bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sex differences in time to primary percutaneous coronary intervention and outcomes in patients presenting with ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction
Authors: Savage Michael L. , Hay Karen , Murdoch Dale J. , Walters Darren L. , Denman Russell , Ranasinghe Isuru , Raffel Christopher
Published: August 2022

Objectives

We assessed sex differences in treatment and outcomes in ST‐segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients treated with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background

Historically, delays to timely reperfusion and poorer outcomes have been described in women who suffer STEMI. However, whether these sex discrepancies still exist with contemporary STEMI treatment remains to be evaluated.

Methods

Consecutive STEMI patients treated with primary PCI patients over a 10‐year period (January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2019) from a tertiary referral center were assessed. Comparisons were performed between patient's sex. Primary outcomes were 30‐day and 1‐year mortality. Secondary outcomes were STEMI performance measures.

Results

Most patients (n = 950; 76%) were male. Females were on average older (66.8 vs. 61.4 years males; p < 0.001). Prehospital treatment delays did not differ between sexes (54 min [IQR: 44–65] females vs. 52 min [IQR: 43–62] males; p = 0.061). STEMI performance measures (door‐to‐balloon, first medical contact‐to‐balloon [FMCTB]) differed significantly with longer median durations in females and fewer females achieving FMCTB < 90 min (28% females vs. 39% males; p < 0.001). Women also experienced greater rates of initial radial arterial access failure (11.3% vs. 3.1%; p < 0.001). However, there were no significant sex differences in crude or adjusted mortality between sexes at 30‐days (3.6% male vs. 5.1% female; p = 0.241, adjusted OR: 1.1, 95% CI: 0.5–2.2, p = 0.82) or at 1‐year (4.8% male vs. 6.8% female; p = 0.190, adjusted OR: 1.0, (95% CI: 0.5–1.8; p = 0.96).

Conclusion

Small discrepancies between sexes in measures of timely reperfusion for STEMI still exist. No significant sex differences were observed in either 30‐day or 1‐year mortality.
Photocatalytic Transition‐Metal‐Free Direct 3‐Acetalation of Quinoxaline‐2(1H)‐ones
Authors: Ma Chunhua , Meng Hui , Li Jing , Yang Xianguang , Jiang Yuqin , Yu Bing
Published: August 2022

Comprehensive Summary

A general transition‐metal‐free visible‐light‐promoted 3‐acetalation reaction of quinoxaline‐2(1H)‐ones was developed under mild conditions. By employing 1,2,3,5‐tetrakis(carbazol‐9‐yl)‐4,6‐dicyanobenzene (4CzIPN) as an inexpensive photocatalyst, and glyoxylic acid acetal as a radical source, various acetalated quinoxaline‐2(1H)‐ones were constructed in moderate to good yields. Moreover, the versatility of this protocol is highlighted by the successful application in the late‐stage modification of drug molecules and the various functionality transformations. The excellent antitumor activity of the acetalated product demonstrated that this streamlined and sustainable approach could have emerged as a powerful strategy for structural modification in medicinal chemistry.
Effect of Surface Curvature on Colloidal Stability of Silver Nanoparticles with Monomolecular and Mixed Thiol Ligand Layers in the Presence of Alkali Cations
Authors: Malakhovsky Pavel , Minakov Egor , Rashkevich Alexey , Artemyev Mikhail
Published: August 2022

Colloidal stability of silver nanoparticles is the critical parameter while designing colloidal colorimetric biosensors. Here, we examined colloidal stability of 11‐mercaptoundecanoate‐capped quasi‐spherical silver nanoparticles and silver nanoplates in 0.02 M phosphate buffers with pH 8.0 containing Li+, Na+, K+, or Cs+ cations. While quasi‐spherical nanoparticles demonstrate a good colloidal stability in the presence of all studied cations, nanoplates aggregate in the presence of Na‐phosphate buffer. The mechanism of aggregation consists in the ion‐specific nanoparticle‐cation bridging interaction, which is sensitive to the nanoparticle surface curvature. Increased apparent dissociation constant of carboxyl groups on the zero‐curvature nanoplates’ surface enhances bridging interactions and makes nanoplates colloidally unstable. Bridging interactions can be eliminated by using mixed bimolecular 11‐mercaptoundecanoate‐11‐mercaptoundecanol surface ligand layer. Silver nanoplates with mixed ligand layer show an enhanced colloidal stability at a standard carbodiimide bioconjugation protocol.
Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) Microscopy
Authors: Fish Kenneth N.
Published: August 2022

Total internal reflection fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy (TIRFM) is an elegant optical technique that provides for the excitation of fluorophores in an extremely thin axial region (“optical section”). The method is based on the principle that when excitation light is completely internally reflected in a transparent solid (e.g., coverglass) at its interface with liquid, an electromagnetic field, called the evanescent wave, is generated in the liquid at the solid‐liquid interface and is the same frequency as the excitation light. Since the intensity of the evanescent wave exponentially decays with distance from the surface of the solid, only fluorescent molecules within a few hundred nanometers of the solid are efficiently excited. This overview will review the history, optical theory, and hardware configurations used in TIRFM. In addition, it will provide experimental details and methodological considerations for studying receptors at the plasma membrane in neurons. © 2022 Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Determining the microstructure of soft sediments by automatic analysis of scanning electron microscope images of the Dead Sea fault seismites
Authors: Balaban‐Fradkin Alona , Siman‐Tov Shalev , Marco Shmuel , Heifetz Eyal
Published: August 2022

