bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Drugs and gut microbiome interactions—an emerging field of tailored medicine
Authors: Khan Imran
Published: August 2023

Gut dwelling microbes provide profound biochemical advantages to the host, including nutrient and drug absorption, metabolism, and excretion. It is an emerging understanding that drug-response bias (particularly for orally intake medicine) is related to variation in the microbial composition in the gut. This Editorial at BMC Pharmacology and Toxicology introduces our collection which is discussing the role of gut microbes in modulating drugs’ efficacy and bioavailability.
The potential GHGs reduction of co-processing aviation biofuel in life cycle
Authors: Liu Ziyu , Yang Xiaoyi
Published: August 2023

The challenge of drop-in jet biofuel should couple the reduction of GHGs emission in whole life cycle with economic competitiveness and achieving performance without reducing performance of engine and aircraft. Co-processing was recognized a promising solution due to availability of existing refining infrastructure and facilities. Based on the LCA approach, the quantitative LCA assessment model (AF-3E) has been established for discovering potential GHGs reduction by co-processing. Typical representatives of oily feedstock, including used cooking oil, soybean, rapeseed, peanut, corn oil, Xanthoceras sorbifolia, jatropha and algae, were compared co-processing with HEFA-SPK blend on GHGs and energy consumption in the whole life. Computational framework is integrated into 3 sub-models and 4 modules, which include feedstocks model, fuel model, flight model and electricity module, hydrogen module, methanol module, hexane module. In flight model, the emissions were investigated at LTO condition and cruise condition and transfer to six types of typical aircraft widely used by similarity criterion. Co-processing achieve less energy consumption and GHGs emission than HEFA-SPK blend, which is attributed to less energy consumption in fuel stage. Used cooking oil conducts 8.17% GHGs reduction in 5% bio-feedstock co-processing and 6.39% in 5% HEFA-SPK jet biofuel blend compared with petroleum-based jet fuel. By sensitivity analysis, the vital factors on GHGs have been extracted in whole life cycle. The purpose of this paper is to discover the advantages and vital factors of co-processing. The results would enhance the interests in both LCA and co-processing for sustainable aviation biofuel.

Graphical Abstract
High excess-free-fructose beverage consumption is not associated with prevalent allergy in US adults: a population-based analysis of NHANES 2005–2006
Authors: Yu Ruili , Cai Lili , Yang Bo
Published: August 2023

Background

A strong association exists between high-excess free fructose (EFF) beverage consumption and prevalent allergy in children and adolescents; however, whether this association exists in the adult population is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the relationship between high-EFF beverage intake and prevalent allergy.

Methods

This cross-sectional study extracted data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2006. Adults aged ≥ 20 were eligible for inclusion, excluding those without complete information on beverage intake, allergic symptom survey, and allergen-specific immunoglobulin E test results. A total of 2077 adults were included. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses determined the associations between high-EFF beverage consumption, prevalent allergic symptoms, and allergic sensitization.

Results

After adjusting for confounders, there were no significant associations between high intake (vs. low) of sum of high-EFF beverage (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 1.10, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77, 1.57), apple juice (aOR = 0.95, 95% 0.55, 1.65), fruit drinks (aOR = 0.95, 95%CI 0.70, 1.29), soft drinks (aOR = 1.17, 95%CI 0.89, 1.55) and presence of allergic sensitization, or allergic symptoms. Stratified analyses also revealed no associations between high intake of high-EFF beverage in sum, presence of allergic symptoms or sensitization among individuals aged 20–39y, 40–59y, and ≥ 60y.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate no independent association between frequent intake of high-EFF beverage and increased likelihood of allergy in US adults.
Scale anomaly in a Lorentz and CPT-violating quantum electrodynamics
Authors: Porto J. S. , Vieira A. R.
Published: August 2023

We compute the classical and the quantum breaking of the dilatation current in the minimal Lorentz and CPT-violating quantum electrodynamics. At the classical level, scale symmetry is broken by the general mass term

and the Chern-Simons–like term. At the quantum level, it is broken by all expected observable fermion operators in the massless limit.
Impact of varied friendships and influence weights on opinion dynamics
Authors: Li Dandan , Qian Wenqi , Sun Xiaoxiao , Han Dun
Published: August 2023

Opinions, representing individual thoughts and attitudes, are ubiquitous in societal interactions. The present study investigates the influence of diverse friendships and varying degrees of interpersonal impact on opinion dynamics. Considering that the nature of interactions among friends is contingent upon their level of intimacy, we categorize friendships into three distinct classifications: fixed friend relations (strong links), non-fixed unidirectional friend relations, and non-fixed bidirectional friend relations (both denoting weak links). Employing numerical simulations on both synthetic and real-world networks, our results indicate that individuals exhibiting higher forgetting rates, diminished social interaction intensities, and reduced influence strengths are more inclined to establish cohesive opinions. Inversely, attaining consensus within an actual social network necessitates augmented forgetting rates, curtailed social interaction intensities, and decreased inter-individual influence.
When is the average number of saddle points typical?
Authors: Kent-Dobias Jaron
Published: August 2023

