bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Determinants of normal haemoglobin concentration among under-five children in Sub-Saharan Africa: a Positive deviance inquiry using cross-sectional study design
Authors: Seifu Beminate Lemma , Tesema Getayeneh Antehunegn , Tebeje Tsion , Legesse Bruck Tesfaye , Yehuala Tirualem Zeleke , Wuneh Abel Gebre , Tadese Zinabu Bekele , Mare Kusse Urmale
Published: April 2024

Background

Low haemoglobin level in children is linked with short-term and long-term consequences including developmental delay. Globally, over half of the children under the age of five years had low haemoglobin concentration. However, there is limited research on the prevalence and determinants of normal haemoglobin concentration among under-five children in sub-Saharan Africa.

Objective

To assess determinants of normal haemoglobin concentration among under-five children in SSA.

Design

Cross-sectional study design using a positive deviance approach

Setting

33 SSA countries.

Participants

129 408 children aged 6–59 months

Primary and secondary outcome measures

A multilevel Poisson regression model with robust variance was fitted to identify determinants of normal haemoglobin concentration. An adjusted prevalence ratio with a 95% CI was reported to declare the statistical significance.

Result

The pooled prevalence of normal haemoglobin concentration among under-five children in SSA was 34.9% (95% CI: 34.6% to 35.1%). High maternal education, middle and rich household wealth, female child, frequent antenatal care visits, non-anaemic mothers, taking anthelmintic drugs and normal nutritional status were associated with increased odds of normal haemoglobin concentration. On the other hand, higher birth order, having fever and diarrhoea, rural residence were associated with lower odds of normal haemoglobin levels.

Conclusion

According to our finding, only four out of 10 under-five children in SSA had a normal haemoglobin level. This finding proved that anaemia among children in SSA remains a serious public health concern. Therefore, improving maternal education, provision of drugs for an intestinal parasite and early detection and treatment of maternal anaemia, febrile illness and diarrhoeal disease is important.
Prospective cohort study of long-term neurological outcomes in retired elite athletes: the Advanced BiomaRker, Advanced Imaging and Neurocognitive (BRAIN) Health Study protocol
Authors: Zimmerman Karl A , Hain Jessica A , Graham Neil S N , Rooney Erin Jane , Lee Ying , Del-Giovane Martina , Parker Thomas D , Friedland Daniel , Cross Matthew J , Kemp Simon , Wilson Mathew G , Sylvester Richard J , Sharp David J
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Although limited, recent research suggests that contact sport participation might have an adverse long-term effect on brain health. Further work is required to determine whether this includes an increased risk of neurodegenerative disease and/or subsequent changes in cognition and behaviour. The Advanced BiomaRker, Advanced Imaging and Neurocognitive Health Study will prospectively examine the neurological, psychiatric, psychological and general health of retired elite-level rugby union and association football/soccer players.

Methods and analysis

400 retired athletes will be recruited (200 rugby union and 200 association football players, male and female). Athletes will undergo a detailed clinical assessment, advanced neuroimaging, blood testing for a range of brain health outcomes and neuropsychological assessment longitudinally. Follow-up assessments will be completed at 2 and 4 years after baseline visit. 60 healthy volunteers will be recruited and undergo an aligned assessment protocol including advanced neuroimaging, blood testing and neuropsychological assessment. We will describe the previous exposure to head injuries across the cohort and investigate relationships between biomarkers of brain injury and clinical outcomes including cognitive performance, clinical diagnoses and psychiatric symptom burden.

Ethics and dissemination

Relevant ethical approvals have been granted by the Camberwell St Giles Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 17/LO/2066). The study findings will be disseminated through manuscripts in clinical/academic journals, presentations at professional conferences and through participant and stakeholder communications.
What impact have the IOC medical consensus statements made on athlete health? A survey of medical commissions from National Olympic/Paralympic Committees and International Sports Federations
Authors: Fortington Lauren Victoria , Badenhorst Marelise , Derman Wayne , Emery Carolyn , Pasanen Kati , Schwellnus Martin , Verhagen Evert , Finch Caroline F
Published: April 2024

Background

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) Medical and Scientific Commission has supported collating and sharing evidence globally by developing sports medicine consensus statements (‘Statements’'). Publishing the Statements requires substantial resources that must be balanced by use and impact on policy and practice. This study aimed to gain a better understanding of awareness and uptake of the Statements globally through a survey of the National Olympic Committees (NOC), National Paralympic Committees (NPC) and International Federations (IF).

Method

A cross-sectional survey of medical commission representatives from NOCs/NPCs/IFs. A structured questionnaire was distributed through the IOC head office, informed by prior research. Questions comprised a mix of closed and open-text responses with results presented descriptively by organisation type and total.

Results

55 responses were included: 29 (52%) from NOC/NPC representatives (response rate 14%) and 26 (47%) from IF representatives (response rate 63%). All Statements had been used by at least one respondent, with the Statement addressing concussion ranked highest (used by 33/55). The main barriers to use were financial limitations (n=21), club/sport culture and behaviours (n=19) and lack of understanding from coaches/team sport personnel (n=19). Participants believed the Statements were a successful strategy for improving athlete health (n=39/51 agree or strongly agree).

