bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Web user interface design as a promotional strategy creative product sales
Authors: Bestin Bakti , Masunah Juju , Soetedja Zakaria S.
Published: September 2024

Frequent communication problems related to web use can be explained as challenges related to the interaction and communication between the user and the platform/web. Users often have difficulty navigating or using features correctly, resulting in misunderstandings about the purpose and information conveyed. The role of the user interface (UI) is seen from a visual communication design perspective. The aim of this research is to determine the role of the user interface on the happy go lucky website as a creative product promotion strategy. This research uses a qualitative approach, with descriptive methods. Example of Happy Go Lucky web research. Visually, there are several elements that attract attention when looking at the appearance of the Happy Go Lucky site. Complete data collection by means of virtual observation, virtual documentation, and literature review. The findings of this research can be seen from the Happy Go Lucky website page which is clean and can give a positive impression to its users. The Happy Go Lucky brand identity has created consistency in visuals, and makes users feel familiar with UI elements and can more easily recognize and remember the brand. noting the importance of interfaces on the web, businesses and developers can ensure that interface designs support user and organizational goals, creating positive and productive experiences as a promotional strategy for the Happy Go Lucky brand.
Trans-becoming: decoding interactionist trans identity in Nagarkirtan (2019) and Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish (2012)
Authors: Pillai Rachana S , Sreenivasulu Yadamala
Published: September 2024

The unique characteristics of Indian trans-identity are shaped by cultural intricacies, setting it apart from its Western counterparts. Despite facing marginalisation in mainstream Indian society, the intricacies of their constructed trans-culture further complicate their experiences. According to the interactionist perspective of gender identity within sociological theory, an individual’s interactions with peers, family, and society influence the development of their gender identity. Examining this concept within the diverse Indian context reveals the significant nuances of Indian trans-identity. Two Bengali-Indian films, Kaushik Ganguly’s Nagarkirtan (2019) and Rituparno Ghosh’s Chitrangada: The Crowning Wish (2012), depict the intense and challenging journeys of individuals embracing their trans identities. This research aims to analyse the films from an interactionist perspective, exploring how the Indian cultural discourses portrayed in the films influence the formation of trans identities. The findings suggest that the development of trans identity involves complex processes influenced by social interactions, where conflicts between one’s generalised self and instinctual self arise due to sexual digression. Additionally, this study indicates that the sexual scripting of trans individuals is influenced by various factors, including class, culture, financial status, and social position, making it challenging to conform to the binary gender script of a normalised society. This qualitative research utilises the Interactionist theory of gender identity to analyse the two Bengali-Indian films.
Diversity trends among faculty in STEM and non-STEM fields at selective public universities in the U.S. from 2016 to 2023
Authors: Baker Sofia P. , Koedel Cory
Published: September 2024

During the 2015–2016 academic year, racial protests swept across college campuses in the U.S. These protests were followed by large university investments in initiatives to promote diversity, which combined with existing diversity dynamics, have helped to shape recent faculty diversity trends. We document diversity trends among faculty in STEM and non-STEM fields since the protests in 2015–2016. We find that recent diversity trends are narrowing the gender gap among faculty in STEM and non-STEM fields, but widening racial-ethnic gaps, especially among Black faculty. A large body of prior research suggests these trends will affect students’ college experiences and how they choose majors.
Achieving metal-like catalysis from semiconductors for on-surface synthesis
Authors: E Wenlong , Yi Wei , Ding Honghe , Zhu Junfa , Rosei Federico , Yang Xueming , Yu Miao
Published: September 2024

Free of posttransfer, on-surface synthesis (OSS) of single-atomic-layer nanostructures directly on semiconductors holds considerable potential for next-generation devices. However, due to the high diffusion barrier and abundant defects on semiconductor surfaces, extended and well-defined OSS on semiconductors has major difficulty. Furthermore, given semiconductors’ limited thermal catalytic activity, initiating high-barrier reactions remains a significant challenge. Herein, using TiO
2
(011) as a prototype, we present an effective strategy for steering the molecule adsorption and reaction processes on semiconductors, delivering lengthy graphene nanoribbons with extendable widths. By introducing interstitial titanium (Ti
int
) and oxygen vacancies (O
v
), we convert TiO
2
(011) from a passive supporting template into a metal-like catalytic platform. This regulation shifts electron density and surface dipoles, resulting in tunable catalytic activity together with varied molecule adsorption and diffusion. Cyclodehydrogenation, which is inefficient on pristine TiO
2
(011), is markedly improved on Ti
int
/O
v
-doped TiO
2
. Even interribbon cyclodehydrogenation is achieved. The final product’s dimensions, quality, and coverage are all controllable. Ti
int
doping outperforms O
v
in producing regular and prolonged products, whereas excessive Ti
int
compromises molecule landing and coupling. This work demonstrates the crucial role of semiconductor substrates in OSS and advances OSS on semiconductors from an empirical trial-and-error methodology to a systematic and controllable paradigm.
Comparative study of structural, opto-electronic properties of Cs2TiX6-based single halide double perovskite solar cells: computational and experimental approach
Authors: Chakraborty Kunal , Medikondu Nageswara Rao , Kanakavalli Prakash Babu , Kamesh Vinjamuri Venkata , Das Sudipta , Choudhury Mahua Gupta , Paul Samrat
Published: September 2024

