bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The East-West dialogue: methodical diversity and frailties of feminist accounts
Authors: Zhou Linghui Nancy
Published: August 2023

This paper investigates the commonalities and differences of contemporary feminist theories by proffering a comprehensive comparative analysis of the Western feminist agenda and Chinese woman’s concerns in relation to the philosophical discourse on global justice. Interpretation of feminist accounts delineates the persistent gender inequalities presented by Western feminist thinkers, such as Maria Lugones, Elizabeth Spelman, and Sally Haslanger, while highlighting the historical and constitutional approach to understanding the roots of gender distinctions and norms in Chinese culture through the philosophies of Ruism, Daoism, and Buddhism, as well as the Civil Code of marriage. Reflection assesses the extent of translatability concerning feminist matters given the dissimilar social contexts and political circumstances between China and the United States. This paper draws attention to the need for embracing the historical and cultural heterogeneity of grievances of women from all over the world to acknowledge the cross- and multi-cultural conditions regarding the life prospects of both men and women. Such initiatives encourage mutual engagement in promulgating the multiplicity of feminist voices to prompt more productive conversations about the identities and meanings of masculinity and femininity instead of expecting or imposing a universal consolidation of woman’s experiences.
Do managerial communications improve customer satisfaction and eWOM? The moderating effect of response authenticity
Authors: Han Saram , Anderson Christopher K. , Chung Kyunghwa
Published: August 2023

As customer reviews are becoming increasingly valued in the hotel industry, hotel managers are actively responding to customer reviews, and many researchers are investigating the effects of managerial responses. Previous studies, however, have mainly focused on open communication that takes place on social platforms or online travel agency (OTA) websites. Considerations about interaction contexts and specific response styles are also lacking. These limitations raise research questions, such as whether private interactions between managers and customers would be effective, whether the effect would differ between dissatisfied and satisfied customers, and what role the authenticity of managerial responses would play in these interactions. To address these questions, we investigated the effect of private managerial interactions. The effect of a managerial apology on customers’ future satisfaction, the effect of a managerial “thank you” on customers’ future electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM), and the moderating effect of response style (i.e., personalization and length) were examined. We analyzed data from a customer satisfaction survey in which customers leave feedback after their stay and hotel managers respond to each customer personally via email. Our results reveal that a private managerial apology increases customers’ future satisfaction only when it is long or personalized. A private managerial “thank you” positively affects customers’ eWOM in the next period. This research provides empirical evidence for the effect of private managerial interactions, extending the existing discussions on the effect of managerial responses to the private digital communication context. This research contributes to the research areas of managerial response, service recovery, and digital communications.
Effect of acute heat exposure on the determination of critical power and W′ in women and men
Authors: Bourgois Gil , Mucci Patrick , Caen Kevin , Colosio Alessandro L. , Kerckhove Manon , Bourgois Jan G. , Pogliaghi Silvia , Boone Jan
Published: August 2023

The goal of this study was to investigate to what extent acute heat exposure would affect the parameters of the power‐duration relationship, i.e. CP and W′, using multiple constant workload tests to task failure, in women and men. Twenty four young physically active participants (12 men, 12 women) performed 3‐5 constant load tests to determine CP and W′, both in temperate (TEMP; 18°C) and hot (HOT; 36°C) environmental conditions. A repeated‐measures ANOVA was executed to find differences between TEMP and HOT, and between women and men. In HOT, CP was reduced by 6.5% (227 ± 50 vs. 212 ± 47 W), while W′ increased 12.4% (16.4 ± 4.4 vs. 18.5 ± 5.6 kJ). No significant two‐way sex × temperature interactions were observed, indicating that the environmental conditions did not have a different effect in men compared with women. The intersection of the average curvatures in TEMP and HOT occurred at 137 s and 280 W in women, and 153 s and 397 W in men. Acute heat exposure had an impact on the parameters CP and W′, i.e. CP decreased whereas W′ increased. The increase in W′ might be a consequence of the mathematical modelling for the used test methodology, rather than a physiological accurate value of W′ in HOT. No differences induced by heat exposure were observed between women and men.
The effect of different generalized uncertainty principles on Jeans mass modification
Authors: Yang Ye-xing , Long Zheng-wen
Published: August 2023

Jeans mass is regarded as a crucial factor in the study of nebula collapse. Astronomical data shows that Jeans mass is larger in theory than it is in observation. Someone mentioned that Jeans mass can be modified by using the generalized uncertainty principle (GUP). However, different physical backgrounds lead to different forms of GUP expression. In order to make the theoretical values of Jeans mass and its observed values match better, we use three distinct types of GUPs to correct Jeans mass in this paper. We find that the corrected Jeans masses are smaller than the uncorrected ones, where the Pedram corrected Jeans mass is the minimum and is close to the observed value. In addition, we consider the impact of temperature T and the GUP parameters (η, β and γ) for the corrected Jeans mass.
Accuracy Improvement Based on Classic Neural Network: Voting, Restarting and Quantization
Authors: Zhu Yunxiang , Zhao Yanpeng , Liu Guanghong , Zeng Lifan
Published: August 2023

