bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simulation of macrosegregation in continuous casting of steel based on large-eddy simulation turbulence model and meshless solution procedure
Authors: Mramor K , Vertnik R , Šarler B
Published: March 2023

The formation of macrosegregation pattern in steel is explored for the continuous casting process. The related solidification problem is described by incompressible turbulent fluid flow, governed by mass, momentum, energy, and species conservation equations. The solid-liquid system is designed in a mixture continuum model formulation, and the mushy region is approximated with the Darcy model. The lever rule describes the formation of microsegregation of carbon. Turbulence is modelled with a large-eddy simulation approach implemented with the Smagorinsky model and van Driest correction. The synthetic isotropic fluctuations of the inlet velocity are generated by the von Karman Pao spectrum. The solution of partial differential equations is implemented locally by using collocation with radial basis functions for spatial discretization and the explicit Euler method for time discretization. The two-dimensional large eddy simulation model solutions are compared to the previously calculated examples obtained with the low-Re k − ε turbulence model.
Observation of grain motion during semisolid deformation by using 4D-CT and 3DXRD
Authors: Narumi T , Ohta K , Ohta M , Numata T , Asahi K , Katsube R , Yasuda H
Published: March 2023

A technique combining time-resolved computed tomography (4D-CT) and three-dimensional X-ray diffraction (3DXRD) was employed to investigate semisolid deformation in an Al-10mass%Cu alloy with the equiaxed grain structure. The diffraction patterns and reconstructed 3D images were used to quantitatively analyse the translational and rotational motions of solid grains in the semisolid alloy. Finally, the motion of solid grains and the expansion of porosity during the compression tests are discussed on the basis of in situ observations.
Investigation of Al-20Sn-10Cu alloy directional solidification by laboratory X-radiography
Authors: Reinhart G , Ngomesse F , Bertelli F. , Benigni P , Campos A , Nguyen-Thi H
Published: March 2023

Al-based alloys with a soft phase such as Sn are extensively used for bearing components due to their self-lubricating properties. Al-Sn alloys lack the ability to support heavy loads so the alloying with Cu as a third element provides solution strengthening of the aluminium matrix. A crucial issue in the manufacturing of Al-Sn-Cu alloys is the miscibility gap in the phase diagram of the system. Liquid immiscibility is responsible for severe segregation during the solidification process, due to the large density difference between the Al-rich and Sn-rich liquids, which limits their utilization in industry. It is therefore both scientifically and technically important to accurately understand their solidification path. In the present work, the solidification of a ternary Al-20wt.%Sn-10wt.%Cu alloys was investigated in-situ by using X-radiography. Directional solidification experiments were performed on sheet-like samples in the laboratory device SFINX (Solidification Furnace with IN-situ X-radiography), which consists of a Bridgman-type gradient furnace and an X-radiography system. The solidification sequence was determined based on the observation of the recorded images, enlightening the successive steps of the solidification path. These observations were compared to predictions obtained from thermodynamic calculations. Complementary post-mortem microscopic analyses showed that the dendrite primary trunk and secondary arms developed along <110> crystallographic axes instead of the usually expected <100>.
Microstructural Characterization and Mechanical Properties Investigation of Nemalloy HE700 alloy: Effect of Pre-Solidified Grains
Authors: Aziz T. , Sadayappan K. , Phillion A. , Shankar S.
Published: March 2023

Structural plate castings of Nemalloy HE700 alloy, an Al-Fe eutectic alloy system with Zn and Mg as precipitation strengtheners were produced through high vacuum high pressure die casting (HVHPDC) and designed as an alternative to existing structural automotive materials. Cast materials are subject to the existence of pre-solidified grains (PSG) within the microstructure that originate from external solidification in the liquid melt and cause defects in the final cast components. In the case of HPDC, these PSG emerge in the shot sleeve and are injected through the gating system, influencing liquid metal flow behaviour and solidification characteristics. The extent of PSG and their distribution were manipulated through the altering of process route parameters such as shot delay intervals. Quantitative metallography and the effect of PSGs on the uniaxial tensile properties for the Nemalloy HE700 alloy are presented in this publication.
Green preparation of carbon fiber/liquid silicone rubber composites for flexible electrode
Authors: Liu Zhitao , Ma Lichun , Wang Xiaoran , Zheng Hao , Peng Zhi , Zhu Junjie , Song Guojun
Published: March 2023

Stretchable flexible conductive polymer composites (flexible electrodes) had become a research hot spot. In this paper, two-component room-temperature vulcanized liquid silicone rubber (LRTV) and short carbon fibers (CFs) were mixed by mechanical blending without solvent to prepare a tensile self-reply composites with high conductivity. The relationships between the average length, length distribution and content of CFs and the performance of CFs/LRTV composites were investigated. When the CFs length was 100 μm, the composites achieved a high conductivity. The composites conductivity threshold was reached when the CFs content was 3 wt%. In addition, the composites could be used as a conductor to light the bulb when the CFs content reached 8 wt%. The conductivity remained stable during cyclic stretching with a strain of 8%. The breaking and reconstruction of the internal 3D conductive network in the composites during the stretching process were discovered. The obtained results revealed that CFs/LRTV composites can be used as highly effective, flexible, stretchable electrode materials for stretchable displays, electronic skin, personalized healthcare.
Freeness and 𝑆-arithmeticity of rational Möbius groups
Authors: Detinko A. , Flannery D. , Hulpke A.
Published: March 2023

