bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Systematic Review of Vaccine Strategies Against Tritrichomonas foetus Infection in Cattle: Insights, Challenges, and Prospects
Authors: Santos John Harvey M. , Boe‐Hansen Gry B. , Siddle Hannah V. , Nguyen Loan T. , Raza Ali , McGowan Michael , McCosker Kieren D. , Tabor Ala E.
Published: January 2025

Tritrichomonas foetus is a protozoan parasite that causes bovine trichomonosis (also referred to as trichomoniasis) resulting in substantial economic loss in extensive grazing systems. The parasite colonises the reproductive tracts of both male and female cattle, being asymptomatic in males but causing early reproductive failure in infected females. This systematic review aimed to examine research manuscripts describing the development of T. foetus vaccines, the strategies employed, and the immune response associated with T. foetus infection. A systematic review was conducted using indexed sources on Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase to search for published vaccine development studies in English utilising either experimental or commercial T. foetus vaccines for bovine trichomonosis. Search terms (cattle, bull, heifer, vaccine, immune response, and Tritrichomonas foetus) were entered into the indexed sources and with no limit was set for the year of publication. Among 374 studies imported for screening, 96 were duplicates, and 255 were excluded for irrelevancy as these studies did not meet the inclusion criteria (report original data, vaccine tests in cattle, and used either commercial or experimental vaccines that incorporated antigens from T. foetus). A further five studies were excluded after full‐text review as either the publication described a different target pathogen or the full text was not in English. Eighteen studies met the inclusion criteria and were subjected to data extraction using the Covidence platform. Studies included in the systematic review reported three vaccine strategies, including subunit, cell fraction, and whole‐cell killed vaccines. This review considers the design, rationale, and results of each of the 18 studies to provide a comprehensive overview of the current knowledge and to inform future research agendas. While whole‐cell killed vaccines are most prevalent, they have shown superior efficacy compared to subunit vaccines studied to date. One study using a purified fractions of T. foetus cell membranes as vaccine demonstrated higher efficacy and higher calving rates compared to the whole‐cell killed vaccine. All of these methods require cell culture growth of T. foetus which can be challenging compared to the production of recombinant proteins. At this stage, no T. foetus recombinant antigens have been reported. Advances in understanding the parasite's genome, pathogenesis, host–parasite interactions, and host immune responses to T. foetus will provide opportunities for the development of novel vaccine strategies for bovine trichomonosis.
Mach Number Correction of Rectangular Duct Criticals
Authors: Bartran David S. , Banyay Gregory
Published: January 2025

The velocity dependence of acoustic cut-off frequencies in rectangular ducts is briefly summarized, followed by a comparison with reported duct criticals in a flow test involving isolated cylinders in cross-flow. The agreement with the theory illustrates the importance of addressing the Mach number effects in moderate to high velocity services.
Rupture phases reveal geometry-related rupture propagation in a natural earthquake
Authors: Yao Suli , Yang Hongfeng
Published: January 2025

Understanding and deciphering wiggles from seismograms has been a long endeavor to understand the internal structure of the Earth and to explore earthquake source properties. Here, we make an attempt to decipher the continuous rupture phases as large near-fault velocity pulses along the East Anatolian Fault in the 2023 moment magnitude (
M
w
) 7.8 Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye, earthquake. Through data analysis and dynamic rupture simulations, we robustly identify the transient supershear rupture on a segment with flat fault trace and rupture deceleration at fault bends. Our study highlights the complexity and superior application of near-fault data for understanding earthquake dynamics.
Circularity in polydiketoenamine thermoplastics via control over reactive chain conformation
Authors: Demarteau Jeremy , Epstein Alexander R. , Reed Laura J. , Ciccia Nicodemo R. , Hartwig John F. , Persson Kristin A. , Helms Brett A.
Published: January 2025

Controlling the reactivity of bonds along polymer chains enables both functionalization and deconstruction with relevance to chemical recycling and circularity. Because the substrate is a macromolecule, however, understanding the effects of chain conformation on the reactivity of polymer bonds emerges as important yet underexplored. Here, we show how oxy-functionalization of chemically recyclable condensation polymers affects acidolysis to monomers through control over distortion and interaction energies in the rate-limiting transition states. Oxy-functionalization of polydiketoenamines at specific sites on either the amine or triketone monomer segments increased acidolysis rates by more than three orders of magnitude, opening the door to efficient deconstruction of linear chain architectures. These insights substantially broaden the scope of applications for polydiketoenamines in a circular manufacturing economy, including chemically recyclable adhesives for a diverse range of surfaces.
Tunable polarization entangled photon-pair source in rhombohedral boron nitride
Authors: Liang Haidong , Gu Tian , Lou Yanchao , Yang Chengyuan , Ma Chaojie , Qi Jiajie , Bettiol Andrew A. , Wang Xilin
Published: January 2025

