bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nutzungsvoraussetzungen und Einfluss von Arztbewertungsportalen – Befunde einer Befragungsstudie
Authors: Wangler Julian , Jansky Michael
Published: April 2023

Hintergrund

Studien zeigen, dass Arztbewertungsportale inzwischen von vielen Patient*innen genutzt werden, um sich über Ärzt*innen zu informieren, diese auszuwählen und ihr Feedback zu einem Arztbesuch abzugeben.

Ziel der Arbeit

Kaum Erkenntnisse liegen hingegen bezüglich der Motive von Nutzer*innen vor, mit denen solche Webseiten genutzt werden, oder auch zur Frage, unter welchen Bedingungen und in welchen thematischen Kontexten Arztbewertungen vorgenommen werden. Dem tragen die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Untersuchung Rechnung.

Material und Methoden

Im Rahmen einer Online-Befragung wurden insgesamt 1028 Nutzer*innen von 23 deutschsprachigen Gesundheitsportalen befragt (Befragungszeitraum: August 2022 bis Januar 2023). Neben der deskriptiven Analyse kam zur Feststellung von signifikanten Unterschieden zwischen zwei Gruppen ein t‑Test bei unabhängigen Stichproben zum Einsatz.

Ergebnisse

Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Patient*innen Arztbewertungsportalen mit auffällig großem Vertrauen begegnen. Online-Arztbewertungen werden als sinnvoller Maßstab für die Einschätzung der ärztlichen Behandlungs- und Betreuungsqualität eingestuft. Die Befragten erstellen Bewertungen erheblich häufiger bei negativen Erfahrungen bzw. Unzufriedenheit mit dem Arzt. Auch ist bemerkenswert, dass Patient*innen vorzugsweise die Kompetenz und Behandlungsqualität des Arztes bewerten – eine Dimension, zu der sie mutmaßlich nur eingeschränkt Auskunft geben können.

Schlussfolgerung

Die Befragung liefert Hinweise darauf, dass Online-Arztbewertungen durch Verzerrungen gekennzeichnet sind. Dies gilt für die Bewertungstendenz ebenso wie für die konkreten thematischen Anlässe, unter denen Bewertungen vorgenommen werden. In Anbetracht dieser Tatsache sollten die Betreibenden solcher Seiten verstärkte Anstrengungen unternehmen, um eine plausiblere Beurteilung ärztlicher Versorgungsqualität zu ermöglichen. So wäre darüber nachzudenken, Arztbewertungsportale dahingehend zu verbessern, dass zumindest Begleit- und Rahmenbedingungen eines Arztbesuchs verbindlich bei der Erstellung eines Eintrags abgefragt werden.
CSF metabolomics alterations after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage: what do we know?
Authors: Ho Wing Mann , Schmidt Franziska A. , Thomé Claudius , Petr Ondra
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this mini review is to describe metabolomics in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and its potential in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). In brain injury, patients’ micro dialysis enables detecting biochemical change in brain tissue. Indicators for ischemia were detected such as lactate, pyruvate, glucose, and glutamate. In aSAH patients, the pathophysiology and the factor for poor outcome are not completely understood yet. Routine use of biomarkers in CSF, particularly in aSAH patients, is still lacking.

Methods

This mini review was performed on the role of metabolomics alterations after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Results

We identified five clinical studies that addressed metabolomics in patients with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Conclusion

There is increasing evidence suggesting that biomarkers can give insight in the pathogenesis and can serve as an outcome predictor. In this mini review, we present a brief overview of metabolomics profiling in neuroscience and wish to discuss the predictive and therapeutic value in aSAH patients.
Wetting of MXenes and Beyond
Authors: Malaki Massoud , Varma Rajender S.
Published: April 2023

MXenes are a class of 2D nanomaterials with exceptional tailor-made properties such as mechano-ceramic nature, rich chemistry, and hydrophilicity, to name a few. However, one of the most challenging issues in any composite/hybrid system is the interfacial wetting. Having a superior integrity of a given composite system is a direct consequence of the proper wettability. While wetting is a fundamental feature, dictating many physical and chemical attributes, most of the common nanomaterials possesses poor affinity due to hydrophobic nature, making them hard to be easily dispersed in a given composite. Thanks to low contact angle, MXenes can offer themselves as an ideal candidate for manufacturing different nano-hybrid structures. Herein this review, it is aimed to particularly study the wettability of MXenes. In terms of the layout of the present study, MXenes are first briefly introduced, and then, the wettability phenomenon is discussed in detail. Upon reviewing the sporadic research efforts conducted to date, a particular attention is paid on the current challenges and research pitfalls to light up the future perspectives. It is strongly believed that taking the advantage of MXene’s rich hydrophilic surface may have a revolutionizing role in the fabrication of advanced materials with exceptional features.
A Rational Design of Metal–Organic Framework Nanozyme with High-Performance Copper Active Centers for Alleviating Chemical Corneal Burns
Authors: Tang Yonghua , Han Yi , Zhao Jiachen , Lv Yufei , Fan Chaoyu , Zheng Lan , Zhang Zhisen , Liu Zuguo , Li Cheng , Lin Youhui
Published: April 2023

