bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the potency of zoliflodacin against Helicobacter pylori: In vitro activity and conserved GyrB target
Authors: Liu Jing , Jia Jia , Shi Ting , Bai Yuefan , Huang Yanqiang , Zeng Liping , Bi Hongkai 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundThe current standard treatment for Helicobacter pylori infection, which involves a combination of two broad‐spectrum antibiotics, faces significant challenges due to its detrimental impact on the gut microbiota and the emergence of drug‐resistant strains. This underscores the urgent requirement for the development of novel anti‐H. pylori drugs. Zoliflodacin, a novel bacterial gyrase inhibitor, is currently undergoing global phase III clinical trials for treating uncomplicated Neisseria gonorrhoeae. However, there is no available data regarding its activity against H. pylori.Materials and MethodsWe evaluated the in vitro activity of zoliflodacin against H. pylori clinical isolates (n = 123) with diverse multidrug resistance. We performed DNA gyrase supercoiling and microscale thermophoresis assays to identify the target of zoliflodacin in H. pylori. We analyzed 2262 H. pylori whole genome sequences to identify Asp424Asn and Lys445Asn mutations in DNA gyrase subunit B (GyrB) that are associated with zoliflodacin resistance.ResultsZoliflodacin exhibits potent activity against all tested isolates, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values ranging from 0.008 to 1 μg/mL (MIC50: 0.125 μg/mL; MIC90: 0.25 μg/mL). Importantly, there was no evidence of cross‐resistance to any of the four first‐line antibiotics commonly used against H. pylori. We identified GyrB as the primary target of zoliflodacin, with Asp424Asn or Lys445Asn substitutions conferring resistance. Screening of 2262 available H. pylori genomes for the two mutations revealed only one clinical isolate carrying Asp424Asn substitution.ConclusionThese findings support the potential of zoliflodacin as a promising candidate for H. pylori treatment, warranting further development and evaluation.
Savings trajectories and cohort differences among older Chinese couples
Authors: Chen Lu , Zhang Wenjuan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBased on longitudinal data from four waves (2011, 2013, 2015, and 2018) of the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study, we examined savings and savings changes among older couples in China using hierarchical linear models, explored any cohort differences, and analyzed the effects of the accessibility of the employee pension and the number of children on parents' savings. The results indicate that the savings of older couples continued to increase in old age, but the growth slowed down with age. For the cohort born before 1940, savings declined in later years. The cohorts born after 1940 had higher savings, but their savings grew less in later years. Older adults with access to the employee pension saved more and faster. Older adults with more than two children had lower savings, while those from younger cohorts were less impacted.
The association between flavonoids intake and hypertension in U.S. adults: A cross‐sectional study from The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
Authors: Hu Ben , Wang Yan , Feng Jun , Hou Linlin 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAlthough in vitro experiments have demonstrated the potential of flavonoid compounds in regulating blood pressure, there is still a lack of evidence from large population studies. We conducted a cross‐sectional study using the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to investigate the relationship between flavonoid intake levels (natural log transformation) and hypertension events. A total of 15 752 participants aged over 20 years were included, and a weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationship between total flavonoids, five sub types intake, and hypertension events. Smooth curve fitting was used to explore potential nonlinear relationships. Higher total flavonoids intake was associated with a lower risk of hypertension than the lowest group. The adjusted odds ratios (95% CIs) were 0.79 (0.70–0.88) for total flavonoids intake. Elevated total flavonoids intake levels were significantly and linearly associated with a lower risk of hypertension. For each unit increase in the total flavonoids intake level, the adjusted ORs for risk of hypertension decrease by 5% (OR 0.95; 95% CI, 0.92–0.98). In addition, in restricted cubic spline regression, we found that flavan‐3‐ols, anthocyanidins, and flavonols intake were linearly and negatively related to prevalence of hypertension. Flavones intake showed nonlinear associations with prevalence of hypertension with inflection points of ‐1.90. Within a certain range, a negative correlation exists between flavonoids intake and hypertension events. This finding provides insights into dietary modifications in the prevention of hypertension.
Should sacrouterine plication be added to lateral suspension surgery? A prospective study
Authors: Şahin Fatih , Özdemir Savaş , Doğan Ozan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimLaparoscopic lateral suspension is a novel approach for repairing anterior and apical pelvic organ prolapse (POP). According to integral theory, urinary symptoms and pelvic pain are believed to originate from suspensory ligaments. We aimed to investigate the objective and subjective outcomes of adding sacroterine plication to apical prolapse surgery.MethodsSixty patients with Grade 2 or higher symptomatic apical POP were included in the study. The study sample was categorized into two groups: Group 1 underwent lateral suspension and Group 2 underwent lateral suspension and sacroterine plication. Anatomical cure was defined separately for the apical and anterior compartments as POP‐Q scores for sites C and Ba of less than −1 cm for each compartment. A subjective cure was defined as the absence of bulge symptoms. Patient satisfaction, sexual function, prolapse‐related quality of life, voiding dysfunction, nocturia, and constipation were assessed.ResultsIn Group 1, anatomical cure rates for apical and anterior prolapse were 100% and 70%, respectively (p <0.001). In Group 2, these rates were 100% for apical prolapse and 73.3% for anterior prolapse (p <0.001). The subjective cure was 96.6% in both groups. Furthermore, improvement in sexual and urinary symptoms was more significant in the group that underwent sacroterine plication (p <0.001).ConclusionsThe additional sacroterine plication (shortening) procedure with lateral suspension proved to be an effective and successful surgical approach for apical prolapse. Its routine addition to existing lateral suspension surgery can contribute significantly to the improvement of urinary and prolapse symptoms.
Pregnancy in the shadow of psychosis: Navigating first‐time motherhood with increased likelihood of postpartum psychosis and postnatal depression
Authors: Walsh Alison 
Published: April 2024

