bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Escaping isolation: Harry Truman and the sources of modern presidential authority
Authors: Cash Jordan T.
Published: November 2024

Between 1947 and 1949, Harry Truman had all the markings of an isolated president. He was unelected, faced a Congress controlled by opposition Republicans, and was opposed by major segments of his own party. Yet unlike other presidents in similar isolated positions, Truman managed to overcome these institutional obstacles and was successfully elected to his own term in office and pulled the Democrats into majorities in both houses of Congress. This article examines the conditions that allowed Truman to escape his political and institutional isolation, arguing not only that Truman gives us a clear view of the strong constitutional basis of presidential power in the modern era, but also that extraconstitutional developments enabled Truman to do what no other isolated president was able to accomplish.
Secrets and transparency: The Office of Strategic Information and the first freedom of information law
Authors: Baron Kevin M.
Published: November 2024

Freedom of information (FOI) rose to saliency in the early Cold War period as the presidency grappled with controlling what government information was made public or available to Congress. A lack of formal structures and authority provided presidents with the opportunity to unilaterally shape new policies and structures. One such structure was the Office of Strategic Information (OSI), created by a National Security Council directive and housed in the Commerce Department. Congress utilized its oversight power by creating the Moss Subcommittee on Government Information to investigate these new policies and structures. Over a 4‐year period in the mid‐1950s, an interbranch power struggle emerged over what authority existed within the executive branch to deny information and testimony to Congress. OSI is one example in a larger context of FOI that left Congress seeking to clarify executive authority within existing statutes and among new structures, leading to the passage of the first freedom of information law in 1958. Original archival research is used to provide insight into the complexities of governing in a separation of powers system. This early case study informs contemporary politics on congressional access to executive information.
Exact solitary wave solutions for a coupled gKdV–Schrödinger system by a new ODE reduction method
Authors: Anco Stephen C. , Hornick James , Zhao Sicheng , Wolf Thomas
Published: November 2024

A new method is developed for finding exact solitary wave solutions of a generalized Korteweg–de Vries equation with ‐power nonlinearity coupled to a linear Schrödinger equation arising in many different physical applications. This method yields 22 solution families, with . No solutions for were known previously in the literature. For , four of the solution families contain bright/dark Davydov solitons of the 1st and 2nd kind, obtained in recent literature by basic ansatz applied to the ordinary differential equation (ODE) system for traveling waves. All of the new solution families have interesting features, including bright/dark peaks with (up to) symmetric pairs of side peaks in the amplitude and a kink profile for the nonlinear part in the phase. The present method is fully systematic and involves several novel steps that reduce the traveling wave ODE system to a single nonlinear base ODE for which all polynomial solutions are found by symbolic computation. It is applicable more generally to other coupled nonlinear dispersive wave equations  as well as to nonlinear ODE systems of generalized Hénon–Heiles form.
Five New HLA‐A Alleles Characterised by Next‐Generation Sequencing
Authors: Loginova Maria , Obukhov Ivan , Paramonov Igor
Published: November 2024

Five new HLA‐A alleles were characterised in the bone marrow volunteers.
High‐frequency whole blood donation and its impact on mortality: Evidence from a data linkage study in Australia
Authors: Rahman Md Morshadur , Karki Surendra , Hayen Andrew
Published: November 2024

Background

Previous reports suggest that blood donors have a lower mortality risk, which may partially reflect the “healthy donor effect” (HDE). HDE arises in donors due to selection bias and confounding if not appropriately addressed.

Study Design and Methods

Using the Sax Institute's 45 and Up Study data linked with blood donation history, we used a “5‐year exposure window” method to select donors into regular high‐frequency whole blood (WB)donors (at least two donations per exposure year) and low‐frequency donors (remaining donors) with an active donation career of 5 years. To further reduce the confounding, we used statistical approaches like the inverse probability weighted (IPW) marginal structural model and the doubly robust targeted minimum loss‐based estimator (TMLE), which incorporated machine learning algorithms and time‐varying analyses.

Results

We selected 4750 (64.7%) low‐frequency and 2588 (35.3%) high‐frequency donors in the analyses. A total of 69 (1.5%) from the low‐frequency and 45 (1.7%) donors from the regular high‐frequency group died during the 7‐year follow‐up period. We did not find any statistically significant association between regular high‐frequency blood donation and mortality (IPW RR = 0.98 95% CI 0.68, 1.28). TMLE model also showed similar results to IPW (RR = 0.97 95% CI 0.80, 1.16). Time‐varying TMLE did not find any significant association between high‐frequency donation and all‐cause mortality either (RR = 0.98 95% 0.74, 1.29).