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted significant research interest in biomimetic catalysis. However, the modulation of the activity of MOFs by precisely tuning the coordination of metal nodes is still a significant challenge. Inspired by metalloenzymes with well-defined coordination structures, a series of MOFs containing halogen-coordinated copper nodes (Cu-X MOFs, X = Cl, Br, I) are employed to elucidate their structure–activity relationship. Intriguingly, experimental and theoretical results strongly support that precisely tuning the coordination of halogen atoms directly regulates the enzyme-like activities of Cu-X MOFs by influencing the spatial configuration and electronic structure of the Cu active center. The optimal Cu–Cl MOF exhibits excellent superoxide dismutase-like activity with a specific activity one order of magnitude higher than the reported Cu-based nanozymes. More importantly, by performing enzyme-mimicking catalysis, the Cu–Cl MOF nanozyme can significantly scavenge reactive oxygen species and alleviate oxidative stress, thus effectively relieving ocular chemical burns. Mechanistically, the antioxidant and antiapoptotic properties of Cu–Cl MOF are achieved by regulating the NRF2 and JNK or P38 MAPK pathways. Our work provides a novel way to refine MOF nanozymes by directly engineering the coordination microenvironment and, more significantly, demonstrating their potential therapeutic effect in ophthalmic disease.
Interface Engineering of Fe7S8/FeS2 Heterostructure in situ Encapsulated into Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Nanotubes for High Power Sodium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Song Penghao , Yang Jian , Wang Chengyin , Wang Tianyi , Gao Hong , Wang Guoxiu , Li Jiabao
Published: April 2023

Heterostructure engineering combined with carbonaceous materials shows great promise toward promoting sluggish kinetics, improving electronic conductivity, and mitigating the huge expansion of transition metal sulfide electrodes for high-performance sodium storage. Herein, the iron sulfide-based heterostructures in situ hybridized with nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (Fe7S8/FeS2/NCNT) have been prepared through a successive pyrolysis and sulfidation approach. The Fe7S8/FeS2/NCNT heterostructure delivered a high reversible capacity of 403.2 mAh g−1 up to 100 cycles at 1.0 A g−1 and superior rate capability (273.4 mAh g−1 at 20.0 A g−1) in ester-based electrolyte. Meanwhile, the electrodes also demonstrated long-term cycling stability (466.7 mAh g−1 after 1,000 cycles at 5.0 A g−1) and outstanding rate capability (536.5 mAh g−1 at 20.0 A g−1) in ether-based electrolyte. This outstanding performance could be mainly attributed to the fast sodium-ion diffusion kinetics, high capacitive contribution, and convenient interfacial dynamics in ether-based electrolyte.
Hole-Transport Management Enables 23%-Efficient and Stable Inverted Perovskite Solar Cells with 84% Fill Factor
Authors: Liu Liming , Ma Yajie , Wang Yousheng , Ma Qiaoyan , Wang Zixuan , Yang Zigan , Wan Meixiu , Mahmoudi Tahmineh , Hahn Yoon-Bong , Mai Yaohua
Published: April 2023

NiOx-based inverted perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have presented great potential toward low-cost, highly efficient and stable next-generation photovoltaics. However, the presence of energy-level mismatch and contact-interface defects between hole-selective contacts (HSCs) and perovskite-active layer (PAL) still limits device efficiency improvement. Here, we report a graded configuration based on both interface-cascaded structures and p-type molecule-doped composites with two-/three-dimensional formamidinium-based triple-halide perovskites. We find that the interface defects-induced non-radiative recombination presented at HSCs/PAL interfaces is remarkably suppressed because of efficient hole extraction and transport. Moreover, a strong chemical interaction, halogen bonding and coordination bonding are found in the molecule-doped perovskite composites, which significantly suppress the formation of halide vacancy and parasitic metallic lead. As a result, NiOx-based inverted PSCs present a power-conversion-efficiency over 23% with a high fill factor of 0.84 and open-circuit voltage of 1.162 V, which are comparable to the best reported around 1.56-electron volt bandgap perovskites. Furthermore, devices with encapsulation present high operational stability over 1,200 h during T90 lifetime measurement (the time as a function of PCE decreases to 90% of its initial value) under 1-sun illumination in ambient-air conditions.
Identification of Dynamic Active Sites Among Cu Species Derived from MOFs@CuPc for Electrocatalytic Nitrate Reduction Reaction to Ammonia
Authors: Ji Xue-Yang , Sun Ke , Liu Zhi-Kun , Liu Xinghui , Dong Weikang , Zuo Xintao , Shao Ruiwen , Tao Jun
Published: April 2023

Direct electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction (NITRR) is a promising strategy to alleviate the unbalanced nitrogen cycle while achieving the electrosynthesis of ammonia. However, the restructuration of the high-activity Cu-based electrocatalysts in the NITRR process has hindered the identification of dynamical active sites and in-depth investigation of the catalytic mechanism. Herein, Cu species (single-atom, clusters, and nanoparticles) with tunable loading supported on N-doped TiO2/C are successfully manufactured with MOFs@CuPc precursors via the pre-anchor and post-pyrolysis strategy. Restructuration behavior among Cu species is co-dependent on the Cu loading and reaction potential, as evidenced by the advanced operando X-ray absorption spectroscopy, and there exists an incompletely reversible transformation of the restructured structure to the initial state. Notably, restructured CuN4&Cu4 deliver the high NH3 yield of 88.2 mmol h−1 gcata−1 and FE (~ 94.3%) at − 0.75 V, resulting from the optimal adsorption of NO3− as well as the rapid conversion of *NH2OH to *NH2 intermediates originated from the modulation of charge distribution and d-band center for Cu site. This work not only uncovers CuN4&Cu4 have the promising NITRR but also identifies the dynamic Cu species active sites that play a critical role in the efficient electrocatalytic reduction in nitrate to ammonia.
Applications of Metal–Organic Frameworks and Their Derivatives in Electrochemical CO2 Reduction
Authors: Li Chengbo , Ji Yuan , Wang Youpeng , Liu Chunxiao , Chen Zhaoyang , Tang Jialin , Hong Yawei , Li Xu , Zheng Tingting , Jiang Qiu , Xia Chuan
Published: April 2023