We initiate a new, computational approach to a classical problem: certifying non-freeness of (

2
2

-generator, parabolic) Möbius subgroups of

SL
⁡
(
2
,

Q

)

\operatorname {SL}(2,\mathbb {Q})

. The main tools used are algorithms for Zariski dense groups and algorithms to compute a presentation of

SL
⁡
(
2
,
R
)

\operatorname {SL}(2, R)

for a localization

R
=

Z

[

1
b

]

R= \mathbb {Z}[\frac {1}{b}]

of

Z

\mathbb {Z}

. We prove that a Möbius group

G
≤
SL
⁡
(
2
,
R
)

G\leq \operatorname {SL}(2,R)

is not free by showing that it has finite index in

SL
⁡
(
2
,
R
)

\operatorname {SL}(2, R)

. Further information about the structure of

G
G

is obtained; for example, we compute the minimal subgroup of finite index in

SL
⁡
(
2
,
R
)

\operatorname {SL}(2,R)

containing

G
G

.
On the inference of ERK signaling dynamics from protein biosensor measurements
Authors: Rahman Shah Md. Toufiqur , Haugh Jason M.
Published: March 2023

Live-cell microscopy is used to infer dynamics in single cells. Here, ERK signaling was monitored using four different biosensors in a common cell context. Each responds with unique kinetics, reflecting differences in ERK localization and activity. Mathematical modeling offers an interpretation of the data and may be used to guide biosensor design.
Novel Technology for Facial Muscle Stimulation Combined With Synchronized Radiofrequency Induces Structural Changes in Muscle Tissue: Porcine Histology Study
Authors: Kinney Brian M , Bernardy Jan , Jarošová Rea
Published: March 2023

Background

With age, facial muscles lose the ability to complete contractions properly, resulting in limitation of facial expressions and fat shifting, and leading to skin creases and wrinkling.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of the novel high intensity facial electromagnetic stimulation (HIFES) technology combined with synchronized radiofrequency on delicate facial muscles, using an animal porcine model.

Methods

Eight (n = 8, 60-80 kg) sows were divided into the active group (n = 6) and the control group (n = 2). The active group underwent four 20-minute treatments with radiofrequency (RF) and HIFES energies. The control group was not treated. Histology samples of muscle tissue were collected by a punch biopsy (6 mm in diameter) from the treatment area of each animal at baseline, 1-month, and 2-month follow-up. The evaluation included staining of the obtained tissue slices with hematoxylin and eosin and Masson's trichrome to determine the changes in muscle mass density, number of myonuclei, and muscle fibers.

Results

The active group showed muscle mass density increase (by 19.2%, P < .001), together with elevated numbers of myonuclei (by 21.2%, P < .05) and individual muscle fibers, which increased from 56.8 ± 7.1 to 68.0 ± 8.6 (P < .001). In the control group, no significant changes were seen in any of the studied parameters throughout the study (P > .05). Finally, no adverse events or side effects were observed in the treated animals.

Conclusions

The results document favorable changes after the HIFES + RF procedure at the level of the muscle tissue, which may be of great importance in terms of maintenance of facial appearance in human patients.
PhaGAA: an integrated web server platform for phage genome annotation and analysis
Authors: Wu Jiawei , Liu Qingrui , Li Min , Xu Jiliang , Wang Chen , Zhang Junyin , Xiao Minfeng , Bin Yannan , Xia Junfeng
Published: March 2023

Motivation

Phage genome annotation plays a key role in the design of phage therapy. To date, there have been various genome annotation tools for phages, but most of these tools focus on mono-functional annotation and have complex operational processes. Accordingly, comprehensive and user-friendly platforms for phage genome annotation are needed.

Results

Here, we propose PhaGAA, an online integrated platform for phage genome annotation and analysis. By incorporating several annotation tools, PhaGAA is constructed to annotate the prophage genome at DNA and protein levels and provide the analytical results. Furthermore, PhaGAA could mine and annotate phage genomes from bacterial genome or metagenome. In summary, PhaGAA will be a useful resource for experimental biologists and help advance the phage synthetic biology in basic and application research.

