bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Defining RSV epidemic season in southwest China and assessing the relationship between birth month and RSV infection: A 10‐year retrospective study from June 2009 to May 2019
Authors: Li Taoyu , Fang Heping , Liu Xiangyu , Deng Yu , Zang Na , Xie Jun , Xie Xiaohong , Luo Zhengxiu , Luo Jian , Liu Yulin , Fu Zhou , Ren Luo , Liu Enmei
Published: July 2023

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is one of the most common causes of lower respiratory tract infections (LRTI). However, only limited information is available regarding its seasonality and its relationship with birth month. A retrospective hospital‐based study was carried out from June 2009 to May 2019 in Chongqing, southwest of China. LRTI cases under 5 years were enrolled in this study and PCR was used to detect 8 respiratory viruses. RSV seasonality was determined using “average annual percentage” (AAP) and “percent positivity” method. A total of 6991 cases were enrolled in this study, with an RSV positivity of 34.5%. From June 2009 to May 2019, we analyzed RSV epidemic season during 10 RSV epidemic years in Chongqing using two methods. The result of AAP method was similar to that of percent positivity method with a 30% threshold, which showed an epidemic season of roughly October to March in the subsequent year, with a small peak in June. On average, the RSV epidemic season in RSV‐A dominant years typically started earlier (week 42 for RSV‐A vs. week 46 for RSV‐B), ended earlier (week 12 for RSV‐A vs. week 14 for RSV‐B), lasted longer (24 weeks for RSV‐A vs. 22 weeks for RSV‐B), and reached its peak earlier (week 2 for RSV‐A vs. week 3 for RSV‐B) than in RSV‐B dominant years. The proportion of severe LRTI was higher in cases of single infection with RSV‐A compared to those of single infection with RSV‐B (26.3% vs. 22.3%, p = 0.024). Among infants under 1 year, those born in May and August through December were more likely to be infected with RSV. Infants born 1–2 months before the epidemic season were relatively more susceptible to RSV infection. In Chongqing, the RSV epidemic was seasonal and usually lasted from October to March of next year with a small peak in summer. Infants born 1–2 months before the epidemic season were relatively more susceptible to RSV infection and this population should be targeted while developing RSV immunization strategies.
Parallel EM optimization using improved pole‐residue‐based neuro‐TF surrogate and isomorphic orthogonal DOE sampling for microwave components design
Authors: Na Wei‐Cong , Liu Wen‐Xu , Liu Ke , Feng Feng , Zhang Jia‐Nan , Zhang Wan‐Rong , Xie Hong‐Yun , Jin Dong‐Yue
Published: July 2023

Direct electromagnetic (EM) optimization for microwave components design is usually a time‐consuming process. To improve the optimization efficiency, this paper proposes a novel parallel EM optimization technique exploiting improved pole‐residue‐based neuro‐transfer function (neuro‐TF) surrogate and isomorphic orthogonal design of experiment (DOE) sampling strategy. We propose a new sampling method combining isomorphic orthogonal DOE and parallel EM simulations to generate training data for developing the neuro‐TF surrogate. This proposed sampling method can ensure the scattered distribution of data samples in the overall optimization process, thus effectively improving the surrogate accuracy and increasing the optimization speed. We also propose a new pole‐residue tracking technique for order‐changing to solve the discontinuity problem of pole/residues during the neuro‐TF surrogate development. Different from the fixed split ratio in existing pole‐residue tracking technique, the split ratio of poles and residues in the proposed technique is adaptive and determined according to the information of neighboring samples. Therefore, the continuity and smoothness of pole/residues after the splitting are improved, so as the neuro‐TF surrogate accuracy. In addition, the trust region algorithm is exploited during EM optimization to improve the convergence speed. In this way, the proposed EM optimization technique obtains the optimal solution in a shorter time with fewer iterations than the existing techniques. Two examples of EM optimizations of microwave components are used to illustrate the proposed technique.
Vulnerability diffusions in software product networks
Authors: Kang Martin , Templeton Gary , Um SungYong
Published: July 2023

During software product development, the combination of digital resources (such as application programming interfaces and software development kits) establishes loose and tight edges between nodes, which form a software product network (SPN). These edges serve as observable conduits that may help practitioners and researchers better understand how vulnerabilities diffuse through SPNs. We apply network theory to analyze data from over 12 years of records extracted from the National Vulnerability Database. We contribute novel measures established using machine learning to gauge the properties influencing vulnerability diffusion within an SPN. We observed an SPN having a discernable shape that changed over time via network updates. We propose hypotheses and find empirical evidence that vulnerability diffusion is influenced by edge dynamics, developer responses, and their interaction. Implications for practice are that increased developer responses reduce software vulnerability diffusion attributed to edge dynamics.
Dynamics of recurrence after curative resection of nonsmall cell lung cancer
Authors: Muraoka Yuji , Yotsukura Masaya , Yoshida Yukihiro , Nakagawa Kazuo , Shiraishi Kouya , Kohno Takashi , Yatabe Yasushi , Watanabe Shun‐ichi
Published: July 2023

Background and Objectives

This study examined the trend of hazards for postoperative recurrence of lung cancer according to pathologic stages.

Methods

We reviewed the records of 1987 patients who underwent resection for lung cancer between 2007 and 2012. Postoperative recurrence and development of second primary lung cancer were analyzed to evaluate the trend of hazard rate.

