bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Surgical Site Infections After Pediatric Liver Transplantation—Impact of a Change in Perioperative Prophylactic Antibiotic Protocol
Authors: Bruns Nora , Hauschild Juliane , Lainka Elke , Dohna‐Schwake Christian 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundIn spite of improved survival rates after pediatric liver transplantation, infections remain major contributors to perioperative morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to understand the impact of type and duration of perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis (PAP) on the occurrence of surgical site infections (SSIs).MethodsIn total, 125 patients who underwent liver transplantation between 2014 and 2020 were retrospectively included. Patients were categorized into two periods based on changes in the standard PAP regimen. Risk factors for SSIs were investigated, including the influence of PAP duration, antibiotic substances used, and abdominal patch placement using multivariable regression models.ResultsSSIs occurred in 23 (19%) of 119 analyzed patients and were not impacted by changes in the PAP regimen. The placement of an abdominal patch was a relevant risk factor for SSIs (odds ratio 3.81; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15–12.68). Longer PAP duration reduced the occurrence of SSIs by up to 4.6 percentage points (95% CI 0.0–9.1) per day, with its effect diminishing with longer duration. The choice of antibiotic substances for PAP changed after implementation of the new protocol, with a decline in vancomycin usage from 14% to 3%.ConclusionThe results of this study emphasize the need for evidence‐based PAP regimens tailored to the unique needs of pediatric liver transplant recipients. The occurrence of SSIs remains complex and is influenced by various factors beyond the PAP regimen. Multicentric efforts to develop effective prevention strategies against SSIs in this vulnerable population are warranted.
Effects of rice fermentation and its bioactive components on UVA‐induced oxidative stress and senescence in dermal fibroblasts
Authors: Li Yu , Guo Miao , Li Li , Yang Fan , Xiong Lidan 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPhotoaging, caused by ultraviolet (UV) radiation, is characterized by the senescence of skin cells and reduction of collagens. Although rice fermentation is widely used in the cosmetics, its impact on skin photoaging is still not well understood. Herein, we investigated the possible effectiveness of Maifuyin, a fermented rice product, and its components, succinic acid (SA), and choline, for safeguarding UVA‐exposed human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs) against photoaging. In this study, the effects of Maifuyin, SA, and choline on UVA‐induced cell death and senescence in fibroblasts were evaluated in cell counting kit‐8 (CCK‐8), expression of β‐galactosidase (β‐GAL), and matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)‐1. To identify oxidative stress, the investigation focused on reactive oxygen species, glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and malondialdehyde. Additionally, a mRNA sequencing technology (RNA‐seq) was applied to study the underlying mechanisms of these components on UVA‐induced photoaging. Meanwhile, the level of C–X–C motif chemokine ligand 2 (CXCL2) in the cell supernatant was confirmed to assess the autocrine chemokine level. To reassess the involvement of CXCL2, the expression of β‐GAL was evaluated in fibroblasts treated with or without CXCL2. The results indicated that 1 mg/mL Maifuyin and SA inhibited UVA‐induced senescence in fibroblasts, MMP‐1 expression, and oxidative damage. The RNA‐seq revealed 1 mg/mL Maifuyin and SA might be recruited chemokine CXCLs to inhibit MMPs production and fibroblast senescence via TNFα, MAPK, and NF‐κB pathways. ELISA results showed a significant reduction of autocrine CXCL2 in UVA‐irradiated HDFs by pretreating Maifuyin and SA. The β‐GAL staining assay revealed that CXCL2 treatment increased β‐GAL activity, while the administration of Maifuyin and SA counteracted this effect in HDFs. These results highlighted the potential use of Maifuyin and SA as promising candidates for anti‐photoaging applications.
Advocacy groups, policy subsidies, and policy change: The case of teacher evaluations
Authors: Finger Leslie K. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractHow are powerful interest groups with a stake in the status quo overcome? Policymakers succeed in enacting policies against the preferences of powerful vested interests when they delegate the costs associated with challenging those vested interests to advocacy groups. Advocacy groups can provide information and capacity, freeing allied policymakers from relying on vested interests. Using a 50‐state regression analysis of teacher evaluation policymaking in 2010 and 2011 and case studies of the experiences of Minnesota and Wisconsin, I find evidence that where advocacy groups assist policymaker allies, they can successfully pass and implement policy change against the preferences of powerful vested interests.
Abductive analysis in qualitative research
Authors: van Hulst Merlijn , Visser E. Lianne 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPublic administration scholars and practitioners need to know how state‐of‐the‐art research is conducted. This article aims to contribute to the dialogue on qualitative analysis. Focusing on abductive analysis, it further unpacks and explicates the process and practices through which theoretical insight can be created from qualitative data. We offer four principles that guide abductive analysis: (i) embrace surprises, tensions, and doubts; (ii) use knowledges creatively to theorize; (iii) craft through methodological bricolage; and (iv) iterate through the research process. In addition, we discuss the implications of abductive analysis for how we learn, craft, and reflect on qualitative research.
House price convergence in the very long run
Authors: Pan Lei , Matsuki Takashi 
Published: July 2024