Availability and implementation

PhaGAA is freely available at http://phage.xialab.info/.
Paradoxical hidradenitis suppurativa induced by adalimumab biosimilar successfully treated with guselkumab in a patient with psoriasis. Comment on ‘Paradoxical hidradenitis suppurativa due to anti-interleukin-1 agents for mevalonate kinase deficiency successfully treated with the addition of ustekinumab’
Authors: Martora Fabrizio , Fabbrocini Gabriella , Marasca Claudio , Battista Teresa , Megna Matteo
Published: March 2023

This letter comments on ‘Paradoxical hidradenitis suppurativa due to anti-interleukin-1 agents for mevalonate kinase deficiency successfully treated with the addition of ustekinumab’.
Osteoma cutis of the scalp on a background of hair loss surgeries
Authors: Clarke Eleanor , Roche Heather , El-Heis Sarah , Murray Caroline
Published: March 2023

We present a case report about a patient with osteoma cutis of the scalp on a background of multiple hair loss surgeries.
No significant salt or sweet taste preference or sensitivity differences following ad libitum consumption of ultra-processed and unprocessed diets: a randomized controlled pilot study
Authors: Jaime-Lara Rosario B , Franks Alexis T , Agarwal Khushbu , Nawal Nafisa , Courville Amber B , Guo Juen , Yang Shanna , Brooks Brianna E , Roy Abhrarup , Taylor Karen , Darcey Valerie L , LeCheminant James D , Chung Stephanie , Forde Ciarán G , Hall Kevin D , Joseph Paule V
Published: March 2023

Ultra-processed food consumption has increased worldwide, yet little is known about the potential links with taste preference and sensitivity. This exploratory study aimed to (i) compare sweet and salty taste detection thresholds and preferences following consumption of ultra-processed and unprocessed diets, (ii) investigate whether sweet and salty taste sensitivity and preference were associated with taste substrates (i.e. sodium and sugar) and ad libitum nutrient intake, and (iii) examine associations of taste detection thresholds and preferences with blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric measures following consumption of ultra-processed and unprocessed diets. In a randomized crossover study, participants (N = 20) received ultra-processed or unprocessed foods for 2 weeks, followed by the alternate diet. Baseline food intake data were collected prior to admission. Taste detection thresholds and preferences were measured at the end of each diet arm. Taste-substrate/nutrient intake, body mass index (BMI), and body weight (BW) were measured daily. No significant differences were observed in participant salt and sweet detection thresholds or preferences after 2 weeks on ultra-processed or unprocessed diets. There was no significant association between salt and sweet taste detection thresholds, preferences, and nutrient intakes on either diet arm. A positive correlation was observed between salt taste preference and systolic BP (r = 0.59; P = 0.01), BW (r = 0.47, P = 0.04), and BMI (r = 0.50; P = 0.03) following consumption of the ultra-processed diet. Thus, a 2-week consumption of an ultra-processed diet does not appear to acutely impact sweet or salty taste sensitivity or preference. Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier NCT03407053.
Chemical identification and indexing in full-text articles: an overview of the NLM-Chem track at BioCreative VII
Authors: Leaman Robert , Islamaj Rezarta , Adams Virginia , Alliheedi Mohammed A , Almeida João Rafael , Antunes Rui , Bevan Robert , Chang Yung-Chun , Erdengasileng Arslan , Hodgskiss Matthew , Ida Ryuki , Kim Hyunjae , Li Keqiao , Mercer Robert E , Mertová Lukrécia , Mobasher Ghadeer , Shin Hoo-Chang , Sung Mujeen , Tsujimura Tomoki , Yeh Wen-Chao , Lu Zhiyong
Published: March 2023

The BioCreative National Library of Medicine (NLM)-Chem track calls for a community effort to fine-tune automated recognition of chemical names in the biomedical literature. Chemicals are one of the most searched biomedical entities in PubMed, and—as highlighted during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic—their identification may significantly advance research in multiple biomedical subfields. While previous community challenges focused on identifying chemical names mentioned in titles and abstracts, the full text contains valuable additional detail. We, therefore, organized the BioCreative NLM-Chem track as a community effort to address automated chemical entity recognition in full-text articles. The track consisted of two tasks: (i) chemical identification and (ii) chemical indexing. The chemical identification task required predicting all chemicals mentioned in recently published full-text articles, both span [i.e. named entity recognition (NER)] and normalization (i.e. entity linking), using Medical Subject Headings (MeSH). The chemical indexing task required identifying which chemicals reflect topics for each article and should therefore appear in the listing of MeSH terms for the document in the MEDLINE article indexing. This manuscript summarizes the BioCreative NLM-Chem track and post-challenge experiments. We received a total of 85 submissions from 17 teams worldwide. The highest performance achieved for the chemical identification task was 0.8672 F-score (0.8759 precision and 0.8587 recall) for strict NER performance and 0.8136 F-score (0.8621 precision and 0.7702 recall) for strict normalization performance. The highest performance achieved for the chemical indexing task was 0.6073 F-score (0.7417 precision and 0.5141 recall). This community challenge demonstrated that (i) the current substantial achievements in deep learning technologies can be utilized to improve automated prediction accuracy further and (ii) the chemical indexing task is substantially more challenging. We look forward to further developing biomedical text–mining methods to respond to the rapid growth of biomedical literature. The NLM-Chem track dataset and other challenge materials are publicly available at https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/lu/BC7-NLM-Chem-track/.

