bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Perforin-2 is dispensable for host defense against
Aspergillus fumigatus
and
Candida albicans
Authors: Aufiero Mariano A. , Hung Li-Yin , Herbert De'Broski R. , Hohl Tobias M. 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

Myeloid phagocytes are essential for antifungal immunity against pulmonary
Aspergillus fumigatus
and systemic
Candida albicans
infections. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying fungal clearance by phagocytes remain incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the role of Perforin-2 (
Mpeg1
) in antifungal immunity. We found that
Mpeg1
−/−
mice generated on a mixed C57BL/6J-DBA/2 background exhibited enhanced survival, reduced lung fungal burden, and greater neutrophil fungal killing activity compared to wild-type C57BL/6J (B6) mice, suggesting that Perforin-2 may impair antifungal immune responses. However, when we compared
Mpeg1
−/−
mice with co-housed
Mpeg
+/+
littermate controls, these differences were no longer observed, indicating that initial findings were likely influenced by differences in the murine genetic background or the microbiota composition. Furthermore, Perforin-2 was dispensable for antifungal immunity during
C. albicans
bloodstream infection. These results suggest that Perforin-2 is not essential for host defense against fungal infections in otherwise immune-competent mice.

IMPORTANCE

Humans encounter fungal pathogens daily and rely on innate immune cells to clear
Aspergillus fumigatus
, the leading cause of mold pneumonia worldwide, and
Candida albicans
, the most common cause of fungal bloodstream infections. The World Health Organization has classified
A. fumigatus
and
C. albicans
as critical priority fungal pathogens due to the emergence of drug resistance and the increasing number of susceptible individuals across the globe. The mechanisms by which innate immune cells clear these fungal pathogens remain incompletely defined. In this study, we examined the role of a pore-forming protein called Perforin-2 in host defense against these fungal pathogens, in part because Perforin-2 has been implicated in antibacterial host defense. Our findings reveal that Perforin-2 is dispensable for antifungal immunity against respiratory
A. fumigatus
and systemic
C. albicans
infections in mice, suggesting that the antimicrobial activity of Perforin-2 does not extend to these two fungal pathogens.
Bisphenol S impairs oocyte quality by inducing gut microbiota dysbiosis
Authors: Zhang Jiaming , Yu Xiaoxia , Li Weidong , Jiang Yunjing , Zhang Liangran , Wang Shunxin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACT

A good quality egg is essential for a successful pregnancy and early embryo development. Oocyte development is vulnerable to environmental exposures. Bisphenol S (BPS) is widely used as a replacement for its analog bisphenol A, but the reproductive toxicity of BPS has been of great concern. In this study, we showed that BPS exposure induces dysbiosis of the gut microbiota, which further leads to intestinal permeability and inflammation, and ultimately impairs oocyte quality. More importantly, we found that alginate oligosaccharide reshapes the gut microbiota to improve gut homeostasis, thereby preventing the deleterious effects of BPS on the gut and oocytes. Overall, this study not only demonstrates that BPS exposure impairs the intestine and oocytes by inducing dysbiosis of the gut microbiota but also develops a preventive strategy.

IMPORTANCE
Oocyte development is vulnerable to stimulation by intrinsic and extrinsic factors, particularly many environmental pollutants and chemicals in daily life. The reproductive toxicity of bisphenol S has been of great concern, although it is widely used as a safe substitute for its analog bisphenol A. However, it is not known how bisphenol S impairs oocyte quality. This work presents the exciting finding that bisphenol S induces gut microbiota dysbiosis, which further leads to increased intestinal permeability and inflammation and ultimately damages oocytes. More importantly, we show that alginate oligosaccharide improves gut homeostasis by reshaping the gut microbiota, therefore preventing the bisphenol S-induced gut microbiota dysbiosis and gut and oocyte damage. These findings present a major advance in the understanding of bisphenol S toxicity to oocytes and also provide a preventive strategy.
Dexterity assessment of hospital workers: prospective comparative study
Authors: Joseph Tobin , Brown Oliver I , Khalid Sara , Giannoudi Marilena , Sagar Rebecca C , Bunola-Hadfield Elena , Chapman Stephen J , A Slater Thomas , Straw Sam , Drozd Michael 
Published: December 2024

