bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Precise spectroscopy of metastable Li+ using the optical Ramsey technique in support of time dilation tests
Authors: Zhou Peng-Peng , Chen Shao-Long , Qin Cheng-Gang , Chang Xu-Rui , Zhou Zhi-Qiang , Sun Wei , Huang Yao , Gao Ke-Lin , Guan Hua
Published: November 2024

Time dilation constitutes a crucial aspect of Lorentz invariance within special relativity and undergoes constant scrutiny through numerous Ives-Stilwell-type experiments employing the Doppler effect. In our study, we employed optical Ramsey spectroscopy on a Li+ ion beam to enhance the precision of measuring the intrinsic transition frequency 23S1−23P2 to the level of four parts in 1010 with speed of 0.00035c. Our findings reconciled an existing 2 MHz disparity between collinear and perpendicular laser spectroscopy. Furthermore, in conjunction with previous studies on Li+ ion beams traveling at speeds of 0.064c and 0.338c [
Nat. Phys.
3, 861 (2007)NPAHAX1745-247310.1038/nphys778;
Phys. Rev. Lett.
113, 120405 (2014)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.113.120405], we updated the Robertson-Mansouri-Sexl parameter α^ to be (−10.0±9.9)×10−8 and (−2.9±2.0)×10−8, respectively.
Hydrogen-enhanced light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy sensing
Authors: He Ying , Wang Yuanzhi , Qiao Shunda , Duan Xiaoming , Qi Hong , Ma Yufei
Published: November 2024

A hydrogen (H2)-enhanced light-induced thermoelastic spectroscopy (LITES) sensor is proposed for the first time, to our knowledge, in this paper. The enhancement with H2 significantly reduces the resonance damping of a quartz tuning fork (QTF), leading to a 2.5-fold improvement in the quality factor (Q-factor) to 30,000 without introducing additional noise into the LITES sensor system. Based on the H2-enhancement effect, a self-designed round-head QTF with a low resonance frequency (f0) of 9527 Hz and a fiber coupled multipass cell (MPC) with an optical length of 40 m were utilized to increase the energy accumulation time of QTF and the optical absorption of the target gas, respectively, to demonstrate an ultra-highly sensitive C2H2-LITES sensor. The long-term stability of the H2-enhanced C2H2-LITES sensor was investigated based on Allan deviation analysis. With an optimal integration time of 140 s, the minimum detection limit (MDL) was improved to 290 parts per trillion (ppt). Compared to other reported state-of-the-art C2H2-LITES techniques with similar parameters, this sensor shows a 241-fold improvement in the MDL. This H2-enhancement technique proves to be a highly effective method for achieving a high Q-factor QTF, characterized by its simplicity and efficiency. It offers substantial potential for applications in QTF-based gas sensing.
Dynamic generation of multiplexed vortex beams by a space-time-coding metasurface
Authors: Tang Pengcheng , Si Liming , Yuan Qianqian , Tian Jie , Deng Jiaxuan , Ma Tianyu , Bao Xiue , He Chong , Zhu Weiren
Published: November 2024

Dynamic generation of multimode vortex waves carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) utilizing programmable metasurfaces has attracted considerable attention. Yet, it is still a challenge to achieve multiplexed vortex waves with an arbitrary customized mode combination, stemming fundamentally from the discrete control over phase exhibited by current programmable metasurfaces, which are typically constrained to a limited 1-bit or 2-bit discrete resolution. In this paper, we propose, to our knowledge, a new strategy for dynamic generation of multiplexed vortex beams based on a space-time-coding metasurface, capable of quasi-continuous complex-amplitude modulation for harmonic waves. As a proof of concept, a metasurface prototype for generating multiplexed vortex beams with the customized mode composition and power allocation is established based on the transmissive space-time-coding meta-atoms regulated by the field programmable gate array controller. The mode purity of the vortex beams with a single OAM mode of +1, +2, and +3 generated by the metasurface is as high as over 0.93. The generated multiplexed vortex beams carrying (+1, +2, +3) OAM modes with a power ratio of 1:1:1, (+1, +2, +3) modes with a power ratio of 1:2:3, and (−2, −1, +1, +2) modes with a power ratio of 1:2:2:1 are further verified effectively. The proposed space-time-coding metasurface has great potential for OAM multiplexing communication systems.
Wie gelingt es BIM unter Berücksichtigung ökonomischer Aspekte mit Hilfe von Softwarelösungen besser in ausführende Gewerke der Baubranche zu integrieren?
Authors: Schmallenbach Tobias , Strina Giuseppe , Köhn Philipp
Published: November 2024