Electrochemically reducing CO2 to more reduced chemical species is a promising way that not only enables the conversion of intermittent energy resources to stable fuels, but also helps to build a closed-loop anthropogenic carbon cycle. Among various electrocatalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction, multifunctional metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have been employed as highly efficient and selective heterogeneous electrocatalysts due to their ultrahigh porosity and topologically diverse structures. Up to now, great progress has been achieved in the design and synthesis of highly active and selective MOF-related catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR), and their corresponding reaction mechanisms have been thoroughly studied. In this review, we summarize the recent progress of applying MOFs and their derivatives in CO2RR, with a focus on the design strategies for electrocatalysts and electrolyzers. We first discussed the reaction mechanisms for different CO2RR products and introduced the commonly applied electrolyzer configurations in the current CO2RR system. Then, an overview of several categories of products (CO, HCOOH, CH4, CH3OH, and multi-carbon chemicals) generated from MOFs or their derivatives via CO2RR was discussed. Finally, we offer some insights and perspectives for the future development of MOFs and their derivatives in electrochemical CO2 reduction. We aim to provide new insights into this field and further guide future research for large-scale applications.
Unlikely intersections on the p-adic formal ball
Authors: Serban Vlad
Published: April 2023

We investigate generalizations along the lines of the Mordell–Lang conjecture of the author’sp-adic formal Manin–Mumford results forn-dimensionalp-divisible formal groups$$\mathcal {F}$$F. In particular, given a finitely generated subgroup$$\Gamma $$Γof$$\mathcal {F}({\overline{\mathbb {Q}}}_p)$$F(Q¯p)and a closed subscheme$$X\hookrightarrow \mathcal {F}$$X↪F, we show under suitable assumptions that for any points$$P\in X(\mathbb {C}_p)$$P∈X(Cp)satisfying$$nP\in \Gamma $$nP∈Γfor some$$n\in \mathbb {N}$$n∈N, the minimal such ordersnare uniformly bounded wheneverXdoes not contain a formal subgroup translate of positive dimension. In contrast, we then provide counter-examples to a fullp-adic formal Mordell–Lang result. Finally, we outline some consequences for the study of the Zariski-density of sets of automorphic objects inp-adic deformations. Specifically, we do so in the context of the nearly ordinaryp-adic families of cuspidal cohomological automorphic forms for the general linear group constructed by Hida.
Strategies for the Analysis of Large Social Media Corpora: Sampling and Keyword Extraction Methods
Authors: Moreno-Ortiz Antonio , García-Gámez María
Published: April 2023

In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, social media platforms such as Twitter have been of great importance for users to exchange news, ideas, and perceptions. Researchers from fields such as discourse analysis and the social sciences have resorted to this content to explore public opinion and stance on this topic, and they have tried to gather information through the compilation of large-scale corpora. However, the size of such corpora is both an advantage and a drawback, as simple text retrieval techniques and tools may prove to be impractical or altogether incapable of handling such masses of data. This study provides methodological and practical cues on how to manage the contents of a large-scale social media corpus such as Chen et al. (JMIR Public Health Surveill 6(2):e19273, 2020) COVID-19 corpus. We compare and evaluate, in terms of efficiency and efficacy, available methods to handle such a large corpus. First, we compare different sample sizes to assess whether it is possible to achieve similar results despite the size difference and evaluate sampling methods following a specific data management approach to storing the original corpus. Second, we examine two keyword extraction methodologies commonly used to obtain a compact representation of the main subject and topics of a text: the traditional method used in corpus linguistics, which compares word frequencies using a reference corpus, and graph-based techniques as developed in Natural Language Processing tasks. The methods and strategies discussed in this study enable valuable quantitative and qualitative analyses of an otherwise intractable mass of social media data.
Discovery of a natural small-molecule AMP-activated kinase activator that alleviates nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Chen Jin , Xu Li , Zhang Xue-Qing , Liu Xue , Zhang Zi-Xuan , Zhu Qiu-Mei , Liu Jian-Yu , Iqbal Muhammad Omer , Ding Ning , Shao Chang-Lun , Wei Mei-Yan , Gu Yu-Chao
Published: April 2023

Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a primary cause of cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Unfortunately, there is no approved drug treatment for NASH. AMP-activated kinase (AMPK) is an important metabolic sensor and whole-body regulator. It has been proposed that AMPK activators could be used for treating metabolic diseases such as obesity, type 2 diabetes and NASH. In this study, we screened a marine natural compound library by monitoring AMPK activity and found a potent AMPK activator, candidusin A (CHNQD-0803). Further studies showed that CHNQD-0803 directly binds recombinant AMPK with a KD value of 4.728 × 10–8 M and activates AMPK at both molecular and intracellular levels. We then investigated the roles and mechanisms of CHNQD-0803 in PA-induced fat deposition, LPS-stimulated inflammation, TGF-β-induced fibrosis cell models and the MCD-induced mouse model of NASH. The results showed that CHNQD-0803 inhibited the expression of adipogenesis genes and reduced fat deposition, negatively regulated the NF-κB-TNFα inflammatory axis to suppress inflammation, and ameliorated liver injury and fibrosis. These data indicate that CHNQD-0803 as an AMPK activator is a novel potential therapeutic candidate for NASH treatment.
Multiple Strategies Boosted Orca Predation Algorithm for Engineering Optimization Problems
Authors: Houssein Essam H. , Saad Mohammed R. , Ali Abdelmgeid A. , Shaban Hassan
Published: April 2023