This research work represents a comparative study of the structural, optical, and electronic properties of Cs2TiX6 single halide perovskite solar cell (PSC). The entire work has been carried out by experimental work under ambient conditions and followed by the DFT method. Absorbing material structural parameters (lattice constant, shape), and band gap energy can be easily estimated from the DFT approach which can be compared with the result of experimental work. Our study shows Cs2TiBr6 PSC has better band gap energy of 1.80 eV (numerically) and 1.82 eV (experimentally), open circuit voltage 0.58 V, short circuit current 2.55 mA cm−2 for the photovoltaic application. Also, the higher Zeta potential value of Cs2TiBr6 PSC indicates that it has better material stability and is less volatile compared to Cs2TiI6, Cs2TiCl6, and Cs2TiF6 PSCs. TEM images and the SAED pattern of the active layers show a higher degree of crystallite nature of the PSCs.On the other look, investigated PSC materials Cs2TiBr6, Cs2TiI6, Cs2TiCl6, and Cs2TiF6 have shown visible light emission edges at 358 nm, 375 nm, 363 nm, 735 nm wavelength, and the optical performance area of the Cs2TiBr6, Cs2TiI6, Cs2TiCl6, Cs2TiF6 samples is recorded up to 700 nm, 760 nm, 540 nm, and 660 nm wavelength, respectively.
Monte Carlo simulation study of a novel neutron resonance radiography method for oxygen identification in oxides and composite materials
Authors: Tian B.B. , Jiang B. , Jing H.T. , Yan M.F.
Published: September 2024

A novel imaging mode of neutron resonance radiography for the identification and mapping of oxygen element is firstly proposed based on the Back-n beamline at CSNS. The method utilizes a 10B-enriched conversion layer that converts transmitted neutrons to gamma rays. The emitted characteristic 478-keV prompt gamma rays are then collimated by a pinhole device and imaged. The energy-selective operation of transmitted neutrons via time-of-flight (TOF) measurement is performed by detecting 478-keV prompt gamma rays as a function of neutron TOF. This work shows the viability of the proposed imaging method for oxygen identification by Monte Carlo simulation.
Recalibrated projections of the Hadley circulation under global warming
Authors: Wu Mingna , Li Chao , Zhang Zhongshi
Published: September 2024

Climate models project a weakening and expansion of the Hadley circulation (HC) under global warming but with considerable spread in the magnitude of these changes. Here, utilizing models from the latest Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6), we illustrate how the variance in projected changes in the HC arises from equilibrium climate sensitivity (ECS) uncertainty across models. Models with higher ECS project a greater extent of static stability increase hence larger HC changes. Using the best estimate of ECS with value of 3 K (∼2.5–4.0 K) to constrain the HC projection, we reveal that the constrained projection yields a 15% (11%) decrease in the weakening (poleward shift) of the HC in the Northern (Southern) Hemisphere compared to the multimodel mean under the SSP5-8.5 scenario. The corresponding projection uncertainty is reduced by about 77.4% and 75.6%, respectively. Our results indicate a smaller-than-expected change in the HC in response to increased CO2 concentrations.
Dynamic tailoring large-area surface plasmon polariton excitation
Authors: Peña Ramírez Aldo , Zhai Tingting , Salas-Montiel Rafael , Ruiz Cortés Víctor
Published: September 2024

We propose and demonstrate a method for dynamically changing the patterning of the surface plasmon polariton (SPP) excitation over a large area under spatially inhomogeneous polarized illumination. By illuminating a 1D gold grating with shallow rectangular grooves with a spatially structured polarization beam of near-infrared light (780 nm), we selectively excited SPPs on an extended area. The parameters used to fabricate the grating coupler, matched the wave vector of the incident light with that of the SPP to achieve an efficient coupling. The incident wave illuminating the grating is a spatially inhomogeneous polarized beam. We designed local polarization states to control the local excitation of the SPP in order to pattern large areas. For real-time local control of the polarization state of the extended incident beam, we used a setup with a spatial light modulator and quarter-wave plate.
“We Found Her at the River”
Authors: Tanielian Melanie Schulze
Published: September 2024

This article focuses on the discursive and practical strategies of German humanitarian work on behalf of Ottoman Armenians in the Eastern Mediterranean beginning in the 1890s. Unlike their British, French, and US counterparts, German humanitarians, restrained by their government’s pro-Ottoman politics, relied on mobilization and funding strategies that catered to an evangelical moral counterpublic. Pious journalism and educational efforts focused on individual stories and suffering and catered to both popular reading preferences and a devout audience, generating particular humanitarian fantasies, namely the pursuit of salvation through the rescue of distant others. These fantasies provided the raw material for the construction of an imagined humanitarian community solidified by an individualized one-to-one child sponsorship system involving the circulation of letters, photographs, blessings, moral instructions, and money. The donations of this pious Protestant counterpublic enabled the establishment of an enduring humanitarian project with the hallmarks of modern humanitarianism; it was international, bureaucratic, and perceived as permanent. The largely neglected German humanitarian efforts reveal the continuities between a post–World War I secular, permanent, institutionalized, solution-oriented humanitarian regime and the religious, supposedly “sporadic” missionary humanitarianism of the 19th century, as its established practices carried over into and inspired the work of the interwar period.
In vitro production of viable eggs from undeveloped oocytes in mouse preantral follicles by reconstructing granulosa cell–oocyte complexes
Authors: Kohama Tomohiro , Tomioka Ikuo , Morohaku Kanako
Published: September 2024