Since AlphaGo beat the world Go champion in 2016, which attracted wide attention, the neural network has become more and more popular in recent years, and people’s research on it has gradually improved and been applied in different fields. Today, artificial intelligence and machine learning have become an essential part of modern society and intelligent systems. We do image recognition, speech recognition, and visual learning, closely related to machine learning. However, in machine learning, unsatisfactory training results or even training failure is always encountered. Therefore, in machine learning, it is imperative to improve the accuracy of neural network training results. In this paper, speech recognition, image processing, MNIST, and other classical neural network models will be used to set the training parameters of the neural network better and improve the accuracy of training through voting, quantization, restart, and other methods. The part of research is aiming to find the relationship between restart numbers on the training process and the total extent of learning improvement. At the same time, several algorithms on utilizing these restart numbers are to be compared and selected. Finally, the conclusion is drawn that the more restart made in the training process with a convolutional neural network, the less profit on accuracy improvement we gain from restarting the process.
Simulation Study on Digital Control Model of Fiber Optic Gyro SLD Light Source
Authors: Zhao Lingxuan
Published: August 2023

Fiber Optic Gyroscope is an angular velocity sensitive device based on Sagnac effect. Super Luminescent Diode (SLD) is a widely used light source in fiber optic gyroscope, and its characteristics will directly affect the overall performance of gyroscope. In this paper, the working mechanism of SLD light source is studied, and the photoelectric characteristics of SLD light source and the influence of light source temperature and driving current on center wavelength are analyzed. According to the relationship between the central wavelength of the light source and the driving current and die temperature, a three-dimensional model of the central wavelength of the light source is obtained. In order to control the driving current and die temperature quickly and stably, the fuzzy PID control scheme of die temperature and incremental PID control scheme of driving current are studied and designed. Based on the three-dimensional model of the center wavelength of light source, the center wavelength of SLD light source is controlled stably and quickly.
Fault Diagnosis of High-Speed Railway Turnout System Based on Improved Group Decision-Making
Authors: Haoran Li
Published: August 2023

Turnout system is very important in the safety of railway system. However, the traditional maintenance method of turnouts is mainly based on human experience and basic intelligent model. Aiming at the problems existing in the current intelligent fault diagnosis method of turnout equipment, this paper uses the improved group decision-making method to dynamically and iteratively adjust and optimize the authority of each decision-making expert in the group decision-making method, so as to improve the prediction ability of the existing model, reduce the number of cases of prediction errors and further improve the safety of the turnout system.
Gated Multi-task Learning for QoS-aware Service Recommendation
Authors: Luo Haisen
Published: August 2023

In the ever-increasing diversity of cloud environment, the recommendation of web service-related applications based on service quality is a basic tasks that both service providers and web developers are very interested in. A key challenge is how to get personalized and accurate QoS values of web services from the multi-source information of users/services. In addition, complex contexts and multi-tasking attributes also make the collaborative services quality prediction difficult to meet. Inspired by the progress of multi-task deep learning, this paper proposes a new framework of service quality prediction called multi-task gated expert network (MGEN), which is based on gating mechanism and multi-task learning. The MGEN consists of three parts: expert-based context-source feature extraction, gated interaction learning and information fusion. First, multiple expert networks are used to capture the latent representation in raw data of web services, including both implicit features in the QoS matrix and explicit features of service descriptions. In the process, several independent experts extract features from different dimensions. Second, output embedding of different expert networks is transmitted to each task layer through different weights, learning both global and local high-order feature interactions. Third, the interactive information of different tasks is fused by embedding splicing, and then fed back to the prediction module for final service recommendation. Results of the comparative experiment demonstrate that the proposed MGEN significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art models of service recommendation, where both the implicit and explicit information of various multi-source features and interaction sequences are effectively extracted. In addition, the gating mechanism performs well in the QoS prediction by independently modeling each task.
Bipartite and tripartite continuous variable entanglement in a circular array of coupled optical waveguides
Authors: Anuradha Tonipe , Rai Amit
Published: August 2023

Integrated optical systems have evolved into suitable platforms in the field of photonic quantum technologies. New technologies open up new possibilities for multimode quantum operations. Here we study how circularly coupled waveguide arrays generate bipartite and tripartite continuous-variable (CV) entanglement. We focus on the single-mode squeezed state as input to the circular array of the waveguide system. Our findings suggest that the circularly coupled arrays can be used to generate entangled sources in CV quantum technologies. So the generation of entanglement makes the circular arrays more critical for further investigation and in the applications of photonic CV quantum-information processing.
The power of empathy and positive emotions in enhancing the communication of environmental issues: a case study of ‘wandering elephant in Yunnan’ on twitter
Authors: Xue Ke , Li Sichen , Wen Anna Maria
Published: August 2023

