bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is the development of liquid biopsy for the early detection and the monitoring of breast cancers on its way of overtaking mammography?
Authors: Mansour Hicham , Nejjari Chakib , Incitti Roberto , Anouar Naima , Ouhajjou Abdelhak
Published: August 2024

Mammography, as of today, is used as a gold standard for screening, diagnosing, and monitoring breast cancer (BC). While overall beneficial, it presents several downsides, such as limitations in accuracy, relatively high costs, and dependence on heavy infrastructure, greatly limiting accessibility for the entire global target population. There is currently no established alternative to mammography, and overcoming this major challenge is a hot topic in research and technology. One avenue for tackling this issue is the development of highly sensitive and specific non-invasive blood tests for the early diagnosis and follow-up of breast cancer. This paper discusses the limitations of mammography and recapitulates the blood tests already available, those under development, and future developments in this field.
Strengthening surgical healthcare research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa: impact of a research training programme in Nigeria
Authors: Ameh Emmanuel A. , Seyi-Olajide Justina O. , Ameh Nkeiruka , Michael Afieharo , Abdullahi Mohammed AS , Aria Oti Nimi , Obi Nkeiruka , Chukwu Isaac
Published: August 2024

Background

Limited research capacity has contributed to the lack of high-quality research from low-and middle-income countries. This is compounded by limited research training opportunities. Research capacity scale-up training was deployed as part of the implementation of the National Surgical, Obstetrics, Anaesthesia, and Nursing Plan for Nigeria. We report the impact of this locally contextualized efforts to scale up research capacity in sub-Saharan Africa.

Methods

This is an evaluation of the training of 65 participants in research, grant writing and manuscript writing and publication. Pre- and post-training surveys using a 5-point Likert scale and open-ended questions were administered to evaluate the impact of the programme.

Results

There were 39 (60%) males and 26 (40%) females aged 26–62 years (median 42 years). Thirty-nine (60%) participants had previous training in research, but only 12 (18.5%) had previously received grant writing training, and 17 (26.2%) had previously received manuscript writing and publishing training. Following training, 45 (70.3%) participants agreed that the training was relevant. The research, grant writing and manuscript writing, and publication components of the training were rated high by the participants (45–59, 70.3–92.2%). However, 41.2% felt that there was not enough time, and 32.4% felt that the training was too comprehensive. Nearly all the participants agreed that the training had improved their skills in research, grant writing and manuscript writing and publication, and more than two-thirds subsequently engaged in informal mentoring of others. Overall, participants achieved success in designing their own research projects and publishing manuscripts and grants. Three (4.6%) of the participants had gone on to become faculty for the research training programme. The three top barriers encountered following training were time constraints (67.3%), lack of funding (36.5%) and not being able to find research collaborators (25%).

Conclusion

Outcome of this training programme is encouraging and highlights the feasibility and potential impact of deploying such programmes in low and middle income countries (LMICs). Despite the positive outcomes, barriers including time constraints, funding limitations, and difficulties in finding research collaborators remain to be addressed. Such training programmes need to be supported to strengthen the research capacity in this and similar settings.
Bilateral and symmetric glycinergic and glutamatergic projections from the LSO to the IC in the CBA/CaH mouse
Authors: Williams Isabella R. , Ryugo David K.
Published: August 2024

Auditory space has been conceptualized as a matrix of systematically arranged combinations of binaural disparity cues that arise in the superior olivary complex (SOC). The computational code for interaural time and intensity differences utilizes excitatory and inhibitory projections that converge in the inferior colliculus (IC). The challenge is to determine the neural circuits underlying this convergence and to model how the binaural cues encode location. It has been shown that midbrain neurons are largely excited by sound from the contralateral ear and inhibited by sound leading at the ipsilateral ear. In this context, ascending projections from the lateral superior olive (LSO) to the IC have been reported to be ipsilaterally glycinergic and contralaterally glutamatergic. This study used CBA/CaH mice (3–6 months old) and applied unilateral retrograde tracing techniques into the IC in conjunction with immunocytochemical methods with glycine and glutamate transporters (GlyT2 and vGLUT2, respectively) to analyze the projection patterns from the LSO to the IC. Glycinergic and glutamatergic neurons were spatially intermixed within the LSO, and both types projected to the IC. For GlyT2 and vGLUT2 neurons, the average percentage of ipsilaterally and contralaterally projecting cells was similar (ANOVA, p = 0.48). A roughly equal number of GlyT2 and vGLUT2 neurons did not project to the IC. The somatic size and shape of these neurons match the descriptions of LSO principal cells. A minor but distinct population of small (< 40 μm2) neurons that labeled for GlyT2 did not project to the IC; these cells emerge as candidates for inhibitory local circuit neurons. Our findings indicate a symmetric and bilateral projection of glycine and glutamate neurons from the LSO to the IC. The differences between our results and those from previous studies suggest that species and habitat differences have a significant role in mechanisms of binaural processing and highlight the importance of research methods and comparative neuroscience. These data will be important for modeling how excitatory and inhibitory systems converge to create auditory space in the CBA/CaH mouse.
In-utero exposure to tenofovir disoproxil fumarate pre-exposure prophylaxis and growth metrics in HIV unexposed breastfed infants in South Africa: a post hoc analysis of the CAP 016 PrEP in pregnancy RCT
Authors: Naidoo Megeshinee , Naidoo Kimesh L. , Lombard Carl , Desmond Alicia C. , Clark Richard , Rooney James F. , Gray Glenda , Moodley Dhayendre
Published: August 2024

Objective

We evaluated growth metrics in HIV unexposed African breastfed infants in the first 18 months of life in association with in-utero exposure to Tenofovir Diphosphate Fumarate (TDF) containing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).