Conclusion

There was clear support for the continued development of sports medicine guidance, including in the format of these Statements. To ensure Statements lead to demonstrable health benefits for athletes, input from athletes, coaches and supporting staff is needed, as well as clearer identification of the purpose and audience of each topic developed.
Severe acute myositis and myocarditis on initiation of 6-weekly pembrolizumab post-COVID-19 mRNA vaccination
Authors: Watson Robert A , Ye Weiyu , Taylor Chelsea A , Jungkurth Elsita , Cooper Rosalin , Tong Orion , James Tim , Shine Brian , Hofer Monika , Jenkins Damian , Pell Robert , Ieremia Eleni , Jones Stephanie , Maldonado-Perez David , Roberts Ian S D , Coupe Nicholas , Middleton Mark R , Payne Miranda J , Fairfax Benjamin P
Published: April 2024

We describe three cases of critical acute myositis with myocarditis occurring within 22 days of each other at a single institution, all within 1 month of receiving the initial cycle of the anti-PD-1 drug pembrolizumab. Analysis of T cell receptor repertoires from peripheral blood and tissues revealed a high degree of clonal expansion and public clones between cases, with several T cell clones expanded within the skeletal muscle putatively recognizing viral epitopes. All patients had recently received a COVID-19 mRNA booster vaccine prior to treatment and were positive for SARS-CoV2 Spike antibody. In conclusion, we report a series of unusually severe myositis and myocarditis following PD-1 blockade and the COVID-19 mRNA vaccination.
Treatment trends and clinical outcomes of endovascular embolization for unruptured intracranial aneurysms in the pediatric population
Authors: Dicpinigaitis Alis J , Syed Shoaib A , Sillari Catherine , Fifi Johanna T , Pisapia Jared , Nuoman Rolla , Gandhi Chirag D , Al-Mufti Fawaz
Published: April 2024

Background

Owing to the relative rarity of unruptured intracranial aneurysms (UIAs) in the pediatric population, evidence regarding treatment modalities and clinical outcomes remains limited.

Objective

To characterize the use and clinical outcomes of endovascular therapy (EVT) and microsurgical clipping (MSC) for pediatric UIAs over a two-decade interval using a large national registry.

Methods

Pediatric (<18 years of age) UIA hospitalizations were identified in the National Inpatient Sample from 2002 to 2019. Temporal use and clinical outcomes were compared for treatment with EVT and MSC.

Results

Among 734 UIAs identified, 64.9% (n=476) were treated with EVT. Use of EVT significantly increased during the study period from 54.3% (2002–2004) to 78.6% (2017–2019) (P=0.002 by Cochrane-Armitage test). In comparison with those treated with MSC, pediatric patients treated with EVT demonstrated higher rates of favorable outcomes (discharge to home without services) (96.0% vs 91.1%, P=0.006), shorter durations of hospital stay (4.6 vs 10.0 days, P<0.001), and lower rates of ischemic or hemorrhagic procedural-related complications (1% vs 4%, P=0.010). Conservative management also increased significantly over the study period (P<0.001 by Cochrane-Armitage test).

Conclusion

A retrospective evaluation of nearly 20 years of population-level data from the United States demonstrates increasing use of EVT for the treatment of pediatric UIAs, with high rates of favorable outcomes and shorter hospital stays in comparison with those treated with microsurgery.
Characterisation of the octogenarians presenting to the diagnostic heart failure clinic: SHEAF registry
Authors: Thompson Luke , Carr Fiona , Rogers Dominic , Lewis Nigel , Charalampopoulos Athanasios , Fent Graham , Garg Pankaj , Swift Andrew J , Al-Mohammad Abdallah
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Heart failure (HF) incidence is increasing in older adults with high hospitalisation and mortality rates. Treatment is complicated by side effects and comorbidities. We investigated the clinical characteristics of octogenarians presenting to the HF clinic.

Methods

Data were collected on octogenarians (80–89 years) referred to the HF clinic in two periods. The data included demographics, HF phenotype, comorbidities, symptoms and treatment. We investigate the temporal changes in clinical characteristics using χ2test. We aimed to determine the clinical characteristics which were associated with optimisation of HF pharmacological intervention in the clinic, conducting multivariate regression analysis. Statistical significance is determined at p<0.05.

Results

Data were collected in April 2012 to January 2014 and in June 2021 to December 2022. In this cross-sectional study of temporal data, 571 octogenarians were referred to the clinic in the latter period, in whom the prevalence of HF was 68.48% (391 patients). HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) was the most common phenotype and increased significantly compared with the first period (46.3% and 29.2%, p<0.001). Frailty, chronic kidney disease and ischaemic heart disease increased significantly versus the first period (p<0.001). During the second period, and following the consultation, of the patients with HF with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), 86.4% and 82.7% were on a beta blocker and on an ACE inhibitor/angiotensin receptor blocker/angiotensin receptor-neprilysin inhibitor, respectively. Clinical characteristics associated with further optimisations of HF pharmacological therapy in the HF clinic were: New York Heart Association (NYHA) functional class III and the presence of HFrEF phenotype

Conclusions

With a prevalence of HF at 68% among the octogenarians referred to the HF clinic, HFpEF incidence is rising. The decision to optimise HF pharmacological treatment in octogenarians is driven by NYHA functional class III and the presence of HFrEF phenotype.
Development and validation of a self-updating gout register from electronic health records data
Authors: Bürgisser Nils , Mongin Denis , Mehouachi Samia , Buclin Clement P. , Guemara Romain , Darbellay Farhoumand Pauline , Braillard Olivia , Lauper Kim , Courvoisier Delphine S.
Published: April 2024

Objective

To develop an automatic gout register from electronic health records (EHRs) data.

