bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Figure 1 from Development and Application of Genetic Ancestry Reconstruction Methods to Study Diversity of Patient-Derived Models in the NCI PDXNet Consortium
Authors: Lott Paul C. , Chiu Katherine , Quino Juanita Elizabeth , Vang April Pangia , Lloyd Michael W. , Srivastava Anuj , Chuang Jeffrey H. , Carvajal-Carmona Luis G.
Published: August 2024

Diversity of genetic ancestry estimates from PDXNet models. A, Inferred genetic ancestry for 960 models across all cancer types. B, Top two categories for 57 “MIXED” samples with no category >70%. Numbers and percentages in each box reflect the models assigned to that category based on estimates from the SNPweights analysis.
Data from Development and Application of Genetic Ancestry Reconstruction Methods to Study Diversity of Patient-Derived Models in the NCI PDXNet Consortium
Authors: Lott Paul C. , Chiu Katherine , Quino Juanita Elizabeth , Vang April Pangia , Lloyd Michael W. , Srivastava Anuj , Chuang Jeffrey H. , Carvajal-Carmona Luis G.
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Precision medicine holds great promise for improving cancer outcomes. Yet, there are large inequities in the demographics of patients from whom genomic data and models, including patient-derived xenografts (PDX), are developed and for whom treatments are optimized. In this study, we developed a genetic ancestry pipeline for the Cancer Genomics Cloud, which we used to assess the diversity of models currently available in the National Cancer Institute–supported PDX Development and Trial Centers Research Network (PDXNet). We showed that there is an under-representation of models derived from patients of non-European ancestry, consistent with other cancer model resources. We discussed these findings in the context of disparities in cancer incidence and outcomes among demographic groups in the US, as well as power analyses for biomarker discovery, to highlight the immediate need for developing models from minority populations to address cancer health equity in precision medicine. Our analyses identified key priority disparity-associated cancer types for which new models should be developed.
Significance:
Understanding whether and how tumor genetic factors drive differences in outcomes among U.S. minority groups is critical to addressing cancer health disparities. Our findings suggest that many additional models will be necessary to understand the genome-driven sources of these disparities.
Population Pharmacokinetic of Vancomycin Administered by Continuous Infusion in Critically Ill Patients
Authors: Ben Romdhane Haifa , Woillard Jean Baptiste , Ben Fadhel Najah , Chadli Zohra , Chaabane Amel , Boughattas Naceur , Ben Fredj Nadia , Aouam Karim
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Administration of vancomycin dose by continuous infusion (CI) according to population pharmacokinetic (Pop Pk) models is highly recommended in critically ill patients who exhibit pathophysiological changes. Objective: The objective of this study was to develop and validate a Pop Pk model of vancomycin administered by CI in critically ill patients with normal and impaired renal functions. Methods: The Pop Pk study was performed using a nonparametric approach (Pmetrics*). The influence of covariates (gender, age, weight, height, and creatinine clearance [Cr-Cl]) was tested on the model’s Pk parameters. The performance of the final model was assessed using an external dataset. Results: A one-compartment model (volume of distribution [Vd], elimination from compartment [Ke]) was found to show a good prediction performance. The influence of covariates has shown that age and Cr-Cl affected significantly Vd and Ke, respectively. The distribution of simulated vancomycin clearance (CLv) according to different renal function levels showed a negative correlation between CLv and the severity of the renal impairment. The internal validation of the final model showed that the plot of individual-predicted concentration versus observed concentration resulted in r2 = 0.86 in the final model. The external validation of the final model showed an acceptable predictive performance. Conclusion: We developed a Pop Pk model for vancomycin administered by CI in critically ill patients. A significant impact of Cr-Cl and different stages of renal failure on CLv has been demonstrated. The establishment of an individualized proposal dose based on this model may be helpful to achieve the target range which is critical in optimizing the efficacy and safety of this antibiotic.
Early-Stage Colon Cancer Surveillance: Pattern and Timing of Recurrence and the Role of 5-Year Surveillance
Authors: Ferreira Pinto Paula , Peyroteo Mariana , Baía Catarina , Marques Mariana , Cardoso Maria João , Videira José Flávio , Abreu de Sousa Joaquim
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Colorectal cancer is the third most prevalent cancer among both men and women with 80% of patients having localized disease enabling curative treatments. Given the low recurrence rate in early-stage disease, there is a growing interest in reviewing follow-up protocols. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency and timing of recurrence in early-stage colon cancer, as well as recurrence patterns. Methods: The data from all patients with colon adenocarcinoma consecutively treated with surgery at the Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto, EPE, between January 2013 and December 2016, were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 1,372 patients with colon cancer were submitted to surgery during the study period. From this group, 51.4% (n = 705) were early-stage colon cancers. Regarding the pathological stage, 3.5% were stage 0, 37.4% were stage I and 59.1% were stage II. The overall recurrence rate was 6.7%. When considering the group of patients without risk factors, the recurrence rate was 5.6%. The majority of recurrences occurred in the first 3 years of follow-up. The recurrence was diagnosed in the majority of patients through carcinoembryonic antigen elevation, followed by imaging exams. The presence of one or more risk factors (high nuclear grade, vascular invasion, extramural venous invasion, and perineural invasion) showed a statistically significant association with recurrence rate. Conclusion: The recurrence rate was low in early-stage colon cancer, with the majority of recurrences occurring in the first 3 years. Our study results show that surveillance should be tailored according to individual risk factors.
Surviving Critical Care: A Follow-Up Study Assessing Pulmonary Function, Cardiopulmonary Exercise Testing, and Quality of Life in COVID-19-Affected Patients
Authors: Engel Luisa , Strassmann Stephan , Merten Michaela , Schaefer Simone , Färber Johanna , Windisch Wolfram , Karagiannidis Christian
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Survivors of severe COVID-19 face complex challenges and a high degree of pulmonary sequelae. Therefore, we aim to describe their ongoing health burden. Methods: In this single-center prospective cohort study, COVID-19 ICU survivors were invited 3 and 6 months after ICU discharge. We examined pulmonary function with pulmonary function tests (PFT) and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), and we established health-related quality of life (HRQL) and health status (HS) with the EuroQol five-dimension five-level (EQ-5D-5L), the short-form health survey 12 (SF-12), and the modified British Medical Research Council dyspnea scale (mMRC) questionnaires. Results: Out of the 53 individuals screened, 23 participated in this study. Throughout both assessment points, participants maintained PFT results within range, apart from a decline in the transfer factor of the lung for carbon monoxide (TLCO). CPET showed improved fitness but persistent ventilatory deficiencies, indicated by altered dead space ventilation (VD/VT) and elevated arterial-alveoli gradient for oxygen (AaDO2). HRQL and HS remained compromised, with both physical (PCS) and mental component summary (MCS) scores significantly lower than the standardized norm population scores. Also, there was a rise in the prevalence of issues related to mobility, pain/discomfort, and anxiety/depression, and an increase in reported dyspnea. Conclusion: These results enhance our comprehension of the complex difficulties faced by COVID-19 ICU survivors. Six months post-discharge, CPET revealed the presence of ventilatory insufficiencies. Additionally, there was a decline in HRQL and HS, notably affected by mental health concerns and an increase in the level of dyspnea.
Species delimitation within the genus Porcellana (Anomura, Galatheoidea, Porcellanidae) in the East Atlantic and systematic implications
Authors: Baciu Miruna B. , Rodríguez-Flores Paula C. , Templado José , Machordom Annie
Published: August 2024

