bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Functional genetic characterization of stress tolerance and biofilm formation in
Nakaseomyces
(
Candida
)
glabrata
via a novel CRISPR activation system
Authors: Maroc Laetitia , Shaker Hajer , Shapiro Rebecca S.
Published: January 2024

The overexpression of genes frequently arises in
Nakaseomyces
(formerly
Candida
)
glabrata
via gain-of-function mutations, gene duplication, or aneuploidies, with important consequences on pathogenesis traits and antifungal drug resistance. This highlights the need to develop specific genetic tools to mimic and study genetic amplification in this important fungal pathogen. Here, we report the development, validation, and applications of the first clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) activation (CRISPRa) system in
N. glabrata
for targeted genetic overexpression. Using this system, we demonstrate the ability of CRISPRa to drive high levels of gene expression in
N. glabrata
, and further assess optimal guide RNA targeting for robust overexpression. We demonstrate the applications of CRISPRa to overexpress genes involved in fungal pathogenesis and drug resistance and detect corresponding phenotypic alterations in these key traits, including the characterization of novel phenotypes. Finally, we capture strain variation using our CRISPRa system in two commonly used
N. glabrata
genetic backgrounds. Together, this tool will expand our capacity for functional genetic overexpression in this pathogen, with numerous possibilities for future applications.

IMPORTANCE

Nakaseomyces
(formerly
Candida
)
glabrata
is an important fungal pathogen that is now the second leading cause of candidiasis infections. A common strategy that this pathogen employs to resist antifungal treatment is through the upregulation of gene expression, but we have limited tools available to study this phenomenon. Here, we develop, optimize, and apply the use of CRISPRa as a means to overexpress genes in
N. glabrata
. We demonstrate the utility of this system to overexpress key genes involved in antifungal susceptibility, stress tolerance, and biofilm growth. This tool will be an important contribution to our ability to study the biology of this important fungal pathogen.
Erratum to: Anti-topoisomerase 1 Antibody Level Changes after B Cell Depletion Therapy in Systemic Sclerosis
Authors: Ananyeva L. P. , Garzanova L. A. , Koneva O. A. , Starovoytova M. N. , Desinova O. V. , Ovsyannikova O. B. , Shayakhmetova R. U. , Cherkasova M. V. , Aleksankin A. P. , Nasonov E. L.
Published: January 2024

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S1607672923050022
Erratum to: Antibodies to Domain I β2-Glycoprotein 1 in Patients with Antiphospholipid Syndrome and Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Reshetnyak T. M. , Cheldieva F. A. , Cherkasova M. V. , Glukhova S. I. , Lila A. M. , Nasonov E. L.
Published: January 2024

An Erratum to this paper has been published: https://doi.org/10.1134/S160767292305006X
Impaired mobility and MRI markers of vascular brain injury: Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities and UK Biobank studies
Authors: Sharma Richa , de Havenon Adam , Rivier Cyprien , Payabvash Seyedmehdi , Forman Rachel , Krumholz Harlan , Falcone Guido J , Sheth Kevin N , Kernan Walter N
Published: January 2024

Background

Vascular brain injury (VBI) may be an under-recognised contributor to mobility impairment. We examined associations between MRI VBI biomarkers and impaired mobility.

Methods

We separately analysed Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) and UK Biobank (UKB) study cohorts. Inclusion criteria were no prevalent clinical stroke, and available brain MRI and balance and gait data. MRI VBI biomarkers were (ARIC: ventricular and white matter hyperintensity (WMH) volumes, non-lacunar and lacunar infarctions, microhaemorrhage; UKB: ventricular, brain and WMH volumes, fractional anisotropy (FA), mean diffusivity (MD), intracellular and isotropic free water volume fractions). Quantitative biomarkers were categorised into tertiles. Mobility impairment outcomes were imbalance and slow walk in ARIC and recent fall and slow walk in UKB. Adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed.

Results

We included 1626 ARIC (mean age 76.2 years; 23.4% imbalance, 25.0% slow walk) and 40 098 UKB (mean age 55 years; 15.8% falls, 2.8% slow walk) participants. In ARIC, imbalance associated with four of five VBI measures (all p values<0.05), most strongly with WMH (adjusted OR, aOR 1.64; 95% CI 1.18 to 2.29). Slow walk associated with four of five VBI measures, most strongly with WMH (aOR 2.32; 95% CI 1.66 to 3.24). In UKB, falls associated with all VBI measures except WMH, most strongly with FA (aOR 1.16; 95% CI 1.08 to 1.24). Slow walking associated with WMH, FA and MD, most strongly with FA (aOR 1.57; 95% CI 1.32 to 1.87).

Conclusions

VBI is associated with mobility impairment in community-dwelling, clinically stroke-free cohorts. Consequences of VBI may extend beyond clinically apparent stroke to include mobility.
Closing the gap: improving the percentage of Annual Wellness Visits among Medicare patients
Authors: O'Laughlin Danielle , Martin Andrew , Curran Sean , Perry Joshua , Hurley Vincent , Costello Colleen , Wingo Majken , Olson Rachel , Strelow Brittany
Published: January 2024

Background

The Medicare Annual Wellness Visit (AWV) allows providers to acquire critical information about patients’ health through a review of vitals, environmental risks, and medical and family history. These visits are free to those enrolled in Medicare and prioritize patient–provider relationship building and preventative care. Despite this, AWV completion rates are suboptimal.

