bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leaching and cytotoxicity of bismuth oxide in ProRoot MTA – A laboratory investigation
Authors: Pelepenko Lauter E. , Marciano Marina A. , Shelton Richard M. , Camilleri Josette
Published: May 2024

Aim

The present study examined the leaching and cytotoxicity of bismuth from ProRoot MTA and aimed to identify whether bismuth leaching was affected by the cement base and the immersion regime used.

Methodology

The leaching profile of bismuth was examined from ProRoot MTA and compared with hydroxyapatite containing 20% bismuth oxide as well as hydroxyapatite and tricalcium silicate to investigate whether bismuth release changed depending on the cement base. Bismuth leaching was determined after 30 and 180 days of ageing immersed in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium (DMEM) using mass spectroscopy (ICP‐MS). The media were either unchanged or regularly replenished. The pH, surface microstructure and phase changes of aged materials were assessed. Wistar rat femoral bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) and cutaneous fibroblasts were isolated, cultured and seeded for cell counting (trypan blue live/dead) after exposure to non‐aged, 30‐ and 180‐days‐aged samples in regularly replenished DMEM. Aged DMEM in contact with materials was also used to culture BMSCs to investigate the effect of material leachates on the cells. Gene expression analysis was also carried out after direct exposure of cells to non‐aged materials. Differences between groups were statistically tested at a significance level of 5%.

Results

All materials exhibited alterations after immersion in DMEM and this increased with longer exposure times. The bismuth leached from ProRoot MTA as detected by ICP‐MS. Aged ProRoot MTA samples exhibited a black discolouration and surface calcium carbonate deposition. ProRoot MTA influenced cell counts after direct exposure and its 180‐days leachates reduced BMSC viability. After direct BMSC contact with non‐aged ProRoot MTA an upregulation of metallothionein (MT1 and MT2A) expression and down‐regulation of collagen‐1a (Col‐1a) and bone sialoprotein (BSP) expression was identified.

Conclusions

Bismuth leaching was observed throughout 180‐days observation period from all materials containing bismuth oxide. This negatively influenced cell viability and gene expression associated with bismuth exposure. This is the first study to report that metallothionein gene expression was influenced by exposure to ProRoot MTA.
Mechanism of improving the quality of table grapes (Vitis. spp.) by exogenous eugenol based on transcriptome
Authors: Jiang Nan , Wang Liuqing , Gao Yuan , Li Qianqian , Jiang Dongmei , Yao Weirong , Wang Meng
Published: May 2024

Grape is widely consumed all over the world for its rich nutritious and health‐promoting effects. While grape berries are prone to quality deterioration after harvest. This study aimed to investigate the effect of eugenol treatment on the quality of grape berries based on the transcriptome. Harvested grape berries were treated with eugenol, and then collected for nutrient component determination and transcriptomics analyses. As a results, treatment with eugenol enhanced the berries firmness, increased the contents of soluble sugars, organic acids and phenolic compounds, improved the antioxidant capacity, and altered gene expression levels of related pathways. Transcriptome analysis revealed 699 differentially expressed genes by 100 mmol L−1 eugenol‐treated berries. Among these DEGs, the transcriptional levels involved in the cell wall, sugar and acid metabolism, phenylpropane metabolism, antioxidant enzymes, and WRKY, MYB family transcription factors were significantly regulated. This study will help to promote the application of eugenol for quality improvements in grape berries.
Developmental couple therapy for complex trauma: Results of an implementation pilot study
Authors: MacIntosh Heather B.
Published: May 2024

This pilot study examined the process and outcome of Developmental Couple Therapy for Complex Trauma (DCTCT) with seven couples. DCTCT is a novel form of couple therapy designed to address complex posttraumatic stress disorder symptomatology and couple‐level distress in trauma survivors and their partners. These couples showed statistically significant improvements in overall trauma symptoms, emotion regulation capacities, and reductions in attachment‐related anxiety. These results suggest that DCTCT may be a promising approach to intervention. Future directions include the development of a sequential care model, because resource limitations may not allow for all couples to receive the full treatment model over 40 weeks; it will also be important to address measurement issues in relation to mentalizing, to allow for observational coding across the course of therapy.
Impact of the difference in diagnostic criteria for adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome excluding polycystic ovarian morphology
Authors: Hasegawa Yuko , Kitahara Yoshikazu , Kobayashi Mio , Miida Miki , Nenoi Hitomi , Tsukui Yumiko , Iizuka Madoka , Hiraishi Hikaru , Nakazato Satoko , Iwase Akira
Published: May 2024

Aim

Exclusion of polycystic ovarian morphology (PCOM) from the diagnostic criteria for adolescent polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) has been proposed. We analyzed the profiles of adolescent women with suspected PCOS based on the Japan Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology (JSOG) diagnostic and Rotterdam criteria, excluding those with PCOM.

Methods

Thirteen‐ to twenty‐one‐year‐old women with suspected or confirmed diagnosis of PCOS according to the JSOG and Rotterdam criteria were included in this study. Patient characteristics such as hormone levels and body mass index (BMI) were compared between the groups. Correlations between BMI and testosterone, and BMI and time to diagnosis were also analyzed.