The porcelain crab Porcellana africana was originally identified as a subspecies of Porcellana platycheles, a species widely distributed in the eastern Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea. A study characterizing the recent invasion of P. africana in South Africa places doubts on the identification and previously reported distribution of populations of the two species of Porcellana, which could have implications for the conservation and management of the species. Here, we aimed to delineate the Porcellana species from the East Atlantic to gain a better understanding of their distribution, which will help in conservation decision-making. Molecular analyses based on two mitochondrial genes and a nuclear gene confirmed that P. africana is a well-defined species and that its distribution extends further north, including the Canary Islands. A time divergence estimation indicates the cladogenesis between P. platycheles and P. africana occurred during the Neogene, likely linked to drastic climatic and environmental changes that took place during the Pliocene. Both species are morphologically very close, but can be distinguished by the shape of the third thoracic sternite.
A phylogeographic approach to Sulawesi’s Maros karst shrimp fauna (Decapoda, Atyidae) reveals several cave invasions and challenges current taxonomic hypotheses
Authors: von Rintelen Kristina , Rumpf Carla M. A. , Wowor Daisy , Wessel Andreas , von Rintelen Thomas
Published: August 2024

The unique endemic cave fauna of the Maros karst cave system (Sulawesi, Indonesia) includes atyid freshwater shrimps only known from their species descriptions. An extensive survey revealed a total of ten species in epigean and subterranean rivers: Two non-endemic, four species endemic to Sulawesi (genus Caridina) and four stygobiont species (genus Caridina, Marosina, and Parisia) only endemic to the Maros karst. A molecular phylogeny revealed (1) two independent colonizations of Sulawesi’s Maros karst caves by species of Caridina (Clade 1) derived from endemic ancestors, and (2) an exclusively stygobiont group (Clade 2, Marosina, Parisia) possibly derived from an amphidromous, anchialine cave-dweller. Our approach revealed another cryptic cave species of Caridina and challenges the taxonomic status of four Sulawesi endemics. In conclusion, the freshwater shrimps of the Maros karst are a challenging but rewarding group that can contribute to our understanding of the evolution of cave-dwelling species and atyid phylogenetics.
First record of the snapping shrimp Alpheus cf. lobidens (Decapoda, Caridea, Alpheidae) in the Gulf of Cadiz, an unexpected introduction to European waters from the Persian Gulf
Authors: Cuesta Jose A. , Acosta-Morillas Víctor , González Gala , de Carvalho-Souza Gustavo F. , González-Ortegón Enrique
Published: August 2024