Methods

A quality improvement project was aimed to increase the percentage of AWVs among Medicare patients in a primary care internal medicine practice from a baseline of 1.7% completion to 2.7% in 3 months from January to April 2023.

Intervention

With eligible patients identified, a standardized approach was created where an AWV appointment was ordered, and a patient message explaining the benefit of the appointment was sent by the patient portal.

Results

Our AWV intervention resulted in 72 patients being seen for an AWV, which increased the percentage of completed AWVs in the division by 2.1% from 1.7% to 3.8% in 3 months.

Conclusion

This intervention will continue to improve AWV rates and improve patient care for Medicare patients in internal medicine. It could be applied to other areas of primary care and within other health systems.
Present-day kinematics of the northwest Moroccan Atlantic Margin from GNSS data: west southwest extrusion at the western end of the High Atlas
Authors: Lakhouidsi Khalid , Fadil Abdelali , Tahayt Abdelilah , Soulaimani Abderrahmane
Published: January 2024

The Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) has emerged as a practical and effective technique for studying slow and steady geodynamic movements, enabling continuous monitoring and precise quantification of deformation over different timescales. In Morocco, a network of GNSS stations has been established, offering valuable insights into tectonic processes. This paper focuses on investigating the geodynamic motion of the northwest Moroccan Atlantic Margin. By utilizing GNSS data, subsidence rates and horizontal velocity fields were determined for the first time, providing valuable information for oil and gas exploration activities. The study reveals an active uplift rate of 1 mm/year and a westward horizontal motion of 2.04 mm/year in the Essaouira segment. The paper presents a case study of the Essaouira–Agadir basin (EAB) onshore segment and investigates the anomalous displacement observed in this region compared to other coastal GNSS stations. Possible explanations for the observed movements include local processes such as salt tectonics and regional northwest–southeast compression related to Africa–Eurasia convergence. We suggest that the anomalous movement detected in this work is due to the regional northwest–southeast compression related to Africa–Eurasia convergence imparting an extrusion of the EAB to the west. This research contributes to a better understanding of the geodynamics in the northwest Moroccan Atlantic margin, thereby providing valuable insights for ongoing efforts in oil and gas exploration. Furthermore, it indicates the continued activity of the Agadir fault, which would exhibit a sinistral wrench movement, thus posing a threat to the city of Agadir and its inhabitants.
Design of sustainable energy harvesters using a 3D car suspension system model and half-width speed bump
Authors: Chiu Min-Chie , Karkoub Mansour , Her Ming-Guo
Published: January 2024

This study aims to not only design a vibration energy harvester integrated in a three-dimensional (3D) multi-particle system but also investigate the longitudinal and lateral body sway and the effect of front and back wheel interlocking caused by the eccentric loading of the vehicle. Using multidimensional vehicle suspension system vibration modes for analysis, this study evaluates the impact of lateral and longitudinal eccentricity on the displacement of the four-suspension system wheel axes. In addition, this study discusses the effect of discontinuous half-width sinusoidal speed bump on power generation and maximum power generation capacity under good ride comfort conditions. To maximize the efficient electrical power from the car's suspension system through the use of energy harvesters, we have employed the simulated annealing algorithm, a robust global optimization technique. The objective function chosen for this optimization is the root-mean-square (RMS) electrical power, represented as WTT(RMS). In addition to this, we have considered the comfort experienced by passengers, incorporating the ride comfort efficiency into the objective function during the optimization process. As a result of this optimization, a 3D car model equipped with four energy harvesters has been fine-tuned to achieve a significant increase in induced electrical power, ultimately reaching an impressive 0.2 W.
A new Garside structure on torus knot groups and some complex braid groups
Authors: Gobet Thomas
Published: January 2024

Several distinct Garside monoids having torus knot groups as groups of fractions are known. For [Formula: see text] two coprime integers, we introduce a new Garside monoid [Formula: see text] having as Garside group the [Formula: see text]-torus knot group, thereby generalizing to all torus knot groups a construction that we previously gave for the [Formula: see text]-torus knot group. As a byproduct, we obtain new Garside structures for the braid groups of a few exceptional complex reflection groups of rank two. Analogous Garside structures are also constructed for a few additional braid groups of exceptional complex reflection groups of rank two which are not isomorphic to torus knot groups, namely, for [Formula: see text] and for dihedral Artin groups of even type.
DNN-HHOA: Deep Neural Network Optimization-Based Tabular Data Extraction from Compound Document Images
Authors: Tiwari Devendra , Gupta Anand , Soni Rituraj
Published: January 2024

Text information extraction from a tabular structure within a compound document image (CDI) is crucial to help better understand the document. The main objective of text extraction is to extract only helpful information since tabular data represents the relation between text lying in a tuple. Text from an image may be of low contrast, different style, size, alignment, orientation, and complex background. This work presents a three-step tabular text extraction process, including pre-processing, separation, and extraction. The pre-processing step uses the guide image filter to remove various kinds of noise from the image. Improved binomial thresholding (IBT) separates the text from the image. Then the tabular text is recognized and extracted from CDI using deep neural network (DNN). In this work, weights of DNN layers are optimized by the Harris Hawk optimization algorithm (HHOA). Obtained text and associated information can be used in many ways, including replicating the document in digital format, information retrieval, and text summarization. The proposed process is applied comprehensively to UNLV, TableBank, and ICDAR 2013 image datasets. The complete procedure is implemented in Python, and precision metrics performance is verified.
Severity-Oriented Multi-Objective Crowdsourced Test Reports Prioritization
Authors: Wu Yunhuan , Xiao Lei
Published: January 2024

