bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variability in
n
-caprylate and
n
-caproate producing microbiomes in reactors with in-line product extraction
Authors: Spirito Catherine M. , Lucas Timo N. , Patz Sascha , Jeon Byoung Seung , Werner Jeffrey J. , Trondsen Lauren H. , Guzman Juan J. , Huson Daniel H. , Angenent Largus T.
Published: July 2024

Medium-chain carboxylates (MCCs) are used in various industrial applications. These chemicals are typically extracted from palm oil, which is deemed not sustainable. Recent research has focused on microbial chain elongation using reactors to produce MCCs, such as
n
-caproate (C6) and
n
-caprylate (C8), from organic substrates such as wastes. Even though the production of
n
-caproate is relatively well-characterized, bacteria and metabolic pathways that are responsible for
n
-caprylate production are not. Here, three 5 L reactors with continuous membrane-based liquid-liquid extraction (i.e., pertraction) were fed ethanol and acetate and operated for an operating period of 234 days with different operating conditions. Metagenomic and metaproteomic analyses were employed.
n
-Caprylate production rates and reactor microbiomes differed between reactors even when operated similarly due to differences in H
2
and O
2
between the reactors. The complete reverse β-oxidation (RBOX) pathway was present and expressed by several bacterial species in the
Clostridia
class. Several
Oscillibacter
spp., including
Oscillibacter valericigenes
, were positively correlated with
n
-caprylate production rates, while
Clostridium kluyveri
was positively correlated with
n
-caproate production.
Pseudoclavibacter caeni
, which is a strictly aerobic bacterium, was abundant across all the operating periods, regardless of
n
-caprylate production rates. This study provides insight into microbiota that are associated with
n
-caprylate production in open-culture reactors and provides ideas for further work.

IMPORTANCE

Microbial chain elongation pathways in open-culture biotechnology systems can be utilized to convert organic waste and industrial side streams into valuable industrial chemicals. Here, we investigated the microbiota and metabolic pathways that produce medium-chain carboxylates (MCCs), including
n
-caproate (C6) and
n
-caprylate (C8), in reactors with in-line product extraction. Although the reactors in this study were operated similarly, different microbial communities dominated and were responsible for chain elongation. We found that different microbiota were responsible for
n
-caproate or
n
-caprylate production, and this can inform engineers on how to operate the systems better. We also observed which changes in operating conditions steered the production toward and away from
n
-caprylate, but more work is necessary to ascertain a mechanistic understanding that could be predictive. This study provides pertinent research questions for future work.
A translithospheric magmatic system revealed beneath Changbaishan volcano
Authors: Zhang Zhou , Deng Yangfan , Xu Yi-Gang , Li Xin
Published: July 2024

Changbaishan volcano (CBV), located on the border between China and North Korea, has undergone violent eruptions since the Oligocene, making it one of the most captivating and explosive volcanoes on Earth. However, the lack of precise characterization regarding the magmatic system makes it difficult to decipher its eruption risk and mechanism, despite its significant size and past devastating effects. In this study, we employed newly developed teleseismic receiver function techniques, including Ps and Sp waves, to construct a lithospheric structure model beneath the CBV region. The results show a thick crust (~37 km) and a weak, thin lithosphere under the CBV, with a low-amplitude width of 80 km at the Moho depth and 200 km at the depth of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary. These features depict the seismological response of a translithospheric magmatic system beneath the CBV, where hot upwelling material rises through the lithospheric mantle, underplates at the base of the crust, and forms the magma chamber(s) at shallow depth. Such magmatic system features can be taken as a unifying paradigm for large volcanic regions worldwide.
How feasible or useful are timeliness metrics as a tool to optimise One Health outbreak responses?
Authors: Fieldhouse Jane , Nakiire Lydia , Kayiwa Joshua , Brindis Claire D , Mitchell Ashley , Makumbi Issa , Ario Alex Riolexus , Fair Elizabeth , Mazet Jonna A K , Lamorde Mohammed
Published: July 2024

Introduction

As timeliness metrics gain traction to assess and optimise outbreak detection and response performance, implementation and scale-up require insight into the perspectives of stakeholders adopting these tools. This study sought to characterise the feasibility and utility of tracking One Health outbreak milestones across relevant human, animal, plant, and environmental sectors to systematically quantify timeliness metrics in Uganda, a country prone to outbreaks of WHO priority diseases.