Dieser Beitrag stellt einen neuen Ansatz zur nachhaltigen Entwicklung von Softwarelösungen zur Digitalisierung von ausführenden Gewerken der Baubranche unter Berücksichtigung von ökonomischen Aspekten vor. Jene ausführenden Gewerke der Baubranche leiden unter dem hohen Innovationsdruck, insbesondere durch die Digitalisierung, welche zunehmend auch Building Information Modeling umfasst. Jedoch bleibt, trotz internationaler Erfolge bei der Effizienzsteigerung und Kostensenkung, die Anwendungsrate von Building Information Modeling in Deutschland mit nur 10 % der Bauprojekte gering. Dies liegt vor allem an der aufwendigen Implementierung, bestehenden Medienbrüchen auf technischer Seite und der fehlenden Integrationen ins Geschäftsmodell der ausführenden Gewerke. Um genau diese Herausforderung zu adressieren, zielt dieser Beitrag darauf ab, Softwarelösungen zu entwickeln, die die Anwendung von Building Information Modeling für ausführende Gewerke der Baubranche erleichtern. Dabei wird ein integrativer Ansatz verfolgt, der das Geschäftsmodell der ausführenden Gewerke der Baubranche und das Service-Ökosystem der entwickelten Softwarelösungen berücksichtigt. Diese Methode soll sicherstellen, dass die entwickelten Softwarelösungen nachhaltig und langfristig angewendet werden können.
High-level visual prediction errors in early visual cortex
Authors: Richter David , Kietzmann Tim C. , de Lange Floris P.
Published: November 2024

Perception is shaped by both incoming sensory input and expectations derived from our prior knowledge. Numerous studies have shown stronger neural activity for surprising inputs, suggestive of predictive processing. However, it is largely unclear what predictions are made across the cortical hierarchy, and therefore what kind of surprise drives this up-regulation of activity. Here, we leveraged fMRI in human volunteers and deep neural network (DNN) models to arbitrate between 2 hypotheses: prediction errors may signal a local mismatch between input and expectation at each level of the cortical hierarchy, or prediction errors may be computed at higher levels and the resulting surprise signal is broadcast to earlier areas in the cortical hierarchy. Our results align with the latter hypothesis. Prediction errors in both low- and high-level visual cortex responded to high-level, but not low-level, visual surprise. This scaling with high-level surprise in early visual cortex strongly diverged from feedforward tuning. Combined, our results suggest that high-level predictions constrain sensory processing in earlier areas, thereby aiding perceptual inference.
Quorum sensing in Vibrio controls carbon metabolism to optimize growth in changing environmental conditions
Authors: Simpson Chelsea A. , Celentano Zach R. , Haas Nicholas W. , McKinlay James B. , Nadell Carey D. , van Kessel Julia C.
Published: November 2024

Bacteria sense population density via the cell–cell communication system called quorum sensing (QS). The evolution of QS and its maintenance or loss in mixed bacterial communities is highly relevant to understanding how cell–cell signaling impacts bacterial fitness and competition, particularly under varying environmental conditions such as nutrient availability. We uncovered a phenomenon in which Vibrio cells grown in minimal medium optimize expression of the methionine and tetrahydrofolate (THF) synthesis genes via QS. Strains that are genetically “locked” at high cell density grow slowly in minimal glucose media and suppressor mutants accumulate via inactivating mutations in metF (methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase) and luxR (the master QS transcriptional regulator). In mixed cultures, QS mutant strains initially coexist with wild-type, but as glucose is depleted, wild-type outcompetes the QS mutants. Thus, QS regulation of methionine/THF synthesis is a fitness benefit that links nutrient availability and cell density, preventing accumulation of QS-defective mutants.
Mitochondrial calcium uptake orchestrates vertebrate pigmentation via transcriptional regulation of keratin filaments
Authors: Tanwar Jyoti , Ahuja Kriti , Sharma Akshay , Sehgal Paras , Ranjan Gyan , Sultan Farina , Agrawal Anushka , D’Angelo Donato , Priya Anshu , Yenamandra Vamsi K. , Singh Archana , Raffaello Anna , Madesh Muniswamy , Rizzuto Rosario , Sivasubbu Sridhar , Motiani Rajender K.
Published: November 2024

Mitochondria regulate several physiological functions through mitochondrial Ca2+ dynamics. However, role of mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling in melanosome biology remains unknown. Here, we show that pigmentation requires mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake. In vitro gain and loss of function studies demonstrate that mitochondrial Ca2+ uniporter (MCU) is crucial for melanogenesis while MCU rheostat, MCUb negatively control melanogenesis. Zebrafish, MCU+/- and MCUb-/- mice models show that MCU complex drives pigmentation in vivo. Mechanistically, MCU silencing activates transcription factor NFAT2 to induce expression of keratin (5, 7, and 8) filaments. Interestingly, keratin5 in turn augments mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and potentiates melanogenesis by regulating melanosome biogenesis and maturation. Hence this signaling module acts as a negative feedback loop that fine-tunes both mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling and pigmentation. Notably, mitoxantrone, an FDA approved drug that inhibits MCU, reduces pigmentation thereby highlighting therapeutic potential of targeting mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake for clinical management of pigmentary disorders. Taken together, we reveal an MCU-NFAT2-Keratin5 driven signaling axis that acts as a critical determinant of mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake and pigmentation. Given the vital role of mitochondrial Ca2+ signaling and keratin filaments in cellular physiology, this feedback loop could be operational in a variety of other patho-physiological processes.
A computational algorithm for optimal design of a bioartificial organ scaffold architecture
Authors: Bukač Martina , Čanić Sunčica , Muha Boris , Wang Yifan
Published: November 2024