Entangled photon-pair sources are pivotal in various quantum applications. Miniaturizing the quantum devices to meet the requirement in limited space applications drives the search for ultracompact entangled photon-pair sources. The rise of two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors has been demonstrated as ultracompact entangled photon-pair sources. However, the photon-pair generation rate and purity are relatively low, and the strong photoluminescence in 2D semiconductors also makes the operational wavelength range limited. Here, we use the spontaneous parametric down conversion (SPDC) of rhombohedral boron nitride (rBN) as a polarization entangled photon-pair source. We have achieved a generation rate of more than 120 hertz (a record-high SPDC coincidence rate with 2D materials) and a high-purity photon-pair generation with a coincidence-to-accidental ratio of above 200. Tunable Bell state generation is also demonstrated by simply rotating the pump polarization, with a fidelity up to 0.93. Our results suggest rBN as an ideal candidate for on-chip integrated quantum devices.
Development of compositionality through interactive learning of language and action of robots
Authors: Vijayaraghavan Prasanna , Queißer Jeffrey Frederic , Flores Sergio Verduzco , Tani Jun
Published: January 2025

Humans excel at applying learned behavior to unlearned situations. A crucial component of this generalization behavior is our ability to compose/decompose a whole into reusable parts, an attribute known as compositionality. One of the fundamental questions in robotics concerns this characteristic: How can linguistic compositionality be developed concomitantly with sensorimotor skills through associative learning, particularly when individuals only learn partial linguistic compositions and their corresponding sensorimotor patterns? To address this question, we propose a brain-inspired neural network model that integrates vision, proprioception, and language into a framework of predictive coding and active inference on the basis of the free-energy principle. The effectiveness and capabilities of this model were assessed through various simulation experiments conducted with a robot arm. Our results show that generalization in learning to unlearned verb-noun compositions is significantly enhanced when training variations of task composition are increased. We attribute this to self-organized compositional structures in linguistic latent state space being influenced substantially by sensorimotor learning. Ablation studies show that visual attention and working memory are essential to accurately generate visuomotor sequences to achieve linguistically represented goals. These insights advance our understanding of mechanisms underlying development of compositionality through interactions of linguistic and sensorimotor experience.
Cardiac allograft tolerance can be achieved in nonhuman primates by donor bone marrow and kidney cotransplantation
Authors: Tonsho Makoto , O Jane M. , Ahrens Kaitlan , Robinson Kortney , Sommer Wiebke , Boskovic Svjetlan , Patel Parth M. , Becerra David C. , Huh Kyu Ha , Miller Cynthia L. , Dehnadi Abbas , Hanekamp Isabel , Rosales Ivy A. , Colvin Robert B. , Sachs David H. , Alessandrini Alessandro , Cosimi A. , Fairchild Robert L. , Cravedi Paolo , Bin Sofia , Heeger Peter S. , Allan James S. , Kawai Tatsuo , Benichou Gilles , Madsen Joren C.
Published: January 2025

Long-term, immunosuppression-free allograft survival has been induced in human and nonhuman primate (NHP) kidney recipients after nonmyeloablative conditioning and donor bone marrow transplantation (DBMT), resulting in transient mixed hematopoietic chimerism. However, the same strategy has consistently failed in NHP heart transplant recipients. Here, we investigated whether long-term heart allograft survival could be achieved by cotransplanting kidneys from the same donor. Cynomolgus monkeys were transplanted with heart allografts alone or heart and kidney allografts from the same major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–mismatched donors. All animals except one received DBMT, either at the same time or after a 2- to 4-month delay, plus short-term costimulation blockade and calcineurin inhibitor treatment. Long-term, immunosuppression-free heart allograft survival was consistently achieved in heart/kidney, but not heart-alone, recipients. This was not associated with greater donor/recipient histocompatibility or altered lymphoid cell reconstitution after conditioning. The maintenance of tolerance after heart/kidney transplantation was associated with the presence of forkhead box P3 (Foxp3
+
) regulatory T cell (T
reg
)–rich organized lymphoid structures in kidneys but not hearts. Substituting high-dose erythropoietin treatment for kidney transplantation was unsuccessful, suggesting that it was not the sole mechanism of action. RNA sequencing analysis revealed that gene expression in hearts from tolerant recipients closely resembled that in hearts from chronically immunosuppressed recipients but differed markedly from rejecting allografts and naïve hearts. A version of this protocol may be able to induce tolerance in patients with end-stage heart and kidney failure who require combined heart and kidney transplantation.
Amphibole fractionation controls the redox state of magmas in porphyry Cu ore systems: Constraints from amphibole-rich rocks in eastern China
Authors: Du Jingguo , Deng Xiaohua , Du Yangsong , Wang Gongwen
Published: January 2025