Accessible SummaryWhat is known on the subject?

New parents who have previously experienced psychosis outside and/or following childbirth have an increased likelihood of experiencing an episode during the postpartum period.

The decision to try to conceive can be agonising.

Receiving care from a specialist perinatal community mental health team can improve outcomes.

What does this paper add to existing knowledge?

This article offers a first‐person insight into the steps the author took to minimise the impact of an episode of postpartum psychosis and/or postnatal depression whilst navigating new motherhood.

What are the implications for practice?

This lived experience narrative aligns with the evidence base that demonstrates specialist perinatal community mental health services improve outcomes.

It highlights the importance of maternity care providers asking about mental health history to identify any previous episodes or family history and offering referral to a specialist perinatal mental health service if available.

AbstractIntroductionPostpartum psychosis is a life‐changing but treatable condition that usually occurs in the first few days to weeks after childbirth affecting 1–2 in 1000 pregnancies. Those who have experienced psychosis before, either as a single episode, related or unrelated to childbirth or as part of a long‐term mental health condition have a higher likelihood of experiencing an episode in the postnatal period.AimIn this lived experience narrative the author shares personal experience of planning and navigating pregnancy with a higher likelihood of experiencing postpartum psychosis and postnatal depression around this major life transition due to previous episodes.MethodsThe author utilises a first‐person approach to share and reflect on her lived experience.FindingsThe author shares her experience of receiving care and some of the steps she took to try to manage the impact of pregnancy and birth on her mental health during this major life transition. She describes how care from a specialist perinatal community mental health team and peer support contributed significantly to her family's well‐being.DiscussionSpecialist perinatal community mental health services can improve outcomes for those with a higher likelihood of experiencing postpartum psychosis and postnatal depression by facilitating planning and mitigating some of the risks that could lead to relapse in the perinatal period.
Congressional town halls
Authors: Clarke Andrew J. , Markovits Daniel 
Published: April 2024