In vitro culture of ungrown oocytes in preantral follicles is one of the intriguing subjects being pursued to produce viable eggs in assisted reproductive technology. Previous studies have succeeded in obtaining mature eggs after in vitro culture of preantral follicles, while denuded undeveloped oocytes, which are obtained occasionally when collecting preantral follicles, seem to be almost useless. Moreover, methods to culture them efficiently to produce viable eggs have not been established yet. The present study was conducted to demonstrate in vitro culture of mouse denuded undeveloped oocytes by reconstructing granulosa cell–oocyte complexes, and to analyze cellular communication in reconstructed granulosa cell–oocyte complexes. Single denuded undeveloped oocytes were aggregated with 1 × 104 granulosa cells in wells with U-shaped bottoms in a low-binding cell culture plate for 8 days under either 20% or 5% O2, and then the reconstructed granulosa cell–oocyte complexes formed were cultured on a collagen-coated culture membrane insert for 4 days under 5% O2. At day 8 of culture, the rates of reconstructed granulosa cell–oocyte complexes formation were significantly higher in the culture group under 5% O2 (64.9%) than that under 20% O2 (42.3%; P < 0.001); furthermore, the formation of transzonal projections was observed. After maturation and fertilization, we produced matured eggs and blastocysts at higher rates (>90% and 61.9%, respectively) in the group cultured under 5% O2. After transferring 126 two- to four-cell stage embryos, six live pups were obtained. This is the first report that demonstrates production of viable eggs after in vitro culture of denuded undeveloped oocytes from preantral follicles by reconstruction of granulosa cell–oocyte complexes.
Perforated peptic ulcer
Authors: Velde Gunnar , Ismail Warsan , Thorsen Kenneth
Published: September 2024

Worldwide perforated peptic ulcer disease is the leading cause of mortality after abdominal emergency surgery Rapid clinical assessment, proper diagnostics, and timely decision-making are vital in handling patients with suspected or identified perforated peptic ulcer CT has high diagnostic sensitivity, whereas perforation is only evident on three-quarters of plain abdominal X-rays Delay in surgical intervention increases mortality risk Simple closure of the perforated ulcer is still the preferred method of surgery Laparoscopic surgery is the preferred approach in experienced hands
Research on convex resource allocation scheduling with exponential time-dependent learning effects
Authors: Zhang Li-Han , Yang Shu-Han , Lv Dan-Yang , Wang Ji-Bo
Published: September 2024

This article addresses two scheduling problems with resource allocations and learning effects on a single machine, meaning the actual processing time of a job is a nonincreasing and continuous function of the total job parameter relating to the processed jobs and the amount of resource allocation. Our first problem is to find a job sequence and resource allocations that lead to a minimization of the weighted sum of total completion-time cost and total resource-consumption cost. The second problem is to minimize the total completion-time cost subject to the total resource-consumption cost is bounded. For a special case, we prove that both these problems are polynomially solvable. Generally, we propose some heuristic algorithms and a branch-and-bound algorithm to solve the problems.
Hypoxia Tolerance of Two Killifish Species
Authors: Thomas Peyton A , Kinsey Stephen T
Published: September 2024

Synopsis

Hypoxia tolerance in aquatic ectotherms involves a suite of behavioral and physiological responses at the organismal, tissue, and cellular levels. The current study evaluated two closely related killifish species (Fundulus heteroclitus, Fundulus majalis) to evaluate responses to acute moderate and acute severe hypoxia. Routine metabolic rate and loss of equilibrium were assessed, followed by analysis in skeletal muscle of markers of oxidative damage to proteins (2,4-DNPH), lipids (4-HNE), and DNA (8-OHdG), hypoxia signaling (HIF1α, HIF2α), cellular energy state (p-AMPK: AMPK), and protein degradation (Ubiquitin, LC3B, Calpain 2, Hsp70). Both species had a similar reduction in metabolic rate at low PO2. However, F. heteroclitus was the more hypoxia-tolerant species based on a lower PO2 at which there was loss of equilibrium, perhaps due in part to a lower oxygen demand at all oxygen tensions. Despite the differences in hypoxia tolerance between the species, skeletal muscle molecular markers were largely insensitive to hypoxia, and there were few differences in responses between the species. Thus, the metabolic depression observed at the whole animal level appears to limit perturbations in skeletal muscle in both species during the hypoxia treatments.
MYC-dependent upregulation of the de novo serine and glycine synthesis pathway is a targetable metabolic vulnerability in group 3 medulloblastoma
Authors: Adiamah Magretta , Poole Bethany , Lindsey Janet C , Kohe Sarah , Morcavallo Alaide , Burté Florence , Hill Rebecca M , Blair Helen , Thompson Dean , Singh Mankaran , Swartz Shanel , Crosier Stephen , Zhang Tong , Maddocks Oliver D K , Peet Andrew , Chesler Louis , Hickson Ian , Maxwell Ross J , Clifford Steven C
Published: September 2024

Background

Group 3 medulloblastoma (MBGRP3) represents around 25% of medulloblastomas and is strongly associated with c-MYC (MYC) amplification, which confers significantly worse patient survival. Although elevated MYC expression is a significant molecular feature in MBGRP3, direct targeting of MYC remains elusive, and alternative strategies are needed. The metabolic landscape of MYC-driven MBGRP3 is largely unexplored and may offer novel opportunities for therapies.