Conclusions

We did not find a significant association between regular high‐frequency WB donation and all‐cause mortality when appropriate methods were employed to minimize the HDE.
Prognostic Impact of a Histologic Grading Scheme in Dogs Diagnosed With Rib Chondrosarcoma
Authors: Musser Margaret L. , Meritet Danielle , Viall Austin K. , Choi Eunju , Willcox Jennifer L. , Mathews Kyle G.
Published: November 2024

Data regarding the outcome of canine rib chondrosarcoma is sparse and varied. While grade of tumour is associated with outcome for canine appendicular chondrosarcoma, the association of grade with outcome for canine rib chondrosarcoma is unclear. This study aimed to correlate the grade of canine rib chondrosarcoma with median survival time. Retrospectively, cases of primary rib chondrosarcoma were identified, and tumours were graded based on a 3‐tier adapted human grading scheme. Twenty‐two patients were included in the survival analysis. The median survival time was 1427 days (range: 27–3354 days). This was not significantly different for patients with grade I versus II versus III (p = 0.82), grade I–II versus III (p = 0.34), or grade I versus II–III (p = 0.49). No variables assessed including age, weight, tumour location (cranial vs. caudal thorax; left vs. right hemithorax), tumour location on rib (proximal, middle, and distal), radiographic appearance (lytic, proliferative, or mixed), elevated serum alkaline phosphatase activity, grade, grade specific histologic features (matrix production, architecture, pleomorphism, cellularity, necrosis, and total score), adjunct therapy post‐surgical excision, development of metastatic disease post‐surgery, or local recurrence post‐surgery were found to impact the risk of death due to chondrosarcoma. In this limited group of patients, the grading scheme reported here, and the other variables assessed did not appear to offer additional prognostic information. However, this data must be interpreted considering the small sample size and thus low statistical power. Additional studies are needed to determine the true impact of grade on outcome for canine rib chondrosarcomas.
Pancreatic torsion in a puppy with an acute abdomen
Authors: Lukasiewicz Andrew D. , Mauro Katie D. , Assenmacher Tara D.
Published: November 2024

Objective

To describe the treatment of a unique cause of acute abdomen in a puppy.

Case Summary

An 11‐week, 5‐day‐old female intact Alaskan Malamute was presented to an emergency service for an acute onset of vomiting. On evaluation, the puppy was found to have cranial abdominal pain with an otherwise normal physical examination. An inflammatory leukogram with no other clinically significant findings was found on the initial diagnostics. An abdominal ultrasound showed peritoneal effusion and a lobulated structure in the left cranial abdomen. An emergency exploratory celiotomy was performed, during which evidence of torsion was found in the left limb of the pancreas, which was subsequently excised from the abdomen. The puppy was hospitalized overnight and discharged the next day. Histopathology of the pancreas was consistent with torsion.

Unique Information Provided

Pancreatic torsion is a rare but potential cause of acute abdomen in dogs and can be successfully treated with surgical excision.
Bacterial isolates and antibiotic sensitivity in canine bacterial keratitis in Korea
Authors: Park Jiwoo , Kim Donghee , Kwon Myeongjee , Kwon Hyun , Yong Jungyeon , Yoon Haerin , Hwang Jiyi , Jung Ji Seung , Park Kyung‐Mee
Published: November 2024

Objective

To analyze bacterial isolates associated with canine bacterial keratitis and their antibiotic susceptibility patterns in Korea, focusing on multidrug resistance (MDR) and identifying effective antibiotic combinations for clinical treatment.

Animal studied

A total of 146 dogs diagnosed with suspected bacterial keratitis between October 2022 and October 2023 in Korea, with 157 eye samples collected for analysis.

Procedure

Eye samples were cultured to isolate bacteria, and antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed using the minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) method. Bacterial identification was conducted using Matrix‐Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time‐of‐Flight (MALDI‐TOF). The study assessed the efficacy of individual antibiotics and combination therapies.

Results

Bacteria were isolated in 55.4% of the samples. The most common genera were Staphylococcus species (48.5%, 48/99), Streptococcus species (13.1%, 13/99), Pseudomonas species (9.1%, 9/99), and Escherichia coli (9.1%, 9/99). Amikacin (84.8%) showed the highest antibiotic susceptibility, while doxycycline exhibited the lowest (17.2%). The most effective antibiotic combinations were amikacin‐moxifloxacin (93%). MDR isolates accounted for 52.5% (52/99) of the total bacterial samples.

Conclusions

Staphylococcus species were the most common isolates, with 52.5% showing MDR, underscoring the need to curb antibiotic misuse. While antibiotics like amikacin demonstrated high susceptibility rates, their use should be reserved for resistant infections to prevent further resistance development. Rather than focusing solely on finding effective combinations of antibiotics, it is crucial to consider alternative treatment strategies that offer more sustainable solutions. Rather than relying on antibiotic combinations, attention should shift to sustainable alternatives to treat bacterial keratitis and reduce antibiotic dependence in clinical practice.
Improving phosphorus availability in sewage sludge ash through a novel microwave‐based technology
Authors: Massa Mattia , Zanoletti Alessandra , Fiameni Laura , Valentim Bruno , Depero Laura Eleonora , Bontempi Elza
Published: November 2024