Design

We conducted a secondary data analysis of a TDF-PrEP randomized control trial (CAP016 RCT). Pregnant women without HIV were randomized to initiating TDF-PrEP in pregnancy (Immediate-PrEP-IP) or deferred initiation of TDF-PrEP at cessation of breastfeeding (Deferred-PrEP-DP).

Methods

Infant weight (W), length (L), and head circumference (HC) were measured at birth and 6, 26, 50, and 74 weeks of age. Stored dried blood spot samples from pregnant women randomized to the IP arm were used to measure tenofovir-diphosphate (TFV-DP) levels. Age-stratified mean weight-for-age (WAZ), length-for-age (LAZ), weight-for-length (WLZ), and head circumference-for-age (HCAZ) Z-scores were compared between infants exposed to varying TFV-DP concentrations and infants in the DP arm.

Results

A total of 455 mother-infant pairs were included in the secondary analysis, 228 in the IP arm and 227 in the DP arm. WAZ, LAZ, WLZ, and HCAZ scores were comparable between infants in the Deferred-PrEP arm and Immediate-PrEP arm. In a mixed-effects linear regression model adjusting for maternal age, body mass index, socioeconomic and newborn characteristics, in-utero exposure to varying TFV-DP levels was not associated with WAZ (β = −0.52), LAZ (β = −0.46), WLZ (β = −0.43) and HCAZ (β = −0.11) scores over time.

Conclusion

There was no evidence of an association between growth metrics in the first 18 months of life and in-utero exposure to TFV-DP among breastfed HIV unexposed infants.
Safety, effectiveness, and usefulness of higher-dose tablets of generic pirfenidone in patients with IPF: a nationwide observational study in South Korea
Authors: Kang Jieun , Lee Kwan Ho , Lee Jae Ha , Jeong Yi Yeong , Choi Sun Mi , Kim Ho Cheol , Park Joo Hun , Lee Hyun-Kyung , Yong Suk Joong , Choi Hye Sook , Kim Hak Ryul , Jegal Yangjin , Choi Won-il , Lee Eun Joo , Song Jin Woo
Published: August 2024

Background

Pirfenidone is an antifibrotic medication approved for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Fybro®, a generic version of pirfenidone developed in South Korea, gained approval and is available in 200 mg and in higher-dose formulations of 400 and 600 mg. This real-world prospective cohort study investigated the safety and effectiveness of Fybro®.

Methods

A nationwide observational study was conducted in patients with IPF. Patients were followed up for 6 months, with a subset of patients being followed up for 12 months. Data on lung function and adverse events were collected. Patient adherence to fewer-pill (400 and/or 600 mg tablets) and multiple-pill (200 mg tablets) regimens were compared.

Results

Of the 359 enrolled patients, 352 received pirfenidone (Fybro®) at least once and were included in the analysis. The mean age was 69.0 years and 82.4% of patients were male. The median treatment duration was 186.0 days. A total of 253 patients (71.9%) experienced adverse events, with decreased appetite being the most common (16.5%). The adjusted decline rates in lung function were −1.5% and −2.2% predicted per year for forced vital capacity and diffusing capacity, respectively. No significant differences were observed based on the pirfenidone dose. For a daily intake of 1,200 or 1800 mg of pirfenidone, a significantly longer duration of drug administration was observed with the fewer-pill regimen than with multiple-pill regimen.

Conclusion

The safety and effectiveness of Fybro® observed in this real-world cohort study are consistent with previous studies. Using higher-strength tablets to reduce pill burden may improve medication adherence.
Complete mitochondrial genome assembly of Zizania latifolia and comparative genome analysis
Authors: Luo Xianyang , Gu Cuicui , Gao Sijia , Li Man , Zhang Haixiang , Zhu Shidong
Published: August 2024