Methods

To study MYC-induced metabolic alterations in MBGRP3, we depleted MYC in isogenic cell-based model systems, followed by 1H high-resolution magic-angle spectroscopy (HRMAS) and stable isotope-resolved metabolomics, to assess changes in intracellular metabolites and pathway dynamics.

Results

Steady-state metabolic profiling revealed consistent MYC-dependent alterations in metabolites involved in one-carbon metabolism such as glycine. 13C-glucose tracing further revealed a reduction in glucose-derived serine and glycine (de novo synthesis) following MYC knockdown, which coincided with lower expression and activity of phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (PHGDH), the rate-limiting enzyme in this pathway. Furthermore, MYC-overexpressing MBGRP3 cells were more vulnerable to pharmacological inhibition of PHGDH compared to those with low expression. Using in vivo tumor-bearing genetically engineered and xenograft mouse models, pharmacological inhibition of PHGDH increased survival, implicating the de novo serine/glycine synthesis pathway as a pro-survival mechanism sustaining tumor progression. Critically, in primary human medulloblastomas, increased PHGDH expression correlated strongly with both MYC amplification and poorer clinical outcomes.

Conclusions

Our findings support a MYC-induced dependency on the serine/glycine pathway in MBGRP3 that represents a novel therapeutic treatment strategy for this poor prognosis disease group.
Proceedings of the 1st biannual bridging the gaps in lung cancer conference
Authors: Florez Narjust , Patel Sandip P , Wakelee Heather , Bazhenova Lyudmila , Massarelli Erminia , Salgia Ravi , Stiles Brendon , Peters Solange , Malhotra Jyoti , Gadgeel Shirish M , Nieva Jorge J , Afkhami Michelle , Hirsch Fred R , Gubens Matthew , Cascone Tina , Levy Benjamin , Sabari Joshua , Husain Hatim , Ma Patrick C , Backhus Leah M , Iyengar Puneeth , Lee Percy , Miller Russell , Sands Jacob , Kim Edward
Published: September 2024

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the US and globally. The mortality from lung cancer has been declining, due to a reduction in incidence and advances in treatment. Although recent success in developing targeted and immunotherapies for lung cancer has benefitted patients, it has also expanded the complexity of potential treatment options for health care providers. To aid in reducing such complexity, experts in oncology convened a conference (Bridging the Gaps in Lung Cancer) to identify current knowledge gaps and controversies in the diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes of various lung cancer scenarios, as described here. Such scenarios relate to biomarkers and testing in lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, EGFR mutations and targeted therapy in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), early-stage NSCLC, KRAS/BRAF/MET and other genomic alterations in NSCLC, and immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC.
Minimized Dark Consumption of Calvin Cycle Intermediates Facilitates the Initiation of Photosynthesis in Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Tanaka Kenya , Kondo Akihiko , Hasunuma Tomohisa
Published: September 2024

Cyanobacteria intricately regulate their metabolic pathways during the diurnal cycle to ensure survival and growth. Under dark conditions, the breakdown of glycogen, an energy reserve, in these organisms replenishes Calvin cycle intermediates, especially downstream glycolytic metabolites, which are necessary for photosynthesis initiation upon light irradiation. However, it remains unclear how the accumulation of these intermediates is maintained in the dark despite limited glycogen availability. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the regulation of downstream glycolytic metabolites of the Calvin cycle under dark and light conditions using Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803. Our results showed that during the dark period, low pyruvate kinase (Pyk) activity ensured metabolite accumulation, while endogenous Pyk overexpression significantly lowered the accumulation of glycolytic intermediates. Remarkably, wild-type Synechocystis maintained oxygen evolution ability throughout dark treatment for over 2 d, while Pyk overexpression resulted in decreased oxygen evolution after 16 h of dark treatment. These results indicated that limiting Pyk activity via darkness treatment facilitates photosynthetic initiation by maintaining glycolytic intermediates. Similarly, phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PepC) overexpression decreased oxygen evolution under dark treatment; however, its effect was lower than that of Pyk. Furthermore, we noted that as PepC overexpression decreased the levels of glycolytic intermediates in the dark, sugar phosphates in the Calvin–Benson–Bassham (CBB) cycle showed high accumulation, suggesting that sugar phosphates play important roles in supporting photosynthesis initiation. Therefore, our study highlights the importance of controlling the metabolic pathways through which glycolytic and CBB cycle intermediates are consumed (defined as cataplerosis of the CBB cycle) to ensure stable photosynthesis.
Neck or Shoulder? Establishing Consensus for Spine Screening in Patients With Shoulder Pain: An International Modified Delphi Study
Authors: Requejo-Salinas Néstor , Fernández-Matías Rubén , Cadogan Angela , Chester Rachel , Roy Jean-Sébastien , Struyf Filip , Bateman Marcus , Balster Simon , Haik Melina Nevoeiro , Seitz Amee L , Bisset Leanne , Camargo Paula Rezende , Brismée Jean-Michel , May Stephen , Walker Tom , Wassinger Craig , Lenssen Ross , Powell Jared K , McCreesh Karen , Gibson Jo , Ludewig Paula M , La Touche Roy , Lluch-Girbés Enrique
Published: September 2024

Objective

There is no established consensus for screening the spine in patients with shoulder pain. The aim of this study was to explore the role of the spine in shoulder pain and generate a set of recommendations for assessing the potential involvement of the spine in patients with shoulder pain.