A common measure of a function's complexity is the count of its stationary points. For complicated functions, this count grows exponentially with the volume and dimension of their domain. In practice, the count is averaged over a class of functions (the annealed average), but the large numbers involved can produce averages biased by extremely rare samples. Typical counts are reliably found by taking the average of the logarithm (the quenched average), which is more difficult and not often done in practice. When most stationary points are uncorrelated with each other, quenched and annealed averages are equal. Equilibrium heuristics can guarantee when most of the lowest minima will be uncorrelated. We show that these equilibrium heuristics cannot be used to draw conclusions about other minima and saddles by producing examples among Gaussian-correlated functions on the hypersphere where the count of certain saddles and minima has different quenched and annealed averages, despite being guaranteed “safe” in the equilibrium setting. We determine conditions for the emergence of non-trivial correlations between saddles, and discuss the implications for the geometry of those functions and what out-of-equilibrium settings might be affected.
Approach to the Patient: Reninoma
Authors: Hayes Annabelle G , Stowasser Michael , Umapathysivam Mahesh M , Falhammar Henrik , Torpy David J
Published: August 2023

A reninoma is a functional tumor of afferent arteriolar juxtaglomerular cells that secretes the enzyme renin, leading to hyperactivation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Reninoma is a potentially curable cause of pathological secondary hyperaldosteronism that results in often severe hypertension and hypokalemia. The lack of suppression of plasma renin contrasts sharply with the much more common primary aldosteronism, but diagnosis is often prompted by screening for that condition. The major differential diagnosis of reninoma is renovascular hypertension. Fewer than 200 cases of reninoma have been described. Reninomas have been reported across a broad demographic but have a 2:1 predilection for women, often of childbearing age. Aldosterone receptor blockade, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, or angiotensin receptor blockers offer effective medical management but are contraindicated in pregnancy, so surgical curative resection is ideal. The current optimal imaging and biochemical workup of reninoma and management approach (ideally, tumor excision with subtotal renal resection) are described.
A digital twin-based green construction management method for prefabricated buildings
Authors: Liu Zhansheng , Zhu Zhufu , Sun Zhe , Li Anxiu , Ni Shuxin
Published: August 2023

Background: Site pollution in construction can be reduced by using high levels of prefabrication and industrialization. However, the lack of green concepts and methods during the prefabrication assembly process hinders its environmental benefits. Digital twin technology can monitor sites in real-time and provide data visualization for decision support, which has been used in construction management and risk control.

Methods: We propose a six-dimensional digital twin framework that includes physical and virtual spaces, project management and service layers, twin data, and component connections. The framework integrates green factors of prefabricated construction into a model evolution framework and mechanism that enables real-time green services throughout the process.

Results:  The proposed framework, modeling method, and evolution method were tested in prefabrication projects in Tianjin. By applying these methods, inadequate management measures were promptly identified and strengthened. Energy consumption and pollution were reduced by comparing with the plan before construction. In addition, the model evolution method optimized green management measures and improved the level of green construction management on site.

Conclusions: The application results demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed framework, the model building method, and the evolution method in improving the green level of prefabricated construction.
The genome sequence of the European plaice, Pleuronectes platessa (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Brittain Rachel , Brenen Mitchell , McTierney Sean , Adkins Patrick , Mrowicki Robert , Harley Joanna ,   Marine Biological Association Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: August 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual Pleuronectes platessa (the European plaice; Chordata; Actinopteri; Pleuronectiformes; Pleuronectidae). The genome sequence is 687.4 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 24 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 17.4 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of the Arctic Skipper, Carterocephalus palaemon (Pallas, 1771)
Authors: Lohse Konrad , Ebdon Sam , Mackintosh Alex , Martin Simon , Saccheri Ilik J , Bourn Nigel A D , Vila Roger ,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: August 2023

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Carterocephalus palaemon (the Arctic Skipper; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Hesperiidae). The genome sequence is 394.5 megabases in span. The whole assembly is scaffolded into 31 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.78 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 17,032 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of soft rush, Juncus effusus (L.) Huds. (Juncaceae)
Authors: Christenhusz Maarten J. M. , Leitch Ilia J. ,   Royal Botanic Gardens Kew Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Plant Genome Sizing collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: August 2023

We present a genome assembly from a Juncus effusus (soft rush; Tracheophyta; Magnoliopsida; Poales; Juncaceae). The genome sequence is 242.9 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 21 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome is 519.0 kilobases long, while the plastid genome is 175.1 kilobases long.
The effect of scapular stabilisation exercises on posture and pain in patients with fibromyalgia: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Polat Hakan , Bayramlar Kezban , Turhan Begümhan
Published: August 2023

Background/Aims

Fibromyalgia is a complex syndrome characterised by chronic widespread pain, postural problems, sleep disorders, fatigue and psychiatric disorders. This study investigated the effect of scapular stabilisation exercises on cervical posture and pain in patients with fibromyalgia.