Zizania latifolia (Griseb.) Turcz. ex Stapf has been cultivated as a popular aquatic vegetable in China due to its important nutritional, medicinal, ecological, and economic values. The complete mitochondrial genome (mitogenome) of Z. latifolia has not been previously studied and reported, which has hindered its molecular systematics and understanding of evolutionary processes. Here, we assembled the complete mitogenome of Z. latifolia and performed a comprehensive analysis including genome organization, repetitive sequences, RNA editing event, intercellular gene transfer, phylogenetic analysis, and comparative mitogenome analysis. The mitogenome of Z. latifolia was estimated to have a circular molecule of 392,219 bp and 58 genes consisting of three rRNA genes, 20 tRNA genes, and 35 protein-coding genes (PCGs). There were 46 and 20 simple sequence repeats (SSRs) with different motifs identified from the mitogenome and chloroplast genome of Z. latifolia, respectively. Furthermore, 49 homologous fragments were observed to transfer from the chloroplast genome to the mitogenome of Z. latifolia, accounting for 47,500 bp, presenting 12.1% of the whole mitogenome. In addition, there were 11 gene-containing homologous regions between the mitogenome and chloroplast genome of Z. latifolia. Also, approximately 85% of fragments from the mitogenome were duplicated in the Z. latifolia nuclear genome. Selection pressure analysis revealed that most of the mitochondrial genes were highly conserved except for ccmFc, ccmFn, matR, rps1, and rps3. A total of 93 RNA editing sites were found in the PCGs of the mitogenome. Z. latifolia and Oryza minuta are the most closely related, as shown by collinear analysis and the phylogenetic analysis. We found that repeat sequences and foreign sequences in the mitogenomes of Oryzoideae plants were associated with genome rearrangements. In general, the availability of the Z. latifolia mitogenome will contribute valuable information to our understanding of the molecular and genomic aspects of Zizania.
Efficient online detection device and method for cottonseed breakage based on Light-YOLO
Authors: Zhang Hongzhou , Li Qingxu , Luo Zhenwei
Published: August 2024

High-quality cottonseed is essential for successful cotton production. The integrity of cottonseed hulls plays a pivotal role in fostering the germination and growth of cotton plants. Consequently, it is crucial to eliminate broken cottonseeds before the cotton planting process. Regrettably, there is a lack of rapid and cost-effective methods for detecting broken cottonseed at this critical stage. To address this issue, this study developed a dual-camera system for acquiring front and back images of multiple cottonseeds. Based on this system, we designed the hardware, software, and control systems required for the online detection of cottonseed breakage. Moreover, to enhance the performance of cottonseed breakage detection, we improved the backbone and YOLO head of YOLOV8m by incorporating MobileOne-block and GhostConv, resulting in Light-YOLO. Light-YOLO achieved detection metrics of 93.8% precision, 97.2% recall, 98.9% mAP50, and 96.1% accuracy for detecting cottonseed breakage, with a compact model size of 41.3 MB. In comparison, YOLOV8m reported metrics of 93.7% precision, 95.0% recall, 99.0% mAP50, and 95.2% accuracy, with a larger model size of 49.6 MB. To further validate the performance of the online detection device and Light-YOLO, this study conducted an online validation experiment, which resulted in a detection accuracy of 86.7% for cottonseed breakage information. The results demonstrate that Light-YOLO exhibits superior detection performance and faster speed compared to YOLOV8m, confirming the feasibility of the online detection technology proposed in this study. This technology provides an effective method for sorting broken cottonseeds.
Response of solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence-based spatial and temporal evolution of vegetation in Xinjiang to multiscale drought
Authors: Xue Cong , Zan Mei , Zhou Yanlian , Chen Zhizhong , Kong Jingjing , Yang Shunfa , Zhai Lili , Zhou Jia
Published: August 2024

Climate change and human activities have increased droughts, especially overgrazing and deforestation, which seriously threaten the balance of terrestrial ecosystems. The ecological carrying capacity and vegetation cover in the arid zone of Xinjiang, China, are generally low, necessitating research on vegetation response to drought in such arid regions. In this study, we analyzed the spatial and temporal characteristics of drought in Xinjiang from 2001 to 2020 and revealed the response mechanism of SIF to multi-timescale drought in different vegetation types using standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI), solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF), normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) data. We employed trend analysis, standardized anomaly index (SAI), Pearson correlation, and trend prediction techniques. Our investigation focused on the correlations between GOSIF (a new SIF product based on the Global Orbital Carbon Observatory-2), NDVI, and EVI with SPEI12 for different vegetation types over the past two decades. Additionally, we examined the sensitivities of vegetation GOSIF to various scales of SPEI in a typical drought year and predicted future drought trends in Xinjiang. The results revealed that the spatial distribution characteristics of GOSIF, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), and enhanced vegetation index (EVI) were consistent, with mean correlations with SPEI at 0.197, 0.156, and 0.128, respectively. GOSIF exhibited the strongest correlation with SPEI, reflecting the impact of drought stress on vegetation photosynthesis. Therefore, GOSIF proves advantageous for drought monitoring purposes. Most vegetation types showed a robust response of GOSIF to SPEI at a 9-month scale during a typical drought year, with grassland GOSIF being particularly sensitive to drought. Our trend predictions indicate a decreasing trend in GOSIF vegetation in Xinjiang, coupled with an increasing trend in drought. This study found that compared with that of the traditional greenness vegetation index, GOSIF has obvious advantages in monitoring drought in the arid zone of Xinjiang. Furthermore, it makes up for the lack of research on the mechanism of vegetation GOSIF response to drought on multiple timescales in the arid zone. These results provide strong theoretical support for investigating the monitoring, assessment, and prediction of vegetation response to drought in Xinjiang, which is vital for comprehending the mechanisms of carbon and water cycles in terrestrial ecosystems.
Filling the gap: brief neuropsychological assessment protocol for glioma patients undergoing awake surgeries
Authors: Ohy Juliana Bastos , Formentin Cleiton , Gripp Daniel Andrade , Nicácio Jr Joab Alves , Velho Maíra Cristina , Vilany Larissa Núbia , Greggianin Gabriel Frizon , Sartori Beatriz , Campos Ana Carolina Pinheiro , Verst Silvia Mazzali , Maldaun Marcos Vinicius Calfat
Published: August 2024