In 2015, an unknown snapping shrimp of the genus Alpheus was collected in the San Pedro River inlet (Bay of Cadiz, SW Spain). Initially, its identification was not possible only based on DNA barcoding or morphology, considering the difficulties in the Alpheus taxonomy and the low percentage of DNA sequences of Alpheus spp. available in public databases. However, recent studies from Kuwait, Qatar and Iraq describing the morphology of Alpheus cf. lobidens allowed us to place the exotic Alpheus in this species complex. There are also recent sequences of 16S mtRNA and COI deposited in GenBank and BOLD that match >99% of similarity with the sequences of the specimens from the Bay of Cadiz. These sequences have the same origin in the Persian Gulf, but they have been attributed to different Alpheus species. Here we discuss these mismatches, and data about the distribution in the Gulf of Cadiz as well as the habitat of Alpheus cf. lobidens. Additionally, DNA barcodes, and a detailed morphological description and illustrations are provided. Some hypotheses about possible ways of introduction are discussed, and the most plausible route seems to be a natural expansion to the west after entering the Mediterranean Sea by the Suez Canal.
A new enigmatic species of pea crab of the genus Glassella Campos & Wicksten, 1997 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Pinnotheridae) from Brazilian waters
Authors: Balbino Felipe C. , Mantelatto Fernando L.
Published: August 2024

The genus Glassella had never been formally recorded in Brazil. Coelho (1996, 1997) assigned specimens collected in northeastern Brazil, in the states of Maranhão and Pernambuco, to Pinnixa floridana, a species that was recently allocated to Glassella and had its rediagnosis proposed. The reassessment of the material analysed by Coelho and the study of three additional specimens collected during an offshore expedition in the state of Espírito Santo resulted in the discovery and description of a new species and the recognition of another undescribed species of Glassella in Brazilian waters. The new species is herein named G. schubarti sp. nov., in honour of the late Christoph D. Schubart, who has made many important contributions to the study of evolution and diversity of brachyuran crabs. These species represent the southernmost records of the genus and the first species of Glassella described from Brazil.
Beneath the surface: two new burrowing crayfish species of Parastacus Huxley, 1879 (Malacostraca, Decapoda, Parastacidae) from the Mirim-São Gonçalo Basin, southern Brazil
Authors: Huber Augusto F. , Araujo Paula B. , Ribeiro Felipe B.
Published: August 2024

In this contribution, we describe two new species of burrowing crayfish from the countryside of the municipality of Pelotas in the south region of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil. We evaluated morphology and also their conservation status according to the IUCN Red List Criteria. Parastacus schubarti sp. nov. differs from the burrowing species of Rio Grande do Sul state in having an epistome anteromedian lobe septagonal, areola wide, and by the large spines in telson lateral margins. Parastacus dincaoi sp. nov. is distinguishable from the burrowing species of Rio Grande do Sul state in having a wide pleon and a subtriangular telson with small blunt spines on lateral margins. The extent of occurrence of P. schubarti sp. nov. and P. dincaoi sp. nov. were estimated at 382 km2 and 963 km2, respectively. The main threats identified were continued decline in the habitat quality, resulting from deforestation, habitat fragmentation, agriculture and livestock. However, as we currently know only one point of occurrence for each new species, we suggest that both be categorized as Data Deficient.
Halcyon Days? A Helsinki Conversation on International Law in the Last Quarter of a Century
Authors: Klabbers Jan , Koskenniemi Martti , Leino-Sandberg Päivi
Published: August 2024

This contribution reflects a three-way conversation involving professors Martti Koskenniemi, Päivi Leino-Sandberg and Jan Klabbers, conducted at the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Erik Castrén Institute of International Law and Human Rights. It touches on a diversity of themes, including the role of international organizations in international law, the populist ‘backlash’, the problems and prospects of expert governance, the possibility of a global virtue ethics, and what a critical approach to international law may entail.
Imperialism, Crime and International Law: A Political Economy Perspective
Authors: Menon Parvathi
Published: August 2024

This paper contextualises and decontextualises the meaning of criminalisation. Pondering 25 years of the Erik Castrén Institute and the International Criminal Court, this paper provides not only a critical lens through which we must necessarily view the celebrations that accompany criminalisation at the icc today for the genocide in Gaza, but also a trepidation with which we must view the past that afforded the foundations upon which institutions like the icc and World Bank enjoy legitimacy. The larger picture, of convicts building empire, criminalisation being instrumentalised to cannibalise non-western sovereignty, and non-western sovereigns subjugating their own populations to fulfil their capitalist agendas could be viewed as coming full circle. Or else, they are all perhaps stories that form a part of the same totality, in which resistance to the order and a complicity in its creation end up being subsumed to serve the accumulation of capital.
Continuity in Top-of-Atmosphere Earth Radiation Budget Observations
Authors: Loeb Norman G. , Doelling David R. , Kato Seiji , Su Wenying , Mlynczak Pamela E. , Wilkins Joshua C.
Published: August 2024

The Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) Energy Balanced and Filled (EBAF) product combines CERES and Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) instruments on the Terra and Aqua satellites to create a record of earth radiation budget (ERB) and the associated cloud properties. As the Terra and Aqua orbits are no longer maintained at a fixed mean local time, EBAF recently transitioned to the CERES and Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) instruments on NOAA-20 to avoid introducing a time-dependent bias in the record. To ensure smooth transitions between the Terra, combined Terra and Aqua (Terra+Aqua), and NOAA-20 portions of the record, regional climatological adjustments derived from the overlap period between missions are applied to anchor the entire record to Terra+Aqua. We estimate the random error in global monthly anomalies following the transitions to be <0.15 W m−2 for top-of-atmosphere (TOA) flux and <0.1% for cloud fraction, much smaller than the standard deviation in the corresponding anomalies. As the number of ERB instruments will decrease from four to one in just 10 years, there is a high probability that a data gap in the EBAF record will occur, making it challenging to maintain continuity. We estimate that there is a 33% probability of a data gap in 2028 and a 60% probability in 2035. Bridging a data gap using computed TOA fluxes from one satellite product and one atmospheric reanalysis results in errors that are a factor of 4 larger than those obtained when there is overlap between successive missions.
Drivers of Growth: Empirical Analysis of Ten Largest Economies
Authors: Sahoo Bibhu Prasad , Ashri Dhananjay , Gulati Ankita
Published: August 2024

This study investigates the constellation of macroeconomic forces that drive economic growth by focusing on the world’s 10 largest economies (in terms of GDP). It uses cross-country data from 1990 to 2019 (30 years). The macroeconomic forces considered for the study are macroeconomic stability (represented by inflation), infrastructure (represented by mobile cellular subscription per hundred people), foreign trade (represented by exports and imports) and foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow. Real GDP is used as a measure of economic growth. The empirical findings suggested that macroeconomic instability is detrimental to economic growth. Infrastructure improvements and FDI inflows can boost growth of the selected nations. However, trade has an insignificant impact on economic growth.

JEL Codes: O47, F21
Artefacts due to putrefactive gas production – an overview
Authors: Byard Roger W.
Published: August 2024

Autolytic and putrefactive processes can cause considerable alterations to soft tissues and internal organs that may complicate forensic assessments. An overview was undertaken of the range of taphonomonic changes and processes that may result from postmortem putrefactive gas accumulation. The most commonly encountered phenomenon was purging of putrefactive fluids from the nose and mouth that was on occasion confused with bleeding from antemortem trauma. Much less common was putrefactive ‘rigor mortis’ where the limbs extend due to the accumulation of soft tissue and subcutaneous gas. This may sometimes be associated with alteration of the position of a body suggesting that it had been deliberately moved. Distension and stretching of the skin and subcutaneous tissues may cause recently sutured surgical incisions to dehisce, raising the possibility of inflicted incised wounds. Raised intra-abdominal pressures may cause diaphragmatic herniation of small intestine and has been associated with so-called ‘coffin birth’ where a fetus is expelled from the uterus after death due to pressure on the fundus. Gas accumulation on postmortem computed tomography examination may be confused with air embolism or the effects of trauma. All of these changes are the result of anaerobic bacterial action generating gases such as methane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide resulting in pressure gradients.
Suicide in the USA: A Decadal Study From the 1930s to the 2020s
Authors: McIntosh John L. , Drapeau Christopher W.
Published: August 2024

This study provides a decadal analysis of national suicide data over 90 years, offering a comprehensive view of long-term trends and current levels in the United States. We analyzed mean decadal suicide numbers, rates, and confidence intervals from the 1930s to the early 2020s across demographic categories including sex, race, and age. Our findings reveal that suicide rates in the 2020s are the highest since the 1930s. The data indicate significant variations across groups; the 2020s show the highest suicide rates for both Whites and Nonwhites, and individuals under 44 years of age. Conversely, men’s suicide rates were slightly lower than those in the 1930s, whereas rates for women and older adults peaked during the 1930s. The results underscore the need for ongoing surveillance of suicide trends and proactive suicide prevention measures by governmental and other relevant organizations.
Development of novel high entropy alloy feedstocks for powder bed fusion using equimolar CoFeNiCuMn composition
Authors: Altinok S , Kalay YE
Published: August 2024

In this study, six different prediction models were used to generate a script to obtain the High Entropy Alloy (HEA) database from which CoFeNiCuMn was selected. The powder form of the alloy was utilized by high-pressure gas atomization. The samples were characterized by Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy (EDS) for chemical analysis, Electron Back-Scattered Diffraction (EBSD) for grain size determination, X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) for phase analysis, and nanoindentation for mechanical properties. Equimolar CoFeNiCuMn samples had single face-centered cubic (FCC) structure, and the +106 μm showed 111 GPa elastic modulus and 2.97 GPa hardness. Also, each sample was evaluated for compatibility with powder bed fusion (PBF) by employing Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for morphology, laser diffraction for particle size distribution, and static and dynamic flow analyses for the flowability examination. Considering all results, it was observed that three tests were sufficient to comparatively assess the novel alloy powders as suitable feedstock for PBF. The −15 µm sample exhibited widespread satellite particles in its morphology, resulting in the lowest apparent density of 4.28 g/cm³ and the highest specific energy of 2.60 mJ/g. In contrast, the other samples, with larger particle sizes, demonstrated discrete powder particles and improved flowability parameters.
Social Media Escapism in Poland: Adaptation of a Measure and its Relationship With Thought Suppression and Mental Health
Authors: Uram Patrycja , Skalski-Bednarz Sebastian Binyamin
Published: August 2024

