bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Move, React, Repeat! The Role of Continuous Cues in Immersive Exergames
Authors: Karaosmanoglu Sukran , Wegner Moritz , Cmentowski Sebastian , Steinicke Frank
Published: October 2024

Immersive virtual reality (VR) exergames blend playful environments with physical activities. In such games, providing continuous cues, i.e., real-time indications of how the movements are being performed, can guide players and improve the execution of movements. However, research about how continuous cues impact player performance and experience in VR exergames remains sparse. To this end, we conducted a within-participants study (N=32) with four conditions: (i) no, (ii) audio, (iii) visual, and (iv) audiovisual cueing. The results show that both unimodal and bimodal cueing improve the player experience without causing cybersickness, while bimodal cueing improves pose accuracy. We provide three main design implications for VR exergames: (i) considering the granularity of cues, (ii) exploring different continuous cue designs, and (iii) underlining the use of continuous cues in other immersive experiences.
News Ninja: Gamified Annotation of Linguistic Bias in Online News
Authors: Hinterreiter Smi , Spinde Timo , Oberdörfer Sebastian , Echizen Isao , Latoschik Marc Erich
Published: October 2024

Recent research shows that visualizing linguistic bias mitigates its negative effects. However, reliable automatic detection methods to generate such visualizations require costly, knowledge-intensive training data. To facilitate data collection for media bias datasets, we present News Ninja, a game employing data-collecting game mechanics to generate a crowdsourced dataset. Before annotating sentences, players are educated on media bias via a tutorial. Our findings show that datasets gathered with crowdsourced workers trained on News Ninja can reach significantly higher inter-annotator agreements than expert and crowdsourced datasets with similar data quality. As News Ninja encourages continuous play, it allows datasets to adapt to the reception and contextualization of news over time, presenting a promising strategy to reduce data collection expenses, educate players, and promote long-term bias mitigation.
Playful Resilience: Empowering Recovery through Autobiographical Game-Based Storytelling in the Opioid Epidemic
Authors: Danilovic Sandra , Chee Kenny , Skop Michelle
Published: October 2024

The opioid epidemic is a persistent public health problem throughout Canada, with opioid-related deaths spiking during the COVID-19 pandemic. Focusing on Brantford and Hamilton, Ontario, which have high rates of opioid poisoning, this participatory game jam project examines how 21 adults (ages 18+) with a history of opioid addiction make sense of their life experiences through the processes of autobiographical game-based storytelling, including ideation, narrative design, and environmental storytelling. Phenomenological interviews, processual artifacts like concept sketches, doodles, and reflections, and game prototypes generated through Scratch, Twine, and Bitsy facilitated the exploration of six key phenomena representing autobiographical game-based storytelling: maze metaphors, decision-making, compact games, morality and religion, resilience, and social communion. This interdisciplinary project explores how game-based storytelling supports recovery and restores dignity among adults experiencing opioid addiction while raising awareness of health inequities, thereby humanizing the opioid crisis.
Press A or Wave: User Expectations for NPC Interactions and Nonverbal Behaviour in Virtual Reality
Authors: Yin Michael , Xiao Robert
Published: October 2024

Non-playable characters (NPCs) are important in games, as they can provide guidance to the player, create social engagement, and advance the game's narrative. Although much research exists regarding NPC interactions for traditional gaming environments, e.g. desktop or console, fewer works have considered this from a virtual reality (VR) perspective. Our work first uncovers the salient and unique dimensions of VR NPC interactions through observations of 47 existing games. We find that VR NPC interactions have an extended set of interaction mechanisms due to two key factors - interaction triggers and player constraints within the game, driven by the unique qualities of physical motion and immersion afforded by the medium. We augment these findings through a user study performed on 18 participants in a VR environment. Participant interactions with a responsive NPC allow us to delve deeper into understanding player perception and expectations of NPC behaviour and interactions. Our findings outline player expectations for NPC realism, player agency during NPC interaction, and NPC expected behaviour and feedback. We tie our findings into discussions on player agency within VR, highlighting design suggestions to develop NPCs to better fit within social behaviour expectations.
Advantages of Friend-Modelled Social Interactive Feedforward for VR Exergaming
Authors: Barathi Soumya C. , Finnegan Daniel J. , Proulx Michael J. , O'Neill Eamonn , Lutteroth Christof
Published: October 2024

VR exergaming is a promising motivational tool to incentivise exercise. We present a novel VR exergaming method called social interactive feedforward. The player competes with an 'enhanced model' of one of their friends in a real-time VR environment, showing improved performance levels in a way the player can relate to. Social interactive feedforward was tested in a cycling-based VR exergame and players competed with enhanced models of themselves, their friend, and a stranger moving at the same enhanced pace. Results show that friend-modelled social interactive feedforward improves performance and intrinsic motivation the most. This indicates that the mere association of the enhanced model with their friend results in a rapid improvement in performance and motivation which implies that social feedforward was successfully elicited by using an enhanced friend's model. This widens the application of self-modelled feedforward to a wide range of social options which enables players to also reap the benefits of socialising in addition to feedforward benefits.
Towards Democratisation of Games User Research: Exploring Playtesting Challenges of Indie Video Game Developers
Authors: Denisova Alena , Bromley Steve , Mirza-Babaei Pejman , Mekler Elisa D.
Published: October 2024