Methods

The study included 59 patients between the ages of 18–60 years. Individuals were divided into two groups: the study group (n=29) and control group (n=30). Both groups underwent hot pack application, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation and ultrasonography before the exercises. This application continued for a total of 6 weeks in both groups, 5 days a week. After this treatment, the control group was asked to perform conventional shoulder exercises and the scapular stabilisation group was asked to perform scapular stabilisation exercises. The patients were evaluated in terms of pain and cervical posture.

Results

Pain levels significantly decreased in both groups after the treatment (P=0.019). A decrease in tragus-to-wall distance occurred in the conventional exercise group (P=0.005). Scapular stabilisation exercises were found to be more effective than conventional exercises In terms of pain (P<0.001) and cervical posture, (P=0.024).

Conclusions

Both exercise programmes reduced pain levels in patients with fibromyalgia. However, scapular stabilisation exercises were more effective at both reducing pain and improving posture. Physiotherapists can use scapular stabilisation exercises to patients with fibromyalgia to reduce pain, improve posture and reduce the load on the joints.
Artificial Neural Network-Based Voltage Stability Online Monitoring Approach for Distributed Generation Integrated Distribution System
Authors: Sundarajoo Sharman , Soomro Dur Muhammad
Published: August 2023

Due to the growth of electric power demand and the intricacy of modern distribution system structure, the voltage stability issue is evolving as a critical problem in distribution grids. Therefore, it is imperative to investigate the corrective measures. In this paper, artificial neural network (ANN) based voltage stability online monitoring approach for distribution systems with distribution generators (DGs) is proposed. The proposed technique employs a local voltage stability index known as the stability index (SI) to identify the weak bus information, which is more effective compared to the conventional load margin techniques. Furthermore, the nonlinear relationship of the distribution grid control status and the resultant SI is mapped using ANN. From the installed distribution-level phasor measurement units (PMUs), the state parameters of buses can be obtained, and the resultant values of SI can be estimated. This approach can significantly enhance the computational speed of SI and evaluate the voltage stability measurement of distribution network in real-time, which assist the operator of the network in order to determine the operational condition and execute actions quickly. The proposed approach is applied on the modified IEEE 33 and IEEE 69-bus system with DGs. It is found that the computation time needed for assessment of voltage stability by CPF method is 16.2500 s and 21.8872 s whilst the computation time needed for the proposed method for the same assessment is 0.0677 s and 0.0749 s respectively for modified IEEE 33 and IEEE 69-bus system. This demonstrates that the proposed method has high accuracy and efficacy.
Defensive Optimism: Parental Aspirations and the Prospect of State-Enforced Child Removal in Britain
Authors: Davey Ryan
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT: In 2010s Britain, expectations for parents living on low incomes to pursue aspirations for their children's upward social mobility converged with a concentration of forcible child protection interventions in so-called "deprived" neighborhoods. This article explores the subjectivities of parents, mainly women, living on one such housing estate [housing project] in England by critically engaging Berlant's theories of optimism and intimacy. The overtly aspirational practices by which parents there sought better lives for their children are inseparable from those parents' attempts to dispel their fears of their children being removed. While the immediate prospect of child removal provoked one woman to forego an express will to retain custody, the remoter possibility of the same event incited others to comply with parental norms to which they did not subscribe or to reaffirm their existing parental aspirations ever more vocally. Conceptually the article argues that optimism can sometimes be defensive rather than aspirational, especially in the face of lawful expropriations, and that these two forms of optimism—aspirational and defensive—may interact with and reinforce one another. The article extends Berlant's analysis by showing the involvement of coercive legal force in the processes by which people cling onto hopes that wear them down. When faced with the possible expropriation of the object of an intimate attachment, people's attempts to hold onto that object may also involve reasserting the aspirations which the attachment makes possible. This suggests that research into optimism, aspirations and ethical self-formation has much to gain from careful attention to people's mundane expectations of violence and loss.
Caring for the Ordinary in Palestine: When Ongoing Occupation Becomes Maddening
Authors: Segal Lotte Buch
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT: This article offers a reading of contemporary life in Palestine that interrogates the braiding of hope and despair through an examination of expressions of optimism and madness in Palestinian everyday life. Whereas I neither aim to define what madness nor optimism could be taken to mean, I examine vernacular notions of how, when, and why the notion of madness is used in ordinary language, anchored in ethnographic fieldwork in occupied Palestine as well as conversations with Palestinian interlocutors over the last sixteen years. The aim being to explore the experiential and linguistic abyss between a collective feeling of Israel's occupation as a maddening force and, on the other hand, the accompanying call on part of the Palestinians to act as if it was not, the will to endure and resist being unwavering. Ultimately, I pursue the argument that the chasm between these two different pressures causes a feeling of skepticism due to the braided struggle of finding a language that can both acknowledge the occurrence of mental disorder as a consequence of the military occupation simultaneously as Palestinians carve out a space to sustain an ordinary in the wake of maddening oppression. Concludingly, I argue that gender is at the heart of how we might understand, even locate the refusal to end in Palestine—the maddening consequences intrinsic to such a refusal being the locus of my inquiry.
Affects After Finitude
Authors: Povinelli Elizabeth
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACT: This essay approaches current anxieties about climate catastrophe by differentiating between a philosophy of the end and a social theory of settler late liberalism that is situated after the end. In order to suggest such a social theory, I begin with two examples of moods and dispositions cultivated in my birth family and among my Karrabing colleagues. Instead of what moods should be fostered at the end—optimism, hope, panic, anxiety, despair—I ask what moods and dispositions have been cultivated in spaces long living after the end? I outline some resonances and differences between these two worlds, both of which sat within a cascade of violent endings, in order to turn to the question of whether optimism should characterize our approach at the end—or to the end? Across my discussion I differentiate between affects and moods on the one hand and dispositions and dispositifs on other hand. I conclude by asking why affects and dispositions become the question in the shadow of the end. As s social thought and commentary piece, I am taking liberties in terms of the depth with which I'll pursue all and any of this—instead I hope merely to open up some new directions.
The Missing Recognition: How Ireland And Switzerland Established Diplomatic Relations
Authors: Hirschi Jonas
Published: August 2023