Results

Recurrence‐free survival (RFS) probabilities at 5 postoperative years in patients with stage I/II/III disease were 87.8%/54.7%,/33.4%, respectively. The hazard rate of RFS was consistently low (<0.005) for stage I patients for 5 years after surgery. The hazard rate of RFS for stage II patients showed a peak of 0.016 at 12.4 months after surgery, and that for stage III patients had a higher peak of 0.029 at 13.7 months after surgery, after which they showed a gradual decrease. The hazard rate for the development of second primary lung cancer exceeded that of recurrence of first primary lung cancer after 72 months postoperatively.

Conclusions

Short‐interval postoperative surveillance might be unnecessary for stage I patients but should be considered in stage II/III patients. Screening of second primary lung cancer rather than surveillance of recurrence might be beneficial after more than 6 years postoperatively.
Close distal margin is associated with locoregional rectal cancer recurrence: A multicenter study
Authors: Varlamos Christopher J. , Sinco Brandy , Van Weiren Inga , Regenbogen Scott , Gamboa Adriana C. , Silviera Matthew , Abdel‐Misih Sherif R. Z. , Hawkins Alexander T. , Balch Glen , Hendren Samantha
Published: July 2023

Background and Objectives

The importance of the radial margin for rectal cancer resection is well understood. However, surgeons have deemphasized the distal margin, accepting very close distal margins to perform sphincter‐preserving surgery. We hypothesized that distal margins < 1 cm would be an independent risk factor for locoregional recurrence. The objective was to determine whether close distal margins are associated with increased locoregional recurrence risk.

Methods

This was a multi‐institutional retrospective cohort study conducted at six academic medical centers including patients who received low anterior resection surgery for primary rectal cancer between 2007 and 2018.

Results

Of 556 low anterior resection patients, the rate of close distal margin was 12.8% (n = 71), and the locoregional recurrence rate was 5.0% (n = 28). The locoregional recurrence rate for close distal margin cases was 9.9% (n = 7) compared to 4.3% (n = 21) for distal margins ≥1.0 cm. In multivariable analysis, the only factor significantly associated with locoregional recurrence was close distal margin (adjusted odds ratio: 2.80, confidence interval: 1.08–7.25, p = 0.035).

Conclusions

Rectal cancer patients with close distal margins (<1 cm) following low anterior resection had a significantly higher risk for locoregional recurrence. Therefore, the decision to perform low anterior resection with margins < 1 cm should be taken with caution.
MRI characteristics due to gene mutations in a Chinese pedigree with Lafora disease
Authors: Sun Yueqian , Zhou Ziqi , Wang Qun , Yan Jing , Zhang Zaiqiang , Cui Tao
Published: July 2023

Background and Purpose

Lafora disease (LD) is a very rare autosomal recessive disorder manifesting primarily as fatal, congenital, and neurodegenerative epilepsies. We aimed to describe the MRI characteristics due to gene mutations in a Chinese pedigree with LD.

Methods

Whole‐exome sequencing, muscle biopsy, pedigree analysis, and MRI analysis were conducted. Five family members (two of whom were affected by LD) were whole‐genome sequenced. Longitudinal changes in brain MRI volumes were analyzed by Freesurfer.

Results

We identified a new intron heterozygous mutation in the EMP2A gene c.71 (exon 1) G>A in a Chinese LD pedigree that was characterized by refractory seizures, progressive vision impairment, and declines in motor and cognitive functions. The patient suffered generalized tonic–clonic seizures since the age of 15 years and had severe forms of progressive myoclonic seizure. She eventually died after being admitted to the intensive care unit due to status epilepticus at the age of 24 years. Period acid Schiff staining showed positive polyglucosan particles in muscle biopsy specimens. Regions of atrophy in the whole brain, and especially in the hippocampus, were detected.

Conclusions

We identified a new heterozygous mutation (c.71+1G>A) in a Chinese LD pedigree, which broadens the mutation spectrum of LD genes. We found that the patient exhibited brain volumetric atrophy along with rapidly worsening symptoms. These results contribute to our understanding of LD.
Real‐time 3D reconstruction of guidewires and stents using two update X‐ray projections in a rotating imaging setup
Authors: Vöth Tim , Koenig Thomas , Eulig Elias , Knaup Michael , Wiesmann Veit , Hörndler Klaus , Kachelrieß Marc
Published: July 2023

Background

Vascular diseases are often treated minimally invasively. The interventional material (stents, guidewires, etc.) used during such percutaneous interventions are visualized by some form of image guidance. Today, this image guidance is usually provided by 2D X‐ray fluoroscopy, that is, a live 2D image. 3D X‐ray fluoroscopy, that is, a live 3D image, could accelerate existing and enable new interventions. However, existing algorithms for the 3D reconstruction of interventional material require either too many X‐ray projections and therefore dose, or are only capable of reconstructing single, curvilinear structures.

Purpose

Using only two new X‐ray projections per 3D reconstruction, we aim to reconstruct more complex arrangements of interventional material than was previously possible.

Methods

This is achieved by improving a previously presented deep learning‐based reconstruction pipeline, which assumes that the X‐ray images are acquired by a continuously rotating biplane system, in two ways: (a) separation of the reconstruction of different object types, (b) motion compensation using spatial transformer networks.

