bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Vaccinia growth factor-dependent modulation of the mTORC1-CAD axis upon nutrient restriction
Authors: Dsouza Lara , Pant Anil , Pope Blake , Yang Zhilong
Published: January 2025

The molecular mechanisms by which vaccinia virus (VACV), the prototypical member of the poxviridae family, reprograms host cell metabolism remain largely unexplored. Additionally, cells sense and respond to fluctuating nutrient availability, thereby modulating metabolic pathways to ensure cellular homeostasis. Understanding how VACV modulates metabolic pathways in response to nutrient signals is crucial for understanding viral replication mechanisms, with the potential for developing antiviral therapies. In this study, we establish the importance of
de novo
pyrimidine synthesis during VACV infection. We report the significance of vaccinia growth factor (VGF), a viral early protein and a homolog of cellular epidermal growth factor (EGF), in enabling VACV to phosphorylate the key enzyme CAD of the
de novo
pyrimidine pathway at serine 1859, a site known to positively regulate CAD activity. Although nutrient-poor conditions typically inhibit mTORC1 activation, VACV activates CAD via the mTORC1-S6K1 signaling axis in a VGF-dependent manner, especially upon glutamine and asparagine limitation. However, unlike its cellular homolog EGF, the VGF peptide alone, in the absence of VACV infection, has minimal ability to activate CAD. This suggests the involvement of other viral factors yet to be identified. Our research provides a foundation for understanding the regulation of a significant metabolic pathway,
de novo
pyrimidine synthesis during VACV infection, shedding new light on viral regulation under distinct nutritional environments. This study not only has the potential to contribute to the advancement of antiviral treatments but also improve the development of VACV as an oncolytic agent and vaccine vector.

IMPORTANCE

Viruses often reprogram host cell metabolism to facilitate replication. How poxviruses, such as the prototype member, vaccinia virus (VACV), modulate host cell metabolism is not well understood. Understanding how VACV affects these metabolic pathways is key to learning about viral replication and developing antiviral treatments. This study highlights the importance of
de novo
pyrimidine synthesis during VACV infection. We found that the vaccinia growth factor (VGF), a viral protein similar to the cellular epidermal growth factor (EGF), helps VACV activate the enzyme CAD of the
de novo
pyrimidine pathway. Upon nutrient limitation, VGF is needed for the activation of CAD through mTORC1-S6K signaling. VGF peptide alone is unable to activate this pathway independent of infection, suggesting the involvement of other viral factor(s). Our research not only sheds light on how VACV regulates metabolism but also holds promise for improving VACV as a cancer treatment and vaccine.
Completely conserved VP2 residue K140 of KREMEN1-dependent enteroviruses is critical for virus-receptor interactions and viral infection
Authors: Liu Zeyu , Li Xue , Li Xiaohong , Yan Xingyu , Tian Yuan , Zhao Yue , Liu Kexin , Hao Pei , Zhang Shuye , Zhang Chao
Published: January 2025

The KREMEN1 (KRM1) protein is a cellular receptor for multiple enteroviruses that cause hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD), including coxsackievirus CVA2, CVA3, CVA4, CVA5, CVA6, CVA10, and CVA12. The molecular basis for the broad recognition of these viruses by the KRM1 receptor remains unclear. Here, we report the indispensable role of the completely conserved VP2 capsid protein residue K140 (designated K2140) in mediating receptor recognition and infection by CVA10 and other KRM1-dependent enteroviruses. Residue K2140 not only facilitates receptor recognition, cell attachment, and infection of CVA10 but also contributes to CVA10 pathogenicity
in vivo
. Notably, residue K2140 is completely conserved in all strains of the KRM1-dependent enteroviruses. Mutational analysis confirms the importance of K2140 for infection by CVA2–CVA6, and CVA12. Moreover, CVA8, an enterovirus for which the cellular receptor has not yet been identified, also possesses the conserved K2140 residue. We experimentally demonstrate that CVA8 utilizes KRM1 as its receptor, with K2140 being essential for viral infection. Additionally, residue D90 of KRM1 engages with residue K2140 and plays a crucial role in KRM1-mediated enterovirus infections. Collectively, our findings underscore the significance of the absolutely conserved K2140 residue in receptor interactions and infection of all KRM1-binding enteroviruses, providing novel insights into the molecular basis of enterovirus infection and informing the development of broad-spectrum therapies against HFMD.

IMPORTANCE

Hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) annually affects millions of children worldwide. HFMD is caused by various enteroviruses, such as coxsackieviruses CVA6, CVA16, CVA10, and enterovirus 71 (EV-A71). Licensed inactivated EV-A71 vaccines do not provide cross-protection against other enteroviruses. There are no drugs specifically for HFMD. KREMEN1 (KRM1) serves as the cellular receptor for many HFMD-related enteroviruses, including CVA2–CVA6, CVA10, and CVA12. However, the molecular basis for broad recognition of these enteroviruses by the KRM1 receptor remains elusive. Here, we report that VP2 residue K140 (K2140) is completely conserved among all KRM1-dependent enteroviruses and is essential for virus-receptor binding and viral infection by interacting with residue D90 of KRM1. Overall, our findings provide a deeper understanding of the molecular basis of KRM1-dependent enterovirus infection
in vitro
and
in vivo
and may contribute to the development of broad-spectrum anti-enterovirus vaccines and treatments.
MultiTax-human: an extensive and high-resolution human-related full-length 16S rRNA reference database and taxonomy
Authors: Bao Zhiwei , Zhang Bin , Yao Jianhua , Li Ming D.
Published: January 2025

