bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Kant on Feeling and the Power of Judgment
Authors: Cohen Alix
Published: October 2024

My aim in this chapter is to interpret the Critique of the Power of Judgment through the prism of the two capacities of the mind that it critiques, namely the power of judgment, a higher cognitive faculty, and the feeling of pleasure and displeasure, one of the three fundamental faculties of the mind. As this chapter shows, doing so points to a picture of the unity of the third Critique according to which its aim is to demonstrate that, and how, we can think and feel that nature is amenable to, and supportive of, our interests and our needs as rational and yet natural beings. Thereby, this chapter makes sense of the fact that Kant proceeds to a critique of the power of judgment and feeling in a book that is dedicated to two seemingly rather disparate topics, namely aesthetics and teleology. Insofar as Kant takes the experience of beauty and the existence of organisms to enable our awareness of nature’s purposiveness for our moral ends as well as our cognitive ones (its subjective purposiveness for the power of judgment in the case of the latter, and its objective purposiveness for practical reason in the case of the former), his accounts of aesthetics and teleology contribute to the overall aim of the third Critique by showing that nature can be thought of and felt as not only amenable to but supportive of our cognitive as well as our moral interests. On this interpretation, the third Critique’s contribution to Kant’s critical system consists in closing off the possibility that nature might be not just impervious but resistant to our activity and the realization of our ends, whether moral, prudential, or cognitive, by showing that we can legitimately both think and feel at home in nature.
Kant on Modality
Authors: Marshall Colin , Barker Aaron
Published: October 2024

This chapter analyses several key themes in Kant’s views about modality. It begins with the pre-Critical Only Possible Argument in Support of a Demonstration of the Existence of God, in which Kant distinguishes between formal and material elements of possibility, claims that all possibility requires an actual ground, and argues for the existence of a single necessary being. It then briefly considers how Kant’s views change in his mature period, especially concerning the role of form and thought in defining modality. Kant’s mature views, however, present two difficult interpretive puzzles. The first puzzle concerns whether Kant has a generally reductive view of modality. While Kant’s views on logical modality, the role of actuality in grounding possibility, and the relation of modality to cognition all suggest reduction, the chapter argues that the categorial status of modal concepts and the difficulty in even identifying amodal grounds for modal facts all suggest a non-reductive view. The second puzzle concerns whether Kant accepts modal facts or properties at the noumenal level. While Kant’s appeal to noumenal necessary connections, the contingency of noumenal willing, and the idea of a necessary noumenal being suggest that he endorses noumenal modality, his claims that modal concepts express only relations to the faculty of cognition and his claim that modal concepts arise from our distinctive psychological structures, the chapter argues, suggest that he rejects noumenal modality. It concludes by considering potential solutions to these puzzles.
EMBRYONIC FLOWER 1 regulates male reproduction by repressing the jasmonate pathway downstream transcription factor MYB26
Authors: Chen Zhijuan , Lu Jing , Li Xiaoyi , Jiang Danhua , Li Zicong
Published: October 2024

The evolutionarily conserved Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) mediate genome-wide transcriptional silencing and regulate a plethora of development, as well as environmental responses in multicellular organisms. The PRC2-catalyzed trimethylation of lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) is recognized by reader-effector modules of Polycomb repressive complex 1 (PRC1) to implement gene repression. Here, we report that the Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) H3K27me3 effector EMBRYONIC FLOWER 1 (EMF1) interacts with and constrains the R2R3 DNA binding transcription factor MYB26 by a eudicot-conserved motif in the stamen. MYB26 activates the transcription of two NAC domain genes, NAC SECONDARY WALL THICKENING PROMOTING FACTOR1 (NST1) and NST2, whose encoded proteins mediate anther secondary cell thickening in jasmonate (JA)-regulated stamen maturation. In this process, the transcriptional activity of MYB26 is negatively modulated by the JAZ–PRC repressive complex to precisely regulate the expression of NST1 and NST2. Disruption of EMF1 repression stimulates MYB26, leading to the excessive transcription of the two NAC genes and male sterility. Our results reveal a novel mechanism in Polycomb-mediated gene silencing and illustrate that the plant Polycomb complex regulates stamen development by preventing the hypersensitivity of JA responses in male reproduction.
Quantifying energy transition vulnerability helps more just and inclusive decarbonization
Authors: Shen Yifan , Shi Xunpeng , Zhao Zhibo , Grafton R Quentin , Yu Jian , Shan Yuli
Published: October 2024