This paper proposes an enhanced orca predation algorithm (OPA) called the Lévy flight orca predation algorithm (LFOPA). LFOPA improves OPA by integrating the Lévy flight (LF) strategy into the chasing phase of OPA and employing the greedy selection (GS) strategy at the end of each optimization iteration. This enhancement is made to avoid the entrapment of local optima and to improve the quality of acquired solutions. OPA is a novel, efficient population-based optimizer that surpasses other reliable optimizers. However, owing to the low diversity of orcas, OPA is prone to stalling at local optima in some scenarios. In this paper, LFOPA is proposed for addressing global and real-world optimization challenges. To investigate the validity of the proposed LFOPA, it is compared with seven robust optimizers, including the improved multi-operator differential evolution algorithm (IMODE), covariance matrix adaptation evolution strategy (CMA-ES), gravitational search algorithm (GSA), grey wolf optimizer (GWO), moth-flame optimization algorithm (MFO), Harris hawks optimization (HHO), and the original OPA on 10 unconstrained test functions linked to 2020 IEEE Congress on Evolutionary Computation (CEC’20). Furthermore, four different design engineering issues, including the welded beam, the tension/compression spring, the pressure vessel, and the speed reducer, are solved using the proposed LFOPA, to test its applicability. It was also employed to address node localization challenges in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) as an example of real-world applications. Results and tests of significance show that the proposed LFOPA performs much better than OPA and other competitors. LFOPA simulation results on node localization challenges are much superior to other competitors in terms of minimizing squared errors and localization errors.
The Ristić–Balakrishnan–Topp–Leone–Gompertz-G Family of Distributions with Applications
Authors: Pu Shusen , Moakofi Thatayaone , Oluyede Broderick
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we introduce the newly generated Ristić–Balakrishnan–Topp–Leone–Gompertz-G family of distributions. Statistical and mathematical properties of this new family including moments, moment generating function, incomplete moments, conditional moments, probability weighted moments, distribution of the order statistics, stochastic ordering, and Rényi entropy are derived. The unknown parameters of the family are inferred using the maximum likelihood estimation technique. A Monte Carlo simulation study is performed to investigate the convergence of the maximum likelihood estimation. Three real-life data sets are used to demonstrate the flexibility and capacity of the new family of distributions.
Provincial Democracy
Authors: Mantena Rama Sundari
Published: April 2023

Situated within the context of seismic global transformations of the early twentieth century—namely the two World Wars and the crisis of the imperial order—Provincial Democracy delves into the period between the decline of empire and the rise of the nation. This period, the book contends, is defined by not only the dominance of the nation state and debates over a new global order, but also the expansion of democratic participation in defining and negotiating political futures and an increased use of the language of liberalism, political rights, and self-government in colonial India. Moreover, it shifts the focus from the dominant narrative of linguistic nationalism as defining regionalism on to debates over questions of representation, rights, political reforms, and federalism. Thus, it uncovers a broad perspective on political imaginaries that anticipated democracy in independent India.
Current vehicle emission standards will not mitigate climate change or improve air quality
Authors: Law Andrew Jiaxuan , Martinez-Botas Ricardo , Blythe Phil
Published: April 2023

The vehicle emissions testing programme was conducted by the UK Department of Transport in 2016 in response to emissions tampering exposed in the Volkswagen (VW) emissions scandal. The programme identified large emissions discrepancies between real-world and in-lab testing across a range of Euro 5 and Euro 6 diesel passenger vehicles. The large vehicle test fleet reflects the current challenges faced in controlling vehicle emissions. This paper presents the following findings: NOx emissions are altered due to exhaust gas recirculation mismanagement. A new Real-Life Emissions methodology is introduced to improve upon the current Real Driving Emissions standard. A large and concerning emissions divergence was discovered between the achieved NOx improvement and deterioration of CO2. The findings act as catalysts to improve vehicle emissions testing beyond standards established since the VW scandal, aiding in the development of better climate change mitigation strategies and bring tangible air quality improvements to the environment.
Development and validation of a questionnaire to test Chinese patients’ knowledge of inflammatory bowel disease
Authors: Xie Huabing , Zhang Jixiang , Liu Chuan , Yang Bingxiang , Dong Weiguo
Published: April 2023