Considering that the human microbiota plays a critical role in health and disease, an accurate and high-resolution taxonomic classification is thus essential for meaningful microbiome analysis. In this study, we developed an automatic system, named MultiTax pipeline, for generating
de novo
taxonomy from full-length 16S rRNA sequences using the Genome Taxonomy Database and other existing reference databases. We first constructed the MultiTax-human database, a high-resolution resource specifically designed for human microbiome research and clinical applications. The database includes 842,649 high-quality full-length 16S rRNA sequences, extracted from multiple public repositories and human-related studies, offering a comprehensive and accurate portrayal of the human microbiome. To validate the MultiTax-human database, we profiled the human microbiome across various body sites, identified core microbial taxa, and tested its performance using an independent data set. Additionally, the database is equipped with a user-friendly web interface for easy querying and data exploration. The MultiTax-human database is poised to serve as a valuable tool for researchers, enhancing the precision of human microbiome studies and advancing our understanding of its impact on human health and diseases.

IMPORTANCE

Understanding the human microbiome, the collection of microorganisms in and on our bodies, is essential for advancing health research. Current methods often lack precision and consistency, hindering our ability to study these microorganisms effectively. Our study presents the MultiTax-human database, a high-resolution reference tool specifically designed for human microbiome research. By integrating data from multiple sources and employing advanced classification techniques, this database offers an accurate and detailed map of the human microbiome. This resource enhances the ability of researchers and clinicians to explore the roles of microorganisms in health and disease, potentially leading to improved diagnostics, treatments, and insights into various medical conditions.
Endotracheal tube as chest tube: a back-up alternative in resource limited settings
Authors: Schober Patrick , Giannakopoulos Georgios F , Loer Stephan A , Schwarte Lothar A
Published: January 2025

Thoracostomies, and subsequent placements of chest tubes (CTs), are a standard procedure in several domains of medicine. In emergency medicine, thoracostomies are indicated to release a relevant hemothorax or pneumothorax, particularly a life-threatening tension pneumothorax. In many cases, an initial finger-assisted thoracostomy is followed by placement of a CT to ensure continuous decompression of blood and air. CTs prevent the reoccurrence of a hemothorax or pneumothorax, which may otherwise develop by closure of the initial thoracostomy incision. CTs are commercial, purpose-made products; however, in certain settings, those may not be readily available. Triggered by own experience, we review the use of endotracheal tubes as back-up alternatives to commercial CTs.

On a structural base, commercial CTs may not be available in economically challenged regions. Furthermore, in settings with restricted capacity for equipment weight and volume, for example, in mountain rescue backpacks, it might not be feasible to carry CTs, even if the care provider is adequately trained. Finally, care providers may run out of stock of commercial CTs, for example, in civil mass casualty (‘MASCAL’) scenarios, natural disasters or on the battlefield with difficult resupply. Literature on this topic is very limited. In this manuscript, we discuss the advantages and disadvantages of standard endotracheal tubes as alternatives in settings, where commercial CTs are not readily available.

Although certainly not advocated as standard, the use of endotracheal tubes as CTs may be a suitable alternative or back-up solution in settings where commercial CTs are not readily available. We assume that this technique will be particularly of interest in settings with a high risk for thoracic injuries and limited availability of commercial CTs, for example, in military conflicts. Given the virtual absence of scientific data, more research on risks, benefits and patient outcome is required.
Relationship between left ventricular shape and cardiovascular risk factors: comparison between the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis and UK Biobank
Authors: Suinesiaputra Avan , Gilbert Kathleen , Mauger Charlene , Bluemke David A , Wu Colin O , Aung Nay , Neubauer Stefan , Piechnik Stefan K , Petersen Steffen E , Lima Joao A C , Ambale Venkatesh Bharath , Young Alistair
Published: January 2025

Background

Statistical shape atlases have been used in large-cohort studies to investigate relationships between heart shape and risk factors. The generalisability of these relationships between cohorts is unknown. The aims of this study were to compare left ventricular (LV) shapes in patients with differing cardiovascular risk factor profiles from two cohorts and to investigate whether LV shape scores generated with respect to a reference cohort can be directly used to study shape differences in another cohort.

Methods

Two cardiac MRI cohorts were included: 2106 participants (median age: 65 years, 54% women) from the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA) and 2960 participants (median age: 64 years, 52% women) from the UK Biobank (UKB) study. LV shape atlases were constructed from 3D LV models derived from expert-drawn contours from separate core labs. Atlases were considered generalisable for a risk factor if the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) were not significantly different (p>0.05) between internal (within-cohort) and external (cross-cohort) cases.