Results

Our pipeline achieves submillimeter accuracy on measured data of a stent and two guidewires inside an anthropomorphic phantom with respiratory motion. In an ablation study, we find that the aforementioned algorithmic changes improve our two figures of merit by 75 % (1.76 mm → 0.44 mm) and 59 % (1.15 mm → 0.47 mm) respectively. A comparison of our measured dose area product (DAP) rate to DAP rates of 2D fluoroscopy indicates a roughly similar dose burden.

Conclusions

This dose efficiency combined with the ability to reconstruct complex arrangements of interventional material makes the presented algorithm a promising candidate to enable 3D fluoroscopy.
Multimodal fusion workflow for target delineation in cardiac radioablation of ventricular tachycardia
Authors: Rigal Louis , Benali Karim , Barré Valentin , Bougault Mathilde , Bellec Julien , Crevoisier Renaud De , Martins Raphaël , Simon Antoine
Published: July 2023

Background

Cardiac radioablation (CR) is an innovative treatment to ablate cardiac arrythmia sources by radiation therapy. CR target delineation is a challenging task requiring the exploitation of highly different imaging modalities, including cardiac electro‐anatomical mapping (EAM).

Purpose

In this work, a data integration process is proposed to alleviate the tediousness of CR target delineation by generating a fused representation of the heart, including all the information of interest resulting from the analysis and registration of electro‐anatomical data, PET scan and planning computed tomography (CT) scan. The proposed process was evaluated by cardiologists during delineation trials.

Methods

The data processing pipeline was composed of the following steps. The cardiac structures of interest were segmented from cardiac CT scans using a deep learning method. The EAM data was registered to the cardiac CT scan using a point cloud based registration method. The PET scan was registered using rigid image registration. The EAM and PET information, as well as the myocardium thickness, were projected on the surface of the 3D mesh of the left ventricle. The target was identified by delineating a path on this surface that was further projected to the thickness of the myocardium to create the target volume. This process was evaluated by comparison with a standard slice‐by‐slice delineation with mental EAM registration. Four cardiologists delineated targets for three patients using both methods. The variability of target volumes, and the ease of use of the proposed method, were evaluated.

Results

All cardiologists reported being more confident and efficient using the proposed method. The inter‐clinician variability in delineated target volume was systematically lower with the proposed method (average dice score of 0.62 vs. 0.32 with a classical method). Delineation times were also improved.

Conclusions

A data integration process was proposed and evaluated to fuse images of interest for CR target delineation. It effectively reduces the tediousness of CR target delineation, while improving inter‐clinician agreement on target volumes. This study is still to be confirmed by including more clinicians and patient data to the experiments.
METTL3‐dependent m6A modification mediates bladder remodeling after partial bladder outlet obstruction through CCN2 activation
Authors: Yang Yafei , Long Jun , Yang Jin , Zheng Hanxiong , Lai Yongchang , Chen Chiheng , Tang Fucai , Gao Yibo , Chen Lin , He Zhaohui
Published: July 2023

Aims

N6‐methyladenosine (m6A) modification is a critical posttranscriptional event in gene regulation. Thus, identifying methyltransferase, demethylase, or m6A binding protein‐mediated m6A modifications in cancer or noncancer transcriptomes has become a promising novel strategy for disease therapy development. However, novel insights into m6A modification in partial bladder outlet obstruction (pBOO) and detailed information about the drivers of bladder remodeling remain to be elucidated. Here, we first characterized the m6A modification landscape in pBOO and investigated potential actionable pharmaceutical targets for future therapies.

Methods

We generated an improved animal model of pBOO in SD rats with urethral meatus stricture induced by suturing. Urodynamic investigations and cystometry were carried out to evaluate the physiologic changes elicited by pBOO. Whole‐transcriptome sequencing (RNA‐seq) and m6A‐modified RNA immunoprecipitation sequencing (MeRIP‐seq) were subsequently performed to analyze the expression pattern associated with bladder remodeling in pBOO.

Results

The cystometric evaluation of bladder function demonstrated obvious increases in pressure‐related parameters in the pBOO group. Hematoxylin and eosin staining and Masson's trichrome staining validated the occurrence of bladder remodeling. A global elevation in m6A RNA methylation levels was observed in parallel to a increased expression of METTL3 in the pBOO group. High‐throughput sequencing revealed the differences in expression patterns between the pBOO and sham‐operated groups. Furthermore, potential m6A‐modified genes, including CCN2, may serve as new pharmaceutical targets to reverse bladder remodeling.

Conclusions

Exploring the roles of m6A‐modified genes identified as associated with bladder remodeling by integrating RNA‐seq and MeRIP‐seq data can offer new insights for developing promising treatments for pBOO patients.
Stochastic spectral cell method for structural dynamics and wave propagations
Authors: Zakian Pooya
Published: July 2023

