bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Heller Hautkrebs
Authors: Bubenzer Rainer H.
Published: November 2023

Ob ein neoadjuvantes Vorgehen bei epithelialen Hauttumoren eine neue Therapieoption sein wird, behandelte Prof. Anne Fröhlich, Bonn. Einleitend verwies sie auf eine bemerkenswerte Studie, die unter einer neoadjuvanten Immuncheckpoint-Inhibitor-Therapie beim malignen Melanom eine deutliche Verbesserung des ereignisfreien Überlebens gezeigt hatte 1. Ergebnisse dieser Art werden – aus ihrer Sicht – die Arbeit in der Dermatoonkologie und der Dermatochirurgie nachhaltig beeinflussen und weiter begleiten, auch in Hinsicht auf die Behandlung epithelialer Hauttumore.
DLBCL
Authors: Freye Reimund
Published: November 2023

Bei Patienten mit diffus großzelligem B-Zell-Lymphom (DLBCL) besitzt zirkulierende Tumor-DNA (ctDNA) im Rahmen einer Liquid Biopsy einen präzisen prognostischen Aussagewert. Prof. Sirpa Leppä, Helsinki (Finnland), erläuterte zahlreiche Vorteile und Anwendungsmöglichkeiten. Mit Bestimmung der ctDNA kann vor Therapiebeginn ein Risiko-Staging durchgeführt werden und während der Therapie ist ein hervorragendes Monitoring möglich.
Adjuvante Therapie beim Melanom
Authors: Arnheim Katharina
Published: November 2023

Das Update der Studie KEYNOTE-716 untermauert den Nutzen von Pembrolizumab in der adjuvanten Therapie des resezierten Melanoms. Der Checkpoint-Inhibitor (CPI) führt zu einer ausgeprägten Verbesserung des rezidivfreien und fernmetastasenfreien Überlebens.
Multiples Melanom
Authors: Arnheim Katharina
Published: November 2023

Mit der Kombination von Nivolumab und Relatlimab steht eine neue hocheffektive Option beim fortgeschrittenen Melanom zur Verfügung. In der Studie RELATIVITY-047 führte das Regime zu einer anhaltenden Verbesserung des progressionsfreien Überleben (PFS).
Akute myeloische Leukämie
Authors: Freye Reimund
Published: November 2023

Bei der Therapie der akuten myeloischen Leukämie (AML) kommen – neben einem Therapieregime im Umfeld einer Stammzelltransplantation – vermehrt verschiedene Immuntherapien zum Einsatz. Prof. Marion Subklewe, München, erläuterte die Entwicklungen bei bispezifischen Antikörpern und der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie. Manche innovative Wirkmechanismen befinden sich noch in der Erprobungsphase.
Besonderheiten in der Therapie des TTF-1-negativen Adenokarzinoms der Lunge
Authors: Frost Nikolaj , Reck Martin
Published: November 2023

Die Identifikation Biomarker-stratifizierter Behandlungen hat das Überleben eines relevanten Anteils an Patient*innen mit metastasiertem Lungenkrebs in den letzten Jahren teils erheblich verbessert. Hierzu zählen Treibermutationen und bei Treiber-negativen Tumoren die Expression des „programmed death ligand 1“ (PD-L1) hinsichtlich des Ansprechens auf eine Therapie mit Checkpoint-Inhibitoren. Aufgrund der beim Lungenkarzinom bestehenden Korrelation zwischen PD-L1-Expression und Behandlungseffektivität kommt insbesondere bei geringer oder fehlender Expression der zusätzlich applizierten Chemotherapie eine wichtige Rolle zu. Derzeitig erhalten Patient*innen im Stadium IV mit einer PD-L1-Expression < 50 % auf den Tumorzellen eine Chemoimmuntherapie zur Erstlinienbehandlung. Hierzu stehen Pemetrexed- und Taxan-basierte Regime zur Auswahl. In retrospektiven Analysen zeigte sich bei für den thyroidalen Transkriptionsfaktor 1 (TTF-1)-negativen Patient*in ein im Vergleich zu Pemetrexed-basierter Therapie verbessertes Überleben bei Verwendung Taxan-haltiger Regime. Diese Beobachtung wird aktuell prospektiv randomisiert untersucht.
Hearing Performance in Cochlear Implant Users Who Have Facial Nerve Stimulation
Authors: Rocha Larissa Veloso , Goffi-Gomez Maria Valéria Schmidt , Hoshino Ana Cristina , Tsuji Robinson Koji , Bento Ricardo Ferreira
Published: November 2023

Introduction Facial nerve stimulation (FNS) is a complication in cochlear implant (CI) when the electrical current escapes from the cochlea to the nearby facial nerve. Different management to reduce its effects are available, although changes might result in a less-than-ideal fitting for the CI user, eventually reducing speech perception.

Objective To verify the etiologies that cause FNS, to identify strategies in managing FNS, and to evaluate speech recognition in patients who present FNS.

Methods Retrospective study approved by the Ethical Board of the Institution. From the files of a CI group, patients who were identified with FNS either during surgery or at any time postoperatively were selected. Data collection included: CI manufacturer, electrode array type, age at implantation, etiology of hearing loss, FNS identification date, number of electrodes that generated FNS, FNS management actions, and speech recognition in quiet and in noise.