Porphyry Cu ore deposits host most of the Cu, Au, and Mo reserves worldwide and generally form under highly oxidizing conditions. However, it is unclear what causes the high redox state (i.e., the source or subsequent magmatic differentiation). Amphibole fractionation is a key step in the formation of porphyry Cu ore deposits. In this study, amphibole-rich lithologies and derivative intermediate-silicic porphyries from two porphyry Cu systems (Laiyuan and Tongling) in eastern China were investigated to constrain the magma redox state during amphibole fractionation. At Laiyuan, the amphibole-rich rocks are hornblende-bearing gabbroic fragments or lenses hosted in granodiorite, consisting of two crystal populations: group I—brown, anhedral hornblende cores, with clinopyroxene ± olivine relics; and group II—green hornblende rims and matrix hornblende. At Tongling, the amphibole-rich lithologies are clinopyroxene-hornblende cumulates or hornblende-bearing gabbro xenoliths hosted by intermediate-silicic porphyries. Based on the clinopyroxene-liquid thermobarometer and amphibole-liquid thermobarometer, the brown amphibole and clinopyroxene from two systems crystallized under 4.6−5.9 kbar and 990−1000 °C, but their green amphiboles crystallized under lower pressure-temperature conditions (∼630−850 °C and 0.5−1.4 kbar). The results of amphibole and zircon-based oxybarometers show that their parent melts have similar moderate oxygen fugacities of ΔFMQ +1.0 ± 0.5, comparable to those of primitive arc magmas, but after amphibole fractionation their residual intermediate-silicic melts had obviously increased oxygen fugacities of ΔFMQ +2.5 ± 1.0. Modeling results show that the increase in oxygen fugacity is probably caused by the preferred partitioning of ferrous Fe into amphibole and clinopyroxene during amphibole fractionation. Amphibole differentiation is a common process in porphyry Cu systems; such processes may facilitate the oxidation of causative magmas and, therefore, the occurrence of porphyry Cu deposits.
Supplemental Material: Simulation of melt/fluid metasomatism and magma recharge and mixing processes in subduction zones: Evidence from the cognate gabbro and gabbroic diorite in the North Qilian orogen (Northwest China)
Authors: Qi Yu , Shengyao Yu , al. et
Published: January 2025

Tables S1–S11.
Incidence of diabetic retinopathy and predictors among adult patients with diabetes in central and southern Ethiopia: a multicentre retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yakob Tagese , Abraham Awoke , Yakob Begidu , Menza Jaldo Mesfin
Published: January 2025

Objectives

This study aimed to determine the incidence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and predictors among adult patients with diabetes in central and southern Ethiopia.

Design

A hospital-based retrospective cohort study was conducted.

Setting

The study was conducted in selected public hospitals in central and southern Ethiopia.

Participants

A total of 376 adult participants newly diagnosed with diabetes were enrolled from 2015 to 2023, and the follow-up date was from the date of enrolment to the development of events.

Outcome measures

The data were collected by reviewing their records and entered in EpiData V.4.6.0.2 and exported to STATA V.14 for analysis. Descriptive statistics of the variables were obtained. The Cox proportional hazards assumption was checked. The Cox regression model was used to determine the median time to develop DR and identify predictors of DR. Bivariable and multivariable analyses were done; variables with a value of p<0.05 and a corresponding 95% CI in the final model were used. The model of adequacy was checked.

Results

Records of a total of 376 adult patients with diabetes were reviewed with a mean baseline age (±SD) of 34.8±10 years. Of the total study participants, half (189, 50.3%) were female. A total of 376 adult patients with diabetes were followed for 45 752 person-months (PMs). Overall, the incidence rate was 11.7 per 1000 PMs of observation. Positive proteinuria (adjusted HR (AHR)=2.19; 95% CI 1.18 to 4.08), hypertension (HTN) (AHR=2.23; 95% CI 1.39 to 3.55) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (AHR=2.89; 95% CI 1.19 to 7.05) were independently significant predictors of DR.

Conclusion

The overall incidence rate of DR (type 1 and type 2) was high. Adult patients with diabetes with HTN, proteinuria and type of diabetes were independent predictors of DR. The best strategy to protect our eyesight from DR is to control high glucose level and giving due attention to high-risk individuals with diabetes. Thus, health professionals and concerned health authorities should target these factors in their efforts to prevent DR among diabetics.
Assessment of Joint Behaviour of Immersed Tunnel with Prefabricated Push-Out Closure Joint under Differential Settlement
Authors: Li Jianfeng , Ni Pengpeng
Published: January 2025

The deformation behaviour of immersed tunnels with prefabricated push-out closure joint remains unclear. In this study, four model tests were conducted to simulate immersed tunnels subjected to differential settlements. The impact of different settlement crossings on joint behaviours was analyzed. Results indicate that differential settlement directly at the joint position causes significant shear displacement, with decreased perpendicular axial movement. The closure joint shows bidirectional axial movement, while the flexible joint primarily undergoes unidirectional compression. The direction and magnitude of joint rotation depend on the settlement location. Differential settlement at a flexible joint significantly influences the rotation of other joints simultaneously. Premature leakage could occur in adjacent flexible joints when differential settlement occurs at the closure joint. Controlling the axial movement of flexible joint is the most effective approach to manage joint opening and prevent leakage under small differential settlements. A closed-form solution was proposed for estimating the axial movement between closure joint and lining structure. It suggests that the interface shear strength should be greater than 0.25 MPa to limit the maximum axial movement of closure joint within the tolerance. Compared to frictional resistance, more attention should be given to the bonding strength provided by post-construction grouting.
Survey of metabolically essential trace metals in inland lakes and reservoirs across Canada: what constitutes a low metal system?
Authors: Molot Lewis A. , Schiff Sherry L. , Baulch Helen M. , Curry R. Allen , Depew David C. , Dove Alice , Higgins Scott N. , Kidd Karen A. , Korosi Jennifer B. , Paterson Andrew M. , Pick Frances R. , Venkiteswaran Jason J. , Walters Dan , Watson Susan B. , Zastepa Arthur
Published: January 2025