AbstractMembers of the US Congress held over 25,000 town hall meetings over the last eight years, and yet we know very little about the role that these events play in American politics. In this article, we present new data on congressional town hall meetings held in the 114th to 117th Congresses (2015–2022) to explore why politicians hold such meetings. In short, we do not find consistent evidence that electoral vulnerability drives legislators to their districts. Nor do we find support for claims of a zero‐sum tradeoff between lawmaking and district representation. However, members of the president's opposition party clearly and consistently host more town hall meetings, suggesting that party messaging may be at the heart of this often‐overlooked congressional behavior.
Indirect Defenses of Speciesism Make No Sense
Authors: Jaquet François 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAnimal ethicists often distinguish between direct and indirect defenses of speciesism, where the former appeal to species membership and the latter invoke other features that are simply associated with it. The main extant charge against indirect defenses rests on the empirical claim that any feature other than membership in our species is either absent in some humans or present in some nonhumans. This paper challenges indirect defenses with a new argument, which presupposes no such empirical claim. Instead, the argument from discordance resorts to the following principle: a certain feature can only justify discriminating on the basis of that feature.
A novel method based on a starburst pattern to register UAV and terrestrial lidar point clouds in forest environments
Authors: Feng Baokun , Nie Sheng , Wang Cheng , Wang Jinliang , Xi Xiaohuan , Wang Haoyu , Lao Jieying , Yang Xuebo , Wang Dachao , Chen Yiming , Yang Bo 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAccurate and efficient registration of unmanned aerial vehicle light detection and ranging (UAV‐lidar) and terrestrial lidar (T‐lidar) data is crucial for forest structure parameter extraction. This study proposes a novel method based on a starburst pattern for the automatic registration of UAV‐lidar and T‐lidar data in forest scenes. It employs density‐based spatial clustering of applications with noise (DBSCAN) for individual tree identification, constructs starburst patterns separately from both lidar sources, and utilises polar coordinate rotation and matching to achieve coarse registration. Fine registration is achieved using the iterative closest point (ICP) algorithm. Experimental results demonstrate that the starburst‐pattern‐based method achieves the desired registration accuracy (average coarse registration error of 0.157 m). Further optimisation with ICP yields slight improvements with an average fine registration error of 0.149 m. Remarkably, the proposed method is insensitive to the individual tree detection number when exceeding 10, and the tree position error has minimal impact on registration accuracy. Furthermore, our proposed method outperforms two existing methods in T‐lidar and UAV‐lidar registration over forest environments.
Priming avocado with sodium hydrosulfide prior to frost conditions induces the expression of genes involved in protection and stress responses
Authors: Tiwari Vivekanand , Bussi Yuval , Kamara Itzhak , Faigenboim Adi , Irihimovitch Vered , Charuvi Dana 
Published: April 2024

AbstractPriming plants with chemical agents has been extensively investigated as a means for improving their tolerance to many biotic and abiotic stresses. Earlier, we showed that priming young avocado (Persea americana Mill cv. ‘Hass’) trees with sodium hydrosulfide (NaHS), a donor of hydrogen sulfide, improves the response of photosynthesis to simulated frost (cold followed by high light) conditions. In the current study, we performed a transcriptome analysis to gain insight into the molecular response of avocado ‘Hass’ leaves to frost, with or without NaHS priming. The analysis revealed 2144 (down‐regulated) and 2064 (up‐regulated) differentially expressed genes (DEGs) common to both non‐primed and primed trees. Non‐primed trees had 697 (down) and 559 (up) unique DEGs, while primed trees exhibited 1395 (down) and 1385 (up) unique DEGs. We focus on changes in the expression patterns of genes encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis, carbon cycle, protective functions, biosynthesis of isoprenoids and abscisic acid (ABA), as well as ABA‐regulated genes. Notably, the differential expression results depict the enhanced response of primed trees to the frost and highlight gene expression changes unique to primed trees. Amongst these are up‐regulated genes encoding pathogenesis‐related proteins, heat shock proteins, enzymes for ABA metabolism, and ABA‐induced transcription factors. Extending the priming experiments to field conditions, which showed a benefit to the physiology of trees following chilling, suggests that it can be a possible means to improve trees' response to cold stress under natural winter conditions.
Impact of Task Constraint on Agent Team Size of Self-Organizing Systems Measured by Effective Entropy
Authors: Ji Hao , Jin Yan 
Published: April 2024