Results Data were collected from 7 children and 25 adults. Etiologies that cause FNS were cochlear malformation, head trauma, meningitis, and otosclerosis; the main actions included decrease in the stimulation levels followed by the deactivation of electrodes. Average speech recognition in quiet before FNS was 86% and 80% after in patients who were able to accomplish the test. However, there was great variability, ranging from 0% in quiet to 90% of speech recognition in noise.

Conclusion Etiologies that cause FNS are related to cochlear morphology alterations. Facial nerve stimulation can be solved using speech processor programming parameters; however, it is not possible to predict outcomes, since results depend on other variables.
Machine learning techniques for default prediction: an application to small Italian companies
Authors: Bazzana Flavio , Bee Marco , Hussin Adam Khatir Ahmed Almustfa
Published: November 2023

Default prediction is the primary goal of credit risk management. This problem has long been tackled using well-established statistical classification models. Still, nowadays, the availability of large datasets and cheap software implementations makes it possible to employ machine learning techniques. This paper uses a large sample of small Italian companies to compare the performance of various machine learning classifiers and a more traditional logistic regression approach. In particular, we perform feature selection, use the algorithms for default prediction, evaluate their accuracy, and find a more suitable threshold as a function of sensitivity and specificity. Our outcomes suggest that machine learning is slightly better than logistic regression. However, the relatively small performance gain is insufficient to conclude that classical statistical classifiers should be abandoned, as they are characterized by more straightforward interpretation and implementation.
Slowing sloshing in space
Authors: Shapiro Maura
Published: November 2023

Ideal combination of baffles and temperature modulation identified to reduce sloshing in microgravity.
Dynamic regulation of airway surface liquid pH by TMEM16A and SLC26A4 in cystic fibrosis nasal epithelia with rare mutations
Authors: Delpiano Livia , Rodenburg Lisa W. , Burke Matthew , Nelson Glyn , Amatngalim Gimano D. , Beekman Jeffrey M. , Gray Michael A.
Published: November 2023

In cystic fibrosis (CF), defects in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) channel lead to an acidic airway surface liquid (ASL), which compromises innate defence mechanisms, predisposing to pulmonary failure. Restoring ASL pH is a potential therapy for people with CF, particularly for those who cannot benefit from current highly effective modulator therapy. However, we lack a comprehensive understanding of the complex mechanisms underlying ASL pH regulation. The calcium-activated chloride channel, TMEM16A, and the anion exchanger, SLC26A4, have been proposed as targets for restoring ASL pH, but current results are contradictory and often utilise nonphysiological conditions. To provide better evidence for a role of these two proteins in ASL pH homeostasis, we developed an efficient CRISPR-Cas9-based approach to knock-out (KO) relevant transporters in primary airway basal cells lacking CFTR and then measured dynamic changes in ASL pH under thin-film conditions in fully differentiated airway cultures, which better simulate the in vivo situation. Unexpectantly, we found that both proteins regulated steady-state as well as agonist-stimulated ASL pH, but only under inflammatory conditions. Furthermore, we identified two Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved drugs which raised ASL pH by activating SLC26A4. While we identified a role for SLC26A4 in fluid absorption, KO had no effect on cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-stimulated fluid secretion in airway organoids. Overall, we have identified a role of TMEM16A in ASL pH homeostasis and shown that both TMEM16A and SLC26A4 could be important alternative targets for ASL pH therapy in CF, particularly for those people who do not produce any functional CFTR.
Impaired end joining induces cardiac atrophy in a Hutchinson–Gilford progeria mouse model
Authors: Chen Yu , Huang Shiqi , Cui Zhen , Sun Xiaoxiang , Tang Yansong , Zhang Hongjie , Chen Zhixi , Jiang Rui , Zhang Weina , Li Xue , Chen Jiayu , Liu Baohua , Jiang Ying , Wei Ke , Mao Zhiyong
Published: November 2023

Patients with Hutchinson–Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) present with a number of premature aging phenotypes, including DNA damage accumulation, and many of them die of cardiovascular complications. Although vascular pathologies have been reported, whether HGPS patients exhibit cardiac dysfunction and its underlying mechanism is unclear, rendering limited options for treating HGPS-related cardiomyopathy. In this study, we reported a cardiac atrophy phenotype in the
Lmna
G609G/G609G
mice (hereafter, HGPS mice). Using a GFP-based reporter system, we demonstrated that the efficiency of nonhomologous end joining (NHEJ) declined by 50% in HGPS cardiomyocytes in vivo, due to the attenuated interaction between γH2AX and Progerin, the causative factor of HGPS. As a result, genomic instability in cardiomyocytes led to an increase of CHK2 protein level, promoting the LKB1-AMPKα interaction and AMPKα phosphorylation, which further led to the activation of FOXO3A-mediated transcription of atrophy-related genes. Moreover, inhibiting AMPK enlarged cardiomyocyte sizes both in vitro and in vivo. Most importantly, our proof-of-concept study indicated that isoproterenol treatment significantly reduced AMPKα and FOXO3A phosphorylation in the heart, attenuated the atrophy phenotype, and extended the mean lifespan of HGPS mice by ~21%, implying that targeting cardiac atrophy may be an approach to HGPS treatment.
Legal reality or storytelling?
Authors: Sánchez-Moreno Ellart Carlos Mª
Published: November 2023

