bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Strategies for adapting under pressure: an interview study in intensive care units
Authors: Page Bethan , Irving Dulcie , Carthey Jane , Welch John , Higham Helen , Vincent Charles
Published: August 2024

Background

Healthcare systems are operating under substantial pressures. Clinicians and managers are constantly having to make adaptations, which are typically improvised, highly variable and not coordinated across teams. This study aimed to identify and describe the types of everyday pressures in intensive care and the adaptive strategies staff use to respond, with the longer-term aim of developing practical and coordinated strategies for managing under pressure.

Methods

We conducted qualitative semi-structured interviews with 20 senior multidisciplinary healthcare professionals from intensive care units (ICUs) in 4 major hospitals in the UK. The interviews explored the everyday pressures faced by intensive care staff and the strategies they use to adapt. A thematic template analysis approach was used to analyse the data based on our previously empirically developed taxonomy of pressures and strategies.

Results

The principal source of pressure described was a shortage of staff with the necessary skills and experience to care for the increased numbers and complexity of patients which, in turn, increased staff workload and reduced patient flow. Strategies were categorised into anticipatory (in advance of anticipated pressures) and on the day. The dynamic and unpredictable demands on ICUs meant that strategies were mostly deployed on the day, most commonly by flexing staff, prioritisation of patients and tasks and increasing modes of communication and support.

Conclusions

ICU staff use a wide variety of adaptive strategies at times of pressure to minimise risk and maintain a reasonable standard of care for patients. These findings provide the foundation for a portfolio of strategies, which can be flexibly employed when under pressure. There is considerable potential for training clinical leaders and teams in the effective use of adaptive strategies.
Diagnostic accuracy of non-invasive cardiac imaging modalities in patients with a history of coronary artery disease: a meta-analysis
Authors: Jukema Ruurt A , Dahdal Jorge , Kooijman Eline M , Wahedi Ellaha , de Winter Ruben W , Guglielmo Marco , Cramer Maarten Jan , van der Harst Pim , Remmelzwaal Sharon , Raijmakers Pieter , Knaapen Paul , Danad Ibrahim
Published: August 2024

Background

The diagnostic performance of non-invasive imaging techniques for detecting obstructive coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with a history of myocardial infarction or percutaneous coronary intervention has not been comprehensively evaluated. This meta-analysis assesses the diagnostic value of coronary CT angiography (CCTA), CCTA combined with CT perfusion (CCTA+CTP), cardiac MRI (CMR) and single-photon emission CT (SPECT) compared with invasive reference standards.

Methods

We systematically searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science and the Cochrane Library from 2005 to September 2022 for prospective, blinded studies including populations with ≥50% prior CAD.

Results

We identified 18 studies encompassing 3265 patients, with obstructive CAD present in 64%. The per-patient sensitivity of CCTA (0.95; 95% CI 0.92 to 0.98), CCTA+CTP (0.93; 95% CI 0.84 to 0.98) and CMR (0.91; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.94) was high, while SPECT showed lower sensitivity (0.63; 95% CI 0.52 to 0.73). SPECT had higher specificity compared with CCTA (0.66; 95% CI 0.56 to 0.76 vs 0.37; 95% CI 0.29 to 0.46), but was comparable to CCTA+CTP (0.59; 95% CI 0.49 to 0.69) and CMR (0.69; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.81). The area under the curve for SPECT was the lowest (0.70; 95% CI 0.58 to 0.87), while CCTA (0.91; 95% CI 0.86 to 0.98), CCTA+CTP (0.89; 95% CI 0.73 to 1.00) and CMR (0.91; 95% CI 0.80 to 1.00) showed similar high values.

Conclusions

In patients with prior CAD, CCTA, CCTA+CTP and CMR demonstrated high diagnostic performance, whereas SPECT had lower sensitivity. These findings can guide the selection of non-invasive imaging techniques in this high-risk population.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022322348.
Long-term prognostic value of contemporary stress echocardiography in patients with suspected or known coronary artery disease: systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ihekwaba Ugochukwu , Johnson Nicholas , Choi Ji Soo , Savarese Gianluigi , Orsini Nicola , Khoo Jeffrey , Squire Iain , Kardos Attila
Published: August 2024

Background

Long-term outcome of contemporary stress echocardiography has not been systematically assessed.

Objective

To evaluate the association between results of stress echocardiography and patients’ outcomes with suspected coronary artery disease using randomised controlled trials.

Methods

Multiple electronic databases were searched for studies evaluating long-term outcome (>12 months) of stress echocardiography in patients suspected of coronary artery disease since year 2000. A common-effect model was used to derive pooled estimates. The primary outcome was a composite of all-cause mortality or cardiovascular death and non-fatal myocardial infarction, depending on the definition applied in individual trials, termed as major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE). Secondary outcome was all-cause mortality. Positive stress echocardiography result was defined as inducible ischaemia in at least one of the 17 left ventricular segments and negative stress echocardiography with no inducible ischaemia.

Results

Among a total of six trials, 16 581 subjects underwent either pharmacological or treadmill stress echocardiography, a median follow-up of 31 months (range 21–101). The annual event rate was 1.76% for the composite MACE and 1.35% for all-cause mortality. Compared with negative stress echocardiography, positive stress echocardiography was associated with an increased risk of the MACE and all-cause mortality with an annual event rate of 1.99% vs 1.54% (OR 2.04, 95% CI 1.79 to 2.33) and 1.68% vs 1.02% (OR 2.06, 95% CI 1.80 to 2.35), respectively.