Database URL https://ftp.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pub/lu/BC7-NLM-Chem-track/
The 2021 emergence of Brood X periodical cicadas Magicicada spp. (Hemiptera: Cicadidae) in Georgia, United States of America
Authors: Lampert Evan C , Perez Gaby , Reyes Alejo Daleana , Jones Sydney Marie , Ignatius Amber
Published: March 2023

The US state of Georgia includes the range of several periodical cicada broods and is the southernmost state in which Brood X periodical cicadas emerge; however, no research has focused on this brood in this state. We used reports of sightings on social media, communication with the public, and our own searches to determine the geographic range in Georgia and timing of biological events. Both adults and exuviae were identified to species to determine the species makeup at those locations. The first Brood X adult was photographed on April 26 in Lumpkin County, and Magicicada septendecim L. was the most common species. Online records and site visits led to distribution records in nine counties, including six that provided no records in the 2004 emergence. Driving surveys revealed patchy distributions of chorusing adults and species distribution modeling further predicted locations where Brood X can be found in future surveys. We observed cicada oviposition scars at two locations and found no effect of host plant on presence or density of scars. Lastly, collections of dead adults showed female remains were less common and more likely to be dismembered. Further investigations of the periodical cicadas in Georgia are recommended to better understand the phenology, evolution, and ecology of these remarkable insects.
Dual antiplatelet therapy de-escalation in acute coronary syndrome: an individual patient meta-analysis
Authors: Kang Jeehoon , Rizas Konstantinos D , Park Kyung Woo , Chung Jaewook , van den Broek Wout , Claassens Daniel M F , Choo Eun ho , Aradi Dániel , Massberg Steffen , Hwang Doyeon , Han Jung-Kyu , Yang Han-Mo , Kang Hyun-Jae , Chang Kiyuk , ten Berg Jur M , Sibbing Dirk , Koo Bon-Kwon , Kim Hyo-Soo
Published: March 2023

Aims

Dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) with aspirin and a potent P2Y12 inhibitor is the standard treatment for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). De-escalation of the potent P2Y12 inhibtor is an appealing concept to balance the ischaemic and bleeding risks after PCI. An individual patient data meta-analysis was performed to compare de-escalation versus standard DAPT in patients with ACS.

Methods and results

Electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and the Cochrane database, were searched to identify randomised clinical trials (RCTs) comparing the de-escalation strategy with the standard DAPT after PCI in patients with ACS. Individual patient-level data were collected from the relevant trials. The co-primary endpoints of interest were the ischaemic composite endpoint (a composite of cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and cerebrovascular events) and bleeding endpoint (any bleeding) at 1-year post-PCI. Four RCTs (the TROPICAL-ACS, POPular Genetics, HOST-REDUCE-POLYTECH-ACS, and TALOS-AMI trials) including 10 133 patients were analysed. The ischaemic endpoint was significantly lower in the patients assigned to the de-escalation strategy than in those assigned to the standard strategy (2.3% vs. 3.0%, hazard ratio [HR] 0.761, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.597-0.972, log rank P = 0.029). Bleeding was also significantly lower in the de-escalation strategy group (6.5% vs. 9.1%, HR 0.701, 95% CI 0.606-0.811, log rank P < 0.001). No significant intergroup differences were observed in terms of all-cause death and major bleeding events. Subgroup analyses revealed that compared to guided de-escalation, unguided de-escalation had a significantly larger impact on bleeding endpoint reduction (P for interaction = 0.007); no intergroup differences were observed for the ischaemic endpoints.

Conclusion

In this individual patient data meta-analysis, DAPT-based de-escalation was associated with both decreased ischaemic and bleeding endpoints. Reduction in bleeding endpoints was more prominent for the unguided than the guided de-escalation strategy.

Study registration number

This study was registered in the PROSPERO (ID: CRD42021245477).
Bacterial virulence regulation through soluble peptidoglycan fragments sensing and response: knowledge gaps and therapeutic potential
Authors: Escobar-Salom María , Barceló Isabel María , Jordana-Lluch Elena , Torrens Gabriel , Oliver Antonio , Juan Carlos
Published: March 2023

Given the growing clinical–epidemiological threat posed by the phenomenon of antibiotic resistance, new therapeutic options are urgently needed, especially against top nosocomial pathogens such as those within the ESKAPE group. In this scenario, research is pushed to explore therapeutic alternatives and, among these, those oriented toward reducing bacterial pathogenic power could pose encouraging options. However, the first step in developing these antivirulence weapons is to find weak points in the bacterial biology to be attacked with the goal of dampening pathogenesis. In this regard, during the last decades some studies have directly/indirectly suggested that certain soluble peptidoglycan-derived fragments display virulence-regulatory capacities, likely through similar mechanisms to those followed to regulate the production of several β-lactamases: binding to specific transcriptional regulators and/or sensing/activation of two-component systems. These data suggest the existence of intra- and also intercellular peptidoglycan-derived signaling capable of impacting bacterial behavior, and hence likely exploitable from the therapeutic perspective. Using the well-known phenomenon of peptidoglycan metabolism-linked β-lactamase regulation as a starting point, we gather and integrate the studies connecting soluble peptidoglycan sensing with fitness/virulence regulation in Gram-negatives, dissecting the gaps in current knowledge that need filling to enable potential therapeutic strategy development, a topic which is also finally discussed.
Split-marker-mediated genome editing improves homologous recombination frequency in the CTG clade yeastCandida intermedia
Authors: Peri Kameshwara V R , Faria-Oliveira Fábio , Larsson Adam , Plovie Alexander , Papon Nicolas , Geijer Cecilia
Published: March 2023