The Dead Sea seismites comprise the worlds longest record of earthquakes. The seismites appear as deformed layers enclosed between undeformed layers of alternating millimetre‐thick laminae with annual pairs of winter detritus and summer evaporitic aragonite. Understanding the physical conditions that govern their formation will promote the recovery of the causative earthquake properties from the deformation character. The first step towards this goal is understanding the microscopic structure of the seismites. To this end, scanning electron microscope images of the Dead Sea Basin sediments were analysed to extract their pore and grain sizes. The implementation of image processing techniques to determine the microscopic‐scale physical properties of the deformed and undeformed layers are in general agreement with results from classical labour‐intensive instruments. However, the image processing analyses provide more detailed unbiased information. A MATLAB‐based code has been developed as a ready‐to‐use package, which can be easily implemented on any other occurrence of soft sediment outcrops to analyse sediment microscopic‐scale physical properties from scanning electron microscope images.
Pink salmon distribution in Sweden: The calm before the storm?
Authors: Staveley Thomas A. B. , Ahlbeck Bergendahl Ida
Published: August 2022

Pink salmon distribution has recently expanded substantially across northern Europe. On the Swedish west coast, relatively few pink salmon have been observed to date; nonetheless, a notable rise in 2021 (70 observations). However, with no national monitoring together with a ceased Atlantic salmon commercial fishery, there is little opportunity to understand the extent of the spread in this region. Here, we present the current data and address the need for future monitoring and research in order to understand the potential impacts of this invasive species in Sweden's aquatic ecosystems.
Communicating about plant breeding and genome editing in plants: Assessment of European stakeholders, sources, channels and content
Authors: Will Sabine , Vangheluwe Nick , Krause Dörthe , Fischer Arnout R. H. , Jorasch Petra , Kohl Christian , Nair Abhishek , Nanda Amrit K. , Wilhelm Ralf
Published: August 2022

Genome editing helps to develop plant varieties that address future agricultural challenges such as climate change adaptation, resource efficiency and sustainable productivity. Nevertheless, associated aspects relating, besides others, to the regulation of genome editing, intellectual property rights and potential environmental and health aspects lead to fierce discussions within the European Union. In these discussions, values and moral aspects play a decisive role. To support and set the stage for an open‐minded dialogue, the communication behaviour and needs of specific stakeholder groups has been analysed by means of two online surveys. The surveys considered sources and channels used for information sourcing and dissemination, conveyed content and relevant target audiences. In addition, the degree of trust of stakeholders in different information sources was assessed. Stakeholders included representatives from academia, civil society organisations (including environmental and consumer organisations), journalists, the farming community, the seed and plant breeding sector and policymakers across Europe. Our analysis suggests that, in general, a high level of trust is associated with representatives from academia, and that safety‐related aspects, transparency and sustainability are considered very important topics across the different stakeholder groups. In addition, social media seem to play a subordinate role for inter‐stakeholder communication but is of higher relevance for reaching out to the public.
Crystallographic Characterisation of Organolithium and Organomagnesium Intermediates in Reactions of Aldehydes and Ketones
Authors: Lynch Jennifer R. , Kennedy Alan R. , Barker Jim , Reid Jacqueline , Mulvey Robert E.
Published: August 2022

We report reactions of LiNacNac and NacNacMg(TMP) with common organic substrates (TMP=2,2,6,6‐tetramethylpiperidide). Using bulky β‐diketiminate compound NacNac (Me, Dipp), we have trapped metalated intermediates amenable to X‐ray crystallographic study. LiNacNac and acetone produced the NacNac‐free hexameric diacetone alkoxide [{LiO(MeC(=O)CH2C(Me)2}6]; whereas pinacolone gave the simple monomeric donor–acceptor complex [Li{(MeCN‐2,6‐iPr2C6H3)2CH}{O=C(Me)tBu}]. Benzaldehyde produced dimeric [Li{(MeCN‐2,6‐iPr2C6H3)2CC(=O)Ph}{O=C(Ph)OCH2Ph}]2, where one benzaldehyde molecule has inserted in to the γ‐carbon position of the NacNac ligand, with a molecule of benzyl benzoate derived from a Tishchenko reaction of the aldehyde acting as a terminal donor to lithium. Tetranuclear, mixed dimer [{LiO(MeCN‐2,6‐iPr2C6H3)2CH‐CH(Ph)}2{LiO(PhC(=O)}2] containing the same modified NacNac ligand was the fortuitous product from repeating the reaction of LiNacNac and benzaldehyde in a solution presumably contaminated with benzoic acid. Combining NacNacMg(TMP) with pinacolone affords monomeric heteroleptic [Mg{(MeCN‐2,6‐iPr2C6H3)2CH}{OC(tBu)(Me)CH2C(=O)tBu}] with an aldolate constituting the second anion. Completing the set is dimeric [Mg{(MeCN‐2,6‐iPr2C6H3)2CH}{O(C=CH2)Ph}2], where the enolate derived from acetophenone bridges the magnesium centres.
Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis during apalutamide treatment in a patient with prostate cancer
Authors: Honda Tomoko , Tohi Yoichiro , Kaku Yo , Kimura Nachino , Kato Takuma , Haba Reiji , Dainichi Teruki , Sugimoto Mikio
Published: August 2022

Introduction

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis is a type of severe cutaneous drug adverse reaction. While apalutamide is known for its high incidence of cutaneous adverse events, it remains unknown whether acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis can develop during apalutamide treatment.