AbstractWe examine the house price convergence across 12 OECD countries over the period 1905–2016. Using novel quantile unit root tests which allow for smooth breaks via a Fourier expansion series, we find that nine countries show the presence of relative house price convergence at all the quantiles. Focusing on several specific quantiles, 11 countries have significant convergence tendencies. Moreover, there are four definite patterns related to shocks in the relative house prices across quantiles.
Genetic variation of FUT3 gene in the Han population from Northern China
Authors: Zhou Shihang , Zheng Ziwei , Wang Liying , Song Wenqian , Xia Yuexin , Shao Linnan , Liang Xiaohua 
Published: July 2024

AbstractBackground and ObjectivesThe FUT3 gene encodes α(1,3/1,4)‐fucosyltransferase, which is a crucial enzyme in the synthesis of Lewis antigens. FUT3 gene variants show race‐specific differences. In this study, we conducted a systematic sequence analysis of the FUT3 coding sequence. The objective was to explore genetic variations of the FUT3 gene within the Han population of Northern China.Materials and MethodsA cohort of 313 blood donors was recruited for the study. The coding sequence of the FUT3 gene was amplified using polymerase chain reaction, followed by sequencing and haplotype construction.ResultsTwelve single nucleotide variations (SNVs) were identified within the coding sequence of the FUT3 gene. Notably, the c.59 T > G site exhibited the highest mutation frequency of 43.13%, followed by the c.508G > A and c.1067 T > A sites with mutation frequencies of 27.48% and 16.93%, respectively. Le was the most common haplotype, accounting for 67.57% of the cases, and Le/Le was the most common diplotype, accounting for 46.33% of the cases. The study also highlighted a significant difference in mutation frequencies of FUT3 gene between the Han Chinese of Northern China and the Dai of Xishuangbanna, China, but not the Han Chinese in Beijing in the North and the Southern Han Chinese, emphasising that Han Chinese in Northern China are genetically most distant from Europeans and closest to East Asians.ConclusionsOur study characterises FUT3 gene variations in Han Chinese from Northern China, and provides basic genetic data for genetics, forensic medicine, and genotyping of Lewis blood groups.
Comparative Inhibitory Effects of Tacrolimus, Cyclosporine, and Rapamycin on Human Anti‐Pig Xenogeneic Mixed Lymphocyte Reactions
Authors: Zhang Man , Feng Hao , Du Jiaxiang , Chen Song , Zhu Lan , Wang Yi , Pan Dengke , Chen Gang 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundLong‐term immunosuppressive maintenance therapy is necessary to prevent the rejection of xenografts. However, it is still unclear which oral immunosuppressant is most suitable for pig‐to‐human xenotransplantation
.MethodsA xenogeneic mixed lymphocyte reaction (MLR) system was established using peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) isolated from wildtype (WT) or GTKO/CMAHKO/β4GalNT2KO (TKO) pigs as stimulator cells and human PBMCs as responder cells. Various concentrations of tacrolimus (Tac), cyclosporine (CsA), or rapamycin (Rapa) were added to the MLR system as interventions. The inhibitory effects of the three immunosuppressants on the proliferation and cytokine production of human T cells were studied and compared. The inhibitory effect of anti‐CD154 mAb alone or in combination with Tac/CsA/Rapa on xenoreactive MLR was also investigated.ResultsPBMCs from both WT and TKO pigs stimulated significant proliferation of human T cells. Tac had a strong inhibitory effect on human T‐cell proliferation stimulated by pig PBMCs. CsA inhibited human T‐cell proliferation in a typical dose‐dependent manner. When Tac and CsA concentrations reached 5 and 200 ng/mL, respectively, the proliferation rates of CD3+/CD4+/CD8+ T cells were reduced almost to a negative level. Even at high concentrations, Rapa had only a moderate inhibitory effect on xenogeneic MLR. The inhibitory effects of these three immunosuppressants on xenogeneic T‐cell responses were further confirmed by the detection of CD25 expression and supernatant cytokines (IL‐2, IL‐6, IFN‐γ, TNF‐α, IL‐4, IL‐10, and IL‐17). Although anti‐CD154 mAb monotherapy showed only moderate inhibitory effects on xenoreactive T‐cell proliferation, low‐dose anti‐CD154 mAb combined with low‐dose Tac, CSA, or Rapa could produce significant synergistic inhibitory effects.ConclusionTac is more efficient than CsA or Rapa in inhibiting xenogeneic T‐cell responses in vitro. If used in combination with anti‐CD154 mAb, all the three immunosuppressants can achieve satisfactory synergistic inhibitory effects.
Development and preliminary evaluation toward a new tuberculosis treatment monitoring tool: the PATHFAST TB LAM Ag assay
Authors: Akinaga Ayumi , Takahashi Masahito , Yamazaki Takahito , Chikamatsu Kinuyo , Matsushita Shuhei , Hashimoto Yuichiro , Iyoda Takako , Saika Takeshi , Mitarai Satoshi 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT

The PATHFAST TB LAM Ag assay is based on a chemiluminescent enzyme immunoassay to quantify lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in sputum within 1 h, and was developed as an alternative to conventional culture methods for monitoring tuberculosis (TB) treatment. This study aimed to evaluate the analytical performance and initial clinical feasibility of using five
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
variants, 178 non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), 34 upper respiratory and oral cavity microorganisms, 100 sputum specimens from untreated patients, and potential interfering substances, including 27 drugs. The results reveled a single-site repeatability coefficient of variation (CV) of 5.2%–7.0%, and a multi-site reproducibility CV of 7.1%–8.4%. The limit of blank, limit of detection, and limit of quantification were 3.03 pg/mL, 6.67 pg/mL, and 7.44 pg/mL, respectively. Linearity was observed over the analytical measurement range (10.0 pg/mL–50,000 pg/mL), and no hook effect was observed. The assay tended to cross-react with slow-growing NTMs, but not with common upper respiratory and oral cavity microorganisms, except
Nocardia asteroides
,
Nocardia farcinica
, and
Tsukamurella paurometabola
. No interference was observed in the presence of mucin, blood, or major anti-TB, anti-HIV, and anti-pneumonia drugs. Regarding clinical performance, the assay had a sensitivity of 88.8% (95% CI: 80.0%–94.0%) and specificity of 100.0% (95% CI: 83.9%–100.0%) using mycobacterial culture as the reference standard, and a correlation (Spearman’s
r
= −0.770) was observed between LAM concentration and time to detection of culture. These findings show, for the first time, that the PATHFAST TB LAM Ag assay has potential value for monitoring TB treatment.
A low-cost culture- and DNA extraction-free method for the molecular detection of pneumococcal carriage in saliva
Authors: Peno Chikondi , Lin Tzu-Yi , Hislop Maikel S. , Yolda-Carr Devyn , Farjado Katherine , York Anna , Pitzer Virginia E. , Weinberger Daniel M. , Bei Amy K. , Allicock Orchid M. , Wyllie Anne L. 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACT

Molecular methods have improved the sensitivity of the detection of pneumococcal carriage in saliva. However, they typically require sample culture enrichment and nucleic acid extraction prior to performing the detection assay and may limit scalability for extensive surveillance of pneumococcus, particularly in low-resource settings. We evaluated the performance of a DNA-extraction-free method for the detection of pneumococcus in saliva. We developed a streamlined qPCR-based protocol for the detection of pneumococcus, omitting culture enrichment and DNA extraction. Using saliva samples collected from children attending childcare centers (New Haven, CT, USA), we evaluated the detection of pneumococcus using saliva lysates as compared to purified DNA extracted from culture-enriched aliquots of the paired samples using qPCR targeting the pneumococcal
piaB
gene. Of the 759 saliva samples tested from 92 children [median age 3.65 years; IQR (2.46–4.78)], pneumococcus was detected in 358 (47.2%) saliva lysates prepared using the extraction-free protocol and in 369 (48.6%) DNA extracted from culture-enriched samples. We observed near-perfect agreement between the two protocols (Cohen’s kappa: 0.92; 95% CI: 0.90–0.95). Despite a high correlation between

C
T

values generated by the two methods (
r
= 0.93,
P
< 0.0001), the

C
T

values generated from saliva lysates were higher (lower concentration) than those from culture-enriched samples (Δ

C
T

= 6.69,
P
< 0.00001). The cost of detecting pneumococcus using saliva lysates was at least fivefold lower (US$2.53) compared to the cost of the culture-enriched method (range: US$13.60–US$19.46). For pneumococcal carriage surveillance in children, our findings suggest that a DNA extraction-free approach may offer a cost-effective alternative to the resource-intensive culture-enrichment method.

IMPORTANCE
Surveillance for carriage of pneumococcus is a key component of evaluating the performance of pneumococcal vaccines and informing new vaccination strategies. To improve the scalability of pneumococcal carriage surveillance, we show that molecular detection of pneumococcus in saliva from children can be performed without culture enrichment and DNA extraction. Our findings show that using the extraction-free method can improve surveillance efforts for pneumococcal carriage in children, overcoming the resource-intensive hurdle that comes with the use of molecular methods, particularly in low-resource settings.
Parameter optimisation using Bayesian inference for spallation models
Authors: Hirtz J. , David J.-C. , Cugnon J. , Leya I. , Rodríguez-Sánchez J. L. , Schnabel G. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe accuracy and precision of high-energy spallation models are key issues for the design and development of new applications and experiments. We present a method to estimate model parameters and associated uncertainties by leveraging the Bayesian version of the Generalised Least Squares method, which enables us to incorporate prior knowledge on the parameter values. This approach is designed to adjust parameters based on experimental data, accounting for experimental uncertainty information, and providing uncertainties for all adjusted parameters. This approach is designed in order both to improve the accuracy of models through the modification of free parameters of these models, which results in a better reproduction of experimental data, and to estimate the uncertainties of these parameters and, by extension, their impacts on the model output. We aim at demonstrating the Generalised Least Square method can be applied in the case of Monte Carlo models. We present a proof-of-concept for Monte Carlo models in the specific case of nuclear physics with the model combination INCL/ABLA. We discuss the challenges in the application of this method to high-energy spallation models, notably the large runtime and the stochasticity of the models. Our results indicate this framework can also be applied to analogous situations where parameters of a computationally expensive Monte Carlo code should be inferred/improved.
Useful variants and perturbations of completely entangled subspaces and spans of unextendible product bases
Authors: Sengupta Ritabrata , Singh Ajit Iqbal 
Published: July 2024

Finite-dimensional entanglement for pure states has been used extensively in quantum information theory. Depending on the tensor product structure, even a set of separable states can show non-intuitive characters. Two situations are well studied in the literature, namely, the unextendible product basis (UPB) by Bennett et al.4, and completely entangled subspaces explicitly given by Parthasarathy 22. More recently, Boyer et al.6, Boyer and Mor7 and Liss et al.21 studied spaces which have only finitely many pure product states. We carry this further and consider the problem of perturbing different spaces, such as the orthogonal complement of an UPB and also Parthasarathy’s completely entangled spaces, by taking linear spans with specified product vectors. To this end, we develop methods and theory of variations and perturbations of the linear spans of certain UPBs, their orthogonal complements, and also Parthasarathy’s completely entangled subspaces. Finally, we give examples of perturbations with infinitely many pure product states.
Magmatic (Cr–Ni–PGE) and secondary/hydrothermal (emerald–peridot–rodingite–nephrite jade) mineralization associated with ultramafic–mafic complexes of Pakistan
Authors: Jan M. Qasim , Ullah Rahat , Anjum Muhammad Naveed 
Published: July 2024