Many proteins depend on metals for proper functioning, yet there is little information on the distribution of low metal concentrations in freshwaters nor what constitutes “low”. Eight dissolved metals were surveyed in 2017 in 39 lakes and reservoirs across Canada. RDA analysis revealed Co, Cu, Ni, and V in one group with higher concentrations on the Prairies, and Fe and Mn in a second group with higher concentrations on the Prairies and the Boreal Shield in Ontario. Zn and Mo lacked geographic patterns. Concentrations ranged several fold. Monod growth kinetic parameters were explored for their potential to infer growth limitation. Metal concentrations at or below growth thresholds ( Tm ≤ 1 nmol L−1) should severely limit growth, while concentrations between Tm and twice the half-saturation constant (2 Km) will limit growth when other nutrients are in excess. Published and inferred Tm suggest that Co, Mo, and Ni could have been low enough to occasionally limit growth in several Canadian oligotrophic lakes. There are too few published Km values to infer limitation above Tm.
Three-body forces and Efimov physics in nuclei and atoms
Authors: Endo Shimpei , Epelbaum Evgeny , Naidon Pascal , Nishida Yusuke , Sekiguchi Kimiko , Takahashi Yoshiro
Published: January 2025

This review article presents historical developments and recent advances in our understanding on the three-body forces and Efimov physics, from an interdisciplinary viewpoint encompassing nuclear physics and cold atoms. Theoretical attempts to elucidate the three-body force with the chiral effective field theory are explained, followed by an overview of experiments aimed at observing signatures of the nuclear three-body force. Some recent experimental and theoretical works in the field of cold atoms devoted to measuring and engineering three-body forces among atoms are also presented. As a phenomenon arising from the three-body effect, Efimov physics in both cold atoms and nuclear systems is reviewed.
Micro-computed tomography and laser micro-ablation on altered pyrite in lapis lazuli to enhance provenance investigation: a new methodology and its application to archaeological cases
Authors: Magalini Marta , Guidorzi Laura , Re Alessandro , Tansella Francesca , Picollo Federico , Sturari Sofia , Aprà Pietro , Herrmann Georgina , Law Randall , Lemasson Quentin , Pichon Laurent , Moignard Brice , Pacheco Claire , Lo Giudice Alessandro
Published: January 2025

This work presents an upgrade to the methodology adopted to investigate the provenance of the raw lapis lazuli material used in antiquity for carving precious artefacts. Samples from archaeological excavation contexts frequently display superficial degradation processes affecting the crystals of the mineral phases useful for provenance attribution (especially pyrite). To address this issue, an innovative workflow has been developed, centred on the application of X-ray micro-computed tomography (μ-CT) and micro-ablation treatments with a pulsed laser source prior to investigation with ion beam analysis (IBA). High-resolution μ-CT is employed to evaluate the alteration state of pyrite crystals within the entire volume of the lapis lazuli rock, and, if required, to identify the most suitable crystals on the surface for subsequent laser treatment. The micro-ablation procedure aims to create a small breach in the superficial altered layer (the irradiated areas are approximately 65 × 65 μm2), thereby exposing the preserved crystal beneath and allowing for the analysis of its trace element contents with IBA. The methodology of the workflow is presented, together with its first application to archaeological lapis lazuli material: three precious beads from the ancient Royal Cemetery of Ur (Mesopotamia, 3rd millennium BCE). The results are complemented by the application of a provenance protocol already validated that proved, for the first time using a micro-invasive analytical approach, a match between the Afghan quarry district and the raw material used to carve these beads.
Empowering Agile-Based Generative Software Development through Human-AI Teamwork
Authors: Zhang Sai , Xing Zhenchang , Guo Ronghui , Xu Fangzhou , Chen Lei , Zhang Zhaoyuan , Zhang Xiaowang , Feng Zhiyong , Zhuang Zhiqiang
Published: January 2025

In software development, the raw requirements proposed by users are frequently incomplete, which impedes the complete implementation of software functionalities. With the emergence of large language models, the exploration of generating software through user requirements has attracted attention. Recent methods with the top-down waterfall model employ a questioning approach for requirement completion, attempting to explore further user requirements. However, users, constrained by their domain knowledge, result in a lack of effective acceptance criteria during the requirement completion, failing to fully capture the implicit needs of the user. Moreover, the cumulative errors of the waterfall model can lead to discrepancies between the generated code and user requirements. The Agile methodologies reduce cumulative errors of the waterfall model through lightweight iteration and collaboration with users, but the challenge lies in ensuring semantic consistency between user requirements and the code generated by the agent. To address these challenges, we propose AgileGen, an agile-based generative software development through human-AI teamwork. Unlike existing questioning agents, AgileGen adopts a novel collaborative approach that breaks free from the constraints of domain knowledge by initiating the end-user perspective to complete the acceptance criteria. By introducing the Gherkin language, AgileGen attempts for the first time to use testable requirement descriptions as a bridge for semantic consistency between requirements and code, aiming to ensure that software products meet actual user requirements by defining user scenarios that include acceptance criteria. Additionally, we innovate in the human-AI teamwork model, allowing users to participate in decision-making processes they do well and significantly enhancing the completeness of software functionality. To ensure semantic consistency between requirements and generated code, we derive consistency factors from Gherkin to drive the subsequent software code generation. Finally, to improve the reliability of user scenarios, we also introduce a memory pool mechanism, collecting user decision-making scenarios and recommending them to new users with similar requirements. AgileGen, as a user-friendly interactive system, significantly outperformed existing best methods by 16.4% and garnered higher user satisfaction.
JSimpo: Structural Deobfuscation of JavaScript Programs
Authors: Chen Tianyu , Li Ding , Zhang Ying , Xie Tao
Published: January 2025