Conclusion

Positive stress echocardiography results were associated with poorer long-term MACE and all-cause mortality. Stress echocardiography results may provide a useful long-term guidance in intensifying preventative treatment in patients with suspected coronary artery disease.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42023416766.
Safety and tolerability of immune checkpoint inhibitors in people with HIV infection and cancer: insights from the national prospective real-world OncoVIHAC ANRS CO24 cohort study
Authors: Assoumou Lambert , Baldé Raghiatou , Katlama Christine , Abbar Baptiste , Delobel Pierre , Allegre Thierry , Lavole Armelle , Makinson Alain , Zaegel-Faucher Olivia , Greillier Laurent , Soulie Cathia , Veyri Marianne , Bertheau Mathilde , Algarte Genin Michèle , Gibowski Séverine , Marcelin Anne-Geneviève , Bihan Kevin , Baron Marine , Costagliola Dominique , Lambotte Olivier , Spano Jean-Philippe
Published: August 2024

Background

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been a major advance in cancer management. However, we still lack prospective real-world data regarding their usage in people with HIV infection (PWH).

Methods

The ANRS CO24 OncoVIHAC study (NCT03354936) is an ongoing prospective observational cohort study in France of PWH with cancer treated with ICI. We assessed the incidence of grade ≥3 immune-related adverse events (irAEs). All grade ≥3 irAEs were reviewed by an event review.

Results

Between January 17, 2018, and December 05, 2023, 150 participants were recruited from 33 sites and 140 were included in this analysis. At the data cut-off date of December 05, 2023, the median follow-up was 9.2 months (IQR: 3.9–18.3), with a total of 126.2 person-years.

Median age was 59 years (IQR: 54–64) and 111 (79.3%) were men. Median time since HIV diagnosis was 25 years (12–31), the median duration on antiretroviral (ARV) was 19.5 years (7.7–25.4), and the CD4 nadir was 117/µL (51–240). ICI regimens comprised anti-programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1) for 111 (79.3%) participants, anti-programmed death-ligand 1 for 25 (17.9%), a combination of anti-PD-1 and anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4 for 3 (2.1%), and anti-PD-1 along with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor for 1 (0.7%). The most frequent cancers were lung (n=65), head/neck (n=15), melanoma (n=12), liver (n=11) and Hodgkin’s lymphoma (n=9).

During follow-up, a total of 34 grade ≥3 irAEs occurred in 20 participants, leading to an incidence rate of 26.9 per 100 person-years. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of the proportion of participants with at least one episode of grade ≥3 irAEs were 13.8% at 6 months, 15.0% at 12 months and 18.7% at 18 months. One treatment-related death due to myocarditis was reported (0.7%). Multivariable analysis of cumulative incidence showed that participants with time since HIV diagnosis >17 years (incidence rate ratio (IRR)=4.66, p=0.002), with CD4<200 cells/µL (IRR=4.39, p<0.0001), with positive cytomegalovirus (CMV) serology (IRR=2.76, p=0.034), with history of cancer surgery (IRR=3.44, p=0.001) had a higher risk of incidence of grade ≥3 irAEs.

Conclusion

This study showed that the incidence of a first episode of grade ≥3 irAE was 15.0% (95% CI: 9.6% to 22.9%) at 1 year and the cumulative incidence of all severe irAE episodes was 26.9 per 100 person-years. Low CD4 count, positive CMV serology, history of cancer surgery and a longer time since HIV diagnosis were associated with the occurrence of severe irAEs.
Seismic behavior of piles-supported pier-superstructure to liquefaction-induced lateral spreading considering variability of soil permeability
Authors: Jia Kemin , El Naggar M. Hesham , Xu Chengshun , Song Jia , Cui Chunyi , Du Xiuli
Published: August 2024

This study characterizes the effect on different engineering demand parameters owing to lateral spreading caused by liquefaction. 1 g large-scale shaking table experiments were conducted along with efficient numerical simulations of the piles-supported pier-superstructure system response to strong earthquakes. An integrated nonlinear numerical method was established and evaluated with the results of the shake table experiments, and the seismic response characteristics of the system was discussed by combining the experimental and numerical results. The influence of the initial soil hydraulic conductivity on soil liquefaction was evaluated and the inertia and kinematic effects were evaluated employing cross-correlation analyses. The results indicated that soil softening diminished as the permeability coefficient increased, and consequently the lateral displacements of soil and superstructure decreased, and the superstructure acceleration demand increased. Increased permeability coefficient shifted the fragile location of the piles-supported pier-superstructure from the liquefiable soil bottom to the pier bottom. Finally, the inertial effect increased on pile curvature near pile head while the kinematic effect decreased as the permeability coefficient increased.
Preservation of probable MIS 7 deglacial and nonglacial deposits near the edge of the Hudson Bay Lowland in Manitoba, Canada
Authors: Gauthier M.S. , Hodder T.J. , Dalton A.S. , Lian Olav B. , Schaarschmidt M. , Ross M. , Väliranta M. , Finkelstein S.A.
Published: August 2024