The COP28 agreement signals “beginning of the end” of the fossil fuel era, calling on countries to contribute to global efforts to transition away from fossil fuels in energy systems in a just, orderly and equitable manner. While a quantitative assessment of country's vulnerability in energy transition is a prerequisite for national and international policy makers to ensure a just and inclusive transition, it is notably absent in the existing research. Here, we develop a conceptual framework based on the vulnerability scoping diagram (VSD) method to assess differences in energy transition vulnerability across countries, with a specific focus on the challenges associated with transitioning away from fossil fuels. The resulting energy transition vulnerability index (ETVI) scores reveal that countries in the Global South generally exhibit higher vulnerability in their energy transition compared to those in the Global North, and this gap has widened over the past decade. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the decade-long trend of continuous decline in global energy transition vulnerability. This study also provides two important applications of ETVI scores, aligning them with major global sustainable development agenda. Firstly, we identify substantial differences in the dynamics of transition vulnerability across seven major party groups in the international climate change negotiations and distinguish four energy transition statuses in relation to achieving global climate goals: Stressful, Leapfrog, Potential Challenges, and Less Painful. Secondly, we demonstrate crucial synergies between energy transition resilience and the 2030 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Enough but not too many: A bi-threshold model for behavioral diffusion
Authors: Alipour Fahimeh , Dokshin Fedor , Maleki Zeinab , Song Yunya , Ramazi Pouria
Published: October 2024

Behavioral diffusion is commonly modeled with the linear threshold model, which assumes that individuals adopt a behavior when enough of their social contacts do so. We observe, however, that in many common empirical settings individuals also appear to abandon a behavior when too many of their close contacts exhibit it. The bi-threshold model captures this tendency by adding an upper threshold, which, when exceeded, triggers behavioral disadoption. Here we report an empirical test of the bi-threshold model. We overcome the significant challenge of estimating individuals’ heterogeneous thresholds by extending a recently introduced decision-tree based algorithm to the bi-threshold setting. Using the context of the spread of news about three different topics on social media (the Higgs boson, the Melbourne Cup horse race, and the COVID-19 vaccination campaign in China), we show that the bi-threshold model predicts user engagement with the news orders of magnitude more accurately than the linear threshold model. We show that the performance gains are due especially to the bi-threshold model’s comparative advantage in predicting behavioral decline, an important but previously overlooked stage of the behavioral diffusion cycle. Overall, the results confirm the existence of the second upper threshold in some contexts of diffusion of information and suggest that a similar mechanism may operate in other decision-making contexts.
Race, Interests, and Perceptions in International Migration: A Review Article
Authors: Sharpe Michael Orlando
Published: October 2024

The field of international migration has largely ignored race. Does the Global North's apparent warm welcome of mostly white Ukrainian Orthodox Christians fleeing Russia's war and its hostility towards black and brown non-Christan Middle Easterners and Africans escaping war and deprivation tell us anything? Although latecomers to the study of international migration, since the 1990s, political scientists have innovated the field of the politics of international migration but few works locate race as a focal point of analysis in either migration politics or international relations. The study of race in international migration in international relations is still rather nascent and centers on the Western world with a focus on how racial differences influence perception of threat, common identities, and even standards of good governance. Andrew Rosenberg's book Undesirable Immigrants: Why Racism Persists in International Migration offers a corrective to much of this in his examination of race and international migration from the perspective of international relations. It builds on the work of many critical and traditional scholars with a novel quantitative approach that “seeks to unmask” the issue of racial bias against “non-white migrants” primarily from the Global South. (11)
Improving soil health in the UK: why a microbial approach is indispensable in attaining sustainable soils
Authors: Neale Daisy , Cullen Lucky , Ranout Aditya Singh
Published: October 2024

Current agricultural approaches in the UK—and across much of the world—are unsustainable, particularly due to their impacts on soil health. With evidence already showing diminishing returns in productivity, which are only predicted to get worse with the climate crisis, restoring the health of soils and soil-dwelling microbes is an essential prerequisite for a thriving planet. This report proposes taking a new approach to soil health based on the soil microbiome. The complex community of soil microbes and their interactions are known to underpin soil health and consequently food security, resilience to climate change, global health, biodiversity, and more. As such, an approach that holistically takes soil into account is needed, rather than the siloed approaches used to date. This report therefore highlights the opportunity to take a microbiome approach to soil and how such an approach could be implemented in the UK going forward, whilst also recommending microbial solutions that can be deployed to improve the UK’s soils now.
Clinico-epidemiological profiling of dengue patients in a non-endemic region of Bangladesh
Authors: Khan Md Mohiuddin , Miah Md Abdul Hannan , Alam Mohammad Khurshed , Islam Mohammad Ariful , Rahman Md Atikur , Noor Ramim Islam Ibne , Mondal Ershad , Mamun A H M Shalakin , Rasel Md , Talukder Md Rubaiyat Tasfin , Islam Salwa , Hasan Mohammad Jahid
Published: October 2024

Background

This study aimed to characterise the clinical and epidemiological profiles of dengue patients and their outcomes during an ongoing outbreak in a non-endemic region of Bangladesh.

Methods

This prospective observational study analysed 805 confirmed dengue cases during August–December 2023. Data on demographic, clinical and laboratory profiles, as well as outcomes, were gathered using a structured questionnaire. Statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS 25.

Results

The mean age of dengue patients was 31.5 (±12.2) y, with the majority being males (81.2%). All 805 patients experienced fever, 792 (98.4%) had headaches, 698 (86.7%) had myalgia, 601 (74.7%) had persistent vomiting and 598 (74.3%) had abdominal pain. Bleeding was observed in 191 (23.7%) patients and neurological symptoms were seen in 209 (25.9%) patients. Most patients (n=781, 97%) exhibited non-severe symptoms, while 3% (n=24) had severe symptoms. Among the 24 severe cases, four (16.7%) patients were reported to have encephalitis and one (4.2%) patient had meningoencephalitis. Moreover, 365 patients (45.3%) had travelled to an endemic region who were predominantly males (n=327, 89.6%). Most dengue patients recovered well with rapid fluid replacement therapy (n=754, 93.7%).