Methods

A database of outbreak events occurring in Uganda between 2018 and 2022 was compiled. Outbreak reports meeting our inclusion criteria were reviewed to quantify the frequency of milestone reporting. Key informant interviews were conducted with expert stakeholders to explore the feasibility and utility of tracking metrics using a framework analysis. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected and analysed concurrently.

Results

Of the 282 public health emergencies occurring between 2018 and 2022, 129 events met our inclusion criteria, and complete data were available for 82 outbreaks. For our qualitative portion, 10 informants were interviewed from 7 institutions, representing the human, animal and environmental sectors. Informants agreed most One Health milestones are feasible to track, which was supported by the frequency of milestone reporting; however, there was a demonstrated need for increased reporting of after-action reviews, as well as outbreak start and end dates. Predictive alerts signalling potential outbreaks and preventive responses to alerts are seen as challenging to routinely capture, reflecting the lack of public health action for these domains.

Conclusion

Despite consensus among stakeholders that timeliness metrics are a beneficial tool to assess outbreak performance, not all One Health metrics are being tracked consistently, thereby missing opportunities to optimise epidemic intelligence, preparedness and prevention. The feasibility of tracking these metrics depends on the integration of reporting channels, enhanced documentation of milestones and development of guidance for early adopters, recognising country-specific on-the-ground realities and challenges to national scaling efforts.
Quality measures in primary care skin cancer management: a qualitative study of the views of key informants
Authors: Spanos Samantha , Singh Nehal , Laginha Bela I , Arnolda Gaston , Smith Andrea L , Wilkinson David , Cust Anne E , Braithwaite Jeffrey , Rapport Frances
Published: July 2024

Objectives

This study explored potential quality measures to improve skin cancer management in primary care settings, and the barriers and facilitators associated with their implementation.

Design

Semistructured interviews and qualitative proforma surveys were conducted with skin cancer experts from a range of healthcare settings. Framework analysis was employed to identify key groups of quality measures within the domains of the Donabedian model of healthcare quality (structure, process, outcome). Interview and survey data were triangulated to identify common groups of quality measures, barriers and facilitators.

Participants

We purposively recruited skin cancer experts from Australia and internationally with knowledge and experience in skin cancer management. The final sample consisted of 15 participants who had clinical or academic backgrounds.

Results

Participants unequivocally expressed the need for quality measures to guide skin cancer care. Ten groups of quality measures were identified: three groups related to the structural elements of care (eg, diagnostic tools), four related to the processes of care (eg, diagnostic process) and three related to outcomes of care (eg, treatment outcomes). Implementation barriers included clinician resistance, system inadequacies and external factors (eg, patient risk). Facilitators included incentives, education, agreed and feasible indicators and support and guidance.

Conclusions

To service a growing population of skin cancer patients in Australia, the role of primary care needs to be more clearly specified, and its care providers supported and more engaged in quality improvement processes. Structure, process and outcome quality measures, derived from detailed guidance for primary care settings, can be used to track practitioner performance and facilitate ongoing improvement.
Challenges to young children’s swimming lesson participation in New South Wales, Australia
Authors: Mead Edwina , Peden Amy E , Angell Blake , Macniven Rona
Published: July 2024

Background

Child swimming lessons are a key intervention for drowning prevention; however, participation has been severely affected by COVID-19 restrictions and cost-of-living challenges. To encourage re-engagement, the New South Wales government began providing A$100 swimming lesson vouchers. Parent/carers of eligible preschool-aged children were asked to complete a survey during voucher creation. This study aimed to examine pre-existing challenges to lesson participation among families who had not participated in the preceding 12 months.

Methods

Cross-sectional data from parent/carer surveys completed between December 2021 and June 2022 were analysed. Binary logistic models analysed associations between sociodemographic factors and answered affirmatively to one or more challenges to participation from a predefined list.

Results

Of 221 218 vouchers created, 79 553 parent/carers (36%) indicated that their child had not participated in swimming lessons in the last 12 months and responded to the question about participation challenges. Parent/carers of children with disabilities or residing in low socioeconomic areas had higher odds of indicating cost was a challenge while regional/remote families had over five times higher odds of indicating swim school availability difficulties. Families speaking a non-English language at home had over 2.5 times higher odds of thinking that their child was too young for swimming lessons, higher odds of thinking swimming lessons were not important and higher odds of indicating that COVID-19 had challenged participation.