Media narratives in environmental communication often broadcast scientific and complex information from the perspective of professional experts, and while focusing on emotions, fear and worry are being among the most frequently studied. However, the effectiveness of these strategies in raising public awareness has been questioned. Animals are recognized as one of the critical indicators of the ecological environment, therefore defining the most effective strategies that will draw public’s attention to wildlife conservation is an important issue. Actions aimed at increasing the public’s interest and dissemination of related content are the key elements of environmental communication. Based on that, we focus our empirical research on the event known as the Wild Elephant Northward Migration in Yunnan, which gained global popularity in 2021. Choosing Twitter to collect our data, we used text mining methods to investigate 1230 tweets, exploring the mechanism of empathetic narrative in wildlife protection. The study has found that the themes such as warm feelings, diverse subjects, and scientific presentation can help to attract attention, enhance participation, and stimulate sympathetic responses. However, it is also necessary to pay attention to the lack of public participation in environmental issues, being a consequence of audience’s preference for entertaining content, among others. Instead of focusing on negative emotions or scientific language, we aim to provide a new perspective on environmental communication narratives in the era of social media by emphasizing the role of warm emotions in triggering audience’s interaction.
Peptide epimerase-dehydratase complex responsible for biosynthesis of the linaridin class ribosomal peptides
Authors: Xiao Wanlu , Tsunoda Takeshi , Maruyama Chitose , Hamano Yoshimitsu , Ogasawara Yasushi , Dairi Tohru
Published: August 2023

Grisemycin, salinipeptin, and cypemycin belong to the linaridin class of ribosomally synthesized and posttranslationally modified peptides that contain multiple dehydrobutyrine and D-amino acid residues. The biosynthetic gene clusters of these linaridins lack obvious candidate genes for the dehydratase and epimerase required to introduce dehydrobutyrine and D-amino acid residues, respectively. However, we previously demonstrated that the grisemycin (grm) cluster contained cryptic dehydratase and epimerase genes by heterologous expression of this biosynthetic gene cluster in Streptomyces lividans and proposed that two genes (grmH and grmL) with unknown functions catalyze dehydration and epimerization reactions. In this study, we confirmed that both GrmH and GrmL, which were shown to constitute a protein complex by a co-purification experiment, were required to catalyze the dehydration, epimerization, and proteolytic cleavage of a precursor peptide GrmA by in vivo experiments. Furthermore, we demonstrated that GrmH/GrmL complex accepted salinipeptin and cypemycin precursor peptides, which possess three additional amino acids.
Toward computing attributions for dimensionality reduction techniques
Authors: Scicluna Matthew , Grenier Jean-Christophe , Poujol Raphaël , Lemieux Sébastien , Hussin Julie G
Published: August 2023

We describe the problem of computing local feature attributions for dimensionality reduction methods. We use one such method that is well established within the context of supervised classification—using the gradients of target outputs with respect to the inputs—on the popular dimensionality reduction technique t-SNE, widely used in analyses of biological data. We provide an efficient implementation for the gradient computation for this dimensionality reduction technique. We show that our explanations identify significant features using novel validation methodology; using synthetic datasets and the popular MNIST benchmark dataset. We then demonstrate the practical utility of our algorithm by showing that it can produce explanations that agree with domain knowledge on a SARS-CoV-2 sequence dataset. Throughout, we provide a road map so that similar explanation methods could be applied to other dimensionality reduction techniques to rigorously analyze biological datasets.

Availability and implementation

We have created a Python package that can be installed using the following command: pip install interpretable_tsne. All code used can be found at github.com/MattScicluna/interpretable_tsne.
Practitioner Vulnerability in Children and Families Social Work—Identity, Impact and Implications
Authors: Dore Ian , Teverson Paul , Wilkins Sarah
Published: August 2023

Based on in-depth qualitative interviews, this article explores the experiences of vulnerability for nineteen children and families Social Workers in England and discusses how this emotional state manifests and impacts upon practice. As this study shows, workers frequently harbour personal vulnerabilities that can motivate them in their work and act as an enabler within relationships with service users; these same feelings can also provoke a sense of threat and discomfort, resulting in self-doubt and reduced confidence. Whether carried from the past or housed in the present, feelings of vulnerability often rise to the surface when provoked by routine encounters with clients and the knotty issues that surround them; what is valued by Social Workers encountering such feelings is a sense of validation and recognition. In taking an explicit focus on practitioner vulnerability, this article adds an original contribution to the literature concerning the emotional world of Social Workers. It reveals vulnerability to be an important component of identity and a driver for practice, which needs to be given greater consideration in social work training and employment, arguing that enhanced attention to worker histories, emotional challenges and self-care are not only necessary but also essential for practitioner and client well-being.
Reversible Data Hiding With Pattern Adaptive Prediction
Authors: Yuan Junying , Zheng Huicheng , Ni Jiangqun
Published: August 2023

In the area of reversible data hiding (RDH), one of the most popular techniques is prediction-error expansion (PEE), which hides data in the prediction errors with well-preserved image fidelity. The key to a successful PEE-based RDH implementation usually lies in prediction algorithms with high accuracy. Existing PEE-based RDH works often employ one single prediction algorithm, which is usually globally optimized, but with less consideration of the pixel distribution characteristics within local neighborhoods. In this manuscript, the technique of pattern adaptive prediction is proposed for pixel estimation according to the type of local binary pattern (LBP), which is obtained from the pixel’s eight neighborhood. Theoretically speaking, pattern-based predictors can be designed for each and every LBP patterns to create multiple prediction-error histograms (PEHs). However, the process of performance optimization with multiple PEHs requires extremely heavy computing power. To speed up the optimization process, LBP patterns are classified into various groups based on the degree of histogram concentration. Experiments demonstrate that the prediction accuracy is obviously improved and the image fidelity is well preserved.
Development of a real-time PCR assay for detection of hemp russet mite (Aculops cannabicola)
Authors: Carter Olivia , MacWilliams Jacob , Nachappa Punya
Published: August 2023