Contrary to what Calderini claimed in a famous article,
engyesis cannot be found in the Greek novel, let alone
in Heliodorus of Emesa, except as a remnant of an institution that in the
Hellenistic world had lost its original meaning. Unlike the New Comedy, we
do not find the phraseology that was to be pronounced but merely slight
traces of the original terminology.
Narrative aspects of Callirhoe’s tomb
Authors: Paschalis Michael
Published: November 2023

In Chariton’s Callirhoe the heroine’s
tomb and burial receive attention unparalleled in ancient Greek novels. As
the physical manifestations of apparent death, they point either to death or
to (anticipated) “resurrection” or to both, with reference not only to
Callirhoe but also to Chaereas. Of the two major reappearances of
Callirhoe’s tomb, at Miletus and Syracuse, the former (real) reproduces and
the latter (metaphorical) inverts the initial burial. There is a prominent
association in the novel beween tomb and ship in terms of identification,
reversal, and proximity, as well as an intriguing one between tomb and
bedchamber. The narrative suggests that Callirhoe’s tomb encloses her bridal
chamber, and later the heroine becomes aware that not only was she buried
alive but carried Chaereas’ child in her womb and Chaereas’ image on her
ring. This reality will later affect the lives of both Chaereas and the
unborn child. The Appendix discusses Seneca’s Troades, Act
3, where Andromache hides her son Astyanax in Hector’s tomb, as a possibly
contemporary parallel to Callirhoe’s tomb. It also rejects the widespread
association of Jesus’ empty tomb and resurrection with Callirhoe’s empty
tomb and “resurrection”.
The home life of a heroine
Authors: Slater Niall W.
Published: November 2023

Within the seasonal structure of Daphnis and
Chloe, Longus’s brief portrayal of winter contrasts with
pastoral idealism elsewhere to foreground a sharper realism, especially in
the lives of the title characters. In scenes not easily paralleled in other
Greek novels, Chloe experiences realities of life for women in pastoralist
households, rendering her temporarily ἀμήχανος
(“helpless”). Winter thus disrupts the symmetries of experience for heroine
and hero. Although Daphnis initially appears more active in attempting to
overcome the separation, benevolent chance and Chloe’s newfound ability to
work within domestic constraints restore sexual symmetry and renew forward
movement of the plot.
Configuración neurocognitiva del ideal amoroso y castidad en las
protagonistas de la novela griega
Authors: García-Valero Benito
Published: November 2023

This chapter analyses the configuration of plots in
Greek novels under the basic principle of material welfare and erotic desire
as they are understood by Patrick Colm Hogan and under the notions of brain
concepts formulated by the neurobiologist Semir Zeki. As a result, this
paper considers Greek novels as an almost prototypical example of what is
known as romantic tragicomedy. The Greek version of this genre focuses on
stories of two young lovers who are forced to split their paths and
undertake adventures before they can finally reunite again at the end of the
plot, which is normally enabled by fate. In the configuration of these
characters, the Zekian concept of unity-in-love is evident. In fact,
according to Zeki, this concept is found in every culture due to biological
reasons. On the other hand, fulfilling the ideal of unity-in-love entails
the presence of moral values in these stories, like chastity or virginity,
which determine the purity of the protagonists, very often challenged during
the adventures of the heroine. These moral aspects imbue these novels with a
religious value that may imply desires of ecstasy or death, being both ways
for soothing the desire of reunion and for easing the fusion with the object
of love.
Interferogram analysis of X-pinch plasmas with a synthetic dark-field Schlieren image
Authors: Bong Seungmin , Lee Dong-Geun , Ham Seunggi , Ryu Jonghyeon , Park Sungbin , Kim Jung-Hwa , Lee Jongmin , Choi YeongHwan , Chung Kyoung-Jae , Hwang Y.S. , Ghim Y.-c.
Published: November 2023

The Mach-Zehnder interferometer and dark-field Schlieren imaging systems are developed to diagnose high electron densities of the X-pinch plasmas. Interferogram analysis can be challenging due to stiff electron density gradients of the X-pinch plasmas. This stiff gradient results in complex fringe patterns which may lead to miscounted indices of the fringes, and even refraction losses. To address these challenges, the geometrical acceptance angle of the imaging system is increased to reduce the refraction losses caused by the X-pinch plasmas. This is achieved by using physically larger optics. Results show that the imaging systems can detect higher line-integrated electron densities. Additionally, to verify the reliability of interferogram analysis results, a synthetic dark-field Schlieren image generated based on the interferogram is qualitatively compared to the measured dark-field Schlieren image which is simultaneously taken with the interferogram. Practicality of the synthetic Schlieren images is examined by comparing them with the measured Schlieren images.
Accelerated Bayesian inference of plasma profiles with self-consistent MHD equilibria at W7-X via neural networks
Authors: Merlo A. , Pavone A. , Böckenhoff D. , Pasch E. , Fuchert G. , Brunner K.J. , Rahbarnia K. , Schilling J. , Höfel U. , Kwak S. , Svensson J. , Pedersen T.S. , W7-X team the
Published: November 2023

