bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The G protein-coupled receptor GPRC5A—a phorbol ester and retinoic acid-induced orphan receptor with roles in cancer, inflammation, and immunity
Authors: Iglesias González Pablo A. , Valdivieso Ángel G. , Santa-Coloma Tomás A.
Published: July 2023

GPRC5A is the first member of a new class of orphan receptors coupled to G proteins, which also includes GPRC5B, GPRC5C, and GPRC5D. Since its cloning and identification in the 1990s, substantial progress has been made in understanding the possible functions of this receptor. GPRC5A has been implicated in a variety of cellular events, such as cytoskeleton reorganization, cell proliferation, cell cycle regulation, migration, and survival. It appears to be a central player in different pathological processes, including tumorigenesis, inflammation, immune response, and tissue damage. The levels of GPRC5A expression differ depending on the type of cancer, with increased expression in colon, pancreas, and prostate cancers; decreased expression in lung cancer; and varied results in breast cancer. In this review, we discuss the early discovery of GPRC5A as a phorbol ester-induced gene and later as a retinoic acid-induced gene, its regulation, and its participation in important canonical pathways related to numerous types of tumors and inflammatory processes. GPRC5A represents a potential new target for cancer, inflammation, and immunity therapies.
A minimal axion model for mass matrices with five texture-zeros
Authors: Giraldo Yithsbey , Martinez R. , Rojas Eduardo , Salazar Juan C.
Published: July 2023

A model with fermion and scalar fields charged under a Peccei–Queen (PQ) symmetry is proposed. The PQ charges are chosen in such a way that they can reproduce mass matrices with five texture zeros, which can generate the fermion masses, the CKM matrix, and the PMNS matrix of the Standard Model (SM). To obtain this result, at least 4 Higgs doublets are needed. As we will see in the manuscript this is a highly non-trivial result since the texture zeros of the mass matrices impose a large number of restrictions. This model shows a route to understand the different scales of the SM by extending it with a multi-Higgs sector and an additional PQ symmetry. Since the PQ charges are not universal, the model predicts flavor-changing neutral currents (FCNC) at the tree level, a feature that constitutes the main source of restrictions on the parameter space. We report the allowed regions by lepton decays and compare them with those coming from the semileptonic decays $$K^{\pm }\longrightarrow \pi {\bar{\nu }}\nu $$

K
±

⟶
π

ν

¯

ν

. We also show the excluded regions and the projected bounds of future experiments for the axion–photon coupling as a function of the axion mass and compare it with the parameter space of our model.
Primordial black holes in interferometry
Authors: Stodolsky L.
Published: July 2023

If there is a population of black holes distributed randomly in space, light rays passing in their vicinity will acquire random phases. In the “two-slit” model of an interferometer this can, for a high density of black holes, lead to a diffusion in the phase difference between the two arms of the interferometer and thus to a loss of coherence or “visibility” in interferometric observations. Hence the existence of “fringe contrast” or “visibility” in interferometric observations can be used to put a limit on the possible presence of black holes along the flight path. We give a formula for this effect and consider its application, particularly for observations in cosmology. Under the assumption that the dark matter consists of primordial black holes, we consider sources at high [Formula: see text], up to the CMB. While the strongest results are for the CMB as the most remote source, more nearby sources at high [Formula: see text] lead to similar effects. The effect increases with the baseline, and in the limiting case of the CMB we find that with earth-size baselines a nonzero “visibility” would limit the mass of possible primordial black holes, to approximately [Formula: see text]. Although such limits would not appear to be as strong as those obtained, say from microlensing, they involve a much different methodology and are dominated by very early times (see Table  1 ). Longer baselines lead to more stringent limits and in principle with extreme lengths, the method could possibly find positive evidence for primordial black holes. In this case, however, all other kinds of phase averaging would have to be constrained or eliminated.
The Upper Cretaceous petroleum system of the East Beni Suef Basin, Egypt: an integrated geological and 2D basin modelling approach
Authors: Tawfik Ahmed Yousef , Ondrak Robert , Winterleitner Gerd , Mutti Maria
Published: July 2023

We integrated geological and 2D basin modelling to investigate the tectonostratigraphic evolution of the East Beni Suef Basin (EBSB) of north central Egypt and its implications for the Upper Cretaceous petroleum system. Two intersecting seismic sections and three exploration wells were used for this study. The geological model defines the structural and geometrical framework of the basin, which formed the basis for subsequent 2D basin modelling. The developed basin models were calibrated and fine-tuned using vitrinite reflectance and corrected temperature data. Modelling results indicate that the Abu Roash ‘F’ source-rock maturity ranges from the early oil window at the basin margins to the main oil window in the centre. The main phase of hydrocarbon generation occurred during the Eocene after trap formation in the Late Cretaceous. Generated hydrocarbons have migrated both laterally and vertically, most likely from the central part of the basin towards the basin margins, particularly eastwards to the structural traps. The model predicts low accumulation rates for the EBSB, which are caused by the ineffective sealing capacity of the overburden rocks and normal faults. In addition to the proven kitchen for the charging of the Abu Roash ‘E’ reservoirs, an additional kitchen area to the NW of the basin is suggested for the Abu Roash ‘G’ reservoirs.
Incorporating Structural Information into Legal Case Retrieval
Authors: Ma Yixiao , Wu Yueyue , Ai Qingyao , Liu Yiqun , Shao Yunqiu , Zhang Min , Ma Shaoping
Published: July 2023