Results

LV mass and volume indices were differed significantly between cohorts, even in age-matched and sex-matched cases without risk factors, partly reflecting different core lab analysis protocols. For the UKB atlas, internal and external discriminative performance were not significantly different for hypertension (AUC: 0.77 vs 0.76, p=0.37), diabetes (AUC: 0.79 vs 0.77, p=0.48), hypercholesterolaemia (AUC: 0.76 vs 0.79, p=0.38) and smoking (AUC: 0.69 vs 0.67, p=0.18). For the MESA atlas, diabetes (AUC: 0.79 vs 0.74, p=0.09) and hypercholesterolaemia (AUC: 0.75 vs 0.70, p=0.10) were not significantly different. Both atlases showed significant differences for obesity.

Conclusions

The MESA and UKB atlases demonstrated good generalisability for diabetes and hypercholesterolaemia, without requiring corrections for differences in mass and volume. Significant differences in obesity may be due to different relationships between obesity and heart shapes between cohorts.
Cost-effectiveness of digoxin versus beta blockers in permanent atrial fibrillation: the Rate Control Therapy Evaluation in Permanent Atrial Fibrillation (RATE-AF) randomised trial
Authors: Abdali Zainab , Bunting Karina V , Mehta Samir , Camm John , Rahimi Kazem , Stanbury Mary , Haynes Sandra , Kotecha Dipak , Jowett Sue
Published: January 2025

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major and increasing burden on health services. This study aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of digoxin versus beta-blockers for heart rate control in patients with permanent AF and symptoms of heart failure.

Methods

RAte control Therapy Evaluation in permanent Atrial Fibrillation (RATE-AF) was a randomised, open-label, blinded, endpoint trial embedded in the UK National Health Service (NHS) to directly compare low-dose digoxin with beta-blockers (ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT02391337). A trial-based cost-utility analysis was performed from a healthcare perspective over 12 months. Resource use in primary and secondary healthcare services, medications and patient-reported quality of life were prospectively collected to estimate differences in costs and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs).

Results

RATE-AF randomised 160 patients with mean age of 76 (SD 8) years and 46% women, of which 149 patients (n=73 digoxin, n=76 beta blockers) had complete data and survived to 12-month follow-up. Treatment with digoxin was significantly less costly, with a mean saving of £530.41 per patient per year (95% CI −£848.06 to −£249.38, p=0.001). This was principally due to substantially lower rates of adverse events, with less primary and secondary healthcare utilisation compared with beta-blocker therapy. There was no significant difference in QALYs (0.013; 95% CI −0.033 to 0.052, p=0.56). At the £20 000 per-QALY willingness to pay threshold, the probability of digoxin being cost-effective compared with beta-blockers was 94%, with potential annual savings to the NHS of £102 million/year (95% CI £48 million to £164 million saving, p=0.001).

Conclusions

Digoxin is a less costly option when compared with beta-blockers for control of heart rate in suitable patients with permanent AF, with larger cost-effectiveness studies warranted to advise on national and global policy-making.

Trial registration number

NCT02391337, EudraCT 2015-005043-13.
Mechanical circulatory support for patients with infarct-related cardiogenic shock: a state-of-the-art review
Authors: Moller Jacob Eifer , Thiele Holger , Zeymer Uwe , Proudfoot Alastair , Hassager Christian
Published: January 2025

Acute myocardial infarction-related cardiogenic shock (AMI-CS) is a severe, life-threatening condition characterised by inadequate tissue perfusion due to the heart’s inability to pump blood effectively. The pathophysiology of AMI-CS usually arises from the sudden loss of myocardial contractility, leading to a decrease in cardiac output and systemic hypoperfusion. In approximately 90% of AMI-CS cases, the left ventricle is the primary site of dysfunction.

Despite early recognition and the implementation of strategies such as primary percutaneous coronary intervention, the mortality rate associated with AMI-CS remains alarmingly high, reflecting significant unmet clinical needs. A major challenge lies in identifying the optimal patient population for mechanical circulatory support (MCS) devices, as these interventions are costly and can lead to serious complications.

This review provides a comprehensive overview of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying AMI-CS, explores the current range of MCS devices available and offers an in-depth discussion on the balance of benefits and risks associated with these devices. By highlighting key evidence from recent studies, we aim to shed light on the clinical decision-making process and improve outcomes in this high-risk patient population.
Transitioning to high-sensitivity troponin: 1-year mortality outcomes in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome presenting to emergency departments
Authors: Hickling Siobhan , Sanfilippo Frank M , Cullen Louise , Chew Derek P , Hillis Graham S , Fatovich Daniel M , Karnon Jonathon , Rankin Jamie , Nedkoff Lee , Scanlan Samuel , Hickman Peter E , Stapleton Stuart , Knuiman Matthew , Parsonage William , Mitra Biswadev , Schneider Hans G , Wilkes Garry , Robinson Teagan , Briffa Tom
Published: January 2025

Background

Switching from a conventional to a high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTn) assay enables detection of smaller amounts of myocardial damage, but the clinical benefit is unclear. We investigated whether switching to a hs-cTnI assay with a sex-specific 99th centile diagnostic threshold was associated with lower 1-year death or new myocardial infarction (MI) in patients with suspected acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods

This pre–post study included nine tertiary hospitals in Australia. During the pre-hs-cTn period, all hospitals used conventional troponin assays, and during the postperiod, four switched to using hs-cTnI. Participants were ≥20 years old and presenting to emergency departments (EDs) with suspected ACS between March 2011 and November 2015. Outcomes were determined using linked administrative data and compared using Kaplan-Meier and Cox regression analyses.