This work is connected with the increasing demand for fertilizers and the associated supply risks and market volatility in the European Union (EU). It highlights the reliance on phosphorus from Moroccan phosphate rocks and the environmental issues stemming from the overuse of phosphate‐based fertilizers. The paper suggests a shift in perspective, viewing waste as a valuable resource. Specifically, it explores the potential of recycling phosphorus from sewage sludge ash, which contains a high phosphorus concentration. The focus is on comparing two methods of phosphorus extraction from sewage sludge ashes: classical wet‐chemical extraction and a new microwave‐based technology. There is an increase in phosphorus bioavailability with the microwave treatment, making it a promising approach for waste management. An initial economic evaluation suggests that the microwave method is highly competitive, especially when compared with wet‐chemical extraction technologies. The resulting material from the microwave treatment is classified as a straight solid inorganic macronutrient fertilizer according to EU regulations.
Vertical silicon nanowedge formation by repetitive dry and wet anisotropic etching combined with 3D self-aligned sidewall nanopatterning
Authors: Pordeli Yasser , Steenge Céline , Berenschot Erwin J. W. , Hueting Ray J. E. , Migliorini Andrea , Parkin Stuart S. P. , Tas Niels R.
Published: November 2024

Three-dimensional (3D) stacking of nano-devices is an effective method for increasing areal density, especially as downscaling of lateral device dimensions becomes impractical. This stacking is mainly achieved through plasma processing of stacked layers on top of a silicon (Si) substrate, which offers process flexibility but poses challenges in obtaining vertical sidewalls without plasma induced damage. A novel wafer-scale fabrication method is presented for realizing sub-200 nm vertically stacked Si nanowedges at the wafer scale, using iterative dry etching, wet anisotropic etching, and thermal oxidation. This approach forms nanowedges by the slow etching {111} Si planes, resulting in smooth surfaces at well-defined angles. A silicon nitride (Si3N4) hard mask is used in an iterative (etch-and-deposit) process, with its thickness determining the number of process iterations. By optimizing etch selectivity during dry etching and/or increasing the initial Si3N4 thickness, the number of process iterations can be increased. The periodicity of the nanowedges can be adjusted by varying the etch time of both dry and wet anisotropic etching. A thin silicon dioxide (SiO2) layer (∼6 nm) is grown on the nanowedges during each iteration. 3D sidewall patterning at the sub-20 nm scale is achieved using corner lithography and local oxidation of Si to selectively open the concave corners. Rhombus-shaped structures are formed at each concave corner after wet anisotropic etching of Si. This novel technology platform will allow for the 3D fabrication of high-density nanodevices for electronic, fluidic, plasmonic, and other applications.
Realization of Airy pattern acoustic bullets by depth of focus synthesis
Authors: Wang Shenggeng , Zheng Weicheng , Yang Zengtao , Zhou Qingli
Published: November 2024

Energy concentration is a key parameter for the characterization of light or acoustic bullets. To the best of our knowledge, the highest encircled-energy ratio in the mainlobe reported is merely 25% for the solitary bullet waves and 30% for the nonsolitary bullet waves. This letter reports experimentally and theoretically on a new family of acoustic bullets, namely, Airy pattern ultrasonic bullets, realized by the depth of focus synthesis. The Airy pattern ultrasonic bullets, regarded as a beam with an ultra-long depth of focus, exhibit Airy pattern energy distribution and contain 83.8% of total energy in their mainlobe. In the depth of focus synthesis proposed, an ultra-long depth of focus could be longitudinally synthesized by successive acoustic foci by using an acoustic reflection cavity (ARC). In contrast to the well-known aperture synthesis which utilizes a platform motion to extend the aperture, the depth of focus synthesis employs multiple reflections in ARC to extend its physical dimensions. The Airy pattern ultrasonic bullets presented would be potentially useful in long-range ultrasound imaging, ultrasonic therapy, and acoustic wireless energy transmission.
Consideration of Young People’s Active Travel in National Urban Policy Documents in Asia: A Documentary Analysis
Authors: Maulida Rizka , Smith Andrea D. , Weimann Amy , Oni Tolu , van Sluijs Esther M.F.
Published: November 2024

Background: Active travel to school faces challenges in urbanized and car-centric Asian regions. The UN-Habitat supports global governments in formulating National Urban Policies (NUPs) for sustainable urban development. This study examined how young people’s active travel is discussed in NUP documents in selected Asian countries. Methods: Framing analysis using thematic coding was applied to NUP documents from Asian countries. NUP documents were identified via the UN-Habitat’s Urban Policy Platform website. A theory-based framework, using both inductive and deductive coding, was employed to identify discussions on key themes related to young people’s active travel (active travel, transport, physical activity, young people, and school). A semiquantitative heat map visualized theme patterns coverage (presence; degree of policy-relevant detail discussed). Results: NUP documents from 15 (of 47) Asian countries were retrieved. Transport promotion was acknowledged in 11/15 countries. Discussions on young people’s active travel were limited (7/15 featured detailed discussion). Main themes (active travel, physical activity, young people, and school) were treated as secondary considerations, with active travel framed as a utilitarian solution rather than a well-being promoter. Additional contextual considerations (sustainability, natural disaster risk, pollution, and urban congestion) were identified through inductive analysis. Conclusions: NUPs inadequately incorporate active travel, especially in relation to young people. NUPs focus on transport and sustainability while neglecting physical activity, schools, and youth. A more intersectoral approach, tailored to each country’s priorities, is necessary for enhanced policy development. Leveraging active travel as a double-duty intervention allows policymakers to tackle health and sustainability challenges along with concerns about traffic congestion and pollution.
Surveillance of Youth Sports Participation in the United States: Strengths, Limitations, and Future Directions
Authors: Pfeiffer Karin A. , Clevenger Kimberly A.
Published: November 2024