The spectral element method when enriched with the concept of fictitious domain constitutes the spectral cell method which is appropriately able to model geometrically complicated problems by simplifying the mesh generation. In this paper, we propose a new computational framework called stochastic spectral cell method (SSCM) as a stochastic development of the spectral cell method for uncertainty quantification applied to structural dynamics and wave propagations. The stochastic form of spectral cell method has not been developed yet. Hence, the SSCM is a novel stochastic method comprising the advantages of spectral cell method for computational mechanics considering the geometrical complexity resulting from computer‐aided design. The SSCM is established by incorporating the polynomial chaos and Karhunen‐Loève expansions for the uncertainty quantification, and the interpolation functions of spectral elements for the spatial discretization. In the SSCM, the numerical solution of the Fredholm integral equation of the second kind required in Karhunen‐Loève expansion is obtained using the spectral cell method. The use of Cartesian mesh, diagonal mass matrix, and higher order interpolation functions of spectral elements for stochastic dynamic analysis lead to desirable computational efficiency and accuracy of the SSCM. The capability, effectiveness, and accuracy of the proposed SSCM are demonstrated with several numerical examples of wave propagation as well as dynamic analysis of structures.
Influence of BN doped 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate phosphate coated expandable graphite on flame retardancy and thermal conductivity of styrene‐butadiene rubber composites
Authors: Xu Wenzong , Cheng Pengfei , Ding Ding , Zhang Zhihui , Bian Ziwei
Published: July 2023

As one of the three general rubbers, styrene‐butadiene rubber (SBR) is widely used in the manufacturing of tires and cables. However, due to its unsatisfactory performance of flame retardancy and thermal conductivity, its rang of application is limited. In order to improve SBR's flame retardancy and thermal conductivity, flame retardant and thermal conductive additive EG microcapsules (BN‐PPEG) were prepared by doping boron nitride (BN) with 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate phosphate (HEMAP) as shell. The results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, x‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope energy and TG showed that BN‐PPEG was successfully prepared. The thermal conductivity of the SBR composite added with 15 phr BN‐PPEG was 58.0% higher than that of pure SBR, and its limiting oxygen index (LOI) value reached 26.6%, which was 38.5% higher than that of pure SBR. The peak heat release rate (pHRR) of the composites was 53.9% lower than that of pure SBR. The main reasons were that the physical barrier of BN and EG, the phosphorous free radicals captured active free radicals generated by the decomposition of HEMAP when heated, and the carbonization of SBR was promoted by generated phosphoric acid, metaphosphoric acid and other substances.
Tensile properties of flexible carbon nanotube film/PVA composite at various strain rates
Authors: Li Yonghui , Lyu Zhengqiang , Wang Ping , Zhang Yan , Li Changwei , Gu Jinxiang , Hu Dongmei , Li Qingwen
Published: July 2023

The quasi‐static tensile properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) composites have already been extensively studied, while their impact tensile properties under high rates have rarely been investigated. In this work, CNT film/PVA composites were prepared by impregnation and hot press curing, whereas CNT films were prepared by floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition (FCCVD). Instron 3365 and the miniaturized split Hopkinson tensile bar (SHTB) were used for tensile tests at various strain rates. The results show that the tensile properties of PVA‐impregnated CNT film are significantly improved, and the strain rate effect is remarkable. The tensile properties are best when the mass fraction of PVA is 1.5%. At a low strain rate of 0.001 s−1, the maximum stress and energy absorption (EA) of CNT composites are 502.5 MPa and 63.6 MJ/m3, respectively. And at the high strain rate of 3100 s−1, the maximum stress and EA of CNT composites are 969.0 MPa and 166.4 MJ/m3, respectively. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the failure morphologies at tensile fracture of composites under different strain rates. At low strain rate, the failure mode is the pulling fracture of tube bundles and the crushing of polymers, while at high strain rate is the folding and spring back of tube bundles, as well as the debonding of polymers.
Fracture risk and opioid use in patients aged 17–64 years: An analysis of administrative claims data
Authors: Davis Jonathan , Casteel Carri , Brown Grant , Carnahan Ryan
Published: July 2023

Study Objective

The objective of this work is to describe the risk of fracture in adults aged 17 to 64 years across categories of daily opioid dose.

Design

A retrospective analysis of insurance claims data.

Data source

Information from a private health insurance provider for the years 2003–2014 for enrolled individuals living in Iowa.

Patients

Patients who were aged 17 to 64 years and prescribed an opioid were followed for the length of opioid treatment plus 30 days to determine whether a fracture occurred.

Measurements

Average daily morphine milligram equivalent (MME) was determined for patients who received a prescription for opioids. The outcome of interest was incident fracture following opioid treatment initiation. Cox proportional hazard models were used to compare the risk of fracture across categorical groups of average daily MME. Inverse probability weighting was used to control for patient‐level variables.

Main Results

In total, 316,024 individual patients were identified in the administrative claims data as having an opioid prescription from 2003 to 2014, and 3038 fractures occurred during follow‐up (9.6 fractures per 1000 opioid‐prescribed patients). Relative to the lowest quartile of prescribed opioid (⟨22 MME), patients in each higher prescribed level were more likely to experience a fracture (22–36 MME Hazard Ratio (HR) = 1.35, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.21–1.51; 37–50 MME HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.24–1.54; ⟩50 MME HR = 1.35, 95% CI: 1.20–1.52).