Methods

A modified Delphi study was conducted through use of an international shoulder physical therapist’s expert panel. Three domains (clinical reasoning, history, and physical examination) were evaluated using a Likert scale, with consensus defined as Aiken Validity Index ≥0.7.

Results

Twenty-two physical therapists participated. Consensus was reached on a total of 30 items: clinical reasoning (n = 9), history (n = 13), and physical examination (n = 8). The statement that spinal and shoulder disorders can coexist, sometimes influencing each other and at other times remaining independent issues, along with the concept of radiating pain as an explanatory phenomenon for the spine contribution to shoulder pain, achieved the highest degree of consensus.

Conclusion

International physical therapists shoulder experts reached consensus on key aspects when screening the spine in people with shoulder pain, including consideration of the distal location of symptoms relative to the shoulder, the presence or previous history of neck pain, the changes in symptoms related to neck movements, and the presence of neuropathic-like symptoms. They also acknowledged the importance of assessing active cervical or cervicothoracic movements and the usefulness of the Spurling test and symptom modification techniques applied to the spine.

Impact

This consensus holds implications for both clinical practice and research. In research, applying these considerations may ensure more homogenous samples, thereby enhancing the investigation of outcomes in shoulder pain populations. In clinical practice, determining the need for spine screening and its potential impact on prognosis and management could significantly influence patient care.
Arteriovenous Shunts: Their Location and Role in Physiology, Pathology, and Tissue Transfer. A Preliminary Report in the Upper Limb
Authors: Taylor G. Ian , Gascoigne Adam , Dodwell Prue , Corlett Russell , Pribaz Julian , Ramakrishnan Anand , Bruechert Georga , Fogg Quentin
Published: September 2024

Background:

Tiny arteriovenous (AV) shunts of 10–150 µm (0.01–0.15 mm) are documented in the hands and feet. Larger shunts up to 0.5 mm (500 µm) have been discovered by the authors in the inner canthus and the human eye. This study seeks their possible existence in the upper limb.

Methods:

Radiographic lead oxide cadaver injection and dissection studies of 14 archival and six new upper limbs were examined.

Results:

AV shunts of 0.1–0.5 mm were discovered between the brachial, ulnar, and radial arteries and their venae comitantes and between their arterial perforators and the subcutaneous veins.

Conclusion:

This pilot study provides insight into the possible function of these large AV shunts associated with blood flow variation in temperature, blood pressure, tissue transfer, flap prefabrication, and flap necrosis.
Treatment of Facial Artery Embolization Caused by Polycaprolactone-based Dermal Filler with a Regimen Including 5-Fluorouracil
Authors: Guo Fengfeng , Xia Yuxi , Wei Qingqian , Zhuang Jun , Li Jinge , Hu Jintian
Published: September 2024

Polycaprolactone-based fillers are commonly used in plastic surgery to improve facial aging. However, adverse vascular events following these injections have been reported. An arterial embolism is a rare but serious complication associated with injectable filler procedures. We report a case of arterial embolism in a 35-year-old woman who received a polycaprolactone-based dermal filler at the nasal base and was treated with a regimen containing 5-fluorouracil. We discuss the potential causes of the patient’s condition and assess the superiority of our method over conventional approaches. Before treatment, ultrasound detected a decreased flow velocity in the patient’s right medial canthus artery with distal hypoperfusion, which improved significantly posttreatment. Long-term follow-up revealed near-disappearance of facial scarring. Our treatment effectively addressed facial artery embolism without any reported adverse reactions.
Comparing Cortiva Silhouette to AlloDerm for Use in Prepectoral Two-stage Prosthetic Breast Reconstruction
Authors: Silverstein Max L. , Wan Derrick , Momeni Arash
Published: September 2024

Background:

The use of acellular dermal matrices (ADMs) in implant-based breast reconstruction has become increasingly routine during the past 20 years. ADMs improve soft-tissue support, facilitate greater tissue expander (TE) fill volumes, and reduce rates of capsular contracture. As the ADM market continues to grow, outcomes studies are necessary to assess the risks and benefits of each product. In this study, we compare the performance of Cortiva Silhouette, the thinnest ADM widely available, to AlloDerm, commonly considered the industry standard.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective review of 178 consecutive two-stage prosthetic breast reconstructions performed by the senior author. In every case, either Cortiva or AlloDerm was used to provide soft-tissue support during TE placement. Subjects were divided into Cortiva and AlloDerm cohorts and compared across patient characteristics and reconstructive outcomes variables.

Results:

During the study period, AlloDerm was used in 116 reconstructions; Cortiva was used in 62. After propensity score matching (62 AlloDerm, 62 Cortiva), Cortiva was associated with greater intraoperative and final TE fill volumes, as well as larger silicone implants. Cortiva was also associated with fewer complications overall, and fewer instances of mastectomy skin necrosis, delayed wound healing, and seroma.

