bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A randomised trial of short‐ vs long‐term androgen deprivation with salvage radiotherapy for biochemical failure following radical prostatectomy: URONCOR 06‐24
Authors: González‐San Segundo Carmen , López Campos Fernando , Gómez Iturriaga Alfonso , Rodríguez Aurora , Olivera Jesús , Duque‐Santana Víctor , Sancho Gemma , Henríquez Iván , Conde Antonio José , Valero Jeannette , Maldonado Xavier , Glaria Luis , Caballero Begoña , Sanmamed Noelia , Mases Joel , Boladeras‐Inglada Anna María , Montijano Miguel , Santos Marina , Álvarez Ana , Martínez Juan I. , Couñago Felipe
Published: July 2024

Background

Salvage radiotherapy (SRT) and androgen‐deprivation therapy (ADT) are widely used in routine clinical practice to treat patients with prostate cancer who develop biochemical recurrence (BCR) after radical prostatectomy (RP). However, there is no standard‐of‐care consensus on optimal duration ADT. Investigators propose three distinct risk groups in patients with prostate cancer treated with SRT in order to better define the indications and duration of ADT combined with SRT.

Study design

The URONCOR 06‐24 trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier NCT05781217) is a prospective, multicentre, randomised, open‐label, phase III, clinical trial. The aim of the trial is to determine the impact of short‐term (6 months) vs long‐term (24 months) ADT in combination with SRT on distant metastasis‐free survival (MFS) in patients with prostate cancer with BCR after RP (intermediate and high risk).

Endpoints

The primary endpoint is 5‐year MFS rates in patients with prostate cancer treated with long‐ vs short‐term ADT in combination with SRT. Secondary objectives are biochemical‐relapse free interval, pelvic progression‐free survival, time to start of systemic treatment, time to castration resistance, cancer‐specific survival, overall survival, acute and late toxicity, and quality of life.

Methods and analysis

Total of 534 patients will be randomised 1:1 to ADT 6 months or ADT 24 months with a luteinizing hormone‐releasing hormone analogue in combination with SRT, stratified by risk group and pathological lymph node status.

Ethics and dissemination

The study is conducted under the guiding principles of the World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki. The results will be disseminated at research conferences and in peer‐reviewed journals.

Trial registration number

EudraCT number 2021‐006975‐41.
Initiation and evolution of an epicontinental shelf‐slope margin in an actively contracting deep‐water basin: The Eocene Aínsa Basin, southern Pyrenees (Spain)
Authors: Ayckbourne Ashley J. M. , Jerrett Rhodri M. , Watkinson Matthew P. , Poyatos‐Moré Miquel , Kane Ian A. , Covey‐Crump Stephen , Taylor Kevin G.
Published: July 2024

The shelf‐slope margin is a geomorphic zone with a change in gradient between subaqueous shelves and slopes, which extends towards the submarine basin‐floor. It is important because it partitions distinct sedimentary and biogenic processes between the shallow and deep‐water realms. The initiation of a shelf‐slope profile from pre‐existing conditions, and the evolution of shelf margins in space and time has been the focus of numerous studies, particularly from seismic data sets on passive margins, although markedly less‐so from active tectonic settings. This study documents the initiation and evolution of a shelf‐slope margin in the well‐studied Eocene Aínsa Basin (Spanish Pyrenees) through the segmentation of a mixed carbonate‐siliciclastic ramp via contractional tectonics and differential subsidence. The basinward propagation of a series of thrusts through the ramp allowed the maintenance of shallow‐water, predominantly carbonate sedimentation on their uplifted hanging wall anticlines. Conversely, the deepened foot wall synclines became muddy slope environments, and their axes became the main loci of siliciclastic turbidity current bypass and deposition. The deflection of turbidity currents around uplifted areas towards the synclinal lows allowed for the continuation of carbonate production at the bathymetric highs, which kept pace with subsidence. The interface between shallow‐ and deep‐water sedimentation (i.e. the shelf‐slope margin) was an erosional and composite submarine scarp surface generated by several phases of large‐scale mass wasting of the aggrading shelf carbonates, and healing by onlap of slope turbidites against the scarp. Continued thrust propagation and basin deepening led to the progressive headward degradation of the surfaces, resulting in an apparent retrogradation of the shelf‐slope margin and onlapping slope deposits. This model for the tectonically controlled conversion of a submarine ramp into a shelf‐slope profile contrasts with conventional models that consider shelf‐slope margins to be inherently progradational after initiation. This study also challenges the notion that large‐scale degradational surfaces and thick successions of submarine landslides are inherently diagnostic of canyons and their fill.
What features of education policies are effective in facilitating successful outcomes for Australian Department of Education students in out of home care?
Authors: Musgrave Celeste , Hopwood Belinda , Kilpatrick Sue , Hudson Judith
Published: July 2024