Genome-editing toolboxes are essential for the exploration and exploitation of nonconventional yeast species as cell factories, as they facilitate both genome studies and metabolic engineering. The nonconventional yeast Candida intermedia is a biotechnologically interesting species due to its capacity to convert a wide range of carbon sources, including xylose and lactose found in forestry and dairy industry waste and side-streams, into added-value products. However, possibilities of genetic manipulation have so far been limited due to lack of molecular tools for this species. We describe here the development of a genome editing method for C. intermedia, based on electroporation and gene deletion cassettes containing the Candida albicans NAT1 dominant selection marker flanked by 1000 base pair sequences homologous to the target loci. Linear deletion cassettes targeting the ADE2 gene originally resulted in <1% targeting efficiencies, suggesting that C. intermedia mainly uses nonhomologous end joining for integration of foreign DNA fragments. By developing a split-marker based deletion technique for C. intermedia, we successfully improved the homologous recombination rates, achieving targeting efficiencies up to 70%. For marker-less deletions, we also employed the split-marker cassette in combination with a recombinase system, which enabled the construction of double deletion mutants via marker recycling. Overall, the split-marker technique proved to be a quick and reliable method for generating gene deletions in C. intermedia, which opens the possibility to uncover and enhance its cell factory potential.
Health literacy and COVID-19-related beliefs and behaviors: a longitudinal study of the Japanese general population
Authors: Ishikawa Hirono , Kato Mio
Published: March 2023

Since the outbreak of novel coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), health communication has played a critical role in the process of disease prevention. Based on the concepts of health literacy and protection motivation theory, this study longitudinally examined the relationship between general health literacy measured immediately before the COVID-19 outbreak, and COVID-19–related information utilization, health literacy, beliefs and protective behaviors during the subsequent year in the Japanese general population. The participants were 767 Japanese residents who completed self-administered questionnaire surveys in January 2020 and February 2021. Based on the hypotheses, we constructed and tested a path model to predict the adoption of protective behaviors. Higher health literacy in 2020 was significantly related to higher COVID-19-related health literacy in 2021, which, in turn, was related to the adoption of recommended protective behaviors both directly and indirectly through threat and coping appraisal. Coping appraisal, but not threat appraisal, significantly differed by health literacy level. Generic health literacy skills for accessing, understanding and applying health information may enable people to better adapt to specific health risks. Our findings provide guidance for future health literacy education and health risk communication in populations with different health literacy levels.
El Tribunal de Cuentas de la Unión brasilero: una institución muy peculiar
Authors: Jordão Eduardo , Palma Juliana
Published: March 2023

Created in 1890, the Tribunal de Contas da União (TCU) is today one of the most relevant institutions in the Brazilian State. This article explains how the TCU became this very particular institution, from its historical origins as a simple court of accounts to its efforts to differentiate itself from this model and gain other (many) powers, reshaping itself. In the end, we present a synthesis of the current debates on the institutional model of the TCU in Brazil.
Lithium-ion battery equalization circuit and control strategy for photovoltaic energy storage applications
Authors: Yao Haiyan , Thinzar Aung
Published: March 2023

Solar photovoltaic (PV) is considered a very promising technology, and PV-lithium-ion battery energy storage is widely used to obtain smoother power output. In this paper, we propose a battery equalization circuit and control strategy to improve the performance of lithium-ion batteries. In the equalization circuit, the passive equalization and active equalization circuits are combined, and the active equalization circuit used is simple and has high performance, whereas in the equalization strategy, because the system works 24 h a day, the equalization speed is sacrificed to obtain a smaller temperature rise by adjusting the duty cycle of the passive equalization metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors and by calculating the state of charge instead of the voltage to obtain better performance. The proposed circuit and strategy can not only achieve the goal of battery equalization, while turning on four batteries at the same time and the temperature rise of passive equalization is only 1°C for ~1.5 h. Compared with the traditional equalization control strategy with 8 mV voltage error, the proposed strategy is only 3 mV, which has better performance.
Gepotidacin: a novel, oral, ‘first-in-class’ triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic for the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections and urogenital gonorrhoea
Authors: Watkins Richard R , Thapaliya Dipendra , Lemonovich Tracy L , Bonomo Robert A
Published: March 2023