Playtesting is a games user research (GUR) method used to evaluate design decisions based on feedback gathered from players with the goal to improve player experience. HCI games research has been actively working on and promoting best practices in GUR. However, these practices often require resources, knowledge and expertise, which are not readily available for indie video games developers. Thus, to better understand how GUR can support these developers, we conducted an interview study with 13 indie games professionals to learn about their practices and the challenges they face when doing playtesting. We report on the key findings from this study, including challenges with finding appropriate participants and handling the data from playtests. We provide a discussion of how existing GUR practices can be adapted and what HCI games research can do to help mitigate these challenges to make playtesting more accessible and impactful to indie video games developers.
"Trust the Process": An Exploratory Study of Process Visualizations for Self-Reflection in League of Legends
Authors: Kleinman Erica , Xu Jason , Pfau Johannes , Seif El-Nasr Magy
Published: October 2024

Self-reflection, a process consisting of evaluation, attribution, and adaptation, is recognized as key to learning in esports games. To better facilitate self-reflection, many games and third-party tools feature retrospective visualizations that provide players with details about their performance. However, previous work suggested that existing visualizations, which typically aggregate data, do not present sufficient information to players. In this work, we explore the impact of process visualizations, which present gameplay as a sequence of actions, on self-reflection and performance in a League of Legends training exercise through a mixed-methods study. Our results found that players who reflected using a process visualization significantly improved their performance and demonstrated significant differences in how they evaluated themselves compared to those who reflected using an aggregate visualization. We discuss what these results mean in relation to self-reflection and learning in esports and how they impact the future use of process visualizations in games.
Using Psychophysiological Data to Facilitate Reflective Conversations with Children about their Player Experiences
Authors: MacKenzie Janelle E. , Klarkowski Madison , Horton Ella M. , Theobald Maryanne , Danby Susan , Kervin Lisa , Barrie Lance , Amery Philippa K. , Andradi Manesha , Smith Simon S. , Mandryk Regan L. , Johnson Daniel
Published: October 2024

Given the ubiquity of videogame play by children, concerns about the impacts of videogames, and increasing evidence of the benefits associated with digital play, it is important to evaluate the player experience (pX) of children. Moreover, it is essential to include children's voices in research about technologies designed for their use. However, eliciting rich, first-hand data on their experiences and perspectives is challenging because it requires children to articulate opinions in a pre-established context of general positivity towards games, alongside potential social desirability bias. In this paper, we present a methodology which uses children's psychophysiology as a prompt for reflective interviews, with two commercial off-the-shelf computer games (Rocket League and LEGO Builder's Journey). We consider the utility, reproducibility, reliability and validity of the method. In assessing the method, we discuss children's experience of wearing the sensors, the insights generated from the psychophysiological data, and the understanding that emerged when prompting children to reflect and comment on their own psychophysiological data.
"Wow another fake game from YouTube ad": Unpacking Fake Games Through a Mixed-Methods Investigation
Authors: Moradzadeh Sam , Kou Yubo
Published: October 2024

Mobile games have become highly popular and profitable. While much work has been done to understand deceptive patterns of games and some unethical practices they apply, little is known about fake games, an emergent phenomenon in mobile gaming. To answer this question, we conducted two studies: a walkthrough method to characterize fake games, and a thematic analysis of user reviews to gain understanding from the user perspective. We found five types of misalignments that render a game fake and identified four primary facets of player experience with fake games. These misalignments act as realization points in the users' decision-making to define games as being fake. We discuss the fakeness of fake games, how the formation of an ecosystem helps with the circulation of fakeness, as well as challenges to governing fake games. Lastly, we propose implications for research and design on how to mitigate and identify fake games.
TeraHeap
: Exploiting Flash Storage for Mitigating DRAM Pressure in Managed Big Data Frameworks
Authors: Kolokasis Iacovos G. , Evdorou Giannos , Akram Shoaib , Kozanitis Christos , Papagiannis Anastasios , Zakkak Foivos S. , Pratikakis Polyvios , Bilas Angelos
Published: October 2024

Big data analytics frameworks, such as Spark and Giraph, need to process and cache massive datasets that do not always fit on the managed heap. Therefore, frameworks temporarily move long-lived objects outside the heap (off-heap) on a fast storage device. However, this practice results in (1) high serialization/deserialization (S/D) cost and (2) high memory pressure when off-heap objects are moved back for processing.

In this article, we propose
TeraHeap
, a system that eliminates S/D overhead and expensive GC scans for a large portion of objects in analytics frameworks.
TeraHeap
relies on three concepts: (1) It eliminates S/D by extending the managed runtime (JVM) to use a second high-capacity heap (H2) over a fast storage device. (2) It offers a simple hint-based interface, allowing analytics frameworks to leverage object knowledge to populate H2. (3) It reduces GC cost by fencing the collector from scanning H2 objects while maintaining the illusion of a single managed heap, ensuring memory safety.

We implement
TeraHeap
in OpenJDK8 and OpenJDK17 and evaluate it with fifteen widely used applications in two real-world big data frameworks, Spark and Giraph. We find that for the same DRAM size,
TeraHeap
improves performance by up to 73% and 28% compared to native Spark and Giraph. Also, it can still provide better performance by consuming up to

\(4.6\times\)

and

\(1.2\times\)

less DRAM than native Spark and Giraph, respectively.
TeraHeap
can also be used for in-memory frameworks and applying it to the Neo4j Graph Data Science library improves its performance by up to 26%. Finally, it outperforms Panthera, a state-of-the-art garbage collector for hybrid DRAM-NVM memories, by up to 69%.
Attentional Capture and Control
Authors: Theeuwes Jan
Published: October 2024