Conclusion

These findings highlight how different population groups experience challenges to participation in swimming lessons. Alleviating costs and increasing lesson availability is important.
Pregnancy and parenthood
Authors: Waleszczyński Andrzej
Published: July 2024

Singh asserts that the parent–child relationship engenders a moral responsibility for the newborn. Simultaneously, he contends, drawing on the argument from potentiality, that the fetal stage of human development does not establish the parent–child relationship. Consequently, within Singh’s proposed relational framework, moral responsibility for the developing fetus does not manifest. Thus, Singh advocates for abortion, citing the absence of moral responsibilities arising for the pregnant woman for the fetus. In this article, I critique Singh’s argument from potentiality, identifying flaws and highlight the incoherence of the argument pertaining to the parent–child relationship.
Collaterals at angiography guide clinical outcomes after endovascular stroke therapy in HERMES
Authors: Liebeskind David S , Luff Marie K , Bracard Serge , Guillemin Francis , Jahan Reza , Jovin Tudor G , Majoie Charles B L M , Mitchell Peter J , van der Lugt Aad , Menon Bijoy K , San Roman Luis , Campbell Bruce , Muir Keith W , Hill Michael D , Dippel Diederik W J , Saver Jeffrey L , Demchuk Andrew M , Davalos Antoni , White Phil , Brown Scott B , Goyal Mayank
Published: July 2024

Background

Robust collateral circulation has been linked with better reperfusion and clinical outcomes. It remains unclear how individual assessments of collateral circulation may be translated into clinical practice.

Methods

The pooled Highly Effective Reperfusion Evaluated in Multiple Endovascular Stroke Trials (HERMES) angiography dataset was analyzed by a centralized, independent imaging core blinded to other clinical data. Conventional angiography was acquired immediately prior to endovascular therapy. Collaterals were graded with the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology/Society of Interventional Radiology (ASITN) system and associated with baseline patient characteristics, reperfusion, and day 90 modified Rankin Score (mRS). Both 90-day all-cause mortality and day 90 mRS were modeled via multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Angiography was available in 376/605 (62%) patients. Baseline ASPECTS (Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score) (p=0.043), history of diabetes mellitus (p=0.048), site of occlusion (p<0.001), and degree of subsequent Thrombolysis in Cerebral Infarction (TICI) reperfusion (p<0.001) were associated with collateral grades. ASITN collateral grade was strongly associated with ordinal mRS from baseline to 90 days in an unadjusted analysis (p<0.001). Multivariable regression demonstrated that collateral status is a strong determinant of mRS outcome in the presence of other predictors (OR=1.37 per grade, 95% CI [1.05 to 1.74], p=0.018). By comparing ORs, 1 unit of ASITN was determined to be approximately equivalent to 4.5 points of NIHSS, 11 years of age, 1.5 points of ASPECTS, or 100 min less delay from onset to puncture, in terms of impact on mRS.

Conclusions

Individual collateral physiology may contribute significantly to reperfusion success and clinical outcomes after acute ischemic stroke. Building a consensus for the role of angiographic collateral assessment in the allocation of adjuvant reperfusion therapies may help galvanize a precision medicine approach in stroke.
Femoral versus radial access for middle meningeal artery embolization for chronic subdural hematomas: multicenter propensity score matched study
Authors: Salem Mohamed M , Sioutas Georgios S , Gajjar Avi , Khalife Jane , Kuybu Okkes , Carroll Kate T , Hoang Alex Nguyen , Baig Ammad A , Salih Mira , Baker Cordell , Cortez Gustavo M , Abecassis Zack , Ruiz Rodriguez Juan Francisco , Davies Jason M , Cawley C Michael , Riina Howard , Spiotta Alejandro M , Khalessi Alexander , Howard Brian M , Hanel Ricardo A , Tanweer Omar , Tonetti Daniel , Siddiqui Adnan H , Lang Michael , Levy Elad I , Ogilvy Christopher S , Srinivasan Visish M , Kan Peter , Gross Bradley A , Jankowitz Brian , Levitt Michael R , Thomas Ajith J , Grandhi Ramesh , Burkhardt Jan Karl
Published: July 2024

Background

With transradial access (TRA) being more progressively used in neuroendovascular procedures, we compared TRA with transfemoral access (TFA) in middle meningeal artery embolization (MMAE) for chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH).