Research indicates that social media use can lead to addiction, fear of missing out, higher stress levels, anxiety, and experiencing symptoms typical of depression. The purpose of the present study was to conduct a Polish adaptation of the Social Media Escapism Scale and to assess its associations with fear of missing out, Facebook addiction, thought suppression, and the experience of stress, anxiety, and symptoms typical of depression. Two studies were conducted, the first adaptive and the second testing associations. The first study included 383 participants aged 18 to 63 (M = 23.51; SD = 5.7). To adapt the scale, the following were used: the Bergen Facebook Addiction Scale, the fear of missing out Scale, and the demographic questionnaire. The second study included 417 participants aged 18 to 60 (M = 26.33; SD = 9.7). The study tested relationships using the same three scales used in the first study, and also Depression, Anxiety, Stress Scale, and the White Bear Suppression Scale. The Polish version of the Social Media Escapism Scale revealed a univariate structure with strong internal consistency (α = .91). The adapted scale was associated with fear of missing out and Facebook addiction. In study 2, the structural equation modeling analyses revealed that fear of missing out, Facebook addiction and escapism were positively related to thought suppression and the experience of anxiety, stress, and depression symptoms. In addition, thought suppression partially mediated the relationship between harmful media use and anxiety, stress, and depression. Furthermore, the findings reveal a positive correlation between escapism and several psychological constructs, including fear of missing out, Facebook addiction, as well as aspects of depression and suppression, thereby lending support to the convergent validity of the adapted measure under investigation. The results can be used in psychological intervention and developing support and treatment programs for social network addiction.
COVID-19 and Child Sex Trafficking: Qualitative Insights on the Effect of the Pandemic on Victimization and Service Provision
Authors: O’Brien Jennifer E. , Jones Lisa M. , Mitchell Kimberly J. , Kahn Gina Zwerling
Published: August 2024

Objectives:

Child sex trafficking (CST) is the involvement of minors in the commercial exchange of sex for goods, services, drugs, or money. The COVID-19 pandemic negatively affected many risk factors associated with CST victimization and the availability of CST services. We examined service providers’ perspectives on how the pandemic affected trajectories of CST victimization among young people in the United States.

Methods:

We collected qualitative data from 80 law enforcement professionals and service providers working with young people affected by CST from 11 US cities. Semistructured interviews lasted approximately 1 hour and were digitally recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded via a grounded theory approach.

Results:

We found 3 overarching themes related to the pandemic’s effect on CST victimization trajectories: grooming, perpetration, and service provision. Participants described how increased online activity may have increased the risk of CST, even among children without traditional risk factors. However, technology also facilitated young people’s agency in seeking help and receiving services. In addition, participants reported increases in virtual service provision that facilitated access to, and availability of, CST services more generally.

Conclusions:

Technology use among young people increased during the pandemic, leading to increases in the risks of experiencing technology-facilitated CST. Technology use among young people who experience CST victimization—and how it may differ from young people more generally—is underexplored and may provide insights into prevention and treatment. Collectively, results highlight the need for epidemiologic research to help identify how global and national events affect trajectories of victimization among young people.
Designing Curriculum for Student Feedback Literacy: Student Appreciation for and Engagement with Teacher Feedback
Authors: Frattarola Angela , Leong Alvin Ping , Hsieh Yi-Chin
Published: August 2024

Recent research has argued for curriculum design that promotes student feedback literacy, taking focus away from the quality and timeliness of teacher comments and toward student engagement with feedback. There is little empirical research, however, on how specific curriculum designs impact student feedback literacy. Our study found that an assignment sequence that allowed students to receive feedback from teacher comments and a consultation during the drafting process helped students to appreciate and engage with feedback, cultivating a primary trait of feedback literacy. Focus group discussions with students revealed that feedback was appreciated when it was personalized and strategically timed. We also found that feedback during the drafting process fostered an understanding of writing as a process. As students grappled with how to evaluate and utilize teacher feedback, they practiced self-regulation and took ownership of their writing, a trait that we add to the current framework for student feedback literacy. Moreover, our findings indicate that teacher feedback literacy is of equal importance to student feedback literacy, as student appreciation for feedback declined when comments focused only on lower-order issues. As this study took place in a first-year academic writing course, we conclude that such courses have the potential to offer students a foundation in student feedback literacy that they can carry with them into their academic careers.
Exploring the mechanism of improving the pressure fluctuation of double suction centrifugal pump by impeller stagger
Authors: Liu Qiang , Lu Zhaoheng , Tao Ran , Lu Hongzhong , Xiao Ruofu
Published: August 2024

Background

The pressure fluctuation in the volute can be effectively reduced when the impeller of the double-suction pump is staggered, but the mechanism of this reduction is still unclear. At the same time, the traditional analysis method cannot realize the visualization of pressure fluctuation.