Introduction

The literature lacks a concise neurocognitive test for assessing primary cognitive domains in neuro-oncological patients. This study aims to describe and assess the feasibility of the Ohy-Maldaun Fast Track Cognitive Test (OMFTCT), used to pre- and post-operatively evaluate patients undergoing brain tumor surgery in language eloquent areas. The cognitive diagnosis was used to safely guide intraoperative language assessment.

Methods

This is a prospective longitudinal observational clinical study conducted on a cohort of 50 glioma patients eligible for awake craniotomies. The proposed protocol assesses multiple cognitive domains, including language, short-term verbal and visual memories, working memory, praxis, executive functions, and calculation ability. The protocol comprises 10 different subtests, with a maximum score of 50 points, and was applied at three time points: preoperative, immediately postoperative period, and 30 days after surgery.

Results

Among the initial 50 patients enrolled, 36 underwent assessment at all three designated time points. The mean age of the patients was 45.3 years, and they presented an average of 15 years of education. The predominant tumor types included Glioblastoma, IDH-wt (44.1%), and diffuse astrocytoma, IDH-mutant (41.2%). The tumors were located in the left temporal lobe (27.8%), followed by the left frontal lobe (25%). The full test had an average application time of 23 min.

Conclusion

OMFTCT provided pre- and postoperative assessments of different cognitive domains, enabling more accurate planning of intraoperative language testing. Additionally, recognition of post-operative cognitive impairments played a crucial role in optimizing patient care.
Psychiatrists as forensic authorities: evaluation of dangerous habitual offenders in West Germany during the 1960s – the Helmut Hoinka case
Authors: Kosenko Oxana , Skuban-Eiseler Tobias , Steger Florian
Published: August 2024

Background

Preventive detention for highly dangerous habitual offenders has been in force in Germany for 90 years. The necessity of this measure is hotly debated from a legal perspective. However, the assignment of preventive detention is largely determined by the opinion of medical experts. This article discusses the role of medical experts and the issues they face in evaluating the dangerousness of habitual offenders using the case of the marriage swindler Helmut Hoinka, prosecuted several times in the Federal Republic of Germany in the 1960s.

Methods

Helmut Hoinka’s case was chosen for analysis because of the rare opportunity to access detailed materials that allowed us to follow in detail the reasoning of the medical experts who evaluated Hoinka: medical reports stored in the Gerd Huber Archive at the University of Ulm, and Hoinka’s court case from the State Archive of North Rhine-Westphalia. To examine these sources, we implemented the historical-critical method.

Results

The medical experts who evaluated Hoinka were aware of the defendant’s criminal record prior to the evaluation, which was a source of bias. In addition, the criteria for classifying the offender as a dangerous habitual offender were open to a wide range of interpretations. Hoinka’s high level of intelligence was negatively emphasized. Some test results were considered unreliable because it was assumed that Hoinka had manipulated his answers. Personal value judgments were allowed in assessing Hoinka’s personality. Hoinka’s criminal behavior was considered a medical symptom of psychopathy because it violated general moral and social norms. The medical reports of both experts showed that the psychiatrists believed in the genetic nature of psychopathy and criminal behavior. Their criminological prognosis was fully supported by the court in imposing the sentence.

Conclusion

Challenges to Hoinka’s criminological prognosis were the experts’ personal biases, their belief in the theory of genetic predisposition to crime, the lack of clear criteria for antisocial personality disorder, and the absence of forensic recommendations for “psychopathic” criminals. The experts’ opinion on Hoinka’s criminal predisposition was crucial to the imposition of the sentence.
A randomized controlled add-on trial of fluoxetine and cognitive behavioral therapy for help-seeking men with a sexual interest in children: presentation of the PARACHUTES trial protocol and initial feasibility data
Authors: Adebahr Roberth , Görts Öberg Katarina , Rahm Christoffer , Byström Markus , Sparre Charlotte , Desai Boström Adrian E. , Bottai Matteo , Jokinen Jussi , Savard Josephine
Published: August 2024

Background

Sexual Interest in Children (SIC) is a major risk factor for sexual offending, yet clinical trials are sparse. The present protocol outlines a randomized controlled trial (RCT) that aims to investigate the effectiveness of fluoxetine and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) in help-seeking men with SIC.

Methods

Adult men contacting the Swedish telephone helpline PrevenTell are screened for inclusion and invited to further assessment on site. One hundred and eleven men with SIC (defined as DSM-5 pedophilic disorder or hebephilia) will be randomized (1:1:1 ratio) to receive one of three interventions for 14 weeks: (1) an internet-administered psychoeducational program (iPP), (2) iPP and the addition of fluoxetine 20-40 mg or (3) iPP and the addition of internet-administered CBT (iCBT). Exclusion criteria include severe psychiatric illness, contraindicating treatment and an elevated risk of committing hands-on sexual offences. Symptom intensity is assessed at baseline, pre-treatment, every other week for 12 weeks, and post treatment. The primary outcome measure is the Sexual Interest in Children: Current Assessment Scale (SIC: CAS) that quantifies sexual behaviors associated with SIC as well as perceived distress and impairment. Secondary outcomes include measures of dynamic risk-factors for committing sexual offences.