Case presentation

A 72‐year‐old man with metastatic castration‐sensitive prostate cancer developed small erythema on the face and trunk after 41 days of apalutamide treatment. Three days later, apalutamide was discontinued. However, 9 days after the discontinuation of apalutamide, the patient had a high fever with hemodynamic instability and showed diffuse erythema throughout the body with numerous small pustules. Skin biopsy revealed subcorneal and intraepidermal pustules admixed with many eosinophils, which led to the diagnosis of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis. The skin rash improved in 14 days with systemic corticosteroid administration.

Conclusion

We present the first case of a skin rash with clinical features of acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis during apalutamide treatment.
Put them to bed, and “do not disturb” brain microglia in SIV infection
Authors: Kolson Dennis
Published: August 2022

In the current issue of The Journal of Leukocyte Biology, Trease and colleagues have presented a unique study with a perspective on the fluidity of the status of brain myeloid cell sub-populations (microglia and macrophages) within the SIV-infected brain, and the implications for the cognitive health of people with HIV (PWH). Those implications for more fully understanding the role of myeloid cells in the pathogenesis of HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders (HAND) are indeed significant. Their study attempts to capture the state of brain myeloid cells in combination ART (cART)-suppressed, SIV-infected rhesus macaques, through analyses of myeloid cells isolated from whole-brain hemisphere preparations, using scRNA seq, IPA and bioinformatics. The goal was to profile the transcriptomic pattern of myeloid homeostasis during virus suppression and compare that profile to those of resting, uninfected microglia and SIV-infected microglia in states of uncontrolled infection. The later includes active infection in non-encephalitic and encephalitic states, the precursor and end-stages of SIV/HIV infection of the brain, which are relevant in untreated individuals. The state of virus suppression represents the status of PLWH on suppressive cART, which is of particular interest. The homeostatic state of microglia/macrophages under viral suppression currently dominates discussions dealing with treated patient populations, which emphasizes the importance of this study. Defining the differences in the homeostatic state might identify the neuropathogenic potential of microglia to induce brain injury even without active SIV replication to reveal new therapeutic targets.
DDA‐imaging with structural identification of lipid molecules on an Orbitrap Velos Pro mass spectrometer
Authors: Khalil Saleh M. , Sprenger Richard R. , Hermansson Martin , Ejsing Christer S.
Published: August 2022

Matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization‐mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI‐MSI) is a useful technique for visualizing the spatial distribution of lipid molecules in tissues. Nevertheless, the use of MSI to investigate local lipid metabolic hallmarks has until recently been hampered by a lack of adequate technology that supports confident lipid identification. This limitation was recently mitigated by the development of DDA‐imaging technology where high‐resolution MSI is combined with parallel acquisition of lipid tandem MS2 spectra on a hybrid ion trap‐Orbitrap Elite mass spectrometer featuring a resolving power of 240,000 and a scan time of 1 s. Here, we report the key tenets related to successful transfer of the DDA‐imaging technology onto an Orbitrap Velos Pro instrument featuring a resolving power of 120,000 and a scan time of 2 s. Through meticulous performance assessments and method optimization, we tuned the DDA‐imaging method to be able to confidently identify 73 molecular lipid species in mouse brain sections and demonstrate that the performance of the technology is comparable with DDA‐imaging on the Orbitrap Elite. Altogether, our work shows that DDA‐imaging on the Orbitrap Velos Pro instrument can serve as a robust workhorse for lipid imaging in routine applications.
Millennial‐ to centennial‐scale anti‐phase relationship between the Westerlies and the East Asian summer monsoon and its cultural response along the Silk Roads after a great earthquake in southern Altay ~ 3500 cal a BP
Authors: Fan Jiawei , Xu Hongyan , Jiang Hanchao , Wei Xiaotong , Shi Wei , Guo Qiaoqiao , Zhang Siqi , Bai Xianzhou , Liu Xingqi , Xiao Jule
Published: August 2022