Objective

The purpose of this article is to explore the spatial distribution, propagation, and attenuation law of pressure fluctuation, and on this basis, to research the reason why staggered impeller reduce pressure fluctuation.

Methods

A new method called Pulse tracking network (PTN) was used in this article. Compared with the traditional method, which only analyzes the pressure fluctuation at scattered points, this method greatly improves the spatial resolution of the pressure fluctuation. In particular, the phase analysis is a major highlight of the method.

Results

Staggered impeller significantly reduced the pressure fluctuation intensity dominated by blade passing frequency. At the same time, the propagation of the pressure fluctuation in the volute changed from radial to circumferential in the volute cross-section.

Conclusions

Staggered impeller can effectively reduce pressure fluctuation, and the circumferential propagation caused by it is considered to be the main reason for it.
Navigating the disappointment of manuscript rejection: An author's dialogue with a reviewer and editor of tropical doctor (TD)
Authors: Bhattacharya Kaushik , Sharma Dhananjaya , Cotton Micheal
Published: August 2024

With the majority of medical journals having a rejection rate of >80% of submitted manuscripts, it does come as a shock and as grief to the author who great expectations before submission. Though the majority of literature available does mention how to overcome the lacunae in the manuscript before considering resubmission in another journal, none addresses the mental agony and setback the author faces and the way to overcome this setback. Every author should develop immunity and also be adequately mentally prepared to overcome this misery.
Overcoming Barriers to Latino Participation in Alzheimer's Disease Research
Authors: Ramirez Kevyn A. , Gigliotti Christina , Little Emily A. , Peavy Guerry M. , Evans Carol , Paredes Alejandra Morlett , Pacheco-Cole Lillian , Zlatar Zvinka Z. , Jacobs Diane M. , Gollan Tamar H. , González Hector M. , Soria-Lopez Jose A. , Huisa Branko N. , Brewer James B. , Galasko Douglas , Salmon David P.
Published: August 2024

There is a critical need to increase Latino participation in research on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD). Applying principles of community-based participatory research, we convened a community advisory board (CAB) to identify barriers and recommend strategies to increase participation of older Latinos in a longitudinal observational research study of ADRD at the Shiley-Marcos Alzheimer's Disease Research Center. Six major barriers were identified and programmatic changes to overcome them were implemented. Changes resulted in a nearly three-fold increase in the number of Latino individuals recruited, with the proportion of all newly recruited participants who were Latino increasing from 12.2% to 57.4%. Newer Latino recruits were more representative of the elderly Latino population in San Diego County than those recruited pre-CAB and remained highly agreeable to blood draw and neuroimaging, though less so to lumbar puncture and autopsy. Results demonstrate the value of CAB involvement in enhancing diversity in ADRD research.
Disturbance observer–based adaptive neural finite-time control for nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems with input delay
Authors: Wei Fansen , Xu Ning , Huang Sai , Cao Yumeng
Published: August 2024

In this paper, the problem of adaptive finite-time tracking control is investigated for nonstrict-feedback nonlinear systems with input delay. First, a novel form of auxiliary systems is presented as a feasible approach to compensate for the influence of input delay. Second, by leveraging a disturbance observer to approximate unknown disturbances, the disturbance rejection capability of nonlinear system is improved. Then, a novel finite-time command filter is introduced to cope with the problem of explosion of complexity, and the filtering errors are compensated within a specific time period by constructing an error compensation signal. Based on the finite-time stability theory, the tracking error is verified to converge to a prescribed performance range within a finite time, and the boundedness of all signals in the closed-loop system is ensured. Finally, simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the developed adaptive control scheme.
Ginsenoside Rh2 Regulates the Calcium/ROS/CK1α/MLKL Pathway to Promote Premature Eryptosis and Hemolysis in Red Blood Cells
Authors: Alghareeb Sumiah A , Alsughayyir Jawaher , Alfhili Mohammad A
Published: August 2024