Legal case retrieval has received increasing attention in recent years. However, compared to ad hoc retrieval tasks, legal case retrieval has its unique challenges. First, case documents are rather lengthy and contain complex legal structures. Therefore, it is difficult for most existing dense retrieval models to encode an entire document and capture its inherent complex structure information. Most existing methods simply truncate part of the document content to meet the input length limit of PLMs, which will lead to information loss. Additionally, the definition of relevance in the legal domain differs from that in the general domain. Previous semantic-based or lexical-based methods fail to provide a comprehensive understanding of the relevance of legal cases. In this article, we propose a Structured Legal case Retrieval (SLR) framework, which incorporates internal and external structural information to address the above two challenges. Specifically, to avoid the truncation of long legal documents, the internal structural information, which is the organization pattern of legal documents, can be utilized to split a case document into segments. By dividing the document-level semantic matching task into segment-level subtasks, SLR can separately process segments using different methods based on the characteristic of each segment. In this way, the key elements of a case document can be highlighted without losing other content information. Second, toward a better understanding of relevance in the legal domain, we investigate the connections between criminal charges appearing in large-scale case corpus to generate a chargewise relation graph. Then, the similarity between criminal charges can be pre-computed as the external structural information to enhance the recognition of relevant cases. Finally, a learning-to-rank algorithm integrates the features collected from internal and external structures to output the final retrieval results. Experimental results on public legal case retrieval benchmarks demonstrate the superior effectiveness of SLR over existing state-of-the-art baselines, including traditional bag-of-words and neural-based methods. Furthermore, we conduct a case study to visualize how the proposed model focuses on key elements and improves retrieval performance.
Toward Collective Ambidexterity in Public Sector Digital Initiatives: A Case of the Finnish Water Sector
Authors: Hietala Heidi , Päivärinta Tero , Annanperä Elina , Taskinen Pirkko , Liukkunen Kari
Published: July 2023

The digital transformation era calls for digital innovations affecting the public sector, but such organizations often focus more on the efficiency and exploitation of current resources, ascribing less attention to explorative innovation. Innovation in new capabilities and technologies often require inter-organizational collaboration. In this context, public sector organizations do not operate in isolation—often engaging in interactions within their service sectors. While the contemporary literature on organizational ambidexterity primarily focuses on the balancing opportunities of a focal organization, radical sector-level development requires collaboration among various actors to achieve collective ambidexterity. Drawing on the research question of the influence of inter-organizational collaboration on the outcomes of digital initiatives, this exploratory case study on the Finnish water sector found that simultaneously operating modes of inter-organizational collaboration can facilitate different aspects of collective ambidexterity in an inter-organizational field and, consequently, the expected benefits from initiatives. Our theoretical contribution lies in demonstrating collaboration modes that can enhance specific aspects of collective ambidexterity. Accordingly, we suggest that collective ambidexterity through deliberately adopted modes of inter-organizational collaboration requires field-level facilitation in parallel with organizational ambidexterity. Furthermore, consequent practical implications for managing such collaborations are suggested for policymakers, interest groups, and the public sector.
The Regulation of Personal Security
Authors: Carroll Patrick J. , Wichman Aaron L. , Agler Robert , Arkin Robert
Published: July 2023

Although most motivational psychologists recognize that security is important for healthy development and functioning (e.g., attachment theory), we add to prior work by proposing that the ongoing regulation of security under potential threat involves three unique features. Specifically, security regulation involves an initial preconscious system of threat processing (neuroception) and an internally (vs. externally) generated stop signal of goal completion (yedasentience) as well as the sequential activation of avoidance and approach systems (anxiety-to-approach). Throughout, we consider how the integration of these insights across social and biological sciences accounts for both adaptive and maladaptive patterns of security regulation (e.g., obsessive-compulsive disorder, reactive attachment disorder, contingent self-esteem).
Activating Inducible T-cell Costimulator Yields Antitumor Activity Alone and in Combination with Anti-PD-1 Checkpoint Blockade
Authors: Yadavilli Sapna , Waight Jeremy D. , Brett Sara , Bi Meixia , Zhang Tianqian , Liu Yao-Bin , Ellis Catherine , Turner David C. , Hahn Ashleigh , Shi Hong , Seestaller-Wehr Laura , Jing Junping , Xie Qing , Shaik Jafar Sadik , Ji Xiao , Gagnon Robert , Fieles William , Hook Laura , Grant Steven , Hopley Stephanie , DeYoung M. Phillip , Blackwell Christina , Chisamore Michael , Biddlecombe Robert , Figueroa David J. , Hopson Christopher B. , Srinivasan Roopa , Smothers James , Maio Michele , Rischin Danny , Olive Daniel , Paul Elaine , Mayes Patrick A. , Hoos Axel , Ballas Marc
Published: July 2023