Conclusions

The 2023 dengue outbreak in a non-endemic area of Bangladesh primarily impacted males, young adults, with the majority presenting non-severe symptoms. Further studies are essential to validate and build upon these results.
Attitudes and Experiences Among Swedish NICU Nurses Regarding Skin-to-Skin Care of Infants Born at 22-23 Weeks of Gestation
Authors: Starke Veronica , Thernström Blomqvist Ylva , Karlsson Victoria
Published: October 2024

Background:

Skin-to-skin care (SSC) is an evidence-based care method for preterm-born infants. Staff may hesitate to initiate early SSC, the first or second week of life, for the most extremely preterm infants; 1 reason could be nurses’ attitudes.

Purpose:

The aim was to investigate the attitudes and experiences of neonatal nurses regarding early SSC for the most extremely preterm infants, born at gestational week (GW) 22-23, using an exploratory and descriptive approach.

Methods:

A web-based survey was sent to all nurses across the 6 Swedish units routinely caring for the most extremely preterm infants. Descriptive statistics and qualitative content analysis were used to analyze the data.

Results:

The response rate was 258 out of 547 (47%). This study reveals a spectrum of attitudes and experiences among nurses, ranging from viewing early SSC as an integral aspect of infant care to deeming it very challenging or simply not feasible. The outcomes are presented in 2 categories, describing both facilitators and challenges associated with early SSC. Noteworthy, facilitators include well-implemented guidelines that support early SSC. Conversely, challenges encompass knowledge gaps and the scarcity of scientific evidence demonstrating the safety of all SSC, including early, for the most extremely preterm infants.

Implications for practice and research:

This study underscores the importance of spreading knowledge, and has clinical adapted guidelines about the practical aspects of SSC for infants born at 22-23 GW. Future research is required to clarify safety aspects pertaining to SSC for the most extremely preterm infants.
Germline testing of Iranian families suspected of Lynch syndrome: molecular characterization and current surveillance of families with pathogenic variants in MSH2, MSH6, and PMS2
Authors: Sina Mohammad , Zarinfam Shiva , Giliani Silvia Clara , Poliani Pietro Luigi , Majidzadeh-A Keivan
Published: October 2024

Lynch syndrome accounts for 3–5% of all colorectal and endometrial cancer cases, and suboptimal management of Lynch syndrome in the Middle East resulted in the underdiagnosis of mutation carriers. Probands from 24 unrelated Iranian families with a history of cancer(s) suggestive of Lynch syndrome underwent microsatellite instability analysis or immunohistochemistry, multigene panel testing, copy number variation detection, or multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification. Pathogenic variants were identified in five patients (21%), including three in MSH2, one in MSH6, and one in PMS2. Microsatellite instability analysis showed the lengths of the CAT25 marker in tumor and normal samples were 149 and 148 bp, respectively. Among 21 family members with Lynch syndrome in the MSH2 gene, identified from the three families who previously underwent cascade screening, colorectal and endometrial cancers were the most frequent. While 66% of patients had insurance that included coverage for mutation carrier screening, only one insurance provider extended coverage for next-generation sequencing. Special attention to probands and telematic management of at-risk relatives to organize blood sample collection at their convenience enhanced cascade testing 20-fold per proband. In conclusion, the age of onset and segregation analysis indicated that PMS1 may not be a cancer susceptibility gene, and the tumor spectrum in MSH2 pathogenic carriers is similar to Western countries. Collecting blood samples at patients’ convenience is a possible strategy to reduce the cost of identifying Lynch syndrome through cascade testing. The genetic analysis of patients for inherited cancers would optimize the current management of Lynch syndrome in Iran by omitting noncarriers from surveillance programs.
Best Practices in Supporting Inpatient Communication With Technology During Visitor Restrictions
Authors: Brown Stephanie , Guillergan Jamie , Beedle Eric , Gnie Andre , Wilmer Sterling , Wormack Kristy , Rosenblum Nadine
Published: October 2024

Background

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, healthcare workers around the world have experimented with technologies to facilitate communication and care for patients and their care partners.

Methods

Our team reviewed the literature to examine best practices in utilizing technology to support communication between nurses, patients, and care partners while visitation is limited. We searched four major databases for recent articles on this topic, conducted a systematic screening and review of 1902 articles, and used the Johns Hopkins Nursing Evidence-Based Practice for Nurses and Healthcare Professionals Model & Guidelines to appraise and translate the results of 23 relevant articles.

Results

Our evaluation yielded three main findings from the current literature: (1) Virtual contact by any technological means, especially video visitation, improves satisfaction, reduces anxiety, and is well-received by the target populations. (2) Structured video rounding provides effective communication among healthcare workers, patients, and offsite care partners. (3) Institutional preparation, such as a standardized checklist and dedicating staff to roles focused on facilitating communication, can help healthcare workers create environments conducive to therapeutic virtual communication.

