bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Engineered soluble, trimerized 4-1BBL variants as potent immunomodulatory agents
Authors: Battin Claire , De Sousa Linhares Annika , Leitner Judith , Grossmann Anna , Lupinek Daniela , Izadi Shiva , Castilho Alexandra , Waidhofer-Söllner Petra , Grabmeier-Pfistershammer Katharina , Stritzker Jochen , Steinberger Peter 
Published: June 2023

AbstractTargeting co-stimulatory receptors promotes the activation and effector functions of anti-tumor lymphocytes. 4-1BB (CD137/TNFSF9), a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily (TNFR-SF), is a potent co-stimulatory receptor that plays a prominent role in augmenting effector functions of CD8+T cells, but also CD4+T cells and NK cells. Agonistic antibodies against 4-1BB have entered clinical trials and shown signs of therapeutic efficacy. Here, we have used a T cell reporter system to evaluate various formats of 4-1BBL regarding their capacity to functionally engage its receptor. We found that a secreted 4-1BBL ectodomain harboring a trimerization domain derived from human collagen (s4-1BBL-TriXVIII) is a strong inducer of 4-1BB co-stimulation. Similar to the 4-1BB agonistic antibody urelumab, s4-1BBL-TriXVIIIis very potent in inducing CD8+and CD4+T cell proliferation. We provide first evidence that s4-1BBL-TriXVIIIcan be used as an effective immunomodulatory payload in therapeutic viral vectors. Oncolytic measles viruses encoding s4-1BBL-TriXVIIIsignificantly reduced tumor burden in a CD34+humanized mouse model, whereas measles viruses lacking s4-1BBL-TriXVIIIwere not effective. Natural soluble 4-1BB ligand harboring a trimerization domain might have utility in tumor therapy especially when delivered to tumor tissue as systemic administration might induce liver toxicity.
Predictors for surgical site infection in patients undergoing therapeutic or prophylactic intra-abdominal onlay mesh (IPOM) implantation in clean and contaminated surgical fields
Authors: Jakob Manuel O. , Brüggemann Adriana , Moser Nina , Candinas Daniel , Beldi Guido , Haltmeier Tobias 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Background
Prophylactic intra-abdominal onlay mesh (IPOM) implantation has been shown to reduce the rate of fascial dehiscence and incisional hernia. However, surgical site infection (SSI) in presence of an IPOM remains a concern. The aim of this study was to assess predictors for SSI following IPOM placement in hernia and non-hernia abdominal surgery in clean and contaminated surgical fields.

Methods
Observational study including patients undergoing IPOM placement at a Swiss tertiary care hospital 2007–2016. IPOM implantation was performed in hernia and non-hernia elective and emergency abdominal surgery, including contaminated and infected surgical fields. The incidence of SSI was prospectively assessed by Swissnoso according to CDC criteria. The effect of disease- and procedure-related factors on SSI was assessed in multivariable regression analysis, adjusting for patient-related factors.

Results
A total of 1072 IPOM implantations were performed. Laparoscopy was performed in 415 patients (38.7%), laparotomy in 657 patients (61.3%). SSI occurred in 172 patients (16.0%). Superficial, deep, and organ space SSI were found in 77 (7.2%), 26 (2.4%), and 69 (6.4%) patients, respectively. Multivariable analysis revealed emergency hospitalization (OR 1.787, p = 0.006), previous laparotomy (1.745, p = 0.029), duration of operation (OR 1.193, p < 0.001), laparotomy (OR 6.167, p < 0.001), bariatric (OR 4.641, p < 0.001), colorectal (OR 1.941, p = 0.001), and emergency (OR 2.510, p < 0.001) surgery, wound class ≥ 3 (OR 3.878, p < 0.001), and non-polypropylene mesh (OR 1.818, p = 0.003) as independent predictors for SSI. Hernia surgery was independently associated with a lower risk for SSI (OR 0.165, p < 0.001).