Crowdsourced testing for mobile applications is widespread. Efficiently and swiftly inspecting enormous test reports is a crucial challenge in crowdsourced testing. Most existing methods focus on finding different bugs earlier, i.e. the diversity of bugs, while ignoring bug severity. We present a multi-objective prioritization method for crowdsourced test reports that takes into account the diversity and severity of bugs. In the beginning, we ranked the test reports according to severity, then clustered the test reports by fusing textual and image features, and finally used the clustering results to adjust the initial ranking to ensure diversity. To validate our method, we conducted experiments using an industrial crowdsourced test report dataset comprised of six mobile application projects. The results demonstrate that our method can find more different high-severity bugs earlier than existing methods.
Research on Supply Chain Optimisation Management Method Integrating Employee Behaviour Factors by Improving PSO Algorithm
Authors: Li Wenhui , Wang Can
Published: January 2024

With the continuous advancement of the trend of economic globalisation and the in-depth development of personalised services, the manufacturing mode has begun to change to service-oriented manufacturing, and the focus of enterprises has gradually shifted from the industrial chain to the supply chain. However, at present, accidents often occur in the supply chain around products, such as changes in orders, lack of resources in a short period of time, etc. These interference events are difficult to control and cause great damage to the normal operation and economic interests of enterprises for a long time. Therefore, it is necessary to study the optimisation methods of enterprise supply chain. Therefore, it is necessary to study the optimisation methods of enterprise supply chain. The study uses system dynamics to analyses employee counterproductive behaviour, develops a disturbance management model incorporating employee behavioural factors, and solves it with an improved particle swarm optimisation (PSO) algorithm. The experimental results show that the maximum number of noninferior solutions obtained by the improved PSO algorithm is 14 and 12, respectively. Compared with the GA_TOM (Genetic Algorithm_TOM), the improved algorithm is closer to the ideal pareto front. In the MS index, the average and minimum values obtained by the improved PSO algorithm are 0.57 and 0.609, respectively, which can cover more ideal pareto fronts. It shows that the algorithm effectively improves the stability and security of the supply chain, and provides a practical reference for the supply chain optimisation of manufacturing enterprises.
The paired-pulse TMS paradigm of short intracortical inhibition is mediated by a reduction of repetitive motor neuron discharges
Authors: Batzianouli Eleni T. , Caranzano Leonardo , Nguepnjo Nguissi Nathalie A. , Miaz Baptiste , Herrmann François R. , Benninger David H.
Published: January 2024

Significant reduction of repetitive motor neuron discharges (repMNDs) in short-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI) may result from the suppression of later I-waves and mediate the inhibition of motor-evoked potential (MEP). There is no change in the number of repMNDs in intracortical facilitation (ICF). There was a significant variability in SICI and ICF in healthy subjects.
Time-of-day effects on motor unit firing and muscle contractile properties in humans
Authors: Hirono Tetsuya , Igawa Kaito , Okudaira Masamichi , Takeda Ryosuke , Nishikawa Taichi , Watanabe Kohei
Published: January 2024

We investigated the variations of tracked motor unit firing properties and electrically evoked twitch contraction during the day within 24 h. The variation of motor unit firing rate was observed, and tracked motor unit firing rate increased at noon, in the evening, and at night compared with that in the morning. The variation in motor unit firing rate was independent of changes in twitch contraction. Motor unit firing rate may be affected by diurnal rhythms.
Impact of Cluster Thinning on Wine Grape Yield and Fruit Composition: A Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: VanderWeide Joshua , Nasrollahiazar Esmaeil , Schultze Steve , Sabbatini Paolo , Castellarin Simone Diego
Published: January 2024

For wine grape producers, achieving an optimal balance between vegetative and reproductive growth is a key factor in producing high quality fruit and meeting production quotas. This balance is often measured as the leaf-area-to-yield ratio. To increase this ratio, producers often use “cluster thinning” (CT), a management practice involving a selective removal of grape clusters from vines. Despite this, no consensus has been established regarding the optimal CT timing and severity for consistently improving fruit composition. The objective of this work was to identify whether CT “timing” (bloom, pea-size, lag phase, and veraison) or “severity” (15–35%, 36–55%, and 56–75%) influences yield and fruit composition. To achieve this objective, a meta-analysis of 160 publications on CT in grape was reduced to 78 studies via 10 data curation steps. We reported the influence of CT timing and severity on yield and fruit composition, as well as their impact on the yield-fruit composition tradeoff. First, CT timing showed little influence on fruit composition, which provides producers with greater flexibility when using this practice. Second, CT severity was impactful on improving fruit composition (TSS and pH); only the moderate range (36–55%) was effective. In conclusion, wine grape composition is more influenced by CT severity than timing. This work has important implications for grape producers and their approach to improving grape composition.
Localization in 3D Wireless Sensor Networks with Obstacle Consideration
Authors: Kumar Prabhat , Mishra Sneha , Singh Surjit , Nikolovski Srete , Louzazni Mohamed
Published: January 2024