Results

Twenty‐nine patients were diagnosed with adolescent PCOS according to the JSOG criteria, and 11 patients according to the Rotterdam criteria after excluding the patients fulfilling the PCOM criteria. Serum testosterone levels were significantly higher in adolescents diagnosed with PCOS using the Rotterdam criteria than in those diagnosed using the JSOG criteria (p < 0.001). The obese group had significantly higher testosterone levels and a longer time from menarche to PCOS diagnosis. A positive correlation was observed between BMI and testosterone levels (r = 0.318, p = 0.014).

Conclusion

Although adolescents with PCOS diagnosed using the Rotterdam criteria exhibited higher testosterone levels, which is a typical characteristic of this condition, the JSOG criteria may be useful for the early diagnosis of adolescent PCOS, including suspected cases. The differences between the two criteria may reflect the natural history of PCOS and its different reproductive and metabolic phenotypes.
Social and biological innovations are essential to deliver transformative forest biotechnologies
Authors: Boerjan Wout , Strauss Steven H.
Published: May 2024

Forests make immense contributions to societies in the form of ecological services and sustainable industrial products. However, they face major challenges to their viability and economic use due to climate change and growing biotic and economic threats, for which recombinant DNA (rDNA) technology can sometimes provide solutions. But the application of rDNA technologies to forest trees faces major social and biological obstacles that make its societal acceptance a ‘wicked’ problem without straightforward solutions. We discuss the nature of these problems, and the social and biological innovations that we consider essential for progress. As case studies of biological challenges, we focus on studies of modifications in wood chemistry and transformation efficiency. We call for major innovations in regulations, and the dissolution of method‐based market barriers, that together could lead to greater research investments, enable wide use of field studies, and facilitate the integration of rDNA‐modified trees into conventional breeding programs. Without near‐term adoption of such innovations, rDNA‐based solutions will be largely unavailable to help forests adapt to the growing stresses from climate change and the proliferation of forest pests, nor will they be available to provide economic and environmental benefits from expanded use of wood and related bioproducts as part of an expanding bioeconomy.
Resurgence of wheat stem rust infections in western Europe: causes and how to curtail them
Authors: Lewis Clare M. , Morier‐Gxoyiya Césarée , Hubbard Amelia , Nellist Charlotte F. , Bebber Daniel P. , Saunders Diane G. O.
Published: May 2024

Ten years ago, (black) stem rust – the most damaging of wheat (Triticum aestivum) rusts – re‐emerged in western Europe. Disease incidences have since increased in scale and frequency. Here, we investigated the likely underlying causes and used those to propose urgently needed mitigating actions. We report that the first large‐scale UK outbreak of the wheat stem rust fungus, Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici (Pgt), in 2022 may have been caused by timely arrival of airborne urediniospores from southwest Europe. The drive towards later‐maturing wheat varieties in the UK may be exacerbating Pgt incidences, which could have disastrous consequences. Indeed, infection assays showed that two UK Pgt isolates from 2022 could infect over 96% of current UK wheat varieties. We determined that the temperature response data in current disease risk simulation models are outdated. Analysis of germination rates for three current UK Pgt isolates showed substantial variation in temperature response functions, suggesting that the accuracy of disease risk simulations would be substantially enhanced by incorporating data from prevailing Pgt isolates. As Pgt incidences continue to accelerate in western Europe, we advocate for urgent action to curtail Pgt losses and help safeguard future wheat production across the region.
The phosphate starvation response regulator PHR2 antagonizes arbuscule maintenance in Medicago
Authors: Wang Peng , Zhong Yanan , Li Yan , Zhu Wenqian , Zhang Yuexuan , Li Jingyang , Chen Zuohong , Limpens Erik
Published: May 2024

Phosphate starvation response (PHR) transcription factors play essential roles in regulating phosphate uptake in plants through binding to the P1BS cis‐element in the promoter of phosphate starvation response genes. Recently, PHRs were also shown to positively regulate arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization in rice and lotus by controlling the expression of many symbiotic genes. However, their role in arbuscule development has remained unclear.

In Medicago, we previously showed that arbuscule degradation is controlled by two SPX proteins that are highly expressed in arbuscule‐containing cells. Since SPX proteins bind to PHRs and repress their activity in a phosphate‐dependent manner, we investigated whether arbuscule maintenance is also regulated by PHR.

Here, we show that PHR2 is a major regulator of the phosphate starvation response in Medicago. Knockout of phr2 showed reduced phosphate starvation response, symbiotic gene expression, and fungal colonization levels. However, the arbuscules that formed showed less degradation, suggesting a negative role for PHR2 in arbuscule maintenance. This was supported by the observation that overexpression of PHR2 led to enhanced degradation of arbuscules. Although many arbuscule‐induced genes contain P1BS elements in their promoters, we found that the P1BS cis‐elements in the promoter of the symbiotic phosphate transporter PT4 are not required for arbuscule‐containing cell expression.