Australian and international research has consistently revealed that children residing in Out of Home Care (OOHC) experience low academic achievement, high rates of suspension, high rates of early school drop‐out and poor representation in post school study. To address the issues experienced by many students in OOHC, trauma informed policies have been introduced in schools and education districts, both in Australia and internationally. Informed by current research and by the Trauma Informed Approach Guidelines, developed by the US Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), this research aimed to identify and analyse current OOHC education policies and support documents implemented by Australian State and Territory Departments of Education. Using a thematic content analysis of national and international research on the concerning educational outcomes of OOHC students, a policy analysis framework was created and used as the tool to analyse Australian OOHC education policies currently implemented by state and territory Departments of Education. Considerable variations were evident in OOHC education policies throughout Australian Departments of Education, with only the states of Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria having policies explicitly for OOHC students. Significant variations also existed in the levels and types of support provided between Australian states and territories. Australian Departments of Education, schools and teacher practitioners can do more to further enhance the educational experience of students residing in OOHC. Suggestions have been made on how this can be achieved.
Increasing acceptance of AI‐generated digital twins through clinical trial applications
Authors: Vidovszky Anna A. , Fisher Charles K. , Loukianov Anton D. , Smith Aaron M. , Tramel Eric W. , Walsh Jonathan R. , Ross Jessica L.
Published: July 2024

Today's approach to medicine requires extensive trial and error to determine the proper treatment path for each patient. While many fields have benefited from technological breakthroughs in computer science, such as artificial intelligence (AI), the task of developing effective treatments is actually getting slower and more costly. With the increased availability of rich historical datasets from previous clinical trials and real‐world data sources, one can leverage AI models to create holistic forecasts of future health outcomes for an individual patient in the form of an AI‐generated digital twin. This could support the rapid evaluation of intervention strategies in silico and could eventually be implemented in clinical practice to make personalized medicine a reality. In this work, we focus on uses for AI‐generated digital twins of clinical trial participants and contend that the regulatory outlook for this technology within drug development makes it an ideal setting for the safe application of AI‐generated digital twins in healthcare. With continued research and growing regulatory acceptance, this path will serve to increase trust in this technology and provide momentum for the widespread adoption of AI‐generated digital twins in clinical practice.
Low‐cost and reliable method for confirming residual bile duct stones utilizing a novel peroral cholangioscope
Authors: Ishido Shun , Kobayashi Masanori , Okamoto Ryuichi
Published: July 2024

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Overseas trade and taxation in England and Wales, c. 1680–1790
Authors: Sweeting Spike
Published: July 2024

Historians have made relatively little headway in quantifying the economic influence of central government taxation in the eighteenth century. This question has a bearing on both the claims of the fiscal military state thesis that taxation got more regressive after 1690 and histories of welfare, which have argued that the lot English labourers improved during this period. The following article shows how the state indirectly taxed English and Welsh consumers and what impact that had on prices. It pays special attention to revenues derived from overseas trade and compares them with excises on beer and malt. It also uses recent estimates of consumption to calculate the taxes paid by ‘respectable’ households and charts the advancing impositions made by the state. It finds that most revenues derived from overseas trade were paid by middling or elite households with incomes that could easily achieve respectability. Poorer households were, however, squeezed hard by inland duties on beer, coal, and other necessaries. In this respect, factoring in state taxes should cause historians to revise downwards the living standards of much of the population.
PACAP ameliorates obesity‐induced insulin resistance through FAIM/Rictor/AKT axis
Authors: Feng Jia , Chen Wenhui , Li Shanshan , Fang Qianchen , Chen Xingwu , Bai Ge , Tian Meng , Huang Yongmei , Xu Pei , Wang Zixian , Ma Yi
Published: July 2024

Obesity and obesity‐related insulin resistance have been a research hotspot. Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) has emerged as playing a significant role in energy metabolism, holding promising potential for attenuating insulin resistance. However, the precise mechanism is not fully understood. Palmitic acid and a high‐fat diet (HFD) were used to establish insulin resistance model in Alpha mouse liver 12 cell line and C57BL/6 mice, respectively. Subsequently, we assessed the effects of PACAP both in vivo and in vitro. Lentivirus vectors were used to explore the signaling pathway through which PACAP may ameliorate insulin resistance. PACAP was found to selectively bind to the PACAP type I receptor receptor and ameliorate insulin resistance, which was characterized by increased glycogen synthesis and the suppression of gluconeogenesis in the insulin‐resistant cell model and HFD‐fed mice. These effects were linked to the activation of the Fas apoptotic inhibitory molecule/rapamycin‐insensitive companion of mammalian target of rapamycin/RAC‐alpha serine/threonine‐protein kinase (FAIM/Rictor/AKT) axis. Furthermore, PACAP ameliorated insulin resistance by increasing solute carrier family 2, facilitated glucose transporter members 2/4 and inhibiting gluconeogenesis‐related proteins glucose 6‐phosphatase catalytic subunit 1 and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase 2 expression. Meanwhile, the phosphorylation of hepatic AKT/glycogen synthase kinase 3β was promoted both in vivo and in vitro by PACAP. Additionally, PACAP treatment decreased body weight, food intake and blood glucose levels in obese mice. Our study shows that PACAP ameliorated insulin resistance through the FAIM/Rictor/AKT axis, presenting it as a promising drug candidate for the treatment of obesity‐related insulin resistance.
High‐Resolution Forensic Evaluation of Nitrate‐Contaminated Groundwater
Authors: Sklash Michael , Vakili Fatemeh
Published: July 2024