Conclusion
This study revealed emergency hospitalization, previous laparotomy, duration of operation, laparotomy, as well as bariatric, colorectal, and emergency surgery, abdominal contamination or infection, and usage of non-polypropylene mesh as independent predictors for SSI. In contrast, hernia surgery was associated with a lower risk for SSI. The knowledge of these predictors will help to balance benefits of IPOM implantation against the risk for SSI.

Graphical abstract
Robot-assisted spinal augmentation procedures: is it worth the increased effort?
Authors: Bettag Christoph , Jann Tim , Rohde Veit , Fiss Ingo , Schatlo Bawarjan , von der Brelie Christian 
Published: June 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Spinal augmentation procedures (SAP) are standard procedures for vertebral compression fractures. Often, SAPs are carried out in a minimally invasive, percutaneous way. Certain anatomic conditions such as small pedicles or kyphotic deformities resulting from a significant collapse of the vertebral body might render the operation more difficult and increase the risk of complications. Thus, robot assistance might be useful to optimize the trajectory and to reduce procedure-associated complications. In this study robot-assisted percutaneous SAPs are compared with conventional fluoroscopy-guided percutaneous SAP.

Methods
A retrospective observational analysis was carried out. Standard demographic parameters were analyzed. Procedural data including radiation dosage records were screened. Biomechanical data were recorded. Cement volumes were analyzed. The precision of the pedicular trajectory was reviewed, and misplaced trajectories were categorized. Procedure-associated complications were analyzed and evaluated for their clinical significance.

Results
A total of 130 procedures were reviewed, and 94 patients were finally included. Osteoporotic fractures (OF) were the main indication (60.7%; OF 2–44%, OF 4–33%). Demographic parameters and clinically relevant complications were equally distributed between the two groups. Duration of surgery was significantly longer in robot-assisted procedures (p < 0.001). Intraoperative radiation exposure was equally distributed. Injected cement volume was similar in both groups. There was no significant difference in pedicle trajectory deviation.

Conclusion
The use of robot assistance in SAP seems not to be superior with regard to accuracy, radiation exposure and the rate of complications when compared to fluoroscopy-guided SAP.
Antiviral response and immunopathogenesis of interleukin 27 in COVID-19
Authors: Valdés-López Juan Felipe , Urcuqui-Inchima Silvio 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is associated with a high mortality rate. The clinical course is attributed to the severity of pneumonia and systemic complications. In COVID-19 patients and murine models of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the disease may be accompanied by excessive production of cytokines, leading to an accumulation of immune cells in affected organs such as lungs. Previous reports have shown that SARS-CoV-2 infection antagonizes interferon (IFN)-dependent antiviral response, thereby preventing the expression of IFN-stimulated genes (ISGs). Lower IFN levels have been linked to more-severe COVID-19. Interleukin 27 (IL27) is a heterodimeric cytokine composed of IL27p28 and EBI3 subunits, which induce both pro- and anti-inflammatory responses. Recently, we and others have reported that IL27 also induces a strong antiviral response in an IFN-independent manner. Here, we investigated transcription levels of both IL27 subunits in COVID-19 patients. The results show that SARS-CoV-2 infection modulates TLR1/2-MyD88 signaling in PBMCs and monocytes and induces NF-κB activation and expression of NF-κB-target genes that are dependent on a robust pro-inflammatory response, including EBI3; and activates IRF1 signaling which induces IL27p28 mRNA expression. The results suggest that IL27 induces a robust STAT1-dependent pro-inflammatory and antiviral response in an IFN-independent manner in COVID-derived PBMCs and monocytes as a function of a severe clinical course of COVID-19. Similar results were observed in macrophages stimulated with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein. Thus, IL27 can trigger an antiviral response in the host, suggesting the possibility of novel therapeutics against SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans.
Dopaminergic treatment strategies for people with Parkinson’s disease in Europe: a retrospective analysis of PRISM trial data
Authors: Hansen Lara , Witzig Victoria , Schulz Jörg B. , Holtbernd Florian 
Published: June 2023