Discussion

In situations that require healthcare facilities to limit visitation between patients and their care partners, the benefits of virtual visitation are evident. There is variance in the types of technologies used to facilitate virtual visits, but across all of them, there are consistent themes demonstrating the benefits of virtual visits and virtual rounding. Healthcare institutions can prepare for future limited-visitation scenarios by reviewing the current evidence and integrating virtual visitation into modern healthcare delivery.
Prognostic Impact of Low Muscle Mass and Inflammatory Markers in Stage III Nonsmall Cell Lung Cancer Turkish Oncology Group and Turkish Society of Radiation Oncology Thoracic Cancer Study Group (08-005)
Authors: Gumustepe Esra , Yavas Güler , Kirakli Esra Korkmaz , Dincbas Fazilet Öner , N Dilek , Hurmuz Pervin , Koksoy Elif Berna , Catal Tuba Kurt , Özler Talar , Yilmaz Aslan Melek Tuğçe , Akyurek Serap
Published: October 2024

Objectives:

The aim of this retrospective multicenter study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of low muscle mass, and inflammatory markers in patients with stage III nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) who received definitive chemoradiotherapy (CRT). Furthermore, the study aimed to determine the threshold value of disease-specific low muscle mass.

Methods:

A total of 461 patients with stage III NSCLC were evaluated. Low muscle mass, prognostic nutritional index (PNI), and biochemical inflammatory markers were assessed. The Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression analysis were used to analyze overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results:

This study found a disease-specific low muscle mass threshold of LSMI <38.7 cm²/m² for women and <45.1 cm²/m² for men, with 25.2% of patients having disease-specific low muscle mass. Multivariate cox regression analysis revealed that low PNI was found to be an independent unfavorable prognostic factor for both PFS (HR=0.67; 95% CI: 0.48-0.92, P= 0.015) and OS (HR=0.67; 95% CI: 0.50-0.91, P=0.008). Other factors including ECOG PS 3 (HR=7.76; 95% CI: 1.73-34.76, P=0.007), induction CT (HR=0.66; 95% CI: 0.49-0.88, P= 0.004), and disease-specific low muscle mass (HR=1.40; 95% CI: 1.02-1.92, P= 0.038) also had independent effects on prognosis.

Conclusions:

The present study provides evidence that the presence of low muscle mass and low PNI significantly impacts the prognosis of patients with stage III NSCLC who undergo definitive CRT. Furthermore, our study is notable for being the first multicenter investigation to identify a disease-specific low muscle mass threshold.
Alternative Perspectives on Obesity and Hypertension
Authors: Schulhof Atara , Frishman William H.
Published: October 2024

It is known that obesity and hypertension have a relationship with one another. Often, obesity is thought to directly cause hypertension, with a list of mechanisms commonly cited. This, however, does not do the relationship justice. Not only can the directionality of the relationship be flipped, but the mechanisms may be misattributed confounders, themselves. Beyond this, some argue that the results of trials using glucagon-like-peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP1R) medications suggest a causal relationship between obesity and hypertension, but this will be debunked. The relationship is far from linear, and mainstream literature often excludes key confounders that will be discussed in this article including food insecurity, mental health, socioeconomic status (SES), and weight stigma and discrimination. The factors used to measure the risk of hypertension as well as the measurements of hypertension, itself, need to be reexamined. For instance, there may be a high amount of “false positives” among the diagnosed. Finally, current research needs to be critically evaluated for forms of weight centrism and weight bias, deciphering improper assumptions from true, evidence-based science.
Impact of Surgeon Specialization on Outcomes in Emergency Colorectal Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Bunjo Zachary , Traeger Luke , Murshed Ishraq , Bedrikovetski Sergei , Dudi-Venkata Nagendra N. , Dobbins Christopher , Sammour Tarik
Published: October 2024

BACKGROUND:

Colorectal emergencies represent a large proportion of acute general surgical workload and carry significant mortality.

OBJECTIVE:

Identify the influence of surgeon specialization on mortality and other outcomes in emergency colorectal surgery.

DATA SOURCES:

Systematic searches of Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, and Cochrane electronic databases were performed for studies published from January 1, 1990, to August 27, 2023.

STUDY SELECTION:

Studies investigating outcomes in emergency colorectal surgery for adults, comparing colorectal against noncolorectal surgeon specialization, were included. Exclusion criteria were: 1) publications studying primarily pediatric populations; 2) studies incorporating patients who had undergone surgery before 1990; and 3) studies only published in abstract form or non-English language.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES:

Primary outcomes were 30-day mortality and in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes were rates of anastomotic leak, reintervention, primary anastomosis, and laparoscopic approach.