JavaScript (JS) obfuscation is now prevalent among popular websites and introduces challenges for malware detection and code review. Given an obfuscated JS program, existing deobfuscation techniques aim to recover the original JS program. However, these techniques overlook structural obfuscation (e.g., control-flow flattening), which causes deobfuscation to have a sub-optimal success rate. To address these challenges, in this article, we propose the first approach of structural deobfuscation named JSimpo for JS programs with two novel techniques: slice symbolic execution and dynamic code execution. We implement our JSimpo approach and evaluate it on 2,000 JS programs from the top 100 JS projects on GitHub. The evaluation results show that JSimpo can effectively conduct structural deobfuscation, boosting the average structural similarity to 78.41% (from 39.33%) between obfuscated programs and their original programs, whereas the best of the state-of-the-art/practice deobfuscators can achieve only 62.64%. The results also show JSimpo's generalization ability over programs obfuscated by various obfuscators. Additionally, JSimpo preserves the semantics of deobfuscated programs by passing all test cases that obfuscated programs have passed.
Exploring Parameter-Efficient Fine-Tuning Techniques for Code Generation with Large Language Models
Authors: Weyssow Martin , Zhou Xin , Kim Kisub , Lo David , Sahraoui Houari
Published: January 2025

Large language models (LLMs) demonstrate impressive capabilities to generate accurate code snippets given natural language intents in a zero-shot manner,
i.e.
, without the need for specific fine-tuning. While prior studies have highlighted the advantages of fine-tuning LLMs, this process incurs high computational costs, making it impractical in resource-scarce environments, particularly for models with billions of parameters. To address these challenges, previous research explored in-context learning (ICL) and retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) as strategies to guide the LLM generative process with task-specific prompt examples. However, ICL and RAG introduce inconveniences, such as the need for designing contextually relevant prompts and the absence of learning task-specific parameters, thereby limiting downstream task performance. In this context, we foresee parameter-efficient fine-tuning (PEFT) as a promising approach to efficiently specialize LLMs to task-specific data while maintaining reasonable resource consumption. In this paper, we deliver a comprehensive study of PEFT techniques for LLMs in the context of automated code generation. Our comprehensive investigation of PEFT techniques for LLMs reveals their superiority and potential over ICL and RAG across a diverse set of LLMs and three representative Python code generation datasets: Conala, CodeAlpacaPy, and APPS. Furthermore, our study highlights the potential for tuning larger LLMs and significant reductions in memory usage by combining PEFT with quantization. Therefore, this study opens opportunities for broader applications of PEFT in software engineering scenarios.
Making Fault Localization in Online Service Systems More Actionable and Interpretable
Authors: Xv Ke , Guo Shikai , Li Hui , Li Chenchen , Chen Rong , Li Xiaochen , Jiang He
Published: January 2025

Online service systems struggle with accurately and quickly pinpointing and resolving failures within their intricate systems, and it therefore emerges the solutions for fault localization in the code. However, the previous fault localization models suffer from low localization accuracy and poor interpretability due to the complex dependencies among fault characteristics in industrial practice. To address this issue, challenges brought by the long-distance dependencies among fault features and the unbalanced distribution of fault knowledge, and to improve the interpretability of the model, we present a fault localization model in online service systems more actionable and interpretable, named FL-AIer. Specifically, FL-AIer consists of two components: the feature encoding component and the fault localization component. The feature encoding component utilizes graph attention networks to capture the complex spatio-temporal dependencies within fault features. Then, the fault localization component adopts a three-stage approach, leveraging a multi-attention mechanism to identify and prioritize the most relevant fault features for precise localization. Additionally, the Fault Knowledge Balancing module it contains introduces a weighted Kullback-Leibler divergence loss function to ensure that the model pays adequate attention to all fault features, addressing the issue of imbalanced fault knowledge distribution and enhancing localization performance. We conducted extensive experiments on four datasets, and the results demonstrated that FL-AIer effectively addressing the challenges of fault localization in online system environments, and consistently outperforms the state-of-the-art methods across various evaluation metrics such as A@1, A@2, A@3, A@5, and MAR. For instance, FL-AIer achieves significant improvements of 5.82%, 10.77%, 4.20% and 15.56% on the A@1 metric, respectively. These results fully demonstrate the excellent effectiveness of FL-AIer in effectively addressing the challenges of fault localization in online system environments, surpassing the performance of existing state-of-the-art methods.
Effects of Human-Like Characteristics in Sampling-Based Motion Planning on the Legibility of Robot Arm Motions
Authors: Gaebert Carl , Rehren Oliver , Jansen Sebastian , Jahn Katharina , Ohler Peter , Rey Günter Daniel , Thomas Ulrike
Published: January 2025