The current review presents an integrated tripartite framework for understanding attentional control, emphasizing the interaction and competition among top-down, bottom-up, and selection-history influences. It focuses on attentional capture, which refers to conditions in which salient objects or events receive attentional priority even when they are inconsistent with the goals, tasks, and intentions of the observer. The review describes which components of the tripartite framework are in play when distraction by salient objects is prevented and the conditions in which there is no control over the occurrence of attentional capture. It then concludes that attentional capture can be controlled in a proactive way mainly by implicit statistical learning mechanisms associated with selection history. Current and lingering controversies regarding the control of attentional capture are also discussed.
Testing the Ability and Limitations of ChatGPT to Generate Differential Diagnoses from Transcribed Radiologic Findings
Authors: Sun Shawn H. , Huynh Kenneth , Cortes Gillean , Hill Robert , Tran Julia , Yeh Leslie , Ngo Amanda L. , Houshyar Roozbeh , Yaghmai Vahid , Tran Mark
Published: October 2024

ChatGPT (GPT-3.5 and GPT-4; OpenAI) produced accurate diagnoses from transcribed radiologic findings for a majority of cases; however, hallucinations and repeatability issues were present.
Clinical Effectiveness of Automated Coronary CT-derived Fractional Flow Reserve: A Chinese Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Guo Bangjun , Xing Wei , Hu Chunhong , Zha Yunfei , Yin Xindao , He Yongsheng , Hu Shudong , Shi Yibing , Lv Fajin , Wang Rongpin , Li Xiaohu , Gu Hongmei , Cao Wei , Zhang Jinhua , Zhou Yunfeng , Xu Yi , Jiang Meng Chun , Zhong Jian , Zhang Jinggang , Chen Meng , Xie Baojun , Chen Qian , Diao Wenqiang , Qiao Hongyan , Zhang Ying , Xia Rui , Liu Xinfeng , Tao Shu Min , Zhang Tao , Yin Chang Qing , Li Wenjun , Zhu Mengmeng , Zhou Chang Sheng , Li Jian Hua , Zhou Fan , Liu Chun Yu , Zhang Xiao Lei , Xu Peng Peng , Zhang Wen , Lu Meng Jie , Liu Yu Xiu , Wei Yongyue , Chen Yueqin , Tang Chun Xiang , Lu Guang Ming , Zhang Long Jiang ,   for the China CT-FFR Study 3 Group
Published: October 2024

Automated coronary CT–derived fractional flow reserve was associated with reduced 90-day invasive coronary angiography rate without an increase in major adverse cardiac events up to 1 year.
Alterations in cellular metabolic pathway and epithelial cell maturation induced by MYO5B defects are partially reversible by LPAR5 activation
Authors: Momoh Michael , Rathan-Kumar Sudiksha , Burman Andreanna , Brown Monica E. , Adeniran Francisca , Ramos Cynthia , Goldenring James R. , Roland Joseph T. , Kaji Izumi
Published: October 2024

This study demonstrates the importance of MYO5B for cellular lipid metabolism and mitochondria in intestinal epithelial cells, previously unexplored functions of MYO5B. The alterations may underlie the progenitor cell malfunction observed in microvillus inclusion disease (MVID) intestines. To examine the therapeutic potential of progenitor-targeted treatments, the effects of the LPAR5-preferred agonist Compound-1 were investigated utilizing several MVID model mice and enteroids. Our observations suggest that Compound-1 may provide a therapeutic approach for treating MVID.
Increased dietary protein rather than fiber supports key metabolic and intestinal tissue functions in pigs, without increasing postweaning diarrhea
Authors: Diether N. E. , Kommadath A. , Fouhse J. M. , Zijlstra R. T. , Stothard P. , Willing B. P.
Published: October 2024

Although low-protein diets are commonly used for weaned pigs and are thought to decrease diarrhea incidence, this study showed that low-protein diets may induce muscle catabolism and intestinal epithelial stress response. Eventhough high-protein diets increased protein fermentation by gut microbes, no increase in diarrhea was detected. Protein fermentation was mitigated by fiber while still supporting growth and intestinal epithelial cell function, suggesting new strategies for feeding weaned pigs with careful ingredient selection.
Moving on from clinical animal-derived surfactants to peptide-based synthetic pulmonary surfactant
Authors: Walther Frans J. , Waring Alan J.
Published: October 2024

Research on lung surfactant has exerted a great impact on newborn respiratory care and significantly improved survival and outcome of preterm infants with respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) due to surfactant deficiency because of lung immaturity. Current clinical, animal-derived, surfactants are among the most widely tested compounds in neonatology. However, limited availability, high production costs, and ethical concerns about using animal-derived products constitute important limitations in their universal application. Synthetic lung surfactant offers a promising alternative to animal-derived surfactants by providing improved consistency, quality and purity, availability and scalability, ease of production and lower costs, acceptance, and safety for the treatment of neonatal RDS and other lung conditions. Third-generation synthetic surfactants built around surfactant protein B (SP-B) and C (SP-C) peptide mimics stand at the forefront of innovation in neonatal pulmonary medicine, while nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) has become the standard noninvasive respiratory support for preterm infants. nCPAP can prevent the risk of chronic lung disease (bronchopulmonary dysplasia) and reduce lung injury by avoiding intubation and mechanical ventilation, is a relatively simple technique, and can be initiated safely and effectively in the delivery room. Combining nCPAP with noninvasive, preferably aerosol, delivery of synthetic lung surfactant promises to improve respiratory outcomes for preterm infants, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Non‐Invasive Prediction of Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) Flesh Lightness Using Near‐Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Chen Weiyu , Jerry Dean R. , White Ronald D. , Nankervis Leo
Published: October 2024