AbstractBackgroundLevodopa (LD) is the most effective drug to treat Parkinson’s disease (PD). The recently concluded multinational Parkinson’s Real-World Impact Assessment (PRISM) trial revealed highly variable prescription patterns of LD monotherapy across six European countries. The reasons remain unclear.MethodsIn this post hoc analysis of PRISM trial data, we used multivariate logistic regression analysis to identify socio-economic factors affecting prescription practice. We applied receiver-operated characteristics and split sample validation to test model accuracy to predict treatment class (LD monotherapy vs. all other treatments).ResultsSubject age, disease duration, and country of residence were significant predictors of treatment class. The chance of receiving LD monotherapy increased by 6.9% per year of age. In contrast, longer disease duration reduced the likelihood of receiving LD monotherapy by 9.7% per year. Compared to the other countries, PD patients in Germany were 67.1% less likely and their counterparts in the UK 86.8% more likely to receive an LD monotherapy. The model classification accuracy of treatment class assignment was 80.1%. The area under the curve to predict treatment condition was 0.758 (95% CI [0.715, 0.802]). Split sample validation revealed poor sensitivity (36.6%), but excellent specificity (92.7%) to predict treatment class.ConclusionThe relative lack of socio-economic variables affecting prescription practice in the study sample and limited model accuracy to predict treatment class suggest the presence of additional, country-specific factors affecting prescription patterns that were not assessed in the PRISM trial. Our findings indicate that physicians still avoid prescribing LD monotherapy to younger PD patients.
Antioxidant enzymes of Pseudochlorella pringsheimii under two stressors: variation of SOD Isoforms activity
Authors: Ismaiel Mostafa M. S. , Piercey-Normore Michele D. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractAlgae are always facing the challenge of exposure to different stress conditions, therefore raising challenges of adaptation for survival. In this context, the growth and the antioxidant enzymes of the green stress-tolerant alga Pseudochlorella pringsheimii were investigated under two environmental stresses viz. iron and salinity. The number of algal cells was moderately increased by iron treatment in the range of 0.025–0.09 mM of iron, yet, the number of cells decreased at high iron concentrations (0.18 to 0.7 mM Fe). Furthermore, the different NaCl concentrations (8.5–136.0 mM) had an inhibitory effect on the algal cell number, compared to the control.The superoxide dismutase (SOD) showed three isoforms namely; Mn, Fe, and Cu/Zn SOD. The in gel and in vitro (tube-test) activities of FeSOD were higher compared with the other SOD isoforms. The activity of total SOD and its isoforms increased significantly by the different concentrations of Fe and non-significantly by NaCl. The maximum SOD activity was recorded at 0.7 mM Fe (67.9% above control). The relative expression of FeSOD was high under iron and NaCl at 8.5 and 34 mM, respectively. However, FeSOD expression was reduced at the highest NaCl tested concentration (136 mM). In addition, the antioxidant enzyme activity of catalase (CAT) and peroxidase (POD) were accelerated by increasing iron and salinity stress which indicates the essential role of these enzymes under stress. The correlation between the investigated parameters was also investigated. A highly significant positive correlation between the activity of total SOD and its isoforms, and with the relative expression of FeSOD was observed.
Changes in retirement plans in the English older population during the COVID-19 pandemic: The roles of health factors and financial insecurity
Authors: Kung Claryn S. J. , Zhu Jingmin , Zaninotto Paola , Steptoe Andrew 
Published: June 2023