Wireless sensor network (WSN) refers to the network formed by sensor nodes for communicating sensed data over the wireless medium. These sensor nodes are mostly deployed randomly in the target area, and hence estimating the coordinates of these sensor nodes through the localization process is an important activity. Majority of the localization algorithms existing in the literature assume the target area to be an obstacle-free 2D terrain. However, such algorithms are not suitable for real-life scenarios where WSNs are actually deployed on 3D terrains that may also have obstacles that hinder the radio signals from the deployed sensor nodes. Hence, factors such as the height of the terrain, the presence of obstacles, etc., require significant considerations while designing algorithms for WSN. The proposed research presents a localization scheme for 3D WSN where the sensor nodes are randomly deployed in a 3D area having large obstacles. The proposed scheme adopts a distributed approach for calculating the virtual coordinates of the sensors using four beacon nodes. The deployment area is divided into regions, and each node computes its virtual coordinates with respect to the obstacle. Simulation results indicate an average localization error of 6.93 m. The proposed scheme requires very less computational effort and can be easily adapted in different scenarios.
Analytical and Clinical Evaluation of a Chemiluminescent Immunoassay to Detect Serum Chitinase-3-like Protein 1 in HBV-Related Liver Diseases
Authors: Liao Yanqiang , Peng Se , Huang Lesheng , Li Zhong , Hu Jian , Xu Rui , Tang Wenzhi , Zhuang Jialing
Published: January 2024

Serum chitinase-3-like protein 1 (CHI3L1) is a diagnostic marker for liver diseases, such as hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Herein, we aimed to evaluate the analytical performance of a chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA) for the quantitative detection of CHI3L1 and its application in hepatitis B virus (HBV)-related liver diseases. The CLIA for CHI3L1 detection presented good analytical performance, with a linear range of 1.50–2000.00 ng/mL and a detection limit of 0.98 ng/mL. To evaluate its clinical application, serum CHI3L1 levels were detected in 82 patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) and in 21 healthy controls. The patients with CHB and HCC had higher CHI3L1 levels than the healthy controls and the patients with CHB without HCC. However, CHI3L1 levels did not change significantly with the increase in liver fibrosis stages. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for the diagnosis of HBV-related HCC was 0.808, representing a moderate diagnostic value. Correlation analysis revealed a significant association between CHI3L1 and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels, the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index, and the aspartate aminotransferase-to-platelet ratio index (APRI). In conclusion, compared with currently reported methods for CHI3L1 detection, the CLIA has a high sensitivity, a wide linear range, and an acceptable accuracy, precision, and reference intervals, making it valuable in the diagnosis of HBV-related HCC.
Development of an AI-Enabled Q-Agent for Making Data Offloading Decisions in a Multi-RAT Wireless Network
Authors: Marvi Murk , Aijaz Adnan , Qureshi Anam , Khurram Muhammad
Published: January 2024