The stratigraphic principle of superposition assumes that sediments at surface are youngest. And yet, patches of older preserved landscapes continue to be identified in the regions formerly covered by the Laurentide Ice Sheet. Two gravel pits, at the edge of the western Hudson Bay Lowland near the geographic centre of the North American Ice Sheet Complex, reveal additional patches where older glacial and nonglacial sediment is preserved. These sites expose 1–4 m of a darker, highly overconsolidated, clayier till, and 0–2 m of a lighter, less consolidated, sandier till over glaciofluvial and post-glacial gravels and sands; the waning stages of deposition occurred at 214 ± 22 ka (1σ minimum age model quartz grain optical age estimates, n = 2). This was during the latter end of the cool Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 7-d (within 1σ range) or near the end of MIS-8 (within 2σ range). Next followed a warmer period similar to, or warmer than, present day with higher precipitation; inferred from pollen and macrofossils deposited in nonglacial low-energy floodplain or pond sediments. Our study highlights the need to accurately date Quaternary sediments, given that the shallowest nonglacial sediments at both gravel pits were deposited during an old (MIS 7) interglacial; there is likely no record of the youngest interglacial (MIS 5). Preservation of older sediment also means that in Quaternary stratigraphy, disjoint regional nonglacial “organic marker beds” should not automatically be considered correlative. Identification of similar “old” patches, together with till stratigraphy and composition, is essential to accurately model glacial sediment transport over time.
Overtones of black holes via time-domain integration
Authors: Dubinsky Alexey
Published: August 2024

We show that the first several overtones could be calculated by the time-domain integration method for asymptotically de Sitter black holes already at the lowest multipole numbers of gravitational and electromagnetic perturbations. This is not possible for asymptotically flat black holes, for which extraction of frequencies with the Prony method is usually possible with reasonable accuracy only for the fundamental mode. The reason for much better efficiency in the de Sitter case is the absence of power-law tails: the quasinormal modes dominate the signal not only at the intermediate stage, but also at asymptotically late times.
Role of the action function in defining electronic wavefunctions for large systems
Authors: Fulde P.
Published: August 2024

The dimension of the Hilbert space needed for the description of an interacting electron system increases exponentially with electron number N. As pointed out by Kohn this exponential wall problem (EWP) limits the concept of many-electron wavefunctions based on solutions of Schrödinger’s equation to [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] [Rev. Mod. Phys. 71, 1253 (1999)]. This limitation does not hold when the electronic interactions are neglected or treated in a mean-field approximation. The EWP has directed electronic structure calculations for solids to methods like density-functional theory which avoid dealing with many-electron wavefunctions. We show that the highly unsatisfactory limitation of many-electron wavefunctions to [Formula: see text] can be overcome by generalizing their definition. We show for the ground state of a large system that it is the logarithm of the solution of Schrödinger’s equation which should be used to characterize this system. In this case the wavefunctions of independent subsystems add up rather than multiply. This feature is realized by the action function. It provides a simple physical picture for the resolution of the EWP.
A Three-Stage Dynamic Comparator for SAR ADC Optimized for Reduced Kickback Noise and Ultra-Low Delay
Authors: Sharma Buddhi Prakash , Rajagopal Rajeev , Sekhar Ranjeeth , Gupta Anu , Shekhar Chandra
Published: August 2024

This paper presents a novel footless single clock-phase three-stage comparator with internally generated regenerative voltage signals for low kickback noise and high speed. The preamplifier and clocked latch topology of dynamic comparators are considered in this brief. The proposed design has been compared by analyzing and optimizing three state-of-the-art comparator designs: Modified StrongARM, Miyahara’s and Three-Stage. These designs are simulated using the 40[Formula: see text]nm CMOS technology process. The area of the proposed comparator is 28.025[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]m2. When simulated in the SPICE-based simulator HSPICE, under typical performance conditions of 0.9[Formula: see text]V supply voltage, 25∘C, 1 GHz operational frequency, typical process corner (tt), and 1[Formula: see text]mV differential voltage, the proposed comparator produces the best post-layout results, with a minimum delay of 59.9[Formula: see text]ps from meta-stability analysis, energy per comparison of 0.175[Formula: see text]pJ/comparison and a kickback noise of 44.55 [Formula: see text]A. The proposed design also shows a significant improvement in the measured performance parameters over the other state-of-the-art dynamic comparators that have been discussed in this brief. The obtained results show that the proposed comparator is appropriate for 12-bit Successive Approximation Resister Analog-to-Digital Converters (SAR-ADCs) in IoT applications.
Elucidate the nonrelativistic and relativistic energy density functional from momentum space to coordinate space within local density approximation
Authors: Pattnaik Jeet Amrit , Bhuyan M. , Panda R. N. , Patra S. K.
Published: August 2024

In this paper, we have developed relativistic and nonrelativistic energy density functionals within the local density approximation, transitioning from momentum space to coordinate space. Utilizing the Coherent Density Fluctuation Model, these functionals predict shell and sub-shell closures across isotopic and isotonic chains. Our focus has been on refining fitting procedures and testing these functionals on selected nuclei. Previously, we compared our energy density functionals for E-RMF forces G3 and IOPB-I with the Brückner energy density functional. Our results highlighted significant advantages, particularly in accurately predicting peaks in the symmetry energy curve at magic neutron numbers within heavy and superheavy regions. This success motivates us to extend our fitting procedure for both the relativistic mean field (E-RMF) and nonrelativistic Skyrme–Hartree–Fock (SHF) parameter sets. To further ensure the reliability of our newly fitted functionals, we establish Pearson-type correlations between the symmetry energy and its derivatives.
BRIEF SYNOPSIS OF THE SCIENTIFIC CAREER OF T. R. HURD
Authors: GRASSELLI MATHEUS R. , HUGHSTON LANE P.
Published: August 2024