Conveying the intended goal of a robot arm motion has been shown to increase the quality of human-robot collaboration drastically. To this end, optimization-based approaches have been proposed that optimize the legibility of a robot’s motion. However, they are limited in two ways. First, they are typically not validated in environments with obstacles and narrow passages that require collision-free motion planning. Second, they do not consider the influence of the anthropomorphization process that might be caused by a human-like motion or appearance of the arm. This leads to the question of to what extent the legibility of motions is influenced by these factors. In this work, we study the influence of our previously proposed human-likeness function on the legibility of robot arm motions in the context of sampling-based motion planning. We evaluate it against three other motions: a functional motion, a recorded expert motion, and a legible motion based on a heuristic for the observer’s prediction. For this, we conduct an extensive user study with 94 participants. In contrast to other works, we manipulate the robot’s appearance and the complexity of the environment. We thus provide insights into how the legibility of robot motions is influenced by human-like characteristics in motion, appearance and restricting workspace conditions. The complete stimulus material used in this work is provided at
https://mytuc.org/zpvt
.
Impact of Scanner Manufacturer, Endorectal Coil Use, and Clinical Variables on Deep Learning-assisted Prostate Cancer Classification Using Multiparametric MRI
Authors: Almeida José Guilherme de , Rodrigues Nuno M. , Castro Verde Ana Sofia , Mascarenhas Gaivão Ana , Bilreiro Carlos , Santiago Inês , Ip Joana , Belião Sara , Matos Celso , Silva Sara , Tsiknakis Manolis , Marias Kostantinos , Regge Daniele , Papanikolaou Nikolaos ,   On behalf of the ProCAncer-I Consortium
Published: January 2025

“Just Accepted” papers have undergone full peer review and have been accepted for publication in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence. This article will undergo copyediting, layout, and proof review before it is published in its final version. Please note that during production of the final copyedited article, errors may be discovered which could affect the content. Purpose To assess the impact of scanner manufacturer and scan protocol on the performance of deep learning models to classify prostate cancer (PCa) aggressiveness on biparametric MRI (bpMRI). Materials and Methods In this retrospective study, 5,478 cases from ProstateNet, a PCa bpMRI dataset with examinations from 13 centers, were used to develop five deep learning (DL) models to predict PCa aggressiveness with minimal lesion information and test how using data from different subgroups—scanner manufacturers and endorectal coil (ERC) use (Siemens, Philips, GE with and without ERC and the full dataset)—impacts model performance. Performance was assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). The impact of clinical features (age, prostate-specific antigen level, Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System [PI-RADS] score) on model performance was also evaluated. Results DL models were trained on 4,328 bpMRI cases, and the best model achieved AUC = 0.73 when trained and tested using data from all manufacturers. Hold-out test set performance was higher when models trained with data from a manufacturer were tested on the same manufacturer (within-and between-manufacturer AUC differences of 0.05 on average, P < .001). The addition of clinical features did not improve performance ( P = .24). Learning curve analyses showed that performance remained stable as training data increased. Analysis of DL features showed that scanner manufacturer and scan protocol heavily influenced feature distributions. Conclusion In automated classification of PCa aggressiveness using bpMRI data, scanner manufacturer and endorectal coil use had a major impact on DL model performance and features. Published under a CC BY 4.0 license.
Ab Initio Studies of the Discharge Mechanism of CuO Cathodes Modified with Bi2O3 in Rechargeable Alkaline Zn/CuO Batteries
Authors: Acharya Krishna , Paudel Nirajan , Magar Birendra Ale , Lambert Timothy N. , Vasiliev Igor
Published: January 2025

Rechargeable alkaline Zn/CuO batteries are a promising candidate for energy storage applications due to their high capacity and low cost. Recent studies have shown that the addition of Bi2O3 and the implementation of carbon coating on CuO cathodes enhances the performance and improves the cyclability of Zn/CuO batteries. However, the mechanism of influence of Bi2O3 on the electrochemical performance of CuO cathodes in rechargeable Zn/CuO batteries is not fully understood. We apply density functional computational methods to investigate the electrochemical discharge of CuO cathodes modified with a Bi2O3 additive. Our calculations suggests that the improved performance of Zn/CuO-Bi2O3 cells could be partially attributed to the formation of stable mixed Cu-Bi oxides, such as CuBi2O4, which suppress the accumulation of highly resistive Cu2O in the battery cathode. The results of our study are consistent with the experimental observations that confirm the presence of CuBi2O4 in CuO cathodes modified with Bi2O3.
Targeting ARPC1B Overcomes Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor Resistance in Glioblastoma by Reversing Pro-tumorigenic Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Liu Tianqi , Sun Tao , Chen Xin , Wu Jianqi , Sun Xiaoqian , Liu Xing , Yan Haixu , Fu Qiang , Fan Zirong , Wang Xiangyu , Cheng Peng , Cheng Wen , Wu Anhua
Published: January 2025