Mafic magmatism has repeatedly taken place in Pakistan throughout its geological history from the earliest Proterozoic to Recent. Much of it, however, does not have associated metallic mineralization. This paper concerns mineralization associated with ultramafic–mafic plutonic rock occurrences in the western and northern suture zones of Pakistan, which demarcate the collision boundary between the northwestern Indian plate and Eurasian blocks. We discuss the petrology of the ophiolites and basaltic magma-related chromite deposits, showings of platinum group elements (PGE) and Ni minerals, and secondary mineral deposits (emerald and peridot gems, rodingite and nephrite jade) associated with ultramafic–mafic complexes of the two suture zones. Chromite with high Cr# (68–85) occurs in fair quantity and is mostly considered to be genetically related to basaltic magma of subduction-related environments. PGE and nickeliferous minerals are insignificant in quantity; PGE are formed by a higher degree of partial melting and melt-rock reaction, whereas Ni sulfides are the product of serpentinization of the ultramafic rocks. Emerald occurs in several localities in the Indus Suture Zone, whereas the peridot has so far been reported from only one locality. Emerald is associated with Mg-carbonate ± quartz ± fuchsite ± talc ± serpentine, and peridot (Fo
89–92
) is associated with chrysotile ± magnesite ± talc ± magnetite ± ludwigite. Both are formed via hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rocks through the introduction of hydrous fluids incorporating CO
2
, Be, B, K, Al and possibly Na. In view of the undeformed nature of the emerald and peridot, and the 23 Ma age of emerald formation, the mineralization appears to post-date deformation and may be of Late Oligocene–Early Miocene age. The metasomatizing fluids were either derived from the subducting Indian plate crust underneath the Kohistan arc or related to 23–26 Ma silicic magmatism in this area of the NW Indian plate. The nephrite jade in the ophiolite mélange is hosted in serpentinites and has disseminated grains of chrome spinel with elevated Fe
2+
/(Mg
2+
+ Fe
2+
) ratios (0.10–0.18), implying low-grade metamorphism of ultramafic rocks (protolith of serpentinite) with loss of Al and introduction of SiO
2
during accompanying metasomatism. The rodingite in the Dargai ophiolite could have formed by the action of seawater channelled through fractures and cracks in rocks. However, their mineral assemblages indicate that they formed as a result of the influx of Ca-, Al- and Na-bearing hydrothermal fluids related to the intrusion of gabbros/sheeted dykes in the serpentinized ultramafic rocks, resulting in Ca-metasomatism.
Conditional Mixture Path Guiding for Differentiable Rendering
Authors: Fan Zhimin , Shi Pengcheng , Guo Mufan , Fu Ruoyu , Guo Yanwen , Guo Jie 
Published: July 2024

The efficiency of inverse optimization in physically based differentiable rendering heavily depends on the variance of Monte Carlo estimation. Despite recent advancements emphasizing the necessity of tailored differential sampling strategies, the general approaches remain unexplored.
In this paper, we investigate the interplay between local sampling decisions and the estimation of light path derivatives. Considering that modern differentiable rendering algorithms share the same path for estimating differential radiance and ordinary radiance, we demonstrate that conventional guiding approaches, conditioned solely on the last vertex, cannot attain this density. Instead, a mixture of different sampling distributions is required, where the weights are conditioned on all the previously sampled vertices in the path. To embody our theory, we implement a conditional mixture path guiding that explicitly computes optimal weights on the fly. Furthermore, we show how to perform positivization to eliminate sign variance and extend to scenes with millions of parameters.
To the best of our knowledge, this is the first generic framework for applying path guiding to differentiable rendering. Extensive experiments demonstrate that our method achieves nearly one order of magnitude improvements over state-of-the-art methods in terms of variance reduction in gradient estimation and errors of inverse optimization. The implementation of our proposed method is available at https://github.com/mollnn/conditional-mixture.