-seeking behavior. To collect public reactions to scientific information, the study focused on Twitter users who are doctors, researchers, science communicators, or representatives of research institutes, and processed their replies for two years from the start of the pandemic. The study aimed in developing a solution powered by topic modeling enhanced by manual validation and other machine learning techniques, such as word embeddings, that is capable of filtering massive social media datasets in search of documents related to reactions to scientific communication. The architecture developed in this paper can be replicated for finding any documents related to niche topics in social media data.
Was kommt nach Corona? Die Folgen der Pandemie für die Wirtschaft
Authors: Nölke Andreas
Published: September 2023

Die Corona-Pandemie hat zum tiefsten wirtschaftlichen Einbruch seit dem Zweiten Weltkrieg geführt. Wirtschaftliche Krisen haben in der Vergangenheit häufig einen Richtungswechsel in der Entwicklung des Kapitalismus bewirkt. Was sind die Folgen der Corona-Krise? Der Rezensionsaufsatz nimmt eine Bestandsaufnahme von 26 Büchern vor, die seit 2020 zum Thema Corona und Wirtschaft in Wirtschaftswissenschaft, kritischer Gesellschaftsforschung, Politischer Ökonomie und verwandten Disziplinen erschienen sind. Auch wenn die meisten Bücher klare Aussagen zur weiteren Entwicklung unseres Wirtschaftssystems vermeiden, lässt sich in der Zusammenschau der Beiträge ein gemeinsames Leitmotiv identifizieren. Sehr deutlich ist, dass in der nahen Zukunft ein weniger liberales Wirtschaftssystem erwartet wird. Deutlich gestärkt sehen die meisten Analysen jedenfalls den Staat, der in Zukunft wieder stärker in die Wirtschaft eingreifen wird, nicht nur zur sozialen und ökonomischen Stabilisierung nach der Pandemie, sondern auch bei der Bekämpfung des Klimawandels. Ob sich dieser Wandel auch in mehr sozialer Sicherheit und weniger Ungleichheit ausdrücken wird, bleibt aber unklar.
TaNRAMP3 is essential for manganese transport in Triticum aestivum
Authors: Wang Zhangqing , Zhang Yanting , Cao Chenyu , Liu Jiaming , Deng Yuan , Zhang Zhenqian , Wang Cun
Published: September 2023

Manganese (Mn) is an essential trace element for almost all living organisms. In plants, Mn deficiency, which is occurs in calcareous soils or alkaline soils, severely limiting crop yields. However, the potential mechanism of Mn transport in Triticum aestivum is still obscure. Here, we found that TaNRAMP3, a member of the naturally resistant macrophage protein (NRAMP) family in Triticum aestivum, is located in the plasma membrane of protoplasts and functions as an influx transporter for Mn in yeast (Δsmf1). The expression of TaNRAMP3 was induced under Mn-deficiency conditions. Furthermore, TaNRAMP3-RNAi plants exhibited a sensitive phenotype, while transgenic plants overexpressing TaNRAMP3 showed a tolerant phenotype. In addition, TaNRAMP3 rescued the sensitive phenotype of Arabidopsis nramp1 mutant under Mn deficiency condition. In summary, our study reveals the key role of TaNRAMP3 in Mn transport in Triticum aestivum, allowing it to adapt to Mn-deficiency stress. These findings provide new insights for the cultivation of Mn-deficiency tolerant wheat varieties.