High-β operations require a fast and robust inference of plasma parameters with a self-consistent magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equilibrium. Precalculated MHD equilibria are usually employed at Wendelstein 7-X (W7-X) due to the high computational cost. To address this, we couple a physics-regularized
artificial neural network (NN) model that approximates the ideal-MHD equilibrium with the Bayesian
modeling framework Minerva. We show the fast and robust inference of plasma profiles (electron temperature and density) with a self-consistent MHD equilibrium approximated by the NN model. We
investigate the robustness of the inference across diverse synthetic W7-X plasma scenarios. The inferred
plasma parameters and their uncertainties are compatible with the parameters inferred using the variational moments equilibrium code (VMEC), and the inference time is reduced by more than two orders
of magnitude. This work suggests that MHD self-consistent inferences of plasma parameters can be
performed between shots.
Coupling and interface effects in MoS2/WSe2 van der Waals nanostructure
Authors: Mastour Nouha , Jemaï Mohsen , Ridene Said
Published: November 2023

In this work we report the effects of the interface coupling, the effective mass, the Hartree and exchange–correlation potential on the total energy in quasi-2D MoS2/WSe2 van der Waals nanostructure. Analytical and numerical solutions of the total energy as a function of carrier density and effective mass are determined without self-consistent calculation. The calculation carefully indicates how the quasi-2D electron gas arises from the interface coupling between MoS2 and WSe2 layers. Moreover, the results showed that the width of the wave function and the length scale between the two materials’ interface decrease with increasing electron density while the corresponding ground state quantisation energy in the z-direction increases considerably. Furthermore, in MoS2 layer with density n
s = 4 × 1012 cm−2 this additional separation is approximately 2 nm and 〈z〉 = 1 nm. Due to the disparity in effective mass of electrons and holes in MoS2, the majority of the excess energy is absorbed as kinetic energy by electrons. The comparison with available experimental and DFT calculation indicates that the present work reproduces properly known results for MoS2/WSe2 interface.
An optimal approximation problem for free polynomials
Authors: Arora Palak , Augat Meric , Jury Michael , Sargent Meredith
Published: November 2023

Motivated by recent work on optimal approximation by polynomials in the unit disk, we consider the following noncommutative approximation problem: for a polynomial

f
f

in

d
d

freely noncommuting arguments, find a free polynomial

p
n

p_n

, of degree at most

n
n

, to minimize

c
n

≔
‖

p
n

f
−
1

‖
2

c_n ≔\|p_nf-1\|^2

. (Here the norm is the

ℓ
2

\ell ^2

norm on coefficients.) We show that

c
n

→
0

c_n\to 0

if and only if

f
f

is nonsingular in a certain nc domain (the row ball), and prove quantitative bounds. As an application, we obtain a new proof of the characterization of polynomials cyclic for the

d
d

-shift.
On order units in the augmentation ideal
Authors: Mizerka Piotr , Nowak Piotr
Published: November 2023

We study order units in the real group ring and the augmentation ideal, as well as in matrix algebras. We identify an infinite family of order units in the powers of the augmentation ideal, that includes the Laplacian, and show that these order units are naturally obtained via cohomological operations from natural diagonal order units in matrix algebras.
A rigidity result for proper holomorphic maps between balls
Authors: Gevorgyan Edgar , Wang Haoran , Zimmer Andrew
Published: November 2023

In this note, we prove a rigidity result for proper holomorphic maps between unit balls that have many symmetries and which extend to

C

2

\mathcal {C}^2

-smooth maps on the boundary.
Character and Conduct
Authors: DeLombard Jeannine Marie
Published: November 2023

The Robinsons’ lawsuit raised the question of just who embodied servitude in the post-Reconstruction US: the formerly enslaved, African-descended passenger or the normatively white railroad conductor?
An Analysis of Male Plastic Surgery Content on TikTok
Authors: Rothchild Evan , Chernovolenko Daniel , Wang Fei , Ricci Joseph A
Published: November 2023

Background

TikTok is a powerful and popular source of patient education. However, the lack of content regulation raises concerns about the spread of medical misinformation.

Objectives

We aimed to analyze the source, content, quality, and reliability of TikTok posts focusing on surgical and nonsurgical cosmetic treatments for men.

Methods

A search was conducted on TikTok with 16 popular hashtags related to male cosmetic procedures. The top 25 male-focused videos from each hashtag were chosen for analysis. Videos were categorized by content creator, video type, and descriptive metrics. Educational videos were evaluated for quality with the validated modified DISCERN (mDISCERN) score and the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) scale. Statistical analysis was performed with univariate and linear regression models.

Results

The included 399 videos totaled 389 million views, 16.4 million likes, 174,594 comments, and 586,743 shares. Most videos were uploaded by plastic and reconstructive surgeons (38.3%). A significant number (38%) of videos by physicians were posted by international physicians, with videos by United States physicians receiving fewer views, comments, and shares than videos posted by international physicians. Patient experience was the most common video category (48.9%). Educational videos had low overall quality, with physician-created videos demonstrating higher DISCERN and PEMAT scores but lower engagement compared to nonphysician videos.