AbstractSelf-organizing systems can perform complex tasks in unpredictable situations with adaptability. Previous work has introduced a multiagent reinforcement learning-based model as a design approach to solving the rule generation problem with complex tasks. A deep multiagent reinforcement learning algorithm was devised to train self-organizing agents for knowledge acquisition of the task field and social rules. The results showed that there is an optimal number of agents that achieve good learning stability and system performance. However, finding such a number is nontrivial due to the dynamic task constraints and unavailability of agent knowledge before training. Although extensive training can eventually reveal the optimal number, it requires training simulations of all agent numbers under consideration, which can be computationally expensive and time consuming. Thus, there remains the issue of how to predict such an optimal team size for self-organizing systems with minimal training experiments. In this article, we proposed a measurement of the complexity of the self-organizing system called effective entropy, which considers the task constraints. A systematic approach, including several key concepts and steps, is proposed to calculate the effective entropy for given task environments, which is then illustrated and tested in a box-pushing case study. The results show that our proposed method and complexity measurement can accurately predict the optimal number of agents in self-organizing systems, and training simulations can be reduced by a factor of 10.
A Novel Plate Fin Heat Sink Design With Rectangular Slots and Interruptions: A Computational Approach
Authors: Ray Rahul , Senapati Santosh Kumar , Mohanty Aurovinda 
Published: April 2024

Abstract
In the present work, we have studied the performance of vertical plate finned heat sinks that protrude from a vertical base. The difference between the heat sink base temperature and the ambient, i.e., ΔT, has been varied in the range of 10 °C to 60 °C, and the flow undergoes a natural convection regime. To enhance the thermal performance, we have explored different configurations of the heat sink by providing rectangular slots, varying the neck thickness, changing the neck location from the fin base, and providing interruptions along the fin height. The pertinent quantities, i.e., heat dissipation rate, Nusselt number, effectiveness, mass of heat sink, and heat dissipation per unit mass, have been obtained by performing 3D computational simulations. The results obtained are compared to assess the thermal performance of heat sinks. We found that among various designs of heat sinks proposed, the heat sink with two slots, with the location of neck closer to the fin base (xm = 9 mm), and with interrupted fins dissipates maximum heat (12.86% more compared to the commonly used rectangular plate finned heat sink). In addition to the heat transfer improvement, 19.82% mass reduction has also been achieved. Based on the simulation data, we have proposed a correlation for the mean Nusselt number as a function of relevant non-dimensional parameters.
The Inducers of an Elite Male Table Tennis Player’s Emotional Experience Throughout His Career: A Single Case Study Based on the Critical-Incident Method
Authors: Petiot Oriane , Kermarrec Gilles , Visioli Jérôme , Martin Guillaume 
Published: April 2024

Despite a growing interest in emotions in sport psychology, little has been written about the contextual elements triggering athletes’ emotional experience. This single case study aimed to analyze the inducers of an elite table tennis player’s emotional experience throughout his career. He was ranked among the 15 best players in the world, and his career spanned more than 20 years. Inspired by the critical-incident method, we conducted a lengthy interview with the player, during which he related the most significant moments of his career. The categorization of the 96 critical incidents collected highlighted four inducers of positive emotions and five inducers of negative emotions, emerging over five periods (exponential progression, first difficulties, major difficulties, second career, and end of career). These findings contribute to the development of an innovative single-case-study design, allowing an understanding of the contextual origin of athletes’ emotions over the long term. Finally, highlights are discussed and recommendations for the practice of sport psychology are formulated.
Outcomes of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia type II in aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage patients: A US nationwide analysis
Authors: Subah Galadu , Zeller Sabrina , Damodara Nitesh , Fortunato Michael , Garrett Jenna , Syed Shoaib , Uddin Anaz , Pak Issac , Feldstein Eric , Mayer Stephan , Gandhi Chirag D , Al-Mufti Fawaz 
Published: April 2024