A good understanding of a disease facilitates patient-centered management. We aimed to develop and validate a questionnaire to assess inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-related knowledge and analyze the factors affecting patients’ knowledge of IBD. We invited 15 experts to develop and modify an IBD knowledge questionnaires and 709 patients to test the reliability and validity of the questionnaires as well as analyze the factors related to the disease knowledge of patients with IBD. In internal consistency, Cronbach’s α coefficients for the common items, ulcerative colitis (UC), and Crohn’s disease (CD) knowledge questionnaires were 0.886, 0.89, and 0.886, respectively. In cross-item consistency, Spearman-Brown split coefficients of the common items, UC, and CD knowledge questionnaires were 0.843, 0.812, and 0.812, respectively. In time consistency, the test–retest reliability ICC was 0.862 (P < 0.001). The correlation between researcher scores, IBD-KNOW scores, and the original questionnaire scores was greater than 0.7 (P < 0.001). Multiple linear regression demonstrated that the factors, including disease type, age, body mass index, education level, income, treatment cost, duration of disease, and frequency of visits, affected the IBD patients’ knowledge of the disease (P < 0.05). The IBD knowledge questionnaires had good reliability and validity and, therefore, can be used to assess patient knowledge of the disease.
Imsidolimab, an anti-interleukin-36 receptor monoclonal antibody, for the treatment of generalized pustular psoriasis: results from the phase II GALLOP trial
Authors: Warren Richard B , Reich Adam , Kaszuba Andrzej , Placek Waldemar , Griffiths Christopher E M , Zhou Jihao , Randazzo Bruce , Lizzul Paul , Gudjonsson Johann E
Published: April 2023

Background

Generalized pustular psoriasis (GPP) is a systemic inflammatory disease that can be severe, debilitating and life threatening. Uncontrolled activation of interleukin (IL)-36 proinflammatory activity may underlie the pathogenesis of GPP. Currently, GPP-specific treatment options are limited.

Objectives

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of the anti-IL-36 receptor antibody imsidolimab in patients with GPP.

Methods

In an open-label, single-arm, multiple-dose study, patients with GPP were treated with imsidolimab to assess clinical efficacy, tolerability and safety. Patients received an intravenous dose of imsidolimab 750 mg on day 1, followed by three subcutaneous doses of imsidolimab 100 mg administered on days 29, 57 and 85. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who achieved a clinical response at weeks 4 and 16 following treatment with imsidolimab, as measured by the Clinical Global Impression scale.

Results

Eight patients were enrolled and six completed the study. Responses were observed as early as day 3, most rapidly for pustulation relative to other manifestations of GPP, with continued and consistent improvement across multiple efficacy assessments at day 8, day 29 and through day 113. Most treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were mild to moderate in severity. No patient discontinued the study owing to a nonserious TEAE. Two patients experienced serious adverse events (SAEs); no deaths were reported.

Conclusions

Imsidolimab demonstrated a rapid and sustained resolution of symptoms and pustular eruptions in patients with GPP. It was generally well tolerated, with an acceptable safety profile, and is advancing to phase III trials. These data support the targeting of IL-36 signalling with a specific antibody – imsidolimab – as a therapeutic option for this severely debilitating condition.
A successful bridge to recovery with Impella 5.0 and subsequent hybrid cardiac resynchronization therapy in systemic right ventricle failure: a case report
Authors: Iwasaki Keiichiro , Nishii Nobuhiro , Akagi Satoshi , Ito Hiroshi
Published: April 2023

Background

Impella 5.0 is currently used as a temporary mechanical circulatory support device in cardiogenic shock (CS). However, Impella 5.0 implantation for the systemic right ventricle (sRV) has not been well documented.

Case summary

A 50-year-old man with atrial switch for dextro-transposition of the great arteries was transferred to our hospital for the treatment of embolic acute myocardial infarction of the left main trunk lesion with CS. To stabilize haemodynamics, we implanted Impella 5.0 via the left subclavian artery in the sRV. After optimal medical therapy initiation and gradual weaning of Impella 5.0, Impella 5.0 was successfully explanted. An electrocardiogram was obtained, which showed complete right branch block with a QRS duration of 172 ms. Acute invasive haemodynamic evaluation of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) pacing showed that dP/dt increased from 497 to 605 mmHg/s (21.7% improvement), and hybrid cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillator (CRTD) with a sRV epicardial lead was subsequently implanted. The patient was discharged without inotropic support.

Discussion

Coronary artery embolism is a rare but serious complication of dextro-transposition of the great arteries after atrial switch operations. Impella 5.0 implantation is a feasible bridge strategy for refractory CS due to sRV failure. Although CRT implantation in patients with sRV is controversial, an acute invasive haemodynamic evaluation can help assess its potential benefits.
Fabry disease due to D313Y variant with renal failure and possible cardiac involvement: a case report
Authors: Bei Evangelia , Antonopoulos Alexios S , Tsivgoulis Georgios , Vlachopoulos Charalambos
Published: April 2023

Background

This is a case report of a patient with Anderson–Fabry disease (AFD) due to the D313Y variant on the a-galactosidase A (GLA) gene on migalastat treatment and severe chronic kidney disease referred to our unit to assess possible cardiac involvement.

Case summary

A 53-year-old man with chronic kidney disease due to AFD and a medical history of revascularized coronary artery disease, chronic atrial fibrillation, and arterial hypertension was referred to our unit for evaluation of possible cardiac involvement in the context of AFD. Biochemical evaluation reported reduced serum alpha-galactosidase A activity and borderline abnormal serum lyso-Gb3 enzyme activity. The patient had also history of acroparesthesias, dermatological presentation of multiple angiokeratomas, severe kidney impairment with an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) of 30 mL/min/1.73m² by the age of 16, and microalbuminuria that cumulatively set the diagnosis of AFD. Transthoracic echocardiogram showed left ventricular concentric hypertrophy with left ventricular ejection fraction of 45%. Cardiac magnetic resonance showed findings in keeping with ischaemic heart disease (IHD), i.e. akinesia and subendocardial scarring of the basal anterior and the entirety of the septum and the true apex; in addition, there was severe asymmetrical hypertrophy of the basal anteroseptum (max 18 mm), evidence of low-grade myocardial inflammation, and mid-wall fibrosis of the basal inferior and inferolateral wall, suggesting a cardiomyopathic process–myocardial disease which could not be explained solely by IHD or well-controlled hypertension.