It is strongly debated whether the Westerlies and the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) are in‐phase, anti‐phase or out‐of‐phase, and how hydroclimatic changes in the above two climate systems affected trans‐Eurasian cultural exchanges during the late Holocene. In this study, we establish a 3500‐a‐long paleoclimatic sequence based on high‐resolution analyses of sedimentological and geochemical data of a well‐dated sediment core from Yileimu Lake in southern Altay. High percentages of the >63‐µm fraction and high values of Zr/Rb and Rb/Sr ratios indicate strong transport of weakly weathered, coarse sediments into the depocenter of the lake caused by enhanced surface runoff and catchment erosion associated with a wet climate, and vice versa. High values of Ca and total inorganic carbon (TIC) contents imply increased precipitation of endogenic carbonates in the lake water under intense evaporation associated with a dry climate, and vice versa. This new record indicates two wet intervals at 3500–2300 and 600–100 cal a bp, interrupted by a severe and prolonged dry interval from 2300 to 1000 cal a bp, and a mild dry interval with occasionally wet conditions from 1000 to 600 cal a bp. These results are broadly consistent with other paleoclimatic records in Westerlies‐dominated Asia and are generally anti‐phase with those in the EASM region. We suggest that a strengthening/weakening and southward/northward migration of the Westerlies during a negative/positive phase of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO) transported more/less water vapor into arid Asia. Meanwhile, a decreasing/increasing El Niño‐Southern Oscillation (ENSO) superimposed on a southward/northward shift of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) triggered a weakening/strengthening and southward/northward movement of the West‐Pacific subtropical high (WPSH), resulting in decreasing/increasing EASM intensity. In addition, the wet climate from 3500 to 2300 cal a bp may have contributed to the development of nomadic herding in the eastern Eurasian Steppe and Altay region, and to the opening of the proto‐Silk Roads. Potentially, intense seismic activities in the Altay Mountains ~3500 cal a bp may have also promoted the opening of the proto‐Silk Roads by forcing the herdsmen to move to the inter‐mountainous basins. The strong EASM intensity from 2300 to 1000 cal a bp in eastern China may have contributed to the creation of the ancient Silk Roads by the Han Dynasty.
Tuning the Internal Compartmentation of Single‐Chain Nanoparticles as Fluorescent Contrast Agents
Authors: Thümmler Justus F. , Roos Andreas H. , Krüger Jana , Hinderberger Dariush , Schmitt Franz‐Josef , Tang Guo , Golmohamadi Farzin Ghane , Laufer Jan , Binder Wolfgang H.
Published: August 2022

Controlling the internal structures of single‐chain nanoparticles (SCNPs) is an important factor for their targeted chemical design and synthesis, especially in view of nanosized compartments presenting different local environments as a main feature to control functionality. We here design SCNPs bearing near‐infrared fluorescent dyes embedded in hydrophobic compartments for use as contrast agents in pump–probe photoacoustic (PA) imaging, displaying improved properties by the location of the dye in the hydrophobic particle core. Compartment formation is controlled via single‐chain collapse and subsequent crosslinking of an amphiphilic polymer using external crosslinkers in reaction media of adjustable polarity. Different SCNPs with hydrodynamic diameters of 6‐12 nm bearing adjustable label densities are synthesized. It is found that the specific conditions for single‐chain collapse have a major impact on the formation of the desired core–shell structure, in turn adjusting the internal nanocompartments together with the formation of excitonic dye couples, which in turn increase their fluorescence lifetime and PA signal generation. SCNPs with the dye molecules accumulate at the core also show a nonlinear PA response as a function of pulse energy—a property that can be exploited as a contrast mechanism in molecular PA tomography.
In‐line measurement and characterization in glass bead‐filled polypropylene extrusion based on machine vision
Authors: Zhu Shichao , Wang Mengmeng , Li Kangming , Wu Heng , Jin Gang
Published: August 2022

Particle filling is a typical method for reinforcing polymer matrix materials, and the properties of particle filler have a significant impact on the performance of polymeric materials. However, there is still a lack of effective in situ measurement and characterization methods of particulate‐filled polymer. In this paper, an in‐line measurement and characterization method for glass bead‐filled polypropylene (GB/PP) based on machine vision was proposed. A visual die was developed, and the polymer melt in the visual area was photographed by a high‐speed camera to obtain images for analysis. An improved YOLO target detection algorithm was applied to identify particles in images. The particle size distribution, dispersion, and component content of glass beads in the polypropylene were measured and characterized through statistical analysis, and then verified by other off‐line methods. These properties calculated by our method agree well with those measured by other off‐line methods. This method can achieve the in‐line measurement and characterization for GB/PP extrusion, which is promising for the in‐line property monitoring of particulate‐filled polymers in the industry.
Fracture behavior, microstructure, and mechanical properties of PA6/NBR nanocomposites
Authors: Ghorbankhan Ali , Nakhaei Mohammad Reza , Safarpour Pedram
Published: August 2022

Polyamide 6/Acrylonitrile butadiene rubber/Perlite nanocomposites with different percentages of NBR phase and perlite nanoparticle were prepared using the melt mixing process. The fracture behavior of PA6/NBR/Perlite nanocomposites was studied by the essential work of fracture method (EWF). Furthermore, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to evaluate the effect of input variables, namely NBR and perlite content, on fracture behavior and Young's modulus of these nanocomposites. Scanning electron microscopy was used as a method for studying the morphology of the thermoplastic elastomer matrix containing different percentages of NBR elastomer and perlite nanoparticles. The results confirmed that, with controlling input variables, the optimum conditions of the system could be obtained, which leads to an improvement in fracture behavior and modulus strength of PA6/NBR/Perlite nanocomposites. RSM results illustrated that Young's modulus is increased from 2539 to 2862 MPa with an increase in perlite content from 3 to 7 wt%, when NBR content is 20 wt%. Moreover, Elongation at break is increased from 59.8% for 20 wt% NBR elastomer up to 102.8% for 40 wt%. The results of the EWF test illustrated that the samples with 30 and 10 wt%. NBR and 5 wt% perlite, have the maximum values of essential work of fracture (283.8 N/mm) and nonessential work of fracture (22.2 N/mm2), respectively.
A rural‐urban comparison of self‐management in people living with cancer following primary treatment: A mixed methods study
Authors: Nelson David , McGonagle Ian , Jackson Christine , Gussy Mark , Kane Ros
Published: August 2022

Objective

To investigate and compare self‐management in people living with cancer following treatment, from rural and urban areas in the United Kingdom where there is a significant evidence gap.