As an introduction to this Special Issue of International Journal of Theoretical and Applied Finance in Honour of the Memory of Thomas Robert Hurd, we present a brief synopsis of Tom Hurd’s scientific career and a bibliography of his publications.
Opinion formation process in a hierarchical society
Authors: Longar María Celeste Romero , Saintier Nicolas , Silva Analía
Published: August 2024

In this work, we study the formation of consensus in a hierarchical population. We derive the corresponding kinetic equations, and analyze the long time behavior of their solutions for the case of finite number of hierarchical levels, obtaining explicit formula for the consensus opinion.
An Ontology-Aware Model-Driven Approach for Service-Oriented Application Development: A Stepwise Refinement Manner
Authors: Pourali Abdolghader , Abadeh Maryam Nooraei
Published: August 2024

Ontologies are attracting increasing attention in software engineering research due to their ability to precisely model the semantic aspects of systems. Enriching software system models using ontology principles, especially in the process of developing interactive systems like Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA), can lead to the automated production of high-quality codes. Additionally, ontology-aware specification of the service from the abstract to the concrete level leads to early precise extraction of the service required by the users. This paper introduces a model-driven ontology-aware service development process to reduce the burden of code generation. This integrated approach utilizes a stepwise refinement methodology facilitated by a novel refinement algorithm to automate SOA development. The effectiveness of the approach is evaluated using three proposed parameters which examine the characteristics of the refined model in each refining step through some practical SOA case studies. Finally, we calculate the recall, precision, F-measure, accuracy, and also time analysis of discovered querying services for various scenarios in AWS and Netflix before and after applying ontology. The results show an average of 17% improvement in these metrics after applying ontology.
Spectral tau explicit form for approximating solutions to real-life IBVPs using Chebyshev derivatives
Authors: Alaa-Eldeen Toqa , Alzabeedy Gaitha M. , Albalawi Wedad , Nisar Kottakkaran Sooppy , Abdel-Aty Abdel-Haleem , El-Kady M. , Abdelhakem M.
Published: August 2024

This paper established a functional design of the spectral Tau method (STM) upon the first derivatives of Chebyshev polynomials (FDCHPs). A new linearization relation has been developed. Hence, this relation and another investigated one for integration have been used via the Tau method to execute the Tau integration analytically. Moreover, explicit algebraic systems for solving the Lane–Emden and Riccati equations and the contamination of a system of three artificial lakes are introduced. The convergence and error analyses are explored in depth. Some enlightening boundary value problems (BVPs) for real-life and physical applications, as singularly perturbed equations, are provided to guarantee that this approach is authentic, reliable, and appropriate. Accurate results are obtained using only a few number of retained nodes. The different outcomes, patterns, and better results showed that the FDCHPs differ from Chebyshev polynomials of the second kind.
Lattice Boltzmann simulation of direct-current glow discharge at low pressure
Authors: Kim Ji-Hyok , Paek Il-Gyong , Kim Yong-Jun
Published: August 2024

To analyze electro-hydrodynamic behavior of low pressure direct-current glow discharge plasma, we propose a numerical model based on the lattice Boltzmann method and the drift-diffusion theory of gas discharge. In our model, three plasma species (excited species, electrons and ions) are considered with eight elementary chemical reactions among them and standard lattice Boltzmann method, finite difference-lattice Boltzmann method and finite difference method are employed for electrons, heavy species (ions and excited species) and electric potential, respectively. The proposed model introduces a unique coupling scheme between electrons and heavy species using a consistent time step and grid, enhancing accuracy and stability of numerical simulations. Our model is applied to one- and two-dimensional analyses of glow discharge, and the results are in good agreement with those from previous works.
Spatially Resolved Transcriptomic Profiling of PRAME Oncogene Expression in Skin Cutaneous Melanoma: Elucidating Dermato-Oncology Therapy through Molecular Docking
Authors: Naveed Muhammad , Jamil Hamza , Aziz Tariq , Makhdoom Syeda Izma , Rehman Muzammil Ur , Khan Ayaz Ali , Alhomrani Majid , Alsanie Walaa F. , Alamri Abdulhakeem S.
Published: August 2024