BackgroundDespite the widespread use of heparin during and following endovascular procedures in the management of aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) patients, limited research has explored the incidence and impact of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) on SAH.MethodsDescriptive statistics, multivariate regressions, and propensity score-matching were employed to compare clinical characteristics, comorbidities, interventions, complications, and outcomes of HIT in SAH patients identified within the US National Inpatient Sample database from 2010 to 2019.ResultsAmong 76 387 SAH patients from 2010 to 2019, 166 (0.22%) developed HIT. HIT was identified as a significant predictor of prolonged length of stay (OR 6.799, 95% CI 3.985 to 11.6, P<0.01) and poor functional outcomes (OR 2.541, 95% CI 1.628 to 3.966, P<0.01) after adjusting for relevant factors. HIT incidence was higher in patients with elevated SAH severity scores (1.42 vs 1.06, P<0.01), younger patients (58.04 vs 61.39 years, P=0.01), overweight individuals (0.4% vs 0.2%, P<0.01), those on long-term anticoagulants (10.84% vs 5.72%, P<0.01), or with a cerebrospinal fluid drainage device (external ventricular drain, ventriculoperitoneal shunt; P<0.01). HIT patients showed increased rates of endovascular coiling, ventricular drain placement, shunt placement, deep vein thrombosis, urinary tract infection, acute kidney injury, pulmonary embolism, venous sinus thrombosis, pneumonia, and cerebral vasospasm (all P<0.01).ConclusionSAH patients with HIT exhibited various comorbidities and increased rates of complications, which may contribute to extended hospital stays. This nationwide study aids clinical suspicion and highlights HIT’s impact on SAH patients.
Maintenance Pembrolizumab Therapy in Patients with Metastatic HER2-negative Breast Cancer with Prior Response to Chemotherapy
Authors: Iwase Toshiaki , Cohen Evan N. , Gao Hui , Alexander Angela , Kai Megumi , Chiv Vivian , Wang Xiaoping , Krishnamurthy Savitri , Liu Diane , Shen Yu , Kida Kumiko , Reuben Alexandre , Layman Rachel M. , Ramirez David L. , Tripathy Debasish , Moulder Stacy L. , Yam Clinton , Valero Vicente , Lim Bora , Reuben James M. , Ueno Naoto T. 
Published: April 2024

Abstract

Purpose:
Accumulating toxicities hinder indefinite chemotherapy for many patients with metastatic/recurrent HER2-negative breast cancer. We conducted a phase II trial of pembrolizumab monotherapy following induction chemotherapy to determine the efficacy of maintenance immunotherapy in patients with metastatic HER2-negative inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) and non-IBC triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and a biomarker study.

Patients and Methods:
Patients with a complete response, partial response, or stable disease (SD) after at least three cycles of chemotherapy for HER2-negative breast cancer received pembrolizumab, regardless of programmed death-ligand 1 expression. Pembrolizumab (200 mg) was administered every 3 weeks until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or 2 years of pembrolizumab exposure. The endpoints included the 4-month disease control rate (DCR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival, and response biomarkers in the blood.

Results:
Of 43 treated patients, 11 had metastatic IBC and 32 non-IBC TNBC. The 4-month DCR was 58.1% [95% confidence interval (CI), 43.4–72.9]. For all patients, the median PFS was 4.8 months (95% CI, 3.0–7.1 months). The toxicity profile was similar to the previous pembrolizumab monotherapy study. Patients with high T-cell clonality at baseline had a longer PFS with pembrolizumab treatment than did those with low T-cell clonality (10.4 vs. 3.6 months, P = 0.04). Patients who achieved SD also demonstrated a significant increase in T-cell clonality during therapy compared with those who did not achieve SD (20% vs. 5.9% mean increase, respectively; P = 0.04).

Conclusions:
Pembrolizumab monotherapy achieved durable treatment responses. Patients with a high baseline T-cell clonality had prolonged disease control with pembrolizumab.