Purpose: National surveillance of behaviors, including physical activity and sport can provide insight with respect to population-level trends. The purpose of this investigation was to characterize the existing sources of surveillance for organized youth sport participation in the United States and highlight knowledge gaps. Methods: We identified nationally representative and free publicly available surveillance data from 2012 to 2022 and report the prevalence of sport participation, the number of sports in which youth participated, and in which specific sports youth participated overall, and by demographic characteristics. Results: Eight surveillance systems met our inclusion criteria. Across systems, estimates ranged from 39.6% to 81.5% of youth participating in any organized sport, with 21.8% to 30.4% of youth participating in one sport. The most common sports were basketball and soccer. Limited information with respect to characteristics of sport participation was collected across systems. Conclusions: Multiple data sources regarding overall organized youth sport participation are available; there is little information further characterizing this participation (eg, setting, volume, specialization), limiting ability to examine important aspects related to public health. Comprehensive, on-going, national surveillance of multiple youth sport domains is needed in the United States to inform sport-promoting policy and ensure equitable provision of quality sport experiences.
Trans People Struggling To Be Human in Sports and Exercise: Passing, Mediating, and Challenging Cis- and Heteronormativity
Authors: Auran Isak , Bäckström Åsa , Larsson Håkan
Published: November 2024

This study explores how trans individuals struggle to make themselves intelligible as humans in a cis- and heteronormative context of sports and exercise. Ten trans people with present or prior experience in sports and exercise were interviewed. The analysis draws from Butler’s idea of trans people’s exclusion as a question of unintelligibility instead of oppression. The study demonstrates three overreaching ways trans people make themselves discursively intelligible as humans: by passing as cis, by coming out as trans yet mediating potential inconvenience this may pose on others, and by coming out as trans paired with challenging cis- and heteronormativity. We argue that practices aligning to intelligibility as humans are key for trans people in sports, exercise, and possibly in other walks of life.
Salmonella
dry surface biofilm: morphology, single-cell landscape, and sanitization
Authors: Lin Zejia , Liang Zhiqian , He Shuang , Chin Fion Wei Lin , Huang Dejian , Hong Yi , Wang Xiang , Li Dan
Published: November 2024

In this study,
Salmonella
Typhimurium dry surface biofilm (DSB) formation was investigated in comparison with wet surface biofilm (WSB) development. Confocal laser scanning microscopic analysis revealed a prominent green cell signal during WSB formation, whereas a red signal predominated during DSB formation. Electron microscopy was also used to compare the features of DSB and WSB. Overall, WSB was unevenly scattered over the surface, whereas DSB was evenly dispersed. In contrast to WSB cells, which have a distinct plasma membrane and outer membrane layer, DSB cells are contained in large capsules and compressed. Next, microbiome single-cell transcriptomics was used to investigate the functional heterogeneity of the
Salmonella
DSB microbiome, with nine clusters successfully identified. Although over 60% of the dried cells were metabolically inactive, the rest of the
Salmonella
cells still demonstrated specific antioxidative and virulence capabilities, suggesting a possible concern for low-moisture food (LMF) safety. Finally, because sanitization in LMF industries must be conducted without water, a list of 39 flavonoids was tested for their combined effect with 70% isopropyl alcohol (IPA) against DSB, and morin induced the greatest reduction in the green:red ratio from 3.67 to 0.43. Significantly higher reductions of
Salmonella
viability in DSB were achieved by 10-, 100-, 1,000-, and 10,000-µg/mL morin (1.69 ± 0.25, 3.21 ± 0.23, 4.32 ± 0.24, and 5.18 ± 0.16 log CFU/sample reductions) than 70% IPA alone (1.55 ± 0.20 log CFU/sample reduction) (
P
< 0.05), indicating the potential to be formulated as a dry sanitizer for the LMF industry.

IMPORTANCE

DSB growth of foodborne pathogens in LMF processing environments is associated with food safety, financial loss, and compromised consumer trust. This work is the first comprehensive examination of the characteristics of
Salmonella
DSB while exploring its underlying survival mechanisms. Furthermore, morin dissolved in 70% IPA was proposed as an efficient dry sanitizer against DSB to provide insights into biofilm control during LMF processing.
An update on novel taxa and revised taxonomic status of bacteria isolated from domestic companion and agricultural animals described in 2023
Authors: Lawhon Sara D. , Burbick Claire R. , Krueger Trinity , Ruiz-Reyes Elena , Munson Erik
Published: November 2024