Conclusions

We observed an increased fracture risk in all three higher categories of opioid exposure relative to the lowest category (⟨22 MME). The risk of a fracture should be considered in opioid treatment decisions.
An active classroom intervention to improve physical activity, on‐task behavior, and academic achievement outcomes for students with disabilities
Authors: Aspiranti Kathleen B. , Michaliszyn Sara Fleet , Dula Mark E. , Tischner Clair , Fedewa Alicia L.
Published: July 2023

Many children with disabilities engage in less physical activity compared to their peers. This pilot‐feasibility study examines the effects of movement‐based desk and alternative seating on classroom physical activity, time on task, reading fluency, and reading comprehension scores in fourth/fifth and seventh/eighth‐grade children with disabilities. Using a cross‐over 8‐week design, action desks were included in fourth/fifth (N = 14) and seventh/eighth (N = 21) grade classrooms for students with disabilities. Levels of physical activity were measured using accelerometers; reading ability was assessed using AIMSweb Oral Reading Fluency and MAZE probes; time on task was measured using video recordings over 3 consecutive days. Data were collected at 0‐week, 4‐week, 8‐week, 12‐week, and 16‐week time points. A significant increase in metabolic equivalent was seen in fourth/fifth graders and a significant decline in time spent in sedentary activity were observed in both fourth/fifth and seventh/eighth graders. The fourth/fifth graders increased their time spent in moderate physical activity and time on task during the intervention whereas seventh/eighth graders improved oral reading fluency. How a physical activity‐based classroom may be an effective intervention in students with disabilities to improve levels of physical activity and improve academic learning is discussed.
Psychometric validity of the triarchic model of grit scale among high school students in Hong Kong
Authors: Datu Jesus Alfonso D. , Fong Ricci Wai Tsz , Buenconsejo Jet U. , Shek Cheuk Ying Cherry
Published: July 2023

Research has shown that the triarchic model of grit scale (TMGS)—a measure that assesses tendency to show perseverance, passion, and adaptability for long‐term goals—has been valid in different contexts such as the Philippines, Japan, Poland, mainland China, and the United States. However, there is limited research on the validity of this scale in Hong Kong. Against this backdrop, this research examined the structural, convergent, and criterion‐related of the TMGS among secondary school students in Hong Kong. A total of 298 secondary school students in Hong Kong participated in this study. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to evaluate the structural validity of the three‐factor model of grit. Correlational analysis was conducted between grit's dimensions and school satisfaction to assess the criterion‐related validity of this scale. CFA showed that the scores from the three‐factor model of grit underpinned by perseverance of effort, consistency of interests, and adaptability to situations were valid and reliable. There was mixed evidence on the convergent validity of the scale based on the subscales’ composite reliability (CR) estimates. Whereas perseverance of effort and adaptability to situations were positively correlated to school satisfaction, consistency of interests was negatively linked to the said criterion variable. This research demonstrates the potential applicability of the TMGS in Hong Kong.
Arabidopsis‐expressing lysine‐null SUMO1 reveals a non‐essential role for secondary SUMO modifications in plants
Authors: Rytz Thérèse C. , Feng Juanjuan , Barros Jessica A. S. , Vierstra Richard D.
Published: July 2023

The reversible conjugation of small ubiquitin‐like modifier (SUMO) to other proteins has pervasive roles in various aspects of plant development and stress defense through its selective attachment to numerous intracellular substrates. An intriguing aspect of SUMO is that it can be further modified by SUMOylation and ubiquitylation, which isopeptide‐link either or both polypeptides to internal lysines within previously bound SUMOs. Although detectable by mass spectrometry, the functions of these secondary modifications remain obscure. Here, we generated transgenic Arabidopsis that replaced the two related and essential SUMO isoforms (SUMO1 and SUMO2) with a lysine‐null SUMO1 variant (K0) immune to further SUMOylation/ubiquitylation at these residues. Remarkably, homozygous SUMO1(K0) sumo1 sumo2 plants developed normally, were not hypersensitive to heat stress, and have nearly unaltered SUMOylation profiles during heat shock. However, subtle changes in tolerance to salt, paraquat, and the DNA‐damaging agents bleomycin and methane methylsulfonate were evident, as were increased sensitivities to ABA and the gibberellic acid biosynthesis inhibitor paclobutrazol, suggesting roles for these secondary modifications in stress defense, DNA repair, and hormone signaling. We also generated viable sumo1 sumo2 lines expressing a SUMO1(K0) variant specifically designed to help isolate SUMO conjugates and map SUMOylation sites, thus offering a new tool for investigating SUMO in planta.
Understanding liver function tests: part 1
Authors: Parsons Graham
Published: July 2023

Liver function tests (LFTs) are useful blood tests to help identify liver disease, but their interpretation can be challenging. Part 1 in this two‐part series on understanding LFTs discusses who should be screened, the advantages and limitations of the main LFTs, and how LFTs should be interpreted.
Tirzepatide for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: July 2023

Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) is a dual GLP‐1/GIP receptor agonist for the treatment of type 2 diabetes in adults. This article discusses its administration, clinical trial efficacy and adverse effects.
Diagnosis and management of type 2 diabetes in children
Authors: Chaplin Steve
Published: July 2023

NICE has recently updated its guideline on the management of diabetes in children and young people (NG18), with new recommendations on monitoring and treating type 2 diabetes in young patients. This article summarises the main changes in the latest update.
Tropical tropospheric warming pattern explained by shifts in convective heating in the Matsuno–Gill model
Authors: Keil P. , Schmidt H. , Stevens B. , Byrne M. P. , Segura H. , Putrasahan D.
Published: July 2023