Since both PHR2 and SPX1/3 negatively affect arbuscule maintenance, our results indicate that they control arbuscule maintenance partly via different mechanisms. While PHR2 potentiates symbiotic gene expression and colonization, its activity in arbuscule‐containing cells needs to be tightly controlled to maintain a successful symbiosis in Medicago.
Knockout of stigmatic ascorbate peroxidase 1 (APX1) delays pollen rehydration and germination by mediating ROS homeostasis in Brassica napus L.
Authors: Liang Xiaomei , Li Yuanyuan , Wang Lulin , Yi Bin , Fu Tingdong , Ma Chaozhi , Dai Cheng
Published: May 2024

The successful interaction between pollen and stigma is a critical process for plant sexual reproduction, involving a series of intricate molecular and physiological events. After self‐compatible pollination, a significant reduction in reactive oxygen species (ROS) production has been observed in stigmas, which is essential for pollen grain rehydration and subsequent pollen tube growth. Several scavenging enzymes tightly regulate ROS homeostasis. However, the potential role of these ROS‐scavenging enzymes in the pollen‐stigma interaction in Brassica napus remains unclear. Here, we showed that the activity of ascorbate peroxidase (APX), an enzyme that plays a crucial role in the detoxification of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), was modulated depending on the compatibility of pollination in B. napus. We then identified stigma‐expressed APX1s and generated pentuple mutants of APX1s using CRISPR/Cas9 technology. After compatible pollination, the BnaAPX1 pentuple mutants accumulated higher levels of H2O2 in the stigma, while the overexpression of BnaA09.APX1 resulted in lower levels of H2O2. Furthermore, the knockout of BnaAPX1 delayed the compatible response‐mediated pollen rehydration and germination, which was consistent with the effects of a specific APX inhibitor, ρ‐Aminophenol, on compatible pollination. In contrast, the overexpression of BnaA09.APX1 accelerated pollen rehydration and germination after both compatible and incompatible pollinations. However, delaying and promoting pollen rehydration and germination did not affect the seed set after compatible and incompatible pollination in APX1 pentuple mutants and overexpression lines, respectively. Our results demonstrate the fundamental role of BnaAPX1 in pollen rehydration and germination by regulating ROS homeostasis during the pollen‐stigma interaction in B. napus.
Giacomo Puccini
Authors: Van Dyck Elias
Published: May 2024

Madama Butterfly, de zesde opera van Giacomo Puccini, wordt vaak te snel afgedaan als een sentimentele smartlap. Puccini’s ongeëvenaarde lyriek en dramatische flair stuwen de geisha Cio-Cio-San, grenzeloos verliefd op de hedonistische Amerikaanse luitenant Pinkerton, naar een ultieme daad van zelfopoffering. Dit is het werk van een componist op het toppunt van zijn kunnen. Bovendien biedt de opera ook vandaag stof tot nadenken. Puccini besteedde grote zorg aan de muzikale uitwerking van de cultuurclash tussen oost en west. Daarbij kunnen we echter niet rond de alomtegenwoordige oriëntalistische mythes van de jaren 1900 en Butterfly’s complexe ontstaansgeschiedenis. Ook de fatale ontmoeting tussen een totale, maar blinde toewijding en egocentrische genotzucht, gekoppeld aan diepgewortelde genderpatronen, houdt ons meer dan ooit een spiegel voor. In samenwerking met Opera Ballet Vlaanderen
Older people, ageing and social work: Knowledge for practice
Authors: De Lima Rachel
Published: May 2024

Review of Older people, ageing and social work: Knowledge for practice by M. Hughes and K. Heycox. Routledge, New York, 2020 (Original publication 2010). ISBN 9781742370606, pp.336, Paperback, NZD54.95 ISBN9781003116646, eBook, NZD60.98
Clear speech effects in production of sentence-medial Mandarin lexical tones
Authors: Rittenberry Jack , Shport Irina A.
Published: May 2024

Adding to limited research on clear speech in tone languages, productions of Mandarin lexical tones were examined in pentasyllabic sentences. Fourteen participants read sentences imagining a hard-of-hearing addressee or a friend in a casual social setting. Tones produced in clear speech had longer duration, higher intensity, and larger F0 values. This style effect was rarely modulated by tone, preceding tonal context, or syllable position, consistent with an overall signal enhancement strategy. Possible evidence for tone enhancement was observed only in one set of analysis for F0 minimum and F0 range, contrasting tones with low targets and tones with high targets.
A connection between phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate and the Hippo pathway to prevent epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer
Authors: Hirsch Emilio , Fantastico Emanuele , Prever Lorenzo , Gulluni Federico
Published: May 2024

The Hippo pathway blocks epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in cancer mediated by the transcriptional coactivator YAP. In this issue of
Science Signaling
, Palamiuc
et al.
demonstrate that phosphatidylinositol 5-phosphate (PI5P) enhances Hippo pathway activation and that simultaneously the Hippo pathway initiates a positive feedback loop by inhibiting the conversion of PI5P into PIP
2
.
Real-world experience of commercial relmacabtagene autoleucel (relma-cel) for relapsed/refractory central nervous system lymphoma: a multicenter retrospective analysis of patients in China
Authors: Yu Wenyan , Huang Liang , Mei Heng , Li Yuhua , Niu Ting , Zou Dehui , Liu Yao , Zhang Huilai , Liu Peng , Wu Jianqiu , Wang Zhi , Li Hui , Cai Qingqing , Mi Jian-qing
Published: May 2024

Background

Relapsed/refractory (R/R) central nervous system lymphomas (CNSLs) are associated with a poor prognosis. Relmacabtagene autoleucel (relma-cel), expressing the same chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) as lisocabtagene maraleucel, with an optimized commercial-ready process developed in China, demonstrated remarkable efficacy and manageable safety in the pivotal RELIANCE study. However, no published data are available on the “real-world” use of relma-cel, especially for patients with CNS involvement.