Of the many arthropod species affecting hemp (Cannabis sativa L.) cultivation in the United States, one species of particular importance is the hemp russet mite (Aculops cannabicola, HRM). Hemp russet mite is a microscopic arthropod which feeds on all parts of hemp plants. Due to its minute size, HRM can proliferate undetected for a long time, complicating management efforts and causing serious economic losses. DNA sequencing and PCR assays can facilitate accurate identification and early detection of HRM in infested-plants. Therefore, a real-time SYBR Green based species-specific PCR assay (quantitative PCR, qPCR) was developed for the identification of HRM DNA by amplification of a 104 bp Internal Transcribed Spacer 1 (ITS1) sequence. The detection limit was estimated to be approximately 48 copies of the HRM marker gene sequence. The real-time-PCR assay is rapid, detects all life stages of mite under 2 hours. A 10-fold serial dilution of the plasmid DNA containing the ITS1 insert were used as standards in the real-time PCR assay. The quantification cycle (Cq) value of the assay showed a strong linear relationship with HRM DNA with R2 of 0.96. The assay was tested against several commonly found hemp pests including two-spotted spider mite and western flower thrips to determine specificity of the assay and to show that no non-target species DNA was amplified. The outcomes of this research will have important applications for agricultural biosecurity through accurate identification of HRM, early detection and timely deployment of management tactics to manage and prevent pest outbreaks.
Effect of dose and trap type on captures of striped and spotted cucumber beetles using synthetic vittatalactone
Authors: Pasteur Kayla , Haber Ariela I , Weber Donald C
Published: August 2023

Striped cucumber beetle, Acalymma vittatum (F.) and spotted cucumber beetle (Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber) are key pests of cucurbits. Pesticide applications directed against cucumber beetles can jeopardize bee pollination which is essential to crop yield. Alternative selective tactics, including behavioral control for managing cucumber beetles, are needed in order to improve pest management. The striped cucumber beetle pheromone vittatalactone is attractive to both male and female adults, and also to spotted cucumber beetles. We tested the response of both species to different doses of synthetic vittatalactone, and to different trap types, in field trapping experiments in Maryland. Both species showed strong dose–response in May–June and October 2020. Among 12 trap types tested during a 2-wk experiment in June, using 1 mg mixed vittatalactone, sticky panel traps caught the most of each species, with vittatalactone-baited traps exceeding unbaited traps by >8 fold for striped and >2 fold for spotted, and with significant response to yellow versus clear color absent in striped, but strong in spotted. Among nonsticky traps, those with yellow or yellow-green exceeded those without these colors for both beetle species, and a ground-placed boll weevil trap captured the most striped cucumber beetles. Bucket-style traps caught excessive nontarget bumblebees (Bombus spp.) if yellow, and a few beetles, if all green. Results allow field monitoring with a choice of sticky or nonsticky traps and suggested lure loading of 1 mg mixed vittatalactone, containing ~90 μg active isomer. These findings contribute to the development of multispecies behavioral monitoring and control as a component of cucurbit IPM.
Dynamics of unipolar J-ST elevation coupled to bipolar delayed potentials on the epicardium in Brugada syndrome: a case report
Authors: Kataoka Naoya , Nagase Satoshi , Imamura Teruhiko , Kinugawa Koichiro
Published: August 2023

Background

The area of abnormal bipolar potentials in the right ventricular epicardium is recognized as an arrhythmogenic substrate in patients with Brugada syndrome (BrS); however, the correlation between local potentials and Brugada-type surface electrocardiograms (ECGs) remains unclear.

Case summary

A 49-year-old man with BrS who was hospitalized for refractory ventricular fibrillation underwent an electrocardiographic study with unipolar electrodes with the same bandwidth as surface ECGs. The right ventricular outflow tract epicardium showed abnormal bipolar potentials composed of split sharp and delayed dull components with coved-type J-ST elevation in the unipolar electrodes. The additional stimuli from the atrium gradually decreased the number of unipolar electrodes showing coved-type J-ST elevation along with a shortening of the local bipolar activation time. The pilsicainide provocation test induced a change in unipolar morphology from coved type to convex type and an intermittent local block of the divided and sharp components in bipolar electrodes. Of note, the unipolar J-ST elevation was not changed along with the localized conduction block in bipolar leads.