Methods

A cross‐sectional explanatory sequential mixed methods design. This involved a self‐completion questionnaire that collected data on demographics, self‐management using the PAM‐13 and rural‐urban residence and 34 in‐depth interviews that aimed to explore and compare the barriers and facilitators to self‐management in rural and urban settings.

Results

227 participants completed the questionnaire: mean age 66.86 (±11.22). Fifty‐two percent (n = 119) were female and 48% (n = 108) were male. Fifty‐three percent (n = 120) resided in urban areas and 45 % (n = 103) in rural areas. Participants had a range of different types of cancer but the three most common were breast (n = 73), urological (n = 53), upper and lower gastrointestinal (n = 41). Rural respondents (63.31 ± 13.66) were significantly (p < 0.05) more activated than those in urban areas (59.59 ± 12.75). The barriers and facilitators to self‐management identified in the interviews were prevalent in both rural and urban settings but some barriers were more explicit in rural settings. For example, there was a lack of bespoke support in rural areas and participants acknowledged how travelling long distances to urban centres for support groups was problematic. Equally, there were barriers and facilitators that were not necessarily unique to either geographic setting.

Conclusion

Whilst the active treatment phase can present considerable challenges for people living with cancer in rural areas the findings suggest that the rural environment has the potential to increase engagement with self‐management in the transition to survivorship. The rigorous mixed methods design has led to different and complementary conclusions that would not have been possible had either quantitative or qualitative methods been used in isolation.
New strategy for the identification of prostate cancer: The combination of Proclarix and the prostate health index
Authors: Terracciano Daniela , La Civita Evelina , Athanasiou Alcibiade , Liotti Antonietta , Fiorenza Mariano , Cennamo Michele , Crocetto Felice , Tennstedt Pierre , Schiess Ralph , Haese Alexander , Ferro Matteo , Steuber Thomas
Published: August 2022

Objectives

Prostate health index (PHI) and, more recently, Proclarix have been proposed as serum biomarkers for prostate cancer (PCa). In this study, we aimed to evaluate Proclarix and PHI for predicting clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa).

Patients and Methods

Proclarix and PHI were measured using samples of 344 men from two different centers. All patients underwent prostate biopsy, and among those, 188 men with PCa on biopsy had an additional radical prostatectomy (RP). All men had a prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) between 2 and 10 ng/ml. Evaluation of area under the curve (AUC) and performance at predefined cut‐offs of Proclarix and PHI risk scores as well as the linear combination thereof was performed to predict csPCa. PSA density was used as an independent comparator.

Results

The cohort median age and PSA were 65 (interquartile range [IQR]: 60−71) and 5.6 (IQR: 4.3−7.2) ng/ml, respectively. CsPCa was diagnosed in 161 (47%) men based on the RP specimen. ROC analysis showed that Proclarix and PHI accurately predicted csPCa with no significant difference (AUC of 0.79 and 0.76, p = 0.378) but significantly better when compared to PSA density (AUC of 0.66, p < 0.001). When using specific cut‐offs, Proclarix (cut‐off 10) revealed higher specificity and positive predictive value than PHI (cut‐off 27) at similar sensitivities. The combination of Proclarix and PHI provided a significant increase in the AUC (p ≤ 0.007) compared to the individual tests alone and the highest clinical benefit was achieved.

Conclusion

Results of this study show that both Proclarix and PHI accurately detect the presence of csPCa. The model combining Proclarix and PHI revealed the synergistic effect and improved the diagnostic performance of the individual tests.
Circulating microRNA profiling for prediction of oncological outcomes in prostate cancer patients following radical prostatectomy
Authors: Takamori Hajime , Urabe Fumihiko , Matsuzaki Juntaro , Kimura Shoji , Sasaki Hiroshi , Kimura Takahiro , Inaba Koji , Nakamura Eijiro , Matsui Yoshiyuki , Fujimoto Hiroyuki , Ochiya Takahiro
Published: August 2022

Background

Although radical prostatectomy is associated with good long‐term oncological outcomes, approximately 30% of patients present biochemical recurrence, whereupon salvage treatments are required. Identification of novel molecular biomarkers to predict cancer behavior is clinically important. Here, we developed a novel microRNA (miRNA)‐based prognostic model for patients who underwent radical prostatectomy.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated the clinical records of 295 patients who underwent radical prostatectomy between 2009 and 2017. We randomly assigned these cases into training or validation sets. The prognostic model was constructed using Fisher linear discriminant analysis in the training set, and we evaluated its performance in the validation set.