Immunotherapy has elicited significant improvements in outcomes for patients with several tumor types. However, the immunosuppressive microenvironment in glioblastoma restricts the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). In this study, we investigated which components of the immune microenvironment contribute to ICB failure in glioblastoma to elucidate the underlying causes of immunotherapeutic resistance. Macrophages were identified as a main contributor to ICB resistance. Expression of ARPC1B, a regulatory subunit of the Arp2/3 complex, was elevated in glioblastoma and correlated with macrophage enrichment and prognosis. ARPC1B in tumor cells increased STAT1 expression and subsequent IL10 production, which induced a pro-tumorigenic macrophage state. Mechanistically, ARPC1B inhibited the ubiquitination and degradation of STAT1 by preventing the E3 ubiquitin ligase NEDD4L from binding to STAT1 and by supporting the interaction between STAT1 and the deubiquitinase USP7. Inhibiting ARPC1B reshaped the immunosuppressive microenvironment and increased the efficacy of ICB in glioblastoma models. This study highlights the important role of ARPC1B in macrophage-mediated immunosuppression and proposes a combination treatment regimen for glioblastoma immunotherapy.
Figure 1 from Molecular Differences in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinomas from Black versus White Patients
Authors: Mandal Saurabh , Teslow Emily A. , Huang Minxuan , Yu Yingying , Sridhar Swathi , Crawford Howard C. , Hockenberry Adam J. , Stoppler Melissa C. , Levin Albert M. , Huang Ling
Published: January 2025

Genomic alterations in BAA and White patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. A, Percentage of patients with genomic changes in specific genes (row name). Q values represent adjusted P values after FDR correction. B, Distributions of KRAS mutant alleles in patients with pancreatic cancer. The “other” group includes wild-type KRAS and all other mutations that are not G12D, G12V, G12R, Q61H, or G12C. C and D, Association between KRAS mutants and KMT2C/D mutants, respectively. The number and colors represent percentages of patients with KMT2C or KMT2D mutations in specific KRAS mutant groups (Y) and the rest of patients (N). Column names represent the specific KRAS mutant alleles analyzed. The significance of differences between groups was calculated by Fisher’s exact test or χ2 test. Significance representation: N.S., P ≥ 0.05; **, 0.001 ≤ P < 0.01; ***, P < 0.001.
Prevalence of epilepsy across 25 sub-counties in three districts of northern Uganda
Authors: Kaducu Joyce Moriku , Mbutiwi Fiston Ikwa Ndol , Keller Luise , Escheu Gabriele , Hauke Peter , Pfausler Bettina , Schmutzhard Erich , Schmidt Veronika , Carabin Hélène , Ovuga Emilio , Winkler Andrea S.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological conditions worldwide, with large variation in prevalence across Sub-Saharan Africa countries. Northern Uganda is one of the poorest areas of the country and has seen high density of pigs and prevalence of Taenia solium, a zoonotic tapeworm transmitted which cause neurocysticercosis in humans. The objective of this study was to estimate the population-level prevalence of active epilepsy in 25 sub-counties of northern Uganda.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2010-2011 in 25 sub-counties of Moyo, Adjumani and Gulu districts, northern Uganda. Participants were sampled using a multistage cluster sampling strategy including sub-counties, parishes, villages, and households as sampling levels. Eligible individuals were interviewed using a previously validated screening questionnaire for epilepsy. Screen positive individuals were further examined by a team of neurologists for confirmation of active epilepsy. Sampling weights and post-stratification to account for sex distribution in each of the 25 sub-counties sampled based on projected 2010 population sizes were applied.
Results: A total of 38,303 individuals were sampled across 299 villages from 25 sub-counties. The overall weighted and post-stratified prevalence estimate of active epilepsy was 3.7% (95% Confidence Interval: 3.4%-3.9%). However, there were large variation across sex (4.6% (95%CI: 4.2%-5.0%) in men and 2.7% (95%CI: 2.4%-3.0%) in women) and across sub-counties ranging from 1.7% in Pece Division (Gulu District) and Moyo Town Council (Moyo District) to 6.6% in Awach (Gulu District). People aged between 10 and 19 were the most affected.
Conclusions: In northern Uganda, active epilepsy was very prevalent but varied largely across sub-counties. Males were a lot more affected than women, making the use of weighted and post-stratified methods to estimate the prevalence of epilepsy essential. Implementing programs and interventions targeting the control of local risk factors of epilepsy such as neurocysticercosis and improving population health care access could help reduce the rather high prevalence of epilepsy in this area of the country.
Ferritin to Transferrin Ratio: a new prognostic factor for renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Xie Huadong , Huang Yuanbi , He Huajie , Chen Rongchao , Li Yongpeng , Lu Haoyuan , Yi Xianlin
Published: January 2025

Objectives: To assess the prognostic value of the preoperative serum ferritin-to-transferrin ratio (FTR) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC).
Methods：We retrospectively reviewed data from 226 patients who underwent surgery for non-metastatic RCC at our institution between January 1, 2012, and June 30, 2021. Time-dependent receiver operating characteristic (timeROC) analysis identified the optimal FTR cut-off, dividing patients into high and low FTR groups. Propensity score matching (PSM) adjusted for baseline differences. Recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression, with a nomogram validating the results.
Results: The timeROC analysis showed a 5-year area under the curve (AUC) of 0.786 for FTR, with 68.4% sensitivity and 86.7% specificity at a cut-off of 177.1. High FTR and clinical stage were independent risk factors for OS and RFS. The hazard ratios (HR) for OS and RFS in the high and low FTR groups were 2.598(1.087-6.213), P=0.032 and 2.591(1.105-6.074), P=0.029, respectively. Kaplan–Meier curves showed significant differences post-PSM (log rank P<0.05). The nomogram validation indicated high predictive accuracy with a C-index of 0.867 (95% CI: 0.836-0.899) for OS and 0.808 (95% CI: 0.764-0.852) for RFS.
Conclusion：Our findings suggest that FTR may serve as an independent prognostic risk factor in patients with locally and locally advanced renal cell carcinoma.
Histone lysine crotonylation associated epigenetic mechanism dynamically regulates prenatal stress induced anxiety-related behaviour in adolescent offspring
Authors: Sivasangari Karunanithi , Rajan Koilmani Emmanuvel
Published: January 2025