In recent years, there has been considerable interest in mAb-based induction of costimulatory receptor signaling as an approach to combat cancer. However, promising nonclinical data have yet to translate to a meaningful clinical benefit. Inducible T-cell costimulator (ICOS) is a costimulatory receptor important for immune responses. Using a novel clinical-stage anti-ICOS immunoglobulin G4 mAb (feladilimab), which induces but does not deplete ICOS+ T cells and their rodent analogs, we provide an end-to-end evaluation of the antitumor potential of antibody-mediated ICOS costimulation alone and in combination with programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) blockade. We demonstrate, consistently, that ICOS is expressed in a range of cancers, and its induction can stimulate growth of antitumor reactive T cells. Furthermore, feladilimab, alone and with a PD-1 inhibitor, induced antitumor activity in mouse and humanized tumor models. In addition to nonclinical evaluation, we present three patient case studies from a first-time-in-human, phase I, open-label, dose-escalation and dose-expansion clinical trial (INDUCE-1; ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02723955), evaluating feladilimab alone and in combination with pembrolizumab in patients with advanced solid tumors. Preliminary data showing clinical benefit in patients with cancer treated with feladilimab alone or in combination with pembrolizumab was reported previously; with example cases described here. Additional work is needed to further validate the translation to the clinic, which includes identifying select patient populations that will benefit from this therapeutic approach, and randomized data with survival endpoints to illustrate its potential, similar to that shown with CTLA-4 and PD-1 blocking antibodies.

Significance:

Stimulation of the T-cell activation marker ICOS with the anti-ICOS agonist mAb feladilimab, alone and in combination with PD-1 inhibition, induces antitumor activity across nonclinical models as well as select patients with advanced solid tumors.
The representational dynamics of the animal appearance bias in human visual cortex are indicative of fast feedforward processing
Authors: Chen Chiu-Yueh , Leys Gaëlle , Bracci Stefania , Op de Beeck Hans
Published: July 2023

The human visual system has a seemingly unique tendency to interpret zoomorphic objects as animals, not as objects. This animal appearance bias is very strong in the ventral visual pathway as measured through functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), but it is absent in feedforward deep convolutional neural networks. Here we investigate how this bias emerges over time by probing its representational dynamics through multivariate electroencephalography (EEG). The initially activated representations to lookalike zoomorphic objects are very similar to the representations activated by animal pictures and very different from the neural responses to regular objects. Neural responses that reflect the true identity of the zoomorphic objects as inanimate objects are weaker and appear later, as do effects of task context. The strong early emergence of an animal appearance bias strongly supports a feedforward explanation, indicating that lack of recurrence in deep neural networks is not an explanation for their failure to show this bias.
Long-Term Effects of Intervention on Vestibular Migraine: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Kolberg, AuD Courtney , Roberts, PhD Richard A. , Watford, DNP Kenneth E. , Picou, AuD, PhD Erin M. , Corcoran, AuD Kelley
Published: July 2023

Background:

Vestibular migraine is a common cause of vertigo. Intervention often includes preventive and/or rescue medications. Lifestyle modifications are often used along with medications but can be used as the sole intervention. There is lack of clarity regarding the long-term benefits of these interventions.

Aims:

The purpose of this study was to determine long-term effects of intervention types on dizziness in patients with vestibular migraine.

Methods:

Twenty-three participants were grouped based on intervention into preventive medication plus lifestyle modifications, rescue medication plus lifestyle modifications, or lifestyle modifications only. Outcomes were determined at ~372 days post intervention by comparing pre- and post-Dizziness Handicap Inventory scores. A difference of ≥18 points was considered a change and we also evaluated change in severity scale on this measure.

Results:

Using the group mean change score, only the rescue medication plus lifestyle modification group was significantly improved at 372 days of intervention. Considering all individual participants, 30% of the participants had improvement in dizziness at this point, regardless of intervention. Fifty percent of the rescue medication plus lifestyle modification group had significant reduction in dizziness, while the preventive medication plus lifestyle modification and the lifestyle modification only groups performed similarly using this criterion. Considering change in severity category, 43% of all participants improved by at least one category. The rescue medication plus lifestyle modifications and the lifestyle modifications only groups performed similarly with 50% of their respectively groups exhibiting improvement by at least one category. Notably, there was no worsening of dizziness for any participant in the lifestyle modification only group.