RESULTS:

Of 7676 studies identified, 155 were selected for full-text review and 21 were included for quantitative analysis. Eleven studies showed improved 30-day (OR 0.64; 95% CI, 0.60–0.68; p < 0.0001) and in-hospital mortality (OR 0.66; 95% CI, 0.49–0.89; p = 0.007) with colorectal specialization. There was a significantly higher rate of primary anastomosis (OR 2.95; 95% CI, 2.02–4.31; p < 0.0001) and use of laparoscopic surgery (OR 2.38; 95% CI, 1.42–4.00; p = 0.001) among specialized colorectal surgeons. Specialization was also associated with a significant reduction in any stoma formation (OR 0.52; 95% CI, 0.28–0.98; p = 0.04). No significant difference was observed for anastomotic leak (OR 0.70; 95% CI, 0.45–1.07; p = 0.10) or reintervention rates (OR 0.78; 95% CI, 0.55–1.10; p = 0.16).

LIMITATIONS:

Heterogeneity exists within the included patient populations and definitions of colorectal specialization observed in different countries.

CONCLUSIONS:

Emergency colorectal surgery undertaken by specialized colorectal surgeons is associated with significantly improved postoperative mortality, lower rates of stoma formation, and increased rates of primary anastomosis and minimally invasive surgery.

PROSPERO REGISTRATION:

CRD42022300541.
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for COVID-19 During the Delta and Omicron Waves in North America
Authors: Hickey Andrew J. , Greendyk Richard , Cummings Matthew J. , Abrams Darryl , O’Donnell Max R. , Rackley Craig R. , Barbaro Ryan P. , Brodie Daniel , Agerstrand Cara
Published: October 2024

Clinical outcomes for patients with severe acute respiratory failure caused by different variants of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) supported with extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) are incompletely understood. Clinical characteristics, pre-ECMO management, and hospital mortality at 90 days for adults with COVID-19 who received venovenous ECMO (VV-ECMO) at North American centers during waves predominated by Delta (August 16 to December 12, 2021) and Omicron (January 31 to May 31, 2022) severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants were compared in a competing risks framework. One thousand seven hundred and sixty-six patients (1,580 Delta, 186 Omicron) received VV-ECMO for COVID-19 during the Delta- and Omicron-predominant waves in North American centers. In the unadjusted competing risks model, no significant difference was observed in risk of hospital mortality at 90 days between patients during the Delta- versus Omicron-predominant wave (subhazard ratio [sHR], 0.94; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.74–1.19), but patients supported with VV-ECMO during the Omicron-predominant wave had a significantly lower adjusted risk of hospital mortality at 90 days (subhazard ratio, 0.71; 95% CI, 0.51–0.99). Patients receiving VV-ECMO during the Omicron-predominant wave had a similar unadjusted risk of hospital mortality at 90 days, but a significantly lower adjusted risk of hospital mortality at 90 days than those receiving VV-ECMO during the Delta-predominant wave.
Machine Learning Assisted Stroke Prediction in Mechanical Circulatory Support: Predictive Role of Systemic Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Authors: Scioscia Jacob P. , Murrieta-Alvarez Ivan , Li Shiyi , Xu Zicheng , Zheng Guangyao , Uwaeze Jason , Walther Carl P. , Gray Zachary , Nordick Katherine V. , Braverman Vladimir , Shafii Alexis E. , Loor Gabriel , Hochman-Mendez Camila , Ghanta Ravi K. , Chatterjee Subhasis , Frazier O Howard , Rosengart Todd K. , Liao Kenneth K. , Mondal Nandan K.
Published: October 2024

Stroke continues to be a major adverse event in advanced congestive heart failure (CHF) patients after continuous-flow left ventricular assist device (CF-LVAD) implantation. Abnormalities in mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) have been critically implicated in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and cerebral ischemia. We hypothesize that prior stroke may be associated with systemic mitochondrial OxPhos abnormalities, and impaired more in post-CF-LVAD patients with risk of developing new stroke. We studied 50 CF-LVAD patients (25 with prior stroke, 25 without); OxPhos complex proteins (complex I [C.I]–complex V [C.V]) were measured in blood leukocytes. Both at baseline (pre-CF-LVAD) and postoperatively (post-CF-LVAD), the prior-stroke group had significantly lower C.I, complex II (C.II), complex IV (C.IV), and C.V proteins when compared to the no-prior-stroke group. Oxidative phosphorylation proteins were significantly decreased in prior-stroke group at post-CF-LVAD compared to pre-CF-LVAD. Machine learning Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) and Random Forest modeling identified six prognostic factors that predicted postoperative stroke with an area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) of 0.93. Oxidative phosphorylation protein reduction appeared to be associated with the new stroke after implantation. Our study found for the first time the existence of mitochondrial dysfunction at the peripheral level in CHF patients with prior ischemic stroke even before CF-LVAD implantation. The changes in OxPhos protein expression could serve as biomarkers in predicting new post-CF-LVAD strokes.
Three-Dimensional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Musculoskeletal System
Authors: Ahlawat Shivani , Kumar Neil M. , Ghasemi Ali , Fayad Laura M.
Published: October 2024