AbstractObjectivesTo compare the manual dexterity and composure under pressure of people in different hospital staff roles using a buzz wire game.DesignProspective, observational, comparative study (Tremor study).SettingLeeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, Leeds, UK, during a three week period in 2024.Participants254 hospital staff members comprising of 60 physicians, 64 surgeons, 69 nurses, and 61 non-clinical staff.Main outcome measuresSuccessful completion of the buzz wire game within five minutes and occurrence of swearing and audible noises of frustration.ResultsOf the 254 hospital staff that participated, surgeons had significantly higher success rates in completing the buzz wire game within five minutes (84%, n=54) compared with physicians (57%, n=34), nurses (54%, n=37), and non-clinical staff (51%, n=31) (P<0.001). Time-to-event analysis showed that surgeons were quicker to successfully complete the game, independent of age and gender. Surgeons exhibited the highest rate of swearing during the game (50%, n=32), followed by nurses (30%, n=21), physicians (25%, n=60), and non-clinical staff (23%, n=14) (P=0.004). Non-clinical staff showed the highest use of frustration noises (75%), followed by nurses (68%), surgeons (58%), and physicians (52%) (P=0.03).ConclusionsSurgeons showed greater dexterity, but higher levels of swearing compared with other hospital staff roles, while nurses and non-clinical staff showed the highest rates of audible noises of frustration. The study highlights the diverse skill sets across hospital staff roles. Implementation of a surgical swear jar initiative should be considered for future fundraising events.
Thermodynamical topology with multiple defect curves for dyonic AdS black holes
Authors: Chen Zi-Qing , Wei Shao-Wen 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Dyonic black holes with quasitopological electromagnetism exhibit an intriguing phase diagram with two separated first-order coexistence curves. In this paper, we aim to uncover its influence on the black hole thermodynamical topology. At first, we investigate the phase transition and phase diagram of the dyonic black holes. Comparing with previous study that there is no black hole phase transition region for a middle pressure, we find this region can narrow or disappear by fine tuning the coupling parameter. Instead, two first-order phase transitions can be observed. Importantly, we uncover that such novel phase diagram shall lead to a multiple defect curve phenomenon in black hole topology where each dyonic black hole is treated as one defect in the thermodynamical parameter space. By examining the topology, it is shown that there could be one, three, or five black hole states for given pressure and temperature. For each case, the topological number is calculated. Our results show that the topological number always takes value of

$$+1$$

+
1

, keeping unchanged even when the multiple defect curves appear. Therefore, our study provides an important ingredient on understanding the black hole thermodynamical topology.
Analyzing the speed of sound in neutron star with machine learning
Authors: Chatterjee Sagnik , Sudhakaran Harsha , Mallick Ritam 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Matter properties at the intermediate densities are still unknown to us. In this work, we use a neural network approach to study matter at intermediate densities to analyze the variation of the speed of sound and the measure of trace anomaly considering astrophysical constraints of mass–radius measurement of 18 neutron stars. Our numerical results show that there is a sharp rise in the speed of sound just beyond the saturation energy density. It attains a peak around 3–4 times the saturation energy density and, after that, decreases. This hints towards the appearance of new degrees of freedom and smooth transition from hadronic matter in massive stars. The trace anomaly is maximum at low density (surface of the stars) and decreases as we reach high density. It approaches zero and can even be slightly negative at the centre of massive stars. It has a negative trough beyond the maximal central densities of neutron stars. The change in sign of the trace anomaly hints towards a near-conformal matter at the centre of neutron stars, which may not necessarily be conformal quark matter.
Review and Comparative Evaluation of Resource-Adaptive Collaborative Training for Heterogeneous Edge Devices
Authors: Radovič Boris , Canini Marco , Pejović Veljko 
Published: December 2024