Discussion

The unipolar electrode waveforms during sinus rhythm change together with bipolar electrodes, consisting of sharp and blunt components in BrS. However, the convex-type J-ST elevation in unipolar leads persisted irrespective of the local conduction block in bipolar leads after pilsicainide provocation. These findings suggest the complexity of BrS mechanisms.
Is the association between financial scarcity and health behaviours moderated by cultural capital? The GLOBE study
Authors: Oosterwegel Sigrid L , Boderie Nienke W , van Lenthe Frank J
Published: August 2023

Background

Experiencing financial scarcity taxes cognitive bandwidth. This leaves less capacity to withhold temptations and makes relying on easiest default options more likely. Whether this default option is (un)healthy may depend on the amount of cultural capital acquired during life course. This study examined whether the association between financial scarcity and health behaviours is moderated by cultural capital.

Methods

Self-reported data were used from Dutch adults of the 2014-survey of the GLOBE study (N = 2466). Using linear regression analysis, financial strain (no, some, great) and cultural capital (institutionalized, objectivized, incorporated) were related to body mass index (BMI), alcohol intake, sports participation, cycling and walking, fruit intake and vegetable consumption. The interaction between financial strain and cultural capital was used to assess moderation.

Results

Experiencing some financial strain was associated with a higher BMI (0.7 kg/m2) and less sport participation (−31.8 min/week). Great financial strain was associated with less sport participation (−41.4 min/week). Being in the lowest tertile of cultural capital was associated with a higher BMI (1.3 kg/m2), drinking less alcohol (−10.0 units/week), less sport participation (−31.5 min/week) and consuming less fruit (−2.9 pieces/week). Cultural capital had no significant moderating effect on the relationship between financial strain and these health behaviours.

Conclusion

Financial strain and cultural capital seem associated with different health behaviours. Cultural capital had no moderating effect on the relationship between financial strain and different health behaviours. While financial strain and cultural capital could both be entry points for interventions to improve health behaviour, underlying mechanisms require further attention.
Machine learning in marine ecology: an overview of techniques and applications
Authors: Rubbens Peter , Brodie Stephanie , Cordier Tristan , Destro Barcellos Diogo , Devos Paul , Fernandes-Salvador Jose A , Fincham Jennifer I , Gomes Alessandra , Handegard Nils Olav , Howell Kerry , Jamet Cédric , Kartveit Kyrre Heldal , Moustahfid Hassan , Parcerisas Clea , Politikos Dimitris , Sauzède Raphaëlle , Sokolova Maria , Uusitalo Laura , Van den Bulcke Laure , van Helmond Aloysius T M , Watson Jordan T , Welch Heather , Beltran-Perez Oscar , Chaffron Samuel , Greenberg David S , Kühn Bernhard , Kiko Rainer , Lo Madiop , Lopes Rubens M , Möller Klas Ove , Michaels William , Pala Ahmet , Romagnan Jean-Baptiste , Schuchert Pia , Seydi Vahid , Villasante Sebastian , Malde Ketil , Irisson Jean-Olivier
Published: August 2023

Machine learning covers a large set of algorithms that can be trained to identify patterns in data. Thanks to the increase in the amount of data and computing power available, it has become pervasive across scientific disciplines. We first highlight why machine learning is needed in marine ecology. Then we provide a quick primer on machine learning techniques and vocabulary. We built a database of ∼1000 publications that implement such techniques to analyse marine ecology data. For various data types (images, optical spectra, acoustics, omics, geolocations, biogeochemical profiles, and satellite imagery), we present a historical perspective on applications that proved influential, can serve as templates for new work, or represent the diversity of approaches. Then, we illustrate how machine learning can be used to better understand ecological systems, by combining various sources of marine data. Through this coverage of the literature, we demonstrate an increase in the proportion of marine ecology studies that use machine learning, the pervasiveness of images as a data source, the dominance of machine learning for classification-type problems, and a shift towards deep learning for all data types. This overview is meant to guide researchers who wish to apply machine learning methods to their marine datasets.
Development of microbial enrichments for simultaneous removal of sulfur and nitrogenous metabolites in saline water aquaculture
Authors: Patil Prasanna Kumar , Nagaraju Vinay Tharabenahalli , Baskaran Viswanathan , Avunje Satheesha , Rameshbabu Rajesh , Ghate Sudeep D , Solanki Haresh G
Published: August 2023

Aim

The aim of the study was to develop microbial enrichments from the nitrifying microbial consortia and the environment for simultaneous removal of ammonia, nitrate, and sulfide in aquaculture systems at varied salinities.

Methods and results

Sulfur and nitrogen metabolites are the major factors affecting the farmed aquatic animal species and deteriorate the receiving environments causing ecological damage. The present study reports the development of microbial enrichments from the nitrifying microbial consortia and the environment. The enrichments used thiosulfate or thiocyanate as an energy source and simultaneously removed sulfur, ammonia, and nitrite in spiked medium (125 mg/l ammonia; 145 mg/l nitrite). Further, the microbes in the enrichments could grow up to 30 g/l salinity. Metagenomic studies revealed limited microbial diversity suggesting the enrichment of highly specialized taxa, and co-occurrence network analysis showed the formation of three micro-niches with multiple interactions at different taxonomic levels.