We develop a computational algorithm based on a diffuse interface approach to study the design of bioartificial organ scaffold architectures. These scaffolds, composed of poroelastic hydrogels housing transplanted cells, are linked to the patient’s blood circulation via an anastomosis graft. Before entering the scaffold, the blood flow passes through a filter, and the resulting filtered blood plasma transports oxygen and nutrients to sustain the viability of transplanted cells over the long term. A key issue in maintaining cell viability is the design of ultrafiltrate channels within the hydrogel scaffold to facilitate advection-enhanced oxygen supply ensuring oxygen levels remain above a critical threshold to prevent hypoxia. In this manuscript, we develop a computational algorithm to analyze the plasma flow and oxygen concentration within hydrogels featuring various channel geometries. Our objective is to identify the optimal hydrogel channel architecture that sustains oxygen concentration throughout the scaffold above the critical hypoxic threshold.

The computational algorithm we introduce here employs a diffuse interface approach to solve a multi-physics problem. The corresponding model couples the time-dependent Stokes equations, governing blood plasma flow through the channel network, with the time-dependent Biot equations, characterizing Darcy velocity, pressure, and displacement within the poroelastic hydrogel containing the transplanted cells. Subsequently, the calculated plasma velocity is utilized to determine oxygen concentration within the scaffold using a diffuse interface advection-reaction-diffusion model. Our investigation yields a scaffold architecture featuring a hexagonal network geometry that meets the desired oxygen concentration criteria. Unlike classical sharp interface approaches, the diffuse interface approach we employ is particularly adept at addressing problems with intricate interface geometries, such as those encountered in bioartificial organ scaffold design. This study is significant because recent developments in hydrogel fabrication make it now possible to control hydrogel rheology and utilize computational results to generate optimized scaffold architectures.
Reliability of plastid and mitochondrial localisation prediction declines rapidly with the evolutionary distance to the training set increasing
Authors: Gould Sven B. , Magiera Jonas , García García Carolina , Raval Parth K.
Published: November 2024

Mitochondria and plastids import thousands of proteins. Their experimental localisation remains a frequent task, but can be resource-intensive and sometimes impossible. Hence, hundreds of studies make use of algorithms that predict a localisation based on a protein’s sequence. Their reliability across evolutionary diverse species is unknown. Here, we evaluate the performance of common algorithms (TargetP, Localizer and WoLFPSORT) for four photosynthetic eukaryotes (Arabidopsis thaliana, Zea mays, Physcomitrium patens, and Chlamydomonas reinhardtii) for which experimental plastid and mitochondrial proteome data is available, and 171 eukaryotes using orthology inferences. The match between predictions and experimental data ranges from 75% to as low as 2%. Results worsen as the evolutionary distance between training and query species increases, especially for plant mitochondria for which performance borders on random sampling. Specificity, sensitivity and precision analyses highlight cross-organelle errors and uncover the evolutionary divergence of organelles as the main driver of current performance issues. The results encourage to train the next generation of neural networks on an evolutionary more diverse set of organelle proteins for optimizing performance and reliability.
How can digital citizen science approaches improve ethical smartphone use surveillance among youth: Traditional surveys versus ecological momentary assessments
Authors: Al-akshar Sarah , Tolulope Ibrahim Sheriff , Katapally Tarun Reddy
Published: November 2024

Ubiquitous use of smartphones among youth poses significant challenges related to non-communicable diseases, including poor mental health. Although traditional survey measures can be used to assess smartphone use among youth, they are subject to recall bias. This study aims to compare self-reported smartphone use via retrospective modified traditional recall survey and prospective Ecological Momentary Assessments (EMAs) among youth. This study uses data from the Smart Platform, which engages with youth as citizen scientists. Youth (N = 77) aged 13–21 years in two urban jurisdictions in Canada (Regina and Saskatoon) engaged with our research team using a custom-built application via their own smartphones to report on a range of behaviours and outcomes on eight consecutive days. Youth reported smartphone use utilizing a traditional validated measure, which was modified to capture retrospective smartphone use on both weekdays and weekend days. In addition, daily EMAs were also time-triggered over a period of eight days to capture prospective smartphone use. Demographic, behavioural, and contextual factors were also collected. Data analyses included t-test and linear regression using Python statistical software. There was a significant difference between weekdays, weekends and overall smartphone use reported retrospectively and prospectively (p-value = <0.001), with youth reporting less smartphone use via EMAs. Overall retrospective smartphone use was significantly associated with not having a part-time job (β = 139.64, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 34.759, 244.519, p-value = 0.010) and having more than two friends who are physically active (β = -114.72, 95%[CI] = -208.872, -20.569, p-value = 0.018). However, prospective smartphone use reported via EMAs was not associated with any behavioural and contextual factors. The findings of this study have implications for appropriately understanding and monitoring smartphone use in the digital age among youth. EMAs can potentially minimize recall bias of smartphone use among youth, and other behaviours such as physical activity. More importantly, digital citizen science approaches that engage large populations of youth using their own smartphones can transform how we ethically monitor and mitigate the impact of excessive smartphone use.
Using community-based participatory approaches to improve access to mass drug administration for trachoma elimination in a pastoral conflict area of Kenya
Authors: Gichuki Paul M. , Kimani Bridget W. , Kanyui Tabitha , Okoyo Collins , Watitu Titus , Omondi Wyckliff P. , Njomo Doris W.
Published: November 2024