Results

We identified 179 681 consecutive patients (62 (SD 19) years, 47% women), 87 019 (48%) during the preperiod, and 92 662 (52%) during the postperiod. Following the switch to hs-TnI, the proportion of patients diagnosed with new MI was not significantly different (3.9% postperiod vs 4.2% preperiod; p=0.08) while diagnoses of unstable angina were lower (1.5% postperiod vs 2.5% preperiod; p<0.0001). In non-switching jurisdictions, rates of new MI remained stable, while diagnoses of unstable angina increased. Switching to hs-cTnI assay was associated with lower mortality at 30 days (adjusted HR 0.88 (0.82, 0.95)) and 1 year (aHR 0.90 (0.85, 0.94)). The corresponding aHRs for non-switching jurisdictions were not statistically different.

Conclusion

The use of an hs-cTnI assay in an ED population with suspected ACS was associated with lower mortality at 1 year.
Dimension Reduction of MUSIC Database for Tailored Clustering Using Lasso
Authors: Cai Yongmin , Phoon Kok-Kwang , Ching Jianye , Wang Yu
Published: January 2025

The tailored clustering enabled regionalization (TCER) framework has shown that the prediction error of design parameters at a target site can be reduced by constructing a transformation model from a cluster that only contains sites with geotechnical properties similar to the target site. These sites are retrieved from a global/regional database. However, the similarity between any two sites will reduce when the number of properties increases. TCER will be ineffective if too many properties are included in the database (e.g., structural health monitoring and remote sensing databases). The current study presents a least absolute shrinkage and selection operator for databases with incomplete records (denoted by HMLasso; a dimension reduction method) to improve the performance of TCER in high dimensional databases. HMLasso is utilized to construct a dimensionally reduced database, which includes only the properties relevant to the design parameters, from a high-dimensional database. TCER is then adopted to retrieve a cluster from the dimensionally reduced database for inferring the design parameters at a target site. The capability of HMLasso to enhance the performance of TCER in terms of identifying clusters similar to the target site and reducing the prediction error of design parameters are demonstrated using real-world geotechnical databases.
Ocean acidification may contribute to recruitment failure of Bering Sea red king crab
Authors: Litzow Michael A. , Long W. Christopher , Palof Katie J. , Pilcher Darren J.
Published: January 2025

We used semi-parametric Bayesian regression to determine whether ocean acidification or climate warming could explain declining productivity for southeast Bering Sea red king crab ( Paralithodes camtchaticus). Negative effects of acidification explained ∼21% of recruitment variability over 1980–2023, and ∼45% since 2000. Ocean warming had a negligible effect in our analysis. Model-estimated annual mean bottom pH in the region has fallen from ∼8.03 in 1980 to ∼7.89 in 2023, approaching levels that reduce juvenile survival in laboratory studies. Improved model validation and better understanding of potential threshold effects on red king crab are needed to better understand the possible population-level acidification effect that we demonstrate.
Phenotypic and transcriptomic changes in Acinetobacter baumannii in rich and minimal growth mediums
Authors: Kornelsen Vanessa , White Dawn , Kumar Ayush
Published: January 2025

Acinetobacter baumannii is an opportunistic pathogen that is often studied in commonly used rich media in laboratories worldwide. Due to the metabolic versatility of A. baumannii, it can be cultured in different growth mediums; however, this can lead to genotypic and phenotypic variations. In this study, we compared phenotypic and transcriptomic changes in A. baumannii ATCC17978-VU cultured in M9 minimal media supplemented with 20 mmol/L sodium succinate and rich lysogeny broth media. Phenotypically, growth was significantly slowed, virulence in Galleria mellonella was attenuated, and susceptibility to a variety of antibiotic classes was reduced when A. baumannii ATCC17978-VU was grown in minimal media versus rich media. Transcriptomic analysis showed differential regulation of >700 genes—including those associated with energy production and ribosomal function—when the two growth conditions were compared, with the majority of the upregulated genes seen in minimal media of unknown function. This study showed that culture media has a profound effect on the phenotype and cellular workings of a bacteria, highlighting the need for more studies of pathogens like A. baumannii ATCC17978-VU in minimal media.
Genomic characterization of pathotype diversity and drug resistance among generic Escherichia coli isolated from broiler chickens in Canada
Authors: Wallace Rhiannon L. , Hoogstra Shawn , Mahoney David , Lubberts Mark , Reid-Smith Richard , Signorelli Tara , Robertson James , Eagle Shannon H.C. , Jurga Emil , Nash John , Topp Edward , Carrillo Catherine
Published: January 2025