Although conventional 2-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) sequences have traditionally comprised the foundational imaging strategy for visualization of musculoskeletal anatomy and pathology, the emergence of isotropic volumetric 3-dimensional sequences offers to advance musculoskeletal evaluation with comparatively similar image quality and diagnostic performance, shorter acquisition times, and the added advantages of improved spatial resolution and multiplanar reformation capability. The purpose of this review article is to summarize the available 3-dimensional MR sequences and their role in the management of patients with musculoskeletal disorders, including sports imaging, rheumatologic conditions, peripheral nerve imaging, bone and soft tissue tumor imaging, and whole-body MR imaging.
Variation and Arrangement of the Digastric Muscle in a Chinese Population
Authors: Shen Bo-zhi , Tang Min-feng , Zhuang Xiao-jun , Chan Pei-ran , Zhang Yong-jie
Published: October 2024

The digastric, a prominent anatomic feature of the head and neck, exhibits clear ethnographic differences in the incidence of variation in its anterior belly (AB) and the relationship of its intermediate tendon (IT) to the stylohyoid (SH). There is a limited amount of information available regarding the digastric in the Chinese population, with most descriptions being individual cases. The present study aims to investigate the variability of AB, elucidate the relationship between IT and SH, and further address the arrangement of individual digastric muscles according to the type of AB and posterior belly (PB) of the digastric, as well as IT, in a Chinese population. Anatomic dissections of the head and neck were carried out bilaterally after student-performed neck dissections during a topographic anatomy course. The types of AB, PB, and IT were recorded to characterize and classify each digastric muscle. The incidence of AB variation was 21.05%. IT type Ⅰ and IT type Ⅱ accounted for 31.25% and 68.75%, respectively. The gross anatomy of the digastric was dominated by the arrangement of AB type I, IT type Ⅱ, and PB type I (63.16%). In addition, 2 rare AB variations were identified. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report describing individual digastric arrangements and anatomically defining the normal digastric arrangement in the Chinese population. Careful consideration of the variant and anomaly of the digastric is critical for both surgeons and radiologists to provide accurate diagnostic and therapeutic procedures.
Reinforcing Global Oversight of Organ Transplantation: Activity and Outcome Monitoring Through the Development of Registries
Authors: Spiro Michael , Raptis Dimitri A. , Lentine Krista L. , Cooper Matthew , Waterman Amy D. , Oniscu Gabriel C. , Opdam Helen I. , Kim S. Joseph , Procaccio Francesco , Nagral Sanjay , Gardiner Dale , Rela Mohamed , Dominguez-Gil Beatriz , Delmonico Francis L.
Published: October 2024

Establishing transparency and oversight of organ transplantation by regulatory agencies is of paramount importance to assure ethical, legal, and clinically robust transplantation practices. Registries reporting activity and outcome data of the donor and recipient, including donor source (living or deceased), must be developed for each transplant and should be a mandatory requirement to achieve accreditation to perform transplant surgeries. Collected data for the living organ donor must include the nationality, the nature of their relationship with the recipient, and the complications encountered by living donors that result in prolonged morbidity or mortality. Long-term patient and graft survival must be reported for the recipient with the underlying reasons for mortality or graft loss. To retain the authorization to perform organ transplantation, a facility must ensure that it reports this required information regarding every organ transplant.
Asymmetric autocatalytic reactions and their stationary distribution
Authors: Gallinger Cameron , Popovic Lea
Published: October 2024

We consider a general class of autocatalytic reactions, which has been shown to display stochastic switching behaviour (discreteness-induced transitions (DITs)) in some parameter regimes. This behaviour was shown to occur either when the overall species count is low or when the rate of inflow and outflow of species is relatively much smaller than the rate of autocatalytic reactions. The long-term behaviour of this class was analysed in Bibbona
et al.
(Bibbona
et al.
2020
J. R. Soc. Interface
17
, 20200243 (doi:10.1098/rsif.2020.0243)) with an analytic formula for the stationary distribution in the symmetric case. We focus on the case of asymmetric autocatalytic reactions and provide a formula for an approximate stationary distribution of the model. We show this distribution has different properties corresponding to the distinct behaviour of the process in the three parameter regimes; in the DIT regime, the formula provides the fraction of time spent at each of the stable points.
Spectral stability of travelling waves in a thin-layer two-fluid Couette flow
Authors: Mora Saenz G. J. , Tanveer S.
Published: October 2024

We consider linear stability of travelling waves in a thin-film model for two-fluid Couette flow when a thin layer of the more viscous fluid resides next to the stationary wall. We prove that in a neighbourhood of a bifurcation point, characterized by a positive integer

k

b

, the principal branch (

k

b

=
1

) is spectrally stable while all other branches (

k

b

>
1

) are spectrally unstable. For larger amplitude travelling waves, we establish a number of conditional theorems where the conditions were checked with help of computer assist for a set of parameter values. Using these theorems, we rigorously confirm earlier numerical evidence (D. Papageorgiou & S. Tanveer,
Proc. R. Soc. A
, (doi:
10.1098/rspa.2019.0367
)) on stability and instability of travelling waves over a range of parameters.
Vocal consensus building for collective departures in wild western gorillas
Authors: Nellissen Lara , Fuh Terence , Zuberbühler Klaus , Masi Shelly
Published: October 2024