In Baringo County, Kenya, trachoma remains endemic despite repeated mass drug administration (MDA) efforts, with coverage in one of the wards consistently falling short of world health organization (WHO) targets. The disease is endemic in 12 out of the 47 counties in Kenya. Baringo county is a pastoral conflict, hard to reach area where eight rounds of mass drug administration (MDA) for trachoma have been implemented. In Loyamorok ward, treatment coverage has been below 68% against the WHO recommended threshold of 80%. Community engagements that promote participatory approaches are key to MDA success. In this study, we describe community-based participatory approaches qualitatively developed and implemented during the intervention phase of a study that involved a pre-intervention, intervention and post intervention phases and aimed to address barriers of community participation and access to trachoma MDA. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to identify barriers to community participation in MDA, that included power and gender dynamics, rampant insecurity, community myths and misconceptions, migration in search of water and pastures, vastness and terrain and ineffective teams which resulted to unsupervised swallowing of drugs during MDA campaigns. Stakeholders in trachoma were identified through meetings with national, county and sub-county health management teams. The stakeholders, community members and the research team used the identified barriers to formulate MDA strategies including effective stakeholder engagement, enhanced social mobilization, community awareness creation on trachoma, effective planning and execution of MDA and implementation monitoring of the MDA campaign, all aimed at increasing MDA coverage. Overall MDA coverage in the area increased from 67.6% in 2021 to 87% in 2023 thus meeting the WHO threshold of 80%. The use of community-based, participatory approaches in the development and implementation of data driven strategies has the potential to positively influence MDA coverage for trachoma, and other neglected tropical diseases.
Cost minimization analysis of treatments for metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer in Peru: Fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab for subcutaneous injections
Authors: Figallo Miguel , Delgado María F. , Gonzalez Mauricio , Arenas Adrián
Published: November 2024

The main objective of this study is to determine whether the employment of fixed-dose combination of pertuzumab and trastuzumab for subcutaneous injection (PH FDC SC; and Phesgo as brand name) to treat metastatic HER2-positive breast cancer patients would minimize costs compared to the traditional treatment of separate intravenous doses of pertuzumab and trastuzumab in Peru. To achieve this, we used EsSalud (the social security health insurance) data and assessed it through a mixed strategy, which consisted of a quantitative and a qualitative approach. The first one aimed to calculate the direct (non-drug consumables, drugs, and healthcare professionals) and indirect costs of both treatments to develop a comparison, whilst the second aimed to validate information and internalize the procedure in an EsSalud context. Overall, we found that the usage of PH FDC SC would be cost saving in EsSalud’s context. Specifically, we found three main advantages. Firstly, PH FDC SC generates a savings of 62% in non-drug consumables, which helps alleviate the healthcare system budget constraint. Secondly, its adoption frees up 61 hours of treatment and observation time for a single patient per year, which in turn increases the attention capacity of the healthcare system in terms of nursing hours and chemotherapy couches. Thirdly, the reduction of clinic time supposes an advantage for the patient in the form of increased productivity and well-being. Hence, the adoption of this drug would improve the quality of life of patients while reducing costs and pressure on the healthcare system. This is aligned with the strategy of prioritizing the appropriate breast cancer treatment within the National Cancer Care Plan. In this regard, we also found that the savings produced from switching from the traditional intravenous treatment to the subcutaneous one would allow EsSalud to afford full annual costs of 2 additional treatments, but without increasing their budget. This would cover 7% of the gap of 29 patients who do not have access to full treatment.
‘From women for women’: A citizen science approach engaging women in the isolation and application of the vaginal health-associated bacterium Lactobacillus crispatus
Authors: Illidge Shardelice , Kort Remco , Hertzberger Rosanne ,   The Dutch crispatus Citizen Science Collective
Published: November 2024

A vaginal microbiome rich in Lactobacillus crispatus is associated with good reproductive and sexual health outcomes. Dysbiosis, indicated by the loss of Lactobacillus crispatus, is a risk factor for urogenital infections, such as the clinical diagnosis of bacterial vaginosis (BV) or urinary tract infections. While many scientists have explored probiotics using a conventional pharmaceutical approach, concerns about accessibility and affordability prompt an investigation into a preventive approach using this naturally occurring bacterium. Our study aimed to explore a potential woman-friendly vaginal probiotic product using the naturally occurring bacterium, Lactobacillus crispatus. Citizen scientists actively participated in a two-day practicum and successfully performed the procedures using self-collected vaginal swabs. The practicum received positive responses from participants who demonstrated notable engagement and enthusiasm. With expert guidance, participants without a laboratory background were able to execute assigned tasks successfully. From the Dutch crispatus Citizen Science Collective of 48 women, 22 succeeded in isolating their own Lactobacillus crispatus strains using a Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) protocol for identification. Additionally, 48 metagenomes and 54 whole genomes from 22 individuals were sequenced for comparative analysis. This project effectively engaged a community of women in the isolation of Lactobacillus crispatus strains from their vaginal microbiota, followed by in vitro characterization experiments and a hackathon for the development of a probiotic product. Our citizen science approach opens up collaboration possibilities and new avenues for exploration of vaginal health, facilitating community involvement and the development of targeted interventions to enhance women’s well-being.
Important features of bench press performance in non-disabled and Para athletes: A scoping review
Authors: Buhmann Rob , Sayers Mark , O’Brien Julia , Borg David
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Understanding important features for performance in non-disabled bench press and Paralympic powerlifting may inform talent identification and transfer models. The aim of this scoping review was to describe features associated with bench press performance.