Escherichia coli is a Gram-negative bacterium that is ubiquitous in animals and humans, with some strains capable of causing disease. The aim of this study was to perform a comparative genomic analysis of 2732 generic E. coli isolates that were recovered from poultry samples collected from six regions in Canada as part of the National Microbiological Baseline study in Broiler Chicken. Isolates were subjected to whole genome sequencing and a subset (1122/2732) were tested for phenotypic resistance to 15 antimicrobials. These E. coli isolates were highly diverse, representing 376 serotypes, 236 sequence types and 21 pathotypes, of which 19 were hybrid pathotypes. A high concordance (>85%) between resistance phenotype and the presence of antimicrobial resistance genes and point mutations (resistance determinants) was observed for 13/15 antimicrobials. Over 95% of the β-lactam, fluoroquinolone, and phenicol resistance genes were predicted to be plasmid-borne. The number of resistance determinants per genome was highest in Quebec, while resistance genes associated with β-lactam resistance were more frequently detected in isolates from British Columbia. Generic E. coli in Canadian poultry are highly diverse, can carry pathotype-associated virulence factors and resistance determinants of clinical significance with a risk of emerging into pathogenic strains.
Seasonal changes in the movement rates and activity patterns of Canada lynx
Authors: Kynoch M.C. , Williams C.T. , Breed G.A. , Kielland K.
Published: January 2025

In Subarctic and Arctic environments, daily patterns of activity and space-use are strongly influenced by interplay between seasonal abiotic factors and the corresponding responses of the biotic environment. Here, we combined accelerometry with GPS telemetry of Canada lynx ( Lynx canadensis Kerr, 1792, n = 12) in northern Alaska to test the hypotheses that lynx activity would peak during twilight throughout the year, coinciding with activity of their preferred prey, and that individuals with larger home ranges would have greater spatial displacement and expend more energy on movement. Lynx activity occurred throughout the 24 h day and peaked during twilight, but variation among individuals was high and diel rhythms were sometimes only detectable using the finer resolution accelerometer data. Surprisingly, home range size was not correlated with movement costs estimated via acceleration, but step length and acceleration were correlated in a positive curvilinear fashion. However, step length was sometimes disproportionately lower than predicted by acceleration. Such intervals of high activity with low spatial displacement were often followed by periods of rest, suggesting they may be indicative of hunting in a restricted patch of habitat. We conclude that accelerometers can provide additional information to supplement GPS data, providing a more complete picture of animal behavior.
Simulation of satellite and optical link dynamics in a quantum repeater constellation
Authors: Meister Jaspar , Kleinpaß Philipp , Orsucci Davide
Published: January 2025

Quantum repeaters and satellite-based optical links are complementary technological approaches to overcome the exponential photon loss in optical fibers and thus allow quantum communication on a global scale. We analyze architectures which combine these approaches and use satellites as quantum repeater nodes to distribute entanglement to distant optical ground stations. Here we simulate dynamic, three-dimensional ground station passes, going beyond previous studies that typically consider static satellite links. For this, we numerically solve the equations of motion of the dynamic system consisting of three satellites in low Earth orbit. The model of the optical link takes into account atmospheric attenuation, single-mode fiber coupling, beam wandering and broadening, as well as adaptive optics effects. We derive analytical expressions for the Bell state measurement and associated error rates for quantum memory assisted communications, including retrieval efficiency and state coherence. We consider downlink and uplink architectures for continental and intercontinental connections and evaluate the impact of satellite altitude and inter-satellite distance on the expected entanglement swapping rate. Our simulation model enables us to design different orbital configurations for the satellite constellation and analyze the annual performance of the quantum repeater under realistic conditions.
Maximizing Data and Hardware Reuse for HLS with Early-Stage Symbolic Partitioning
Authors: Juang Tzung-Han , Dubach Christophe
Published: January 2025

While traditional HLS (High-Level Synthesis) converts “high-level” C-like programs into hardware automatically, producing high-performance designs still requires hardware expertise. Optimizations such as data partitioning can have a large impact on performance since they directly affect data reuse patterns and the ability to reuse hardware. However, optimizing partitioning is a difficult process since minor changes in the parameter choices can lead to totally unpredictable performance.

Functional array-based languages have been proposed instead of C-based approaches, as they offer stronger performance guarantees. This paper proposes to follow a similar approach and exposes a divide-and-conquer primitive at the algorithmic level to let users partition any arbitrary computation. The compiler is then free to explore different partition shapes to maximize both data and hardware reuse automatically. The main challenge remains that the impact of partitioning is only known much later in the compilation flow. This is due to the hard-to-predict effects of the many optimizations applied during compilation.

To solve this problem, the partitioning is expressed using a set of symbolic tunable parameters, introduced early in the compilation pipeline. A symbolic performance model is then used in the last compilation stage to predict performance based on the possible values of the tunable parameters. Using this approach, a design space exploration is conducted on an Intel Arria 10 FPGAs (Field Programmable Gate Arrays), and competitive performance is achieved on the classical VGG and TinyYolo neural networks.
Efficient Distributed Sparse Relative Similarity Learning
Authors: Yao Dezhong , Li Sanmu , Wang Zhiwei , Zhao Peilin , Wu Gang , Yu Chen , Jin Hai
Published: January 2025