Ginsenoside Rh2 (GRh2) exhibits significant potential as an anticancer agent; however, progress in developing chemotherapeutic drugs is impeded by their toxicity toward off-target tissues. Specifically, anemia caused by chemotherapy is a debilitating side effect and can be caused by red blood cell (RBC) hemolysis and eryptosis. Cells were exposed to GRh2 in the antitumor range and hemolytic and eryptotic markers were examined under different experimental conditions using photometric and cytofluorimetric methods. GRh2 caused Ca2+-independent, concentration-responsive hemolysis in addition to disrupted ion trafficking with K+ and Cl– leakage. Significant increases in cells positive for annexin-V-fluorescein isothiocyanate, Fluo4, and 2,7-dichlorofluorescein were noted upon GRh2 treatment coupled with a decrease in forward scatter and acetylcholinesterase activity. Importantly, the cytotoxic effects of GRh2 were mitigated by ascorbic acid and by blocking casein kinase 1α (CK1α) and mixed lineage kinase domain-like (MLKL) signaling. In contrast, Ca2+ omission, inhibition of KCl efflux, and isosmotic sucrose aggravated GRh2-induced RBC death. In whole blood, GRh2 selectively targeted reticulocytes and lymphocytes. Altogether, this study identified novel mechanisms underlying GRh2-induced RBC death involving Ca2+ buildup, loss of membrane phospholipid asymmetry and cellular volume, anticholinesterase activity, and oxidative stress. These findings shed light on the hematologic toxicity of GRh2 which is crucial for optimizing its utilization in cancer treatment.
Characterization of an Uncommon Finding in the Basal Nuclei in Beagle Dogs: A Novel Potential Background Lesion in the Canine Brain
Authors: Arms Stefanie , Hempel Katja , Rau Sophie , Schlichtiger Julia , Nolte Thomas
Published: August 2024

Degenerative lesions specific to the basal nuclei have not been described as a background finding in Beagle dogs. This report comprises a documentation of seven cases. In the context of a nonclinical safety studies, the authors suggest documenting the lesion descriptively as degeneration neuropil, basal nuclei, bilateral as it is characterized by (1) vacuolation, neuropil; (2) gliosis (astro- and/or microgliosis); and (3) demyelination. This novel lesion is considered a potential new background change for several reasons: (1) It occurred in animals from test item–treated and also vehicle-treated groups; (2) no dose dependency was observed; (3) in one of six affected test item–treated dogs, the given compound was shown not to penetrate the blood-brain barrier; and (4) statistical comparison between the proportions of affected dogs in the treatment and control groups did not yield a statistically significant difference. The etiology remains unknown and is subject to further investigations.
Adequacy of usual intake of Japanese college athletes in various sports clubs
Authors: Kakutani Yuya , Ono Miho , Sasahara Ikuko , Omi Naomi
Published: August 2024

Background

While many studies have been published on nutrient intake assessment for performance improvement and deficiency prevention in single-sport athletes, few studies have addressed nutrient intakes in athletes from a various sports.

Aim

The aim of this study was to determine whether Japanese college athletes meet the Dietary Reference Intakes (DRIs) and sports nutrition recommendations (SNRs).

Methods

Dietary intake was assessed in 1049 Japanese college athletes from a variety of sports using a validated brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire. The prevalence of inadequate intakes was estimated by comparing the DRIs and SNRs.

Results

For protein, riboflavin, niacin, vitamins B-6, vitamins B-12, folate, magnesium, zinc, and copper, <10% of females and males consumed diets that fell below the estimated average requirement (EAR) in the DRIs. A large proportion of female and male college athletes demonstrated intakes that were below the EAR for vitamin A (7.8% and 19.0%, respectively), thiamin (10.4% and 23.9%, respectively), calcium (20.4% and 29.7%, respectively), and iron (24.2% and 2.5%, respectively). Regarding DG for chronic disease prevention in the DRIs, over half of both female and male athletes exceeded the DG for saturated fat acid and sodium, and fell below the DG for dietary fiber. Few of both female and male had intakes below the SNRs for protein and carbohydrates.

Conclusion

The results of the present study reveal the nutrient intake status of Japanese college athletes by comparing the DRIs and SNRs. Most meet the SNRs for optimal performance, but not the DRIs for health.
Supervised machine learning for multi-principal element alloy structural design
Authors: Berry Joshua , Christofidou Katerina A.
Published: August 2024

The application of supervised Machine Learning (ML) in material science, especially towards the design of structural Multi-Principal Element Alloys (MPEAs) has rapidly accelerated over the past five years. However, several factors are limiting the impact that these ML methodologies can have, chief amongst them being the availability and fidelity of data. This review analyses how ML has been utilised to accelerate the design of novel structural MPEAs, outlining the standard procedures followed, and highlighting the successes and common pitfalls identified in current studies. The need for experimental validation and incorporation into closed loop ML pipelines is also discussed, including the influence and integration of manufacturing methodologies into the ML decision making process.
Common protein networks for various drug regimens of major depression are associated with complement and immunity
Authors: Lee Seungyeon , Mun Sora , Lee Jiyeong , Kang Hee-Gyoo
Published: August 2024

Background:

Major depressive disorder (MDD) can present a variety of clinical presentations and has high inter-individual heterogeneity. Multiple studies have suggested various subtype models related to symptoms, etiology, sex, and treatment response. Employing different regimens is common when treating MDD, and identifying effective therapeutics requires time. Frequent treatment attempts and failures can lead to a diagnosis of treatment resistance, and the heterogeneity of treatment responses among individuals makes it difficult to understand and interpret the biological mechanisms underlying MDD.

Aim:

This study explored the differentially expressed proteins and commonly altered protein networks across drug treatments by comparing the serum proteomes of patients with MDD treated with drug regimens (T-MDD, n = 20) and untreated patients (NT-MDD, n = 20).

Methods:

Differentially expressed proteins were profiled in non-drug-treated and drug-treated patients with depression using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. The common protein networks affected by different medications were studied.