Determining the source(s) of nitrate contamination in agricultural areas is complicated; doing this as a forensic evaluation for litigation in one field week is especially challenging. The objective of this 2021 investigation, conducted for an agricultural producer who began applying animal waste in 2007, was to determine whether animal waste was the source of nitrate reported at downgradient residential wells. The test Site was a 180 acre, irrigated field that overlies a thick sand aquifer with the water table at about 20 ft below ground level (fbgl). We used multiple lines of evidence to resolve the source(s) of nitrate at three test locations at the Site using continuous vertical testing for hydraulic conductivity and high‐resolution vertical testing of selected chemical and isotopic parameters in water at 5‐ft depth intervals between 5 and 80 fbgl. We found that beneath the Site at the depth interval of most of the impacted residential wells: (1) groundwater travel time indicates nitrate at the impacted residential wells could not have originated from the Site, (2) the groundwater age based on tritium (3H) pre‐dates the establishment of manure spreading, and (3) the nitrogen‐15 concentrations (δ15N) in nitrate indicate the nitrate is not all, if in any part, due to animal waste. This high‐resolution investigation clearly indicated that the agricultural producer was not responsible for the impacted residential wells and was completed in only 1 week.
Pneumovesical vesicovaginal fistula repair: Lessons learned from an initial series of 25 patients
Authors: Jeon Byeong Jo , Tae Bum Sik , Yoo Jeong Wan , Koo Ho Young , Oh Cheol Young , Park Jae Young , Bae Jae Hyun
Published: July 2024

Objectives

This study aims to share the experiences and outcomes of laparoscopic pneumovesical repair for vesicovaginal fistulas (VVF).

Materials and methods

A retrospective review of medical records from a single institution over 10 years was conducted. The focus was on patients who underwent VVF repair using a pneumovesical approach with three 5 mm laparoscopic ports. The study evaluated perioperative parameters, postoperative outcomes, and complication rates to assess the efficacy and safety of this surgical method. Cumulative sum (CUSUM) analysis was used to determine the learning curve based on operative time.

Results

Of the 26 patients with VVF, 23 (88.5%) had successful fistula closure after the first surgery. One patient required open surgery conversion due to challenges in maintaining pneumovesicum, and two experienced recurrences, although successful repairs were achieved in subsequent surgeries. The average patient age was 47.4 years, with a mean operative time of 99.9 min. The postoperative hospital stay averaged 9.1 days, and catheterization lasted about 11 days. The CUSUM chart indicated a learning curve, with fluctuations until the 19th case, followed by a consistent upward pattern.

Conclusion

Laparoscopic pneumovesical VVF repair is an effective and safe technique, especially suitable for fistulas near the ureteral orifice or deep in the vaginal cavity. The method demonstrates favorable outcomes with minimal complications and allows for easy reoperation if necessary.
The role of TENS therapy in reducing the incidence of post‐Caesarean section wound infection
Authors: Qin Yaoqin , Liu Chun Lei , Liu Lu
Published: July 2024

The occurrence of wound infection following a Caesarean section procedure poses a substantial clinical obstacle. Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) has been identified as a promising supplementary treatment option for improving the healing process and decreasing the incidence of infections. This study assessed the efficacy of TENS therapy in the postoperative care of patients who have had Caesarean section. We randomly assigned a total of 108 women who had Caesarean sections to either a TENS group (n = 54) or control (n = 54). The TENS therapy was provided twice daily for a duration of 30 min for the period of 14 days following the surgery. The main measure of interest in this study was the occurrence of wound infection during 30‐day period. Additionally, secondary measures included the rate of wound healing, levels of pain experienced and level of patient satisfaction. In comparison to the control (22.2%, p < 0.05), the TENS group had notably reduced occurrence of wound infection, with the rate of 7.4%. TENS group had superior wound healing results, as measured by REEDA scale, at 7 days (2.1 ± 0.8 vs. 2.5 ± 1.0, p < 0.04), 14 days (1.2 ± 0.5 vs. 1.9 ± 0.7, p < 0.05) and 30 days (0.3 ± 0.5 vs. 0.7 ± 0.6, p < 0.05). Furthermore, TENS group had reduced pain levels on the Visual Analog Scale (VAS) at all evaluation intervals (p < 0.05). TENS group exhibited significantly higher levels of patient satisfaction, as evidenced by 64.8% of participants rating high satisfaction, in contrast to 40.7% in the control group (p < 0.05). The incidence of adverse effects was found to be minor, as indicated by a skin irritation rate of 3.7% and reported discomfort rate of 1.9% at the electrode location. TENS therapy effectively decreased the occurrence of post‐Caesarean wound infections, expedited the healing process and enhanced pain control. This treatment was well‐received by patients and had little negative consequences. The aforementioned results provided evidence in favour of incorporating TENS into post‐Caesarean care regimens, which may have significant consequences for improving patient outcomes and maximizing healthcare resources.
Structure evolution of the silica glass under the vibration field through molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Wang Feimei , Liu Jiawei , Zhang Yajiao , Yan Jingping , Li Boyuan , Jiang Fangling , Qian Min , Deng Lu , Yu Chunlei , Hu Lili
Published: July 2024