AbstractOver the course of 2020 and 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted lives globally. In the UK, unemployment rate continued to increase during and post-lockdown periods, and job security and financial wellbeing deteriorated. It is important to understand whether individual decisions related to retirement plans have changed systematically as a result of the pandemic, especially among older adults who experienced greater rates of pandemic unemployment. Using the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing, this article examines changes in retirement plans of older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic and estimates the impact of health and financial circumstances on these changes. In June/July 2020, 5% of 2095 participants reported planning earlier retirement, while 9% reported planning later retirement. We found that poor self-rated health and financial insecurity were associated with intentions to postpone retirement. Additional risk of later retirement associated with poor health was detected among those experiencing financial insecurity. In November/December 2020, 7% of 1845 participants reported planning earlier retirement, while 12% reported planning later retirement. We found that poor health was predictive of a lower relative risk of later retirement, while depressive symptomology and financial insecurity predicted a higher relative risk of later retirement. The findings imply a contextual role of health factors in, and a persistent influence of financial insecurity on, retirement planning in the older population.
Impacts of different levels of vitamin K on the growth performance, hematological parameters, and immunological response of juvenile Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)
Authors: Abdelhamid Ahmed F. , Gewida Ahmed G. A. , El-Sayed Abdel-Fattah M. , Badran Mohamed F. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe current investigation was carried out to determine the impacts of different levels of vitamin K (VK) on the growth performance, hematological parameters, and immunological response of all-male juveniles of Nile tilapia (O. niloticus). VK3 (menadione) was added in five concentrations (0.0, 2.0, 4.0, 8.0, and 12.0 mg kg–1 diet) in five isonitrogenous (30% cp), isocaloric (18.61 MJ kg–1) diets. The fish were fed the diets at a daily rate of 3% of their live weight, divided into 3 meals for 60 days. The results implied that supplemental VK did not provide any growth rate improvements and the efficiency of feed utilization over the control diet. Increasing dietary VK above 2 mg kg–1 feed resulted in significant retardation in fish performance and survival rates. Furthermore, supplemental VK up to 2–4 mg kg–1 increased hematological parameters, physiological functions, immune response, antioxidant capacity, and bone mineralization. Further increase in dietary VK resulted in a significant decline or level off in these parameters. Meanwhile, liver function enzymes increased progressively with dietary VK increasing. In conclusion, these findings suggest that supplemental VK maybe not be necessary for Nile tilapia growth performance, whereas about 2–4 mg kg–1 diet is required for other physiological functions. Increasing VK beyond these levels may pose adverse effects on Nile tilapia. However, further long-term studies are required to confirm these results.
Struggling, Forgotten, and Under Pressure: A Scoping Review of Experiences of Sex Workers During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Brooks Samantha K. , Patel Sonny S. , Greenberg Neil 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe COVID-19 pandemic profoundly affected physical, mental, and economic well-being across the globe and has disproportionately affected certain vulnerable groups. This paper provides a scoping review of literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on sex workers, published between December 2019 and December 2022. Six databases were systematically searched, identifying 1009 citations; 63 studies were included in the review. Thematic analysis revealed eight main themes: financial issues; exposure to harm; alternate ways of working; COVID-19 knowledge, protective behaviors, fear, and risk; well-being, mental health, and coping; access to support; access to health care; and the impact of COVID-19 on research with sex workers. COVID-associated restrictions led to reduced work and income, leaving many sex workers struggling to cover basic needs; additionally, government protections excluded those working in the informal economy. Fearing the loss of their already reduced number of clients, many felt compelled to compromise both prices and protective measures. Although some engaged in online sex work, this raised concerns about visibility and was impossible for those without technological access or skills. Many feared COVID-19, but felt pressure to continue working, often with clients who refused to wear masks or share exposure history. Other negative impacts on well-being related to the pandemic included reduced access to financial support or health care. Marginalized populations (and especially those in professions which require close contact like sex workers) need further support and capacity-building within the community to recover from the impact of COVID-19.
The socio-ecological resilience and sustainability implications of seafood supply chain disruption
Authors: Subramaniam Roshni C. , Ruwet Mélodie , Boschetti Fabio , Fielke Simon , Fleming Aysha , Dominguez-Martinez Rosa Mar , Plagányi Éva , Schrobback Peggy , Melbourne-Thomas Jessica 
Published: June 2023