Background: Skin cutaneous melanoma (SKCM) is a highly aggressive form of skin cancer characterized by rapid metastasis and poor prognosis. PRAME (Preferentially Expressed Antigen in Melanoma) is an oncogene overexpressed in various cancers, including melanoma, and is implicated in tumorigenesis and immune evasion. Understanding the spatial expression patterns of PRAME in SKCM can provide insights into the disease mechanism and therapeutic targets. Aim of the Study: This study aims to spatially resolve the transcriptomic profile of PRAME in SKCM and evaluate the therapeutic potential of selected dermato-oncology agents through molecular docking. Methods: Spatial transcriptomics was performed on SKCM tissue samples from 30 patients to map PRAME expression. Differential expression analysis and spatial clustering were conducted. Molecular docking using HDock assessed the binding affinities of PRAME with dermato-oncology agents: vemurafenib, dioxybenzone and octocrylene, as well as their conjugates (O-D: octocrylene-dioxybenzone, O-V: octocrylene-vemurafenib and D-V: dioxybenzone-vemurafenib). Chemsketch facilitated the creation of conjugates, and Pymol was used for visualization. Results: PRAME was significantly upregulated in SKCM tissues, with a mean expression level of 8.5 TPM compared to 1.2 TPM in normal tissues ([Formula: see text] < 0.001). HDock analysis revealed that dioxybenzone had a binding energy of –106.08 kcal/mol, octocrylene –107.04 kcal/mol, and vemurafenib –114.15 kcal/mol. The conjugates showed improved binding affinities: O-D had –142.93 kcal/mol, O-V had –152.69 kcal/mol and D-V had –184.53 kcal/mol, with D-V showing the most substantial binding affinity. Conclusion: Spatial transcriptomic profiling highlights PRAME as a key biomarker in SKCM. The molecular docking results indicate that D-V conjugates (dioxybenzone-vemurafenib) possess the highest binding affinity (–184.53 kcal/mol), suggesting a promising therapeutic potential for SKCM treatment. These findings support further investigation into D-V conjugates as targeted treatments for melanoma. Future Prospects: Future research should focus on in vivo validation of the identified therapeutic agents and exploring the role of PRAME in SKCM pathogenesis. Additionally, combining spatial transcriptomics with other omics data could enhance our understanding of the tumor microenvironment and lead to novel therapeutic approaches.
Cobalt(II) Complex Constructed from Pyrazinecarboxamide and Aromatic Carboxylic Acid: Synthesis, Single Crystal XRD Along with Computational Study
Authors: Deniz Melike Nur , Ashfaq Muhammad , Ozturk Seyhan , Novikov Egor , Tahir Muhammad Nawaz , Aghayeva Saltanat Arshad , Islam Mohammad Shahidul , Dege Necmi , Almutairi Tahani Mazyad , Mali Suraj N.
Published: August 2024

A cobalt (II) mononuclear complex was synthesized by two-nitrobenzoic acid and pyrazine-two-carboxamide ligands in the presence of sodium bicarbonate and aqueous solution of cobalt acetate tetrahydrate. The synthesized cobalt(II) complex was characterized by single crystal X-rays diffraction. The coordination geometry of the cobalt complex was octahedral with water molecules occupying the axial sites. A lot of intermolecular interactions were in response to stabilize the supramolecular assembly which were inspected by Hirshfeld surface analysis. Enrichment ratios were calculated to find the pair of atoms having the highest propensity to form crystal packing interactions. Void analysis was conducted to forecast how the crystal would respond to applied stress. Interaction energy calculations were carried out using the B3LYP/6-31G(d,p) electron density model to identify which energy types most significantly contributed to the supramolecular assembly. Moreover, the energy data obtained from DFT calculations showed an average level of stability of the molecule. The moderate HOMO-LUMO energy gap suggested reactivity, while a high electrophilicity index indicates a strong tendency for electron-accepting reactions.
Planar #CSP Equality Corresponds to Quantum Isomorphism – A Holant Viewpoint
Authors: Cai Jin-Yi , Young Ben
Published: August 2024

Recently, Mančinska and Roberson proved that two graphs
G
and

\(G^{\prime }\)

are
quantum isomorphic
if and only if they admit the same number of homomorphisms from all
planar
graphs. We extend this result to planar #CSP with any pair of sets

\(\mathcal {F}\)

and

\(\mathcal {F}^{\prime }\)

of real-valued, arbitrary-arity constraint functions. Graph homomorphism is the special case, in which each of

\(\mathcal {F}\)

and

\(\mathcal {F}^{\prime }\)

contains a single symmetric 0-1-valued binary constraint function. Our treatment uses the framework of planar Holant problems. To prove that quantum isomorphic constraint function sets give the same value on any planar #CSP instance, we apply a novel form of
holographic transformation
of Valiant, using the quantum permutation matrix

\(\mathcal {U}\)

defining the quantum isomorphism. Due to the noncommutativity of

\(\mathcal {U}\)

’s entries, it turns out that this form of holographic transformation is only applicable to planar Holant. To prove the converse, we introduce the quantum automorphism group

\(Qut(\mathcal {F})\)

of a set

\(\mathcal {F}\)

of constraint functions/tensors and characterize the intertwiners of

\(Qut(\mathcal {F})\)

as the signature matrices of planar

\(\text{Holant}{\mathcal {F}\,|\,\mathcal {EQ})\)

quantum gadgets. Then, we define a new notion of (projective) connectivity for constraint functions and reduce their arity while preserving their inclusion in the original intertwiner space. Finally, to address the challenges posed by generalizing from 0-1 valued to real-valued constraint functions, we adapt a technique of Lovász in the classical setting for isomorphisms of real-weighted graphs to the setting of quantum isomorphisms.
XLIT: A Method to Bridge Task Discrepancy in Machine Translation Pre-training
Authors: Pham Khang , Nguyen Long , Dinh Dien
Published: August 2024