Growing concerns about centralized mining of personal data threatens to stifle further proliferation of machine learning (ML) applications. Consequently, a recent trend in ML training advocates for a paradigm shift – moving the computation of ML models from a centralized server to a federation of edge devices owned by the users whose data is to be mined. Though such decentralization aims to alleviate concerns related to raw data sharing, it introduces a set of challenges due to the hardware heterogeneity among the devices possessing the data. The heterogeneity may, in the most extreme cases, impede the participation of low-end devices in the training or even prevent the deployment of the ML model to such devices.
Recent research in distributed collaborative machine learning (DCML) promises to address the issue of ML model training over heterogeneous devices. However, the actual extent to which the issue is solved remains unclear, especially as an independent investigation of the proposed methods’ performance in realistic settings is missing. In this paper, we present a detailed survey and an evaluation of algorithms that aim to enable collaborative model training across diverse devices. We explore approaches that harness three major strategies for DCML, namely Knowledge Distillation, Split Learning, and Partial Training, and we conduct a thorough experimental evaluation of these approaches on a real-world testbed of 14 heterogeneous devices. Our analysis compares algorithms based on the resulting model accuracy, memory consumption, CPU utilization, network activity, and other relevant metrics, and provides guidelines for practitioners as well as pointers for future research in DCML.
Social Capital and Depressive Symptoms: A Systematic Review
Authors: Kemppainen Johanna , Timonen Markku 
Published: December 2024

Objective: The aim of this empirical literature review was to conduct a scoping review outlining all research focusing on the association between social capital and depressive symptoms. To be included in the review articles were required to include a definition and measurement of depressive symptoms and social capital dimensions.Methods: Studies from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, ProQuest, CINAHL, and APA databases were included. Search terms included “social capital” and variations of the term “depression.” Two researchers blindly assessed studies using Covidence software. Outcome variables were various social capital measures and depressive symptoms.Results: 2486 studies were identified, which were reduced to 1258 after the duplicates were removed. 1135 studies were found irrelevant and 125 studies were assessed for eligibility through a full‐text review. 39 studies were found to be eligible for this review.Conclusion: The review indicated a strong association between cognitive social capital and depression. However, mixed results between other dimensions of social capital and depression warrant further research. Specifically, more longitudinal research is needed to examine the association between variables.
Relationship Between Coronary Artery Calcium Score and Vulnerability of Culprit Plaque Assessed by OCT in Patients With Established Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Fujimoto Daichi , Usui Eisuke , Vergallo Rocco , Kinoshita Daisuke , Suzuki Keishi , Niida Takayuki , Covani Marco , McNulty Iris , Lee Hang , Otake Hiromasa , Shite Junya , Ferencik Maros , Dey Damini , Kakuta Tsunekazu , Jang Ik-Kyung 
Published: December 2024

BACKGROUND:
Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) is widely used for risk stratification. However, in patients with established coronary artery disease, its clinical implication and relationship with plaque vulnerability are unclear. We sought to correlate the CACS and plaque vulnerability assessed by optical coherence tomography.

METHODS:
Patients with coronary artery disease who had CACS and optical coherence tomography before percutaneous coronary intervention were included. Patients were divided into 5 groups based on CACS: CACS of 0, 1 to 99, 100 to 399, 400 to 999, and ≥1000. Optical coherence tomography–derived vulnerable features in culprit plaque were compared between the groups.