Data offloading is considered as a potential candidate for alleviating congestion on wireless networks and for improving user experience. However, due to the stochastic nature of the wireless networks, it is important to take optimal actions under different conditions such that the user experience is enhanced and congestion on heavy-loaded radio access technologies (RATs) is reduced by offloading data through lower loaded RATs. Since artificial intelligence (AI)-based techniques can learn optimal actions and adapt to different conditions, in this work, we develop an AI-enabled Q-agent for making data offloading decisions in a multi-RAT wireless network. We employ a model-free Q-learning algorithm for training of the Q-agent. We use stochastic geometry as a tool for estimating the average data rate offered by the network in a given region by considering the effect of interference. We use the Markov process for modeling users’ mobility, that is, estimating the probability that a user is currently located in a region given its previous location. The user equipment (UE) plays the role of a Q-agent responsible for taking sequence of actions such that the long-term discounted cost for using network service is minimized. Q-agent performance has been evaluated and compared with the existing data offloading policies. The results suggest that the existing policies offer the best performance under specific situations. However, the Q-agent has learned to take near-optimal actions under different conditions. Thus, the Q-agent offers performance which is close to the best under different conditions.
Supplementary Figure 5 from Treatment Response, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer–Treated with Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
Authors: De Schepper Maxim , Nguyen Ha-Linh , Richard François , Rosias Louise , Lerebours Florence , Vion Roman , Clatot Florian , Berghian Anca , Maetens Marion , Leduc Sophia , Isnaldi Edoardo , Molinelli Chiara , Lambertini Matteo , Grillo Federica , Zoppoli Gabriele , Dirix Luc , Punie Kevin , Wildiers Hans , Smeets Ann , Nevelsteen Ines , Neven Patrick , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Larsimont Denis , Duhem Caroline , Viens Patrice , Bertucci François , Biganzoli Elia , Vermeulen Peter , Floris Giuseppe , Desmedt Christine
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Figure 5 shows quantile regression analyses of sTIL with clinicopathological variables.
Supplementary Figure 3 from Treatment Response, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer–Treated with Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
Authors: De Schepper Maxim , Nguyen Ha-Linh , Richard François , Rosias Louise , Lerebours Florence , Vion Roman , Clatot Florian , Berghian Anca , Maetens Marion , Leduc Sophia , Isnaldi Edoardo , Molinelli Chiara , Lambertini Matteo , Grillo Federica , Zoppoli Gabriele , Dirix Luc , Punie Kevin , Wildiers Hans , Smeets Ann , Nevelsteen Ines , Neven Patrick , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Larsimont Denis , Duhem Caroline , Viens Patrice , Bertucci François , Biganzoli Elia , Vermeulen Peter , Floris Giuseppe , Desmedt Christine
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Figure 3 shows concordance of sTIL scoring between tumor and skin biopsies.
Supplementary Figure 2 from Treatment Response, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer–Treated with Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
Authors: De Schepper Maxim , Nguyen Ha-Linh , Richard François , Rosias Louise , Lerebours Florence , Vion Roman , Clatot Florian , Berghian Anca , Maetens Marion , Leduc Sophia , Isnaldi Edoardo , Molinelli Chiara , Lambertini Matteo , Grillo Federica , Zoppoli Gabriele , Dirix Luc , Punie Kevin , Wildiers Hans , Smeets Ann , Nevelsteen Ines , Neven Patrick , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Larsimont Denis , Duhem Caroline , Viens Patrice , Bertucci François , Biganzoli Elia , Vermeulen Peter , Floris Giuseppe , Desmedt Christine
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Figure 2 shows an overview of data flow in the study.
Supplementary Figure 11 from Treatment Response, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer–Treated with Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
Authors: De Schepper Maxim , Nguyen Ha-Linh , Richard François , Rosias Louise , Lerebours Florence , Vion Roman , Clatot Florian , Berghian Anca , Maetens Marion , Leduc Sophia , Isnaldi Edoardo , Molinelli Chiara , Lambertini Matteo , Grillo Federica , Zoppoli Gabriele , Dirix Luc , Punie Kevin , Wildiers Hans , Smeets Ann , Nevelsteen Ines , Neven Patrick , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Larsimont Denis , Duhem Caroline , Viens Patrice , Bertucci François , Biganzoli Elia , Vermeulen Peter , Floris Giuseppe , Desmedt Christine
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Figure 11 shows analyses of the association of RCB with DRF and OS.
Supplementary Figure 10 from Treatment Response, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer–Treated with Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
Authors: De Schepper Maxim , Nguyen Ha-Linh , Richard François , Rosias Louise , Lerebours Florence , Vion Roman , Clatot Florian , Berghian Anca , Maetens Marion , Leduc Sophia , Isnaldi Edoardo , Molinelli Chiara , Lambertini Matteo , Grillo Federica , Zoppoli Gabriele , Dirix Luc , Punie Kevin , Wildiers Hans , Smeets Ann , Nevelsteen Ines , Neven Patrick , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Larsimont Denis , Duhem Caroline , Viens Patrice , Bertucci François , Biganzoli Elia , Vermeulen Peter , Floris Giuseppe , Desmedt Christine
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Figure 10 shows analyses of the association of pCR with DRFS.
Supplementary Figure 1 from Treatment Response, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer–Treated with Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
Authors: De Schepper Maxim , Nguyen Ha-Linh , Richard François , Rosias Louise , Lerebours Florence , Vion Roman , Clatot Florian , Berghian Anca , Maetens Marion , Leduc Sophia , Isnaldi Edoardo , Molinelli Chiara , Lambertini Matteo , Grillo Federica , Zoppoli Gabriele , Dirix Luc , Punie Kevin , Wildiers Hans , Smeets Ann , Nevelsteen Ines , Neven Patrick , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Larsimont Denis , Duhem Caroline , Viens Patrice , Bertucci François , Biganzoli Elia , Vermeulen Peter , Floris Giuseppe , Desmedt Christine
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Figure 1 shows examples of sTIL scoring in skin on H&E images.
FIGURE 4 from Treatment Response, Tumor Infiltrating Lymphocytes and Clinical Outcomes in Inflammatory Breast Cancer–Treated with Neoadjuvant Systemic Therapy
Authors: De Schepper Maxim , Nguyen Ha-Linh , Richard François , Rosias Louise , Lerebours Florence , Vion Roman , Clatot Florian , Berghian Anca , Maetens Marion , Leduc Sophia , Isnaldi Edoardo , Molinelli Chiara , Lambertini Matteo , Grillo Federica , Zoppoli Gabriele , Dirix Luc , Punie Kevin , Wildiers Hans , Smeets Ann , Nevelsteen Ines , Neven Patrick , Vincent-Salomon Anne , Larsimont Denis , Duhem Caroline , Viens Patrice , Bertucci François , Biganzoli Elia , Vermeulen Peter , Floris Giuseppe , Desmedt Christine
Published: January 2024