Horizontal temperature gradients in the tropical free troposphere are fairly weak, and tropical tropospheric warming is usually treated as uniform. However, we show here that projected tropospheric warming is spatially inhomogeneous in Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 models, as well as in a storm‐resolving climate model. We relate the upper tropospheric warming pattern to sea‐surface temperature changes that reorganise convection and thereby cause spatial shifts in convective heating. Using the classical Gill model for tropical circulation and forcing it with precipitation changes that arise due to greenhouse gas warming, we can understand and reproduce the different warming patterns simulated by a range of global climate models. Forcing the Gill model with precipitation changes from a certain region demonstrates how local tropospheric temperature changes depend on local changes in convective heating. Close to the Equator, anomalous geopotential gradients are balanced by the dissipation term in the Gill model. The optimal dissipation time‐scale to reproduce the warming pattern varies depending on the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 model, and is between 1 and 10 days. We demonstrate that horizontal advection and eddy momentum fluxes have large enough equivalent dissipation time‐scales to balance the gradients in geopotential and thereby shape the warming pattern. Though climate models show a large spread in projections of tropical sea‐surface temperature and precipitation changes, our results imply that, once these predictions improve, our confidence in the predicted upper tropospheric warming pattern should also increase.
Cell patterning on photocrosslinkable polymer films with micropatternable surfaces
Authors: Noguchi Takafumi , Higashino Misato , Kodama Neiro , Kawamura Akifumi , Miyata Takashi
Published: July 2023

The regulation of cell behavior is crucial for understanding many fundamental biological processes and designing novel medical devices. Nano/micropatterning has been developed as a means of controlling cellular properties and behaviors. Using cinnamoyl groups that have undergone photodimerization, we have prepared facile photopatterning films with adjustable surface properties for cell patterning via simple steps. Our strategy for controlling surface properties uses the decrease in free volume induced by photocrosslinking. This paper describes the surface‐patterning properties of photocrosslinkable polymer films and the cell adhesion to their micropatterned surfaces. Upon culturing cells on micropatterned surfaces, preferential cell adhesion, alignment and proliferation are observed in the unexposed regions. Additionally, diverse surface patterns of photocrosslinkable polymer films have been fabricated using various photomasks, enabling effective control of cell adhesion and alignment. The ability to regulate cellular behavior via microfabricated surfaces of photocrosslinkable polymer films enables a new and facile approach for designing scaffolds for the development of novel advanced materials, tissue engineering, and regenerative medicine.
Use of genomic prediction to screen sorghum B‐lines in hybrid testcrosses
Authors: Kent Mitchell A. , Fonseca Jales M. O. , Klein Patricia E. , Klein Robert R. , Hayes Chad M. , Rooney William L.
Published: July 2023

Use of trifluoromethanesulfonamide (TFMSA), a male gametocide, increases the opportunities to identify promising B‐lines because large quantities of F1 seed can be generated prior to the laborious task of B‐line sterilization. Combining TFMSA technology with genomic selection could efficiently evaluate sorghum B‐lines in hybrid combination to maximize the rates of genetic gain of the crop. This study used two recombinant inbred B‐line populations, consisting of 217 lines, which were testcrossed to two R‐lines to produce 434 hybrids. Each population of testcross hybrids were evaluated across five environments. Population‐based genomic prediction models were assessed across environments using three different cross‐validation (CV) schemes, each with 70% training and 30% validation sets. The validation schemes were as follows: CV1—hybrids chosen randomly for validation; CV2—B‐lines were randomly chosen, and each chosen B‐line had one of the two corresponding testcross hybrids randomly chosen for the validation; and CV3—B‐lines were randomly chosen, and each chosen B‐line had both corresponding testcross hybrids chosen for the validation. CV1 and CV2 presented the highest prediction accuracies; nonetheless, the prediction accuracies of the CV schemes were not statistically different in many environments. We determined that combining the B‐line populations could improve prediction accuracies, and the genomic prediction models were able to effectively rank the poorest 70% of hybrids even when genomic prediction accuracies themselves were low. Results indicate that combining genomic prediction models and TFMSA technology can effectively aid breeders in predicting B‐line hybrid performance in early generations prior to the laborious task of generating A/B‐line pairs.
24‐Hour postnatal total serum protein concentration affects the health and growth performance of female Holstein dairy calves
Authors: Aghakhani Mitra , Shahraki Amir Davar Foroozandeh , Tabatabaei Seyed Nouroldin , Toghyani Majid , Moosavi‐Zadeh Erfaneh , Rafiee Hassan
Published: July 2023

Background

Total serum protein (TSP) within the first few days of life in the neonatal calf has predictive value for subsequent growth and production in calves before and after weaning.

Introduction

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of TSP concentration 24‐h after birth (24‐h) on the performance and health of Holstein dairy calves.

Methods

A total of 152 female calves were enrolled in this study. Blood samples were collected at 24‐h, and TSP concentration was measured with a refractometer. Calves based on TSP concentration at 24‐h were allocated into three groups: 1 – TSP ≤6.5 g/dL, 2 – TSP between 6.6 and 6.9 g/dL and 3 – TSP ≥7 g/dL. The weighing was done at birth and at days 30 and 60. Starter feed intake was recorded from day 3 to weaning, and body structures were measured at birth and weaning day.