Results

Overall, 72 patients had biochemical recurrence. A prediction model was constructed using a combination of three miRNAs (miR‐3147, miR‐4513, and miR‐4728‐5p) and two pathological factors (pathological T stage and Gleason score). In the validation set, the predictive performance of the model was confirmed to be accurate (area under the receiver operating characteristic curve: 0.80; sensitivity: 0.78; specificity: 0.76). Additionally, Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed that the patients with a low prediction index had significantly longer recurrence‐free survival than those with a high index (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

Circulating miRNA profiles can provide information to predict recurrence after prostatectomy. Our model may be helpful for physicians to decide follow‐up strategies for patients.
Bioinspired Freeze‐Tolerant Soft Materials: Design, Properties, and Applications
Authors: Wang Zhiyong , Valenzuela Cristian , Wu Jianhua , Chen Yuanhao , Wang Ling , Feng Wei
Published: August 2022

In nature, many biological organisms have developed the exceptional antifreezing ability to survive in extremely cold environments. Inspired by the freeze resistance of these organisms, researchers have devoted extensive efforts to develop advanced freeze‐tolerant soft materials and explore their potential applications in diverse areas such as electronic skin, soft robotics, flexible energy, and biological science. Herein, a comprehensive overview on the recent advancement of freeze‐tolerant soft materials and their emerging applications from the perspective of bioinspiration and advanced material engineering is provided. First, the mechanisms underlying the freeze tolerance of cold‐enduring biological organisms are introduced. Then, engineering strategies for developing antifreezing soft materials are summarized. Thereafter, recent advances in freeze‐tolerant soft materials for different technological applications such as smart sensors and actuators, energy harvesting and storage, and cryogenic medical applications are presented. Finally, future challenges and opportunities for the rapid development of bioinspired freeze‐tolerant soft materials are discussed.
A cable‐driven soft robotic end‐effector actuator for probe‐based confocal laser endomicroscopy: Development and preclinical validation
Authors: DeLorey Charles , Davids Joseph D. , Cartucho Joao , Xu Chi , Roddan Alfie , Nimer Amr , Ashrafian Hutan , Darzi Ara , Thompson Alex James , Akhond Saina , Runciman Mark , Mylonas George , Giannarou Stamatia , Avery James
Published: August 2022

Soft robotics is becoming a popular choice for end‐effectors. An end‐effector was designed that has various advantages including ease of manufacturing, simplicity and control. This device may have the advantage of enabling probe‐based devices to intraoperatively measure cancer histology, because it can flexibly and gently position a probe perpendicularly over an area of delicate tissue. This is demonstrated in a neurosurgical setting where accurate cancer resection has been limited by lack of accurate visualisation and impaired tumour margin delineation with the need for in‐situ histology. Conventional surgical robotic end‐effectors are unsuitable to accommodate a probe‐based confocal laser endomicroscopy (p‐CLE) probe because of their rigid and non‐deformable properties, which can damage the thin probe. We have therefore designed a new soft robotic platform, which is advantageous by conforming to the probe's shape to avoid damage and to facilitate precision scanning.
Considerations for furbearer trapping regulations to prevent grizzly bear toe amputation and injury
Authors: Lamb Clayton , Smit Laura , McLellan Bruce , Vander Vennen Lucas M. , Proctor Michael
Published: August 2022

Under the North American Model of wildlife Conservation, wildlife managers are encouraged to update management approaches when new information arises whose implementation could improve the viability of wildlife populations and the well‐being of animals. Here we detail an observation of several grizzly bears with amputated toes in southeast British Columbia between 2016‐2020 and assemble evidence to inform management strategies to remedy the issue. During the capture of 59 grizzly bears, 4 individuals (~7%) had amputated toes on one of their front feet. The wounds were all healed and linear in nature. Further opportunistic record collection revealed that similar examples of amputated toes occurred beyond our study area in neighboring mountain ranges and internationally. We found evidence that seasonal overlap between the active season for grizzly bears and the fall trapping seasons—for small furbearers with body‐gripping traps and for wolves with foothold traps—were frequently responsible for toe amputation. Photo evidence suggested that body‐gripping traps were the main trap type associated with toe amputation. Multiple options to reduce or eliminate the incidental amputation of grizzly bear toes exist, and the options have varying degrees of expected efficacy and require differing levels of monitoring. One option is to delay the start of the marten trapping season until December 1, when most bears have denned, instead of opening the season on or prior to November 1, when more than 50% of bears are still active. An alternative solution, such as a license condition that requests trappers narrow trap‐box entrances to exclude bear feet while still allowing entrance of target furbearers, has the potential to minimize accidental capture of bears, but the effectiveness of this approach is unknown. Finally, experimental toe extraction trials suggested that better anchoring traps was not a viable solution given that adult grizzly bear feet only came free from body‐gripping traps 20% of the time under maximum human force. At least 230 kg pull was required to consistently free toes from body‐gripping traps, which not all bears will be able to produce unless the cable is long and allows a running start. Solutions that do not involve season changes will require monitoring of efficacy and compliance to ensure success.
State and “Mixed Migrations”: Migration Policies Towards Haitians, Colombians and Venezuelans in Ecuador
Authors: Gómez Carmen , Herrera Gioconda
Published: August 2022

The term ‘mixed migration’ is often used as a means of reflecting a more complex understanding of the causes and motivations of people’s migration. While this term can be useful in overcoming binary interpretations between voluntary and forced migration in explaining current flows in South America, it may also have some unintended consequences when applied to migration policy. What effects does this understanding of migration have on the regularization of new migrants? Does the term allow or rather prevent forced migrants from accessing refugee status? We analyze these questions by examining Haitian, Colombian and Venezuelan migrants in Ecuador. On one side, we examine how the concept of mixed migration can render invisible some forms of forced displacement resulting from political, environmental or economic factors and, on the other side, we examine the type of policies undertaken by the state to address these displacements that do not fit either pure economic migration or asylum as defined by the 1951 Geneva Convention. We find that an uncritical use of the term, may favor the fall of these populations into irregular processes.
A Decade of Growth in Migration in Brazil (2010–2020) and the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Tonhati Tânia , Cavalcanti Leonardo , de Oliveira Antônio Tadeu
Published: August 2022