Silica glass has found wide applications, including space shuttle windows, optical fibers, and deep ultraviolet light lens elements, due to its excellent optical, electrical, and mechanical properties. However, understandings of its structure change under the vibration field are limited in literature. In this work, the structure of silica glass and its behavior under the vibration field have been investigated through molecular dynamics simulations. The short and medium‐range structures, including coordination number, Qn species distribution, pair distribution function, and bond angle distribution, were analyzed. It was found that the overall and local structures of silica glass showed periodic changes under the vibration field. The root‐mean‐square displacements as well as the kinetic energies of the atoms in the system were further analyzed. The results show that there is a periodic transformation of kinetic and potential energies. In addition, the kinetic energy decreases and is converted into the thermal energy during the vibration, which is confirmed by the increase of the system temperature. This can explain the thermoelastic loss mechanism in energy dissipation from literature. This work reveals the structure evolution and energy change of glass under the vibration field from atomistic level, which provides important understandings for related researches.
Investigation of the thermal conductivity of SiO2 glass using molecular dynamics simulations
Authors: Yang Yongjian , Tokunaga Hirofumi , Hayashi Kazutaka , Ono Madoka , Mauro John C.
Published: July 2024

A recent study showed that generating local crystalline paths within a glassy matrix provides only a moderate increase in thermal conductivity until the path fills most of the total volume. It was indicated that percolation theory governs the thermal conductivity in such crystalline‐implanted glass composites. In this study, we use computer simulations to investigate the effect of partial vitrification by breaking structural order of silica crystals by local vitrification. Such locally vitrified crystal structures are made by the bond‐transposition method, where the extent of vitrification can be tuned. Also, we test melt‐quenching of three SiO2 crystalline structures (α‐quartz, coesite, and stishovite) to make silica glasses with different densities. The cooling rates and pressures were varied during the melting process in order to obtain glass structures with varied degrees of order. Our results show that the thermal conductivity of silica glasses calculated using Green–Kubo relation decreases rapidly as soon as the crystallinity is disturbed by bond transition or generated local glassy phase. This implies the phonon mean free path rapidly shrinks with even a small number of scatterers, regardless of the original polymorph. Through the investigation of the pressure effect, a strong proportional relation between the thermal conductivity and the density is found among all silica samples. Such correlation can be accounted by assuming a constant integral term in the Green–Kubo relation without the volume scaling, which is reasonable based on a weak dependence of κV on the density of silica glass except with a slight increase at low quench pressures. We hypothesize that when the quench pressure increases moderately, an increase of characteristic ring size tends to generate a more flexible SiO2 structure which results more phonon scattering. Green–Kubo modal analysis further shows that the contribution from modes at low frequencies is suppressed when SiO2 is melt‐quenched at higher pressure and vice versa.
The use of anthropogenic areas helps explain male brown bear movement rates and distance travelled during the mating season
Authors: Falcinelli D. , del Mar Delgado M. , Kojola I. , Heikkinen S. , Lamamy C. , Penteriani V.
Published: July 2024

During the reproductive period, mating strategies are a significant driver of adaptations in animal behaviour. For instance, for polygamous species, greater movement rates during the mating season may be advantageous due to the increased probability of encountering several potential mates. The brown bear Ursus arctos is a solitary carnivore that lives at low densities, with a polygamous mating system and an extended mating season of nearly 3 months. Here, we hypothesized that male brown bears may show changes in movement patterns and space‐use behaviour during their mating season. Using long‐term (2002–2013) telemetry data from the Finnish Karelia male population (n = 24 individuals; n = 10 688 GPS locations), we first analysed daily movement metrics, that is, speed, net and total distance with respect to the period (mating vs. post‐mating) and several environmental predictors. Then, we conducted a step‐selection analysis for each of these periods. Throughout the year, male bears selected forested/shrub habitats and increased movement rates near main roads. During the mating season, reproductive needs seem to trigger roaming behaviour in adult males to maximize encounter rates with potential receptive females. However, all movement metrics increased within areas of high human activity, suggesting a bear response to a higher risk perception while using those areas. During the post‐mating period, overlapping with the bear hyperphagia and the hunting season, males selected anthropogenic areas farther from main roads and trails, suggesting a trade‐off between foraging opportunities and risk avoidance.
Head and neck complications of cancer therapies: taste and smell
Authors: Barasch Andrei , Epstein Joel B. , Doty Richard L.
Published: July 2024

Sensory deficits affect awareness of the environment and information processing, leading to dysfunction that may have significant consequences. Deterioration of taste and/or smell sensation has been linked to impaired nutritional intake, and overall decreased quality of life (QoL). Recent data suggest that loss of these senses is also associated with cognitive decline and worse overall cancer treatment prognosis. Cancer therapies have commonly been associated with sensory deterioration. We review these associations with taste and smell in light of new findings and discuss potential prophylactic and therapeutic modalities for taste and smell function.
Mereological Models of Spacetime Emergence
Authors: Pohlmann Jessica
Published: July 2024