With the proliferation of abundant bacterial genomic data comes the recognition of new organisms as well as a better understanding of the relatedness of known bacteria. Recognizing the associated taxonomic changes enhances communication and understanding about the significance of novel organisms and deeper understanding of known pathogens. This review addresses the addition of multiple gastrointestinal bacteria that form the normal microbiota in a variety of animals including honeybees as well as novel bacteria from domestic animals including an alpha-hemolytic
Streptococcus
species from guinea pigs, two
Moraxella
spp. from cows and goats, a new
Capnocytophaga
species from cats, a thermophilic
Campylobacter
species from pigs, and the new
Exercitatus
genus in Family
Pasteurellaceae
. Several revisions to the nomenclature also appeared in 2023 including the change of
Clostridium spiroforme,
which causes anorexia and diarrhea in domestic rabbits, to
Thomasclavelia spiroformis
comb. nov. and
Mannheimia ovis
to
Mannheimia pernigra
.
A temperature-sensitive and less immunogenic Sendai virus for efficient gene editing
Authors: Stevens Christian S. , Carmichael Jillian C. , Watkinson Ruth , Kowdle Shreyas , Reis Rebecca A. , Hamane Kory , Jang Jason , Park Arnold , Pernet Olivier , Khamaikawin Wannisa , Hong Patrick , Thibault Patricia , Gowlikar Aditya , An Dong Sung , Lee Benhur
Published: November 2024

The therapeutic potential of gene editing technologies hinges on the development of safe and effective delivery methods. In this study, we developed a temperature-sensitive and less immunogenic Sendai virus (ts SeV) as a novel delivery vector for CRISPR-Cas9 and for efficient gene editing in sensitive human cell types with limited induction of an innate immune response. ts SeV demonstrates high transduction efficiency in human CD34
+
hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) including transduction of the CD34
+
/CD38
−
/CD45RA
−
/CD90
+
(Thy1
+
)/CD49f
high
stem cell enriched subpopulation. The frequency of
CCR5
editing exceeded 90% and bi-allelic
CCR5
editing exceeded 70% resulting in significant inhibition of HIV-1 infection in primary human CD14
+
monocytes. These results demonstrate the potential of the ts SeV platform as a safe, efficient, and flexible addition to the current gene-editing tool delivery methods, which may help further expand the possibilities in personalized medicine and the treatment of genetic disorders.

IMPORTANCE

Gene editing has the potential to be a powerful tool for the treatment of human diseases including HIV, β-thalassemias, and sickle cell disease. Recent advances have begun to overcome one of the major limiting factors of this technology, namely delivery of the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing machinery, by utilizing viral vectors. However, gene editing therapies have yet to be implemented due to inherent risks associated with the DNA viral vectors typically used for delivery. As an alternative strategy, we have developed an RNA-based Sendai virus CRISPR-Cas9 delivery vector that does not integrate into the genome, is temperature sensitive, and does not induce a significant host interferon response. This recombinant SeV successfully delivered CRISPR-Cas9 in primary human CD14+ monocytes
ex vivo
resulting in a high level of CCR5 editing and inhibition of HIV infection.
Identification and characterization of host factor VCPIP1 as a multi-functional positive regulator of hepatitis B virus
Authors: Kang Ning , Liu Nannan , Liu Mu , Zhang Shimei , Yang Yang , Hou Jia , Tan Dan , Gao Zixiang , Xie Youhua , Shen Zhongliang , Liu Jing
Published: November 2024

Chronic infection with hepatitis B virus (HBV) remains an important public health challenge. Viral covalently closed circular DNA (cccDNA) persists in infected hepatocytes and serves as the template for transcribing all viral RNA species. HBV regulatory protein X (HBx) interacts with other viral and cellular proteins to play diverse functions in viral life cycle, including modulation of cccDNA transcription activity. Here, we used proximity labeling coupled with proteomic analysis to screen for HBx-interacting host proteins. One of the identified candidates, deubiquitinating enzyme valosin-containing protein-interacting protein 1 (VCPIP1), directly binds HBx and stabilizes HBx by reducing its proteasomal degradation, which corroborated a recent report. VCPIP1-mediated upregulation of HBV transcription, antigen expression, and genome replication was demonstrated using a series of HBV replication and infection models. More importantly, VCPIP1 was found to upregulate HBV in the absence of HBx. Mechanistic studies revealed that VCPIP1 HBx-independently associates with HBV enhancer I/X promoter (EnI/Xp) and positively modulates both its promoter and enhancer activities, partially through promoting the binding of YY1 transcription factor to EnI/Xp. Results presented here expand the recently described role of VCPIP1 in HBV life cycle and establish it as a multi-functional positive regulator of this virus.

IMPORTANCE

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) encodes the regulatory protein HBx that plays crucial roles in viral life cycle and cellular processes through interacting with viral and cellular proteins. Identifying HBx-interacting proteins may reveal novel aspects of host-virus interactions. In this work, proximity labeling coupled with proteomic analysis identified multiple HBx-interacting host factors, and among these, valosin-containing protein-interacting protein 1 (VCPIP1) was confirmed to directly bind HBx and reduce its proteasomal degradation, corroborating a recent report. In addition to upregulating HBx-expressing HBV, we showed that VCPIP1 also positively regulates mutant HBV lacking HBx expression. This novel HBx-independent function of VCPIP1 was shown to involve its association with one viral promoter/enhancer element, which upregulated the latter’s promoter and enhancer activities. These results establish VCPIP1 as a positive regulator of HBV that acts through multiple, diverse mechanisms and might also contribute toward revealing novel cellular functions of VCPIP1.
In the margins of stigma: health inequalities among Bulgarian Roma in a post-COVID-19 UK
Authors: Sarafian Iliana , Robinson Alice , Christov Assen , Tarchini Aleksandra
Published: November 2024