The ability to coordinate actions is of vital importance for group-living animals, particularly in relation to travel. Groups can only remain cohesive if members possess a cooperative mechanism to overcome differences in individual priorities and social power when coordinating departures. To better understand how hominids achieve spatio-temporally coordinated group movements, we investigated vocally initiated group departures in three habituated groups of western gorillas (
Gorilla gorilla
) in the Central African Republic. The large sexual dimorphism of gorillas has led to the untested assumption that the silverback males are the sole decision-makers in gorilla groups, although there are also observations that suggest otherwise. To address this, we analysed the direction and timing of group departures and found that high-ranking individuals (silverbacks and high-ranking females) were more successful in indicating the direction of future travel than others, but that the timing of departure was the apparent result of a cumulative vocal voting process among all adult group members. Our findings illustrate that even in species with a large sexual size dimorphism, travel decisions can be taken collectively via a consensus-building process.
Gardens reduce seasonal hunger gaps for farmland pollinators
Authors: Timberlake T. P. , Tew N.E. , Memmott J.
Published: October 2024

Gardens can benefit pollinators living in surrounding farmland landscapes, but the reason for their value is not clear. Gardens are no different from many semi-natural farmland habitats in terms of the
quantity
of floral resources (pollen and nectar) they produce, but the
timing
of their resource supply is very different, which may explain their value. We show that gardens provide 15% of overall annual nectar in farmland landscapes in Southwest UK, but between 50% and 95% during early spring and late summer when farmland supplies are low. Gardens can therefore reduce seasonal nectar gaps experienced by farmland bumblebees. Consistent with this pattern, bumblebee activity increased in gardens relative to farmland during early spring and late summer. An agent-based model reinforces this point, showing that
timing
, not
quantity
, of garden nectar supply enhances bumblebee colony growth and survival in farmland. We show that over 90% of farmland in Great Britain is within 1 km of a garden and therefore positive actions by gardeners could have widespread spillover benefits for pollinators across the country. Given the widespread distribution of gardens around the world, we highlight their important interplay with surrounding landscapes for pollinator ecology and conservation.
Animal personality in multiple stressor environments: the evolutionary ecology of among-individual differences in responses to stressor suites
Authors: Grunst Andrea S. , Grunst Melissa L.
Published: October 2024

Animal personality differences may have evolved as alternative strategies for negotiating multiple stressor landscapes. Indeed, ecologists are increasingly recognizing that interactions among multiple stressors can transform selective landscapes and behavioural and physiological responses to stress regimes. Yet, evaluating this hypothesis poses challenges, as most studies involving relationships between personality variation and the environment consider single stressors. Here, we review the literature to explore the theory and evidence that multiple stressor environments may mediate personality variation. We consider effects on evolution of personality variation, as influenced by life-history, energetic and behavioural trade-offs, and effects on phenotypic expression of personality traits. We then explore how personality variation may modulate behavioural and physiological responses to multiple stressors, and how differential responses may be affected by personality-dependent movement ecology and cognitive strategies. Among-individual differences in responses to multiple stressors are critical to elucidate, as multi-stress interactions may transform animal behavioural and physiological responses relative to those predicted under single stressor scenarios, and because among-individual variation comprises the basis for evolutionary shifts in stress responsiveness and population resiliency to global environmental change.
Do patients comply with 12-hour lithium blood level timing? Findings from a controlled clinical trial and a real-world clinical setting
Authors: Jacobsen Søren L. , Kraft Christian L. , Nierenberg Andrew A. , Devantier Torben A. , Köhler-Forsberg Ole
Published: October 2024

Background

Lithium blood levels are measured routinely 12 hours after lithium dosing, but no study has evaluated the actual compliance of patients with the 12-hour levels.

Methods

First, we used the US multicenter clinical trial “Bipolar CHOICE” (n=145 patients treated with lithium with N=287 lithium blood tests), where participants reported the time since the last lithium dose at lithium blood tests. Second, we included all lithium blood tests (3,179 individuals, 52,837 blood tests) from hospitals and private practitioners in the Central Denmark Region (CDR, approximate population 1.3 million) during 2012-2022 including time of lithium blood tests and the registered time when patients were supposed to take their lithium dose.

Results

In Bipolar CHOICE, participants took the lithium blood test at a mean/median of 12.8/12 hours (SD=9.1, IQR=10.5-14) after the lithium dose, but the range was 0.5-120 hours and 44.9% had the blood test taken <10 or >14 hours after the lithium dose. Those with a blood test >14 hours after the lithium dose had significantly lower lithium levels (0.41 vs. 0.64). In the CDR, the mean/median time was 14.5/13.7 (SD=3.8, IQR=12.0-15.8) and 49.7% had the blood test taken <10 or >14 hours after the supposed intake of lithium. Those with >16 hours between lithium intake and the lithium blood test were more often followed by general practitioners and showed higher creatinine concentrations.