Conclusions

The quality of TikTok videos on male cosmetic surgery was generally low, emphasizing the importance of accurate information dissemination by physicians on social media. The strong presence of international physicians highlights the potential implications of social media on medical tourism.
ConSpaS: a contrastive learning framework for identifying spatial domains by integrating local and global similarities
Authors: Wu Siyao , Qiu Yushan , Cheng Xiaoqing
Published: November 2023

Spatial transcriptomics is a rapidly growing field that aims to comprehensively characterize tissue organization and architecture at single-cell or sub-cellular resolution using spatial information. Such techniques provide a solid foundation for the mechanistic understanding of many biological processes in both health and disease that cannot be obtained using traditional technologies. Several methods have been proposed to decipher the spatial context of spots in tissue using spatial information. However, when spatial information and gene expression profiles are integrated, most methods only consider the local similarity of spatial information. As they do not consider the global semantic structure, spatial domain identification methods encounter poor or over-smoothed clusters. We developed ConSpaS, a novel node representation learning framework that precisely deciphers spatial domains by integrating local and global similarities based on graph autoencoder (GAE) and contrastive learning (CL). The GAE effectively integrates spatial information using local similarity and gene expression profiles, thereby ensuring that cluster assignment is spatially continuous. To improve the characterization of the global similarity of gene expression data, we adopt CL to consider the global semantic information. We propose an augmentation-free mechanism to construct global positive samples and use a semi-easy sampling strategy to define negative samples. We validated ConSpaS on multiple tissue types and technology platforms by comparing it with existing typical methods. The experimental results confirmed that ConSpaS effectively improved the identification accuracy of spatial domains with biologically meaningful spatial patterns, and denoised gene expression data while maintaining the spatial expression pattern. Furthermore, our proposed method better depicted the spatial trajectory by integrating local and global similarities.
The prefrontal cortex: from monkey to man
Authors: Levy Richard
Published: November 2023

The prefrontal cortex is so important to human beings that, if deprived of it, our behaviour is reduced to action-reactions and automatisms, with no ability to make deliberate decisions. Why does the prefrontal cortex hold such importance in humans? In answer, this review draws on the proximity between humans and other primates, which enables us, through comparative anatomical-functional analysis, to understand the cognitive functions we have in common and specify those that distinguish humans from their closest cousins.

First, a focus on the lateral region of the prefrontal cortex illustrates the existence of a continuum between rhesus monkeys (the most studied primates in neuroscience) and humans for most of the major cognitive functions in which this region of the brain plays a central role. This continuum involves the presence of elementary mental operations in the rhesus monkey (e.g. working memory or response inhibition) that are constitutive of ‘macro-functions’ such as planning, problem-solving and even language production.

Second, the human prefrontal cortex has developed dramatically compared to that of other primates. This increase seems to concern the most anterior part (the frontopolar cortex). In humans, the development of the most anterior prefrontal cortex is associated with three major and interrelated cognitive changes: (i) a greater working memory capacity, allowing for greater integration of past experiences and prospective futures; (ii) a greater capacity to link discontinuous or distant data, whether temporal or semantic; and (iii) a greater capacity for abstraction, allowing humans to classify knowledge in different ways, to engage in analogical reasoning or to acquire abstract values that give rise to our beliefs and morals. Together, these new skills enable us, among other things, to develop highly sophisticated social interactions based on language, enabling us to conceive beliefs and moral judgements and to conceptualize, create and extend our vision of our environment beyond what we can physically grasp. Finally, a model of the transition of prefrontal functions between humans and non-human primates concludes this review.
Derivatization-Based Novel Chromatographic and Spectrophotometric Methods for the Simultaneous Determination of Gymnemic Acid and Resveratrol in Antidiabetic Polyherbal Formulation
Authors: Joshi Dhruv , Kothari Charmy , Patel Nrupesh
Published: November 2023

Herbal medicine is widely used for the treatment and prevention of various ailments, highlighting the importance of ensuring its consistency and quality. This research focuses on the simultaneous detection of Gymnemic acid (GYM) and Resveratrol (RES) in an antidiabetic polyherbal formulation as no reported method exists for their simultaneously detection. The objective of this study is to develop and validate novel derivatization-based spectrometric and HPTLC methods for the simultaneous determination of GYM and RES. The spectrophotometric method involved derivatization of GYM with benzoyl chloride, followed by measurement of absorbance at 349 nm an isoabsorptive point. The HPTLC method utilized post derivatization with vanillin-sulfuric acid, and its separation was achieved on pre-coated silica gel 60GF254 using chloroform:methanol:glacial acetic acid (13:4:0.1, v/v/v) as mobile phase and estimated at 575 nm. The developed method exhibits linearity, accuracy, precision, LOD, LOQ, specificity and robustness in accordance with the ICH Q2 (R1) guideline. The percent assay of GYM and RES in the marketed capsule formulation was statistically compared using an unpaired t-test, resulting in a range of 99.51–102.65%. These indicate no significant difference between the proposed method and the marketed formulation. Therefore, both novel methods can be interchangeably used for quality control of GYM and RES in polyherbal formulations.
Post-treatment level of LDL cholesterol and all-cause mortality in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: evidence from real-world setting
Authors: Luo Fan , Lin Yuxin , Zhang Xiaodong , Li Yanqin , Su Licong , Zhou Shiyu , Xu Ruqi , Gao Qi , Chen Ruixuan , Guo Zhixin , Nie Sheng , Xu Xin ,   CRDS study Investigators, Xu Hong , Liu Bicheng , Weng Jianping , Chunbo Chen , Liu Huafeng , Yang Qiongqiong , Li Hua , Kong Yaozhong , Li Guisen , Wan Qijun , Zha Yan , Hu Ying , Xu Gang , Shi Yongjun , Zhou Yilun , Su Guobin , Tang Ying , Gong Mengchun
Published: November 2023

Aims

This study aimed to evaluate the safety of the currently recommended target of LDL cholesterol (LDL-C) control on mortality in patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Methods and results