Patients and methods

Retrospective analyses were conducted for commercial relma-cel used in patients with R/R CNSL at 12 clinics. The primary endpoint was to evaluate the proportion of patients who achieved complete response (CR) at 3 months. Secondary endpoints included best complete response (BCR), progression-free survival (PFS), duration of response (DOR), overall survival (OS), and the incidence of adverse events.

Results

Among the 22 CNSL patients (12 primary CNSLs; 10 secondary CNSLs), the best overall response rate was 90.9% and the BCR rate was 68.2%. With median follow-up of 316 days (range, 55–618 days), the estimated 1-year PFS rate, DOR, and OS rate were 64.4%, 71.5%, and 79.2%, respectively. Significant clinical benefits were observed in patients who were in durable CR or partial response to the most recent prior therapy preleukapheresis and received relma-cel as consolidation therapy (n=8), with 1-year PFS rate of 100.0% versus 41.7% (p=0.02). In addition, in terms of primary endpoint, non-CR at 3 months postinfusion seemed to be predictive of a worse prognosis, with an estimated 1-year PFS of 83.3% versus 37.0% (p=0.03), respectively. CRS occurred in 72.9% of patients (grade 3: 4.5%) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome in 36.4% of patients (grade 3: 4.5%). With the add-on agent PD-1 inhibitor (tislelizumab) to the ongoing BTKi, significant re-expansions of CAR T-cell were detected by quantitative PCR or flow cytometry after a median of 2 weeks (range, 12–32 days).

Conclusions

This study was the first and largest real-world study of commercial relma-cel for R/R CNSL, demonstrating promising efficacy and acceptable safety. We reaffirmed the benefit of immuno-agents such as BTKi or PD-1 inhibitor on CAR T-cell re-expansion and hypothesized a dual-agent CAR-T related combinatorial therapies, which warrants further validation. Most importantly, we highlighted the earlier use of CAR T-cell therapy as a consolidative therapy for patients sensitive to salvage therapy, which provided an impetus and inspired-future strategy.
Aortic geometry and long-term outcome in patients with a repaired coarctation
Authors: Minderhoud Savine C S , van Montfoort Rick , Meijs Timion A , Korteland Suze-Anne , Bruse Jan L , Kardys Isabella , Wentzel Jolanda J , Voskuil Michiel , Hirsch Alexander , Roos-Hesselink Jolien W , van den Bosch Annemien E
Published: May 2024

Objective

This study aims to compare aortic morphology between repaired coarctation patients and controls, and to identify aortic morphological risk factors for hypertension and cardiovascular events (CVEs) in coarctation patients.

Methods

Repaired coarctation patients with computed tomography angiography (CTA) or magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) were included, followed-up and compared with sex-matched and age-matched controls. Three-dimensional aortic shape was reconstructed using patients’ CTA or MRA, or four-dimensional flow cardiovascular magnetic resonance in controls, and advanced geometrical characteristics were calculated and visualised using statistical shape modelling. In patients, we examined the association of geometrical characteristics with (1) baseline hypertension, using multivariable logistic regression; and (2) cardiovascular events (CVE, composite of aortic complications, coronary artery disease, ventricular arrhythmias, heart failure hospitalisation, stroke, transient ischaemic attacks and cardiovascular death), using multivariable Cox regression. The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) method selected the most informative multivariable model.

Results

Sixty-five repaired coarctation patients (23 years (IQR 19–38)) were included, of which 44 (68%) patients were hypertensive at baseline. After a median follow-up of 8.7 years (IQR 4.8–15.4), 27 CVEs occurred in 20 patients. Aortic arch dimensions were smaller in patients compared with controls (diameter p<0.001, wall surface area p=0.026, volume p=0.007). Patients had more aortic arch torsion (p<0.001) and a higher curvature (p<0.001). No geometrical characteristics were associated with hypertension. LASSO selected left ventricular mass, male sex, tortuosity and age for the multivariable model. Left ventricular mass (p=0.014) was independently associated with CVE, and aortic tortuosity showed a trend towards significance (p=0.070).

Conclusion

Repaired coarctation patients have a smaller aortic arch and a more tortuous course of the aorta compared with controls. Besides left ventricular mass index, geometrical features might be of importance in long-term risk assessment in coarctation patients.
Long COVID and cardiovascular disease: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Lawson Claire Alexandra , Moss Alastair James , Arnold Jayanth Ranjit , Bagot Catherine , Banerjee Amitava , Berry Colin , Greenwood John , Hughes Alun D , Khunti Kamlesh , Mills Nicholas L , Neubauer Stefan , Raman Betty , Sattar Naveed , Leavy Olivia C , Richardson Matthew , Elneima Omer , McAuley Hamish JC , Shikotra Aarti , Singapuri Amisha , Sereno Marco , Saunders Ruth , Harris Victoria , Houchen-Wolloff Linzy , Greening Neil J , Harrison Ewen , Docherty Annemarie B , Lone Nazir I , Quint Jennifer Kathleen , Chalmers James , Ho Ling-Pei , Horsley Alex , Marks Michael , Poinasamy Krisnah , Evans Rachael , Wain Louise V , Brightling Chris , McCann Gerry P
Published: May 2024

Background

Pre-existing cardiovascular disease (CVD) or cardiovascular risk factors have been associated with an increased risk of complications following hospitalisation with COVID-19, but their impact on the rate of recovery following discharge is not known.