Conclusions

Approximately half of lithium blood tests do not comply with guideline-based recommendations for 12-hour trough levels, emphasizing the need for solutions solving this clinical need.
Transdermal Delivery of Ultradeformable Cationic Liposomes Complexed with miR211-5p (UCL-211) Stabilizes BRAFV600E+ Melanocytic Nevi
Authors: Chhibber Tanya , Scherzer Michael T. , Prokofyeva Anastasia , Becker Carly , Zitnay Rebecca Goldstein , Smith Eric , Khurana Nitish , Skliar Mikhail , Deacon Dekker C. , VanBrocklin Matthew W. , Ghandehari Hamidreza , Judson-Torres Robert L. , Jafari Paris
Published: October 2024

Small non-coding RNAs (e.g. siRNA, miRNA) are involved in a variety of melanocyte-associated skin conditions and act as drivers for alterations in gene expression within melanocytes. These molecular changes can potentially affect the cellular stability of melanocytes and promote their oncogenic transformation. Thus, small RNAs can be considered as therapeutic targets for these conditions, however, their topical delivery to the melanocytes through the epidermal barrier is challenging. We synthesized and extensively evaluated ultradeformable cationic liposome (UCLs) carriers complexed with synthetic microRNAs (miR211-5p; UCL-211) for transdermal delivery to melanocytes. UCL-211 complexes were characterized for their physicochemical properties, encapsulation efficiency, and deformability, which revealed a significant advantage over conventional liposomal carriers. Increased expression of miR211-5p stabilizes melanocytic nevi and keeps them in growth-arrested state. We did a comprehensive assessment of cellular delivery, and biological activity of the miR211-5p carried by UCL-211in vitroand their permeation through the epidermis of intact skin usingex vivohuman skin tissue explants. We also demonstrated,in vivo, that topical delivery of miR211-5p by UCL-211 stabilized BRAFV600E+ nevi melanocytes in a benign nevi state.
Topical administration of novel FKBP12 ligand MP-004 improves retinal function and structure in retinitis pigmentosa models
Authors: Lara-López Araceli , Gonzalez-Imaz Klaudia , Rodríguez-Hidalgo María , Gastesi Miren Sarasola- , Escudero-Arrarás Leire , Milla-Navarro Santiago , de la Villa Pedro , Sagartzazu-Aizpurua Maialen , Miranda José Ignacio , Aizpurua Jesús María , López de Munain Adolfo , Vallejo-Illarramendi Ainara , Ruiz-Ederra Javier
Published: October 2024

Purpose

This study evaluates the therapeutic potential of MP-004, a novel FKBP12 ligand, in the treatment of inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). MP-004 targets FKBP12/RyR interaction, which is disrupted in several neurological disorders with underlying oxidative stress.

Methods

The toxicity and efficacy of MP-004 were examinedin vitroin 661W cells. Efficacy was evaluated in phototoxic and H2O2-induced damage using impedance assays, calcium igaing andin situPLA.In vivo,MP-004 efficacy was evaluated in therd10mouse model of retinitis pigmenetosa (RP) by topical ocular instillation. Retinal function was assessed by electroretinography (ERG), visual acuity was measured using a water maze test, and retinal structure was analyzed morphometrically.

Results

MP-004 exhibited low toxicity (LD50: 1.22 mM) and effectively protected 661W cells from phototoxicity (EC50: 30.6 nM). Under oxidative stress conditions, MP-004 preserved FKBP12.6/RyR2 interaction, partially restored endoplasmic reticulum calcium stores and prevented cell death.In vivo,MP-004 significantly preserved retinal function inrd10mice, with ERG wave amplitude increases of up to 50% in scotopic and 71% in photopic conditions, corresponding to rod and cone functions, respectively. Additionally, MP-004 improved visual acuity for low spatial frequency patterns, and preserved retinal structure with a 23% increase in outer nuclear layer thickness, and preservation in the number of rods and cones and their segment length.

Conclusions

MP-004 shows promise as a therapeutic agent for RP, preserving retinal structure and function, likely through modulation of FKBP12.6/RyR2 interaction. Further studies are needed to explore its pharmacokinetics and efficacy in other IRD models.
S100a4+alveolar macrophages accelerate the progression of precancerous atypical adenomatous hyperplasia by promoting the angiogenic function regulated by fatty acid metabolism
Authors: Huang Hong , Yang Ying , Zhang Qiuju , Yang Yongfeng , Xiong Zhenqi , Mao Shengqiang , Song Tingting , Wang Yilong , Liu Zhiqiang , Bu Hong , Zhang Li , Zhang Le
Published: October 2024

Lung cancer is preceded by premalignant lesions, and what factors drive this transformation and the potential regulatory mode in the context of tumor initiation remain to be elucidated. In the course of precancerous lesions, we found a phasic shift in metabolic patterns. Macrophages are a heterogeneous cell population with high plasticity in the tumor microenvironment. Single-cell interaction and metabolic analyses highlighted a cellular state, S100a4+alveolar macrophages, which exhibited distinct fatty acid metabolic activity, such as palmitic acid metabolism, at the atypical adenomatous hyperplasia stage, accompanied by an angiogenic-promoting function in a pre-neoplastic setting. These findings were reproducible in human single-cell transcriptomes and had been confirmed by histopathological staining and in vitro cell coculture assays. Taken together, the results from this study demonstrated that the S100a4+alveolar macrophage subset contributes to tumorigenesis by altering its metabolic state, suggesting that metabolic interventions targeting this cell state in the early stage of disease may delay neoplastic transformation of the lung epithelium.