Learning a good similarity measure for large-scale high-dimensional data is a crucial task in machine learning applications, yet it poses a significant challenge. Distributed minibatch Stochastic Gradient Descent (SGD) serves as an efficient optimization method in large-scale distributed training, allowing linear speedup in proportion to the number of workers. However, communication efficiency in distributed SGD requires a sufficiently large minibatch size, presenting two distinct challenges. Firstly, a large minibatch size leads to high memory usage and computational complexity during parallel training of high-dimensional models. Second, a larger batch size of data reduces the convergence rate. To overcome these challenges, we propose an Efficient Distributed Sparse Relative Similarity Learning (

\(\mathbf{\mathsf{EDSRSL}}\)

) framework. This framework integrates two strategies: local minibatch SGD and sparse relative similarity learning. By effectively reducing the number of updates through synchronous delay while maintaining a large batch size, we address the issue of high computational cost. Additionally, we incorporate sparse model learning into the training process, significantly reducing computational cost. This article also provides theoretical proof that the convergence rate does not decrease significantly with increasing batch size. Various experiments on six high-dimensional real-world datasets demonstrate the efficacy and efficiency of the proposed algorithms, with a communication cost reduction of up to

\(90.89\%\)

and a maximum wall time speedup of

\(5.66\times\)

compared to the baseline methods.
Intramural Intestinal Metastasis of Malignant Melanoma as a Rare Cause of Ileoileal Intussusception: A Case Report and Review of the Literature
Authors: Amseian Gary , Soler Alexandre , Torroella Alba , Sisuashvili Lia , Escarcena Paula , Rafart Gerard
Published: January 2025

Intussusception in adults is rare and poses a diagnostic challenge, often due to neoplastic causes. Metastatic melanoma is known to spread to the gastrointestinal tract, especially the small intestine. We report the case of a patient with obstructive symptoms and a history of metastatic melanoma. An emergency abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan identified an obstruction caused by ileoileal intussusception located at the site of a previously described enteric metastasis. Following palliative surgery with ileal resection, two nodular lesions causing intussusception were identified, and pathological examination confirmed intramural metastases from melanoma. In adult patients with obstructive symptoms and a history of melanoma, intussusception secondary to intestinal metastases should be considered in the differential diagnosis.
Acrocyanosis: The Least Known Acrosyndrome Revisited With a Dermatologic Perspective
Authors: Demircioğlu Deniz , Öztürk Durmaz Emel
Published: January 2025

Background: Acrocyanosis is a functional peripheral vascular disorder, currently categorized under the canopy of acrosyndromes, i.e., a group of clinically similar and significantly overlapping vascular disorders involving the acral skin. The disorder might be primary or secondary, depending on the cause. Recently, there has been a remarkable surge in acrocyanosis prevalence along with the COVID‐19 pandemic. Both COVID‐19 infection and vaccines for COVID‐19 have been affixed to the list of disorders instigating acrocyanosis.

Objectives: The goal of this narrative review was to evaluate the existing literature, project acrocyanosis from the viewpoint of dermatologists in the face of the COVID‐19 pandemic, and assess the need for targeted research, education, and/or clinical practice.

Methods: An English literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google. All abstracts on acrocyanosis, irrespective of the article type and publication date, were retrieved and reviewed and those most relevant for the focus of this article were selected and summarized.

Discussion/Results: A narrative review was carried out. There is paucity of randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled studies on acrocyanosis in the English literature, implicating the need for targeted research. Pertinent information still relies on anecdotal observations, case reports, case series, or scarce reviews, which are dated rather old and published in vascular‐oriented journals. The scarcity of published literature on acrocyanosis in dermatology‐oriented journals points to the necessity of professional education and improvement of clinical diagnostic skills for dermatologists.

Conclusions: Although acrocyanosis is the least known and the least studied acrosyndrome, it is increasingly more commonly confronted in the COVID‐19 era. The diagnosis still largely relies on clinical findings. Accordingly, it has become a growing necessity for a dermatologist to remain updated on this peculiar disorder and be able to differentiate acrocyanosis from clinically similar cold‐induced or cold‐exacerbated acrosyndromes. Acrocyanosis is still misdiagnosed, underdiagnosed, underreported, and undertreated by the dermatology community.
Adopting a Dyadic Approach to Treating Chronic Cancer‐Related Fatigue: A Mixed Methods Study to Assess Patients’ and Partners’ Needs, Benefits, Barriers and Preferences
Authors: van Dongen Sophie I. , Müller Fabiola , van Woezik Rosalie A. M. , Hagedoorn Mariët , van der Lee Marije L.
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Chronic cancer‐related fatigue (CCRF) is a common symptom among patients. Current therapies target the patient alone, while evidence suggests that targeting the dyad might be more beneficial.

Method: Using a mixed methods design, we conducted two studies that together aimed to provide more insight into the needs, benefits, barriers and preferences regarding a couples therapy for CCRF. In a qualitative study, we conducted focus groups and semi‐structured interviews with a purposive sample of 10 patients and 10 partners with experience of CCRF care, followed by thematic analysis. In a subsequent quantitative study, a convenience sample of patients (n = 172) and partners (n = 55) completed an online survey developed based on the qualitative findings.