Methods

Consecutive patients undergoing MMAE for cSDH at 14 North American centers (2018–23) were included. TRA and TFA groups were compared using propensity score matching (PSM) controlling for: age, sex, concurrent surgery, previous surgery, hematoma thickness and side, midline shift, and pretreatment antithrombotics. The primary outcome was access site and overall complications, and procedure duration; secondary endpoints were surgical rescue, radiographic improvement, and technical success and length of stay.

Results

872 patients (median age 73 years, 72.9% men) underwent 1070 MMAE procedures (54% TFA vs 46% TRA). Access site hematoma occurred in three TFA cases (0.5%; none required operative intervention) versus 0% in TRA (P=0.23), and radial-to-femoral conversion occurred in 1% of TRA cases. TRA was more used in right sided cSDH (58.4% vs 44.8%; P<0.001). Particle embolics were significantly higher in TFA while Onyx was higher in TRA (P<0.001). Following PSM, 150 matched pairs were generated. Particles were more utilized in the TFA group (53% vs 29.7%) and Onyx was more utilized in the TRA group (56.1% vs 31.5%) (P=0.001). Procedural duration was longer in the TRA group (median 68.5 min (IQR 43.1–95) vs 59 (42–84); P=0.038), and radiographic success was higher in the TFA group (87.3% vs 77.4%; P=0.036). No differences were noted in surgical rescue (8.4% vs 10.1%, P=0.35) or technical failures (2.4% vs 2%; P=0.67) between TFA and TRA. Sensitivity analysis in the standalone MMAE retained all associations but differences in procedural duration.

Conclusions

In this study, TRA offered comparable outcomes to TFA in MMAE for cSDH in terms of access related and overall complications, technical feasibility, and functional outcomes. Procedural duration was slightly longer in the TRA group, and radiographic success was higher in the TFA group, with no differences in surgical rescue rates.
Thrombectomy patients with minor stroke: factors of early neurological deterioration
Authors: Heitkamp Christian , Winkelmeier Laurens , Flottmann Fabian , Schell Maximilian , Kniep Helge , Broocks Gabriel , Thaler Christian , Steffen Paul , Thomalla Goetz , Fiehler Jens , Faizy Tobias D
Published: July 2024

Background

A sizeable proportion of stroke patients with large vessel occlusion present with minor neurological deficits. Whether mechanical thrombectomy (MT) is beneficial in these patients is controversial. We aimed to investigate factors of early neurological deterioration (END) in thrombectomy patients with minor stroke and hypothesized that END is linked to unfavorable functional outcomes.

Methods

Multicenter cohort study screening all patients prospectively enrolled in the German Stroke Registry–Endovascular Treatment (n=13 082) between 2015 and 2021. Patients who underwent MT for anterior circulation vessel occlusion with baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) score of <6 were included. END was defined as an increase in NIHSS score of ≥4 within the first 24 hours after MT. Multivariable regression analyses were performed to investigate factors associated with END and its association with unfavorable functional outcomes 90 days after treatment (modified Rankin Scale (mRS) score ≥2).

Results

Among 817 patients included, 24% exhibited END and 48% had unfavorable functional outcomes. Prestroke mRS (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) [95% CI] 1.42 [1.13 to 1.78]), baseline NIHSS (aOR [95% CI] 0.83 [0.73 to 0.94]), time from admission to groin puncture (aOR [95% CI] 1.04 [1.02 to 1.07]), general anesthesia (aOR [95% CI] 1.68 [1.08 to 2.63]), number of passes (aOR [95% CI] 1.15 [1.03 to 1.29]), adverse events during treatment (aOR [95% CI] 1.89 [1.19 to 3.01]), successful recanalization (aOR [95% CI] 0.29 [0.17 to 0.50]), and intracranial hemorrhage on follow-up imaging (aOR [95% CI] 3.40 [1.90 to 6.07]) were independently associated with END. END was independently linked to unfavorable functional outcomes (aOR [95% CI] 7.51 [4.57 to 12.34]).