This chapter argues that in order to understand migration and mobility patterns in Brazil, it is necessary to shed light on its development over the last decade (2010–2020). New migration groups, borders, policies, and social and cultural integration have emerged as academic and political debates in the country. These issues are intertwined and have framed the Brazilian migration scenario and affected the development of new Brazilian legislation and migration policies. Based on several databases produced and analyzed by the Brazilian Observatory of International Migration (OBMIGRA), we outline recent changes in Brazilian legal policies. Moreover, the chapter provides a brief overview of the main characteristics of migration in Brazil, taking into account data on gender, level of education, labour activities, income and race. We argue that Brazilian migration as well as the profile of migrants have changed since 2010, which has led the country to search for new policies and regulations in response to the new migration demands. The chapter then outlines some data about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on migrants to Brazil in 2020, in order to highlight that, once again, the migration scenario is in transformation. Thus, we argue that, in the last decade, Brazil has faced several new challenges regarding migration (new flows, regulations, policies and social integration). The country, then, has (re)entered the global migration scene by becoming an important destination in South-South migration.
The Legality of (Im)mobility: Migration, Coyoterismo, and Indigenous Justice in Southern Ecuador
Authors: Berg Ulla D. , Martínez Lucía Pérez
Published: August 2022

Migrant smuggling has in recent decades become more prominent globally as a consequence of increasingly restrictive border and migration control policies. Whereas popular media discourses and official policy typically depict migrant smugglers as organized criminals who prey on vulnerable migrants and asylum seekers, migration scholars have instead argued that migrant smuggling is a complex marketplace involving both licit and illicit transactions and a grounded social and cultural practice through which aspiring migrants confront their lack of legal options for migration. Despite efforts to empirically situate migrant smuggling as something other than just ruthless criminal activity towards innocent victims, less attention has been given to migrants’ own understanding of their travel options and regulation of associated risks. This chapter focuses on coyoterismo -or migrant smuggling – as a community-based activity embedded in the social fabric of migrant-sending communities in Southern Ecuador. We examine the limits of the contractual relationships established between smugglers (coyoteros), money-lenders (chulqueros), and migrants and their families who rely on these services to sustain their mobile livelihoods. Specifically, we focus on how indigenous migrants from Cañar make use of multiple legal systems to assert their agency and establish accountability vis-a-vis the coyotes who facilitate their migration between Ecuador and the United States.
Nonlinear Radiation Gauge for Near Kerr Spacetimes
Authors: Andersson Lars , Bäckdahl Thomas , Blue Pieter , Ma Siyuan
Published: August 2022

In this paper, we introduce and explore the properties of a new gauge choice for the vacuum Einstein equation inspired by the ingoing and outgoing radiation gauges (IRG, ORG) for the linearized vacuum Einstein equation introduced by Chrzanowski in his work on metric reconstruction (Chrzanowski in Phys Rev D 11:2042–2062, 1975) on the Kerr background. It has been shown by Price et al. (Class Quantum Gravity 24:2367–2388, 2007) that the IRG/ORG are consistent gauges for the linearized vacuum Einstein equation on Petrov type II backgrounds. In (Andersson et al. Stability for linearized gravity on the Kerr spacetime, 2019), the ORG was used in proving linearized stability for the Kerr spacetime, and the new non-linear radiation gauge introduced here is a direct generalization of that gauge condition, and is intended to be used to study the stability of Kerr black holes under the evolution generated by the vacuum Einstein equation.
Honey dressing: a missed way for orthopaedic wound care
Authors: Ahmed Abdel-Salam Abdel-Aleem , Eltregy Sherif , Kandil Mahmoud Ibrahim
Published: August 2022

Purpose

Orthopaedic-related wounds are critical situations calling for care to avoid deep infections and its consequences. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of using honey for care of orthopaedic-related wounds with limited resources.

Patients and methods

This prospective study included 50 cases with an average age of 38.18 (range 17–63) years with 38 males and 12 females. The most frequent wound location was the leg (41 patients; 82%), then the foot (six patients; 12%), and the ankle in three patients (6%). The aetiologies were open fractures (34 cases; 68%), infected tibial non-unions (nine cases; 18%), and post-operative infections (seven cases; 14%). Exposed tendon was present in three cases. Bone exposure was present in two cases. Deep infection was present in 29 cases (58%). Besides treating the primary cause, a ribbon of gauze soaked with honey was applied to the wounds after thorough saline washing.

Results

Wound sizes were variable. All cases showed improvement in all parameters with complete wound healing and full coverage of bone and tendons. Recurrence of deep infection occurred in three cases and treated by debridement. One case needed sequestrectomy of a small exposed tibial cortical fragment. Exposed tendon cases showed superficial necrosis which was treated by simple debridement. Initial mild itching occurred in five patients with spontaneous resolution.