Conclusion:

Our findings suggest that improvement in dizziness is maintained at ~372days of intervention in patients with vestibular migraine. Intervention using rescue medications plus lifestyle modifications had the best outcomes, followed by lifestyle modifications only. There was no worsening in dizziness for the lifestyle modification only intervention. More work is needed to better understand intervention effects, but it is encouraging that effects are maintained at greater than one year.
Repeated healing of low velocity impact induced damage in orthogrid-stiffened sandwich panel
Authors: Tetteh Obed , Mensah Patrick , Li Guoqiang
Published: July 2023

Herein, we present a new sandwich panel composed of a carbon fiber grid-stiffened shape memory vitrimer (SMV) core. The sandwich panels were fabricated via a pin-guided dry-weaving technology, and their impact responses were evaluated via low-velocity impact testing. The main failure mode observed after the first round of impact was the transverse cracking of the SMV matrix in the sandwich core. The healing efficiency according to the crack initiation energy (CIE) was found to be 76.5% after the first healing cycle. Even after the second healing cycle, the healing efficiency was greater than 72%. From the low-velocity impact tests, reinforcing the pure SMV core with a grid-skeleton enhanced the impact resistance significantly, that is, the crack initiation energy and peak load were increased by 64.0% and 169.0%, respectively. The results also show that smaller bay area leads to higher impact resistance. With the repeated crack healing, increased impact tolerance, and shape memory effect, it is expected that the sandwich panels will have a good possibility for usage in aerospace and automotive applications.
The Competitive Effects of Online Reviews on Hotel Demand
Authors: Cho Sanghoon , Pekgün Pelin , Janakiraman Ramkumar , Wang Jian
Published: July 2023

The authors examine the effects of a firm’s and its competitors’ online reviews on its demand within the hotel industry. The authors leverage a unique data set of actual bookings from properties of a major hotel chain in six different markets in the United States, supplemented with online reviews garnered from a popular social media platform. The findings indicate that not only a hotel’s own reviews but also its competitors’ reviews have a significant impact on the hotel’s booking performance. The impact of review sentiment is amplified if the focal hotel also charges higher prices or when the volume of reviews is high. The authors establish heterogeneous effects across consumer segments (business vs. leisure travelers) and by the type of review content (objective vs. subjective attributes to assess quality). Specifically, both a hotel’s own reviews and its competitors’ reviews have a larger impact on bookings for business travelers compared with leisure travelers, and for reviews that mainly discuss subjective attributes, for which consumers need to rely on the experiences of others to assess the quality of a hotel prior to their stay. The study provides a set of comprehensive insights on the impact of both own and competitors’ online reviews on a focal hotel’s bookings.
The Experience of Local Governments in Promoting Equity and Inclusion
Authors: Newman Meredith A. , Ali Susannah , Powell Ariel , South John
Published: July 2023

Diversity, equity, and inclusion—values that target structural inequities in communities and workplaces—have taken on greater urgency in the aftermath of the racial and societal tensions of the past several years. This article examines how selected local governmental jurisdictions are responding to the call for greater equity and inclusion in their organizations. Experiences of selected “best in class” cities are reviewed in their efforts to advance a transformative approach to human resource policies and processes. Strategies for implementation and pitfalls to avoid are identified. The article concludes by acknowledging that this work—work which interrupts the existing patterns that tend to maintain the status quo of structural disadvantages around issues such as hiring, pay equity, and advancement and that limit a culture of inclusion—is hard, is ongoing, and is overdue but is critical and calls for immediate action.
Pandemic States of Exception and the Alt-science of Early Treatment for COVID-19 in Brazil
Authors: Cesarino Letícia Maria Costa da Nóbrega , Silva Victor Hugo Viegas de Freitas
Published: July 2023

An in-depth ethnographic account of the online ecosystem that emerged around early treatment for COVID-19 in Brazil suggests that, rather than being made up of straightforward science deniers, this community may be best understood as a kind of “alt-science” that grew from the margins of mainstream science and policy making by taking advantage of the voids opened up by the pandemic state of scientific exception and the Bolsonaro government’s reckless handling of the pandemic. Digital platforms have been key enablers of this process, affording the proliferation of early-treatment knowledge practices on a fold not just between medical science and populist politics but between these and bottom-up forms of neoliberal “fast policy,” entrepreneurialism, and patient activism.

Um relato etnográfico aprofundado do ecossistema online que surgiu em torno do tratamento precoce para COVID-19 no Brasil sugere que, em vez de ser composta por negacionistas explícitos da ciência, essa comunidade pode ser melhor compreendida como uma espécie de “alt-science”. Ela cresceu às margens da ciência dominante e das políticas públicas, aproveitando o vácuo aberto pelo estado de exceção científico e pelo tratamento negligente da pandemia pelo governo Bolsonaro. As plataformas digitais têm sido os principais facilitadores desse processo, permitindo a proliferação de práticas de conhecimento de tratamento precoce em uma dobra não apenas entre a ciência médica e a política populista, mas entre essas e as formas de “política rápida” neoliberal a partir de baixo, empreendedorismo e ativismo de pacientes.
A Large Vestibular Aqueduct With Conductive Hearing Loss as the Only Manifestation
Authors: Yang Na , Yang Bei-Bei
Published: July 2023