Conclusions

Almost a quarter of thrombectomy patients with minor stroke developed END. These patients had twice the odds of experiencing unfavorable functional outcomes.
“This will keep me happy for weeks”: care objects, affect and graphic medicine
Authors: Ancy A Livine , Venkatesan Sathyaraj
Published: July 2024

Looking beyond anthropocentric care relationships reveals nuanced levels of interdependence among human and non-human entities. Attention to these heterogeneous inter-relationships illuminates the subtle and visceral affective intensities among diverse participants, including humans, objects and the environment, among others. The interdisciplinary field of graphic medicine foregrounds these entanglements through comic affordances, challenging the predominant notion that care belongs only at the scale of human beings. This article analyses selected sections from graphic medical narratives such as Brian Fies’sMom’s Cancer, Sarah Leavitt’sTanglesand Joyce Farmer’sSpecial Exitsto illustrate how objects become a source of care for humans during illness, thus becoming care objects. Furthermore, using the affordances of comics, this essay examines, how the selected sections of the abovementioned graphic narratives portray the often unnoticed/overlooked affective entanglement between the sufferers and objects. In doing so, this article underscores the inter-relatedness between humans and non-human entities within the context of caregiving.
Disruption, transformation and silos: medical humanities and the management gurus
Authors: Miller Gavin
Published: July 2024

To disrupt, to transform and to break through silos are common sense aims for the medical humanities and other interdisciplinary endeavours. These keywords arise because of the influence upon the academy of management and business gurus, reputed experts who arose in response to the economic crises of the 1980s. Despite the noted analytic deficiencies in the concept of disruption, and its association with product innovation, the term has been extended to academic research, where it connotes radical novelty in research practice, typically accompanied by profound organisational and managerial change. ‘Disruption’ has become wedded to the word ‘transformation’ as national funders seek to support more radically innovative research that will maintain Western economic hegemony. A distorted version of Kuhn’s model of scientific revolutions underpins the discourse of transformation, which fits humanities research to a template in which revolutionary, transformative shifts can be instrumentally favoured by funders, at the expense of inferior ‘incremental’ progress. Disruptive and transformative research are, according to funders, more readily produced in organisations that have broken through silos between disciplines. The silo metaphor misleadingly models academic disciplines as if they were essentially unitary entities, akin to the functionally specialised units of a business organisation. The discourse of silos arises from the guru doctrine of the learning organisation. This theory supposes that the organisation—including the university—is literally a living organism, and thereby susceptible to corporate sickness, mortality, infection and disability. Medical humanity researchers should be aware of, and reject, this vitalist metaphysic in which the optimal organisation is a culturally homogeneous supra-personal organism whose immense capacities are harnessed by visionary leaders. Moreover, a new vocabulary should be developed for research evaluation, superseding the supposed hierarchical opposition between transformative and incremental research.
Tobacco and e-cigarette promotion on social media: the case of German rap music
Authors: Heidt Christopher , Dal Mehmet Sefa , Graen Laura , Ouédraogo Nobila , Schaller Katrin
Published: July 2024

German rap artists advertise hookah tobacco and electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) on social media. Advertising tobacco products on the internet is banned under European Parliament and the German Tobacco Products Act. Despite this, 26 out of 60 famous German rap artists have their own e-cigarette or hookah tobacco editions, which are promoted on social media platforms such as Instagram, Tiktok or Youtube. The products convey the image of the artists and appeal particularly to adolescents. In the interest of preventive health protection and the well-being of children, influencers should abide by the existing laws, social media platform operators should enforce existing laws more effectively and legislators should work towards a comprehensive advertising ban for tobacco and related products and consistently prevent marketing of tobacco and e-cigarettes to youth.
Orthopedic Frailty Score and adverse outcomes in patients with surgically managed isolated traumatic spinal injury
Authors: Mohammad Ismail Ahmad , Hildebrand Frank , Forssten Maximilian Peter , Ribeiro Marcelo A F , Chang Parker , Cao Yang , Sarani Babak , Mohseni Shahin
Published: July 2024

Background

With an aging global population, the prevalence of frailty in patients with traumatic spinal injury (TSI) is steadily increasing. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the utility of the Orthopedic Frailty Score (OFS) in assessing the risk of adverse outcomes in patients with isolated TSI requiring surgery, with the hypothesis that frailer patients suffer from a disproportionately increased risk of these outcomes.

Methods

The Trauma Quality Improvement Program database was queried for all adult patients (18 years or older) who suffered an isolated TSI due to blunt force trauma, between 2013 and 2019, and underwent spine surgery. Patients were categorized as non-frail (OFS 0), pre-frail (OFS 1), or frail (OFS ≥2). The association between the OFS and in-hospital mortality, complications, and failure to rescue (FTR) was determined using Poisson regression models, adjusted for potential confounding.