Methods

We analysed the EHR of all patients >18 years old from a tertiary academic hospital (2013–2022) based on six criteria: International Classification of Diseases 10 gout diagnosis, urate-lowering therapy prescription, monosodium urate crystals in joint aspiration and gout-related terms in problem lists, clinical or imaging reports. We assessed the positive and negative predictive value (PPV and NPV) of the query by chart reviews.

Results

Of 2 110 902 outpatients and inpatients, 10 289 had at least one criterion for gout. The combination of joint aspiration OR diagnostic in the problem list OR≥2 other criteria created a register of 5138 patients, with a PPV of 92.4% (95% CI 88.5% to 95.0%) and an NPV of 94.3% (95% CI 91.9% to 96.0%). PPV and NPV were similar among outpatients and inpatients. Incidence was 2.9 per 1000 person-year and dropped by 30% from the COVID-19 pandemic onward. Patients with gout were on average 71.2 years old (SD 14.9), mainly male (76.5%), overweight (69.5%) and polymorbid (mean number of comorbidities of 3, IQR 1–5). More than half (57.4%) had received a urate-lowering treatment, 6.7% had a gout that led to a hospitalisation or ≥2 flares within a year and 32.9% received a rheumatology consultation.

Conclusion

An automatic EHR-based gout register is feasible, valid and could be used to evaluate and improve gout management. Interestingly, the register uncovered a marked underdiagnosis or under-reporting of gout since the COVID-19 pandemic.
Independent and combined effects of very low nicotine cigarette messages and e-cigarette messages: a randomised clinical trial
Authors: Pei Di , Reynolds Reed M , Ntansah Charity A , Hackworth Emily E , Henderson Katherine C , Yang Bo , Duong Hue Trong , Ashley David L , Thrasher James F , Popova Lucy
Published: April 2024

Background

USA is considering reducing nicotine in cigarettes to non-addictive levels, coupled with promoting alternative nicotine delivery products (eg, e-cigarettes). However, effective communication is needed to reduce misperceptions about very low nicotine cigarettes (VLNCs) being less harmful than regular cigarettes.

Methods

In 2022–2023, we conducted a four-group randomised clinical trial with a national probability sample from an online panel (971 adults who smoked cigarettes exclusively, 472 adults who dual used cigarettes and e-cigarettes and 458 adults aged 18–29 who had never smoked). Participants were randomised (parallel assignment) to one message condition: (1) VLNCs as harmful but easier to quit than regular cigarettes (n=468), (2) those who are not ready to quit should consider switching to e-cigarettes as less harmful alternatives (n=484), (3) combined (VLNC and e-cigarette messages; n=476) or (4) control condition (ie, water ads), n=473. The primary outcome was perceived absolute harm of VLNCs.

Results

Perceived harm of VLNCs was higher in the VLNC condition compared with the e-cigarette and control conditions, and higher in the combined condition compared with the e-cigarette condition (adjusted p<0.05). Among adults who dual used, intention to switch to e-cigarettes was higher in the VLNC condition than the e-cigarette, combined or control conditions (adjusted p<0.05).

Conclusions

VLNC messages reduced the misperception that VLNCs are less harmful than cigarettes, but adding messages about e-cigarettes did not enhance desired outcomes. These VLNC messages can be considered during the rollout of a reduced nicotine policy.

Trial registration

NCT05506046
Construction of new hydrophobic δ-MnO2 flower-like/kaolin/(3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane/metal mesh membrane for oil/water separation: modeling of fouling process
Authors: Sakhaee Alireza , Moghadam Zadeh Hamid Reza , Fazaeli Reza , Raoufi Nahid
Published: April 2024

A composite material consisting of δ-MnO2 flower-like/kaolin was modified with (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) and utilized for separating sunflower oil from water using a metal mesh membrane. The δ-MnO2 flower-like/kaolin/APTES/metal mesh membrane was characterized using various techniques such as X-ray diffraction analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy mapping, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller theory/Barrett–Joyner–Halenda, atomic force microscopy, and contact angle. Based on the outcomes of the conducted experiments, it was observed that the maximum porosity was associated with the δ-MnO2 flower-like/kaolin/APTES 15 (wt.%)/metal mesh (MKA(15 wt.%)M) membrane, and the porosity was calculated to be 0.58%. The blocking filtration model was employed, and a complete blocking model was obtained with a value of n = 2.15 for MKA(15 wt.%)M membrane. The response surface methodology based on Box–Behnken design was utilized to investigate the effect of parameters such as weight percentage of APTES (wt.%), mass of δ-MnO2 flower-like/kaolin/APTES (MKA) (g), volume of oil in water (mL), and temperature (°C) on the flux (L/m2·h) and rejection (%). Under optimal conditions, weight percentage of 13.32 (wt.%) of APTES, concentration of 0.2 (g) of MKA, volume of 37.10 (mL) of oil in water, and a temperature of 59.06 (°C) were obtained. These conditions resulted in a flux of 5977 (L/m2·h) and a rejection rate of 99.99% for 9 s. The kinetic studies indicated that the pseudo-second-order model had the highest correlation coefficient of 0.9991, thus displaying the most agreement with the experimental data.
AIMHNet: An Attribute-Insensitive Multiscale Hourglass Network for Rain Streak and Raindrop Removal
Authors: Zhao Ruini , Han Yi , Kang Nan , Zhao Jian , Cui Yang
Published: April 2024