Using deidentified electronic health record data, we conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study involving individuals with documented ASCVD who had received statin treatment for at least 3 months across China. The primary outcomes assessed encompassed all-cause mortality, CV mortality, and non-CV mortality. Relationships between post-treatment LDL-C concentrations and outcomes were evaluated using restricted cubic spline curves based on Cox proportional hazards regression analyses. Additionally, competitive risk models were employed to explore associations between LDL-C levels and cause-specific mortality. Among 33 968 participants, we identified nearly linear associations of post-treatment LDL-C level with all-cause mortality and CV mortality during a median follow-up of 47 months. Notably, patients who achieved the recommended target of LDL-C (<1.4 mmol/L) were at significantly lower risks of all-cause mortality [hazard ratio (HR), 0.77; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.69–0.86] and CV mortality (subdistribution HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.58–0.79), compared with those with LDL-C ≥ 3.4 mmol/L. This survival benefit was consistent in patients with different intensities of LDL-C reduction and other subgroup analyses. And no correlation was found between post-treatment LDL-C concentration and non-CV mortality.

Conclusion

Our findings supported the safety of currently recommended target of LDL-C control and the ‘lower is better’ principle in patients with ASCVD.
Sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors for the prevention of atrial fibrillation: a systemic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Hong-Da , Ding Lei , Mi Li-Jie , Zhang Ai-Kai , Zhang Kuo , Jiang Zi-Han , Yu Feng-Yuan , Yan Xin-Xin , Shen Yu-Jing , Tang Min
Published: November 2023

Aims

Sodium–glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors are reported to have cardiac benefits. The effects of SGLT2 inhibitors on the prevention of atrial fibrillation (AF) remain inconclusive. We aimed to investigate whether SGLT2 inhibitors can prevent AF occurrence in patients with cardiometabolic diseases.

Methods and results

We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane CENTRAL database up to 1 July 2023. Randomized, placebo-controlled trials of SGLT2 inhibitors in patients with diabetes, heart failure, chronic kidney diseases (CKDs), or cardiometabolic risk factors were included. The primary outcome was AF occurrence. Relative risks (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in the overall population and selected subgroups. Forty-six trials comprising 101 100 patients were included. Overall, no significant risk reduction of AF occurrence was observed with SGLT2 inhibitors, although there was a favourable trend (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.80–1.01). In trials with follow-up durations of over 1 year, a similar result was achieved (RR 0.90, 95% CI 0.80–1.01). The results were consistent across different SGLT2 inhibitors, with RRs (95% CIs) of 0.82 (0.60–1.12) for canagliflozin, 0.87 (0.73–1.03) for dapagliflozin, 0.97 (0.78–1.22) for empagliflozin, 0.99 (0.66–1.50) for sotagliflozin, and 0.87 (0.58–1.29) for ertugliflozin. Analyses in different doses of SGLT2 inhibitors yielded similar results. The associations between SGLT2 inhibitors and AF occurrence were also absent in patients with diabetes, heart failure, and CKDs.

Conclusion

For patients with cardiometabolic diseases or risk factors, SGLT2 inhibitors did not decrease the risk of AF occurrence, regardless of follow-up duration, type or dose of the drug, or the patient population.
A chromosome-level genome assembly of Zasmidium syzygii isolated from banana leaves
Authors: van Westerhoven Anouk C , Mehrabi Rahim , Talebi Reza , Steentjes Maikel B F , Corcolon Benny , Chong Pablo A , Kema Gert H J , Seidl Michael F
Published: November 2023

Accurate taxonomic classification of samples from infected host material is essential for disease diagnostics and genome analyses. Despite the importance, diagnosis of fungal pathogens causing banana leaf diseases remains challenging. Foliar diseases of bananas are mainly caused by 3 Pseudocercospora species, of which the most predominant causal agent is Pseudocercospora fijiensis. Here, we sequenced and assembled four fungal isolates obtained from necrotic banana leaves in Bohol (Philippines) and obtained a high-quality genome assembly for one of these isolates. The samples were initially identified as P. fijiensis using PCR diagnostics; however, the assembly size was consistently 30 Mb smaller than expected. Based on the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, we identified the samples as Zasmidium syzygii (98.7% identity). The high-quality Zasmidium syzygii assembly is 42.5 Mb in size, comprising 16 contigs, of which 11 are most likely complete chromosomes. The genome contains 98.6% of the expected single-copy BUSCO genes and contains 14,789 genes and 10.3% repeats. The 3 short-read assemblies are less continuous but have similar genome sizes (40.4–42.4 Mb) and contain between 96.5 and 98.4% BUSCO genes. All 4 isolates have identical ITS sequences and are distinct from Zasmidium isolates that were previously sampled from banana leaves. We thus report the first continuous genome assembly of a member of the Zasmidium genus, forming an essential resource for further analysis to enhance our understanding of the diversity of pathogenic fungal isolates as well as fungal diversity.
Fixed point theorems for minimal numberings
Authors: Faizrahmanov Marat
Published: November 2023

This paper considers various forms of the fixed point theorem (Kleene’s recursion theorem with and without parameters, Arslanov’s and Ershov’s recursion theorems) in arbitrary numberings. We prove that the classes of minimal numberings satisfying different of the listed forms of the fixed point theorem are pairwise distinct.
The precarity paradox: the precarity-driven inefficiencies of research at a public university
Authors: Ferreira António , Quesado Delgado João
Published: November 2023