Results

The data collected during the initial 20 months of recruitment were analyzed to predict the required number of individuals to be screened and estimate the probable length of the data collection phase. As of March 2022 to November 2023, 146 men have called PrevenTell and disclosed a sexual interest in minors. Following pre-screening, 110 men were excluded from participation in the trial. Current SSRI therapy was the primary reason for exclusion (n = 24; 22%), followed by an elevated risk of committing hands-on sexual offences (n = 14; 13%). Among the 31 men who underwent the screening procedure on site, 26 were allocated to either iPP, iPP+fluoxetine, or iPP+iCBT. The recruitment rate indicates that the trial will be concluded within the pre-estimated timeframe.

Discussion

This is the first RCT of treatment with SSRI and iCBT in a population of help-seeking men with SIC. The significance of this trial and its methodological strengths and limitations are discussed.
Cost-effectiveness in an interprofessional training ward within a university department for internal medicine: a monocentric open-label controlled study of the A-STAR Regensburg
Authors: Schlosser-Hupf Sophie , Aichner Elisabeth , Meier Marcus , Albaladejo-Fuertes Sheila , Mahnke Anna , Ruttmann Kirstin , Rusch Sophia , Michels Bernhard , Mehrl Alexander , Kunst Claudia , Schmid Stephan , Müller Martina
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Interprofessional collaboration in healthcare involves diverse professionals working together to address complex patient needs. Interprofessional training wards offer workplace-based interprofessional education in real healthcare settings, fostering collaborative learning among students. While their educational value is widely recognized, debates persist regarding their cost-effectiveness due to limited research. This study assesses the cost efficiency of the interprofessional training ward Regensburg (A-STAR) within the Department of Internal Medicine I at the University Hospital Regensburg, compared to conventional wards.

Methods

From October 2019 to December 2022, 7,244 patient cases were assigned to A-STAR or conventional wards by case managers, with a comprehensive analysis of all associated revenues and costs.

Results

A-STAR treated 1,482 patients, whereas conventional wards treated 5,752 patients, with more males and younger patients at A-STAR. A-STAR achieved higher profit per case (€1,508.74) attributed to increased revenues and reduced material costs. It generated an average of €1,366.54 more Diagnosis Related Groups (DRG) revenue per case annually than conventional wards, due to greater medical complexity reflected in a higher case-mix index (CMI: 2.4 vs. 2.2). The increased case complexity led to longer patient stays (9.0 vs. 8.1 days) and fewer cases treated annually at A-STAR (27.4 cases/year vs. 37.8 cases/year). The higher CMI did not result in a higher proportion of patients requiring isolation. A-STAR exhibited a higher capacity utilization rate (87.1% vs. 83.9%). Personnel costs per case at A-STAR were initially elevated due to enhanced observation by the senior physician but were gradually mitigated by expanding A-STAR’s bed capacity. Material costs were consistently lower on a per-case basis at A-STAR (€1512.02 vs. €1577.12), particularly in terms of medication expenses, indicating more resource-efficient operations. From the A-STAR graduates, 18 individuals were recruited for permanent positions as doctors or nurses over 2 years.

Conclusion

A-STAR demonstrates economic efficiency and stability even during the COVID-19 pandemic. The substantial personnel acquisition is likely influenced by high levels of satisfaction with education and work and is economically relevant in medical staff shortages. These findings provide a compelling rationale for the broader implementation of interprofessional training wards, establishing them as vital platforms for nurturing future professionals.
Diversity in life types of spider mites
Authors: Saito Yutaka , Sato Yukie
Published: August 2024

Phytophagous spider mites, belonging to the subfamily Tetranychinae, have diverse lifestyles. Life type is an important concept for understanding spider mite diversity. There are three basic life types: little web (LW), non-systematic and complicated web (CW), and woven nest (WN), which are characterised by silk production, silk usage patterns, faeces defaecation patterns, and other behavioural outcomes. In this review, we first address the diversity of life types and then discuss the functions of life types as reported by several studies. The primary function of the CW type is to provide a firm footing for residing on the underside of host leaves and to protect mites from the deleterious effects of solar radiation. Next, we discuss how spider mites have evolved various defence mechanisms through life types to avoid their natural enemies. We observed that the life type can affect the results of interspecies competition. Faeces manipulation behaviours observed in the CW and WN type mites may be an adaptation to keep a clean habitat. The CW species showed a significantly higher intrinsic rate of natural increase (rm) than LW and WN species, and such differences may be associated with host plant stability. Although there was no apparent relationship between sex ratio and life type, the extremely female-biased sex ratio in several WN species appears to contribute to local mate competition. In contrast, WNs strongly affect the aggressiveness of males because they provide a recognisable domain that they should defend. Furthermore, the WN type enhances mite aggregation in nests, and their iteroparous reproduction causes generation overlapping. Such traits may lead some WN species to develop advanced sub-sociality (cooperative sociality).
Assessing proprioception in children with upper motor neuron lesions: feasibility, validity, and reliability of the proprioception measurement tool
Authors: Marsico Petra , Meier Lea , Buchmann Anke , Kläy Andrina , van der Linden Marietta L. , Mercer Thomas H. , van Hedel Hubertus J. A.
Published: August 2024

Introduction

To investigate the feasibility, discriminative and convergent validity, and reliability of a lower limb sensor-based proprioception measure in children with upper motor neuron (UMN) lesions.