The ongoing spread of antimicrobial resistance has made the treatment of uncomplicated urinary tract infections (UTIs) and urogenital gonorrhoea increasingly difficult. New oral treatment options are urgently needed. Gepotidacin (previously GSK2140944) is a novel, bactericidal, oral, ‘first-in-class’ triazaacenaphthylene antibiotic that inhibits bacterial DNA replication by blocking two essential topoisomerase enzymes. Mutations in both enzymes would likely be necessary for resistance to occur, thus raising hopes that the drug will be able to maintain long-term effectiveness. Data from Phase II clinical trials of gepotidacin in UTIs and urogenital gonorrhoea appear promising, and Phase III trials are underway. In this review we summarize the development of gepotidacin and discuss its potential role in clinical practice. If approved, gepotidacin will be the first new oral antibiotic for UTIs in more than 20 years.
Feasibility and utility of Point-of-Care electronic clinical data capture in Uganda’s healthcare system: a qualitative study
Authors: Nabukenya Josephine , Egwar Andrew Alunyu , Drumright Lydia , Semwanga Agnes Rwashana , Kasasa Simon
Published: March 2023

Objective

This study aimed to assess Uganda’s readiness for implementing a national Point-of-Care (PoC) electronic clinical data capture platform that can function in near real-time.

Methods

A qualitative, cross-sectional design was adopted to obtain a snapshot of Uganda’s eHealth system landscape with an aim to assess the readiness for implementing PoC platform. A purposive sampling strategy was used to select the study districts per region, health facilities per district, and participants per facility or district.

Results

Nine facilitators were identified, including health worker motivation to serve the community, affirmative action on eHealth financing, improved integrating information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, Internet and electricity power connectivity, improved human resource skills and knowledge, the culture of sensitizing and training of stakeholders on eHealth interventions, the perceived value of the platform, health workers’ motivation to improve health data quality, interest to improve data use, and continuous improvement in the eHealth regulatory environment. Other suggestions entailed several requirements that must be met, including infrastructure, eHealth governance, human resources, as well as functional and data requirements.

Discussion

Uganda, like other low-income countries, has adopted ICT to help solve some of its health system challenges. Although several challenges face eHealth implementations in Uganda, this study revealed facilitators that can be leveraged and requirements that, if met, would facilitate the successful implementation of a near real-time data capture platform capable of improving the country’s health outcomes.

Conclusion

Other countries with eHealth implementations similar to those faced in Uganda can also leverage identified facilitators and address the stakeholders’ requirements.
An Overall Validation Approach Based on β-Content, γ-Confidence Tolerance Interval, and Uncertainty Profile: Application to LC–MS/MS Quantification of Carbendazim in Drinking Water
Authors: Aaziz Hicham , Saffaj Taoufiq , Saffaj Nabil , Mamouni Rachid , Ihssane Bouchaib
Published: March 2023

Background

Carbendazim is a fungicide which can seep into the water supply, presenting a public health risk, and therefore the accurate trace determination of this substance is very important.

Objective

The purpose of the study is to take a top-down analytical validation approach in order to determine the amount of carbendazim in drinking water by using an SPE–LC–MS/MS technique.

Methods

Quantification of carbendazim using solid-phase extraction coupled with LC–MS/MS was used in order to ensure the accuracy of the analytical method and to control the risk of its routine application. An overall validation methodology based on two-sided tolerance interval type β-content, γ-confidence has been applied for the validation and estimation of uncertainty by building a decision graphical tool called the “uncertainty profile” by using the statistical process known as the Satterthwaite approximation with no recourse to additional data by satisfying intermediate precision condition for each concentration level within the acceptance limits fixed in advance.

Results

The process of validation is based on the selection of a linear weighted 1/X model enabling validation of the carbendazim dosage using LC–MS/MS in the range of working concentrations as the βγ-CCTI fell inside acceptable limits of ±10%, and the relative expanded uncertainty did not surpass 7% regardless of the β values (66.7, 80, and 90%) and the 1− γ = risk (10 and 5%).

Conclusion

The application of the uncertainty profile approach for full validation of a SPE–LC–MS/MS assay for the quantification of carbendazim has been successfully achieved.

Highlights

Implementation of a full validation strategy based on validation and measurement uncertainty with no additional effort using data from analytical validation under intermediate precision conditions at each level of concentration for carbendazim quantification in drinking water using SPE–LC–MS/MS. So we have shown the flexibility of this approach for carbendazim assay by LC–MS/MS. Indeed, It provides an efficient decision-making tool that allows selection and modification of β-content and γ-confidence values.
Development of building information modeling-based automation assessment process for universal design of public buildings
Authors: Yu Eunsang , Choi Jungsik
Published: March 2023