Precarity is often interpreted as a neoliberal management strategy to maximize profits in private companies through the endorsement of insecure jobs, inadequate wages, and limited rights for workers. This interpretation, however, is unsuitable to analyse situations where the State endorses precarity in non-profit public organizations, for example, State-sponsored universities. We hypothesize that in these situations, the ‘precarity paradox’ is particularly prone to manifest. Such a paradox can be defined as the endorsement of precarity to induce organizational productivity and flexibility that, instead, leads to overwhelming inefficiencies and productivity losses. To test this hypothesis, we conducted empirical research at the faculty of engineering of a Portuguese public university where precarious contracts are dominant among researchers. Based on the analysis of the quantitative and qualitative data collected, it is concluded that productivity- and flexibility-oriented precarities reduce the productivity of researchers while jeopardizing the capacity of the faculty to rationally employ its human resources.
The potential for graphical abstracts to enhance science communication
Authors: Krukowski Rebecca A , Goldstein Carly M
Published: November 2023

Science communication, including formats such as podcasts, news interviews, or graphical abstracts, can contribute to the acceleration of translational research by improving knowledge transfer to patient, policymaker, and practitioner communities. In particular, graphical abstracts, which are optional for articles published in Translational Behavioral Medicine as well as many other journals, are created by authors of scientific articles or by editorial staff to visually present a study’s design, findings, and implications, to improve comprehension among non-academic audiences. The use of graphical abstracts in scientific journals has increased in the past 10–15 years; however, most scientists are not trained in how to develop them, which presents a challenge for creating graphical abstracts that engage the public. In this article, the authors describe graphical abstracts and offer suggestions for their construction based on the extant literature. Specifically, graphical abstracts should use a solid background, employ an easily readable font, combine visuals with words, convey only the essential study design information and 1–3 “take-home” points, have a clear organizational structure, contain restrained and accessible use of color, use single-color icons, communicate ways to access the full-text article, and include the contact information for the lead author. Authors should obtain feedback on graphical abstract drafts prior to dissemination. There is emerging research on the benefits of graphical abstracts in terms of impact and engagement; however, it will be essential for future research to determine how to optimize the design of graphical abstracts, in order to engage patient, policymaker, and practitioner communities in improving behavioral health.
Historical Review of Sugarcane Streak Mosaic Virus that Has Recently Emerged in Africa
Authors: Daugrois Jean , Roumagnac Philippe , Julian Charlotte , Filloux Denis , Putra Lilik , Mollov Dimitre , Rott Philippe
Published: November 2023

Sugarcane streak mosaic virus (SCSMV), now assigned to the genus Poacevirus of the family Potyviridae, was reported for the first time in 1932 in Louisiana and was believed to be strain F of sugarcane mosaic virus (SCMV) for more than six decades. SCMV-F was renamed SCSMV in 1998 after partial sequencing of its genome and phylogenetic investigations. Following the development of specific molecular diagnostic methods in the 2000s, SCSMV was recurrently found in sugarcane exhibiting streak mosaic symptoms in numerous Asian countries but not in the Western hemisphere or in Africa. In this review, we give an overview of the current knowledge on this disease and the progression in research on SCSMV. This includes symptoms, geographical distribution and incidence, diagnosis and genetic diversity of the virus, epidemiology, and control. Finally, we highlight future challenges, as sugarcane streak mosaic has recently been found in Africa, where this disease represents a new threat to sugarcane production.
Cardiovascular outcomes according to on-treatment systolic blood pressure in older hypertensive patients: a multicenter cohort using a common data model
Authors: Kim Ju Hyeon , Joo Hyung Joon , Chung Se Hwa , Yum Yunjin , Kim Yong Hyun , Kim Eung Ju
Published: November 2023

Objective:

In the growing population of older patients with hypertension, limited evidence supports an association between lowering systolic blood pressure (SBP) and decreased adverse events. We aimed to investigate cardiovascular outcomes according to on-treatment SBP in older hypertensive patients.

Methods:

This multicenter, retrospective study used data from the Korea University Medical Center database built on electronic health records from 2017 to 2022. Patients initiated on at least two antihypertensive drugs in combination were followed for three years. The patients were grouped by average on-treatment SBP in 10-mmHg increments from <110 to 160 mmHg or more. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, and hospitalization due to heart failure.

Results:

A total of 6427 patients aged ≥75 years (mean age, 80 years) were identified. The incidence of the primary outcome was lowest in individuals with an SBP of 120–129 mmHg (14.0%, P < 0.001), and the adjusted hazard ratio for the primary outcome showed a J-shaped relationship with on-treatment SBP. Achieving an SBP of 120–129 mmHg showed acceptable safety profiles, including electrolyte imbalance, acute kidney injury, new-onset atrial fibrillation, and new-onset dementia or Alzheimer's disease when compared to the group with SBP of 130–139 mmHg.