Discussion

This is the first case of possible cardiac involvement in a patient with AFD due to the D313Y variant. This case demonstrates the diagnostic challenges of cardiac involvement in AFD, especially in the presence of a concomitant underlying pathology.
Statins to prevent early cardiac dysfunction in cancer patients at increased cardiotoxicity risk receiving anthracyclines
Authors: Thavendiranathan Paaladinesh , Houbois Christian , Marwick Thomas H , Kei Tiffanie , Saha Sudipta , Runeckles Kyle , Huang Flora , Shalmon Tamar , Thorpe Kevin E , Pezo Rossanna C , Prica Anca , Maze Dawn , Abdel-Qadir Husam , Connelly Kim A , Chan Joyce , Billia Filio , Power Coleen , Hanneman Kate , Wintersperger Bernd J , Brezden-Masley Christine , Amir Eitan
Published: April 2023

Background and aims

Anthracyclines can cause cancer therapy-related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). We aimed to assess whether statins prevent decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in anthracycline-treated patients at increased risk for CTRCD.

Methods

In this multicenter double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial, patients with cancer at increased risk of anthracycline-related CTRCD (per ASCO guidelines) were randomly assigned to atorvastatin 40 mg or placebo once-daily. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) imaging was performed before and within 4 weeks after anthracyclines. Blood biomarkers were measured at every cycle. The primary outcome was post-anthracycline LVEF, adjusted for baseline. CTRCD was defined as a fall in LVEF by >10% to <53%. Secondary endpoints included left ventricular (LV) volumes, CTRCD, CMR tissue characterization, high sensitivity troponin I (hsTnI), and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP).

Results

We randomized 112 patients (56.9 ± 13.6 years, 87 female, and 73 with breast cancer): 54 to atorvastatin and 58 to placebo. Post-anthracycline CMR was performed 22 (13–27) days from last anthracycline dose. Post-anthracycline LVEF did not differ between the atorvastatin and placebo groups (57.3 ± 5.8% and 55.9 ± 7.4%, respectively) when adjusted for baseline LVEF (P = 0.34). There were no significant between-group differences in post-anthracycline LV end-diastolic (P = 0.20) or end-systolic volume (P = 0.12), CMR myocardial edema and/or fibrosis (P = 0.06–0.47), or peak hsTnI (P ≥ 0.99) and BNP (P = 0.23). CTRCD incidence was similar (4% versus 4%, P ≥ 0.99). There was no difference in adverse events.

Conclusions

In patients at increased risk of CTRCD, primary prevention with atorvastatin during anthracycline therapy did not ameliorate early LVEF decline, LV remodeling, CTRCD, change in serum cardiac biomarkers, or CMR myocardial tissue changes.

Trial registration

NCT03186404.
Navigating Community-Based Aged Care Services From the Consumer Perspective: A Scoping Review
Authors: Xie Yuchen , Hamilton Myra , Peisah Carmelle , Anstey Kaarin J , Sinclair Craig
Published: April 2023

Background and Objectives

The shift to consumer-directed aged care means that older adults need to play a more active role in navigating the complex aged care system for adequate health and social services. Challenges in the navigation process result in unmet needs and difficulty accessing available resources. This scoping review investigates how aged care navigation is conceptualized in literature and interrogates research on the experiences of older adults navigating community-based aged care services with or without support from their informal carers.

Research Design and Methods

This review follows the Joanna Briggs Institute methodological guidelines. PubMed, Scopus, and ProQuest were searched for relevant literature published from 2008 to 2021, supplemented by grey literature and manual reference list searching. Data were extracted using a predefined data-extraction table and synthesized with an inductive thematic analysis.

Results

The current conceptualization of aged care navigation focuses on the support provided to older adults, rather than actions taken by older adults themselves. Thematic analysis from the included studies (n = 26) revealed shared themes (lack of knowledge, social networks as information providers, complex care systems) among older adults and informal carers; unique challenges faced by older adults (difficulties with technology, waiting game), and informal carers (structural burden) in aged care navigation.

Discussion and Implications

Findings suggest the need to comprehensively assess individual circumstances including social networks and access to informal carers as predictors of successful navigation. Changes that reduce the complexity of the aged care system and improve coordination will relieve the structural burden experienced by consumers.
Fecal excretion ofCampylobacter jejuniby young dairy calves and the relationship with neonatal immunity and personality traits
Authors: Rapp Delphine , Schütz Karin E , Ross Colleen , Sutherland Mhairi A , Hempstead Melissa N , Hannaford Rina , Cave Vanessa M , Brightwell Gale
Published: April 2023

Aims

Zoonotic pathogens in bovine herds are major concerns for human and animal health, but their monitoring in animals can be challenging in the absence of clinical signs. Our objective was to determine the association between fecal excretion of Campylobacter jejuni, neonatal immunity, and personality traits of calves.

Methods and results

Forty-eight dairy calves were reared in three indoor pens from birth to 4 weeks of life. Microbial analyses of the fecal samples collected weekly revealed that the proportion of calves naturally contaminated with C. jejuni in each pen reached 70% after 3 weeks of life. High (>16 g l−1) levels of IgG levels in the serum of neonatal calves were negatively (P = .04) associated with fecal detection of C. jejuni over the trial period. Calves that spent more time interacting with a novel object tended to be positive (P = .058) for C. jejuni.