Conclusions

The ability of the enrichments to grow in both organic and inorganic medium and simultaneous removal of sulfide, ammonia, and nitrite under varied salinities suggests their potential application in sulfur, nitrogen, and organic matter-rich aquaculture pond environments and other industrial effluents.
The value of parental medical records for the prediction of diabetes and cardiovascular disease: a novel method for generating and incorporating family histories
Authors: Barak-Corren Yuval , Tsurel David , Keidar Daphna , Gofer Ilan , Shahaf Dafna , Leventer-Roberts Maya , Barda Noam , Reis Ben Y
Published: August 2023

Objective

To determine whether data-driven family histories (DDFH) derived from linked EHRs of patients and their parents can improve prediction of patients’ 10-year risk of diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Materials and Methods

A retrospective cohort study using data from Israel’s largest healthcare organization. A random sample of 200 000 subjects aged 40–60 years on the index date (January 1, 2010) was included. Subjects with insufficient history (<1 year) or insufficient follow-up (<10 years) were excluded. Two separate XGBoost models were developed—1 for diabetes and 1 for ASCVD—to predict the 10-year risk for each outcome based on data available prior to the index date of January 1, 2010.

Results

Overall, the study included 110 734 subject-father-mother triplets. There were 22 153 cases of diabetes (20%) and 11 715 cases of ASCVD (10.6%). The addition of parental information significantly improved prediction of diabetes risk (P < .001), but not ASCVD risk. For both outcomes, maternal medical history was more predictive than paternal medical history. A binary variable summarizing parental disease state delivered similar predictive results to the full parental EHR.

Discussion

The increasing availability of EHRs for multiple family generations makes DDFH possible and can assist in delivering more personalized and precise medicine to patients. Consent frameworks must be established to enable sharing of information across generations, and the results suggest that sharing the full records may not be necessary.

Conclusion

DDFH can address limitations of patient self-reported family history, and it improves clinical predictions for some conditions, but not for all, and particularly among younger adults.
Hippocampal transcriptome analysis reveals mechanisms of cognitive impairment in beagle dogs with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Han Qingyue , Ding Qingyu , Yu Luyao , Li Tingyu , Sun Bingxia , Tang Zhaoxin
Published: August 2023

Diabetic encephalopathy is a common complication of type 1 diabetes. However, there have been few studies on cognitive impairment and hippocampal damage in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) using dogs as experimental animals. To investigate the effects of diabetes on the CNS, 40 adult beagles were divided into streptozotocin/alloxan type 1 diabetes model and control groups. The duration of diabetes in the model group was 120 days. A cognitive dysfunction scale was used to assess cognitive function. Hematoxylin and eosin and Golgi-Cox staining methods were used to observe morphological damage to the hippocampus. Transcriptomics was used to investigate differential gene expression in the hippocampus. The results showed that the cognitive dysfunction score of the model group was significantly higher than that of the control group. In addition, the number of normal neurons, the complexity of dendritic morphology, and the density of dendritic spines were decreased in the hippocampus of diabetic dogs. A total of 672 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, 289 of which were upregulated, and 383 were downregulated. Modified genes included DBH, IGFBP2, AVPR1A, and DRAXIN. In conclusion, type 1 diabetic dogs exhibit cognitive dysfunction. The DEGs were mainly enriched in metabolic, PI3K-Akt signaling, and neuroactive ligand-receptor interaction pathways.
Kinematics of Galactic Centre clouds shaped by shear-seeded solenoidal turbulence
Authors: Petkova Maya A , Kruijssen J M Diederik , Henshaw Jonathan D , Longmore Steven N , Glover Simon C O , Sormani Mattia C , Armillotta Lucia , Barnes Ashley T , Klessen Ralf S , Nogueras-Lara Francisco , Tress Robin G , Armijos-Abendaño Jairo , Colzi Laura , Federrath Christoph , García Pablo , Ginsburg Adam , Henkel Christian , Martín Sergio , Riquelme Denise , Rivilla Víctor M
Published: August 2023

The Central Molecular Zone (CMZ; the central ∼500 pc of the Galaxy) is a kinematically unusual environment relative to the Galactic disc, with high-velocity dispersions and a steep size–linewidth relation of the molecular clouds. In addition, the CMZ region has a significantly lower star formation rate (SFR) than expected by its large amount of dense gas. An important factor in explaining the low SFR is the turbulent state of the star-forming gas, which seems to be dominated by rotational modes. However, the turbulence driving mechanism remains unclear. In this work, we investigate how the Galactic gravitational potential affects the turbulence in CMZ clouds. We focus on the CMZ cloud G0.253+0.016 (‘the Brick’), which is very quiescent and unlikely to be kinematically dominated by stellar feedback. We demonstrate that several kinematic properties of the Brick arise naturally in a cloud-scale hydrodynamics simulation, that takes into account the Galactic gravitational potential. These properties include the line-of-sight velocity distribution, the steepened size–linewidth relation, and the predominantly solenoidal nature of the turbulence. Within the simulation, these properties result from the Galactic shear in combination with the cloud’s gravitational collapse. This is a strong indication that the Galactic gravitational potential plays a crucial role in shaping the CMZ gas kinematics, and is a major contributor to suppressing the SFR, by inducing predominantly solenoidal turbulent modes.
Reverberation of pulsar wind nebulae – III. Modelling of the plasma interface empowering a long term radiative evolution
Authors: Bandiera R , Bucciantini N , Olmi B , Torres D F
Published: August 2023