Results: In the qualitative study, both patients and partners expressed that a couples therapy could help them. Perceived benefits included empowerment of partners to support patients and improved couples communication. In the online survey, the need for a dyadic approach to CCRF therapy was confirmed by both patients (39%) and partners (91%). The benefits reported by most patients and partners were that partners could get attention for their own problems related to the patients’ cancer and fatigue (patients: 72%, partners: 86%) and receive advice on coping with fatigue (66% and 90%, respectively). Participants in both studies identified barriers, such as a fear of burdening partners with a couples therapy (50%). Partner involvement was considered desirable for most therapy elements (e.g., psychoeducation, contact with the therapist, exercises and relapse prevention). Yet, individual preferences varied widely.

Conclusion: Results of both studies support the potential acceptability of a couples therapy for CCRF among patients and partners. Based on divergent preferences, we determined that a couples therapy must provide flexibility regarding the degree, intensity and type of partner involvement. Dyadic psychoeducation can be used as a solid starting point to manage expectations and get relief from perceived barriers.
A Hybrid Deep Learning Method for the Estimation of the State of Health of Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Cheng Shuo
Published: January 2025

This paper proposes a method for estimating the state of health (SOH) of lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) using a combination of vision transformer (VIT) and gated recurrent unit (GRU) networks. The new scheme adopts a VIT to extract features from the battery measured data and incorporates a GRU network to mitigate the limitations of the VIT caused by positional encoding. The resulting VIT‐GRU network is designed to comprehensively capture information relevant to the battery SOH. Simulation experiments on the NASA dataset illustrate the notable results achieved by the VIT‐GRU, with prediction root mean square error (RMSE) and mean absolute error (MAE) up to 0.54% and 0.38%, respectively, demonstrating the exceptional performance of the VIT‐GRU network in SOH estimation. Compared to other complex deep learning (DL) methods, the VIT‐GRU significantly outperforms them, according to the RMSE and MAE of the predicted values.
The Incidence and Clinical Characteristics of COVID‐19 in Children With IBD During the Omicron Wave: A Single‐Center Experience in China
Authors: Li Rui , Chen Pei-Yu , Li Hui-Wen , Ren Lu , Cheng Yang , Liu Li-Ying , Wei Li-Juan , Zeng Zi-Huan , Xu Wan-Fu , Gong Si-Tang , Geng Lan-Lan
Published: January 2025

Background and Aims: The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) had a major impact on the health of people worldwide, including the pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (PIBD) patients. As no study has investigated the susceptibility and disease course of COVID‐19 in PIBD patients after the end of zero‐COVID policy in China, we conducted a retrospective cross‐sectional study in our center.

Methods: A cross‐sectional survey enrolling PIBD patients has been completed by online survey, phone, and face‐to‐face assessment. The demographic data, epidemiological characteristics, clinical manifestations, treatment, and prognosis of the patients were analyzed.

Results: PIBD patients represented 55.45% (56/101) of SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive cases between December 1st 2022 and January 31st 2023; 67.86% were male; the mean age was 11.15 ± 3.92 years old. Among the SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive cases, three patients (5.36%) were asymptomatic, and 53 patients (94.64%) had mild symptoms. The main symptoms were fever (92.86%), cough (69.64%), nasal congestion or running nose (35.71%), and sore throat (33.93%). No severe case or deaths were reported. All patients recovered from COVID‐19 symptoms within 1 week. We found no significant association between the type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and unclassified) and SARS‐CoV‐2 infection rates, nor did we observe any correlation between different treatments and the risk of infection. Fifty‐one patients were reported to be in close contact with persons confirmed with COVID‐19 infection, and out of them, 36 patients test positive for SARS‐CoV‐2, which is significantly higher than that in patients without exposure to COVID‐19 (70.59% vs. 33.33%, p = 0.002). A total of 10 patients were underweight, of which nine patients tested positive for COVID‐19 (90% vs. 51.65%, p = 0.048). Meanwhile, unvaccinated patients were also found to be more susceptible to SARS‐CoV‐2 than vaccinated patients (70.97% vs. 48.48%, p = 0.049). The multivariable analysis showed that patients with moderate/severe activity of IBD were associated with an increased risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection (odds ratio (OR), 1.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.13–8.33, p = 0.028).

Conclusions: The incidence of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in our center of PIBD patients during the Omicron pandemic was 55.45%. No severity or death case was observed. The incidence was higher in underweight and unvaccinated IBD children. Patients with moderate/severe activity of IBD were at a higher risk of SARS‐CoV‐2 infection.
Polyphenols From Morchella sextelata Induce Apoptosis of Colorectal Cancer Cells Through ROS‐Mediated Endogenous Mitochondrial Apoptosis Pathway In Vitro
Authors: Zhai Feihong , Wang Yan , Yan Miaoqing
Published: January 2025