Conductive hearing loss is a common clinical condition caused by disorders of the middle and external ear. Here, we report a case of conductive hearing loss with complete tympanic membranes. Clinical examinations revealed no external and middle ear lesions, but high-resolution temporal bone computed tomography revealed enlarged vestibular aqueducts. Detailed audiological tests and follow-up results indicate that the exclusive air–bone gap is the outcome of inner ear malformation but not middle ear lesions, preventing the need for tympanic assessment.
Children with single ventricle heart disease have a greater increase in sRAGE after cardiopulmonary bypass
Authors: Brooks Bonnie A , Sinha Pranava , Staffa Steven J , Jacobs Marni B , Freishtat Robert J , Patregnani Jason T
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Reducing cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) induced inflammatory injury is a potentially important strategy for children undergoing multiple operations for single ventricle palliation. We sought to characterize the soluble receptor for advanced glycation end products (sRAGE), a protein involved in acute lung injury and inflammation, in pediatric patients with congenital heart disease and hypothesized that patients undergoing single ventricle palliation would have higher levels of sRAGE following bypass than those with biventricular physiologies.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational study of children undergoing CPB. Plasma samples were obtained before and after bypass. sRAGE levels were measured and compared between those with biventricular and single ventricle heart disease using descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis for risk factors for lung injury.

Results

sRAGE levels were measured in 40 patients: 19 with biventricular and 21 with single ventricle heart disease. Children undergoing single ventricle palliation had a higher factor and percent increase in sRAGE levels when compared to patients with biventricular circulations (4.6 vs. 2.4, p = 0.002) and (364% vs. 181%, p = 0.014). The factor increase in sRAGE inversely correlated with the patient’s preoperative oxygen saturation (Pearson correlation (r) = −0.43, p = 0.005) and was positively associated with red blood cell transfusion (coefficient = 0.011; 95% CI: 0.004, 0.017; p = 0.001).

Conclusions

Children with single ventricle physiology have greater increase in sRAGE following CPB as compared to children undergoing biventricular repair. Larger studies delineating the role of sRAGE in children undergoing single ventricle palliation may be beneficial in understanding how to prevent complications in this high-risk population.
Pentoxifylline as adjunctive therapy in cognitive deficits and symptoms of schizophrenia: A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial
Authors: Sinichi Farideh , Farid Hosseini Farhad , Fayyazi-Bordbar Mohammadreza , Sinichi Mohaddeseh , Jamali Jamshid , Mohammadpour Amirhooshang
Published: July 2023

Background:

Due to the inflammatory factors in the pathophysiology of schizophrenia, Pentoxifylline, as anti-inflammatory medication, seems to improve the symptoms of schizophrenia. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of Pentoxifylline as an adjunctive therapy on cognitive deficits and symptoms of schizophrenia.

Methods:

This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted on 52 patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia. All patients were divided into two, treatment and control groups. They received a 400 mg dose of Pentoxifylline and the placebo in the treatment and control groups, respectively, twice a day for 8 weeks. Then, they were tested with the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), digit span, Stroop test, and Rey Auditory and Verbal Learning Test at baseline and the end of the weeks 4 and 8. Data analysis was done by Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, t-test, Mann–Whitney test, chi-square test, and generalized estimating equation model.

Results:

After analyzing the data, it was revealed that the positive symptoms of PANSS, the number of errors in the incongruent Stroop test, and reaction time in the congruent Stroop test were significantly lower in the treatment group ( p < 0.05). Moreover, the number of categories of WCST was significantly higher in the treatment group ( p < 0.05). There was no statistically significant difference in other parameters between the control and treatment groups ( p > 0.05).

Conclusions:

As evidenced by the results of this study, Pentoxifylline can help alleviate schizophrenia cognitive deficits and can reduce psychotic symptoms. Therefore, it can potentially be useful for schizophrenia treatment.
Healthcare and Cybersecurity: Taking a Zero Trust Approach
Authors: Vukotich George
Published: July 2023

This article looks at Healthcare and the issues that exist with current cybersecurity measures. As hacks including ransomware attacks become more commonplace it is important to provide safeguards to protect the data of the patients and the healthcare organization. Examples of breaches are looked at with insights on how they happened and what could have been done to prevent them. A newer approach known as Zero-Trust which addresses 7 key areas to protect is reviewed and shown how its applicability to healthcare can make a difference in protecting individuals and organizations.
Analytical and experimental investigation on axial compression capacity of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic-confined concrete-filled double-skin steel tube stub columns
Authors: Tang Hongyuan , Qin Jieyu , Yang Hong , Lang Lin , Gao Zhongwei , Tang Xuebin
Published: July 2023