Results

A total of 43 768 patients were included in the current investigation. After adjusting for confounding, frailty was associated with a more than doubling in the risk of in-hospital mortality (adjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) (95% CI): 2.53 (2.04 to 3.12), p<0.001), a 25% higher overall risk of complications (adjusted IRR (95% CI): 1.25 (1.02 to 1.54), p=0.032), a doubling in the risk of FTR (adjusted IRR (95% CI): 2.00 (1.39 to 2.90), p<0.001), and a 10% increase in the risk of intensive care unit admission (adjusted IRR (95% CI): 1.10 (1.04 to 1.15), p=0.004), compared with non-frail patients.

Conclusion

The findings indicate that the OFS could be an effective method for identifying frail patients with TSIs who are at a disproportionate risk of adverse events.

Level of evidence

Level III.
Tuning phenolic hemicyanines for ratiometric DNA sensing and live cell nuclear bioimaging applications
Authors: Van Riesen Abigail J. , Regan Keenan T. , Kalnitsky Baylie , Shoara Aron A. , Slavkovic Sladjana , Churcher Zachary R. , Johnson Philip E. , Nebbioso Giammarco , Krylov Sergey N. , Manderville Richard A.
Published: July 2024

Activatable fluorescent probes with turn-on emission in response to a biological target can reduce the background signal and improve the detection limit needed for biosensor and bioimaging resolution. Turn-on probes with dual emission (ratiometric probes) have further advantages, as they have self-calibration ability for more reliable detection. Herein, we demonstrate the tunability of the phenolic hemicyanine (HC) scaffold for both DNA biosensing and bioimaging applications using the quinine-binding DNA aptamer (MN4) as a host-guest biosensor platform and live ovarian cancer cells for nuclear imaging. The DNA aptamer MN4 contains a three-way junction (3WJ) consisting of a hydrophobic branch point connecting three double-stranded stems. Phenolic HCs bearing electron-withdrawing halogen substituents (FPhOBtz and Cl2PhOBTz) bind to the 3WJ of MN4 as the phenolate with strong turn-on emission. Subsequent displacement of the phenolate by the quinine target causes a turn-off emission response. In contrast, the parent phenolic HC (PhOBtz) and those bearing electron-donating groups (Me2PhOBtz and (MeO)2PhOBtz) exhibit dual (phenol and phenolate) fluorescence upon MN4 binding. Phenol excitation generates phenolate emission by an excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) process with DNA components serving as the proton acceptor. Quinine displacement of PhOBtz from the 3WJ of MN4 affords a turn-on ratiometric response with preferential light-up of phenol emission. The ability of the phenolic HCs to serve as cellular nuclear stains further highlights the tunability of the phenolic HC probes with the Cl2PhOBtz analog displaying superior staining ability. The simplicity and tunability of phenolic HCs make them attractive fluorescent probes for DNA sensing and bioimaging applications.
Acoustic telemetry and network analysis reveal seasonal spatial overlap between gadid species in a subarctic coastal marine protected area
Authors: King Benjamin G.C. , Morris Corey J. , Green John M. , Gregory Robert S. , Snelgrove Paul V.R. , Cote David , Pennell Curtis J.
Published: July 2024

The Gilbert Bay marine protected area (MPA) was established in Labrador, Canada to protect a resident population of Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua) and associated habitat. However, fisheries removals outside MPA boundaries have contributed to population decline and increases in potentially competing species may hinder recovery. Using acoustic telemetry and network analyses, we compared movements of Gilbert Bay cod ( n = 23), conspecifics from offshore environments (offshore Atlantic cod, n = 19), and Greenland cod ( Gadus ogac, n = 14) within and outside MPA boundaries from August 2014 to June 2017. Similar summer space use resulted in species overlap at seaward MPA boundaries and outside the MPA. In winter, Gilbert Bay cod and Greenland cod distributions overlapped within some MPA areas, and offshore Atlantic cod were absent. Some Gilbert Bay cod remained within the MPA year-round. Summer vulnerability to fisheries harvest outside MPA boundaries and winter overlap with competing Greenland cod within the MPA, may collectively challenge Gilbert Bay cod population recovery. Our study demonstrates the utility of acoustic telemetry and network analyses in evaluating animal movements for MPA management.
X-ray emission spectrum for axion–photon conversion in magnetospheres of strongly magnetized neutron stars
Authors: Yadav Shubham , Mishra M. , Sarkar Tapomoy Guha
Published: July 2024