CNN-based methods have made great progress in single-image rain removal. Most recent methods improve performance by increasing the depth of the network. To fully extract local and global features while reducing inference time, we propose a top-to-down attribute-insensitive multiscale hourglass network for rain streak and raindrop removal. For the rain removal task, we expect that the constructed network can accurately identify the various attributes of the rain information characteristics of the small target. Considering the difference in the size, shape, direction and density of rain streak and raindrop, inspired by the performance of hourglass architecture to capture multiscale features in human pose estimation, we introduce an attribute-insensitive hourglass module to recognize the attributes of rain streak and raindrop in a unified framework. This feature extraction module could capture the characteristics of rain streak and raindrop with different attributes. This stacked hourglass blocks down-sample features and then up-samples them back to the original resolution based on discrete wavelet transform and inverse discrete wavelet transform. We perform extensive experiments on five synthetic and real-world de-raining datasets to validate the effectiveness of our proposed network on rain streak and raindrop removal. The qualitative and quantitative results show that our method is suitable for removing rain streak and raindrop in a unified framework. We present the results of generalization and ablation study for key components, we also report the accuracy of semantic segmentation after preprocessing with all rain removal methods. Our source code will be available on the GitHub: https://github.com/Ruini94/AIMHNet .
Application of superthermal light to imaging and quantum communication protocols
Authors: Cassina Silvia , Cenedese Gabriele , Bondani Maria , Allevi Alessia
Published: April 2024

The development of quantum technologies based on optical platforms demands an adequate engineering of the employed quantum states of light. In this framework, we show that superthermal states generated by sending a coherent beam through a sequence of two diffusers in cascade represent good candidates for different applications. Here, we summarize some recent results achieved exploiting this kind of light and show that it can be used to realize a differential ghost-imaging scheme and to encode information in an underwater communication protocol based on mesoscopic twin-beam states and photon-number-resolving detectors. The good quality of the experimental results suggests further investigations on the possible application of this kind of light to different contexts.
Plantar Haptic Display to Estimate the Position of the Projected Center of Gravity of a Humanoid
Authors: Otani Takuya , Kuroiwa Yuji , Takanishi Atsuo
Published: April 2024

Humans can perform stable motion with a sense of stability that involves identifying their center of gravity point with plantar sensory system. By contrast, the stability of a humanoid robot is inferior to that of a human. If the sense of stability of a humanoid robot is presented to a human who operates the robot in real time, the operator can control the robot more stably. However, studies wherein humans recognize the projected center of gravity point with a plantar haptic display are lacking. In this study, we investigated the possibility of estimating the projected center of gravity point of a small humanoid robot from only the foot force information. We propose a plantar haptic display to reproduce the foot reaction force on four points of a single sole as large as the force during human running. We conducted an experiment to verify the estimated center of gravity point using the foot reaction forces of a small robot with and without scaling by a weight ratio between an operator and the robot. The results indicated that it is difficult to estimate the projected center of gravity point without scaling; however, it is possible to estimate the movement of the projected center of gravity point with a maximum error of [Formula: see text] [Formula: see text]mm with scaling.
Green Synthesis of Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles Derived from Solanum Nigrum Leaf Extract: An Analysis of the Structural, Optical, and Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Albert Helen Merina , Kumar Nellore Manoj , Asatkar Archana , Sailaja J. Madhuri , Mala N. Mani , Raja Vaishnavi , Bhatta Kalpita
Published: April 2024

The “green synthesis” method is environmentally benign and cost-effective. This research study adopted an environmentally compatible method for creating Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using the capping element Solanum nigrum leaf extract. The X-ray diffraction, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, UV-visible spectroscopy, fluorescence spectroscopy, field emission scanning electron microscopy, and antibacterial investigations were employed to evaluate the structural, spectroscopic, and antibacterial characterizations of the green synthesized ZnO NPs. It was shown that the generated ZnO NPs had a typical particle size of 27.75 nm and a wurtzite hexagonal form. FTIR spectroscopy has confirmed the presence of the functional groups in the generated sample. By using EDX analysis, the ZnO NPs’ fabrication and chemical composition have been determined. The surface texture and aggregation of nanostructure entities were examined using FESEM micrographs. Based on UV-Vis investigations, the bandgap of the ZnO NP was calculated to be 3.82 eV. The fluorescent spectra revealed a significant emission peak at 542 nm (green) for an excitation wavelength of 270 nm. The broad Stokes shift observed in fluorescent spectra is beneficial for practical purposes. The results of the antibacterial test shows that the as-synthesized ZnO NPs can be used in the healthcare and environmental sectors to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria.
On the topological indices and graph operation
Authors: Shooshtari Hajar , Sheikholeslami Seyed Mahmoud , Cancan Murat
Published: April 2024