Introduction: This study designed to examine whether social/ environmental experiences can induce the epigenetic modification, and influence the associated physiology and behaviour. To test this, we have used social stress [prenatal stress (PNS)] model and then housed at environmental enrichment (EE) condition to evaluate the interaction between specific epigenetic modification and its influence on behaviour.
Methods: Pregnant rats were randomly divided into a control group, PNS group, and PNS+EE group. PNS and PNS+EE animals were subjected to social defeat (SD) stress during their gestational day (GD) 16-18. PNS animals and their offspring were always housed in standard laboratory condition, PNS+EE animal was housed in EE cage during GD-10 to the pup’s age of postnatal day (PND) 30. Animals were tested for anxiety-like behaviour using Open-Field Test (OFT) and memory was examined by passive avoidance test. Western blotting was used to detect the expression pattern of molecules associated with histone crotonylation.
Result: We observed anxiety-like behaviour, memory deficit in the animals experienced PNS. Further, level of Methyl-CpG Binding Protein 2 (MeCP2), repressor element-1 silencing transcription factor (REST), Sirtuin 1(SIRT1), Chromodomain Y-like (CDYL) and Enhancer of Zeste 2 Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 Subunit (EZH2) and histone methylation (H3K27me3) was elevated. Where as, the expression of p300, histone crotonylation (H3K18Cr) and neuropeptide VGF were suppressed. Notably, EE restore the normal expression pattern of MeCP2, REST, P300, SIRT1, CYDL, EZH2, H3K27me3, H3K18Cr and VGF.
Conclusion: EE reverse the PNS induced alterations, including suppression of histone crotonylation (H3K18Cr), which possibly involved in the regulation of expression of VGF and behaviour.
A new section in Asian Thismia (Thismiaceae), T. sect. Mirabiles, and its checklist
Authors: NURALIEV MAXIM S. , SENNIKOV ALEXANDER N.
Published: January 2025

The paper continues a series of contributions aimed to develop a phylogenetically sound sectional subdivision of the mycoheterotrophic genus Thismia. Here, a formal taxonomic status is provided for a remarkable monophyletic Asian group of species that is also well-defined morphologically within the genus. It is demonstrated that no supraspecific taxon name of any rank is available for this group. Hence, a new section, Thismia sect. Mirabiles, is established. Inconsistencies are highlighted in the earlier treatments where the species placed here in Thismia sect. Mirabiles were assigned to Thismia sect. Sarcosiphon. Indeed, in all such treatments, either the taxon monophyly or the nomenclatural applicability of the latter sectional name is violated. A checklist of the newly described section is provided along with an identification key to its species. The section is currently known to comprise eight species mainly distributed in mainland Southeast Asia and including a species endemic to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Heteropolygonatum binatifolium, a new combination in Heteropolygonatum (Asparagaceae, Polygonateae)
Authors: ZHOU YU-LONG , JIANG HUI , HU GUANG-WAN , WANG QING-FENG
Published: January 2025

Through morphological observations and phylogenetic analysis of plastid genomes, Polygonatum binatifolium has been confirmed to belong to the genus Heteropolygonatum, supporting its transfer from Polygonatum to Heteropolygonatum. This taxonomic reassignment establishes it as the thirteenth species in the genus, with the new designation of Heteropolygonatum binatifolium.
The Role of Magnesium Levels in the Progression of Contrast-Induced Nephropathy in Patients With STEMI Undergoing Primary PCI
Authors: Demirtola Ayşe İrem , Mammadli Anar , Çiçek Gökhan
Published: January 2025

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) poses a significant risk following primary percutaneous coronary intervention (pPCI) in patients with ST-Elevation Myocardial Infarction (STEMI). Magnesium (Mg²⁺) deficiency has been associated with renal dysfunction and cardiovascular diseases, yet its role in CIN development remains unclear. This study represents the first investigation exploring the relationship between Mg²⁺ levels and CIN in this context.

We conducted a retrospective study involving 2306 consecutive STEMI patients undergoing pPCI. Serum Mg²⁺ levels were measured on admission. Logistic regression and Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis were employed to assess the association between Mg²⁺ levels and CIN development. Of the enrolled patients, 691 (30%) developed CIN post-pPCI. Mg²⁺ levels were significantly lower in the CIN group ( P < .001). Multivariate analysis identified Mg²⁺ <2.03 mg/dL, age >68 years, left ventricular Ejection Fraction (EF) <49%, and post-procedure Thrombolysis In Myocardial Infarction (TIMI) flow grade <2 as independent predictors of CIN. ROC analysis revealed an Mg²⁺ cutoff of 2.03 mg/dL, Area Under the Curve (AUC): 0.711, sensitivity: 69%, specificity: 68%). Our study demonstrates a significant correlation between low Mg²⁺ levels and CIN in STEMI patients undergoing pPCI, highlighting Mg²⁺ <2.03 mg/dL as an independent risk factor for CIN.