Objectives

To determine whether the rate of patient-perceived recovery following hospitalisation with COVID-19 was affected by the presence of CVD or cardiovascular risk factors.

Methods

In a multicentre prospective cohort study, patients were recruited following discharge from the hospital with COVID-19 undertaking two comprehensive assessments at 5 months and 12 months. Patients were stratified by the presence of either CVD or cardiovascular risk factors prior to hospitalisation with COVID-19 and compared with controls with neither. Full recovery was determined by the response to a patient-perceived evaluation of full recovery from COVID-19 in the context of physical, physiological and cognitive determinants of health.

Results

From a total population of 2545 patients (38.8% women), 472 (18.5%) and 1355 (53.2%) had CVD or cardiovascular risk factors, respectively. Compared with controls (n=718), patients with CVD and cardiovascular risk factors were older and more likely to have had severe COVID-19. Full recovery was significantly lower at 12 months in patients with CVD (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.62, 95% CI 0.43 to 0.89) and cardiovascular risk factors (aOR 0.66, 95% CI 0.50 to 0.86).

Conclusion

Patients with CVD or cardiovascular risk factors had a delayed recovery at 12 months following hospitalisation with COVID-19. Targeted interventions to reduce the impact of COVID-19 in patients with cardiovascular disease remain an unmet need.

Trail registration number

ISRCTN10980107.
Long-term safety and efficacy of upadacitinib versus adalimumab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: 5-year data from the phase 3, randomised SELECT-COMPARE study
Authors: Fleischmann Roy , Swierkot Jerzy , Penn Sara K , Durez Patrick , Bessette Louis , Bu Xianwei , Khan Nasser , Li Yihan , Peterfy Charles G , Tanaka Yoshiya , Mysler Eduardo
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To assess the safety and efficacy of upadacitinib versus adalimumab from SELECT-COMPARE over 5 years.

Methods

Patients with rheumatoid arthritis and inadequate response to methotrexate were randomised to receive upadacitinib 15 mg once daily, placebo or adalimumab 40 mg every other week, all with concomitant methotrexate. By week 26, patients with insufficient response to randomised treatment were rescued; patients remaining on placebo switched to upadacitinib. Patients completing the 48-week double-blind period could enter a long-term extension. Safety and efficacy were assessed through week 264, with radiographic progression analysed through week 192. Safety was assessed by treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Efficacy was analysed by randomised group (non-responder imputation (NRI)) or treatment sequence (as observed).

Results

Rates of TEAEs were generally similar with upadacitinib versus adalimumab, although numerically higher rates of herpes zoster, lymphopenia, creatine phosphokinase elevation, hepatic disorder and non-melanoma skin cancer were reported with upadacitinib. Numerically greater proportions of patients randomised to upadacitinib versus adalimumab achieved clinical responses (NRI); Clinical Disease Activity Index remission (≤2.8) and Disease Activity Score based on C reactive protein <2.6 were achieved by 24.6% vs 18.7% (nominal p=0.042) and 31.8% vs 23.2% (nominal p=0.006), respectively. Radiographic progression was numerically lower with continuous upadacitinib versus adalimumab at week 192.

Conclusion

The safety profile of upadacitinib through 5 years was consistent with the known safety profile of upadacitinib, with no new safety risks. Clinical responses were numerically higher with upadacitinib versus adalimumab at 5 years. Upadacitinib demonstrates a favourable benefit–risk profile for long-term rheumatoid arthritis treatment.

Trial registration number

NCT02629159.
End of the world perspective to BCFT
Authors: Kim Kyung Kiu , Kim Sejin , Lee Jung Hun , Park Chanyong , Seo Yunseok
Published: May 2024

In this work, we study the end-of-the-world (EOW) branes anchored to the boundaries of BCFT$${}_2$$

2

dual to the BTZ black hole. First, we explore the thermodynamics of the boundary system consisting of the conformal boundary and two EOW branes. This thermodynamics is extended by the tension appearing as the effective cosmological constant of JT black holes on the EOW branes. The tension contribution is identified with the shadow entropy equivalent to the boundary entropy of the BCFT$${}_2$$

2

. The thermodynamics of the JT black holes and the bulk of BCFT$${}_2$$

2

can be combined into a novel grafted thermodynamics based on the first law. Second, we focus on the observer’s view of the EOW branes by lowering the temperature. We show that the EOW branes generate a scale called “reefs” inside the horizon. This scale also appears in the grafted thermodynamics. At high temperatures, observers on the EOW branes see their respective event horizons. The reef starts to grow relatively to the horizon size at the temperature, $$T_{grow}$$

T

grow

. As the temperature cools down the reef area fills the entire interior of the JT black holes at the temperature $$T_{out}$$

T

out

. Then, the observers recognize their horizons disappear and see the large density of the energy flux. At this temperature, the two JT regions become causally connected. This connected spacetime has two asymptotic $$AdS_2$$

A
d

S
2

boundaries with a conformal matter. Also, we comment on the grafted thermodynamics to higher dimensions in Appendix B.
Remark on neutrino oscillations
Authors: Fujikawa Kazuo
Published: May 2024