Association of pCR with DFS. A, Kaplan–Meier curves of DFS according to pCR. B, Forest plots showing the association of pCR and standard clinicopathologic and treatment variables with DFS quantified by Cox regression.
Expert Practices in Hidradenitis Suppurativa Flare Management: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study
Authors: Masson Rahul , Park Sarah , Shi Vivian Y. , Hsiao Jennifer L. , Aleshin Maria A.
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic skin condition with recurrent, debilitating flares. Although the majority of patients with HS endorse flares, there is a lack of research regarding HS experts’ flare management practices and perspectives. Methods: An anonymous online survey was distributed through an HS expert listserv. Board-certified dermatologists who saw 1 or more HS patient(s) per month were eligible for participation. Results: A total of 35 responses were collected; 97.1% self-identified as HS experts. Therapies used for HS flares by more than two-thirds of the respondents included systemic antibiotics (100%), nonprescription pain relievers (91.4%), intralesional triamcinolone injections (91.4%), prescription pain relievers (71.4%), oral corticosteroids (68.6%), and warm compresses (68.6%). The top 3 dermatologist-reported barriers that patients face in accessing care during flares include lack of clinic appointment availability (88.6%), distance that patients have to travel to reach clinic (85.7%), and lack of transportation for patients (62.9%). Conclusions: Overall, this study highlights variations in the ways that HS experts manage flares. Many of the treatment modalities used by the majority of respondents are not part of the official North American guidelines. Further prospective studies and expert consensus guidelines are needed to standardize the approach to flare management.
Effect of Honey-Lime Spray as Add-On Therapy on Chemotherapy-Induced Xerostomia in Breast Cancer Patients: A Pilot Randomized Double-Blinded Controlled Trial
Authors: Heydarirad Ghazaleh , Mirzaei Hamid Reza , Gharehgozlou Reyhaneh , Ghorbanpoor Samira , Buentzel Judith , Rampp Thomas , Pasalar Mehdi
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Xerostomia (dry mouth) is a common side effect among patients with cancer undergoing chemotherapy. There is no standard treatment for this symptom yet, although Persian medicine textbooks suggested some products to relieve xerostomia. We aimed to assess the efficacy of honey-lime spray in treating chemotherapy-induced xerostomia in breast cancer patients through a controlled study. Methods: In this pilot, randomized, double-blinded clinical trial conducted in Shohadaye Tajrish Hospital, Iran, the intervention group received honey-lime spray and nystatin, while the control group used distilled water plus nystatin for 2 weeks. The six-item dry mouth form and visual analog score (VAS) were used to evaluate xerostomia extent and pain, respectively. Results: The standardized value of the difference between the mean scores before and after the study was −10.21 (p < 0.001), and the effect size was estimated at 55%. Also, VAS showed a significant decrease in pain for the intervention group compared with the control group (p < 0.001). There were no serious side effects. Conclusion: Honey-lime spray may be a good treatment choice for xerostomia in chemotherapy-induced breast cancer patients, but robust trials with larger samples and prolonged follow-ups are highly recommended.
A Patient‐Centered Approach to Cardiac Monitoring After Cryptogenic Stroke: A Review
Authors: Hassani Sara , El Husseini Nada , Feng Wuwei , Lloyd Michael , Quyyumi Arshed
Published: January 2024

Due to the variety of cardiac monitoring devices available after cryptogenic stroke to screen for atrial fibrillation, there is a need to understand the challenges and perceptions of these devices for patients. This article reviews in detail the cardiac monitoring technologies available to screen for atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke/transient ischemic attack, with a focus on what is known regarding patient preferences and compliance in real‐world settings. As the optimal type of device and duration of time to screen for atrial fibrillation after cryptogenic stroke continues to be studied, a shared decision‐making approach that incorporates patient preferences with regard to the monitoring device chosen should be considered. Clinicians should explain to patients the uncertainty about the clinical impact of invasive monitoring, and future studies should aim to qualitatively delineate the viewpoints and comfort levels of patients with stroke regarding the use of implantable versus noninvasive cardiac monitoring.
Between Piano and Forte: Hearing
with Aids
Authors: Ting Olivia
Published: January 2024

The author connects reviving her piano practice after a 20-year hiatus with her deaf right ear “learning” to hear again with a cochlear implant. She touches upon parallels between the physiology of the instrument and her own body, and how they inform the inquiry for her Leonardo CripTech Incubator/Thoughtworks Arts residency project Song Without Words.
Pistis and Apodeixis: On the Disputed Interpretation of Aristotle, Rhetoric 1.1, 1355a5-6
Authors: Dow Jamie
Published: January 2024

‘We are convinced most of all whenever we take something to have been demonstrated’ (1355a5-6). The meaning and significance of this claim is a key point of dispute between those who take Aristotle’s project in the Rhetoric to be defending his distinctively argument-centred kind of rhetoric on the grounds that it is most persuasively effective, and those for whom he does so on the more normatively-charged grounds that this is the most valuable kind of rhetoric, and best delivers rhetoric’s distinctive benefits to civic communities. On the interpretation defended, the claim links being convinced (πιστεύειν) and the things that get us convinced (πίστεις) to the kind of epistemic merits possessed above all by demonstrations. This saves Aristotle from an implausible generalisation about the persuasive supremacy of deductive arguments. Since πίστεις are clearly central to Aristotelian rhetoric, this interpretation also lends support to the more normative understanding of Aristotle’s project overall.
Statues, Roads, and Money
Authors: McGraw Claire
Published: January 2024