The vast majority of pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) present in the Galaxy is formed by middle-aged systems characterized by a strong interaction of the PWN itself with the supernova remnant (SNR). Unfortunately, modelling these systems can be quite complex and numerically expensive, due to the non-linearity of the PWN–SNR evolution even in the simple one-dimensional (1D)/one-zone case when the reverse shock of the SNR reaches the PWN, and the two begin to interact (and reverberation starts). Here, we introduce a new numerical technique that couples the numerical efficiency of the one-zone thin shell approach with the reliability of a full ‘Lagrangian’ evolution, able to correctly reproduce the PWN–SNR interaction during the reverberation, and to consistently evolve the particle spectrum beyond. Based on our previous findings, we show that our novel strategy resolves many of the uncertainties present in previous approaches, as the arbitrariness in the SNR structure, and ensure a robust evolution, compatible with results that can be obtained with more complex 1D dynamical approaches. Our approach enable us for the first time to provide reliable spectral models of the later compression phases in the evolution of PWNe. While in general, we found that the compression is less extreme than that obtained without such detailed dynamical considerations, leading to the formation of less structured spectral energy distributions, we still find that a non-negligible fraction of PWNe might experience a super-efficient phase, with the optical and/or X-ray luminosity exceeding the spin-down one.
The effectiveness of adalimumab as an add-on therapy in two cases with leg ulcers in Behçet’s disease resistant to conventional immunosuppressive therapy alone and a review of the literature
Authors: Kaban Nedim , Harman Halil
Published: August 2023

The current report presents two cases with leg ulcers related to Behçet’s disease (BD) resistant to conventional immunosuppressive therapy (CIST) but successfully treated with adalimumab (ADA). BD, which can affect vessels of any size and type, is a systemic vasculitis. In the vascular system, veins are the most predominantly affected blood vessels, with deep vein thrombosis and recurrent superficial vein thrombophlebitis being the most common vascular signs of the disease in the lower extremities. Leg ulcers, commonly associated with vasculitis or deep vein thrombosis, are rare in patients with BD. Conventional immunosuppressive therapy is very critical to prevent relapses and diminish the risk of post-thrombotic syndrome. In patients with BD-associated venous thrombosis (deep vein thrombosis or superficial vein thrombophlebitis) resistant to these treatments, tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors can be used alone or in combination with traditional disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs. In view of such information, add-on adalimumab treatment was considered appropriate for both patients. Response to this intervention was highly satisfying for the patients at the end of the 6-month treatment. Nonetheless, it warrants further studies directly evaluating the efficacy of tumour necrosis factor-α inhibitors alone in leg ulcers in BD.
Symptom Clusters in Patients With Advanced Cancer: A Prospective Longitudinal Cohort Study to Examine Their Stability and Prognostic Significance
Authors: Simão Diana , Barata Pedro C , Alves Marta , Papoila Ana L , Oliveira Sónia , Lawlor Peter
Published: August 2023

This study’s purpose was to assess symptom cluster (SC) stability during disease progression and determine their strength of association with survival in patients with advanced cancer . Consecutively eligible patients with advanced cancer not receiving cancer-specific treatment and referred to a Tertiary Palliative Care Clinic were enrolled in a prospective cohort study. At first consultation (D0) and in subsequent consultations at day 15 (D15) and day 30 (D30), patients rated 9 symptoms through the Edmonton Symptom Assessment System scale (0-10) and 10 others using a Likert scale (1-5). Principal components factor analysis with varimax rotation was used to determine SCs at each consultation. Of 318 patients with advanced cancer, 301 met eligibility criteria with a median age of 69 years (range 37-94). Three SCs were identified: neuro-psycho-metabolic (NPM), gastrointestinal, and sleep impairment, with some variations in their constitution over time. Exploratory factor analysis accounted for 40% of variance of observed variables in all SCs. Shorter median survival was observed continuously for NPM cluster (D0 23 vs. 58 days, P < .001; D15 41 vs. 104 days, P=.004; D30 46 vs. 114 days, P = .002), although the presence of 2 or more SCs on D0 and D15 also had prognostic significance (D0: 21 vs. 45 days, P = .005; D30: 50 vs. 96 days, P = .040). In a multivariable model, NPM cluster (D0 hazard ratio estimate: HR 1.64; 95%CI, 1.17-2.31; P = .005; D15 HR: 2.51; 95%CI, 1.25-5.05; P = .009; D30 HR: 3.9; 95%CI, 1.54-9.86; P = .004) and hospitalization (D0 HR: 2.27; 95%CI, 1.47-3.51; P < .001; D15 HR: 2.43; 95%CI, 1.18-5.01; P = .016; D30 HR: 3.41; 95%CI, 1.35-8.62; P = .009) were independently and significantly associated with worse survival. Three clinically relevant SCs were identified, and their constitution had small variations, maintaining a stable set of nuclear symptoms through disease progression. Presence of the NPM cluster and hospitalization maintained their prognostic value over time.
Still Soul Searching? Remapping Adolescent Religious Commitment
Authors: Uecker Jeremy E , Bowman Carl Desportes
Published: August 2023