Method

We assessed three proprioception modalities (joint movement, joint position, and dynamic position sense) of the lower limbs in 49 children with UMN lesions and 50 typically developing (TD) peers (5–19 years). Forty-three children with UMN lesion had a congenital and six an acquired brain lesion and 82% were able to walk without a walking aid. We evaluated the feasibility, compared the test results between children with UMN lesions and TD peers, and calculated Spearman correlations (rs) between the modalities. We quantified relative reliability with Intra-Class Correlation Coefficients (ICC) and absolute reliability with Smallest Detectable Changes (SDC).

Results

Most children with UMN lesions (>88%) found the tests easy to perform. The children with UMN lesions had significantly (p < 0.001) lower proprioceptive function than the TD children. The correlation between the three proprioceptive modalities was moderate to high (0.50 ≤ rs ≤ 0.79). The relative reliability for test-retest and the inter-rater reliability was moderate to high (ICCs = 0.65–0.97), and SDC was between 2° and 15°.

Discussion

The three tests are feasible, and discriminative and convergent validity and reliability were confirmed. Further studies should investigate the influence on motor function and performance in children with UMN lesions.
Impact of climate change on Africa’s major lakes: a systematic review incorporating pathways of enhancing climate resilience
Authors: Mutanda Gideon W. , Nhamo Godwell
Published: August 2024

Climate change is a global phenomenon with profound effects on ecosystems, including lakes, which are an important source of fresh water, fisheries, and biodiversity conservation. Africa, with its limited freshwater resources, remains vulnerable to climate change impacts. This study systematically reviews the literature to understand the impact of climate change on four major African lakes (Chad, Victoria, Tanganyika, and Malawi/Nyasa/Niassa) and to identify pathways for enhancing their resilience and society’s dependent on them. The review was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 guideline using journal articles extracted from the Scopus and Google Scholar databases and analysed using ATLAS.ti 24 software. The study found that climate change and extreme climate events (ECEs) are disproportionately affecting the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of the lakes, leading to changes in lake levels, aquatic life, nutrient mixing, and the provision of ecosystem services. This result in far-reaching implications for the socioeconomic activities and livelihoods that depend on these water bodies. While some lake associations are taking measures to enhance lakes’ resilience to climate change, a lot more needs to be done. To enhance the climate resilience of African lakes and societies, lake associations are encouraged to implement watershed and water level management, invasive species management practices and enforcement of buffer zones around lakes. There is also a need for community engagement and education on climate-resilient practices, development of ECEs early warning systems and agricultural adaptation if lake dependent communities are to be climate-resilient.

Systematic review registration

https://www.prisma-statement.org/.
When artistic is altruistic: the power of beauty from P. A. Sorokin’s sociology to Building Beauty social project
Authors: Paglione Licia
Published: August 2024

The article contributes to the ongoing debates on the social value and sociological relevance of the arts by examining the intuitions of the Russian-American sociologist P. A. Sorokin (1889-1968) on the concept of “beauty” as a force akin to what he calls “Altruistic Creative Love”, both potentially catalysing a process of “fraternisation of humanity”. Starting from the author’s sociological reflections on the relationship between “Altruistic Love” and “beauty” and an analytical model of “altruistic artistic social action,” the article proposes the analysis of a specific social project named Building Beauty, promoted in Turin (Italy) by universities, public bodies and the third sector, which aims to foster the social inclusion of homeless people through participatory processes, discovering expressions of beauty with aesthetic and sociological relevance simultaneously, able to move social transformations.
Measurement and calibration of non-linear shear terms in galaxy cluster fields
Authors: Liu Binyang , Dell’Antonio Ian , Chotard Nicolas , Clowe Douglas
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Galaxy cluster lensing is a powerful tool for measuring the mass of galaxy clusters, but accurate shear measurement and calibration are critical to obtaining reliable results. This study focuses on the measurement and calibration of weak lensing shears to improve mass estimates in cluster lensing. To deal with the problem, we first developed an image simulation pipeline, jedisim, which utilizes galaxy images extracted from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Ultra Deep Field (UDF) and the Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Extragalactic Legacy Survey (CANDELS).

Methods

The simulations represent realistic galaxy distributions and morphologies as input sources. The foreground halo with a Navarro–Frenk–White (NFW) profile is constructed such that the lensing signals of background galaxies can be measured by the Vera C. Rubin Observatory’s Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) Science Pipelines. By comparing the measured reduced shear gmeas and the true reduced shear gtrue, we observe non-linearity up to g≲0.6. We fit polynomials to the data with quadratic correction adequate to g≲0.4. Meanwhile, we conduct mass estimates using the pzmassfitter code on four different clusters.