Results:

Of the proteins profiled, 12 were significantly differentially expressed between the T-MDD and NT-MDD groups. Commonly altered proteins and networks of various drug treatments for depression were related to the complement system and immunity.

Conclusions:

Our results provide information on common biological changes across different pharmacological treatments employed for depression and provide an alternative perspective for improving our understanding of the biological mechanisms of drug response in MDD with great heterogeneity in the background of the disease.
“That's Just, Par for the Course”: Social Class, Objectification, and Body Image among White Working-Class Women in the United Kingdom
Authors: Chan Jamie , Hurst Megan , Easterbrook Matthew J. , Miles Eleanor
Published: August 2024

Working-class women are disadvantaged by unequal classed and gendered power dynamics, which shape their experiences of objectification and affect their relationship with their bodies. However, existing objectification and body image literature has scarcely examined working-class women's experiences. Using interpretative phenomenological analysis, the current research contributes to the literature by examining White working-class women's objectification and appearance-related experiences and sensemaking in the UK. We conducted semi-structured interviews with 10 White heterosexual cisgender working-class women (aged between 21 and 35 years) living in England. We found that working-class women understood their positions within society as one where they are inevitably subjected to objectification, harassment, and violence (Superordinate Theme 1). Their experiences of being stigmatized also led to feelings of internalized shame (Superordinate Theme 2), which engendered a need for self-protection. As such, working-class women were constantly vigilant over the way they appeared to others (Superordinate Theme 3) to avoid “sticking out” (i.e., being singled out), where becoming “unnoticeable” (Superordinate Theme 4) was a strategy to (visually) fit in. Our findings shed light on White working-class women's objectification experiences that are underrepresented in existing research. These findings suggest that differential power and control, as reflected by social class, facilitates different constructions of meanings within objectification experiences, which shape women's body and appearance.
“There Is No Place Like a Happy Home”: Information Wanted Notices, the Christian Recorder, and the Search for Missing Family Members in Post-Emancipation America
Authors: Fraser Rebecca J.
Published: August 2024

This article considers the African Methodist Episcopal (AME) newspaper, the Christian Recorder's publication of the formerly enslaved “Information Wanted” advertisements through the mid-1860s to turn of the century as a means through which the AME promoted the ideal of the “family” as positive models for Blacks themselves, also challenging white prejudices concerning family life of the formerly enslaved. Conversely, the formerly enslaved used them as a public forum to narrate, and perhaps begin to make sense of, their own stories of loss and longing and articulating white southern responsibility for the heartache and traumas of slavery that they had caused.
Hypermethylation of genes on chromosome 3p as a biomarker for nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosis: A Vietnamese case-control study
Authors: Lao Thuan Duc , Le Thuy Ai Huyen
Published: August 2024

Background

The crucial event driving nasopharyngeal tumorigenesis is the hypermethylation of chromosome 3p-located tumor suppressor genes. This case-control study aims to investigate the methylation characteristics of RASSF1A, Blu, ADAMTS9, and DLEC1 to potentially develop effective diagnostic biomarkers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma, either individually or in combination.

Methods

The methylation of RASSF1A, Blu, ADAMTS9, and DLEC1 in the collection of 93 biopsy samples and 100 healthy swab specimens were evaluated by Nested methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction. The strength of the correlation between candidate genes and nasopharyngeal carcinoma was estimated by the evaluation of odds ratios (ORs).

Results

Promoter hypermethylation of RASSF1A, Blu, ADAMTS9, and DLEC1 were found in 60.22%, 80.65%, 62.37%, and 74.19%, respectively, in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumors. A significant association between the methylation status of candidate genes with nasopharyngeal carcinoma was reported. The methylation of candidate genes significantly increased the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in cancerous samples compared with control samples (OR > 1). Based on the value of the methylation index, methylation of at least one gene was found in 95.70% of nasopharyngeal tumors. Additionally, the methylation index among 93 tumors significantly correlated with advanced stage nasopharyngeal tumors.

Conclusion

The study explored a higher frequency of hypermethylation at least one candidate gene. Methylation of a panel of potential genes can be utilized to discriminate between nasopharyngeal carcinoma and non-cancer cells, particularly in the advanced stages of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Thus, it could serve as a valuable marker for the diagnosis and monitoring of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.
A conceptual analysis of trust
Authors: Uttenthal Maria
Published: August 2024

With this article, I present a novel conceptual analysis of trust. The analysis is interdisciplinary, as it acknowledges and combines influential conceptualizations from political science, psychology, and sociology. I emphasize diverging conceptual aspects as complementary and develop an argument for how they relate within different forms of trust. Concretely, I employ Sartori’s conceptual guidelines to systematically develop the concept along the ladder of abstraction. As I descend the ladder, I move from a universal conceptual definition into the development of increasingly concrete subtypes within the realms of interpersonal and institutional trust. The resulting framework centrally exists beyond any particular school of thought, and thereby represents an important move toward multidisciplinary consensus around the meaning of this fundamentally important concept.