Conclusion

With treating the underlying aetiology and optimising the patient’s general condition, honey was an effective, simple, and affordable method of wound care in different orthopaedic conditions even with exposed bone or tendons.
The use of OCT to detect signs of intracranial hypertension in patients with sagittal suture synostosis: Reference values and correlations
Authors: van de Beeten Stephanie D. C. , Ramdas Wishal D. , Yang Sumin , Loudon Sjoukje E. , den Ottelander Bianca K. , Rizopoulos Dimitris , van Veelen Marie-Lise C. , Mathijssen Irene M. J.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

To obtain pediatric normative reference values and determine whether optical coherence tomography (OCT) corresponds better with clinical signs of intracranial hypertension (ICH) compared to the traditional screening method fundoscopy in a large cohort of one type of single suture craniosynostosis.

Methods

Control subjects without optic nerve diseases and isolated sagittal synostosis patients aged 3–10 years who underwent fundoscopy and OCT were included in this prospective cohort study. Normative reference values were obtained through bootstrap analysis. Main outcome was the association between peripapillary total retinal thickness (TRT) and total retinal volume (TRV) and appearance on fundoscopy. Signs and symptoms suggestive of ICH, including skull growth arrest, fingerprinting, and headache, were scored.

Results

Sixty-four healthy controls and 93 isolated sagittal synostosis patients were included. Normative cut-off values for mean TRT are < 256 μm and > 504 μm and for mean TRV < 0.21 mm3 and > 0.39 mm3. TRT was increased in 16 (17%) and TRV in 15 (16%) of 93 patients, compared to only 4 patients with papilledema on fundoscopy (4%). Both parameters were associated with papilledema on fundoscopy (OR = 16.7, p = 0.02, and OR = 18.2, p = 0.01). Skull growth arrest was significantly associated with abnormal OCT parameters (OR = 13.65, p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The established cut-off points can be applied to screen for ICH in pediatrics. The present study detected abnormalities with OCT more frequent than with fundoscopy, which were associated with skull growth arrest. Therefore, a combination of OCT, fundoscopy, and skull growth arrest can improve clinical decision-making in craniosynostosis.
Comparison of the effect of 360° versus two-dimensional virtual reality video on history taking and physical examination skills learning among undergraduate medical students: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Chao Yi-Ping , Kang Chung-Jan , Chuang Hai-Hua , Hsieh Ming-Ju , Chang Yu-Che , Kuo Terry B. J. , Yang Cheryl C. H. , Huang Chung-Guei , Fang Tuan-Jen , Li Hsueh-Yu , Lee Li-Ang
Published: August 2022

Before caring for patients, video instruction is commonly used for undergraduate medical students, and 360° virtual reality (VR) videos have gained increasing interest in clinical medical education. Therefore, the effect of immersive 360° VR video learning compared with two-dimensional (2D) VR video learning in clinical skills acquisition should be evaluated. This randomized, intervention-controlled clinical trial was aimed to assess whether immersive 360° VR video improves undergraduate medical students' learning effectiveness and reduces the cognitive load in history taking and physical examination (H&P) training. From May 1 2018 to October 30 2018, 64 senior undergraduate medical students in a tertiary academic hospital were randomized to receive a 10-min immersive 360° (360° VR video group; n = 32) or 2D VR instructional video (2D VR video group; n = 32), including essential knowledge and competency of H&P. The demographic characteristics of the two groups were comparable for age, sex, and cognitive style. The total procedure skill score, physical examination score, learner’s satisfaction score, and total cognitive load in the 360° VR video group were significantly higher than those in the 2D VR video group (effect sizes [95% confidence interval]: 0.72 [0.21–1.22], 0.63 [0.12–1.13], 0.56 [0.06–1.06], and 0.53 [0.03–1.03], respectively). This study suggested that a10-minute 360° VR video instruction helped undergraduate medical students perform fundamental H&P skills as effectively as 2D VR video. Furthermore, the 360° VR video might result in significantly better procedural metrics of physical examinations with higher learner satisfaction despite the higher cognitive load.
Evaluating the benefits of weather and climate services in South Asia: a systematic review
Authors: Suckall Natalie , Soares Marta Bruno
Published: August 2022

The use of scientific information about future weather and climate offers enormous potential for society to better manage the risks associated with climate variability and change. There has been significant investment in weather and climate services (WCS) over the past years; however, empirically based evidence of the socio-economic benefits of such services is very limited. Understanding and capturing the real benefits of WCS as they unfold on the ground are key to ensure continue investment in WCS as well as to enable adaptive management. In this paper, we conduct a review of the literature of WCS evaluations in South Asia. We systematically document and analyse empirical evidence as reported in the academic and grey literature to highlight (1) the scale and scope of WCS that have been evaluated in the region; (2) the methodological approaches that have been used to monitor and evaluate the benefits of WCS initiatives on the ground and (3) the socio-economic benefits of WCS categorised under a triple bottom line approach that takes into consideration economic, social and environmental benefits. The paper explores these findings and highlights key areas that warrant further discussion and research. These include a limited effort to systematically record and document the benefits of WCS and an over-emphasis on capturing evidence of short-term economic benefits at the expense of long-term economic benefits, as well as social and environmental benefits. We conclude this paper with a call for increased cooperation between meteorologists, economists and social researchers to develop empirical case studies of benefits and trade-offs as they occur on the ground.