The differences between the narratives about Augustus’ silver statues in Cassius Dio, Augustus himself, and Suetonius are better explained in the context of gift-debt and gift-exchange rather than focusing on cult alone. Whereas Suetonius and Augustus emphasize Augustus’ correction of the statues as a pious act and a statement on imperial honors, Dio overlooks honors and gods, instead revealing how the statues funded road repairs. In his history, Dio adapts the narrative to underscore the gap between the reality and the appearance of events: here, the exchange of statues for monetary gifts in Augustan Rome. Augustus, treating the statues as a gift, transforms them into something greater for the people’s benefit. The connection between the statues, the roads, and the money appears elsewhere in the two earlier narratives, but Dio alone links the gift-exchange of statues for money to Augustus’ ‘gift’ of roads.
No Animals Were Harmed in the Playing of This Game: Hunting Ethics in Virtual Space
Authors: Baerg Andrew
Published: January 2024

This essay surveys the literature on digital games and ethics to address the ways in which ethics are mediated in video games. It then considers the limited scholarship engaging the intersections of digital games and nonhuman animals. The essay uses this literature to perform a textual analysis of theHunter: Call of the Wild as a case study contributing to broader discussions of the mediation of nonhuman animals in digital games. The paper specifically focuses on the game’s mediation of an ethics of hunting. The game’s missions mediate hunting anthropocentrically, while its rules represent a hunting style that is in accordance with the hunting community’s self-proclaimed care for nonhuman animals. The essay thereby makes a contribution to the meager research on the relationship between human and nonhuman animals in digital games.
Non-aligned!
Authors: Darkwa Linda , Attuquayefio Philip
Published: January 2024

Africa’s stance on the Russian-Ukraine war has elicited censure from the West, resulting in diplomatic bruises at the multilateral level. Efforts by the NATO countries to utilise multilateral fora, such as the United Nations, to generate unanimous condemnation of Russia and the application of diplomatic pressure bilaterally have not yielded the expected outcome. We argue that without a clear strategy to support the mitigation of the fallouts of the conflict in African countries, the West’s expectation of Africa’s alignment with its interpretation of collective security is, at best idealistic. By mapping out the rationale for Africa’s position as expressed by individual member states and the African Union, we argue that Africa’s non-aligned position is not a deviation from the Charter principles but rather a pragmatic strategy for mitigating its vulnerabilities against the fallouts of the conflict.
A tribute to Fernando A. Silveira and his contributions to bee research
Authors: ALMEIDA EDUARDO A. B.
Published: January 2024

Fernando A. Silveira had the unique combination of being a sagacious scientist and a remarkable human being. Throughout his career, he made significant contributions to understanding bee diversity and keenly spread this scientific information to the academic community at large and beyond the university walls. His rich character, warm heart, strong voice and laughter are missed by those privileged to be Fernando’s students, friends, mentors, and family. In this volume, we honor Fernando A. Silveira, who prematurely passed away at the age of 62, leaving three sons, his wife, and numerous friends.
Carpenter bees (Apidae: Xylocopini: Xylocopa) from Maranhão, Northeast Brazil
Authors: FERREIRA LUCIANO ANDRÉ CHAVES , GIANNINI TEREZA CRISTINA , ALBUQUERQUE PATRÍCIA MAIA CORREIA DE , ZANELLA FERNANDO CÉSAR VIEIRA
Published: January 2024

We present a list of Xylocopa Latreille species that occur in Maranhão State, a region where several physiognomic formations characteristic of the Amazon, Cerrado, and Caatinga biomes overlap. The information was compiled through numerous surveys conducted in this territory, in addition to direct consultation in scientific collections, which have many unpublished records. Twelve species belonging to three subgenera were documented: Xylocopa (Neoxylocopa) amazonica Enderlein, 1913, X. (N.) aurulenta (Fabricius, 1804), X. (N.) cearensis Ducke, 1910, X. (N.) frontalis (Olivier, 1789), X. (N.) grisescens Lepeletier, 1841, X. (N.) hirsutissima Maidl, 1912, X. (N.) nigrocincta Smith, 1854, X. (N.) transitoria Pérez, 1901, X. (Schonnherria) macrops Lepeletier, 1841, X. (S.) muscaria (Fabricius, 1775), X. (S.) subcyanea Pérez, 1901 and X. (Stenoxylocopa) sp. Of these, two species are reported as first records for Maranhão (X. hirsutissima and X. subcyanea), one for Brazil (X. transitoria), and one for science (X. (Stenoxylocopa) sp.—not yet published).
Improving Afternoon Thunderstorm Prediction over Complex Terrain with the Assimilation of Dense Ground-Based Observations: Four Cases in the Taipei Basin
Authors: Yang Shu-Chih , Chang Yi-Pin , Cheng Hsiang-Wen , Lin Kuan-Jen , Tsai Ya-Ting , Hong Jing-Shan , Li Yu-Chi
Published: January 2024

In this study, we investigate the impact of assimilating densely distributed Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) zenith total delay (ZTD) and surface station (SFC) data on the prediction of very short-term heavy rainfall associated with afternoon thunderstorm (AT) events in the Taipei basin. Under weak synoptic-scale conditions, four cases characterized by different rainfall features are chosen for investigation. Experiments are conducted with a 3-h assimilation period, followed by 3-h forecasts. Also, various experiments are performed to explore the sensitivity of AT initialization. Data assimilation experiments are conducted with a convective-scale Weather Research and Forecasting–local ensemble transform Kalman filter (WRF-LETKF) system. The results show that ZTD assimilation can provide effective moisture corrections. Assimilating SFC wind and temperature data could additionally improve the near-surface convergence and cold bias, further increasing the impact of ZTD assimilation. Frequently assimilating SFC data every 10 min provides the best forecast performance especially for rainfall intensity predictions. Such a benefit could still be identified in the earlier forecast initialized 2 h before the start of the event. Detailed analysis of a case on 22 July 2019 reveals that frequent assimilation provides initial conditions that can lead to fast vertical expansion of the convection and trigger an intense AT. This study proposes a new metric using the fraction skill score to construct an informative diagram to evaluate the location and intensity of heavy rainfall forecast and display a clear characteristic of different cases. Issues of how assimilation strategies affect the impact of ground-based observations in a convective ensemble data assimilation system and AT development are also discussed.