Transfer learning from pre-trained language models to encoder-decoder translation models faces a challenge due to the mismatch between the tasks of pre-training and fine-tuning. Pre-trained models are not explicitly trained to understand the semantic interactions between different languages. To address this issue, a cross-lingual embedding space is used as an interface during the pre-training phase. This approach enables the decoder inputs to attend to the encoder outputs, similar to the fine-tuning process. However, the effectiveness of this transfer heavily relies on the quality of the pre-trained unsupervised cross-lingual embeddings, which introduces complexity and reduces reproducibility. In this study, we propose a pre-training method called Cross-lingual Interaction Transfer (XLIT), which does not depend on other embedding techniques. XLIT effectively reconciles the task discrepancy in machine translation fine-tuning. We conducted extensive experiments involving four low-resource and six very low-resource translation directions. The results of our experiments demonstrate that our method surpasses randomly initialized models and previous pre-training techniques by up to 9.4 BLEU. Furthermore, we demonstrate that our method achieves comparable performance when pre-trained with large-scale monolingual data from various languages.
The Value Proposition of Coordinated Population Cohorts Across Africa
Authors: Ramsay Michèle , Crampin Amelia C. , Bawah Ayaga A. , Gitau Evelyn , Herbst Kobus
Published: August 2024

Building longitudinal population cohorts in Africa for coordinated research and surveillance can influence the setting of national health priorities, lead to the introduction of appropriate interventions, and provide evidence for targeted treatment, leading to better health across the continent. However, compared to cohorts from the global north, longitudinal continental African population cohorts remain scarce, are relatively small in size, and lack data complexity. As infections and noncommunicable diseases disproportionately affect Africa's approximately 1.4 billion inhabitants, African cohorts present a unique opportunity for research and surveillance. High genetic diversity in African populations and multiomic research studies, together with detailed phenotyping and clinical profiling, will be a treasure trove for discovery. The outcomes, including novel drug targets, biological pathways for disease, and gene-environment interactions, will boost precision medicine approaches, not only in Africa but across the globe.
Engineered Biomass Waste‐Derived Activated Biochar Catalyst for Biodiesel Production from Jatropha curcas Oil
Authors: Ao Supongsenla , Ghorui Sudeshna , Li Hui , Baskar Gurunathan , Rokhum Samuel Lalthazuala
Published: August 2024

ZnCl2 impregnation of the cellulosic precursor is an effective way to generate carbon catalysts with a mesoporous structure and high specific surface area. Herein, we attempt to explore the synthesis of Citrus Limonum Pericarpium (lemon peel), an activated biochar catalyst produced via pyrolysis and consequent sulfonation. The obtained biochar catalyst exhibited notable characteristics, including a high surface area of 863.0 m2 g−1 and a substantial sulfur content of 4.02 wt.% (1.25 mmol g−1) by EDX. Following, analytical techniques, such as scanning electron microscopy, BET, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier‐transform infrared, and TGA, were conducted for a comprehensive analysis of the catalyst. Subsequently, we applied the catalyst to optimize the transesterification process of Jatropha curcas oil (JCO), yielding an impressive 95.2% ± 0.4% yield. The optimization parameters were established with a reaction duration of 60 min, a temperature of 100°C, 8 wt.% catalyst, and JCO: MeOH ratio of 1 : 20. Catalyst reusability was probed over seven subsequent cycles with the final yield observed of over 88.4% ± 0.6%, while the decrease in yield was explained by EDX analysis. In summary, our investigation successfully navigated the synthesis and practical application of a sulfonated porous biochar catalyst for JCO transesterification, achieving noteworthy yields while addressing environmental concerns.
Comparative Analysis of Different Natural Polymers as Coating Agents for Freeze‐Dried Microencapsulation of Cosmos caudatus Kunth Compounds
Authors: Zahara Izaz Aqeiluz , Ulfa Siti Mariyah , Safitri Anna
Published: August 2024

The flavonoid compounds in C. caudatus K., known for their various benefits, are prone to quick degradation, leading to reduced biological activity. This research aimed to evaluate the types of coatings: gum Arabic (GA), maltodextrin (MD), and a combination of both (MDGA) in C. caudatus K. extract microcapsules. The extract of C. caudatus K. was encapsulated by different coating materials, GA, MD, and MDGA, and then dried using a freeze‐drying technique. The evaluation was carried out by comparing the encapsulation efficiency values, biological activity, and release tests of each type of microcapsule coating. The research results indicate that coating agents have impacts significantly at p < 0.05 on efficiency encapsulation. Flavonoids were retained up to 79.67% by the MDGA coating, compared with 72.8% and 47.66%a retained by single GA and MD coatings, respectively. The results of the encapsulation efficiency are supported by the results of characterization using a scanning electron microscope (SEM), where MDGA has rounder shapes with smoother surfaces compared with a single coating alone, like GA or MD. In addition, by particle size analysis using a particle size analyzer (PSA), the average sizes of MDGA, GA, and MD microcapsules were shown at 154.13 µm, 152 µm, and 166.81 µm, respectively. The three microcapsules showed an order of activities as MDGA > GA > MD coatings in alpha‐amylase inhibition assay. Similar results were also shown in the antioxidant assay, which demonstrated that the three microcapsules had moderate antioxidant activities, again in the order of MDGA > GA > MD. The three different coating types showed greater release at pH 7.4 compared to those at pH 2.2 in the controlled release test, which ran from 30 to 120 min. In summary, freeze‐drying microencapsulation using biodegradable polymers was identified as a viable method for harnessing the health benefits of C. caudatus K. extracts. This process produced a convenient powder form that could be used in drug delivery systems. The use of MDGA mixed coating resulted in better impact based on %EE value and biological activity, as well as improved characteristics of microcapsules compared with single coating.
Supplementary Table S2 from Coordinated Targeting of S6K1/2 and AXL Disrupts Pyrimidine Biosynthesis in PTEN-Deficient Glioblastoma
Authors: Behrmann Catherine A. , Ennis Kelli N. , Sarma Pranjal , Wetzel Collin , Clark Nicholas A. , Von Handorf Kate M. , Vallabhapurapu Subrahmanya , Andreani Cristina , Reigle James , Scaglioni Pier Paolo , Meller Jarek , Czyzyk-Krzeska Maria F. , Kendler Ady , Qi Xiaoyang , Sarkaria Jann N. , Medvedovic Mario , Sengupta Soma , Dasgupta Biplab , Plas David R.
Published: August 2024