Conclusions:

Cortiva Silhouette is noninferior to AlloDerm in terms of safety and providing soft-tissue support in prepectoral two-stage implant-based breast reconstruction. In this study, Cortiva supported greater TE fill volumes and larger silicone implants relative to AlloDerm and was associated with fewer complications.
Orbital Complication in the Setting of Cocaine Use: A Case Report and Review of Literature
Authors: Wong Calvin W. , Zhao Michael Y. , McDermott John J. , Lee Debora H. , McCulley Timothy J. , Chen Ying
Published: September 2024

Orbital cellulitis is a common ophthalmologic consultation and has numerous risk factors; however, one that is seldomly encountered is chronic cocaine use. We describe a case of a 63-year-old man with a history of HIV and cocaine use who presented with OD pain, proptosis, and blurred vision. CT imaging revealed extensive erosions throughout the nasal septum, bilateral turbinates, ethmoid sinuses, and loss of the right medial orbital wall. The patient was treated empirically with broad-spectrum antibiotics, and a nasal biopsy and culture grew Staphylococcus aureus. After treatment with IV antibiotics, the patient’s visual acuity returned to baseline with resolution of extraocular motility limitations. Although nasal erosions are a well-described sequela of cocaine use, full-thickness osseous defects of the orbital wall are rare and represent late-stage complications of cocaine-induced destructive midline lesions. Orbital cellulitis is a very rare complication in the setting of cocaine-induced destructive midline lesions. Clinicians should be aware of the link between cocaine use, rhino-orbital abnormalities, and orbital cellulitis.
Treatment of Eyelid Entropion: A Historical Review
Authors: Custer Philip L.
Published: September 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to review the long history of entropion, with emphasis on its significance to the specialty of ophthalmology, and the numerous methods developed to treat cicatricial and involutional forms of the condition.

Methods:

An extensive medical literature review was performed, identifying publications containing information on entropion and associated conditions. Foreign language manuscripts were translated using online resources.

Results:

A total of 920 manuscripts published between 1505 and 2023 were reviewed. While the majority were written in English, 38.5% were foreign language works. For much of history, both cicatricial and involutional entropion were managed by shortening the anterior lamella. Horizontal eyelid margin or posterior tarsal incisions were often added for cicatricial disease. Later, different tissues were grafted into the defects created by these incisions. A variety of measures were used to temporize in patients with involutional entropion. Surgical treatment of this condition evolved to include methods of suture rotation, orbicularis weakening or redirection, tarsal stabilization, lid margin shortening, and eyelid retractor repair.

Conclusions:

Entropion and its management are described throughout recorded history. For much of this time, cicatricial entropion was the most common form of the disease, in great part secondary to the prevalence of trachoma. The social impact of these conditions was a primary factor in the establishment of ophthalmology as a medical specialty and the creation of dedicated eye hospitals. Publications describing the treatment of involutional entropion appear with increasing frequency after the mid-19th century. Arguably, more procedures have been described for entropion than for any other ophthalmic condition.
Use of Geological Maps in Detecting Asbestos-Related Diseases; A New Region in Anatolia
Authors: Ogun Hamza , Kansu Abdullah , Kansu Zeynep Eğri , Bayram Mehmet
Published: September 2024

Objective

To examine the potential relationship between the presence of asbestos-related diseases (ARDs) in the region of Kastamonu, Turkey.

Methods

The places of birth of patients with ARDs and control subjects diagnosed between 2008 and 2019 and identified in a tertiary hospital in Istanbul. Soil samples were taken from plaster surfaces and quarries. The analysis was done with transmission electron microscopy.

Results

ARDs was detected in 55(17.9%) of 307 participants. Patients had a mean age of 68 ± 11 years. Residential proximity to ophiolites increased ARD incidence by 6.2% per kilometer (P = 0.003). Birthplaces were identified as being inside an ophiolitic unit, or if they were not, the Google Earth software was used to determine the beeline distance between the settlement's center and the edge of the closest ophiolitic unit. The appropriate threshold for this case is 12.75 km, with 75% sensitivity and 87% specificity.

Conclusion

ARDs due to naturally occurring asbestos (NOA) are present in hitherto unknown places. Geological maps including ophiolites can help locate these places.
Predicting adherence to ankle-foot orthoses in people with stroke: An application of the Theory of Planned Behavior
Authors: McMonagle Christine , Rasmussen Susan , Rooney Robbie , Elliott Mark A
Published: September 2024

Background:

Ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs) are often prescribed for people with stroke to address motor impairment. However, not all patients adhere to using their AFOs as prescribed. Predictors of AFO adherence are likely to constitute useful targets for interventions that aim to promote this behavior.

Objective:

To identify the predictors of AFO adherence in people with stroke using an established theoretical framework, namely the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB; Ajzen, 1991).

Study design:

Prospective survey design.

Method:

N = 49 people who had been prescribed an AFO after a stroke completed a TPB questionnaire. One month later, they completed another questionnaire that measured adherence to AFOs as prescribed by an orthotic practitioner. Predictors of intention and AFO-adherence behavior were identified using regression analyses.

Results

Adherence to AFOs was 63%. The TPB accounted for 61% of the variance in intentions and 43% of the variance in AFO-adherence behavior. Attitude and perceived behavioral control were predictors of intention, and intention was the sole predictor of behavior.