The oscillations of ultra-relativistic neutrinos are realized by the propagation of assumed zero-mass on-shell neutrinos with the speed of light in vacuum combined with the phase modulation by the small mass term $$\exp [-i(m^{2}_{\nu _{k}}/2|\vec {p}|)\tau ]$$

exp
[
-
i
(

m

ν
k

2

/
2
|

p
→

|
)
τ
]

with a time parameter $$\tau $$
τ
. This picture is realized in the first quantization by the mass expansion and in field theory by the use of $$\delta (x^{0}-y^{0}-\tau ) \langle 0|T^{\star }\nu _{L k}(x)\overline{\nu _{L k}(y)}|0\rangle $$

δ

(

x
0

-

y
0

-
τ
)

⟨
0
|

T
⋆

ν

Lk

(
x
)

ν

Lk

(
y
)

¯

|
0
⟩

with the neutrino mass eigenstates $$\nu _{L k}$$

ν

Lk

and a finite positive $$\tau $$
τ
after the contour integral of the propagating neutrino energies. By noting that the conventional detectors are insensitive to neutrino masses, the measured energy-momenta of the initial and final states with assumed zero-mass neutrinos are conserved. The propagating neutrinos preserve the three-momentum in this sense but the energies of the massive neutrinos are conserved up to uncertainty relations and thus leading to oscillations. Conceptual complications in the case of Majorana neutrinos due to the charge conjugation in $$d=4$$

d
=
4

are also discussed.
On electroweak corrections to neutral current Drell–Yan with the POWHEG BOX
Authors: Chiesa Mauro , Del Pio Clara Lavinia , Piccinini Fulvio
Published: May 2024

Motivated by the requirement of a refined and flexible treatment of electroweak corrections to the neutral current Drell–Yan process, we report on recent developments on various input parameter/renormalization schemes for the calculation of fully differential cross sections, including both on-shell and $$\overline{ \mathrm MS}$$

M
S

¯

schemes. The latter are particularly interesting for direct determinations of running couplings at the highest LHC energies. The calculations feature next-to-leading order precision with additional higher order contributions from universal corrections such as $$\varDelta \alpha $$

Δ
α

and $$\varDelta \rho $$

Δ
ρ

. All the discussed input parameter/renormalization scheme options are implemented in the package of dedicated to the neutral current Drell–Yan simulation, i.e. , which is used to obtain the presented numerical results. In particular, a comprehensive analysis on physical observables calculated with different input parameter/renormalization    schemes is presented, addressing the Z peak invariant mass region as well as the high energy window. We take the opportunity of reporting also on additional improvements and options introduced in the package after svn revision 3376, such as different options for the treatment of the hadronic contribution to the running of the electromagnetic coupling and for the handling of the unstable Z resonance.
Finsler–Randers–Sasaki gravity and cosmology
Authors: Kapsabelis E. , Saridakis Emmanuel N. , Stavrinos P. C.
Published: May 2024

We present for the first time a Friedmann-like construction in the framework of an osculating Finsler–Randers–Sasaki (F–R–S) geometry. In particular, we consider a vector field in the metric on a Lorentz tangent bundle, and thus the curvatures of horizontal and vertical spaces, as well as the extra contributions of torsion and non-linear connection, provide an intrinsic richer geometrical structure, with additional degrees of freedom, that lead to extra terms in the field equations. Applying these modified field equations at a cosmological setup we extract the generalized Friedmann equations for the horizontal and vertical space, showing that we obtain an effective dark energy sector arising from the richer underlying structure of the tangent bundle. Additionally, as it is common in Finsler-like constructions, we obtain an effective interaction between matter and geometry. Finally, we consider a specific model and we show that it can describe the sequence of matter and dark-energy epochs, and that the dark-energy equation of state can lie in the quintessence or phantom regimes, or cross the phantom divide.
Metric and Upper Dimension of Extended Annihilating-Ideal Graphs
Authors: Nithya S. , Elavarasi G.
Published: May 2024

The metric dimension problem is called navigation problem due to its application to robot navigation in space. Further this concept has wide applications in motion planning, sonar and loran station, and so on. In this paper, we study certain results on the metric dimension, upper dimension and resolving number of extended annihilating-ideal graph [Formula: see text] associated to a commutative ring [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], respectively. Here we prove the finiteness conditions of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. In addition, we characterize [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for artinian rings and the direct product of rings.
Privacy-preserving Scanpath Comparison for Pervasive Eye Tracking
Authors: Özdel Süleyman , Bozkir Efe , Kasneci Enkelejda
Published: May 2024

As eye tracking becomes pervasive with screen-based devices and head-mounted displays, privacy concerns regarding eye-tracking data have escalated. While state-of-the-art approaches for privacy-preserving eye tracking mostly involve differential privacy and empirical data manipulations, previous research has not focused on methods for scanpaths. We introduce a novel privacy-preserving scanpath comparison protocol designed for the widely used Needleman-Wunsch algorithm, a generalized version of the edit distance algorithm. Particularly, by incorporating the Paillier homomorphic encryption scheme, our protocol ensures that no private information is revealed. Furthermore, we introduce a random processing strategy and a multi-layered masking method to obfuscate the values while preserving the original order of encrypted editing operation costs. This minimizes communication overhead, requiring a single communication round for each iteration of the Needleman-Wunsch process. We demonstrate the efficiency and applicability of our protocol on three publicly available datasets with comprehensive computational performance analyses and make our source code publicly accessible.
Remapping the Document Object Model using Geometric and Hierarchical Data Structures for Efficient Eye Control
Authors: Vella Daniel , Porter Chris
Published: May 2024

The Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) are there to ensure that websites are perceivable, operable, understandable and robust across different user agents and assistive technologies. However, people who rely on eye trackers (ETs) may find that even WCAG-compliant websites are hard to access, and this is further accentuated by designs that offer little to no affordances for ET interaction. Areas with a high density of interactive elements, along with hierarchical navigation menus, such as megamenus or fly-out menus, are just two examples where ET interaction can be problematic. This paper introduces two novel interaction patterns as part of a purpose-built gaze-native web browser (Cactus), namely (a) Quadtree-based Target Selection with Secondary Confirmation and (b) Hierarchical Re-rendering of Navigation Menus. We present results from a between-subject single-blind study with 30 participants and report on metrics such as performance, perceived workload and usability, with demonstrable improvements over the state of the art.
RPG: Rotation Technique in VR Locomotion using Peripheral Gaze
Authors: Lee Jaeyoon , Kim Hanseob , Yang Yechan , Kim Gerard Jounghyun
Published: May 2024

Locomotion is an important task in many virtual reality (VR) applications. Locomotion requires two different directional settings for: (1) translation to a target, and (2) body rotation. Conventional locomotion methods mostly make use of the hand-held controller for such directional control. The controller-based directional setting may not be natural, as in real life, humans set directions with the gaze, often together with the head/body rotation. Note that the view direction is independently and naturally controlled by the head (or gaze) direction. In this paper, we propose to use the peripheral gaze for body rotation, seamlessly together with the foveal gaze for the view control, so that the two tasks practically do not interfere with one another. In the comparative study, the peripheral gaze showed similar task performance to the controller-based rotation but with reduced VR sickness and improved usability.
Quantitative Stylistic Analysis of Middle Chinese Texts Based on the Dissimilarity of Evolutive Core Word Usage
Authors: Qiu Bing , Huo Jiahao
Published: May 2024

Stylistic analysis enables open-ended and exploratory observation of languages. To fill the gap in the quantitative analysis of the stylistic systems of Middle Chinese, we construct lexical features based on the evolutive core word usage and scheme a Bayesian method for feature parameters estimation. The lexical features are from the Swadesh list, each of which has different word forms along with the language evolution during the Middle Ages. We thus count the varied word of those entries along with the language evolution as the linguistic features. With the Bayesian formulation, the feature parameters are estimated to construct a high-dimensional random feature vector to obtain the pair-wise dissimilarity matrix of all the texts based on different distance measures. Finally, we perform the spectral embedding and clustering to visualize, categorize, and analyze the linguistic styles of Middle Chinese texts. The quantitative result agrees with the existing qualitative conclusions and, furthermore, betters our understanding of the linguistic styles of Middle Chinese from both the inter-category and intra-category aspects. It also helps unveil the special styles induced by the indirect language contact.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Telephone Triage Research to 2021 Using VOSviewer
Authors: Poots Jill , Morgan Jim , Curcuruto Matteo
Published: May 2024

Telephone triage services are becoming increasingly commonplace in modern healthcare. Despite this widespread adoption, health researchers and practitioners seeking to understand evidence-based best practice face several challenges. Firstly, the few systematic reviews available yield small sample sizes, suggesting a small amount of research. Secondly, the rapid pace of development of telephone triage technologies means that there may be temporal validity issues with the available research, given some of this research is relatively old. Thirdly, researchers use different terminologies to describe telephone triage, meaning evidence may be more difficult to find than if consistent terminology was used. This bibliometric analysis therefore is aimed at providing a macroscopic overview of telephone triage, to understand the scale and scope of the available evidence (i.e., where, when, and by whom research is conducted), for interested researchers and practitioners. Additionally, it is aimed at quantifying the prevalence of terms used to describe telephone triage, to recommend consistent terminology for future use, and to improve accessibility of research. To address these aims, literature searches using three different key terms: “telephone triage,” “remote triage,” and “teletriage” were conducted in Scopus and PubMed. Corresponding bibliometric data was visualised and analysed using VOSviewer. This bibliometric review identified 784 papers since the term “telephone triage” first appears in 1980, confirming a paucity of literature in the field. An overview of telephone triage research up to 2021 is provided, which should serve as a useful foundation for future research and application of evidence-based practice. Gaps in telephone triage research are identified, and the use of consistent terminology is encouraged, with the aim of supporting telephone triage researchers in determining research priorities and improving the impact of future studies.
Relationships between Electroencephalogram and Thermal Perception of Passenger in Winter Vehicle Compartments
Authors: Xu Xin , Zhao Lanping , Hu Yuxin , Zheng Qinyue , Wu Guomin , Yang Zhigang
Published: May 2024