Results

The mass estimate results are significantly improved after applying the shear calibration derived from the present work—from 4.954±0.504×1014M⊙ to 10.507±0.498×1014M⊙ after calibration for a simulated cluster with the mass of 10×1014M⊙. In multiple cases of validation, the estimated results are all consistent with true cluster mass.

Discussion

This study yields the first relationship between reality and shape measurement of the LSST Science Pipelines and serves as the first step toward the overall goal of mass calibration in cluster lensing. By addressing the challenges in shear measurement and calibration, we aim to enhance the accuracy and reliability of mass estimates in galaxy cluster lensing studies.
Global scientific production on gasless laparoscopy: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Pérez-Reátegui Javier , Arge-Gamarra Brad Jhefferson , Díaz-Ruiz Renato , Hernández-Vásquez Akram
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To characterize the bibliometric characteristics of the global scientific production of original research on gasless laparoscopy in the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) platform.

Materials and methods

A bibliometric study of original articles published up to the year 2023 was carried out. Articles were included following the selection criteria in the Rayyan web application, indexed in the Scopus database. The bibliometric analysis was performed using the Bibliometrix program in the R programming language and VOSviewer. The bibliometric characteristics evaluated were articles, journals, citations, publications, ten most mentioned articles, journals with the highest number of publications, authors and institutional affiliations; and cooccurrence of terms.

Results

A total of 223 publications were included, with the highest number of articles being published in the years 1999 and 2014. The publication with the most citations was found to be a randomized trial by Galizia G in 2001 with 132 citations. We identified 846 authors involved in the production of articles on gasless laparoscopy, with Nakamura H being the most productive author with 15 articles between the years 2007 and 2020, followed by Takeda A and Imoto S, all three affiliated with “Gifu Prefectural Tajimi Hospital”. The country with the highest production was Japan with 64 publications, followed by China and Italy with 46 and 18 publications, respectively. In the top 10 journals with the highest number of publications, “Surgical Endoscopy—Ultrasound and Interventional Techniques” is in first place with 20 articles published on gasless laparoscopy; in addition, most of these are located in Q1 and Q2. Regarding the terms or keywords, it was found that the initial studies had terms related to the disadvantages of pneumoperitoneum and later focused on more specific topics of the application of gasless laparoscopy.

Conclusions

Production on gasless laparoscopy has stagnated, with the topics of interest currently being its application in new, less invasive techniques. The most productive countries are found in the Asian and European continents, with little information collected in Latin America. This fact makes it necessary to increase the production of studies to promote this technique and its possible advantages.
SF method for removing small skin melanocytic nevus
Authors: Zhang Jianfei , Tan Kaixi , Tang Yujun , Xiao Xia , Yang Feng , Chen Jie
Published: August 2024

Background

The most prevalent benign skin tumor is a melanocytic nevus, which can potentially turn cancerous and frequently impair a patient's appearance.

Objective

To find a standardized surgical procedure for the removal of tiny skin pigmented nevis and to look into the effectiveness of the SF technique for doing so.

Methods

A retrospective study was conducted on 723 patients with small-sized pigmented nevi between June 2022 and June 2023. The nevi were removed using the SF method, and the patients' overall health and the duration of the procedure were recorded. Three months following the procedure, the patients completed a questionnaire to assess the effectiveness, recurrence, complications, and degree of satisfaction with the surgical outcome.

Results

Compared with the normal method, SF method had shorter operation time, higher effective rate, no recurrence and other postoperative complications after 6 months, less scar hyperplasia, and good evaluation satisfaction of all patients. No patient was rated as average or poor. No recurrence.

Conclusion

The standardized surgical approaches for the small-size excision of melanocytic nevuses may be easily mastered by primary practitioners using the SF method, making it a valuable tool for practical use.
Temperature as a potential regulator for Ebola virus replication in primary cells from Mops condylurus
Authors: Bokelmann Marcel , Riesle-Sbarbaro Silke A. , Lander Angelika , Wahlbrink Annette , Groschup Martin H. , Balkema-Buschmann Anne , Couacy-Hymann Emmanuel , Prescott Joseph , Kurth Andreas
Published: August 2024

Introduction

For more than 40 years, outbreaks of ebolavirus disease have been documented, but the natural reservoir(s) of ebolaviruses remain unknown. However, recent studies provide evidence that the Angolan free-tailed bat (Mops condylurus), an insectivorous bat belonging to the family Molossidae, is a likely ebolavirus reservoir. Being a heterothermic species, M. condylurus bats are highly tolerant to variations in ambient temperatures, and therefore are capable of living under a broad range of climatic and environmental conditions by using adaptive thermoregulation. Body core temperatures as low as 12.0°C have been measured during winter, while increased body temperatures were observed in their hot roosts or during flight, reaching temperatures typical of fever in most other mammalian species.

Methods

Here, we investigated the impact of temperature fluctuations between 27°C and 42°C on Ebola virus (EBOV) survival and replication kinetics in cells from M. condylurus using qRT-PCR.