Barramundi (Lates calcarifer) is an important aquaculture species extensively farmed throughout its natural distribution of Australia and Southeast Asia, as well as being increasingly farmed in the Middle East, USA, and Europe. Barramundi has a firm, pink‐white flesh; however, fillets from farmed barramundi often exhibit grey colouration. This grey colouration detracts from its market appeal, leading to challenges in consumer acceptance and competitiveness of the product against other white fillet fish. Selective breeding, environmental manipulation, and dietary adjustments are being investigated to reduce grey flesh colouration. Yet, the absence of a rapid, noninvasive approach to predict greyness in flesh means that large numbers of samples cannot be quickly evaluated, and issues cannot be mitigated preharvest and noninvasively to preserve the fish. To address this issue, rapid analysis of flesh greyness was developed using noninvasive near‐infrared (NIR) spectroscopy through the fish skin. Thirty fish were purchased from a barramundi farm, filleted, and divided into 3 cm sections, yielding a total of 335 samples from both dorsal and ventral fillet regions. NIR spectral data were obtained from the skin side of all samples, and colouration data were collected from the flesh side of the same samples. Data were randomised into a training set (256 spectra) and a validation set (79 spectra). Predictive models were developed using flesh colour as the training input for skin NIR spectra. The refined partial least squares regression model explained 78% of the variation in the medial flesh colour (R2pe of 0.776, an RMSEP of 2.820, and an RPDpe of 2.122) demonstrating the ability to adequately predict the flesh quality through skin spectra. This highlights the potential of NIR spectroscopy as a dependable, noninvasive tool, enabling the rapid evaluation of large samples and offering the potential to address flesh colouration issues in barramundi preharvest.
Influence of Coupled Structural Parameters of Photoconductive Antennas on the Terahertz Narrowband Detection Performance of High Sensitivity and Frequency Selection
Authors: Xiong Zhonggang , Chen Linyu , Liu Zhong , Kang Shuai
Published: October 2024

Narrowband terahertz (THz) detection plays a key role in biomedical imaging, biological applications, and security screening. Particularly rapid resolution of material differences based on spectral fingerprints or time‐resolved observation of the materials conformational state typically requires only the measurement of spectral information at a few selected frequencies. Here, a high‐performance resonance‐based coupled photoconductive antenna (PCA) was designed, which consists of a square split‐ring resonator (SRR) and an H‐shaped antenna. The incident THz wave energy can be effectively coupled in the gap of the H‐shaped antenna, and the coupling effect base on coupled harmonic oscillator model can be effectively strengthened. By decreasing the square SRR gap width HD, the relative position parameters of d and L3 between the square SRR and H‐shaped antenna can markedly improve the resonance frequency sensitivity with inductive–capacitive resonance. With the square SRR arm length L1 = L2 = L increased, the resonance frequency markedly shifted toward a lower frequency and the resonance sensitivity increased. The results prove that the THz frequency selection detection range of the coupled PCA can be designed to 0.1∼1.0 THz. Compared with the traditional H‐shaped photoconductive detection antenna, the detection resonance peak shifted the lower frequency and the maximum THz detection sensitivity increased by approximately two orders of magnitude at 0.2528 THz. The structure of the noncontact micrometer–coupled PCA is simple and easy to fabricate and integrate. Our findings may also help to advance the use of THz technology in rapid distinguish material properties.
Whole Genome Characterization and Pathogenicity of a SC2020‐1‐Like PRRSV‐1 Strain Emerging in Southwest China
Authors: Wang Yuan-Meng , Deng Li-Shuang , Huang Bing-Zhou , Li Han-Yu , Duan Jia-Qi , Yan Yi-Xin , Lai Si-Yuan , Ai Yan-Ru , Zhou Yuan-Cheng , Qing Yi , Xu Zhi-Wen , Zhu Ling
Published: October 2024

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), encompassing PRRSV‐1 and PRRSV‐2, significantly impacts the global pig industry by causing reproductive disorders and respiratory difficulties. In this paper, we isolated a novel PRRSV‐1 strain, named SCPJ2023, from weaned piglets in Sichuan. Utilizing primary macrophages, we isolated SCPJ2023 and performed complete genome sequencing through metagenomic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis classified SCPJ2023 as pan‐European subtype 1. SCPJ2023 showed a 95.3% similarity to SC2020‐1. Amino acid analysis identified differences in Nsp2, GP3, and GP4 between SCPJ2023 and other representative strains. In vivo challenge experiments demonstrated that SCPJ2023 induced clinical symptoms in piglets, including coughing, fever, reduced appetite, and depression. Pathological examinations revealed hemorrhage and congestion, increased inflammatory cells, thickening of the alveolar wall, and collapse of the alveolar cavity in SCPJ2023‐infected piglets. Altogether, our study identified a novel pathogenic isolate of PRRSV‐1, expanding the newly named SC2020‐1‐like subgroup by identifying additional strains beyond the initial SC2020‐1 isolate.
Efficacy of Rotational Grazing on the Control of Rhipicephalus microplus Infesting Calves in Humid Tropical Conditions
Authors: Cruz-González Gabriel , Pinos-Rodríguez Juan Manuel , Alonso-Díaz Miguel Ángel , Romero-Salas Dora , Vicente-Martínez Jorge Genaro , Fernández-Salas Agustín , Jarillo-Rodríguez Jesús , Castillo-Gallegos Epigmenio
Published: October 2024