Recent work in quantum gravity has prompted a re‐evaluation of the fundamental nature of spacetime. Spacetime is potentially emergent from non‐spatiotemporal entities posited by a theory of quantum gravity. Recent efforts have sought to interpret the relationship between spacetime and the fundamental entities through a mereological framework. These frameworks propose that spacetime can be conceived as either having non‐spatiotemporal entities as its constituents or being a constituent part of a non‐spatiotemporal structure. I present a roadmap for those interested in exploring the role of composition in understanding the emergence of spacetime. I establish a taxonomy based on four crucial parameters that should be considered when constructing potential mereological models. Subsequently, I connect these models to a range of perspectives found in current literature, with the aim of pinpointing areas that require further exploration. Finally, I identify three potential challenges facing mereological models of spacetime emergence, rooted in issues of mereological harmony, the distinction between continuous and discrete spacetime, and the implications of quantum superposition.
Ground Sea
Authors: Van Gelder Hilde
Published: July 2024

Imagine a world in which each individual has a fundamental right to be reborn. This idle dream haunts Hilde Van Gelder’s associative travelogue that takes Allan Sekula’s sequence Deep Six / Passer au bleu (1996/1998) as a touchstone for a dialogue with more recent artworks zooming in on the borderscape near the Channel Tunnel, such as those by Sylvain George and Bruno Serralongue. Combining ethnography, visual materials, political philosophy, cultural geography, and critical analysis, Ground Sea proceeds through an innovative methodological approach. Inspired by the meandering writings of W.G. Sebald, Javier Marías, and Roland Barthes, Van Gelder develops a style both interdisciplinary and personal. Resolutely opting for an aquatic perspective, Ground Sea offers a powerful meditation on the indifference of an increasingly divided European Union with regard to considerable numbers of persons on the move, who find themselves stranded close to Calais. The contested Strait of Dover becomes a microcosm where our present global challenges of migration, climate change, human rights, and neoliberal surveillance technology converge.
El capital en la era del Antropoceno. Una llamada a liberar la imaginación para cambiar el sistema y frenar el cambio climático, de Kohei Saito
Authors: Vergara-Perucich Francisco
Published: July 2024

El cambio climático ha sido administrado de forma prudente y ciertamente beneficiosa por las naciones cuyo éxito económico depende de mantener el modelo capitalista existente tal cual como está, con los mismos objetivos de crecimiento sostenido y generación de rentas a partir de actividades con probada capacidad de generación de riqueza. Mientras los líderes mundiales se han aferrado con fuerza a la idea de encontrar caminos que resuelvan el cambio climático dentro de los márgenes del capitalismo, la evidencia indica que eso no es viable sin un cambio estructural profundo en su sentido, prioridades y modus operandi. Ante la falta de alternativas, las reflexiones en la literatura sobre caminos posibles bien se agradecen. Es el caso de este Best seller que se reseña aquí, fenómeno de ventas en Japón con más de 500 mil copias vendidas a la fecha.
Landau levels for charged particles with anisotropic mass
Authors: Ciftja Orion
Published: July 2024

The problem of the two-dimensional motion of a charged particle with constant mass in the presence of a uniform constant perpendicular magnetic field features in several undergraduate and graduate quantum physics textbooks. This problem is very important to studies of two-dimensional materials that manifest quantum Hall behavior, as evidenced by several major discoveries over the last few years. Many real experimental samples are more complicated due to the anisotropic mass of the electrons. In this work, we provide the exact solution to this problem by means of a clever scaling of coordinates. Calculations are done for a symmetric gauge of the magnetic field. This study allows a broad audience of students and teachers to understand the mathematical techniques that lead to the solution of this quantum problem.
Personal and Social Correlates of Self-Reported Physical Activity in Individuals With a History of Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Kleis Rachel R. , Dlugonski Deirdre , Hoch Matthew C. , Hogg-Graham Rachel , Slone Stacey , Hoch Johanna M.
Published: July 2024

Physical activity is negatively impacted after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury and subsequent reconstruction. Previous evidence suggests that individuals with a history of ACL reconstruction (ACLR) may experience additional barriers to sport and physical activity participation. The purpose of this study was to identify personal and social factors (physical literacy, social support, and knee function) that are predictive of self-reported physical activity in individuals with a history of ACLR. Bivariate analyses determined that elements of physical literacy and knee function were positively correlated with self-reported physical activity. The final stepwise linear regression model demonstrated that the PLAYself Physical Literacy Self-description subsection accounted for 12.2% of the variance of self-reported physical activity (p = .003). The significant effect of the PLAYself Physical Literacy Self-description remained (p = .002) even when additional demographic covariates (age, time since ACLR, and sex) were added to the model. Findings suggest that physical literacy may be a salient factor to consider for promoting physical activity after ACLR.
Agreement Between the 2- and 3-Step Methods for Identifying Subtle Menstrual Disturbances
Authors: Noordhof Dionne A. , Taylor Madison Y. , De Martin Topranin Virginia , Engseth Tina P. , Sandbakk Øyvind , Osborne John O.
Published: July 2024