Concrete-filled double-skin steel tubes (CFDSTs) are widely used in civil engineering. During the service life of CFDSTs, their bearing capacity can be easily weakened by the corrosion of outer steel tubes. This study investigated the interaction mechanism and reinforcement effects of carbon fiber-reinforced plastic (CFRP)-confined CFDSTs under axial compression. Typical failure modes, axial load-shortening curves, and axial load-strain behaviors of CFDST and CFRP-confined CFDST (CFRP-CFDST) specimens were obtained. The test results showed that the ultimate bearing capacity of stub columns with concrete strength of C40 and C60 increased by 19.78% and 15.12%, respectively, when wrapped with two layers of CFRP sheets, and by 41.60% and 37.99%, respectively, when wrapped with four layers of CFRP sheets. In addition, the FE modeling of CFRP-CFDSTs was established and validated by experimental results. On this basis, the parametric analysis was conducted. To avoid local buckling and yield failure of the inner steel tubes before the outer steel tubes, a calculation formula was proposed for predicting the minimum wall thickness of the inner tube. Furthermore, the prediction formulas for the bearing capacity of CFDSTs and CFRP-CFDSTs were proposed.
Gendered Blame: Narratives of Participation in Genocide
Authors: Nyseth Nzitatira Hollie , Schell Kait S. , Sibomana Eric
Published: July 2023

This article draws upon interviews with 74 Rwandans to analyze how they explain civilian participation in the 1994 genocide in Rwanda. Specifically, we assess how Rwandans describe why men and women perpetrated genocide. We find that respondents commonly attribute men’s participation in the genocide to structural, external factors, such as government orders. However, respondents regularly attribute women’s participation to jealousy and other factors tied to their personalities. We also assess how the attribution of blame may impact the treatment of formerly incarcerated individuals, suggesting that gendered views of the women who committed genocide may hinder their reentry and reintegration.
Better Accuracy for Better Science . . . Through Random Conclusions
Authors: Davis-Stober Clintin P. , Dana Jason , Kellen David , McMullin Sara D. , Bonifay Wes
Published: July 2023

Conducting research with human subjects can be difficult because of limited sample sizes and small empirical effects. We demonstrate that this problem can yield patterns of results that are practically indistinguishable from flipping a coin to determine the direction of treatment effects. We use this idea of random conclusions to establish a baseline for interpreting effect-size estimates, in turn producing more stringent thresholds for hypothesis testing and for statistical-power calculations. An examination of recent meta-analyses in psychology, neuroscience, and medicine confirms that, even if all considered effects are real, results involving small effects are indeed indistinguishable from random conclusions.
Myths and truths on biophysics-based approach in rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders
Authors: de Sire Alessandro , Lippi Lorenzo , Marotta Nicola , Ferrillo Martina , Folli Arianna , Turco Alessio , Ammendolia Antonio , Invernizzi Marco
Published: July 2023

Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) are a crucial issue in current literature due to their impact on physical function, social, and economic costs. Rehabilitation plays a pivotal role in the therapeutic management of these disabling conditions with growing evidence underlining positive effects in improving functional outcomes. However, to date, several questions are still open about the mechanisms underpinning functional improvements while recent research is now focusing on a deeper understanding of the biophysical processes underpinning the macroscopical effects of these treatments. Thus, this narrative review aims at providing a comprehensive overview about the state of the art of biophysical dimensions of currently available treatments for MSD. PubMed, Scopus, CENTRAL, PEDro, and Web of Science were searched between March 2022 and October 2022 for in vitro and in vivo studies, clinical trials, systematic reviews, and meta-analysis addressing the issue of biophysics-based approach in rehabilitation of MSD. Our findings showed that a biophysical approach might be integrated into regenerative rehabilitation, aiming at enhancing regenerative processes by mechanical and biophysical stimuli. In addition, a biophysical-based approach has been proposed to improve knowledge about several instrumental physical therapies, including shock wave therapies, low-level laser therapy, ultrasound, short-wave diathermy, electrical stimulation, pulsed electromagnetic field, and vibration therapy. In accordance, emerging research is now focusing on the biophysical properties of several medical procedures to improve pain management in patients with MSD. Taken together, our results showed promising results of the integration of a biophysical-based approach in rehabilitation, albeit several limitations currently limit its implementation in routine clinical setting. Unfortunately, the state of the art is still inconclusive, and the low quality of clinical studies based on the biophysical approach did not provide clear treatment protocols. Further studies are needed to promote a precise rehabilitation approach targeting biological modification and enhancing the functional improvement of patients with MSDs.
Work Time Control and Job Crafting as Predictors of Work Method Control Among Health Workers
Authors: Ujoatuonu Ikechukwu V. N. , Kanu Gabriel C. , Okafor Chiedozie O. , Oyiga Chekwube G.
Published: July 2023

Introduction

Nigerian dilapidated health sector is confronted with unprecedented work method control challenges caused by the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, which has changed the world of work, health, and well-being attainment. The COVID-19 pandemic has challenged work method control employed by the Nigerian health sector as they seek to mobilize leftover resources from embezzlement required to accomplish desired tasks and, as a result, altered the work methods, job descriptions, characteristics, and demands the attainment of organizational and personal goals.

Objective

Based on Job Demands-Resources Theory (JD-R) and Self-Determination Theory (SDT), the researchers’ principal objective was to investigate the moderating role of job crafting in the relationship between work time control and work method control among Nigerian health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

The participants for this study comprised (220) health employees sampled through the purposive and convenient method. Three instruments, Breaugh's Work Autonomy Scale, Work Time Control Scale, and Job Crafting Questionnaire, were used for data collection, and hierarchical multiple regression was employed for data analysis.