Methods

We conducted a systematic search of three electronic databases (PubMed, SportDiscus and EMBASE) to identify studies involving non-disabled and Para athlete populations that investigated features related to bench press one-repetition maximum (1RM), across six domains (anthropometric, body composition, demographic, technical, disability and neuromuscular). Search terms included “resistance training”, “para powerlifting’ and “one repetition max”. No date restrictions were include in searches. Studies using adult participants, with at least six-months of bench press experience, who were able to bench press their body mass were included.

Results

Thirty-two studies met our inclusion criteria. Twenty-four studies involved non-disabled athletes (total n = 2,686; 21.9% female) and eight involved Para athletes (total n = 2,364; 39.4% female). Anthropometric (17 studies) and body composition (12 studies) features were most studied; half of the 32 studies investigated features from a single domain. Of anthropometric variables, upper arm circumference shared the strongest association with bench press 1RM in non-disabled (r = 0.87) and para-athletes (r = 0.65). Upper limb fat free mass (r = 0.91) and body mass index (r = 0.46) were the body composition variables sharing the strongest association with bench press 1RM in non-disabled and para-athletes. Few studies considering the uncertainty of their results. Practices of open and transparent science, such as pre-registration and data sharing, were absent.

Conclusion

The development of bench press talent identification and sport transfer models will require future studies to investigate both non-training and training modifiable features, across multiple domains. Large longitudinal studies using information from athlete monitoring databases and multivariable model approaches are needed to understand the interacting features associated with bench press performance, and for the development of talent identification models.
Human socio-technical evolution through the lens of an abstracted-wheel experiment: A critical look at a micro-society laboratory study
Authors: Högberg Anders , Lombard Marlize , Högberg Albin , Iliefski-Janols Eva , Lindblad Gustaf , Almér Alexander , Hedley Thompson William , Rost Mattias , Andreasson Sebastian , Wiig Alexander , Gärdenfors Peter
Published: November 2024

Micro-society experimental setups are increasingly used to infer aspects of human behavioural evolution. A key part of human society today is our dependence on, and use of, technology–whether simple (such as a knife) or complex (such as the technology that underpins AI). Previously, two groups of researchers used an abstracted-wheel experiment to explore the evolution of human technical behaviour, reaching fundamentally different outcomes. Whereas one group saw their results as indicating social learning only (void of causal understanding), the other inferred non-social technical reasoning as part of human technical behaviour. Here we report on the third generation of the micro-society abstracted-wheel experiment. We argue that causal reasoning is inseparable from both social learning and technical reasoning, and that these traits probably co-evolved into the current human socio-technical niche. Based on our outcomes, we present a critical assessment of what this experiment may (or may not) reveal about the evolution of human technical behaviour. We show that the abstracted-wheel experiment reflects behavioural output only, instead of testing for cognition. It is therefore limited in its ability to inform on aspects of human cognitive evolution, but it can provide useful insights into the interrelatedness of social learning, technical reasoning, and causal reasoning. Such a co-evolutionary insight has the potential to inform on aspects of human socio-technical evolution throughout the Pleistocene.
The osteology of Triisodon crassicuspis (Cope, 1882): New insights into the enigmatic “archaic” placental mammal group “Triisodontidae”
Authors: Toosey William J. , Williamson Thomas E. , Shelley Sarah L. , Brusatte Stephen L.
Published: November 2024

Following the end-Cretaceous mass extinction, mammals underwent an increase in body size, taxonomic diversity and ecological specialization throughout the Paleocene, exemplifying their adaptability. One especially enigmatic group is the “Triisodontidae”, medium- to large-sized ungulate-like placentals from the Paleocene which are best known from their teeth that exhibit adaptations towards carnivory. The “triisodontids” were the first large carnivorous mammals and pre-date, and may have given rise to, Mesonychia, a group of more specialized placental carnivores. The “triisodontids” have been well-described from dental material, although very little is known about their postcrania. Here, we describe the postcrania of Triisodon crassicuspis–the most completely represented species of the genus to date–from a specimen (NMMNH P-72096) recovered from basal Torrejonian strata of the Nacimiento Formation in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico. Anatomical comparisons reveal that the forelimb long bones of Tri. crassicuspis are robust relative to its size, more so than other “triisodontids”. Attachment sites on the ulna are evidence of well-developed muscles involved in powerful extension and flexion of the manus. In Tri. crassicuspis, the range of pronation-supination was limited as evident from the humeroradial morphology. Qualitative functional assessment of osteological features of the forelimb of Tri. crassicuspis is suggestive of terrestrial locomotion with at least moderate digging ability. Re-analyses of the dentition confirmed that Tri. crassicuspis had specializations for carnivory, and provide a body mass estimate of ca. 32–44 kg based on dental proxies. In summary, Tri. crassicuspis was a relatively large and powerful terrestrial animal, and one of the first known placentals to fill a largely carnivorous niche.
Interpretable multimodal classification for age-related macular degeneration diagnosis
Authors: Vairetti Carla , Maldonado Sebastián , Cuitino Loreto , Urzua Cristhian A.
Published: November 2024

Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) is an emerging machine learning field that has been successful in medical image analysis. Interpretable approaches are able to “unbox” the black-box decisions made by AI systems, aiding medical doctors to justify their diagnostics better. In this paper, we analyze the performance of three different XAI strategies for medical image analysis in ophthalmology. We consider a multimodal deep learning model that combines optical coherence tomography (OCT) and infrared reflectance (IR) imaging for the diagnosis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). The classification model is able to achieve an accuracy of 0.94, performing better than other unimodal alternatives. We analyze the XAI methods in terms of their ability to identify retinal damage and ease of interpretation, concluding that grad-CAM and guided grad-CAM can be combined to have both a coarse visual justification and a fine-grained analysis of the retinal layers. We provide important insights and recommendations for practitioners on how to design automated and explainable screening tests based on the combination of two image sources.
Smoking cessation and prognosis during long-term follow-up after stroke, TIA, and acute coronary syndrome—results from the randomized controlled NAILED trial
Authors: Irewall Anna-Lotta , Åslund Lina , Ögren Joachim , Mooe Thomas
Published: November 2024

Background and aims

About 50% of patients continue to smoke after stroke and myocardial infarction. We aimed to assess the effect of a multiple risk factor intervention on long-term smoking cessation and to explore a possible association between early smoking cessation and long-term prognosis.

Material and methods

Consecutive patients with stroke/TIA/acute coronary syndrome (ACS) at Östersund Hospital during 2010–2014 were included, randomized to intervention or usual care (1:1), and followed through 2017. This substudy included participants that reported current smoking during hospitalization and were alive at 1 month post discharge when the intervention began (n = 321). The smoking cessation intervention was part of a telephone-based, multiple risk factor intervention delivered by a nurse and consisted of brief advice delivered annually. Smoking cessation at the last follow-up was analyzed as the primary outcome. Smoking cessation at other time points and association between early smoking cessation and prognosis (CV events, survival) were secondary outcomes.

Result

After a mean follow-up of 4.2 years, 171 participants reported nonsmoking, with no significant difference between the intervention and control group (50.3% vs. 56.3%, absolute difference 5.9%, 95% CI −5.0 to 16.7, p = 0.286). Of these, 80.7% had stopped smoking within 1 month after discharge. The intervention did not improve smoking cessation proportions in the long or short term, and there was no apparent effect on smoking cessation attempts or sustained abstinence. Smoking cessation within 1 month was associated with lower all-cause mortality (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.32–0.87), and there was a nonsignificant trend towards a lower incidence of CV events (HR 0.71, 95% CI 0.45–1.12).

Conclusion

Annual brief advice by a nurse as part of a multiple risk factor follow-up did not improve long-term smoking cessation after stroke/TIA/ACS. Continued smoking past 1 month was associated with worse prognosis.

Trial registration

ISRCTN registry ISRCTN96595458, ISRCTN23868518, ISRCTN30433343.
New northernmost distribution records of the Eastern South Pacific southern right whale (Eubalaena australis), including the first cases from Ecuador and northern Peru
Authors: Castro Ayala Cristina , García-Cegarra Ana M. , Uceda-Vega Piero , Aguilar Luis , Kelez Shaleyla , Buchan Susannah J. , Félix Fernando , Stack Stephanie H. , Van Waerebeek Koen
Published: November 2024

The Eastern South Pacific Right Whale (SRW) (Eubalaena australis) population has gained interest due to its Critically Endangered conservation status. So far, this population has been confirmed only along the coasts of Chile (18°20’S to 56°30’S) and from southern to central Peru (17°38’S to 12°11’S). Recent records have extended the species’ known range, highlighting its geographic distribution, now reaching 1500 km north. Here, we report six recent records, consisting of five sightings and one stranding, that expand the documented range to northern Ecuador (0.6°N). The northern extension of the population may be associated with the unusual three-year-long cold phase (La Niña) of the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) in the eastern South Pacific, population expansion, movement and re-distribution of the species, increased monitoring effort, or a combination of these factors. These observations raise hope for the Critically Endangered SRW population, as the occurrence of mother-calf pairs may indicate a potential for population recovery. Nevertheless, these findings intensify concerns for what is still the least abundant SRW population, underscoring the urgency for more targeted research and conservation measures.
Effectiveness of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) on disease acceptance for breast cancer patients: Study protocol of a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Song Wenjun , Shari Nurul Izzah , Song Jinggui , Zhang Ruiling , Mansor Nor Shuhada , Leong Bin Abdullah Mohammad Farris Iman , Zhang Zhaohui
Published: November 2024

Background

Breast cancer patients face significant psychological challenges, including difficulties in accepting the diagnosis, treatment, and long-term impact of the disease. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) has shown promise in enhancing acceptance and psychological flexibility in various populations. This study aims to investigate the effectiveness of ACT in promoting disease acceptance among breast cancer patients through a randomized controlled trial.