The COVID-19 pandemic had a disproportionate impact on minoritised ethnic groups in the UK, including newly arrived Roma communities. Employing ethnographic and participatory methods, this study illustrates how systemic barriers, including precarious employment and overcrowded housing, coupled with strategies of identity concealment to avoid stigma, severely restrict access to healthcare among Bulgarian Roma communities in the UK. Drawing from fieldwork in Leicester and London, the research reveals how the pandemic amplified the vulnerabilities of Roma populations, directly linking the effects of the pandemic with broader sociopolitical dynamics, including the uncertainties and discrimination associated with Brexit. The findings point to the critical role of community, mutual and familial support networks as essential survival strategies. However, these social networks are also increasingly depleted, revealing the fragility and limits of informal communal resources. The study calls for the development of inclusive health strategies sensitive to the socio-economic and political complexities affecting marginalised communities in the UK and beyond.
Reporting of late-onset immune-related adverse events with immune checkpoint inhibitors in VigiBase
Authors: Noseda Roberta , Bedussi Francesca , Giunchi Valentina , Fusaroli Michele , Raschi Emanuel , Ceschi Alessandro
Published: November 2024

Background

To date, evidence on late-onset immune-related adverse events (irAEs) with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) is limited to a small number of clinical cases. This study aimed to identify drug- and patient-related characteristics potentially associated with the reporting of late-onset irAEs with ICIs in VigiBase, the WHO global database of individual case safety reports (ICSRs).

Methods

Observational study comparing deduplicated ICSRs with ICIs reporting late-onset irAEs (occurred >90 days after ICI discontinuation) versus ICSRs with ICIs not reporting late-onset irAEs, collected in VigiBase from 2011 to December 31, 2022. Logistic regression was used to model the relationship between drug-related and patient-related characteristics of ICSRs and the reporting of late-onset irAEs. Significance was determined for variables with the lower bound of the 95% CI of the reporting OR (ROR) higher than 1 and a p value <0.05.

Results

The study population consisted of 6006 ICSRs with ICI-related irAEs (4574, 76.2%, originated from Europe; 3900, 64.9%, involved males; median patient age was 67 years, IQR 59–74 years). Of these, 344 (5.7%) ICSRs reported a total of 388 late-onset irAEs, among which the most frequent were thyroiditis (n=45), pneumonitis (n=37), interstitial lung disease (n=25), hepatitis (n=23) and vitiligo (n=19). Median time to onset since ICI discontinuation was 167 days (IQR 115–294 days), with negligible proportion (3.2%) of co-reported antineoplastic agents during the discontinuation period. Logistic regression models showed disproportionate reporting of late-onset irAEs with ICI combination therapy (ROR 2.33, 95% CI 1.19 to 4.57), reporting of multiple irAEs (ROR 3.96, 95% CI 2.85 to 5.52), reporting of cutaneous irAEs (ROR 1.83, 95% CI 1.24 to 2.71), and melanoma (ROR 1.47, 95% CI 1.04 to 2.06).

Conclusions

This global pharmacovigilance study provides the largest case series of late-onset irAEs with ICIs to date and identifies characteristics of ICSRs associated with disproportionate reporting. Dedicated prospective observational studies focused on long-term sequelae, quality of life and survival of patients developing late-onset irAEs with ICIs should be planned to confirm whether these reporting characteristics are predictors of actual occurrence. Furthermore, translational research should be encouraged to clarify the molecular mechanisms underlying late-onset irAE development.
Effect of abnormal distribution of abdominal adiposity and skeletal muscle on the outcomes of endovascular treatment for emergent large vessel occlusion
Authors: Cui Chengcheng , Geng Zhiwen , Chen Hao , Lu Mengxia , Wang Yuqiao , Shen Dayong , Li Rui , Xiao Lulu , Liu Xinfeng
Published: November 2024

Background

The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between imaging indicators of obesity, as measured by computed tomography (CT), and clinical outcomes at 90 days and 1 year after emergent endovascular therapy (EVT).

Methods

Participants with emergent large vessel occlusion (ELVO) who underwent EVT were prospectively enrolled. During hospitalization, CT scans were performed to evaluate the visceral adipose tissue area (VATA) and skeletal muscle area (SMA) at the level of the third lumbar spine. Multivariate regression analysis was used to assess the correlation of obesity-related imaging measures with various outcomes: mortality, favorable functional outcomes (modified Rankin scale (mRS) score 0–2), and functional improvement (shift in mRS score) at 90 days and 1 year.

Results

A total of 306 ELVO patients were included in the study, with a median age of 64 years and a median baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of 18. After adjusting for potential confounders, the VATA-to-SMA ratio (VSR) was significantly associated with a favorable functional outcome (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.13 to 0.70) at 90 days and a favorable functional outcome (OR 0.27, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.61) and functional improvement (OR 0.33, 95% CI 0.12 to 0.92) at the 1 year follow-up.