The aging population is growing drastically all over the world. With the advent of the global era, universal design is garnering considerable interest, as the number of multicultural families is increasing, and various user classes are being created. In addition, with the advances in construction technology, architectural design is becoming more diverse, and convenience facilities are also getting distributed in various ways. As a result, more buildings need to apply universal design, indicating that various architectural information and universal design for the user class are required. Various data are needed for universal design evaluation, but there is a limit to evaluating with two-dimensional (2D) drawings. However, the limitations of 2D drawings can be overcome via building information modeling (BIM) combined with architectural data, which remarkably simplifies the universal design evaluation. This study was conducted with the aim to analyze architectural information by extracting architectural elements necessary for universal design evaluation from BIM data. It was confirmed that the calculations for universal design evaluation can be performed by 3D shape or attribute analysis using BIM data and computer programming. In order to create an automated evaluation algorithm for universal design, the evaluation methods were classified according to the universal design evaluation guide, based on building users and user diversity. In addition, even if the evaluation methods were the same by location, different points were classified by location, and evaluation items and information necessary for the evaluation were organized by category for each facility. Through this classification, we created an algorithm with seven types of methods for extracting the BIM data and comparing them by evaluation method for an automated analysis. In addition, an analysis was performed directly on the BIM design sample model using an automated evaluation algorithm. Although there were various architectural objects in the design data, evaluation was possible using algorithms. By applying the universal design evaluation and BIM data evaluation methods, we could confirm that the BIM-based universal design automation evaluation method prevents human error and is thus superior to the existing evaluation methods. Further, the automation evaluation method can contribute to BIM activation as the BIM data can be used in various studies such as design certification evaluation and automation analysis.
Moth community among apples during bloom in Northwest Arkansas: likely pollinators and activity periods
Authors: Robertson, Stephen M
Published: March 2023

Apples are a fruit crop of economic and nutritional importance that require cross-pollination primarily by insects for sustainable production. It was recently demonstrated that nocturnal pollinators can contribute as much to apple pollination as diurnal pollinators. However, information concerning nocturnal pollinator identity, activity periods, and community composition in apples is lacking, which limits research expansion. To address this knowledge gap, nocturnal moths in an apple orchard were surveyed during apple bloom from 2018 to 2020 using blacklight traps, with samples collected hourly to delineate moth activity. Observations during the same periods were made to identify moths visiting apple flowers, whose capture data were then compared to other captured moth species to provide useful information concerning community composition during apple bloom. Blacklight surveys yielded 1,087 moths representing at least 68 species from 12 families, wherein 15 species from five families were observed visiting apple flowers. Captured moths were most abundant and diverse in the first two hours after sunset. Most captured moth species did not visit flowers and are likely not associated with apple pollination. However, moth species that were observed visiting flowers were the most abundant overall and most diverse by hour in surveys. Data indicate a rich moth community present among apple orchards during bloom and identify likely moth pollinators of apples. Though more research is required to establish the precise relationships between moth pollination and apples, the information provided here allows for targeted efforts to do so.
Addressing Barriers to Career Development Awards for Early Career Women in Pediatric Psychology
Authors: Bates Carolyn R , Bakula Dana M , Egbert Amy H , Gerhardt Cynthia A , Davis Ann M , Psihogios Alexandra M
Published: March 2023

Objective

To provide person and system-level recommendations for supporting early career women in the field of pediatric psychology in writing and submitting National Institutes of Health (NIH) Career Development Award (K award) applications. Recommendations are provided in the context of common barriers, with a focus on practical solutions.

Methods

Publicly available NIH reporter data were compiled to examine rates of funding for Society of Pediatric Psychology (SPP) members. Barriers that women face when initiating programs of research are described and applied to the field of pediatric psychology.

Results

Of current SPP members, 3.9% (n = 50) have ever received an NIH K award. Approximately 88.5% of SPP members identify as women, including 89.0% of SPP K award recipients. A table of person- and systems-level recommendations is provided to offer strategies for mentees, mentors/sponsors, institutions, and national organizations to address the barriers discussed.

Conclusions

By addressing gender-specific barriers to submitting K award applications, we hope to increase the number of women K awardees and support the scientific advancement of pediatric psychology.
Acute pancreatitis after intragastric balloon insertion: case report
Authors: Alkhathami Abdulmajeed Ali , Ahmed Zuhair Babiker , Khushayl Abdullah Mohammed A , Alsaffar Faiz , Alshahrani Abdullah M
Published: March 2023

The intragastric balloon (IGB) is a relatively recent non-surgical weight loss technique that is now widely used in the world to treat obesity. However, IGB causes a wide range of adverse effects that range from minor ones, such as nausea, stomach pain and gastroesophageal reflux, to serious ones, such as ulceration, perforation, intestinal blockage and compression of adjusting structures. A 22-year-old Saudi woman presented to the emergency department (ED) with a history of upper abdominal pain that started 1 day before admission. The patient’s surgical background was unremarkable, and no other obvious pancreatitis risk factors were present. The patient underwent a minimally invasive treatment after being diagnosed with obesity (class 1), in which an IGB was inserted one and a half months prior to her ED presentation. She consequently began to lose weight (around 3 kg). The hypothesis states that pancreatitis following IGB insertion can be caused either by stomach distention and pancreatic compression at the tail or body or by ampulla obstruction due to balloon catheter migration at the duodenum. Heavy meal consumption, which may cause an increase in pancreatic compression, is another potential cause of pancreatitis in such patients. We believe that the IGB-induced compression of the pancreas at its tail or body was the likely cause of pancreatitis in our case. This case was reported because it is the first one from our city as far as we know. A few cases from Saudi Arabia have also been reported, and reporting them will help to improve doctors’ awareness of this complication, which can cause pancreatitis symptoms to be mistaken for something else because of the balloon-related effects on gastric distention.
Combining National Surveys with Composite Calibration to Improve the Precision of Estimates from the United Kingdom's Living Costs and Food Survey
Authors: Merkouris Takis , Smith Paul A , Fallows Andy
Published: March 2023