Conclusion

The TPB is a useful model for explaining adherence to AFOs in people with stroke. Interventions could be designed to increase intentions to use an AFO as prescribed by promoting positive attitudes towards, and perceived behavioral control of AFO adherence.
Dispersal distances from splash-cup plants depend on the cup’s angle and contents
Authors: Klaassen van Oorschot Brett , Bryson Kelsy A. , Danner Olivia , Eklof Joel F. , Lopez Alessandra , Wah-Blumberg Joshua , Pepper Rachel E.
Published: September 2024

Splash-cup plants disperse propagules via raindrops striking cup-shaped fruiting bodies. The seeds are ejected at velocities up to five times the impact speed of the raindrop and are dispersed up to 1 m from the parent plant. Here, we examine the effects of cup angles and the presence of seed mimics to understand the dynamics of this unique method of dispersal. Our findings demonstrate that: (i) cup angles that launched seeds the furthest ranged from approximately 30° to 50°, matching the range of angles seen in splash-cup plants. (ii) Seeds travel shorter distances than water droplets alone, and this distance depends on the number of seeds in the cup. (iii) Not all seeds are ejected from initially dry cups, leaving cups with some seeds and some water. (iv) Nearly all seeds are ejected from cups that contain both water and seeds, and those that are ejected travel significantly further than those from dry cups. These results confirm the possibility that the conical shape of splash cup plants may be adapted to maximize dispersal distance and benefit from multiple splash events. Our results also illustrate that future work on these plants should include seeds rather than water droplets alone.
A comparative genomic and phylogenomic study of Nocardia seriolae strains unveils high genetic homogeneity and open nature of the pangenome

Authors: Islam Sk Injamamul , Shahed Khandker , Ahamed Md Imtiaz , Mohammed Haitham
Published: September 2024

The pathogen Nocardia seriolae is responsible for causing chronic granulomatous disease, known as fish nocardiosis, which has been observed in more than 40 species of fish cultured in marine and freshwater environments. Therefore, it is imperative to perform research to address and eradicate this substantial threat to the aquaculture industry. However, quantifying the negative impacts associated with this species is difficult because of insufficient data and underreporting. While several genomes are available in online databases, there is still a lack of comparative genomic analyses and studies on effective treatments, which is particularly important for aquaculture. To gain a deeper understanding of the pathogenic mechanisms associated with various Nocardia strains causing disease outbreaks and their virulence components, as well as the functional enrichment and genetic diversity during infection, it is crucial to develop a dependable and replicable pangenomic dataset. This study quantified Nocardia pangenome openness and discovered the biological processes that drive it. The study also found a substantial association between pangenome openness and numerous parameters such as genomic plasticity, gene synteny, single-copy phylogenomics, and pangenome prediction. The results showed genetic similarity across strains, indicating that the pangenome of this species is moving toward completeness. The diversity was supported by the similarity analysis, which revealed a high percentage of genes in the core genome and close association among the strains. Our findings provide valuable information and emphasize the necessity of sequencing novel genomes of N. serioale isolates to gain a deeper understanding of their diversity and patterns of adaptability.
Nsp1 stalls DNA Polymerase α at DNA hairpins
Authors: Baranovskiy Andrey G. , Morstadt Lucia M. , Babayeva Nigar D. , Tahirov Tahir H.
Published: September 2024

The human primosome, a four-subunit complex of DNA primase and DNA polymerase alpha (Polα), plays a critical role in DNA replication by initiating RNA and DNA synthesis on both chromosome strands. A recent study has shown that a major virulence factor in the SARS-CoV-2 infection, Nsp1 (non-structural protein 1), forms a stable complex with Polα but does not affect the primosome activity. Here we show that Nsp1 inhibits DNA synthesis across inverted repeats prone to hairpin formation. Analysis of current structural data revealed the overlapping binding sites for Nsp1 and the winged helix-turn-helix domain of RPA (wHTH) on Polα, indicating a competition between them. Comparison of the inhibitory effect of Nsp1 and wHTH on DNA hairpin bypass by Polα showed an 8-fold lower IC50value for Nsp1 (1 µM). This study provides a valuable insight into the mechanism of inhibition of human DNA replication by Nsp1 during a SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Differential effects of obesity and diabetes on the action potential waveform and inward currents in rat ventricular myocytes
Authors: Shmygol Anatoliy , Bru-Mercier Gilles , Sultan Ahmed S. , Howarth Frank C.
Published: September 2024

Obesity is a significant health concern worldwide, increasing the risk for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular disease. Studies have found various vascular anomalies, abnormal heart rhythm, and impaired electro-mechanical coupling in patients with diabetes. Research on non-diabetic obese individuals has shown that besides diabetes-related complications, obesity itself raises the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. Recent studies have revealed a decrease in the speed of electrical signal conduction in the heart, along with slight gap junction dysfunction, which is insufficient to explain the observed impediment of impulse conduction. It’s still unclear whether this impairment is due to obesity-related fat toxicity or diabetes-related factors. Our study aimed to investigate the ventricular action potential parameters and voltage-gated Na+(INa) and Ca2+(I(Ca, L)) currents in Zucker fatty (ZF) rats in comparison to Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, a well-established model of obesity and T2DM.

Ventricular myocytes were enzymatically isolated from 25-30-week-old Zucker rats. Resting and action potentials were recorded from isolated left ventricular myocytes using a β-escin perforated patch clamp in current-clamp mode; INaand I(Ca, L)were recorded using whole-cell patch clamp techniques.