Recent methodological recommendations suggest the use of the “3-step method,” consisting of calendar-based counting, urinary ovulation testing, and serum blood sampling, for the identification of subtle menstrual disturbances (SMDs). However, the use of the 3-step method is not always feasible, so a less demanding combination of calendar-based counting and urinary ovulation testing, that is, the 2-step method, may be a viable alternative. Purpose: To investigate the agreement between the 2- and 3-step methods for the detection of SMDs. Methods: Menstrual cycles (MCs, 98) of 59 athletes were assessed using the 2- and 3-step methods. Regular-length MCs (ie, ≥21 and ≤35 d) were classified as either having no SMD (luteal phase length ≥10 d, midluteal progesterone concentration ≥16 nmol·L−1, and being ovulatory) or having an SMD (eg, short luteal phase [<10 d], inadequate luteal phase [midluteal progesterone concentration <16 nmol·L−1], or being anovulatory). Method agreement was assessed using the McNemar test and Cohen kappa (κ). Results: Substantial agreement was observed between methods (κ = .72; 95% CI, .53–.91), but the 2-step method did not detect all MCs with an SMD, resulting in evidence of systematic bias (χ2 = 5.14; P = .023). The 2-step method detected 61.1% of MCs that had an SMD ([51.4, 70.8]), as verified using the 3-step method, and correctly identified 100% of MCs without an SMD. Conclusions: MCs classified as being disturbed using the 2-step method could be considered valid evidence of SMDs. However, MCs classified without SMDs do not definitively confirm their absence, due to the proven underdetection via the 2-step method.
Generation of antitumor chimeric antigen receptors incorporating T cell signaling motifs
Authors: Balagopalan Lakshmi , Moreno Taylor , Qin Haiying , Angeles Benjamin C. , Kondo Taisuke , Yi Jason , McIntire Katherine M. , Alvinez Neriah , Pallikkuth Sandeep , Lee Mariah E. , Yamane Hidehiro , Tran Andy D. , Youkharibache Philippe , Cachau Raul E. , Taylor Naomi , Samelson Lawrence E.
Published: July 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells have been used to successfully treat various blood cancers, but adverse effects have limited their potential. Here, we developed chimeric adaptor proteins (CAPs) and CAR tyrosine kinases (CAR-TKs) in which the intracellular ζ T cell receptor (TCRζ) chain was replaced with intracellular protein domains to stimulate signaling downstream of the TCRζ chain. CAPs contain adaptor domains and the kinase domain of ZAP70, whereas CAR-TKs contain only ZAP70 domains. We hypothesized that CAPs and CAR-TKs would be more potent than CARs because they would bypass both the steps that define the signaling threshold of TCRζ and the inhibitory regulation of upstream molecules. CAPs were too potent and exhibited high tonic signaling in vitro. In contrast, CAR-TKs exhibited high antitumor efficacy and significantly enhanced long-term tumor clearance in leukemia-bearing NSG mice as compared with the conventional CD19-28ζ-CAR-T cells. CAR-TKs were activated in a manner independent of the kinase Lck and displayed slower phosphorylation kinetics and prolonged signaling compared with the 28ζ-CAR. Lck inhibition attenuated CAR-TK cell exhaustion and improved long-term function. The distinct signaling properties of CAR-TKs may therefore be harnessed to improve the in vivo efficacy of T cells engineered to express an antitumor chimeric receptor.
To rush into the secret house of death: The fate of a Tournaisian plant
Authors: Gastaldo Robert A. , Gensel Patricia G. , Glasspool Ian J. , Hinds Steven J. , King Olivia A. , Park Adrian F. , Stimson Matthew R.
Published: July 2024

Tournaisian-age failure of marginal lacustrine sediments, and their bulk collapse into an inland rift-basin lake in the Moncton Subbasin, Canada, led to the entrainment of rare, almost complete, three-dimensionally preserved non-woody trees. Preservation of these unique fossils from the Albert Formation was a consequence of contemporaneous seismicity. Synsedimentary structures include an array of soft-sediment deformational features and a field of cross-cutting sand boils indicating multiple seismic shocks >4.6 Mw. This tectonically controlled event, entombing trees whose novel growth form is both evolutionarily and ecologically transitionary and unlike other Paleozoic plants, is a one-off in the paleobotanical record.
Supplemental Material: Rupture segmentation on the East Anatolian fault (Turkey) controlled by along-strike variations in long-term slip rates in a structurally complex fault system
Authors: Wang Binhao , Barbot Sylvain
Published: July 2024

Complementary information in the form of six texts, five tables, 10 figures, and a text file that contains the input parameters for the preferred model.  
Influence of Absorbing Layers on the Average Dose and Dose Uniformity during Irradiation with 1–3 MeV Electrons
Authors: Bludenko A. V. , Ponomarev A. V.
Published: July 2024