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a common malignancy of the digestive tract. Although chemotherapy is considered the most effective method for the treatment of CRC, these drugs have significant side effects. The identification of antitumour active ingredients with high efficiency and fewer toxic side effects from natural products is important. The effects of polyphenols from artificially cultivated Morchella sextelata (MSP) on CRC were analysed at the cellular level. The antiproliferative and proapoptotic effects of MSP on HCT 116 and HT‐29 CRC cells were determined by a 3‐(4,5‐dimethylthiazol‐2‐yl)‐2,5‐diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay, a colony formation assay, morphological observation and flow cytometry. The anti‐CRC effects and their molecular mechanism were subsequently explored by RT‐qPCR, Western blotting, mitochondrial membrane potential assays, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level assays and antioxidant enzyme system assays. MSP had dose‐dependent cytotoxic effects as revealed by the inhibition of colony formation and induction of morphological changes and apoptosis in HCT 116 and HT‐29 cells. The RT‐qPCR results revealed that MSP treatment decreased the expression of Bcl-2 and upregulated the expression of Bax, caspase-3 and caspase-9, which were verified by Western blot experiments. Furthermore, MSP led to the destruction of the mitochondrial membrane potential, which suggested that MSP induced mitochondria‐mediated apoptosis in these two cell types. In addition, treatment with MSP increased ROS levels and reduced the levels of the antioxidant enzymes glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), glutathione S‐transferase (GSH‐ST) and γ‐glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ‐GCS) in the two cell lines. The apoptotic effects induced by MSP were significantly reversed by the ROS inhibitor N‐acetyl‐L‐cysteine (NAC), indicating that MSP induced apoptosis by increasing the intracellular ROS content of these two cell types. The above results indicated that MSP induced the apoptosis in the CRC cell lines HCT 116 and HT‐29 through the ROS‐mediated endogenous mitochondrial apoptosis pathway. The conclusions drawn from these experiments were based on in vitro cell experiments, and the results of this study provide a research basis for further in‐depth experiments.
Impact of Age and Body Mass Index on the Outcomes of Laparoscopic Mesh Sacrocolpopexy
Authors: Khalil Nour , El Kassis Nadine , Moubarak Malak , Chaccour Christian , Maalouf Samer , Nemr Elie , El Hajj Houssein , Moukarzel Maroun , Atallah David
Published: January 2025

Background: Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) is a benign condition that can adversely affect women’s quality of life. Mesh sacrocolpopexy is an effective surgical treatment for POP, but is considered a complex and risky surgery for obese and elderly women. The objective of this study was to assess the impact of age and obesity on the outcomes of minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy.

Methods: We performed a retrospective cohort study reviewing all minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy cases performed between 2003 and 2021. Data on operative time, hospital stay, conversion rate, perioperative injuries, early and late postoperative complications were collected. Surgical success was evaluated by gynecological examination at each follow‐up visit.

Results: One hundred seventy subjects were included, of whom 44% were older than 65 years and 58% had a body mass index (BMI) above 25 kg/m2. Seventy percent presented stage III uterovaginal prolapse. All patients achieved a good subjective outcome with no reported prolapse with a mean follow‐up of 6 years. The rate of de novo stress urinary incontinence was 3.2%. Vaginal implant exposure was found in 4% of cases. A bivariate analysis studying the impact of older age (≥ 65 vs. < 65 years) and higher BMI (≥ 25 vs. < 25) on surgical and postoperative outcomes did not show any significant differences between the subgroups (p > 0.05).

Conclusion: In experienced hands, laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy can be used as a safe and effective procedure for operable patients with POP, even when patients are between 65 and 80 years or have a BMI of 25 kg/m2 and above.
Uncoupling Proteins Variants Are Linked to Hypercholesterolemia and Abdominal Obesity in Metabolically Unhealthy Women
Authors: Sierra-Ruelas Erika , Torres-Castillo Nathaly , Vizmanos Barbara , Pérez Wendy Campos , Martínez-López Erika
Published: January 2025

Introduction: It has been reported that even with the same body mass index (BMI); there are subjects with metabolically healthy (MH) or unhealthy (MUH) phenotype. The main determinants of the unhealthy phenotype are the type and distribution of fat, ectopic fat accumulation, genetics, and lifestyle factors. Uncoupling proteins (UCPs) disengage mitochondrial respiration from ATP synthesis and result in heat production, which in turn is related to energy expenditure and, thus, to fat mass accumulation. The association of the UCP1 3826A/G (rs1800592), UCP2 Ala55Val (rs660339), and UCP3 55C/T (rs1800849) variants with metabolic variables was evaluated according to metabolic phenotype in Mexican women. Methods: Women aged 18–65 years classified as normal weight (NW) or excessive weight (EW) according to their BMI (from 18.5 to <25 kg/m2 for NW, and from 25 to <40 kg/m2 for EW), were included. Participants were classified into two metabolic phenotypes: MH or MUH, respectively, based on ATP-III criteria and the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The genetic variants were determined by allelic discrimination using TaqMan® probes. Results: In participants with the UCP1 3826A/G variant, an increased risk of hypercholesterolemia was observed in those with the NW-MUH phenotype (OR = 5.09, 95% CI = 1.03–25.12, p = 0.017). The UCP2 Ala55Val variant in EW-MUH subjects was associated with higher abdominal obesity risk (OR = 3.23, 95% CI = 1.21–8.60, p = 0.019), while no associations were found with the UCP3 55C/T variant. Conclusion: UCP1 and UCP2 variants are related with hypercholesterolemia and visceral fat accumulation in women with MUH phenotype.