Ireland carried out a clandestine diplomacy from 1917 onwards, pursuing international recognition, which made Switzerland, with its central location in Europe and later as the seat of the League of Nations, one of the main targets. But it was not until the Anglo-Irish Treaty of 1921 that a de facto recognition by Switzerland followed, although the Swiss government never officially recognised Ireland. Until the establishment of diplomatic missions in 1939/40, diplomatic relations were handled by the Irish representation to the League of Nations and the Swiss consulate general in Dublin as quasi-diplomatic missions.
Dynamic light scattering microscopy sensing mitochondria dynamics for label-free detection of triple-negative breast cancer enhanced by deep learning
Authors: Lin Meiai , Liu Ting , Zheng Yixiong , Ma Xiangyuan
Published: August 2023

We established a deep learning-based dynamic light scattering (DLS) microscopy sensing mitochondria dynamic for label-free identification of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells. The capacity of DLS microscopy to detect the intracellular motility of subcellular scatters was verified with the analysis of the autocorrelation function. We also conducted an in-depth examination of the impact of mitochondrial dynamics on DLS within TNBC cells, employing confocal fluorescent imaging to visualize the morphology of the mitochondria. Furthermore, we applied the DLS microscopy incorporating the two-stream deep learning method to differentiate the TNBC subtype and HER2 positive breast cancer subtype, with the classification accuracy achieving 0.89.
High-field THz source centered at 2.6 THz
Authors: Cui Wei , Yalavarthi Eeswar Kumar , Radhan Aswin Vishnu , Bashirpour Mohammad , Gamouras Angela , Ménard Jean-Michel
Published: August 2023

We demonstrate a table-top high-field terahertz (THz) source based on optical rectification of a collimated near-infrared pulse in gallium phosphide (GaP) to produce peak fields above 300 kV/cm with a spectrum centered at 2.6 THz. The experimental configuration, based on tilted-pulse-front phase matching, is implemented with a phase grating etched directly onto the front surface of the GaP crystal. Although the THz generation efficiency starts showing a saturation onset as the near-infrared pulse energy reaches 0.57 mJ, we can expect our configuration to yield THz peak fields up to 866 kV/cm when a 5 mJ generation NIR pulse is used. This work paves the way towards broadband, high-field THz sources able to access a new class of THz coherent control and nonlinear phenomena driven at frequencies above 2 THz.
Exploring angular-steering illumination-based eyebox expansion for holographic displays
Authors: Xia Xinxing , Wang Weisen , Guan Frank , Yang Furong , Shui Xinghua , Zheng Huadong , Yu Yingjie , Peng Yifan
Published: August 2023

Holography represents an enabling technology for next-generation virtual and augmented reality systems. However, it remains challenging to achieve both wide field of view and large eyebox at the same time for holographic near-eye displays, mainly due to the essential étendue limitation of existing hardware. In this work, we present an approach to expanding the eyebox for holographic displays without compromising their underlying field of view. This is achieved by utilizing a compact 2D steering mirror to deliver angular-steering illumination beams onto the spatial light modulator in alignment with the viewer’s eye movements. To facilitate the same image for the virtual objects perceived by the viewer when the eye moves, we explore an off-axis computational hologram generation scheme. Two bench-top holographic near-eye display prototypes with the proposed angular-steering scheme are developed, and they successfully showcase an expanded eyebox up to 8 mm × 8 mm for both VR- and AR-modes, as well as the capability of representing multi-depth holographic images.
Compact effective surface plasmon polariton transmission line with undiminished bandwidth and enhanced field confinement
Authors: Zhang Anqi , Han Donglin , Yi Yang , Liu Leilei
Published: August 2023