Results

Calves with TSP >6.5 g/dL had greater body weight at days 30 and 60 than calves with TSP ≤6.5 g/dL. Average daily gain during 1–30 and 1–60 days of life increased as TSP increased. Furthermore, starter feed intake during the first 60 days of life was greater in calves with TSP ≥7 g/dL than calves with TSP <7 g/dL. The TSP concentration influenced structural growth, and >6.5 g/dL calves had greater heart girth, hip width and body length than ≤6.5 g/dL calves. Moreover, odds ratio for pneumonia decreased as TSP increased, whereas diarrhoea was unaffected.

Conclusion

The TSP at 24‐h is an important contributing factor for the variation in growth performance and health of preweaning calves, and strategies to improve calf immunity and increase TSP lead to better animal health during preweaning period.

Implications

These results indicated that TSP ≥6.5 g/dL possibly was associated with greater performance, and this concentration could be considered a baseline for future analyses.
Bioactive glass in the treatment of an infrabony defect in a dog
Authors: Bilgic Ozgur
Published: July 2023

This article describes a graft‐only approach to regenerate periodontal structures in a vertical infrabony defect around the mesial root of the mandibular second molar tooth of a dog. Bioactive glass material was used to fill this defect without coverage of a membrane. The grafted area was examined using periodontal probing and an intraoral radiograph 6 months after the procedure. Probing depth around the affected root had decreased to normal levels, and the intraoral radiograph of the affected area revealed new bone growth. Bioactive glass without a membrane appeared to be sufficient for alveolar bone regeneration in this canine patient.
Agenesis of both uterine horns in a rabbit
Authors: Murciano Glenda , Macolino Eleonora , Brunetti Leonardo , Lopez Giovanni
Published: July 2023

During a routine ovariohysterectomy in a 10‐month‐old female rabbit, the absence of both uterine horns and cervix was noted. Right and left ovaries were present in abdomen, and they were in communication with the vestigial uterine tubes. The histopathological examination confirmed the suspicion of uterine abnormality and agenesis of both uterine horns. Considering that the urinary and genital systems develop from the same embryonic layer, alterations often involve both systems. It would be advisable to report any anatomical abnormality affecting those systems, in order to understand real incidence of those problems and evaluate the impact on patients’ quality of life.
Implementing and Using Essential Statistical Process Control
Authors: Witczak Marcin , Seybold Lothar , Bulach Eric , Maucher Niko
Published: July 2023

The objective of this chapter is to introduce the concepts of calculated Datapoints and key performance indicators, which form the basis of statistical process control. In particular, both operate on Datapoints, but process them in a different way. Indeed, the former transform the incoming data in a static way, i.e., without taking into account its historical values. Contrarily, the latter process the data within a specified period and form the basis for further statistical analysis, e.g., pertaining to location and variability. Having such tools, a set of widget charts is introduced, which enable data visualization and analysis. Subsequently, practical examples concerning the development of statistical control charts are presented. The chapter is concluded with a set of training exercises, which validate the introduced knowledge.
CoqCryptoLine: A Verified Model Checker with Certified Results
Authors: Tsai Ming-Hsien , Fu Yu-Fu , Liu Jiaxiang , Shi Xiaomu , Wang Bow-Yaw , Yang Bo-Yin
Published: July 2023

We present the verified model checker CoqCryptoLine for cryptographic programs with certified verification results. The CoqCryptoLine verification algorithm consists of two reductions. The algebraic reduction transforms into a root entailment problem; and the bit-vector reduction transforms into an SMTQF_BV problem. We specify and verify both reductions formally using Coq with MathComp. The CoqCryptoLine tool is built on the OCaml programs extracted from verified reductions. CoqCryptoLine moreover employs certified techniques for solving the algebraic and logic problems. We evaluate CoqCryptoLine on cryptographic programs from industrial security libraries.
Model Checking Race-Freedom When “Sequential Consistency for Data-Race-Free Programs” is Guaranteed
Authors: Wu Wenhao , Hückelheim Jan , Hovland Paul D. , Luo Ziqing , Siegel Stephen F.
Published: July 2023

Many parallel programming models guarantee that if all sequentially consistent (SC) executions of a program are free of data races, then all executions of the program will appear to be sequentially consistent. This greatly simplifies reasoning about the program, but leaves open the question of how to verify that all SC executions are race-free. In this paper, we show that with a few simple modifications, model checking can be an effective tool for verifying race-freedom. We explore this technique on a suite of C programs parallelized with OpenMP.
QEBVerif: Quantization Error Bound Verification of Neural Networks
Authors: Zhang Yedi , Song Fu , Sun Jun
Published: July 2023

To alleviate the practical constraints for deploying deep neural networks (DNNs) on edge devices, quantization is widely regarded as one promising technique. It reduces the resource requirements for computational power and storage space by quantizing the weights and/or activation tensors of a DNN into lower bit-width fixed-point numbers, resulting in quantized neural networks (QNNs). While it has been empirically shown to introduce minor accuracy loss, critical verified properties of a DNN might become invalid once quantized. Existing verification methods focus on either individual neural networks (DNNs or QNNs) or quantization error bound for partial quantization. In this work, we propose a quantization error bound verification method, named , where both weights and activation tensors are quantized. consists of two parts, i.e., a differential reachability analysis (DRA) and a mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) based verification method. DRA performs difference analysis between the DNN and its quantized counterpart layer-by-layer to compute a tight quantization error interval efficiently. If DRA fails to prove the error bound, then we encode the verification problem into an equivalent MILP problem which can be solved by off-the-shelf solvers. Thus, is sound, complete, and reasonably efficient. We implement and conduct extensive experiments, showing its effectiveness and efficiency.
Verifying Generalization in Deep Learning
Authors: Amir Guy , Maayan Osher , Zelazny Tom , Katz Guy , Schapira Michael
Published: July 2023