Grazing management through pasture rotation has been mentioned as a viable alternative for the control of Rhipicephalus microplus; however, there is limited information on rotational grazing at field level. The objectives of this research were (1) to evaluate the effect of rotational grazing with 30 and 45 days of pasture rest and continuous grazing (without rest) on R. microplus tick loads in Brahman heifers and its most common crosses with Holstein; (2) to know the parasite dynamics of R. microplus under the three grazing systems in the humid tropics of Mexico; and (3) to determine the effect of the treatments on the characteristics of the pastures (availability of forage biomass, plant height, and soil cover). The experiment was carried out for 1 year from April 2022 to March 2023, with three grazing treatments: Treatments 1 and 2 considered rotational grazing with 30 (RT30) and 45 days of rest (RT45), respectively, and Treatment 3 as continuous grazing (CT00). Thirty calves from 8 to 12 months of initial age were distributed in each treatment (n = 10). Every 14 days, the number of engorged and semiengorged female ticks in cattle was determined. Concomitantly, the region’s temperature, relative humidity, and rainfall were recorded, as well as the agronomic characteristics of the pasture. Rotational grazing animals with 30 days of rest had the highest number of ticks, while grazing animals with 45 days of rest had the least. Tick load dynamics among groups did not correlate with climatic variables (p > 0.05). The height and grass cover presented significant changes due to grazing (p < 0.05), which could influence the tick cycle by the exposure of the soil, modifying the microclimatic conditions and consequently harming the survival and development of R. microplus in the evaluated systems. The negative effect of rotational grazing on the nonparasitic phase of R. microplus deserves further studies.
Diagnostic Potential of Salivary Interleukin‐1β and IL‐10 for Distinguishing Periodontal Health From Periodontitis and Stable From Unstable Periodontitis: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Raheem Zainab J. , Abdulbaqi Hayder Raad
Published: October 2024

Objective: This case–control study aimed to investigate the diagnostic accuracy of salivary interleukin (IL)‐1β, IL‐10, and IL‐1β/IL‐10 ratio to discriminate periodontitis from periodontal health and stable from unstable periodontitis.

Methods: Saliva samples were collected from 135 (healthy on an intact periodontium = 45 [as healthy control], stable periodontitis = 39, and unstable periodontitis = 51) participants, and then clinical periodontal parameters were recorded. An enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay was used to determine salivary levels of IL‐1β and IL‐10. Area under the curves (AUCs), sensitivity, and specificity of IL‐1β, IL‐10, and IL‐1β/IL‐10 were estimated to discriminate between groups.

Result: The level of salivary IL‐1β was significantly higher in unstable periodontitis than in stable periodontitis and healthy control groups (426 ± 59, 247 ± 55, and 204 ± 36 pg/ml [picograms per milliliter], respectively). While the level of salivary IL‐10 was significantly higher in the control group (360.7 ± 80.5 pg/ml) than unstable periodontitis group (146.92 ± 1.8 pg/ml), no significant difference was found between the control and stable periodontitis (317.04 ± 59.8 pg/ml) groups. IL‐1β, IL‐10, and IL‐1β/IL‐10 had significant diagnostic accuracy for differentiating healthy control from unstable periodontitis (AUCs = 0.99, 0.96, and 1; sensitivity = 0.98,1, and 1; specificity = 0.95, 0.95, and 1, respectively). Similarly, they showed significant diagnostic accuracy in distinguishing unstable from stable periodontitis (AUCs = 0.98, 0.99, and 1; sensitivity = 0.94, 1, and 1; specificity = 0.94, 0.97, and 1, respectively).

Conclusion: Salivary IL‐1β, IL‐10, and IL‐1β/IL‐10 have a high potential to discriminate healthy control from periodontitis and stable from unstable periodontitis.

Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT05722613
Effect of Dietary Cholesterol, Phytosterol, and Docosahexaenoic Acid on Astaxanthin Absorption and Retention in Rainbow Trout
Authors: Jin Yang , Li Keshuai , Vik Jon Olav , Hillestad Marie , Olsen Rolf Erik
Published: October 2024

Astaxanthin (Ax) determines the flesh redness of a salmonid fish which is the most desirable quality indicator by consumers. Fish cannot synthesize Ax de novo, therefore, the only way to increase flesh redness is to increase dietary input or improve the absorption and retention rate of dietary Ax. As a hydrophobic carotenoid, the absorption of Ax can be modulated by other lipid molecules in the diet. The present study explored the effect of three lipids, cholesterol (CH), phytosterol (PS), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) on Ax absorption, transport, and retention in rainbow trout. Dietary CH significantly improved Ax absorption by elevating plasma Ax levels (p < 0.05); however, it had no effect on the whole body Ax or flesh color. Dietary PS appears to inhibit Ax absorption since fish had significantly (p < 0.05) reduced whole body Ax. Dietary DHA appeared to have no effect on Ax absorption or retention. By comparing intestinal transcriptomes, a low density lipoprotein receptor (ldlr) gene was significantly downregulated in fish fed the CH diet as compared to the control diet. Since LDLR protein plays a major role in plasma lipoprotein turnover, we hypothesized that the inhibition of ldlr gene by high dietary CH resulted in higher retention of plasma Ax. The elevation of plasma Ax was not reflected in higher flesh coloration, which suggested other limiting factors governing Ax retention in the muscle. On the other hand, the transcriptomic and proteomic analyses found no changes of genes or proteins involved in Ax absorption, transport, or excretion in fish fed PS or DHA diets as compared to the control diet. In conclusion, this study has suggested that CH promotes Ax absorption by regulating lipoprotein retention and provide evidence for improving Ax absorption via dietary modulation.
Credit Cooperatives and Income Growth: Analyzing the Role of Financial Sustainability
Authors: Liu Zhen , Xie Yumei , Yang Jinbi , Zhu Doudou
Published: October 2024