In this work, we propose a compact effective surface plasmon polariton (CESPP) transmission line (TL) based on a structural dispersion-induced surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) mode, which can enhance confinement while ensuring that the working bandwidth is not reduced. The dispersion relation of the CESPPs proposed in this article indicates that the shallower the groove, the stronger the confinement. Furthermore, the CESPPs may facilitate longitudinal miniaturization, since the configuration of the unit cell is simple. The coupling effect between two CESPP TLs has been well studied, revealing that excellent cross talk suppression can be achieved. The measurement results exhibit strong agreement with full-wave simulations, suggesting that the proposed CESPP TL holds significant potential for valuable applications in modern high-speed circuits.
COVID-19 preventive social-behavioural practices and exposure to SARS-CoV-2 among residents in the city of Yaounde: Lessons from the early phase of the pandemic in Cameroon
Authors: Fokam Joseph , Nka Alex Durand , Efakika Gabisa Jeremiah , Nwosu Kene , Wanda Franck , Mama Lucien , Ka’e Aude Christelle , Bouba Yagai , Ngoufack Jagni Semengue Ezechiel , Tommo Tchouaket Michel Carlos , Takou Désiré , Kengni Ngueko Aurelie minelle , Pabo Willy , Sosso Samuel Martin , Keiser Olivia , Perno Carlo-Federico , Colizzi Vittorio , Ekane Edie-Gregory Halle , Otshudiema Otokoye John , Ndjolo Alexis , Ciaffi Laura
Published: August 2023

Non-pharmaceutical interventions remain key in mitigating the spread of SARS-CoV-2. We sought to assess COVID-19 preventive, social-behavioural practices, and SARS-CoV-2 exposure through IgG rapid tests. This was a cross-sectional survey among 971 respondents residing in 180 households within the “Cite Verte” health district of Yaounde-Cameroon, from October-November 2020. Using a structured questionnaire, data on SARS-CoV-2 preventive and social behavioural practices were collected, while exposure to SARS-CoV-2 was determined by IgG profiling. p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Overall, 971 participants were enrolled, among whom 56.5% were females. The age group 15–29 (33.5%) and those with a secondary level of education (44.7%) were most represented. Regarding preventive/social behavioural practices, the least respected measure was "stopped work", 49.1%, while the most respected was "Respect of hygiene rules", 93.8%. Women obeyed preventive measures more than men, with 87.6% vs 81.0% adhering to the lockdown, (p = 0.005) and 95.5% vs 91.7% to hygiene rules (p = 0.017). The age range 45–64 years was the least adherent to the lockdown rule, with 75.2% (38/153), p<0.0001. Only 24.7% (73/295) and 6.1% (59/295) of the symptomatic individuals reported having sought medical consultation and Covid-19 testing respectively. In addition, up to 69.8% (555/795) felt healthcare facilities were high-risk sites for getting infected, p = 0.002. Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 by IgG positivity was 31.1% (302/971), with men recording a higher proportion of viral exposure, 51.0% (154/302), p = 0.021. After adjusting for gender, age, education, and occupation; salaried worker (p = 0.029; OR: 0.29), and trading (p = 0.001; OR: 0.23) least complied with lockdown rule. In this community of Cameroonian residents highly exposed to COVID-19, many perceived healthcare facilities as high-risk zones for SARS-CoV-2 infection and consequently did not seek medical interventions. Thus, in the context of such a pandemic, advocacy on risk communication and community engagement for health-seeking attitudes should preferentially target men and those afraid of pandemics.
Pathogenic Rickettsia, Anaplasma, and Ehrlichia in Rhipicephalus microplus ticks collected from cattle and laboratory hatched tick larvae
Authors: Xu Jiao , Gu Xiao-Lan , Jiang Ze-Zheng , Cao Xiao-Qian , Wang Rui , Peng Qiu-Ming , Li Ze-Min , Zhang Li , Zhou Chuan-Min , Qin Xiang-Rong , Yu Xue-Jie
Published: August 2023

Background

The order Rickettsiales contains a group of vector-borne gram-negative obligate intracellular bacteria, which often cause human emerging infectious diseases and economic losses for dairy and meat industries. The purpose of this study is to investigate the distribution of the pathogens including Rickettsia spp., Anaplasma spp., and Ehrlichia spp. in the order Rickettsiales in ticks from Yueyang, a prefecture-level city of Hunan Province in Sothern China, and assess the potentiality of transovarial transmission of these rickettsial organisms.

Methods

Ticks were collected from cattle in a farm in Yueyang City and the tick DNA was used as template to amplify the htrA, rrs, gltA, ompA and ompB genes of Rickettsia as well as rrs and groEL genes of Anaplasma and Ehrlichia.