Deep neural networks (DNNs) are the workhorses of deep learning, which constitutes the state of the art in numerous application domains. However, DNN-based decision rules are notoriously prone to poorgeneralization, i.e., may prove inadequate on inputs not encountered during training. This limitation poses a significant obstacle to employing deep learning for mission-critical tasks, and also in real-world environments that exhibit high variability. We propose a novel, verification-driven methodology for identifying DNN-based decision rules that generalize well to new input domains. Our approach quantifies generalization to an input domain by the extent to which decisions reached byindependently trainedDNNs are in agreement for inputs in this domain. We show how, by harnessing the power of DNN verification, our approach can be efficiently and effectively realized. We evaluate our verification-based approach on three deep reinforcement learning (DRL) benchmarks, including a system for Internet congestion control. Our results establish the usefulness of our approach. More broadly, our work puts forth a novel objective for formal verification, with the potential for mitigating the risks associated with deploying DNN-based systems in the wild.
Fast Approximations of Quantifier Elimination
Authors: Garcia-Contreras Isabel , Govind V. K. Hari , Shoham Sharon , Gurfinkel Arie
Published: July 2023

Quantifier elimination (qelim) is used in many automated reasoning tasks including program synthesis, exist-forall solving, quantified SMT, Model Checking, and solving Constrained Horn Clauses (CHCs). Exact qelim is computationally expensive. Hence, it is often approximated. For example, Z3 uses “light” pre-processing to reduce the number of quantified variables. CHC-solver Spacer uses model-based projection (MBP) to under-approximate qelim relative to a given model, and over-approximations of qelim can be used as abstractions.

In this paper, we present the QEL framework for fast approximations of qelim. QEL provides a uniform interface for both quantifier reduction and model-based projection. QEL builds on the egraph data structure – the core of the EUF decision procedure in SMT – by casting quantifier reduction as a problem of choosing ground (i.e., variable-free) representatives for equivalence classes. We have used QEL to implement MBP for the theories of Arrays and Algebraic Data Types (ADTs). We integrated QEL and our new MBP in Z3 and evaluated it within several tasks that rely on quantifier approximations, outperforming state-of-the-art.
Partial Quantifier Elimination and Property Generation
Authors: Goldberg Eugene
Published: July 2023

We study partial quantifier elimination (PQE) for propositional CNF formulas with existential quantifiers. PQE is a generalization of quantifier elimination where one can limit the set of clauses taken out of the scope of quantifiers to a small subset of clauses. The appeal of PQE is that many verification problems (e.g., equivalence checking and model checking) can be solved in terms of PQE and the latter can be dramatically simpler than full quantifier elimination. We show that PQE can be used for property generation that one can view as a generalization of testing. The objective here is to produce anunwantedproperty of a design implementation, thus exposing a bug. We introduce two PQE solvers called$$ EG \text {-} PQE $$and$$ EG \text {-} PQE ^+$$.$$ EG \text {-} PQE $$is a very simple SAT-based algorithm.$$ EG \text {-} PQE ^+$$is more sophisticated and robust than$$ EG \text {-} PQE $$. We use these PQE solvers to find an unwanted property (namely, an unwanted invariant) of a buggy FIFO buffer. We also apply them to invariant generation for sequential circuits from a HWMCC benchmark set. Finally, we use these solvers to generate properties of a combinational circuit that mimic symbolic simulation.
Satisfiability Modulo Finite Fields
Authors: Ozdemir Alex , Kremer Gereon , Tinelli Cesare , Barrett Clark
Published: July 2023

We study satisfiability modulo the theory of finite fields and give a decision procedure for this theory. We implement our procedure for prime fields inside the cvc5 SMT solver. Using this theory, we construct SMT queries that encode translation validation for various zero knowledge proof compilers applied to Boolean computations. We evaluate our procedure on these benchmarks. Our experiments show that our implementation is superior to previous approaches (which encode field arithmetic using integers or bit-vectors).
Common Values of Padovan and Perrin Sequences
Authors: Bravo Eric Fernando
Published: July 2023

The integer sequence defined by$$P_{n+3}=P_{n+1}+P_{n}$$Pn+3=Pn+1+Pnwith initial conditions$$P_{0}=P_{1}=P_{2}=1$$P0=P1=P2=1is known as the Padovan sequence$$(P_{n})_{n\in \mathbb {Z}}$$(Pn)n∈Z. The Perrin sequence$$(R_{m})_{m\in \mathbb {Z}}$$(Rm)m∈Zsatisfies the same recurrence equation as the Padovan sequence but with starting values$$R_{0}=3$$R0=3,$$R_{1}=0$$R1=0, and$$R_{2}=2$$R2=2. In this note, we solve the Diophantine equation$$P_{n}=\pm R_{m}$$Pn=±Rmwith$$(n,m)\in \mathbb {Z}^{2}$$(n,m)∈Z2.