Credit cooperatives not only promote the rural economy but also play an important role in providing effective and green financing. This paper aims to study the role of financial sustainability in the relationship between credit cooperation and income growth. The scale of the credit cooperatives and the financial sustainability were selected as two instrumental variables to mitigate the endogeneity of credit cooperative loans. Based on the data from 74 village‐level surveys collected from Inner Mongolia, the credit effect and income increase impact of the credit cooperative scale and financial sustainability were analyzed by two‐stage least‐squares (2SLS) analysis. The study found that the scale of the credit cooperatives can positively affect credit cooperative loans to increase farmer income, with financial sustainability playing as a moderator; credit cooperatives will have a more significant income‐increasing effect on villages with a better economic foundation or lower poverty rate but will have no significant effect on villages with a poor economic foundation or high poverty rate.
Supplementary Material from Targeting the Sodium–Potassium Pump as a Therapeutic Strategy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Schneider Constanze , Spaink Hermes , Alexe Gabriela , Dharia Neekesh V. , Meyer Ashleigh , Merickel Lucy A. , Khalid Delan , Scheich Sebastian , Häupl Björn , Staudt Louis M. , Oellerich Thomas , Stegmaier Kimberly
Published: October 2024

Merged file_supplementary figures and tables with legend
Supplementary Figure S9 from Targeting the Sodium–Potassium Pump as a Therapeutic Strategy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Schneider Constanze , Spaink Hermes , Alexe Gabriela , Dharia Neekesh V. , Meyer Ashleigh , Merickel Lucy A. , Khalid Delan , Scheich Sebastian , Häupl Björn , Staudt Louis M. , Oellerich Thomas , Stegmaier Kimberly
Published: October 2024

ATP1B1 expression in CCLE highlighting Ewing sarcoma cell lines
Supplementary Figure S6 from Targeting the Sodium–Potassium Pump as a Therapeutic Strategy in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Schneider Constanze , Spaink Hermes , Alexe Gabriela , Dharia Neekesh V. , Meyer Ashleigh , Merickel Lucy A. , Khalid Delan , Scheich Sebastian , Häupl Björn , Staudt Louis M. , Oellerich Thomas , Stegmaier Kimberly
Published: October 2024

GSEA enrichments for the most significant biological processes Gene Ontology terms in ATP1B1 dependent and not dependent cell lines
Changes in Breast Cancer Screening Prevalence in the United States during the COVID-19 Pandemic, 2018 to 2022
Authors: Ashad-Bishop Kilan C. , Star Jessica , Giaquinto Angela N. , Smith Robert A. , Jemal Ahmedin , Bandi Priti
Published: October 2024

Background:

Annual mammography screening declined year-on-year during the COVID-19 pandemic through 2021. This study examined changes in 2022 compared with 2018 in the national prevalence of self-reported up-to-date mammography.

Methods:

Using 2018 to 2022 data from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, we assess relative changes defined as annual prevalence ratios (aPR) in the SR receipt of past-year and up-to-date (UTD) breast cancer screening (biannual mammography in women of ages 50–74 years) during the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic overall and by sociodemographic characteristics.

Results:

UTD breast cancer screening declined for the first time since 2018 [2018 compared with 2022, from 78.7%–76.6%; aPR, 0.97; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.96–0.98] despite a small increase in past-year breast cancer screening from 2020 to 2022 (57.9%–59.6%; aPR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01–1.05). This translated to 747,791 fewer women reporting UTD with recommended breast cancer screening in 2022 versus 2018. UTD breast cancer screening declines between 2018 and 2022 were largest for American Indian/Alaska Native women (74.8%–62.2%; aPR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.74–0.93), women with less formal educational attainment (< high school: 73.1%–65.5%; aPR, 0.9; 95% CI, 0.85–0.95), and women without a usual source of care (48%–42.9%; aPR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.78–0.92).

Conclusions:

Previously noted pandemic-related declines in past-year breast cancer screening now reflect in women reporting being UTD, with the largest declines in American Indian/Alaska Native women and those with lower socioeconomic status.

Impact:

Future studies should monitor screening prevalence in relation to breast cancer diagnostic stage overall and by sociodemographic groups.
Trastuzumab Deruxtecan with Nivolumab in HER2-Expressing Metastatic Breast or Urothelial Cancer: Analysis of the Phase Ib DS8201-A-U105 Study
Authors: Hamilton Erika , Galsky Matthew D. , Ochsenreither Sebastian , Del Conte Gianluca , Martín Miguel , De Miguel Maria José , Yu Evan Y. , Williams Anja , Gion Maria , Tan Antoinette R. , Agrawal Laila , Rutten Annemie , Machiels Jean-Pascal , Cresta Sara , Debruyne Philip R. , Hennequin Audrey , Moreno Victor , Minchom Anna , Valdes-Albini Frances , Petrylak Daniel , Li Li , Tsuchihashi Zenta , Suto Fumitaka , Cheng Fu-Chih , Kandil Maha , Barrios Daniel , Hurvitz Sara
Published: October 2024

Purpose:

This multicenter phase Ib study investigated trastuzumab deruxtecan (T-DXd) plus nivolumab in patients with HER2-expressing metastatic breast cancer (mBC) and metastatic urothelial cancer (mUC).

Patients and Methods:

Part 1 determined the recommended dose for expansion of T-DXd plus nivolumab. Part 2 evaluated efficacy and safety; the primary endpoint was confirmed objective response rate by independent central review.