Results

All ticks (465) collected were the cattle tick, Rhipicephalus microplus. PCR showed the minimum infection rate (MIR) was 1.5% (7/465) for Candidatus Rickettsia xinyangensis, 1.9% (9/465) for C. Anaplasma boleense, 1.3% (6/465) for Anaplasma platys, 0.6% (3/465) for A. marginale, and 1.17% (2/465) for each of A. bovis, Ehrlichia minasensis, and a non-classified Ehrlichia sp. A human pathogen, C. Rickettsia xinyangensis and A. platys were detected in 100% (3/3) and 33.3% (2/6) laboratory-hatched larval pools from infected females respectively.

Conclusion

Our study revealed a diversity of pathogenic rickettsial species in R. microplus ticks from Hunan Province suggesting a threat to people and animals in China. This study also provided the first molecular evidence for the potential transovarial transmission of C. Rickettsia xinyangensis and A. platys in R. microplus, indicating that R. microplus may act as the host of these two pathogens.
Effects of flow regimes on the interaction between granular flow and flexible barrier
Authors: Xiao Siyou , Xu Xingqian , Wang Haijun , Li Dianxin , Wei Zhongju , Zhang Tengyuan
Published: August 2023

Flexible barriers are widely used to mitigate granular flows. In practice, flow regimes may keep changing along a flow path after the initiation of granular flows. The effects of flow regimes should be considered in the design of flexible barriers to intercept granular flow. In this study, flow regimes are divided into three types: dilute flow; dense flow; and quasistatic flow. The impact mechanisms of dense granular flows and dilute granular flows against flexible barriers are investigated using flume tests and the discrete element method. Influences of the ratio of the average particle size to the mesh size of a flexible barrier and particle segregation on the interaction between the flexible barrier and the granular flow are revealed. Differences of the impact mechanisms between rockfall and granular flow are compared. Results show that the impact force of dense granular flow against a flexible barrier will not increase linearly with the average particle size. The tensile force of the bottom cable is usually the maximum tensile force among all cables of the flexible barrier. Particle segregation will lead to increase in impact force of dense flows and tensile force of the upper cables. Impact force of the dilute granular flow increases with the average particle size. Different from the failure of a flexible barrier under the impact of the dense flow, the middle and upper cables are easier to break. Based on these findings, a useful reference for the future design of flexible barriers was proposed.
Paying attention to cardiac surgical risk: An interpretable machine learning approach using an uncertainty-aware attentive neural network
Authors: Penny-Dimri Jahan C. , Bergmeir Christoph , Reid Christopher M. , Williams-Spence Jenni , Cochrane Andrew D. , Smith Julian A.
Published: August 2023

Machine learning (ML) is increasingly applied to predict adverse postoperative outcomes in cardiac surgery. Commonly used ML models fail to translate to clinical practice due to absent model explainability, limited uncertainty quantification, and no flexibility to missing data. We aimed to develop and benchmark a novel ML approach, the uncertainty-aware attention network (UAN), to overcome these common limitations. Two Bayesian uncertainty quantification methods were tested, generalized variational inference (GVI) or a posterior network (PN). The UAN models were compared with an ensemble of XGBoost models and a Bayesian logistic regression model (LR) with imputation. The derivation datasets consisted of 153,932 surgery events from the Australian and New Zealand Society of Cardiac and Thoracic Surgeons (ANZSCTS) Cardiac Surgery Database. An external validation consisted of 7343 surgery events which were extracted from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC) III critical care dataset. The highest performing model on the external validation dataset was a UAN-GVI with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.78 (0.01). Model performance improved on high confidence samples with an AUC of 0.81 (0.01). Confidence calibration for aleatoric uncertainty was excellent for all models. Calibration for epistemic uncertainty was more variable, with an ensemble of XGBoost models performing the best with an AUC of 0.84 (0.08). Epistemic uncertainty was improved using the PN approach, compared to GVI. UAN is able to use an interpretable and flexible deep learning approach to provide estimates of model uncertainty alongside state-of-the-art predictions. The model has been made freely available as an easy-to-use web application demonstrating that by designing uncertainty-aware models with innately explainable predictions deep learning may become more suitable for routine clinical use.
Structural violence and institutionalized individuals: A paleopathological perspective on a continuing issue
Authors: de la Cova Carlina , Mant Madeleine , Brickley Megan B.
Published: August 2023