Ventricular myocytes from ZF rats showed higher excitability and faster upstroke velocity. ZF rats also had a larger density of INa. Conversely, ZDF rats had decreased INawhich correlated with a reduced velocity of the action potential upstroke. There were no changes in the density or voltage sensitivity of I(Ca, L)among the three groups of animals.

In conclusion, obesity alone and obesity accompanied by DM have distinct effects on the action potential waveform, INadensity and excitability of ventricular myocytes in a rat model of T2DM.
IL-6 and IL-27 negatively regulate CRTAM-expressing CD4+T-cells associated with lymphoid-driven synovitis
Authors: Derrac Soria Alicia , Lewis Myles , Liu Xiao , Twohig Jason P , Monaco Federica , Dimonte Sandra , Cardus Figueras Ana , Morrin Aisling , Guy Carol , Cossins Benjamin C , Benson Robert , Andrews Robert , Choy Ernest H , Garside Paul , Huwaikem Muneerah , Stemmler Marc P , Brabletz Simone , Brabletz Thomas , Siebzehnrubl Florian , Rodrigues Neil P. , Jenkins Brendan J. , Pitzalis Costantino , Jones Gareth W , Jones Simon A
Published: September 2024

Joint pathology in rheumatoid arthritis is heterogeneous, with histology providing evidence of fibroblast-driven, myeloid-driven, and lymphoid-driven synovitis. However, the immuno-modulatory pathways underlying their development remain unclear. Profiling synovial tissues from rheumatoid arthritis patients and mice with antigen-induced arthritis, we identified a subset of synovial infiltrating CD4+T-cells expressing CRTAM (class-I MHC-restricted T-cell-associated molecule). In human synovial biopsies,CRTAMcorrelated with the expression of effector cytokines (IL21,IFNG), chemokine receptors (CXCR3,CXCR4,CCR5), granzymes (GZMA,GZMB,GZMK), and regulatory factors (TIGIT,EOMES,BATF) linked with T-cell-mediated immunity. Studies of antigen-induced arthritis showed that CRTAM+CD4+T-cells accumulate in the inflamed synovium following disease onset. CRTAM+CD4+T-cells were particularly abundant in synovial tissue fromIl27ra-/-mice displaying ectopic lymphoid-like structures. CADM1 (cell adhesion molecule-1), the endogenous ligand for CRTAM, was also expressed in human synovitis and synovial tissues from wild-type,Il6ra-/-, andIl27ra-/-mice with antigen-induced arthritis. Cells expressing human CADM1 included synovial fibroblasts and subsets of monocytic and CD19+cells. Considering theex vivoregulation of CRTAM, we identified that activation of naïve CD4+T-cell increased CRTAM expression. This induction was blocked by IL-6 and IL-27, with further studies identifying a role for STAT3 in controlling the CRTAM transcriptional repressor, ZEB1. These results provide insights into the cytokine control of CRTAM on CD4+T-cells and support the involvement of CRTAM+CD4+T-cells in lymphoid-driven synovitis.
DIFFERENTIAL CONTRIBUTIONS OF THE SPECTRO-TEMPORAL AND VOCAL CHARACTERISTICS OF AUDITORY PSEUDOWORDS TO MULTIPLE SOUND-SYMBOLIC MAPPINGS
Authors: Lacey Simon , Matthews Kaitlyn L. , Hoffmann A. M. , Sathian K. , Nygaard Lynne C.
Published: September 2024

Sound symbolism, the idea that the sound of a word alone can convey its meaning, is often studied using auditory pseudowords. For example, people reliably assign the auditory pseudowords /bouba/ and /kiki/ to rounded and pointed shapes, respectively. Previously we showed that representational dissimilarity matrices (RDMs) of the shape ratings of auditory pseudowords correlated significantly with RDMs of acoustic parameters reflecting spectro-temporal variations; the ratings also correlated significantly with voice quality features. Here, participants rated auditory pseudowords on scales representing categorical opposites across seven meaning domains, including shape. Examination of the relationships of the perceptual ratings to spectro-temporal and vocal parameters of the pseudowords essentially replicated our previous findings for shape while varying patterns emerged for the other domains. Thus, the spectro-temporal and vocal properties of spoken pseudowords contribute differentially to sound-symbolic mapping depending on the meaning domain.
Policy shaping based on the learned preferences of others accounts for risky decision-making under social observation
Authors: Seon HeeYoung , Chung Dongil
Published: September 2024

Observing others’ choices influences individuals’ decisions, often leading them to follow others. However, it is repeatedly reported that being observed by others tends to make people act more riskily. We hypothesized that this discrepancy arises from individuals’ belief that others prefer riskier choices than they do. To examine this hypothesis, we used a gambling task where on some trials, individuals were informed that their choices would be observed by a risk- averse or seeking partner. Most important, individuals were given chances to learn each partner’s preference beforehand. As expected, individuals initially believed that partners would make relatively riskier choices than they would. Against two alternative explanations, we found that individuals simulated partners’ choices and weighed these simulated choices in making their own choices. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging, we showed that decision probabilities adjusted with the simulated partners’ choices were represented in the temporoparietal junction (TPJ). Moreover, individual differences in the functional connectivity between the TPJ and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) were explained by the interaction between model-estimated social reliance and sensitivity to social cues in the mPFC. These findings provide a neuromechanistic account of how being observed by others affects individuals’ decision-making, highlighting the roles of the mPFC and TPJ in simulating social contexts based on individuals’ beliefs.