Results:

In part 1, seven patients with mBC were enrolled and received T-DXd 3.2 mg/kg (four patients) or 5.4 mg/kg (three patients) plus nivolumab. The recommended dose for expansion for T-DXd was 5.4 mg/kg plus nivolumab 360 mg intravenously every 3 weeks. In part 2, 32 patients with HER2-positive mBC (cohort 1; inclusive of three administered 5.4 mg/kg in part 1), 16 with HER2-low mBC (cohort 2), 30 with HER2-high mUC (cohort 3), and four with HER2-low mUC (cohort 4) were enrolled. At data cutoff (July 22, 2021), the confirmed objective response rates (95% confidence interval) for cohorts 1 to 4 were 65.6% (46.8%−81.4%), 50.0% (24.7%−75.3%), 36.7% (19.9%−56.1%), and not assessed due to small sample size, respectively. The median treatment duration (range) with T-DXd in cohorts 1 to 4 was 8.9 (1–23) months, 6.9 (1–21) months, 3.9 (1–21) months, and not assessed, respectively; the most common treatment-emergent adverse event was nausea (55.2%, 62.5%, 73.3%, and 75.0%, respectively). Adjudicated drug-related interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis rates (cohorts 1–3) were 20.7%, 0%, and 20.0%, respectively (one grade 5 each, cohorts 1 and 3).

Conclusions:

T-DXd plus nivolumab demonstrated promising antitumor activity in HER2-expressing mBC or mUC and safety consistent with the known profile of T-DXd. Interstitial lung disease/pneumonitis is an important risk and requires careful monitoring and prompt intervention.
FDA Approval Summary: Polatuzumab Vedotin in the First-Line Treatment of Select Large B-Cell Lymphomas
Authors: Sarraf Yazdy Maryam , Kasamon Yvette L. , Gu Wenjuan , Rodriguez Lisa R. , Jin Susan , Bhatnagar Vishal , Richardson Nicholas C. , Theoret Marc R. , Pazdur Richard , Gormley Nicole J.
Published: October 2024

In April 2023, the U.S. FDA granted regular approval to polatuzumab vedotin-piiq in combination with a rituximab product, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (pola+R-CHP) for adult patients who have previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, or high-grade B-cell lymphoma and who have an International Prognostic Index score of 2 or greater. Approval was based on POLARIX, a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the superiority of substituting vincristine with polatuzumab vedotin in the rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone regimen as first-line therapy for patients with large B-cell lymphoma. Efficacy was based on investigator-assessed progression-free survival (PFS) in 879 patients who were randomized to receive pola+R-CHP or rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, followed by two cycles of rituximab alone. PFS was statistically significantly longer with pola+R-CHP, with an HR of 0.73 (95% confidence interval, 0.57–0.95) and log-rank P value of 0.0177 (two-sided α = 0.05). There was no improvement demonstrated in the key secondary endpoints of the complete response rate at the end of therapy or overall survival (OS). Several issues raised uncertainty about the benefit–risk profile of polatuzumab vedotin in this curative-intent setting, including the modest PFS benefit of pola+R-CHP and lack of OS benefit. The application was therefore presented at an Oncology Drugs Advisory Committee. This article summarizes key aspects of the regulatory review, including perspectives on PFS and OS results and other endpoints.
Advances and Challenges in RAS Signaling Targeted Therapy in Leukemia
Authors: Chen Yu , Yin Zhenghao , Westover Kenneth D. , Zhou Zhiwei , Shu Liping
Published: October 2024

RAS mutations are prevalent in leukemia, including mutations at G12, G13, T58, Q61, K117, and A146. These mutations are often crucial for tumor initiation, maintenance, and recurrence. Although much is known about RAS function in the last 40 years, a substantial knowledge gap remains in understanding the mutation-specific biological activities of RAS in cancer and the approaches needed to target specific RAS mutants effectively. The recent approval of KRASG12C inhibitors, adagrasib and sotorasib, has validated KRAS as a direct therapeutic target and demonstrated the feasibility of selectively targeting specific RAS mutants. Nevertheless, KRASG12C remains the only RAS mutant successfully targeted with FDA-approved inhibitors for cancer treatment in patients, limiting its applicability for other oncogenic RAS mutants, such as G12D, in leukemia. Despite these challenges, new approaches have generated optimism about targeting specific RAS mutations in an allele-dependent manner for cancer therapy, supported by compelling biochemical and structural evidence, which inspires further exploration of RAS allele-specific vulnerabilities. This review will discuss the recent advances and challenges in the development of therapies targeting RAS signaling, highlight emerging therapeutic strategies, and emphasize the importance of allele-specific approaches for leukemia treatment.
Preclinical Development of T Cells Engineered to Express a T-Cell Antigen Coupler Targeting Claudin 18.2–Positive Solid Tumors
Authors: Xu Stacey X. , Wang Ling , Ip Philbert , Randhawa Ritu R. , Benatar Tania , Prosser Suzanna L. , Lal Prabha , Khan Alima Naim , Nitya-Nootan Thanyashanthi , Thakor Gargi , MacGregor Heather , Hayes Danielle L , Vucicevic Andrea , Mathew Princy , Sengupta Sadhak , Helsen Christopher W. , Bader Andreas G.
Published: October 2024