Past and present institutions (e.g., state and public hospitals, assisted living facilities, public nursing homes) have struggled with structural issues tied to patient care and neglect, which often manifests in the form of fracture trauma, and may explain why institutionalized individuals are at higher risk for this injury. Six hundred individuals from the Robert J. Terry Anatomical Collection born between 1822–1877 were examined to investigate hip fracture prevalence. Analysis of associated records and documentary data, including death, morgue, and census records, revealed that 36.3% (n = 218) of these individuals died in institutions such as the St. Louis State Hospital, City Infirmary, and Missouri State Hospital No. 4. Of the institutionalized individuals, 4.3% had evidence of hip fracture, significantly higher than the non-institutionalized (2.3%). Records revealed that many hip fractures were suffered around the time of death in state hospitals and were preventable, resulting from structural issues tied to understaffing and underfunding. Forensic and clinical literature, as well as current news media, indicate that structural violence in the forms of underfunding and understaffing continues to manifest as hip fractures harming institutionalized individuals today. This paper demonstrates how an anthropological perspective using paleopathological analysis sheds light on the chronicity and time depth of this issue, with the aim of driving public policy to entrench the equitable care of institutionalized people as a human right.
Associations between rurality and regional differences in sociodemographic factors and the 1918–20 influenza and 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemics in Missouri counties: An ecological study
Authors: Sattenspiel Lisa , Orbann Carolyn , Bogan Aaron , Ramirez Hailey , Pirrone Sean , Dahal Sushma , McElroy Jane A. , Wikle Christopher K.
Published: August 2023

This study compares pandemic experiences of Missouri’s 115 counties based on rurality and sociodemographic characteristics during the 1918–20 influenza and 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemics. The state’s counties and overall population distribution have remained relatively stable over the last century, which enables identification of long-lasting pandemic attributes. Sociodemographic data available at the county level for both time periods were taken from U.S. census data and used to create clusters of similar counties. Counties were also grouped by rural status (RSU), including fully (100%) rural, semirural (1–49% living in urban areas), and urban (>50% of the population living in urban areas). Deaths from 1918 through 1920 were collated from the Missouri Digital Heritage database and COVID-19 cases and deaths were downloaded from the Missouri COVID-19 dashboard. Results from sociodemographic analyses indicate that, during both time periods, average farm value, proportion White, and literacy were the most important determinants of sociodemographic clusters. Furthermore, the Urban/Central and Southeastern regions experienced higher mortality during both pandemics than did the North and South. Analyses comparing county groups by rurality indicated that throughout the 1918–20 influenza pandemic, urban counties had the highest and rural had the lowest mortality rates. Early in the 2020–21 COVID-19 pandemic, urban counties saw the most extensive epidemic spread and highest mortality, but as the epidemic progressed, cumulative mortality became highest in semirural counties. Additional results highlight the greater effects both pandemics had on county groups with lower rates of education and a lower proportion of Whites in the population. This was especially true for the far southeastern counties of Missouri (“the Bootheel”) during the COVID-19 pandemic. These results indicate that rural-urban and socioeconomic differences in health outcomes are long-standing problems that continue to be of significant importance, even though the overall quality of health care is substantially better in the 21st century.
Smartphone ownership, digital literacy, and the mediating role of social connectedness and loneliness in improving the wellbeing of community-dwelling older adults of low socio-economic status in Singapore
Authors: Soundararajan Amrish , Lim Jie Xin , Ngiam Nerice Heng Wen , Tey Angeline Jie-Yin , Tang Aaron Kai Wen , Lim Haikel A. , Yow Ka Shing , Cheng Ling Jie , Ho Jess , Nigel Teo Qun Xuan , Yee Wan Qi , Yoon Sungwon , Low Lian Leng , Ng Kennedy Yao Yi
Published: August 2023

Introduction

During the COVID-19 pandemic, safe-distancing measures resulted in many community-dwelling older adults being socially isolated and lonely, with its attending negative impact on wellbeing and quality of life. While digital technology may have mitigated this, older adults of low socioeconomic status (SES) are more likely to be digitally excluded and hence susceptible to the adverse effects of social isolation and loneliness. This study aims to understand the factors that affect digital literacy, smartphone ownership, and willingness to participate in a digital literacy program (DLP), and to test the hypothesized relations between digital literacy, social connectedness, loneliness, wellbeing, and quality of life amongst community dwelling older adults of low SES.

Materials and methods

A questionnaire assessing digital literacy, social connectedness, wellbeing and quality of life was administered. Socio-demographic variables, pre-existing internet-enabled, and willingness to participate in a home-based DLP was also collected. Logistic regression was used to identify demographic factors associated with digital literacy, smartphone ownership, and willingness to enroll in a DLP. Serial mediation analysis was also performed using a structural equation model framework.

Results

A total of 302 participants were recruited. Female gender, older age, lower education levels were associated with lower digital literacy. Those who owned a smartphone tended to be younger and better educated. Older adults who were better educated, of Chinese descent (the ethnic majority in Singapore), and who had lower digital literacy, were most willing to enroll in the digital literacy education program. Social-use digital literacy had a positive indirect effect on well-being (b^=0.037,95%CI=[0.007,0.101]) and Quality of life (b^=0.004,95%CI=[0.001,0.010]), mediated by social connectedness and loneliness. In contrast, instrumental-use digital literacy had a negative indirect effect on well-being (b^=−0.030,95%CI=[−0.080,−0.008]) and Quality of life (b^=−0.003,95%CI=[−0.008,−0.001]), mediated by social connectedness and loneliness.