Results

We found that primary cells derived from M. condylurus, similar to the bats in their natural environment, were highly tolerant to temperature variations. EBOV replication was temperature-dependent, showing a strong reduction of replication efficiency at low temperature.

Discussion

We therefore conclude, that heterothermy might be involved in balancing the level of EBOV replication and thereby be a key factor for tolerating EBOV infections in vivo.
An Inquiry into the Evolutionary Game among Tripartite Entities and Strategy Selection within the Framework of Personal Information Authorization
Authors: Tang Jie , Peng Zhiyi , Wei Wei
Published: August 2024

Mobile applications (Apps) serve as vital conduits for information exchange in the mobile internet era, yet they also engender significant cybersecurity risks due to their real-time handling of vast quantities of data. This manuscript constructs a tripartite evolutionary game model, “users-App providers-government”, to illuminate a pragmatic pathway for orderly information circulation within the App marketplace and sustainable industry development. It then scrutinizes the evolutionary process and emergence conditions of their stabilizing equilibrium strategies and employs simulation analysis via MATLAB. The findings reveal that (1) there exists a high degree of coupling among the strategic selections of the three parties, wherein any alteration in one actor’s decision-making trajectory exerts an impact on the evolutionary course of the remaining two actors. (2) The initial strategies significantly influence the pace of evolutionary progression and its outcome. Broadly speaking, the higher the initial probabilities of users opting for information authorization, App providers adopting compliant data solicitation practices, and the government enforcing stringent oversight, the more facile the attainment of an evolutionarily optimal solution. (3) The strategic preferences of the triadic stakeholders are subject to a composite influence of respective costs, benefits, and losses. Of these, users’ perceived benefits serve as the impetus for their strategic decisions, while privacy concerns act as a deterrent. App providers’ strategy decisions are influenced by a number of important elements, including their corporate reputation and fines levied by the government. Costs associated with government regulations are the main barrier to the adoption of strict supervision practices. Drawing upon these analytical outcomes, we posit several feasible strategies.
Role of miRNA–mRNA Interactome in Pathophysiology of Arrhythmogenic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Bonet Fernando , Campuzano Oscar , Córdoba-Caballero José , Alcalde Mireia , Sarquella-Brugada Georgia , Braza-Boïls Aitana , Brugada Ramon , Hernández-Torres Francisco , Quezada-Feijoo Maribel , Ramos Monica , Mangas Alipio , Ranea Juan A. G. , Toro Rocío
Published: August 2024

Arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy is an inherited entity characterized by irregular cell–cell adhesion, cardiomyocyte death and fibro-fatty replacement of ventricular myocytes, leading to malignant ventricular arrythmias, contractile dysfunction and sudden cardiac death. Pathogenic variants in genes that encode desmosome are the predominant cause of arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Moreover, signalling pathways such as Wnt/ß-catenin and transforming growth factor-β have been involved in the disease progression. However, still little is known about the molecular pathophysiological mechanisms that underlie arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy pathogenesis. We used mRNA and small RNA sequencing to analyse the transcriptome of health and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy of autopsied human hearts. Our results showed 697 differentially expressed genes and eight differentially expressed miRNAs. Functional enrichment revealed mitochondrial respiratory-related pathways, impaired response to oxidative stress, apoptotic signalling pathways and inflammatory response-related and extracellular matrix response pathways. Furthermore, analysis of the miRNA–mRNA interactome identified eleven negatively correlated miRNA-target pairs for arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Our finding revealed novel arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy-related miRNAs with important regulatory function in disease pathogenesis, highlighting their value as potential key targets for therapeutic approaches.
The Humoral Immune Response against Human Endogenous Retroviruses in Celiac Disease: A Case–Control Study
Authors: Bo Marco , Manetti Roberto , Biggio Maria Luigia , Sechi Leonardo A.
Published: August 2024

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an immune-mediated disease characterized by disruptions of the small intestine. Factors such as viral and bacterial infections can trigger CD. Recently, the reactivation of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) has also been implicated, but little is known about their specific role in patients with celiac disease. Methods: The purpose of this study is to explore the humoral immune response mounted against epitopes derived from the envelope portion of three families of HERVs (HERV-K, HERV-H, and HERV-W) in CD patients. Reactivity against the HERV-K, HERV-H, and HERV-W env-su peptides was tested by indirect ELISAs in plasma of 40 patients with celiac disease and 41 age-matched healthy subjects (HCs). Results: HERV-K, HERV-H, and HERV-W env-su peptides triggered different antibody responses in CD patients compared to HCs, with a stronger reactivity (p = 0.0001). Conclusions: Present results show, for the first time, that epitopes of HERV-K, HERV-H, and HERV-W are more recognized in patients with CD. Taking into consideration their proinflammatory and autoimmune features, this might suggest that HERVs may contribute to the development of CD or its exacerbation in genetically predisposed subjects. Finally, to elucidate the interplay between gut inflammation and HERVs during the inflammatory process, further studies are required. Those investigations should focus on the expression levels of HERVs and their relationship with the immune response, specifically examining anti-transglutaminase 2 (TG2) antibody levels under both gluten-free and gluten-containing dietary conditions.