Metabolites
Figure S1 from Coordinated Targeting of S6K1/2 and AXL Disrupts Pyrimidine Biosynthesis in PTEN-Deficient Glioblastoma
Authors: Behrmann Catherine A. , Ennis Kelli N. , Sarma Pranjal , Wetzel Collin , Clark Nicholas A. , Von Handorf Kate M. , Vallabhapurapu Subrahmanya , Andreani Cristina , Reigle James , Scaglioni Pier Paolo , Meller Jarek , Czyzyk-Krzeska Maria F. , Kendler Ady , Qi Xiaoyang , Sarkaria Jann N. , Medvedovic Mario , Sengupta Soma , Dasgupta Biplab , Plas David R.
Published: August 2024

Tumor growth and body weight
Figure 3 from Coordinated Targeting of S6K1/2 and AXL Disrupts Pyrimidine Biosynthesis in PTEN-Deficient Glioblastoma
Authors: Behrmann Catherine A. , Ennis Kelli N. , Sarma Pranjal , Wetzel Collin , Clark Nicholas A. , Von Handorf Kate M. , Vallabhapurapu Subrahmanya , Andreani Cristina , Reigle James , Scaglioni Pier Paolo , Meller Jarek , Czyzyk-Krzeska Maria F. , Kendler Ady , Qi Xiaoyang , Sarkaria Jann N. , Medvedovic Mario , Sengupta Soma , Dasgupta Biplab , Plas David R.
Published: August 2024

S6K1 and AXL inhibitors counteract pyrimidine biosynthesis in PTEN-deficient GBM. A, Steady state metabolite abundance in LN229 GBM transfected with siPTEN and then treated with vehicle control or combination S6K1 (LY-2584702, 10 μmol/L) and AXL (BMS-777607, 10 μmol/L) inhibitors for 5 hours (n = 4). B, Detail of nucleotide and their precursor metabolites from A. C, log2 fold change of [U]-13C glucose labeled metabolites in U87MG GBM pretreated for 3 hours with 10 μmol/L LY-2584702 and 10 μmol/L BMS-777607 vs. vehicle control at 60 and 300 minutes after addition of 13C-glucose (n = 4). Statistically significant (>1.5 fold) metabolites are highlighted. D, JHH136 spheres were treated with inhibitors (10 μmol/L each) for 72 hours for western blot analysis. LY-2584702, S6K1 inhibitor, reduces phosphorylation of rpS6 and CAD leading to sustained impairment of pyrimidine synthesis and cell growth. Treatment with BMS-777607 increases H2A.X phosphorylation at Serine 139, indicating an increase in double-stranded DNA breaks. E, Mayo59 spheres were treated as in D. S6K1 inhibition reduces phosphorylation of rpS6 and CAD, impairing pyrimidine synthesis. DNA damage is evident in combination S6K1 and AXL inhibition.
Testosterone in Puberty Regulates Emotional Contagion and Consolation via the Vasopressin System in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex of C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Huang Caihong , Jia Ziyan , Tang Caicai , Hou Wenjuan , Li Lu , Guo Xing , Zhang Lizi , Qu Yishan , Li Yitong , Li Yin , Sun Yahan , Huang Kaizhe , Han Xiao , He Zhixiong , Tai Fadao
Published: August 2024

Introduction: Empathy is the ability of an individual to present and respond to the emotions of others and is thought to originate from parental behavior. Testosterone could promote aggression and inhibit biparental behavior and vasopressin (AVP) could promote aggression. Given levels of aggression and parental care are closely associated with levels of empathy, we hypothesized that testosterone may influence empathetic behavior via the AVP system. Methods: We examined testosterone levels and tested social, empathic, and anxiety-like behaviors after castration surgery to pubertal mice, and subsequently examined the molecular levels of AVP, V1aR in different brain regions. Finally, pharmacological experiments were used to test the effects on empathic behavior by injecting testosterone in combination with V1aR antagonist. Results: Here, we show that pubertal castration reduced serum testosterone levels, increased empathetic behavior and sociality, and reduced anxiety-like behaviors in male C57 mice. The pubertal castration also reduced AVP and vasopressin receptor (V1aR) protein levels, and AVP mRNA levels in the PVN. It also reduced the number of AVP-positive neurons in the PVN. In addition, pubertal subcutaneous injection of testosterone reduced emotional contagion and consolation of castrated mice, while concomitant injection of V1aR antagonists into the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) reversed the downregulation of emotional contagion and consolation induced by testosterone. Conclusion: It is suggested that testosterone in puberty regulates empathetic behavior in C57 mice possibly via the AVP system in the ACC. These findings help us to understand the neuroendocrine mechanisms underlying empathetic behavior and provide potential targets for the treatment of psychiatric disorders associated with low empathy.
Adhärenz bei myeloproliferativen Neoplasien: Ein unterschätzter Faktor
Authors: Troch Marlene
Published: August 2024