As we know that some chemically interesting graphs can be obtained by different graph operations on some general or particular graphs, it is important to study such graph operations in order to understand how it is related to the corresponding topological indices of the original graphs. In [A. Miličević, A. Nikolić and S. Trinajstić, On reformulated Zagreb indices, Mol. Divers. 8 (2004) 393–399], authors defined two new variants of Corona product and investigated some topological indices. In this paper, we extended the work and found the formulas of the F-index, hyper-Zagreb index, and Sigma index for double join of graphs based on the total graph and double corona of graphs based on the total graph. Moreover, some applications of the derived results are also discussed.
Propagating image-based rock classes from cored to non-cored depth intervals using supervised machine learning
Authors: Sahu Pallavi , Gonzalez Andres , Heidari Zoya , Lopez Olivier
Published: April 2024

High-resolution image data is instrumental in quantifying the variation of rock fabric in formation evaluation that conventional well logs fail to capture. However, the acquisition of image data for all wells in a reservoir is restricted due to technology limitations and the high cost involved. The main objective of this paper is to propose a workflow to extrapolate rock fabric information from imaged depth intervals/wells to nearby un-imaged depth intervals/wells for enhanced formation evaluation in un-imaged wells. To propagate rock fabric information, we trained a supervised learning algorithm in a well with core photos, CT-scan images, and conventional well logs. Subsequently, the trained model is used to identify fabric-influenced well-log-based rock classes using only conventional well logs in un-imaged depth intervals/well (referred to as fabric-based rock classes). We applied the proposed workflow to two wells in a siliciclastic formation with spatial variation in rock fabric. Comparison of the detected fabric-based rock classes in the nearby depth intervals/well using the trained model with image-based rock classes resulted in an average accuracy of 94%. The outcomes of this paper contribute to accelerated identification of rock types honouring rock fabric while minimizing extensive imaging and coring efforts.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Digitally enabled geoscience workflows: unlocking the power of our data collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/digitally-enabled-geoscience-workflows
Fifteen Technologies to Enliven Online Teaching and Learning
Authors: Aroz Jacob , Larson Elizabeth , Mandernach Jean
Published: April 2024

Harnessing the power of instructional technology, educators can drastically enhance the learning experience by infusing their curriculum with digital tools specifically chosen to align with their teaching objectives. The article highlights 15 such technologies--Canva, Genially, Waklet, Quizizz, Flip, Flipsnack, PowToon, Anchor, Bitmoji, Loom, Padlet, Google Jamboard, Moovly, Edpuzzle, and Clarisketch--each providing unique opportunities for creating engaging content, fostering interaction, and enabling collaboration in the digital classroom.
UniQRNet: Unifying Referring Expression Grounding and Segmentation with QRNet
Authors: Ye Jiabo , Tian Junfeng , Yan Ming , Xu Haiyang , Ye Qinghao , Shi Yaya , Yang Xiaoshan , Wang Xuwu , Zhang Ji , He Liang , Lin Xin
Published: April 2024

Referring expression comprehension aims to align natural language queries with visual scenes, which requires establishing fine-grained correspondence between vision and language. This has important applications in multi-modal reasoning systems. Existing methods typically use text-agnostic visual backbones to extract features independently without considering the specific text input. However, we argue that the extracted visual features can be inconsistent with the referring expression, which hurts multi-modal understanding. To address this, we first propose Query-modulated Refinement Network (QRNet) that leverages language guidance to guide visual feature extraction. However, it only focuses on the grounding task that can only provide coarse-grained annotations in the form of bounding box coordinates. The guidance for the visual backbone is indirect, and the inconsistent issue still exists. To this end, we further propose UniQRNet, a multi-task framework over the QRNet to learn referring expression grounding and segmentation jointly. The framework introduces a multi-task head that leverages fine-grained pixel-level supervision from the segmentation task to directly guide the intermediate layers of QRNet to learn text-consistent visual features. Besides, UniQRNet also includes a loss balance strategy that allows two types of supervision signals to cooperate and optimize the model together. We conduct the most comprehensive comparison experiment covering four major datasets, ten evaluation set and three evaluation metrics used in previous work. UniQRNet outperforms previous state-of-the-art methods by a large margin on both referring comprehensive grounding (1.8%~5.09%) and segmentation tasks (0.57%~5.56%). Ablation and analysis reveal that UniQRNet can improve the consistency of visual features with text input and can bring significant performance improvement.
Unifying Graph Neural Networks with a Generalized Optimization Framework
Authors: Shi Chuan , Zhu Meiqi , Yu Yue , Wang Xiao , Du Junping
Published: April 2024

Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) have received considerable attention on graph-structured data learning for a wide variety of tasks. The well-designed propagation mechanism, which has been demonstrated effective, is the most fundamental part of GNNs. Although most of the GNNs basically follow a message passing manner, little effort has been made to discover and analyze their essential relations. In this article, we establish a surprising connection between different propagation mechanisms with an optimization problem. We show that despite the proliferation of various GNNs, in fact, their proposed propagation mechanisms are the optimal solutions of a generalized optimization framework with a flexible feature fitting function and a generalized graph regularization term. Actually, the optimization framework can not only help understand the propagation mechanisms of GNNs but also open up opportunities for flexibly designing new GNNs. Through analyzing the general solutions of the optimization framework, we provide a more convenient way for deriving corresponding propagation results of GNNs. We further discover that existing works usually utilize naïve graph convolutional kernels for feature fitting function or just utilize one-hop structural information (original topology graph) for graph regularization term. Correspondingly, we develop two novel objective functions considering adjustable graph kernels showing low-pass or high-pass filtering capabilities and one novel objective function considering high-order structural information during propagation, respectively. Extensive experiments on benchmark datasets clearly show that the newly proposed GNNs not only outperform the state-of-the-art methods but also have good ability to alleviate over-smoothing and further verify the feasibility for designing GNNs with the generalized unified optimization framework.
Automation: Theory, Evidence, and Outlook
Authors: Restrepo Pascual
Published: April 2024

This article reviews the literature on automation and its impact on labor markets, wages, factor shares, and productivity. I first introduce the task model and explain why this framework offers a compelling way to think about recent labor market trends and the effects of automation technologies. The task model clarifies that automation technologies operate by substituting capital for labor in a widening range of tasks. This substitution reduces costs, creating a positive productivity effect, but it also reduces employment opportunities for workers displaced from automated tasks, creating a negative displacement effect. I survey the empirical literature and conclude that there is wide qualitative support for the implications of task models and the displacement effects of automation. I conclude by discussing shortcomings of the existing literature and avenues for future research.
Cerebellar Functions Beyond Movement and Learning
Authors: Kim Linda H. , Heck Detlef H. , Sillitoe Roy V.
Published: April 2024

The cerebellum has a well-established role in controlling motor functions, including coordination, posture, and the learning of skilled movements. The mechanisms for how it carries out motor behavior remain under intense investigation. Interestingly though, in recent years the mechanisms of cerebellar function have faced additional scrutiny since nonmotor behaviors may also be controlled by the cerebellum. With such complexity arising, there is now a pressing need to better understand how cerebellar structure, function, and behavior intersect to influence behaviors that are dynamically called upon as an animal experiences its environment. Here, we discuss recent experimental work that frames possible neural mechanisms for how the cerebellum shapes disparate behaviors and why its dysfunction is catastrophic in hereditary and acquired conditions—both motor and nonmotor. For these reasons, the cerebellum might be the ideal therapeutic target.
Optimization in Visual Motion Estimation
Authors: Clark Damon A. , Fitzgerald James E.
Published: April 2024

Sighted animals use visual signals to discern directional motion in their environment. Motion is not directly detected by visual neurons, and it must instead be computed from light signals that vary over space and time. This makes visual motion estimation a near universal neural computation, and decades of research have revealed much about the algorithms and mechanisms that generate directional signals. The idea that sensory systems are optimized for performance in natural environments has deeply impacted this research. In this article, we review the many ways that optimization has been used to quantitatively model visual motion estimation and reveal its underlying principles. We emphasize that no single optimization theory has dominated the literature. Instead, researchers have adeptly incorporated different computational demands and biological constraints that are pertinent to the specific brain system and animal model under study. The successes and failures of the resulting optimization models have thereby provided insights into how computational demands and biological constraints together shape neural computation.
Exploring High-Voltage Sulfate Cathodes for Low-Temperature Thermal Batteries
Authors: Yu Huayu , Liu Yang , Zhao Yaxu , Wang Yan , Zhu Jiajun , Yang Wulin , Zhou Lingping , Fu Licai
Published: April 2024

Thermal batteries have high specific energy and can operate in harsh environments, making them suitable for military and aerospace applications. However, existing cathode materials do not meet the high power and energy density requirements of advanced military systems. This urgent need motivates the development of new high-performance cathodes. Sulfates, as polyanionic compounds with highly electronegative anions, often exhibit higher voltages than phosphates. This high voltage should match the high power output needs of thermal battery cathode, though few studies explore sulfate. In this of case, NiSO4, CoSO4, and CuSO4 were investigated as cathode materials for thermal battery. They all have higher voltage and greater specific capacity at 450 °C (cut-off voltage is 75% of peak voltage) than at 500 °C or higher. Compared with other temperatures, the peak voltage of CoSO4 cathode at 450 °C is 2.23 V and the specific capacity is 296 mAh g−1. While CuSO4 showed modest capacity at 450 °C, its high voltage of 2.5 V makes it a promising high energy density cathode. This work provides new insights into cathode materials for high power and energy density thermal batteries.
A Rational Approach to Suppress Hydrogen Evolution Reaction and its Concurrent Zinc Corrosion in Zinc-air Batteries: A Uniform Dispersion of Carbon Nanodots in the Electrolyte
Authors: Subramaniam Thiruvenkatam , B. S. Krishnaveni , K. S. Rajan , S. Devaraj
Published: April 2024