Conclusions

Overall, the findings indicate that the immunity of neonatal dairy animals and possibly the animal’s behavior may contribute to the fecal shedding of C. jejuni.
Spillovers in Childbearing Decisions and Fertility Transitions: Evidence from China
Authors: Rossi Pauline , Xiao Yun
Published: April 2023

This article uses China’s family planning policies to quantify and explain spillovers in fertility decisions. We test whether ethnic minorities decreased their fertility in response to the policies, although only the majority ethnic group, the Han Chinese, were subject to birth quotas. We exploit the policy rollout and variation in pre-policy age-specific fertility levels to construct a measure of the negative shock to Han fertility. Combining this measure with variation in the local share of Han, we estimate that a woman gives birth to 0.63 fewer children if the average completed fertility among her peers is exogenously reduced by one child. The fertility response of minorities is driven by cultural proximity with the Han and by higher educational investments, suggesting that spillovers operate through both social and economic channels. These results provide evidence that social multipliers can accelerate fertility transitions.
Ureteral transitional cell carcinoma with supraclavicular lymph node metastasis: a case report
Authors: Gupta Ankit , Mirpuri Lavesh , Hassan Hussain , Malik Faizan , Amtul Nasira
Published: April 2023

Metastasis to the supraclavicular lymph nodes usually originate from primary tumours in the head and neck, breast or abdomen. Infradiaphragmatic tumours very rarely metastasise to these nodes. Transitional cell carcinomas (TCCs), also termed urothelial carcinomas, account for ⁓90% of all ureteral cancers; exceptionally few cases have reported such cancers spreading to the supraclavicular fossae. We present the case of a 65-year-old male who was being investigated for gallstones and was subsequently found to have metastatic bony lesions and widespread adenopathy on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography. Initially, the primary cancer was an area of contention between clinicians, as radiologists suggested it was of urological origin, but the bladder multidisciplinary team felt the scans did not fulfil this notion. Ultimately, histological analysis confirmed the diagnosis of metastatic TCC.
Identification of Sutcliffiella horikoshii strains in an immunobiological pharmaceutical industry facility
Authors: de Miranda Rebeca Vitória da Silva Lage , da Costa Luciana Veloso , Albuquerque Letícia de Sousa , dos Reis Cristhiane Moura Falavina , Braga Lygia Maria Paulo da Silva , de Andrade Joyce Modesto , Ramos Juliana Nunes , Mattoso Josiane Machado Vieira , Forsythe Stephen James , Brandão Marcelo Luiz Lima
Published: April 2023

The pharmaceutical industry must comply with the requirements for good manufacturing practices to reduce inherent contamination risks in the production process. Bacillus and related genera are among the main bacterial isolated from clean areas, raw material, and products in the pharmaceutical industries, but the correct identification of these species is still a challenge. The aim of this study was to characterize by phenotyping, protein profiling, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing Sutcliffiellahorikoshii strains (n = 6) isolated from an immunobiological pharmaceutical facility, and to propose the reclassification of Bacillus tianshenii to the genus Sutcliffiella, and Sutcliffiella tianshenii sp. nov. The strains were characterized by VITEK®2, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight/mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) using VITEK®MS, and 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis. MALDI-TOF/MS did not identify any strains that were identified by 16S rRNA as S. horikoshii. VITEK®2 showed false-positive results, with misidentification as B. sporothermodurans (reclassified as Heyndrickxia sporothermodurans) and Geobacillus thermoleovorans. After MALDI-TOF/MS database expansion, with the creation of SuperSpectrum, the strains were correctly identified as S. horikoshii. This study is the first report of isolation of S. horikoshii strains from a pharmaceutical industry. More studies are necessary to better understand the ability of S. horikoshii to contaminate the environment and products.
Molecular detection and species identification of dermatophytes by SYBR-Green real-time PCR in-house methodology using hair samples obtained from dogs and cats
Authors: Spanamberg Andréia , Ravazzolo Ana Paula , Araujo Ricardo , Tomazi Natália , Fuentes Beatriz , Ferreiro Laerte
Published: April 2023

The classical dermatophytes diagnosis is based on mycological culture and microscopy observation both human and animal hair, skin, and nail samples. The aim of this work was to develop the new in-house real-time PCR with pan-dematophyte reaction for detection and identification of the main dermatophytes directly from hair samples, providing a simple and rapid diagnosis of dermatophytosis in dogs and cats.

An in-house SYBR-Green real-time PCR was designed and used for detecting a DNA fragment encoding chitin synthase 1 (CHS1). A total of 287 samples were processed by culture, microscopic examination with KOH 10%, and real-time PCR (qPCR) analysis. Melting curve analysis of the CHS1 fragment revealed to be reproducible, showing a single distinct peak for each species of dermatophyte, namely Trichophyton mentagrophytes, T. verrucosum, Microsporum canis, and Nannizzia gypsea (formerly M. gypseum). Then, out of the 287 clinically suspected cases of dermatophytosis, 50% were positive for dermatophytes by qPCR, 44% by mycological culture, and 25% by microscopic examination. Microsporum canis was identified in 117 samples tested by culture and 134 samples tested by qPCR, followed by N. gypsea in 5 samples (either tested by culture or qPCR) and T. mentagrophytes detected in 4 and 5 samples when tested by culture or qPCR, respectively. Overall, qPCR allowed the diagnosis of dermatophytosis in clinical samples. The results suggest this newly proposed in-house real-time PCR assay can be used as alternative diagnosis and rapid identification of dermatophytes frequently associated to clinical hair samples of dogs and cats.
WASP-131 b with ESPRESSO – I. A bloated sub-Saturn on a polar orbit around a differentially rotating solar-type star
Authors: Doyle L , Cegla H M , Anderson D R , Lendl M , Bourrier V , Bryant E , Vines J , Allart R , Bayliss D , Burleigh M R , Buchschacher N , Casewell S L , Hawthorn F , Jenkins J S , Lafarga M , Moyano M , Psaridi A , Roguet-Kern N , Sosnowska D , Wheatley P
Published: April 2023