Methods

This study will recruit 90 breast cancer patients and randomly allocate them to an ACT intervention or control group. The ACT intervention, focusing on acceptance, mindfulness, value clarification, and committed action, will be delivered over 4 weeks. Meanwhile, the control group will receive standard care with non-therapeutic intervention. The study’s primary outcome is disease acceptance, while secondary outcomes include depression, anxiety, social support, quality of life (QoL), and psychological inflexibility. Data will be collected at three points: baseline, post-intervention, and three-month follow-up. Statistical analysis will compare outcomes between groups to evaluate the effectiveness and mechanism of this intervention using covariance and mediation analysis.

Discussion

This study evaluates the effectiveness of ACT in promoting disease acceptance among breast cancer patients. It hypothesizes that the ACT group will show higher disease acceptance and improvements in social support, QoL, and psychological flexibility compared to the control group. The findings will contribute to research on psychological interventions and demonstrate ACT’s effectiveness in enhancing disease acceptance.

Trial registration

The research project is registered in the ClinicalTrials (NCT05327153).
Reproductive biology of long-whiskered catfish (Mystus aor) relative to temperature and precipitation from the Kaptai Lake of Bangladesh
Authors: Noor Shifat Ara , Muhammad  , Mamun Md. Main Uddin , Akhter Fatema , Khatun Mst. Halima , Zahangir Md. Mahiuddin , Islam Md. Moudud
Published: November 2024

Life-history information is necessary for effective conservation, aquaculture development and broodstock management of fishing populations, especially for fish with significant economic exploitation. Aiming to characterise the life-history traits in relation to the environmental parameters of the long-whiskered catfish, Mystus aor, a commercially important species from Kaptai Lake, Bangladesh, different life-history data were analysed. The monthly condition factor (K) ranged from 1.15 to 1.41, and the relative condition factor (Kn) ranged from 0.14 to 0.25. The estimated relative fecundity was 18474−55504 eggs/per fish, and the maximal oocyte diameter was found in May (0.83 ± 0.11μm). The lengths at first sexual maturity (Lm) for male and female M. aor were 49.5 cm and 54.1 cm, respectively. The GSI was peaked in May for both males and females, and histological analysis also revealed the presence of yolk granules and several mature spermatids in April and May in both sexes. Analysis of environmental data over 40 years in the Kaptai lake ecosystem indicate the significant increase in the precipitation rate in spawning month which is highly correlated with the spawning season. The findings of the current study will serve as a baseline for the conservation and broodstock management in the Kaptai Lake of Bangladesh.
Microbiological contamination of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) reared with tilapia in aquaponic systems and use of bacillus strains as probiotics to prevent diseases: A systematic review
Authors: Jossefa Angélica Adiação , dos Anjo Viagem Leonildo , Cerozi Brunno da Silva , Chenyambuga Sebastian Wilson
Published: November 2024

Aquaponic systems are food production systems that combine aquaculture and hydroponic in a closed recirculation system where water provides nutrients to plants while plants purify water for fish. In this system, tilapia is the most commonly cultured fish and can be easily integrated with vegetable cultivation. However, tilapia host a diverse microbiota some of which are pathogenic and can infect humans. Previous studies have reported contamination of lettuce by pathogenic bacteria which can cause human diseases. Thus, there is an urgent need to employ effective methods to control those bacteria, and Bacillus strains have been successfully used in this context. This systematic review aimed to provide a comprehensive overview of lettuce contamination by pathogenic bacteria and the use of Bacillus as probiotics to prevent diseases in aquaponics systems. This systematic review was performed using Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Statement (PRISMA) Guidelines. A total of 1,239 articles were retrieved and based on eligibility criteria, six articles were included after screening. The review revealed that Enterobacteriaceae, Coliforms, and Shiga Toxin-producing E. coli are the predominant bacteria contaminating lettuce leaves in Aquaponic systems, and Shiga Toxin-Producing E. coli can internalize in the lettuce leaves, putting public health at risk. The included studies did not report the presence of V. cholerae in lettuce grown in aquaponic systems, and the use of Bacillus as probiotics to control Escherichia coli and Vibrio Cholerae. Further research is needed to explore the potential of tilapia to act as a source of pathogenic bacteria that can contaminate lettuce, as well as to investigate the effectiveness of Bacillus strains as probiotics to control these bacteria and ensure food safety.
Explainable machine learning for early prediction of sepsis in traumatic brain injury: A discovery and validation study
Authors: Liu Wenchi , Yu Xing , Chen Jinhong , Chen Weizhi , Wu Qiaoyi
Published: November 2024

Background

People with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at high risk for infection and sepsis. The aim of the study was to develop and validate an explainable machine learning(ML) model based on clinical features for early prediction of the risk of sepsis in TBI patients.