Zinc-air batteries (ZABs) have garnered tremendous attention due to their higher theoretical energy density, cost-free fuel from the atmosphere, ease of fabrication, and environmental friendliness. However, the poor kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER) happening at the air-cathode, the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER), and its concurrent zinc corrosion occurring at the anode contribute to the failures of ZABs. While various electrocatalysts are developed to accelerate ORR and OER, the strategies explored to mitigate the issues of anode involve modification of either the zinc anode or the electrolyte. Though the modification of the anode or the electrolyte suppresses HER, it affects the oxygen reactions taking place at the air-cathode. Herein, HER and its concurrent zinc corrosion are suppressed by uniform dispersion of carbon nanodots in the native electrolyte. In addition, this rational approach accelerates both the ORR and OER. The carbon nanodots are prepared electrochemically and characterized using absorption and emission spectroscopy and microscopic studies. Subsequently, carbon nanodots are uniformly dispersed in 6 M KOH (CNF) and used as the electrolyte. The CNF suppresses HER by increasing the overpotential and impedes the zinc corrosion.
Empowering students to create their dramatizations increases understanding of physiology
Authors: Zulissetiana Eka Febri , Irfannuddin Muhammad , Putri Siti Sarahdeaz Fazzaura , Alkaf Syifa , Susilawati Susilawati , Marshanda Jihan , Septiany Ra Fadila , Az-Zahra Hasyimiah , Carroll Robert G.
Published: April 2024

The preparation of dramatizations involved students. The ideas, analogies, and dramatizations were originally from students. Dramatization is an alternative form of understanding learning objectives of medical physiology in an interesting way to increase motivation.
SGLT2-independent effects of canagliflozin on NHE3 and mitochondrial complex I activity inhibit proximal tubule fluid transport and albumin uptake
Authors: Albalawy Wafaa N. , Youm Elynna B. , Shipman Katherine E. , Trull Keelan J. , Baty Catherine J. , Long Kimberly R. , Rbaibi Youssef , Wang Xue-Ping , Fagunloye Olayemi G. , White Katharine A. , Jurczak Michael J. , Kashlan Ossama B. , Weisz Ora A.
Published: April 2024

Reduced NHE3-mediated Na+ transport has been suggested to underlie the cardiorenal protection provided by SGLT2 inhibitors. We found that canagliflozin, but not empagliflozin, reduced NHE3-dependent fluid transport and endocytic uptake in cultured proximal tubule cells. These effects were independent of SGLT2 activity and resulted from inhibition of mitochondrial complex I and NHE3. Studies in mice are consistent with greater effects of canagliflozin versus empagliflozin on fluid transport. Our data suggest that these selective effects of canagliflozin contribute to reduced Na+-dependent transport in proximal tubule cells.
Cell death induced by acute renal injury: a perspective on the contributions of accidental and programmed cell death
Authors: Noh Mi Ra , Padanilam Babu J.
Published: April 2024

The involvement of cell death in acute kidney injury (AKI) is linked to multiple factors including energy depletion, electrolyte imbalance, reactive oxygen species, inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and activation of several cell death pathway components. Since our review in 2003, discussing the relative contributions of apoptosis and necrosis, several other forms of cell death have been identified and are shown to contribute to AKI. Currently, these various forms of cell death can be fundamentally divided into accidental cell death and regulated or programmed cell death based on functional aspects. Several death initiator and effector molecules switch molecules that may act as signaling components triggering either death or protective mechanisms or alternate cell death pathways have been identified as part of the machinery. Intriguingly, several of these cell death pathways share components and signaling pathways suggesting complementary or compensatory functions. Thus, defining the cross talk between distinct cell death pathways and identifying the unique molecular effectors for each type of cell death may be required to develop novel strategies to prevent cell death. Furthermore, depending on the multiple forms of cell death simultaneously induced in different AKI settings, strategies for combination therapies that block multiple cell death pathways need to be developed to completely prevent injury, cell death, and renal function. This review highlights the various cell death pathways, cross talk, and interactions between different cell death modalities in AKI.
Feasibility of continuous bronchoscopy during exercise in the assessment of large airway movement in healthy subjects
Authors: Williams Zander J. , Orton Christopher M. , Garner Justin L. , Chan Ley T. , Tana Anand , Shah Pallav L. , Polkey Michael I. , Semple Thomas , Hull James H.
Published: April 2024

This study demonstrates that large airway movement can be visualized with bronchoscopy undertaken during vigorous exercise. This approach does not require sedation and permits characterization of the behavior of the large airways and the tendency toward collapse during upright, ambulatory exercise. In healthy individuals, the response pattern of the large airways during exercise appears to differ markedly from the pattern of airway closure witnessed during forced expiratory maneuvers, assessed via imaging.
Increased diameter and stiffness of elastic but not muscular arteries in men with abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Shlimon Kristian , Lindenberger Marcus , De Basso Rachel , Cinthio Magnus , Bjarnegård Niclas
Published: April 2024