In this paper, we present observations of two high-resolution transit data sets obtained with ESPRESSO of the bloated sub-Saturn planet WASP-131 b. We have simultaneous photometric observations with NGTS and EulerCam. In addition, we utilized photometric light curves from TESS, WASP, EulerCam, and TRAPPIST of multiple transits to fit for the planetary parameters and update the ephemeris. We spatially resolve the stellar surface of WASP-131 utilizing the Reloaded Rossiter McLaughlin technique to search for centre-to-limb convective variations, stellar differential rotation, and to determine the star–planet obliquity for the first time. We find WASP-131 is misaligned on a nearly retrograde orbit with a projected obliquity of $\lambda = 162.4\substack{+1.3 \\ -1.2}^{\circ }$ . In addition, we determined a stellar differential rotation shear of α = 0.61 ± 0.06 and disentangled the stellar inclination ($i_* = 40.9\substack{+13.3 \\ -8.5}^{\circ }$ ) from the projected rotational velocity, resulting in an equatorial velocity of $v_{\rm {eq}} = 7.7\substack{+1.5 \\ -1.3}$ km s−1. In turn, we determined the true 3D obliquity of $\psi = 123.7\substack{+12.8 \\ -8.0}^{\circ }$ , meaning the planet is on a perpendicular/polar orbit. Therefore, we explored possible mechanisms for the planetary system’s formation and evolution. Finally, we searched for centre-to-limb convective variations where there was a null detection, indicating that centre-to-limb convective variations are not prominent in this star or are hidden within red noise.
aiolos – A multipurpose 1D hydrodynamics code for planetary atmospheres
Authors: Schulik Matthäus , Booth Richard A
Published: April 2023

We present a new 1D multiphysics simulation code with use cases intended for, but not limited to, hydrodynamic escape problems of planetary atmospheres and planetary accretion models. Our formulation treats an arbitrary number of species as separated hydrodynamic fields, couples them via friction laws, allows for a multiband flux-limited radiation transport, and tracks ionization fronts in high-energy irradiation bands. Besides coupling various known numerical solution techniques together, we improve on the numerical stability of deep hydrostatic atmospheres by using a well-balanced scheme, hence preventing unphysical driving of atmospheric in- or outflow. We demonstrate the correct physical behaviour of the individual code modules and present a few simple, new applications, such as a proof-of-concept simulations of combined core-powered mass-loss and UV-driven atmospheric escape, along with a fully time-dependent core-collapse giant planet simulation. The multispecies nature of the code opens up the area of exploring simulations that are agnostic towards the dominant atmospheric species and can lead to implementations of advanced planetary evolution schemes.
Dynamics of the clumps partially disrupted from a planet around a neutron star
Authors: Kurban Abdusattar , Zhou Xia , Wang Na , Huang Yong-Feng , Wang Yu-Bin , Nurmamat Nurimangul
Published: April 2023

Tidal disruption events are common in the Universe, which may occur in various compact star systems and could account for many astrophysical phenomena. Depending on the separation between the central compact star and its companion, either a full disruption or a partial disruption may occur. The partial disruption of a rocky planet around a neutron star (NS) can produce kilometer-sized clumps, but the main portion of the planet can survive. The dynamical evolution of these clumps is still poorly understood. In this study, the characteristics of partial disruption of a rocky planet in a highly elliptical orbit around a NS is investigated. The periastron of the planet is assumed to be very close to the NS so that it would be partially disrupted by tidal force every time it passes through the periastron. It is found that the fragments generated in the process will change their orbits on a time scale of a few orbital periods due to the combined influence of the NS and the remnant planet, and will finally collide with the central NS. Possible outcomes of the collisions are discussed.
Constraining the ellipticity and frequency of binary neutron star remnant via its gravitational-wave and electromagnetic radiations
Authors: Yuan Yong , Fan Xi-Long , Lü Hou-Jun
Published: April 2023

The nature of the merger remnant of binary neutron star remains an open question. From the theoretical point of view, one possible outcome is a supra-massive neutron star (SMNS), which is supported by rigid rotation and through its survival of hundreds of seconds before collapsing into a black hole. If this is the case, the SMNS can emit continuous gravitational waves (GW) and electromagnetic radiation, particularly in the X-ray band. In this work, the ellipticity and initial frequency of SMNS are constrained with a Bayesian framework using simulated X-ray and GW signals, which could be detected by The Transient High Energy Sky and Early Universe Surveyor and Einstein Telescope, respectively. We found that only considering the X-ray emission cannot completely constrain the initial frequency and ellipticity of the SMNS, but it can reduce the ranges of the parameters. Afterwards, we can use the posterior distribution of the X-ray parameter estimates as a prior for the GW parameter estimates. It was found that the 95 per cent credible region of the joint X-ray–GW analysis was about 105 times smaller than that of the X-ray analysis alone.