Ruxolitinib is beneficial in patients with myelofibrosis (MF) and polycythemia vera (PV). Information on ruxolitinib adherence is scant. The Ruxolitinib Adherence in Myelofibrosis and Polycythemia Vera (RAMP) prospective multicenter study (NCT06078319) included 189 ruxolitinib-treated patients. Patients completed the Adherence to Refills and Medications Scale (ARMS) and Distress Thermometer and Problem List (DTPL) at the earliest convenience, after registration in the study, and at later timepoints. At week-0, low adherence (ARMS > 14) and high distress (DT ≥ 4) were declared by 49.7% and 40.2% of patients, respectively. The main reason for low adherence was difficult ruxolitinib supply (49%), intentional (4.3%) and unintentional (46.7%) non-take. In multivariable regression analysis, low adherence was associated to male sex (p = 0.001), high distress (p < 0.001), and treatment duration ≥ 1 year (p = 0.03). Over time, rates of low adherence and high distress remained stable, but unintentional non-take decreased from 47.9% to 26.0% at week-48. MF patients with stable high adherence/low distress were more likely to obtain/maintain the spleen response at week-24. Low adherence to ruxolitinib represents an unmet clinical need that require a multifaceted approach, based on reason behind it (patients characteristics and treatment duration). Its recognition may help distinguishing patients who are truly refractory and those in need of therapy optimization.
The Glutamine-Glutamate Cycle Contributes to Behavioral Feminization in Female Rats
Authors: Liang Shu-Ling , Chen Rou-Shayn
Published: August 2024

Introduction: In perinatal female rats, the glutamine (Gln)-glutamate cycle (GGC) constitutively supplies Gln to neurons of the ventral lateral ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (vlVMH) to sustain glutamatergic synaptic transmission (GST). In contrast, male pups may use Gln only during periods of elevated neuronal activity. Perinatal disruption of the GGC has sex-specific effects on the GST and morphology of vlVMH neurons during adulthood. Since (vl)VMH neuronal activities regulate mating behavior expression, we hypothesize that maintaining a perinatal intact GGC may be essential for the sexual differentiation of reproductive behaviors. Methods: Using perinatal rats of both sexes, we pharmacologically killed astrocytes or blocked the GGC and supplemented them with exogenous Gln. Mating behavior, an open-field test and protein levels of GGC enzymes were examined during adulthood. Results: Killing astrocytes reduced mating behavior expression by 38–48% and 71–72% in male and female rats, respectively. Any blocker targeting the GGC consistently reduced female lordosis behavior by 52–73% and increased glutaminase protein levels in the hypothalamus, but blockers had no effect on the expression of or motivation for copulatory behavior in males. Exogenous Gln supplementation partly rescued the decline in Gln synthetase inhibitor-mediated sex behavior in females. Perinatal interruption of the GGC did not increase induced expression of female sexual behavior in hormone-primed castrated male rats or affect locomotion or anxiety-like behavior in either sex. Conclusion: The intact GGC is necessary for behavioral feminization in female rats and may play little or no role in behavioral masculinization or defeminization in males.
Children’s perceptions shape primate conservation message in rural communities of the Barú District, Southwestern Panama
Authors: Loría Luz I.
Published: August 2024

Panama is a habitat for nine primate species, and most of them are threatened. This has shown a fundamental concern in primate conservation by Panamanian-based conservation projects. Among them is the project Conservación del Mono Cariblanco en Agroecosistemas (COMOCA) which initiated a primate conservation education program in Southwestern Panama in 2022. The first stage of this program consisted of evaluating the perceptions that 102 children aged 8-12 years old have about primate habitat. I analyzed drawings made by these children exploring three different themes: (1) description of primate species, (2) primate habitat, and (3) food related to primates. The results indicate that children are more familiar with the white-faced capuchins and squirrel monkeys. Despite 89.2% of the children drawing trees, most of them painted tree crops. Thus, the top three most mentioned foods eaten by monkeys were mango, plantain/banana, and apple. These findings highlight the importance of addressing the relationship between primates and native trees in the content of the conservation education program. Additionally, the study illustrates how children’s depiction of their reality has implications for the management of human-primate interfaces.
Enculturation-Acculturation Screening Tools for Empirical Aesthetics Research: a Proof of Principle Study
Authors: Christensen Julia F. , Vartanian Meghedi , Manias Bilquis Castaño , Golestani Raha , Khorsandi Shahrzad , Frieler Klaus
Published: August 2024

Grouping research participants by culture or language proficiency may no longer suffice to investigate cognitive universals and differences cross-culturally, due to the interconnectedness of our multicultural world. Based on immigration psychology research, we provide a ‘proof of principle’ for three culture screening tools. Across five online experiments (total N = 440), we developed (1) The Cultural Traditions Questionnaire (CTQ), (2) the Arts Engagement in Childhood Questionnaire (AECQ), and (3) the Enculturation and Acculturation Quiz (EAQ). While these screening tools are tailored to Iranian and English cultures, the procedures provided here are expandable to other cultures. The screening scores predicted emotional attachment to a culture better than traditional variables used in cross-cultural research (self-ascribed culture group, country of residence during formative years, mother tongue). Continuous measures of enculturation and acculturation are potentially better predictors for downstream variables of interest, due to their finer granularity and capability to capture multifaceted cultural identities.