The United Kingdom’s Living Costs and Food (LCF) Survey has a relatively small sample size but produces estimates which are widely used, notably as a key input to the calculation of weights for consumer price indices. There has been a recent call for the use of additional data sources to improve the estimates from the LCF. Since some LCF variables are shared with the much larger Labour Force Survey (LFS), we investigate combining data from these surveys using composite calibration to improve the precision of estimates from the LCF. We undertake model selection to choose a suitable set of common variables for the composite calibration using the effect on the estimated variances for national and regional totals of important LCF variables. The variances of estimates for common variables are reduced to around 5 percent of their original size. Variances of national estimates are reduced (across several quarters) by around 10 percent for expenditure and 25 percent for income; these are the variables of primary interest in the LCF. Reductions in the variances of regional estimates vary more but are mostly large when using common variables at the regional level in the composite calibration. The composite calibration also makes the LCF estimates for employment status almost consistent with the outputs of the LFS, which is an important property for users of the statistics. A novel alternative method for variance estimation, using stored information produced by the composite calibration, is also presented.
Abscisic acid can augment, but is not essential for, autumnal leaf senescence
Authors: Kane Cade N , McAdam Scott A M
Published: March 2023

Senescence vividly marks the onset of the final stages of the life of a leaf, yet the triggers and drivers of this process are still not fully understood. The hormone abscisic acid (ABA) is an important regulator of leaf senescence in model herbs, but the function of this hormone has not been widely tested in deciduous trees. Here we investigate the importance of ABA as a driver of leaf senescence in winter deciduous trees. In four diverse species we tracked leaf gas exchange, water potential, chlorophyll content, and leaf ABA levels from the end of summer until leaves were abscised or died. We found that no change in ABA levels occurred at the onset of chlorophyll decline or throughout the duration of leaf senescence. To test whether ABA could enhance leaf senescence, we girdled branches to disrupt ABA export in the phloem. Girdling increased leaf ABA levels in two of the species, and this increase triggered an accelerated rate of chlorophyll decline in these species. We conclude that an increase in ABA level may augment leaf senescence in winter deciduous species but that it is not essential for this annual process.
The structure of associations: Method insights from analyzing 28 clinical isolates ofCryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Vélez Nórida , Vega-Vela Nelson , Clay Oliver Keatinge , Parra-Giraldo Claudia-Marcela
Published: March 2023

Clinical isolates of a fungal pathogen from a single region or country often exhibit structural clonality or phylogenetic clustering at the sequence or MLST level; such population structure can persist also in larger samples. In efforts to improve causal understanding of pathogenesis at the molecular level, genome-wide association screening methods initially designed for other kingdoms have been applied to fungi. The example of a Colombian dataset of 28 clinical Cryptococcus neoformans VNI isolates indicates where the output from standard pipelines may need to be analyzed in new ways in order to efficiently extract hypotheses for experiments from fungal genotype–phenotype data.
Chasing supermassive black hole merging events withAthenaandLISA
Authors: Piro L , Colpi M , Aird J , Mangiagli A , Fabian A C , Guainazzi M , Marsat S , Sesana A , McNamara P , Bonetti M , Rossi E M , Tanvir N R , Baker J G , Belanger G , Dal Canton T , Jennrich O , Katz M L , Luetzgendorf N
Published: March 2023

The European Space Agency is studying two large-class missions bound to operate in the decade of the 30s, and aiming at investigating the most energetic and violent phenomena in the Universe. Athena is poised to study the physical conditions of baryons locked in large-scale structures from the epoch of their formation, as well as to yield an accurate census of accreting supermassive black holes down to the epoch of reionization; LISA will extend the hunt for Gravitational Wave (GW) events to the hitherto unexplored mHz regime. We discuss in this paper the science that their concurrent operation could yield, and present possible Athena observational strategies. We focus on Supermassive (M$\lesssim 10^7\, \rm {M_\odot }$) Black Hole Mergers (SMBHMs), potentially accessible to Athena up to z ∼ 2. The simultaneous measurement of their electromagnetic (EM) and GW signals may enable unique experiments in the domains of astrophysics, fundamental physics, and cosmography, such as the magnetohydrodynamics of fluid flows in a rapidly variable space–time, the formation of coronae and jets in Active Galactic Nuclei, and the measurement of the speed of GW, among others. Key to achieve these breakthrough results will be the LISA capability of locating a SMBHM event with an error box comparable to, or better than the field-of-view of the Athena Wide Field Imager ($\simeq 0.4\,$ deg2) and Athena capability to slew fast to detect the source during the inspiral phase and the post-merger phase. Together, the two observatories will open in principle the exciting possibility of truly concurrent EM and GW studies of the SMBHMs