We present data partially supporting the notion of abdominal aortic aneurysm being a systemic vascular disease with focal manifestation in the abdominal aorta, from two well-defined groups recruited from a regional screening program. We show that elastic arteries distal from the aorta exhibit vascular alterations without aneurysmal formation in subjects with AAA compared with controls while muscular arteries seem unaffected.
Effect of obesity on sleep apnea pathogenesis differs in women versus men: multiple mediation analyses in the retrospective SNOOzzzE cohort
Authors: Nokes Brandon , Orr Jeremy E. , White Stephanie , Luu Steven , Chen Zihan , Alex Raichel , Sands Scott A. , Wojeck Brian S. , Owens Robert L. , Malhotra Atul , Schmickl Christopher N.
Published: April 2024

Our data provide important insights into obesity-related obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) pathogenesis, thereby validating, and extending, prior research findings. This is the largest sample size study to examine the relationships between obesity and gender on OSA pathogenesis. The influence of obesity on sleep apnea severity is mediated by different mechanistic traits (endotypes).
A Chromosomal-Level Genome of Dermatophagoides farinae, a Common Allergenic Mite Species
Authors: Hu Rongxuan , Huang Haifeng , Zhou Ying , Liu Yanshan , Ren Yaning , Liao Yuanfen , Yuan Cunyin , Gu Xiaohong , Cui Yubao
Published: April 2024

Background. Genome data have been used to find novel allergen from house dust mites. Here, we aim to construct a chromosome-level genome assembly of Dermatophagoides farinae, a common allergenic mite species. Methods. We achieved a chromosome-level assembly of D. farinae’s genome by integrating PacBio single-molecule real-time sequencing, Illumina paired-end sequencing, and Hi-C technology, followed by annotating allergens and mapping them to specific chromosomes. Results. A 62.43 Mb genome was assembled with a 0.52% heterozygosity rate and a 36.11 Merqury-estimated quality value. The assembled genome represents 92.1% completeness benchmarking universal single-copy orthologs with a scaffold N50 value of 7.11 Mb. Hi-C scaffolding of the genome resulted in construction of 10 pseudochromosomes. The genome comprises 13.01% (7.66 Mb) repetitive sequences and predicts 10,709 protein-coding genes, 96.57% of which are functionally annotated. Moreover, we identified and located 36 allergen groups on specific chromosomes, including allergens Der f 1, Der f 2, Der f 23, Der f 4, Der f 5, Der f 7, and Der f 21 located on chromosomes 2, 1, 7, 3, 4, 6, and 4, respectively. Conclusion. This comprehensive genomic data provides valuable insights into mite biology and evolutionary adaptations, potentially advancing D. farinae allergy research and treatment strategies.
Modeling and Simulation of the Effect of Airbag Thickness on the Performance of Extended Handle Pneumatic Floor Jack
Authors: Aliy Abduljebar Mahmud , Nallamothu Ramesh Babu , Nasir Abdulbasit
Published: April 2024

In the process of changing tires, drivers require a suitable lifting device, namely, a jack, that can be inserted into a designated slot strategically positioned beneath the vehicle. Similarly, in workshops and maintenance facilities, jacks are essential for part replacements and maintenance. This research focuses on the design and analysis of extended handle pneumatic floor jacks specifically tailored for light-duty vehicles. The aim is to enhance effectiveness by enabling the repair of multiple vehicles simultaneously using a single compressor. The study utilizes ANSYS 2022R1 to assess the structural weaknesses of pneumatic airbags, aiming to explore technological advancements and develop an optimal airbag design capable of lifting light vehicles. Natural rubber is utilized as the airbag material, with thicknesses of 2.5 mm, 2.75 mm, and 3 mm. The study investigates three different airbag behaviors: von Mises stress, strain, and deformation in two directions. A pressure of 8.2 MPa is applied, and a weight of 4000 kg is imposed. The results indicate that the 2.5 mm and 2.75 mm thicknesses are unable to sustain the load and pressure, with the weakest area identified between the natural rubber and the metal cast iron that contacts the car’s body. Overall, the research achieved its objectives, and the findings will be effectively applied to model the extended handle pneumatic floor jack, facilitating tire lifting for maintenance and tire changes.
Insights from Health and Social Care Professionals Supporting Children and Young Adults with a Parent Diagnosed with Dementia: An Interview Study
Authors: Tyrrell Marie , Jönsson Andreas , Södergren Ulrika , Hedman Ragnhild , Sandberg Jonas , Gransjön Craftman Åsa
Published: April 2024

Dementia is recognised as one of the major global health and social care challenges of present times. When the onset of dementia occurs in midlife, there is an increased possibility that there are children and young adults involved who are dependent on the parent concerned. The aim of the study was to describe health and social care professionals’ experiences of identifying and supporting children and young adults with a parent with dementia. A qualitative descriptive approach was carried out with individual interviews of health and social care professionals, using a semistructured interview guide. Thirteen participants in rural and urban areas in Sweden were interviewed. The overarching theme, advocating a forgotten group with three categories were identified. They combine and reflect health and social care professionals’ experiences of identifying and supporting children and young adults with a parent with dementia. Health and social care professionals who encountered children and young adults with a parent with dementia described how they were not sufficiently trained in supporting this group and identified a general shortage of available appropriate support services. The children and young adults were also described as a forgotten and overlooked group in need of affirmation and support in a more systematic way.