RESULTS:

In 460 patients, the prevalence of lipid-rich plaque, macrophage, and cholesterol crystal significantly differed among the 5 groups, being lowest in the patients with a CACS of 0. The prevalence of thin-cap fibroatheroma tended to be lower in those with a CACS of 0. No significant difference in vulnerable features was observed between the 4 groups with CACS >0. In the 2-group comparison between the group with a CACS of 0 and the other 4 groups combined, the prevalence of lipid-rich plaque (60.5% versus 85.9%;
P
<0.001), macrophage (48.8% versus 74.1%;
P
<0.001), thin-cap fibroatheroma (16.3% versus 35.0%;
P
=0.013), and cholesterol crystal (11.6% versus 32.9%;
P
=0.004) was significantly lower in the patients with CACS of 0. CACS of 0 was independently negatively associated with lipid-rich plaque, macrophage, thin-cap fibroatheroma, and cholesterol crystal after adjustment for patient characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS:
Patients with a CACS of 0 have a significantly lower prevalence of vulnerable plaque features compared with those with CACS >0 in patients with established coronary artery disease.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04523194.
Prognostic Value and Safety of Serial Exercise Echocardiography in Asymptomatic Severe Aortic Stenosis
Authors: Abergel Eric , Venner Clement , Tribouilloy Christophe , Chauvel Christophe , Simon Marc , Codiat Rébecca , Piechaud Thierry , Maurin Vincent , Dejour Edouard , Kumble Ankitha , Saffarini Mo 
Published: December 2024

Background
The prognostic value of serial exercise echocardiography (EEC) in asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis is unknown. We sought to evaluate the safety and utility of monitoring patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis by annual EECs to refer them to aortic valve replacement (AVR) or to keep them under follow‐up.

Methods and Results
The cohort comprised 196 patients, with a normal screening EEC and a minimal follow‐up of 18 months. Follow‐up was planned until there was an indication for AVR, based on a resting transthoracic echocardiography at 6 months and then every year, and an EEC at 1 year and then every year (alternating resting transthoracic echocardiography and EEC every 6 months). During follow‐up, patients were referred to AVR if they reported symptoms, if rest transthoracic echocardiography was positive (left ventricular dysfunction, aortic maximal velocity ≥5 m/s, or severe valve calcification with aortic maximal velocity progression ≥0.3 m/s per year) or if EEC was positive (occurrence during exercise of any aortic stenosis‐related symptoms, significant ventricular arrhythmias, a drop or an insufficient rise (<20 mm Hg) in systolic blood pressure from baseline, or a left ventricular dysfunction). Among the 196 patients (76% men, aged 76.1±11.1 years), a mean 2.85±1.22 EECs were conducted. There were no serious complications during any of the EECs. Each serial transthoracic echocardiography at rest and each EEC yielded 0%–22% and 23.5%–50% of positive results, respectively, leading to AVR. We delayed AVR by a mean of 2.93±1.95 years after the screening EEC. No cardiac‐related death or sudden death was reported during the study.

Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate the safety and prognostic utility of serial EECs in the management of patients with asymptomatic severe aortic stenosis to guide timely AVR.
For the Future of Pentecostal Higher Education in Korea
Authors: Kim Dongsoo 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This essay examines the current status of Korean pentecostal higher education. In their latest book, The Holy Spirit and Higher Education, Amos Yong and Dale M. Coulter suggest the Holy Spirit factor for renewing Christian universities. Accordingly, this essay analyzes Korean pentecostal higher education based on three questions they have raised in the book. Is Korean pentecostal higher education moving with the Holy Spirit factor? Are Korean pentecostal institutions and churches mutually developing and influencing each other? Are Korean pentecostal institutions exerting a positive influence on institutions outside the church? This essay answers all these questions positively. At the same time, this essay adds suggestions for further developing Korean pentecostal institutions.
“Northerners are Strong, Southerners are Timid”: the Notion of Climate in Medieval Physiognomy
Authors: Devriese Lisa 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This article examines the role that climate played in medieval physiognomy, and more specifically in the medieval commentaries on the pseudo-Aristotelian Physiognomonica. As the Physiognomonica is mainly a listing of external bodily features and of their corresponding character traits without explaining how precisely these connections come about, certain medieval commentators attempted to fill this knowledge gap. Our study shows how the notion of climate in medieval commentaries on the Physiognomonica is employed to support and explain physiognomic theories, in two general ways. On the one hand, the notion of climate offers a general framework to explain how the body is formed; on the other, climate is used also to rationalize certain pseudo-Aristotelian connections that would seem at a first glance not to make sense.
Manufacturing Religion in the Anthropocene
Authors: van den Heever Gerhard 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
The article sets the essays that constitute the two-part theme issue, Manufacturing Religion: From Christian Origins to Classical Islam, in a broader theoretical framework. The framework employed here is the work of Russell T. McCutcheon and Willi Braun that emphasise the human manufacturedness of both the concept “religion” and the practices and discourses that go by the descriptor “religion.” The essays collected here in this theme issue collectively perform the double act of historicising the concept “religion” as well as the constituent operations of religion-making.
Fichte’s Analysis of Self-Consciousness: Critique and Refutation
Authors: Su Yi 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
In recent decades, the Heidelberg School’s contributions have become a subject in the philosophical research into self-consciousness. Henrich addressed the reflection model and its problem of begging the question. Later, Frank applied the ex negativo reasoning method to the reflection model to review theories of self-consciousness, including Fichte’s analysis. For Fichte, self-consciousness is immediate, non-objective, and pre-reflective. In order to avoid the problem of infinite regress, the relationship between self-consciousness and object-consciousness should be immediate and non-objective. Pre-reflectivity refers to the relationship between self-consciousness and reflection, that is to say, before the reflection, the self-consciousness has already taken place, and is thus its precondition. In Fichte’s concept of self-consciousness, non-objectivity and pre-reflectivity are different characteristics that neither concern the explanation of how self-consciousness is formed nor solve the problem of begging the question. Therefore, it is not appropriate to criticize Fichte’s analysis of self-consciousness applying the ex negativo methodology to the reflection model.
Inclusive forms in South-Central Trans-Himalayan
Authors: SÆBØ Lilja Maria , KONNERTH Linda 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Many of the South-Central (“Kuki-Chin”) Trans-Himalayan languages differentiate between an inclusive and an exclusive first person group category. The first person singular and the exclusive tend to be based on the same form, and are very uniform across the branch, while the inclusive shows a lot of variation in form. In this paper we try to systematically look at the inclusive forms and categorize the variation that exists. The paper is based on a sample of 40 languages from all six subgroups of South-Central. We look at both the preverbal and postverbal person indexation paradigms, as well as the free pronouns.
Old Age in Simone de Beauvoir and Martine Franck
Authors: Jordan Shirley 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This article explores connections between Beauvoir’s work on aging and the photographic study of older people by humanist photographer Martine Franck. It traces entanglements between Beauvoir’s The Coming of Age and Franck’s photobook Time to Grow Old, focusing especially on differences related to gender and aging and on epistemologies of aging research. The author argues that the projects on aging by Beauvoir and Franck illuminate each other in important ways and underscore blind spots in Beauvoir’s approach.
Prediction of Mortality and Length of Hospital Stay in Geriatric Patients Undergoing Emergency General Surgery: Use of the SHARP Score
Authors: Okay Nermin Damla , Özensoy Habibe Selmin 
Published: December 2024

Background The need for emergency general surgery (EGS) in geriatric patients is increasing with the aging population. The aim of this study was to evaluate the ability of SHARP score to predict mortality rate and length of hospital and emergency service stay for EGS patients. Methods Patients aged ≥65 years who applied to the emergency service, required EGS, and underwent surgery between February 1, 2022, and January 31, 2023, were retrospectively analyzed from our hospital’s information system. Demographic data (age, gender, and comorbidities), surgical diagnoses, and SHARP risk scores of the patients were evaluated. Also, 30-day mortality and length of stay in the emergency service and hospital were examined. Results A total of 386 patients were evaluated in this study. The mean age of these patients was 75 years (65-94). The most common cause of EGS was hernia. The cause with the highest mortality was intraabdominal perforations. The presence of malignancy and an increase in the number of comorbidities were associated with mortality. SHARP scores of 3, 4, and 5 were significantly associated with length of hospital stay and mortality. Conclusion We recommend considering the SHARP risk score to predict mortality and length of hospital stay in geriatric EGS patients.