Conclusions:

An average on-treatment SBP of less than 130 mmHg was associated with improved outcomes in older hypertensive patients without raising safety concerns. These findings support the target SBP of 130 mmHg in older patients, if tolerated.
A Scientometric Overview of the Current Status and Trends of Holistic Nursing Studies
Authors: Öntürk Akyüz Hatice , Alkan Sevil , Şenturan Leman
Published: November 2023

Holistic nursing care, which has been discussed a lot recently, provides better quality and more effective patient care. This study was planned to analyze the studies conducted on holistic care, by using the bibliometric method and to reveal which types of studies are needed to increase the effectiveness of holistic nursing care and to make it more widespread. The study has the potential to guide scientists who would like to work on this subject. This study describes the current published evidence about holistic nursing between January,1, 1979 and March 18, 2023. The study's data obtained from the Web of Science (WOS) database were analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative measures. The Excel program was used to analyze the study's data, and VOSviewer was used to visualize it. A total of 3887 publications (reviews and articles) obtained in the search for holistic nursing have been published. A total of 2716 (69 875%) of all publications on holistic nursing were published since 2013, and these publications were cited 45 843 times, and 77.832% of all citations were cited to publications published since 2013. The top 5 countries that made the highest number of contributions were the United States (1259 documents), England (457 documents), Australia (380 documents), Canada (253 documents), and Sweden (183 documents). The University of London in England was the top institute focused on holistic nursing. Holistic nursing is a growing and developing subject, especially considering the number of citations and publications in the last 10 years. Most research and cooperation has occurred in a few developed nations: America, Australia, and European countries.
Investigating the Impact of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress Reduction and Self-Compassion of Nursing Health Care Professionals in a Small Community Hospital in the Midwest
Authors: Boch Cenell , Cappaert Thomas , Shotwell Mary P. , Schmelzer Celeste
Published: November 2023

Coronavirus-19 exacerbated daily stressors for nurses due to long hours, understaffing, and potential burnout in health care personnel. There is evidence that nurses who participate in mindfulness activities may experience significant changes related to stress, anxiety, and mood; however, more quantitative research studies are needed to investigate and substantiate the impact of mindfulness-based interventions. This intervention investigated the impact of a 4-week mindfulness meditation on perceived stress and self-compassion. Thirty-two participants were enrolled at the beginning of the study and 26 completed the intervention (intervention group, n = 17; control group, n = 9). A 2-tailed Mann-Whitney U sample rank-sum test was used to explore differences between groups on the 2 outcome variables—Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) and the Self-Compassion Scale (SC). Postintervention assessments were conducted, and statistically significant differences were found between the intervention and control groups for 2 constructs. The intervention group was more likely to “feel confident handling problems” (PSS#4) versus the control group (median = 11.76, 16.78, respectively; P = .020; α = .05); and the intervention group tended to “take a more balanced view of life situations” (SC#3) than the control group (median = 12.50, 15.39, respectively; P =.047; α = .05). Other constructs from the PSS and the SC were not statistically different. In conclusion, this study found observable improvements in the raw data and statistically significant differences for the intervention group; however, more research is warranted.
Cataract wound infection and endophthalmitis treated with partial conjunctival pedicle flap and pars plana vitrectomy
Authors: Rohowetz Landon J. , Hudson Julia , Sayed-Ahmed Ibrahim O. , Amescua Guillermo , Flynn Harry W.
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

Corneal wound infection is an infrequent complication of cataract surgery that can progress to endophthalmitis. Surgical treatment of endophthalmitis associated with microbial keratitis traditionally involves therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty and pars plana vitrectomy (PPV). In this case report, we describe a patient with cataract wound infection and endophthalmitis treated with PPV and partial conjunctival pedicle flap surgery.

Patient and Clinical Findings:

A 74-year-old female patient complained of eye pain and decreased corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) to 2/200 4 weeks after cataract surgery in the left eye. Examination revealed an infiltrate overlying her cataract wound with posterior segment inflammation consistent with endophthalmitis.

Diagnosis, Intervention, and Outcomes:

Vitreous culture revealed methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. The patient was initially treated with topical and intravitreal antibiotics but demonstrated signs of disease progression, so the patient underwent PPV with partial conjunctival pedicle flap surgery. One month postoperatively, CDVA was 20/80 with resolution of the infection and no evidence of recurrence at 6 months.

Conclusions:

In conjunction with PPV, conjunctival flap surgery may be an effective alternative to therapeutic penetrating keratoplasty in patients with cataract wound-associated microbial keratitis and endophthalmitis.
Effect of Maternal Speech on Neural Development in Premature Infant
Authors: Bubshait Khlood S. , Maldonado Mildred M. , Krueger Charlene
Published: November 2023

Introduction:

Maternal speech has been shown to benefit premature infants by improving feeding outcomes and potentiating the development of the auditory cortex. To our knowledge, limited studies have addressed the benefits of exposure to maternal speech on neural development in premature infants. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of early controlled exposure to maternal recording a passage of speech on heart rate variability (obtained before, during, and after playback of a test stimulus of a female stranger speaking the same passage) in very low-birth-weight premature infants tracked weekly from 28 to 34 weeks.

Methods:

Prospective, randomized controlled trial, longitudinal, and repeated-measures design were conducted on 49 subjects. Infants heard a recording of their mother's speech twice a day from either 28 to 34 weeks (group 1) or from 32 to 34 weeks (group 2). Spectral analysis was measured weekly for 45 seconds before, during, and after playback of maternal speech. A generalized linear mixed model was conducted to examine the 2-way interaction in the log high-frequency power between groups, genders, sessions, and conditions.

Results:

It was found that there were no significant differences between groups before, during, and after playback of the stimulus. A significant difference, however, was noted between conditions (before vs during period).

Conclusion:

It can be concluded cautiously that playing back of maternal speech recordings to the premature infant has a beneficial impact on neural development after 32 weeks gestational age.