Conclusion

Our study indicated that lower VSR levels are associated with favorable functional outcomes, along with functional improvement at 90 days and 1 year of follow-up.
Apheresis therapies in MOGAD: a retrospective study of 117 therapeutic interventions in 571 attacks
Authors: Schwake Carolin , Ladopoulos Theodoros , Häußler Vivien , Kleiter Ingo , Ringelstein Marius , Aktas Orhan , Kümpfel Tania , Engels Daniel , Havla Joachim , Hümmert Martin W , Kretschmer Julian Reza , Tkachenko Daria , Trebst Corinna , Ayroza Galvão Ribeiro Gomes Ana Beatriz , Pröbstel Anne-Katrin , Korporal-Kuhnke Mirjam , Wildemann Brigitte , Jarius Sven , Pul Refik , Pompsch Mosche , Krämer Markus , Then Bergh Florian , Gödel Clemens , Schwarz Patricia , Kowarik Markus C , Rommer Paulus Stefan , Vardakas Ioannis , Senel Makbule , Winkelmann Alexander , Retzlaff Nele , Weber Martin S , Husseini Leila , Walter Annette , Schindler Patrick , Bellmann-Strobl Judith , Paul Friedemann , Gold Ralf , Ayzenberg Ilya
Published: November 2024

Background

Incomplete attack remission is the main cause of disability in myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein antibody-associated disease (MOGAD). Apheresis therapies such as plasma exchange and immunoadsorption are widely used in neuroimmunology. Data on apheresis outcomes in MOGAD attacks remain limited.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated all apheresis treated attacks occurring in patients with MOGAD between 2008 and 2023 at 18 Neuromyelitis Optica Study Group centres. Treatment response was categorised as complete, partial or no remission. Preattack and follow-up Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and visual Functional System Scores (FSS) were used to calculate absolute outcomes (ΔEDSS/Δvisual FSS). Predictors of complete remission were analysed using a generalised linear mixed model.

Results

Apheresis was used for 117/571 (20.5%) attacks in 85/209 (40.7%) patients. Attacks with simultaneous optic neuritis and myelitis were treated more often with apheresis (42.4%, n=14) than isolated myelitis (25.2%, n=35), cerebral manifestation (21.0%, n=17) or isolated optic neuritis (17.6%, n=51). Apheresis was initiated as first-line therapy in 12% (4.5 (IQR 0–11) days after attack onset), second-line therapy in 62% (15 (IQR 6.75–31) days) and third-line therapy in 26% (30 (IQR 19–42) days). Complete remission was achieved in 21%, partial remission in 70% and no remission in 9% of patients. First-line apheresis (OR 2.5, p=0.040) and concomitant disease-modifying therapy (OR 1.5, p=0.011) were associated with complete remission. Both parameters were also associated with a favourable ΔEDSS. No differences in outcomes were observed between the apheresis types.

Conclusion

Apheresis is frequently used in MOGAD attacks. An early start as first-line therapy and concomitant disease-modifying therapy predict full attack recovery.
Introduction to the Cretaceous System: regional studies
Authors: Hart Malcolm B. , Batenburg Sietske J. , Huber Brian T. , Price Gregory D. , Thibault Nicolas , Wagreich Michael , Walaszczyk Irek P.
Published: November 2024

The Cretaceous System was first established by Jean Baptiste Julien d'Omalius d'Halloy based on his geological mapping of France and the adjacent areas of the Low Countries and Northern Italy. His map, which was published in 1822, has a legend with a rock unit identified as ‘
Terrain Crétacé
’ and that was the birth of the Cretaceous System that we still use today. Unlike many of the other geological systems, there was no definitive publication, only an account about the generation of the map. The Cretaceous, as currently defined, occupies the interval of time from 145 to 66 Ma, making it one of the longest in the Phanerozoic. The Cretaceous includes both icehouse and greenhouse (even hothouse) conditions and much of the time is characterized by exceptionally high sea-levels. These have provided us with widespread deposits of Cretaceous age, from the Arctic to the Antarctic, and all latitudes between. The range of sediments, both marine and terrestrial, is also a backdrop to a range of faunas and floras, some of which are widespread while others are endemic as a result of the Cretaceous dispersion of the continents.
The Development and (Mis)appropriation of a Digital Kit for Jewellers
Authors: Koulidou Nantia , Carvalho Luis , Gleadow Tanya , Petrelli Daniela
Published: November 2024

Jewellers’ participation in interaction design is scarce, yet the creativity of jewellers could add value as they interpret materials and mediate personal connections in poetic ways. We investigate how to empower jewellers to experiment with the possibilities that physical computing offers to their practice. This paper presents the making of a Digital Jewellery Kit, a composite of pre-assembled circuitry, used by second-year BA jewellery students during a 10-week project which brought together theory and practice. Drawing on students’ reflective accounts, we discuss what made the jewellers’ path into physical computing more meaningful to their practice, what type of artefacts they created with electronics as well as what values drove their creative process. We offer design recommendations on how to support the praxes of jewellers whilst allowing their creativity to grow through their new understanding of physical computing and contribute to the discussions around hybrid craft within HCI and educational contexts.
Efficient Multivariate Time Series Anomaly Detection Through Transfer Learning for Large-Scale Software Systems
Authors: Sun Yongqian , Liang Minghan , Zhang Shenglin , Che Zeyu , Luo Zhiyao , Li Dongwen , Zhang Yuzhi , Pei Dan , Pan Lemeng , Hou Liping
Published: November 2024