Methods

We enrolled all patients with TBI in the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV database from 2008 to 2019. All patients were randomly divided into a training set (70%) and a test set (30%). The univariate and multivariate regression analyses were used for feature selection. Six ML methods were applied to develop the model. The predictive performance of different models were determined based on the area under the curve (AUC) and calibration curves in the test cohort. In addition, we selected the eICU Collaborative Research Database version 1.2 as the external validation dataset. Finally, we used the Shapley additive interpretation to account for the effects of features attributed to the model.

Results

Of the 1555 patients enrolled in the final cohort, 834 (53.6%) patients developed sepsis after TBI. Six variables were associated with concomitant sepsis and were used to develop ML models. Of the 6 models constructed, the Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGB) model achieved the best performance with an AUC of 0.807 and an accuracy of 74.5% in the internal validation cohort, and an AUC of 0.762 for the external validation. Feature importance analysis revealed that use mechanical ventilation, SAPSII score, use intravenous pressors, blood transfusion on admission, history of diabetes, and presence of post-stroke sequelae were the top six most influential features of the XGB model.

Conclusion

As shown in the study, the ML model could be used to predict the occurrence of sepsis in patients with TBI in the intensive care unit.
The ImmunoSkills Guide: Competencies for undergraduate immunology curricula
Authors: Pandey Sumali , Elliott Samantha L. , Liepkalns Justine , Taylor Rebekah T. , Vanniasinkam Thiru , Kleinschmit Adam J. , Justement Louis B. , Lal Archana , Condry Danielle , Bruns Heather A. , Paustian Timothy , Mixter Philip F. , Sparks-Thissen Rebecca L. , Sletten Sarah , Wisenden Brian D.
Published: November 2024

Immune literacy garnered significant attention in recent years due to the threat posed by emerging infectious diseases. The pace of immunological discoveries and their relevance to society are substantial yet coordinated educational efforts have been rare. This motivated us to create a task force of educators to reflect on pedagogical approaches to teaching immunology and to draft, develop, and evaluate key competencies for undergraduate immunology education. The research questions addressed include: 1) Which competencies are considered important by educators? 2) Are the illustrative skills clear, accurate and well aligned with the core competencies listed in the Vision and Change report?; 3) What are the concerns of immunology educators about competencies and skills? We collected data on the draft competencies using surveys, focus groups, and interviews. The iterative revision phase followed the community review phase before finalizing the framework. Here, we report a hierarchical learning framework, with six core competencies, twenty illustrative skills, and companion immunology-specific example learning outcomes. Predominant themes from interviews and focus groups, which informed revisions of this framework are shared. With the growing need for immunology education across the sciences, the ImmunoSkills Guide and accompanying discussion can be used as a resource for educators, administrators and policymakers.
Association between complete blood-count-based inflammatory scores and hypertension in persons living with and without HIV in Zambia
Authors: Mwape Lackson , Hamooya Benson M. , Luwaya Emmanuel L. , Muzata Danny , Bwalya Kaole , Siakabanze Chileleko , Mushabati Agness , Masenga Sepiso K.
Published: November 2024

Background

Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular events. Inflammation plays an important role in the development of essential hypertension. Studies assessing the association between complete blood count-based inflammatory scores (CBCIS) and hypertension are scarce. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship between CBCIS and hypertension among individuals with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

Method

This was a cross-sectional study among 344 participants at Serenje District Hospital and Serenje Urban Clinic. We used structured questionnaires to collect sociodemographic, clinical and laboratory characteristics. CBCIS included lymphocyte-monocyte ratio (LMR), neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), derived neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio (d-NLR), and differential white blood cells. The primary outcome variable was hypertension defined as systolic and diastolic blood pressure higher than or equal to 140/90 mmHg. Logistic regression was used to estimate the association between hypertension and CBCIS in statistical package for social science (SPSS) version 22.0.

Results

The participants had a median age of 32 years (interquartile range (IQR) 24–42) and 65.1% (n = 224) were female. The prevalence of hypertension was 10.5% (n = 36). Among those with hypertension, 55.6% (n = 20) were female and 44.4% (n = 16) were male. The CBCIS significantly associated with hypertension in people living with HIV (PLWH) was PLR (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 0.98; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.97–0.99, p = 0.01) while in people without HIV, AMC (AOR 15.40 95%CI 3.75–63.26), ANC (AOR 1.88 95%CI 1.05–3.36), WBC (AOR 0.52 95%CI 0.31–0.87) and PLR (AOR 0.98 95%CI 0.97–0.99) were the factors associated with hypertension. Compared to people without HIV, only WBC, ANC, NLR, and d-NLR were good predictors of hypertension among PLWH.

Conclusion

Our study indicates a notable HIV-status driven association between CBCIS and hypertension, suggesting the use of CBICS as potential biomarkers for hypertension risk with substantial implications for early detection and preventive measures.