The T-cell antigen coupler (TAC) is a chimeric receptor that facilitates tumor antigen–specific activation of T cells by co-opting the endogenous T-cell receptor complex in the absence of tonic signaling. Previous data demonstrate that the TAC affords T cells with the ability to induce durable and safe antitumor responses in preclinical models of hematologic and solid tumors. In this study, we describe the preclinical pharmacology and safety of an autologous Claudin 18.2 (CLDN18.2)-directed TAC T-cell therapy, TAC01-CLDN18.2, in preparation for a phase I/II clinical study in subjects with CLDN18.2-positive solid tumors. Following a screen of putative TAC constructs, the specificity, activity, and cytotoxicity of TAC T cells expressing the final CLDN18.2-TAC receptor were evaluated in vitro and in vivo using gastric, gastroesophageal, and pancreatic tumor models as well as human cells derived from normal tissues. CLDN18.2-specific activity and cytotoxicity of CLDN18.2-TAC T cells were observed in coculture with various 2D tumor cultures naturally expressing CLDN18.2 as well as tumor spheroids. These effects occurred in models with low antigen levels and were positively associated with increasing CLDN18.2 expression. CLDN18.2-TAC T cells effectively eradicated established tumor xenografts in mice in the absence of observed off-target or on-target/off-tumor effects, elicited durable efficacy in recursive killing and tumor rechallenge experiments, and remained unreactive in coculture with human cells representing vital organs. Thus, the data demonstrate that CLDN18.2-TAC T cells can induce a specific and long-lasting antitumor response in various CLDN18.2-positive solid tumor models without notable TAC-dependent toxicities, supporting the clinical development of TAC01-CLDN18.2.
Multi-Chamber Bags: Safe and Efficient for Pediatric Parenteral Nutrition in Vulnerable Patients
Authors: Poulia Kalliopi Anna
Published: October 2024

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is recognized as a complex high-risk therapy. Its practice is highly variable and frequently suboptimal in pediatric patients. Optimizing care requires evidence, consensus-based guidelines, audits of practice, and standardized strategies. Several pediatric scientific organizations, expert panels, and authorities have recently recommended that standardized PN should generally be used over individualized PN in the majority of pediatric patients including very low birth weight premature infants. In addition, PN admixtures produced and validated by a suitably qualified institution are recommended over locally produced PN. Licensed multi chamber bags are standardized PN bags that comply with Good Manufacturing Practice and high-quality standards for the finished product in the frame of their full manufacturing license. The purpose of this article is to review the practical aspects of PN and the evidence for using such multi-chamber bags in pediatric patients. It highlights the safety characteristics and the limitations of the different PN practices and provides some guidance for ensuring safe and efficient therapy in pediatric patients.
Centaurea dimorpha Viv. (Asteraceae) growing in Algeria extracts as a promising natural cosmetic active ingredient: Broad-spectrum photoprotection and antioxidant efficacy
Authors: Azzouzi Salima , Lefahal Mostefa , Louaar Souheila , Makhloufi El-Hani , Medjroubi Kamel , Akkal Salah
Published: October 2024

Recently, plants have been considered as a valuable natural source of cosmetic active ingredientsowing to their sustainability and weak toxicity. Thus, this study was conducted to investigate the cosmetic efficacy of Centaurea dimorpha Viv (Asteraceae), an endemic species of North Africa, as a promising natural cosmetic active ingredient. In the present study, Ethyl acetate and Butanolic extracts obtained from powdered Centaurea dimorpha aerial parts were investigated for their phenolic and flavonoid contents, which were evaluatedvia Folin-ciocalteu reagent and aluminium chloride  methods, the in vitro antioxidant potential was evaluated by DPPH radical scavenging,phosphomolybdenum and phenanthroline assays, the UVB and broad spectrum protective efficacy was spectrophotometrically assessed by measuring SPF, UVA/UVB ratio and critical wavelength (CW) indices. The highest levels of TPC and TFCwere recorded by the ethyl-acetate extract (119.20 ± 0.32 µg GAE mg-1, 50.65 ± 0.43 µg QEmg-1, respectively). Similarly, this extract displayed a significant antioxidant effect, particularly in the phenanthroline assay (152.63 ± 0.49 µg AAEmg-1). Ethyl acetate extract also showed UVB and broad-spectrum (UVB-UVA) protective efficacy (SPF=12.30 ± 0.001, UVA/UVB ratio=0.63 ± 0.001, λc= 371). The results obtained show the possibility to use Ethyl acetate extract as a promising active ingredient for sunscreen formulations.
Editorial
Authors: Fiori Ana Letícia de , Fontgaland Arthur , Caruso Juliana P. L. , Nascimento Silvana de Souza
Published: October 2024

Em nosso último editorial, publicado na edição 31.2, descrevemos algumas das etapas do processo de replicação da Revista Ponto Urbe da plataforma Open Edition para a plataforma Open Journal System, que abriga as revistas da Universidade de São Paulo. Informamos também que a partir de 2024, todo o fluxo editorial da revista seria operado no ambiente da nova plataforma e convidamos as pessoas que compõem a nossa comunidade (autoras, pareceristas, leitoras) a se cadastrar na Open Journal System, contando com o apoio de nossa equipe para dirimir quaisquer dúvidas e dificuldades. De fato, todo o primeiro semestre de 2024 foi ainda tomado de novos ajustes e aprendizados com a operação em duas plataformas simultaneamente, e a reabertura para novas submissões só foi possível em maio deste ano. Então, iniciamos este editorial agradecendo a paciência de todas as pessoas interessadas em contribuir com a nossa revista, sobretudo quem aguardou alguns meses para poder enviar suas contribuições. Esperamos honrar este interesse persistente com um trabalho editorial cuidadoso, conforme formos sanando os últimos ruídos com a nova forma de operação da revista.