Discussion

The results suggest there are demographic barriers to participation in DLPs and highlight the benefit of focusing on enhancing social-use digital literacy. Further study is needed to evaluate how well specific interventions to improve social-use digital literacy help to reduce social isolation and loneliness, and ultimately improve wellbeing and quality of life.
Evaluating Clean Water Act progress drivers for Idaho rivers and streams 2002–2022
Authors: Williams Jason
Published: August 2023

In the United States, the Clean Water Act (CWA) is the primary legislation driving surface water quality management. Its goal is to “restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the Nation’s waters.” Section 305(b) of the CWA requires states to document CWA progress by reporting whether applicable water quality standards are achieved for all state waters every two years. Developing strategies for increasing the proportion of waters achieving standards requires diagnosing factors driving 305(b) data temporal trends. This analysis demonstrates how systematically analyzing 305(b) data in new ways can help document CWA progress (or lack thereof) and associated drivers. Idaho 305(b) data were used to evaluate the relative contribution of assessment progress and restoration to 2002–2022 Idaho 305(b) temporal trends. Assessment progress was defined as assessing unassessed waters and correcting assessment errors. Restoration was defined as changes from not achieving one or more standards to achieving all assessed standards because water quality improved. From 2002–2022, the percentage of Idaho stream kilometers achieving all assessed standards increased from 24% to 32%. Systematically evaluating reasons for stream status changes revealed this trend was driven primarily by assessment progress, specifically progress monitoring previously unassessed waters in good condition and correcting prior assessment errors. More stream km changed from impaired to unimpaired because prior assessment errors were corrected than because water quality improved. In each biennial 305(b) report ≤ 5% of all stream km changing status resulted from water quality improvement. As of 2022, more state stream km were impaired (39%) than unassessed (29%) and restoration success rates will likely become the primary driver of 305(b) temporal trends in the future. Systematically analyzing 305(b) data in new ways may help develop new empirically driven strategies for accelerating CWA progress and merits further investigation.
Distinctive Competencies and Process of Innovation During Organizationals Merger : The Moderating Effect of Knowledge Vacuum
Authors: Ririh Kirana Rukmayuninda , Anggraeni Elisa , Machfud Machfud , Rochman Nurul Taufiqu
Published: August 2023

Merger organization may encounter contra and supportive conditions. Organizational changes due to merger often occur both process and knowledge intertia. Especially to a research and development agency which its core activity is innovation. Merger among R&D organizations is aimed to achieve legit images but also may delay innovation process. This study measure the effect of knowledge vacuum as a moderating variable between distinctive competencies and process of innovation. 36 targeted researchers and engineers from various former public research & development agencies were involves in a questionnaire survey. Data was analyzed using PLS-SEM. Results show that distinctive competencies significantly affect process of innovation, meanwhile knowledge vacuum is not a significant moderating variable between distinctive competencies and process of innovation. The most important aspects of distinctive competencies are to define detailed process of innovation from start to end and to be able to commercialize innovation output. These aspects will boost changing organization to achieve new goals and maintain innovation process. In this case of insignificant knowledge vacuum, the possibility of open innovation is adequate.
Factors, Routes, and Existing Theories of Technology Commercialization in University: A Conceptual Framework
Authors: Dzakiy Uruqul Nadhif , Simatupang Togar Mangihut , Prasetio Eko Agus
Published: August 2023

Technology commercialization in universities which consists of three phases, namely basic research, commercialization feasibility, and commercialization runs non-linearly and goes through licensing and spin-off creation. To achieve commercialization success, there are eight influencing factors, namely academic entrepreneur, role of technology, availability of market, availability of finance, intermediaries' support (i.e. University Technology Transfer Office (UTTO), university's incubator, and proof of concept center), role of collaborative research center, policy support, and regional infrastructure and environment. Meanwhile, the existing management theories that discuss the commercialization of technology in universities mostly use a resource perspective such as Resource-Based View (RBV), resource orchestration theory, and dynamic capabilities with university and spin-offs as unit of analysis. This literature study provides several recommendations for future studies. First, it needs to expand the analysis not limited to licensing and spin-off, and second, it is suggested to develop a resource perspective by enriching what dimensions influence the success of a technology commercialization in universities or provide alternative new management theories in understanding technology commercialization in university.
Continuing Medical Education Questions: September 2023
Authors: Wilkerson Rashad C.
Published: August 2023

Article Title: Comparative Speed of Early Symptomatic Remission with Advanced Therapies for Moderate-Severe Ulcerative Colitis: A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis
Interventional Endoscopic Ultrasound: Current Status and Future Frontiers
Authors: Ashat Munish , El-Abiad Rami , Shrigiriwar Apurva , Khashab Mouen A.
Published: August 2023

Interventional endoscopic ultrasound has fueled remarkable advancements in the field of therapeutic procedures, revolutionizing minimally invasive interventions for a diverse range of conditions. This review highlights the latest breakthroughs and advancements in therapeutic endoscopic ultrasound, showcasing its potential to transform patient care.