Electron beams with energies up to 3 MeV, widely used in technological and research practice, have a relatively low penetration depth into matter, and the inhomogeneity of energy absorption can reach 30% per 1 mm of path. High heterogeneity, as well as the high cost of radiation, requires the researcher to have skills in optimizing the uniformity of irradiation and reducing energy losses. This work presents the dependences of the average absorbed dose and dose heterogeneity for irradiation of liquid with a horizontal beam in test tubes or tubes with different glass wall thicknesses (0.2–2 mm Pyrex). The dependences are applicable to refining, predicting, and analyzing the distribution of absorbed dose in materials.
An Illuminating Physical View on the Principles of “3 Generations” Structure of Elementary Particles, and on Evolution of Universe–Energy Basic State Field of the Universe (IV)
Authors: Yang Xiaodong , Yang Yuchen , Zhen Luo , Bi Yuanbo
Published: July 2024

In this paper, we review the history research on the principles of “3 generations” structure of elementary particles, including Steven Weinberg’s basic physical ideas on the Standard Model of elementary particles, and Barr and Zee’s research and so on. We propose a physical view on the “Dual-production” of quarks and leptons in the evolution of the universe, according to our exiting physical views on the systematic evolution of cosmic and the fundamental theory of EBSF. As for the three generation structure of elementary particles, we propose that the three-generation structure of particle correspond to the evolution of the universe from the plasma quantum state (for the exiting physical phase states of matter formed by the early cosmic evolution, see Y. Xiaodong, Y. Yuchen, L. Zhen and Y. Bi, Rep. Adv. Phys. Sci. 2 (2023) 2250007) to today’s celestial matter, which has undergone three (only three) important physical phase changes in the composition of material structures; that is, each generation of elementary particle structure is the physical elementary phase structure of every stage on condense and sedimentary physical celestial phase. These three stages of condense and sedimentary celestial phase can be simply likened to the three stages of gas, liquid and solid in condensed matter physics, which are essentially formed by the interweaving of cosmic matter formed in the early evolution and the exciters of current-cosmic-evolution EBSF, of course, there is also the complex role of the differentiation inherent time of universe evolution. We analyze that these views not only do not contradict our existing physical theories, but also better understand the nature of its physics and science. The three-generation structure of elementary particles corresponds to a historical epoch in the evolution of the universe, and called the one Mini-era of the domino mechanism before Weinberg’s famous picture . Although our analysis is somewhat phenomenological, it is still necessary to establish the evolution equation from the plasma state of the early universe to the current physical phase of cosmic celestial matter. More cosmic observation and more experiment data are needed in order to establish the precise quantification of the mathematical physics equations on the evolution process. But we believe that it has a major breakthrough in physical thought, and for the first time, human beings were able to rationally explain the three-generation structure of elementary particles, able to reveal the mystery of the generations of elementary particles in physics.
Manufacturing cost reduction techniques for automobile crankcase mould inserts
Authors: Shinde Sachin Manohar , Solanke Sachin , Diwan Mohit , Paburam Nibel Lakshman
Published: July 2024

The manufacturing of automobile moulds is itself a challenging job and very tedious task requiring high accuracy of component profiles. The required complicated and complex profiles are generated when the mould inserts are relinquished from several numbers of workstations, which run for a longer process time. As the accuracy needed for the component area is very high and it (insert) has to pass through several bottleneck workstations, the production time and increased buffer time are observed. This chapter focuses on providing economical methods for manufacturing hot die steel inserts. These techniques are implemented on a pressure die-casting insert component. The present solution is derived for manufacturing time reduction and minimisation of the die-casting inserts (moving and fixed die) at every stage. Implementing combined electrodes, assembly machining and cluster plate machining/sparking techniques are critical development advancements in the research. In the combined electrode concept, one electrode is designed in the same area to cover multiple areas that were initially covered by separate individual electrodes. Furthermore, this concept is outstretched by the cluster plate concept. Those electrodes that cannot be covered by a single electrode are machined together to act as a single electrode and later separated while individual sparking. Combined electrode design, assembly machining and cluster machining/sparking of the electrodes reduce the total machining time of the die and the machining centre. Reducing the machine run time will reduce the production cost and increase profit. The results achieved show that the combined electrode design setup shows 75% savings in the combined sparking setup, whereas the cluster plate machining setup shows 35% savings in the tool list generation (from software used) of the net savings. The proposed solution opens up new avenues for similar automobile components by setting benchmarks to decrease the rope length associated with manufacturing and increase profit.
Radiologist Workforce Attrition from 2019 to 2024: A National Medicare Analysis
Authors: Rosenkrantz Andrew B. , Cummings Ryan W.
Published: July 2024

Based on national Medicare data, workforce attrition from 2019 to 2024 was low for radiologists in comparison with other provider groups.
Approach to Pregnancy Affected by Kell Alloimmunization
Authors: Aykut Serdar , Demir Suleyman Cansun , Evruke Ismaıl Cuneyt , Sucu Mete , Uzay Fatma Islek , Avan Mesut , Bayer Ozge Keles , Yalcin Emre
Published: July 2024