Significance Statement

In this study, we investigate the impact of frequently assimilating densely distributed ground-based observations on predicting four afternoon thunderstorm events in the Taipei basin. While assimilating GNSS-ZTD data can improve the moisture fields for initializing convection, assimilating surface station data improves the prediction of rainfall location and intensity, particularly when surface data are assimilated at a very high frequency of 10 min.
Lessons Learned From Implementation of Mpox Surveillance During an Outbreak Response in Tennessee, 2022
Authors: Thomas Christine M. , Shaffner Julie , Johnson Renee , Wiedeman Caleb , Fill Mary-Margaret A. , Jones Timothy F. , Schaffner William , Dunn John R.
Published: January 2024

Objectives:

Mpox surveillance was integral during the 2022 outbreak response. We evaluated implementation of mpox surveillance in Tennessee during an outbreak response and made recommendations for surveillance during emerging infectious disease outbreaks.

Methods:

To understand surveillance implementation, system processes, and areas for improvement, we conducted 8 semistructured focus groups and 7 interviews with 36 health care, laboratory, and health department representatives during September 9-20, 2022. We categorized and analyzed session transcription and notes. We analyzed completeness and timeliness of surveillance data, including 349 orthopoxvirus-positive laboratory reports from commercial, public health, and health system laboratories during July 1–August 31, 2022.

Results:

Participants described an evolving system and noted that existing informatics platforms inefficiently supported iterations of reporting requirements. Clear communication, standardization of terminology, and shared, adaptable, and user-friendly informatics platforms were prioritized for future emerging infectious disease surveillance systems. Laboratory-reported epidemiologic information was often incomplete; only 55% (191 of 349) of reports included patient address and telephone number. The median time from symptom onset to specimen collection was 5 days (IQR, 3-6 d), from specimen collection to laboratory reporting was 3 days (IQR, 1-4 d), from laboratory reporting to patient interview was 1 day (IQR, 1-3 d), and from symptom onset to patient interview was 9 days (IQR, 7-12 d).

Conclusions:

Future emerging infectious disease responses would benefit from standardized surveillance approaches that facilitate rapid implementation. Closer collaboration among informatics, laboratory, and clinical partners across jurisdictions and agencies in determining system priorities and designing workflow processes could improve flexibility of the surveillance platform and completeness and timeliness of laboratory reporting. Improved timeliness will facilitate public health response and intervention, thereby mitigating morbidity.
“I Feel Like You Don’t Need Dysphoria to be Trans.”: Emerging Understandings of Gender Dysphoria Among Transgender and Gender Diverse Adolescents
Authors: Dube Sarahjane L. , Johns Michelle M. , Andrzejewski Jack , Potter Alexandra S.
Published: January 2024

A diagnosis of gender dysphoria remains the primary requirement for transgender people to receive medical and legal gender affirmation services. Three focus groups conducted in 2018 with transgender and gender diverse (TGD) adolescents were assessed to understand how they define and use the term dysphoria and how the clinical discourse of gender dysphoria relates to their sense of self and overall wellness. The 21 participants (age 12–18) were primarily White (n = 19, 90%; Hispanic n = 2, 10%). Thirteen adolescents had a masculine identity, 2 feminine, and 6 genderqueer/nonbinary. TGD youth understood the clinical definition of gender dysphoria but expanded its use; reported stigma as the cause of some of their dysphoria; and used their conceptualization of dysphoria to find self-acceptance. This study highlights the perceived harm and potential limitations of using diagnostic language to define identity. However, through rescripting and self-definition, TGD youth exercise personal agency and reject stigma.
Mate preference dissimilarity predicts friendship attraction at zero-acquaintance for men, not women
Authors: Campbell Kelly , Meagher Benjamin R. , Goetz Cari D. , Vaitayavijit Nuttacha
Published: January 2024

We hypothesized that dissimilar mate preferences would augment friendship attraction in zero-acquaintance interactions whereas similar mate preferences would hinder friendship attraction. Heterosexual participants completed an online survey to assess their mate preferences. They also rated the attractiveness of opposite-sex photos. Next, they attended a 3-hr speed-friending session in which they interacted with same-sex others for 3-min each. After each interaction, they completed a 2-min assessment about the person they just met. Two sessions were held, one for women ( N = 20) and one for men ( N = 18). The social relations model was used to regress unique feelings of friendship attraction on similarity in terms of mate preferences while controlling for perceiver and target variance. Our hypothesis was supported among men: Interactions in which two people differed in mate preferences were rated more positively than those in which participants had similar mate preferences. These results are consistent with Parental Investment Theory and highlight the importance of mate preferences in friendship attraction among men.