The development of electric vehicles (EVs) has prompted a critical examination of the trade‐off between range and human thermal comfort. Therefore, an accurate, real‐time assessment of human thermal perception inside vehicles is important. This study investigates an electroencephalogram‐ (EEG‐) based method for evaluating human thermal comfort in the vehicle passenger compartment. Under transient winter heating conditions, the study experimentally investigates the correlation between objective physiological parameters (skin temperature and electroencephalogram) and subjective human thermal perception. The results reveal distinct patterns in EEG signals corresponding to changes in thermal perception. Specifically, the δ rhythm exhibits a U‐shape variation with increasing thermal perception, while the θ, α, β, and γ rhythms display an inverted U‐shape variation. Differences in each frequency band across thermal comfort states in humans are greater than differences in the frequency band across thermal sensation states. Furthermore, the relative power of the θ rhythm emerges as the most effective in discerning the thermal perception state of the human body. The EEG signal characteristics of the T7 and T8 channels align more closely with human thermal sensation, whereas the AF4 channel excels at discriminating the state of human thermal comfort. The insights gained from this study serve as a foundation for evaluating human thermal perception in vehicles, enhancing human‐vehicle interaction, and addressing challenges related to human thermal comfort and vehicle range.
Persistent Antigen A after Minor ABO-Incompatible Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Children: Two Case Reports
Authors: Andrić Biljana , Radonjić Zorica , Šerbić Olivera , Vujić Dragana , Zečević Željko , Simić Marija , Gobeljić Borko , Jovanović-Srzentić Snežana , Radović Ivana
Published: May 2024

Introduction: ABO blood type changes after ABO-incompatible hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Most non-hematopoietic tissues retain the expression of the patient’s own ABO antigens, which may adsorb from the plasma onto the donor’s red blood cells (RBCs). Because of this phenomenon, a persistent patient’s A and/or B antigen could be detected in the laboratory, despite 100% white cell donor chimerism. Adsorption of the patient’s soluble ABO antigens on the newly formed RBCs complicates the interpretation of the patient’s blood type and decision of transfusion therapy. Case Presentation: The first case report is a 6-year-old girl, A, D+, with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), transplanted with HLA-matched unrelated group O, D+ bone marrow. A second case report describes an 8-year-old girl, AB, D−, with ALL transplanted with an HLA-matched related group B, D+ bone marrow. The presence of persistent antigen A was registered in both patients more than 1 year after HSCT, despite complete donor chimerism. Conclusion: The weak expression of ABO antigens on RBCs after HSCT should be examined in detail for proper planning of transfusion therapies.
Diversity of fruit fly species in agricultural area Chott Zahrez Chergui (Djel-fa): First record of Trupanea amoena (Diptera: Tephritidae) in Algeria
Authors: Yahiaoui Siham Rekia , Sehl Boudjemaa , Marniche Faiza , Guerzou Ahlem
Published: May 2024

Fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) are cosmopolitan, species-rich, and yet poorly studied in Algeria, particularly in the agro area of Djelfa. We sampled fruit flies in orchard containing three types of trees apricot, fig and grapes at each site, using the yellow traps.  Results show that the orchard differed significantly in species richness, abundance, diversity and evenness. A total of 956 individuals distributed by nine species of Diptera, including four species of fruit flies are collected. The results revealed that most abundant species are Drosophila melanogaster at the apricot fruit site (RA%=28.32%), Zaprionus indianus at fig fruit site (RA%=34.74 %) and Tephritis praecox at the grapes fruit site with (RA%= 51.61 %). The orchard selected a greater number of species and individuals, and higher diversity indices H′=2.40 bits; 2.32 bits and 2.02 bits. Statistically, the result of stepwise multiple regressions revealed a very strong correlation between the number of fruit fly species and the temperatures with (r=93.1%) and (Sig .000**). Thus, fruit flies appear to have rather arrow with the host plant requirements and their phenology was correlated with environmental differences. Our study highlighted for; the first time; the presence of Trupanea amoena in Algeria. This important and substantial preliminary work on this new species in Algeria provides a solid basis for future research and extension of the study in particular for monitoring and control of this dreaded agricultural pest.
In vitro digestion and fermentation of animal-derived fermentable substrates using canine and feline faecal inoculum
Authors: Butowski C.F. , Young W. , Thomas D.G. , Bermingham E.N.
Published: May 2024

There is increasing interest in understanding the fermentative benefits of animal-derived fermentable substrates (ADFS) in pet foods. While previous research has assessed various ADFS using faecal inoculum derived from the cat, there is no published literature available for the dog. Additionally, very little is understood of the fermentation profiles of ADFS, such as skin and bone. Therefore, faeces were collected from a cohort of cats and dogs fed a complete and balanced high-protein diet and a selection of substrates were analysed in this study. Individual ADFS (tendon, bone cake, mechanically deboned meat (MDM), corium and hydrolysed collagen (a positive control)) were digested in vitro, followed by fermentation using either canine or feline faecal inoculum. Concentrations of butyrate, indole and ammonia were determined after 24 h of fermentation. Regardless of whether cat or dog faecal inoculum was used, fermentation of hydrolysed collagen produced the highest (P < 0.01) concentrations of butyrate and ammonia and the lowest concentrations of indole. For the other substrates, there were differences in the fermentation profiles between the canine and feline inocula. During the feline faecal fermentations, in comparison to the other substrates bone cake produced high (P < 0.05) butyrate concentrations, whereas in the dog faecal fermentations, MDM resulted in high (P < 0.05) butyrate concentrations. In conclusion, ADFS from different alternative co-products lead to different fermentation products, providing valuable information which may be considered in canine and feline dietary formulations.