Hemolytic disease of the fetus and newborn (HDFN) is the development of anemia, hyperbilirubinemia, and finally hydrops fetalis in the fetus when antibodies to antigens on the surface of erythrocytes are transferred from the placenta to the fetus. The most common cause is D‐HDFN. K (KEL1) from the Kell blood group system is the most potent immunogenic antigen after D among all blood group antigens. K‐HDFN occurs in 0.1–0.3% of pregnant women. It accounts for 10% of cases of antibody‐mediated severe fetal anemia. We present a successful management of Kell alloimmunization in a pregnant woman who had 3 times pregnancy loss with hydrops fetalis due to K‐HDFN and who was proven to have K‐HDFN in the postnatal period in her last pregnancy.
Advancements and Challenges in Antiamyloid Therapy for Alzheimer’s Disease: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Beshir Semira Abdi , Hussain Nadia , Menon Vineetha Bharathan , Al Haddad Amal H. I. , Al Zeer Rahaf Adnan Kh. , Elnour Asim Ahmed
Published: July 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder caused by the accumulation of amyloid‐beta (Aβ) proteins and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. There have been recent advancements in antiamyloid therapy for AD. This narrative review explores the recent advancements and challenges in antiamyloid therapy. In addition, a summary of evidence from antiamyloid therapy trials is presented with a focus on lecanemab. Lecanemab is the most recently approved monoclonal antibody that targets Aβ protofibrils for the treatment of patients with early AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Lecanemab was the first drug shown to slow cognitive decline in patients with MCI or early onset AD dementia when administered as an infusion once every two weeks. In the Clarity AD trial, lecanemab was associated with infusion‐site reactions (26.4%) and amyloid‐related imaging abnormalities (12.6%). The clinical relevance and long‐term side effects of lecanemab require further longitudinal observation. However, several challenges must be addressed before the drug can be routinely used in clinical practice. The drug’s route of administration, need for imaging and genetic testing, affordability, accessibility, infrastructure, and potential for serious side effects are some of these challenges. Lecanemab’s approval has fueled interest in the potential of other antiamyloid therapies, such as donanemab. Future research must focus on developing strategies to prevent AD; identify easy‐to‐use validated plasma‐based assays; and discover newer user‐friendly, and cost‐effective drugs that target multiple pathways in AD pathology.
Long‐Term Treatment with Bulevirtide in Patients with Chronic Hepatitis D and Advanced Chronic Liver Disease
Authors: Sapuk Ayaz , Steinhoff Leonie , Huenninghaus Kristin , Willuweit Katharina , Rashidi Alavijeh Jassin , Hild Benedikt , Asar Lucia , Schmidt Hartmut H. , Schramm Christoph
Published: July 2024

Bulevirtide (BLV) is approved for the treatment of chronic hepatitis D (CHD). Because only limited long‐term experience has been reported, we aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of BLV treatment in patients with advanced chronic liver disease (ACLD). We performed a retrospective analysis of patients with CHD who received BLV 2 mg/day for >12 months at a tertiary center. Virological response (VR) was defined as a reduction in hepatitis delta virus‐ribonucleic acid (HDV‐RNA) ≥2 log10 from baseline or HDV‐RNA negativity and biochemical response (BR) as gender‐specific normalization of transaminases. We identified 14 patients (9 men, 5 women; median age of 48 years; interquartile range (IQR) of 37–55), of whom 12 (86%) had suggested or assumed ACLD according to Baveno VI criteria. The median duration of BLV treatment was 26 months (IQR 17–27). During treatment, the mean HDV‐RNA level decreased from log10 5.58 IU/ml to levels between log10 2.19 IU/ml and log10 3.19 IU/ml. HDV‐RNA negativity was achieved in up to 63% after 24 months. VR and BR were 86% and 43% after 12 months, 90% and 60% after 18 months, 75% and 75% after 24 months, and 100% and 50% after 30 months, respectively. Two nonpersisting viral breakthroughs were observed after 24 months of treatment. The Child Pugh score and model of end‐stage liver disease (MELD) scores remained stable or improved in 12 patients (86%). Only one patient developed hepatic decompensation after 24 months of treatment with ascites requiring large‐volume paracentesis which was not associated with viral breakthrough, portal vein thrombosis, or hepatocellular carcinoma. Treatment with BLV beyond one year is effective and safe for patients with CHD and ACLD. Liver function remained stable or improved during treatment in the vast majority of patients, and only one case of hepatic decompensation occurred during a median follow‐up of 26 months.
An Efficient Geometric Parameter Optimization Method for Microstrip Bandpass Filter Based on One‐Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Gao Yang , Wang Danyang , Yu Huilong , Hua Tao , Hou Ning , Lu Yapeng
Published: July 2024

Machine learning‐assisted electromagnetic simulation has become an effective acceleration tool for designing microwave components by introducing high‐precision models and optimization algorithms, featuring fast design and high efficiency. However, enormous amount of data generated from the blind preliminary and computationally expensive simulation is required to predict the accuracy response. An efficient geometric parameter optimization method for microstrip bandpass filter (BPF) based on a one‐dimensional convolutional neural network is proposed. Nonlinear convergence factor, adaptive weight, and Gaussian difference mutation strategies are integrated using the whale optimization algorithm to avoid the local optimum and improve optimization accuracy. Computational efficiency is improved significantly with small‐scale training data. The validity and efficiency of the proposed method are confirmed by fifth‐order microstrip BPFs, and the performance of the predicted structure parameters is significantly improved, which shows great promise for application in optimization and performance improvement in microwave electromagnetic simulation.