Results

Results of this study showed that work time control and job crafting were positively associated with work method control of Nigerian health workers. Job crafting moderated the relationship between work time control and work method control. This research deepened the knowledge of work method control while integrating work time control, and job crafting, with other health and work challenges of health workers in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. Second, COVID-19 has turned neglected Nigerian health workers into heroes as their work time control and job crafting helped manage the pandemic despite the poor infrastructure, corruption, bigotry, and ethnocentrism.

Conclusion

During pandemics, the work method must be understood and used with work time and job crafting to improve patient recovery, health workers’ well-being, the nation, and the universe.
Escape from T-cell–targeting immunotherapies in acute myeloid leukemia
Authors: Vadakekolathu Jayakumar , Rutella Sergio
Published: July 2023

Single-cell and spatial multimodal technologies have propelled discoveries of the solid tumor microenvironment (TME) molecular features and their correlation with clinical response and resistance to immunotherapy. Computational tools are incessantly being developed to characterize tumor-infiltrating immune cells and to model tumor immune escape. These advances have led to substantial research into T-cell hypofunctional states in the TME and their reinvigoration with T-cell–targeting approaches, including checkpoint inhibitors (CPIs). Until recently, we lacked a high-dimensional picture of the acute myeloid leukemia (AML) TME, including compositional and functional differences in immune cells between disease onset and postchemotherapy or posttransplantation relapse, and the dynamic interplay between immune cells and AML blasts at various maturation stages. AML subgroups with heightened interferon gamma (IFN-γ) signaling were shown to derive clinical benefit from CD123×CD3–bispecific dual-affinity retargeting molecules and CPIs, while being less likely to respond to standard-of-care cytotoxic chemotherapy. In this review, we first highlight recent progress into deciphering immune effector states in AML (including T-cell exhaustion and senescence), oncogenic signaling mechanisms that could reduce the susceptibility of AML cells to T-cell–mediated killing, and the dichotomous roles of type I and II IFN in antitumor immunity. In the second part, we discuss how this knowledge could be translated into opportunities to manipulate the AML TME with the aim to overcome resistance to CPIs and other T-cell immunotherapies, building on recent success stories in the solid tumor field, and we provide an outlook for the future.
Chemotherapy-induced reversal of ciltacabtagene autoleucel–associated movement and neurocognitive toxicity
Authors: Graham Charlotte E. , Lee Won-Ho , Wiggin Hadley R. , Supper Valentina M. , Leick Mark B. , Birocchi Filippo , Yee Andrew J. , Petrichenko Angelina , Everett John , Bushman Frederic D. , Sadrzadeh Hossein , Rapalino Otto , Chiu Daniel , Arrillaga-Romany Isabel , Maus Marcela V. , Frigault Matthew J. , Gallagher Kathleen M. E.
Published: July 2023

In 2 complementary Letters to Blood, Karschnia et al and Graham et al provide new insights into the neurological toxicities that are observed with B-cell maturation antigen–directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell treatment for multiple myeloma, identifying a frequency of immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) that exceeds 40%. Severe ICANS is identified in 8% of patients in this real-world series. Outcomes were generally favorable, although the authors describe rare, late Parkinsonism-like hypokinetic movement disorders (also known as movement and neurocognitive toxicities) post-ICANS in 2 patients.
Comparative evolutionary analyses of eight whitefly Bemisia tabaci sensu lato genomes: cryptic species, agricultural pests and plant-virus vectors
Authors: Campbell Lahcen I. , Nwezeobi Joachim , van Brunschot Sharon L. , Kaweesi Tadeo , Seal Susan E. , Swamy Rekha A. R. , Namuddu Annet , Maslen Gareth L. , Mugerwa Habibu , Armean Irina M. , Haggerty Leanne , Martin Fergal J. , Malka Osnat , Santos-Garcia Diego , Juravel Ksenia , Morin Shai , Stephens Michael E. , Muhindira Paul Visendi , Kersey Paul J. , Maruthi M. N. , Omongo Christopher A. , Navas-Castillo Jesús , Fiallo-Olivé Elvira , Mohammed Ibrahim Umar , Wang Hua-Ling , Onyeka Joseph , Alicai Titus , Colvin John
Published: July 2023

Background

The group of > 40 cryptic whitefly species called Bemisia tabaci sensu lato are amongst the world’s worst agricultural pests and plant-virus vectors. Outbreaks of B. tabaci s.l. and the associated plant-virus diseases continue to contribute to global food insecurity and social instability, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and Asia. Published B. tabaci s.l. genomes have limited use for studying African cassava B. tabaci SSA1 species, due to the high genetic divergences between them. Genomic annotations presented here were performed using the ‘Ensembl gene annotation system’, to ensure that comparative analyses and conclusions reflect biological differences, as opposed to arising from different methodologies underpinning transcript model identification.