Sociologists know very little about the religious lives of the current generation of American adolescents. This study provides an updated portrait of adolescent religious commitment and direct tests of religious change across cohorts by comparing data from the 2017–2018 National Survey of Moral Formation to the 2002–2003 National Study of Youth and Religion. There has been a significant growth in the percentage of adolescents who are not at all religious (by multiple measures). There has been a less substantial decline in the percentage of adolescents who are highly religious. Changes in religiosity have occurred across sociodemographic groups, though not always at the same rate, resulting in new patterns across gender, race, regional, and socioeconomic lines on some aspects of religiosity. Despite declines in religiosity, however, parental transmission of religion is similar to what it was in the previous generation. The decline in adolescent religiosity, notably, reflects a decline in parental religiosity.
Characteristics and Outcomes of Tracheostomized Patients With and Without COVID-19
Authors: Bahk Jeeyune , Dolan Bridget , Sharma Venus , Sehmbhi Mantej , Fung Jennifer Y , Lee Young Im
Published: August 2023

IMPORTANCE:

Outcomes of tracheostomized patients with COVID-19 are seldomly investigated with conflicting evidence from the existing literature.

OBJECTIVES:

To create a study evaluating the impact of COVID-19 on tracheostomized patients by comparing clinical outcomes and weaning parameters in COVID-19 positive and negative cohorts.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS:

A retrospective observational cohort study of 604 tracheostomized patients hospitalized in 16 ICUs in New York City between March 9, 2020, and September 8, 2021.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES:

Patients were stratified into two cohorts: 398 COVID-19 negative (COVID–ve) and 206 COVID-19 positive (COVID+ve) patients. Clinical characteristics, outcomes, and weaning parameters (first pressure support [PS], tracheostomy collar [TC], speech valve placement, and decannulation) were analyzed.

RESULTS:

COVID+ve had fewer comorbidities including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, malignancy, chronic kidney disease, liver disease, and HIV (p < 0.05). Higher Fio
2 (53% vs 44%), positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) (7.15 vs 5.69), Pco
2 (45.8 vs 38.2), and lower pH (7.41 vs 7.43) were observed at the time of tracheostomy in COVID+ve (p < 0.005). There was no statistical difference in post-tracheostomy complication rates. Longer time from intubation to tracheostomy (15.90 vs 13.60 d; p = 0.002), tracheostomy to first PS (2.87 vs 1.80 d; p = 0.005), and TC placement (11.07 vs 4.46 d; p < 0.001) were seen in COVID+ve. However, similar time to speech valve placement, decannulation, and significantly lower 1-year mortality (23.3% vs 36.7%; p = 0.001) with higher number of discharges to long-term acute care hospital (LTACH) (23.8% vs 13.6%; p = 0.015) were seen in COVID+ve.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE:

Patients with COVID-19 required higher Fio
2 and PEEP ventilatory support at the time of tracheostomy, with no observed change in complication rates. Despite longer initial weaning period with PS or TC, similar time to speech valve placement or decannulation with significantly lower mortality and higher LTACH discharges suggest favorable outcome in COVID-19 positive patients. Higher ventilatory support requirements and prolonged weaning should not be a deterrent to pursuing a tracheostomy.
Prophylactic treatment of lattice degeneration in fellow eyes after repair of uncomplicated primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment
Authors: Curran Christian D. , Adams Olufemi E. , Vagaggini Tommaso , Sodhi Guneet S. , Prairie Michael L. , Baker Mikayla J. , Sastry Ananth , Ryan Edwin H. , Parke 3r d D. Wilkin. , Mittra Robert A. , Dev Sundeep , Tang Peter H.
Published: August 2023

Purpose:

Evaluate prophylactic treatment (PTx) of lattice degeneration (LD) on retinal tear (RT) and rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) risk in fellow eyes of patients after primary RRD repair in first eye.

Methods:

This was a consecutive case series with cohort control involving patients with RRD repair from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2017. Patients received PTx (PTx cohort) or no PTx (No-PTx cohort) in fellow eye with 5 years follow-up. Primary outcome measure was proportion with new fellow eye RT/RRD. Secondary outcomes included logarithm of minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) and status of myopia, posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), and pseudophakia.

Results:

498 patients were divided into 146 and 352 in PTx and No-PTx cohorts, respectively. PTx cohort developed significantly (P < 0.05) fewer RT/RRD (17%) than No-PTx cohort (41%). PTx significantly (P < 0.05) lowered RT/RRD irrespective of PVD and myopia status. PTx patients undergoing phacoemulsification demonstrated significantly (P < 0.05) less RT/RRD (22%) than No-PTx cohort (31%). There was no significant (P = 0.96) final BCVA difference between PTx (median = 0 logMAR) and No-PTx cohorts (median = 0 logMAR).

Conclusions:

PTx of asymptomatic fellow eye LD reduced RT/RRD risk.