Timely anomaly detection of multivariate time series (MTS) is of vital importance for managing large-scale software systems. However, many deep learning-based MTS anomaly detection models require long-term MTS training data to achieve optimal performance, which often conflicts with the frequent pattern changes observed in software systems. Moreover, the training overhead of vast MTS in large-scale software systems is unacceptably high. To address these issues, we design
OmniTransfer
, a model-agnostic framework that combines weighted hierarchical agglomerative clustering with an adaptive transfer learning strategy, making many state-of-the-art (SOTA) MTS anomaly detection models efficient and effective. Extensive experiments using real-world data from a large web content service provider and a network operator show that
OmniTransfer
significantly reduces the model initialization time by 46.49% and the training cost by 74.51%, while maintaining high accuracy in detecting anomalies.
Public Computing Intellectuals in the Age of AI Crisis
Authors: Connolly Randy
Published: November 2024

The belief that AI technology is on the cusp of causing a generalized social crisis became a popular one in 2023. While there was no doubt an element of hype and exaggeration to some of these accounts, they do reflect the fact that there are troubling ramifications to this technology stack. This conjunction of shared concerns about social, political, and personal futures presaged by current developments in AI presents the academic discipline of computing with a renewed opportunity for self-examination and reconfiguration. This position article endeavors to do so in four sections. The first section explores what is at stake for computing in the narrative of an AI crisis. The second section articulates possible educational responses to this crisis and advocates for a broader analytic focus on power relations. The third section presents a novel characterization of academic computing’s field of practice, one which includes not only the discipline’s usual instrumental forms of practice but reflexive practice as well. This reflexive dimension integrates both the critical and public functions of the discipline as equal intellectual partners and a necessary component of any contemporary academic field. The final section will advocate for a conceptual archetype—the Public Computer Intellectual and its less conspicuous but still essential cousin, the Almost-Public Computer Intellectual—as a way of practically imagining the expanded possibilities of academic practice in our discipline, one that provides both self-critique and an outward-facing orientation toward the public good. It will argue that the computer education research community can play a vital role in this regard. Recommendations for pedagogical change within computing to develop more reflexive capabilities are also provided.
Past, Present, and Future of Forbs in Old-Growth Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands
Authors: Siebert Frances , te Beest Mariska , Fynn Richard , Klimešová Jitka , Morris Craig , Nkuna Sindiso , Siebert Stefan , Fidelis Alessandra
Published: November 2024

Forbs are important contributors to species diversity and ecosystem functions in low-latitude grasslands, where they support diverse herbivore communities and millions of people. Native forb assemblages tolerate disturbances and physiological stressors (fire, herbivory, drought, and frost) that together have shaped their exceptional functional diversity. Yet, compared to trees and grasses, forbs have received much less attention in grassland studies until recently. Here, we review forb-centric literature to illustrate that land conversion and responsible management of fire and herbivory are crucial to maintaining forb diversity. Management practices promoting forb diversity offer (a) high-quality food items and medicinal resources that support rural livelihoods and animal diversity (from wild ungulates and livestock to fossorial rodents and insects), including their adaptive foraging patterns, and (b) carbon and nutrient inputs that regulate belowground processes. Improved understanding of the above- and belowground regeneration strategies of forbs is critical for restoration and conservation to secure their services in future old-growth tropical and subtropical grasslands.
Onboard Sensors Reveal New Insights into Animal Decision-Making
Authors: Goldshtein Aya , Yovel Yossi
Published: November 2024

The continuous process of decision-making in animals is crucial for their survival. For example, when deciding when, where, and with whom to forage, they need to consider their internal state, previous experience, and social information in addition to external factors such as food distribution and weather conditions. Studying animal decision-making in the wild is a complicated task due to the complexity of the process, which requires continuous monitoring of the examined individual and its environment. Here, we review the most advanced methods to examine decision-making from an individual point of view, namely tracking technologies to monitor the movement of an individual, the sensory information available to it, the presence and behavior of other animals around it, and its surrounding environment. We provide examples for studying decision-making during competition, examining the ontogeny of decision-making, and describing the importance of long-term monitoring and field manipulation for understanding decision processes throughout different life stages.
Alterations in the transcriptome and microRNAs of adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells from different sites in rats during aging
Authors: Su Zhenyang , Xu Tianhua , Sun Jin-Yu , Sun Wei , Kong Xiangqing
Published: November 2024

Dynamic changes in mRNAs and miRNAs of ADMSCs during aging are shown. As aging progressed, we observed a reduction in the number of ADMSCs at all anatomical sites. Aging leads to the activation of inflammatory and cellular dysfunction. miR-195-5p and miR-497-3p are positively correlated with aging, which promoted cell senescence and apoptosis while inhibiting proliferation and differentiation. ADMSCs associated with different anatomical sites have site-specific markers.