Results

We present here six new B. tabaci s.l. genomes from Africa and Asia, and two re-annotated previously published genomes, to provide evolutionary insights into these globally distributed pests. Genome sizes ranged between 616—658 Mb and exhibited some of the highest coverage of transposable elements reported within Arthropoda. Many fewer total protein coding genes (PCG) were recovered compared to the previously published B. tabaci s.l. genomes and structural annotations generated via the uniform methodology strongly supported a repertoire of between 12.8—13.2 × 103 PCG. An integrative systematics approach incorporating phylogenomic analysis of nuclear and mitochondrial markers supported a monophyletic Aleyrodidae and the basal positioning of B. tabaci Uganda-1 to the sub-Saharan group of species. Reciprocal cross-mating data and the co-cladogenesis pattern of the primary obligate endosymbiont ‘Candidatus Portiera aleyrodidarum’ from 11 Bemisia genomes further supported the phylogenetic reconstruction to show that African cassava B. tabaci populations consist of just three biological species. We include comparative analyses of gene families related to detoxification, sugar metabolism, vector competency and evaluate the presence and function of horizontally transferred genes, essential for understanding the evolution and unique biology of constituent B. tabaci. s.l species.

Conclusions

These genomic resources have provided new and critical insights into the genetics underlying B. tabaci s.l. biology. They also provide a rich foundation for post-genomic research, including the selection of candidate gene-targets for innovative whitefly and virus-control strategies.
Moderate elevation of serum uric acid levels improves short-term functional outcomes of ischemic stroke in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Dai Yalun , Jiang Yingyu , Zhang Luping , Qiu Xin , Gu Hongqiu , Jiang Yong , Meng Xia , Li Zixiao , Wang Yongjun
Published: July 2023

Background

Serum uric acid (SUA), an end-product of purine catabolism diffused in the blood, is positively associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, in the T2DM population, the association of SUA fluctuation ($$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA) with the functional outcome of ischemic stroke (IS) is still unclear. Accordingly, this study aimed to assess the correlation between $$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA and short-term IS functional outcomes in T2DM patients.

Methods

All T2DM patients diagnosed with IS in the China National Stroke Registry III were included. $$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA, which was defined as the difference between the SUA levels at baseline and 3 months after symptom onset, was classified into two groups, i.e., elevated $$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA ($$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA > 0) and reduced $$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA ($$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA $$\le$$
≤
0). The outcomes measured using the Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) were scored from 0 to 6, and poor functional outcome was defined as an mRS score of 3–6 at 3 months after IS.

Results

Among the 1255 participants (mean age: 61.6 ± 9.8 years), 64.9% were men. Patients with elevated $$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA had a lower incidence of poor functional outcomes at 3 months. Compared with reduced $$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA, elevated $$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA at 0–50 μmol/L (odds ratio [OR] = 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.28–0.78, p = 0.004) and 50–100 μmol/L (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.21–0.77, p = 0.006) was significantly correlated with a reduced risk of poor functional outcomes at 3 months.

Conclusion

This study showed that a moderate increase in $$\Delta$$
Δ
SUA in the range of 0–100 μmol/L at 3 months after IS might be beneficial in T2DM adults and more studies are warranted to confirm this.
Clinical outcomes and risk factors of progressive pulmonary fibrosis in primary Sjögren’s syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease
Authors: Chen Yu-Hsuan , Lee Tai-Ju , Hsieh Hsin-Jung , Hsieh Song-Chou , Wang Hao-Chien , Chang Yeun-Chung , Yu Chong-Jen , Chien Jung-Yien
Published: July 2023

Background

To investigate the clinical outcomes and risk factors associated with progressive fibrosing interstitial lung disease (PF-ILD) in patients with primary Sjögren’s syndrome-associated interstitial lung disease (pSjS-ILD).

Methods

During 2015–2021, pSjS patients with ILD were retrospectively identified. Patients were grouped into non-PF-ILD and PF-ILD. Demographics, laboratory data, pulmonary function tests (PFTs), images, survival outcomes were compared between groups.

Results

153 patients with SjS-ILD were reviewed, of whom 68 having primary SjS-ILD (pSjS-ILD) were classified into non-PF-ILD (n = 34) and PF-ILD groups (n = 34). PF-ILD group had persistently lower albumin levels and a smaller decline in immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels at the 3rd month of follow-up. The multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that persistently low albumin levels were associated with PF-ILD. At the 12th month, the PF-ILD group experienced a smaller increase in FVC and a greater decline in the diffusion capacity of carbon monoxide (DLCO) than at baseline. The 3-year overall survival rate was 91.2%, and PF-ILD group had significantly poorer 3-year overall survival rate than non-PF-ILD group (82.4% vs. 100%, p = 0.011). Poor survival was also observed among female patients with PF-ILD.

Conclusions

Among patients with pSjS-ILD, the PF-ILD group had poorer 3-year survival outcomes. Persistent lower albumin level might be the risk factor of PF-ILD. Early lung function tests could be helpful for the early detection of PF-ILD.