AbstractRemaining resilient under disruption, while also being sustainable, is essential for continued and equitable seafood supply in a changing world. However, despite the wide application of resilience thinking to sustainability research and the multiple dimensions of social-ecological sustainability, it can be difficult to ascertain how to make a supply chain both resilient and sustainable. In this review, we draw upon the socio-ecological resilience and sustainability literature to identify links and highlight concepts for managing and monitoring adaptive and equitable seafood supply chains. We then review documented responses of seafood supply networks to disruption and detail a case study to describe the attributes of a resilient seafood supply system. Finally, we outline the implications of these responses for social (including wellbeing and equity), economic and environmental sustainability. Disruptions to supply chains were categorised based on their frequency of occurrence (episodic, chronic, cumulative) and underlying themes were derived from supply chain responses for each type of disruption. We found that seafood supply chains were resilient when they were diverse (in either products, markets, consumers or processing), connected, supported by governments at all scales, and where supply chain actors were able to learn and collaborate through trust-based relationships. With planning, infrastructure and systematic mapping, these attributes also can help to build socio-ecological sustainability and move towards more adaptive and equitable seafood supply.
Selecting and refining suitable methods of developing digital elevation models to represent geomorphic features and characteristics of smaller wetlands in data-scarce environments
Authors: van der Waal Bennie , Grenfell Suzanne , Huchzermeyer Nicholaus , Schlegel Pippa 
Published: June 2023

AbstractLand surface geomorphology plays an important role in water and sediment dispersal processes in wetlands. For wetland practitioners and researchers to engage with these processes in time and space, they require topographic data in order to derive wetland surface gradient, cross-sectional shape and area, surface and subsurface hydrological connectivity, and hydraulic characteristics. A range of data options, with varying spatial resolutions, are available, ranging from free national and global resources (e.g. contour data and global elevation models) to project-specific high-resolution surveys (e.g. Differential Global Positioning Systems (DGPS), Photogrammetry, Light Detection And Ranging (LiDAR)). Due to the scarcity of high-resolution and high-accuracy data, especially in developing countries, data gathering and processing costs can be significant. This paper presents a commentary on a range of topographic data and processing options for a relatively small (~ 40 ha) floodplain wetland in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. It critically reviews the usefulness and shortfalls of various wetland-related applications ranging from gradient calculations to more detailed hydraulic modelling, and the data resolution required for each application. Free, low-resolution, datasets have a limited representation of geomorphology at this scale due to the relatively low-resolution and large vertical error. Field-based surveys (using survey-grade equipment such as a DGPS) have the benefit of providing accurate terrain results in areas with dense vegetation and surface water, while photogrammetry and LiDAR data are useful to represent the higher resolution morphology across the wetland, despite shortcomings regarding the penetration of dense vegetation and surface water. However, combining DGPS data with LiDAR proves to yield the best model for detailed process modelling for wetlands at the local scale.
“Your Health at Present”: Are Patterns of Reporting Heterogeneity in Self-rated Health Gendered?
Authors: Dobreva Ralitza , Posel Dorrit 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis study explores reporting heterogeneity in self-rated health in a developing country context, and it thereby contributes to a growing literature which evaluates whether purely subjective indicators of health provide reliable measures of health status that permit inter-personal comparisons. We focus on gender and investigate if reporting patterns on self-rated health vary systematically between women and men. Most studies assess the reliability of self-rated health indicators by incorporating gender as a control variable in the analysis. We extend this research by examining whether gender intersects with a range of social factors to affect health perceptions. We analyse national longitudinal data, using the random effects generalised ordered probit iterative estimation procedure, thereby controlling for unobserved characteristics that may compromise cross-sectional analysis. Overall, our study corroborates other findings on the reliability of subjective health indicators, even in the culturally and economically diverse context of South Africa. However, although reporting styles are largely consistent between women and men, we also identify several differences, which warrant further investigation in other contexts.