Detecting axionic dark matter (DM) could be possible in an X-ray spectrum from strongly magnetized neutron stars (NSs). We examine the possibility of axion–photon conversion in the magnetospheres of strongly magnetized NSs. In the current work, we investigate how the modified Tolman–Oppenheimer–Volkoff (TOV) system of equations (in the presence of a magnetic field) affects the energy spectrum of axions and axions-converted-photon flux. We have considered the distance-dependent magnetic field in the modified TOV system of equations. We employ three different equations of states (EoSs), namely APR, FPS, and SLY, to solve these equations. We obtain the axions emission rate by including the Cooper-pair-breaking formation process and Bremsstrahlung process in the core of NSs using the NSCool code. We primarily focus on Magnificient seven (M7) star RXJ 1856.5-3754. We further investigate the impact of the magnetic field on the actual observables, such as axion energy spectrum and axion-converted-photon flux at an axion mass in meV range by assuming mass $$M_{NS} \sim 1.4M_{\odot }.$$

M

NS

∼
1.4

M
⊙

.

We compare our calculated axion-converted-photon flux from all available archival data sets from PN+MOS+Chandra. We also study the variation of the energy spectrum at a fixed energy with varying central magnetic fields. Our predicted axion-converted-photon flux values as a function of axion energy closely follow the experimentally archival data, which allows us to put bounds on the axion mass for the three EoS.
FRW Universe with a Parameterization of the EoS Parameter in f(Q) Gravity
Authors: Shukla Bhupendra Kumar , Tiwari R. K. , Sofuoğlu Değer , Beesham A.
Published: July 2024

In the field of theoretical physics, the fundamental characteristics and evolutionary mechanism of dark energy remain a subject of ongoing enquiry. While the simplest explanation for dark energy within General Relativity Theory is the cosmological constant, this concept faces a significant challenge known as the fine-tuning problem. In this study, we adopt an alternative approach, where we attribute the evolution of dark energy to the gravitational sector rather than the matter source. We explore the recently proposed theory of gravity known as modified symmetric teleparallel gravity, [Formula: see text], in which gravitational interactions are governed by the non-metricity term Q. Within this manuscript, we consider [Formula: see text] that incorporates nonlinear forms of the non-metricity scalar, where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are free model parameters. Subsequently, we determine the values of these model parameters that align with the observed values of cosmographic parameters. Our analysis delves into the behavior of various cosmological parameters, including the deceleration parameter, density, and equation of state parameters, as well as the cosmological distances for our cosmological model.
An example of a non-extendable isotopy of a knot
Authors: Zastrow Andreas
Published: July 2024

The paper constructs an example of a (non-ambient) isotopy of a (topological) knot in [Formula: see text] which does not extend to an isotopy of a two-component link whose second component is a meridianal ring of this knot. By constructing the example, the paper answers a question raised in 2005 by Melikhov. Apart from presenting the corresponding example, the paper will discuss the consequences that the discovery of this example has for attacking a problem that was in literature asked in 1974 by Rolfsen: Namely deciding, whether there exist knots (and it is clear that at most everywhere wild knots might have such a property) that even with respect to ordinary (not necessarily ambient) isotopy are non-equivalent to the trivial knot.
Dynamical Behavior of a Juvenile Predator, Adult Predator and Prey Model Through Uncertain and Parametric Technique
Authors: Gayen Sailen , Panja Prabir , Jana Dipak Kumar
Published: July 2024

In this study, an interaction model involving a juvenile predator, an adult predator, and the prey has been developed. It is considered that juvenile predators are unable to reproduce. The adult predator is considered to have an impact on the growth rate of the juvenile predators. It is also assumed that a portion of juvenile predators may become adults. Also, it is considered that adult predators consume prey for food. The logistic growth of prey has been taken into consideration in the absence of an adult predator. The intra-species competition among adult predators is discussed here. It is also assumed that adult predators could chase and eat juvenile predators. Then most of the parametric values are considered interval-valued uncertain numbers. Since it is very hard for us to solve the model when the parametric values are interval-valued. Thus, all of the interval-valued parameters have been simplified into linear parametric form. After that, the nonnegativity and boundedness of the model were discussed. Various possible equilibrium points in the model are analyzed. The model’s local stability and global stability are investigated near these points. It has been noted that the proposed model’s solution is significantly impacted by the uncertain values of the model parameters. Uncertain estimates of intra-species competition among adult predators have been found to have a considerable impact on the stability of the model. It is observed that the increased uncertainty of intra-species competition for prey may stabilize the system. It is reported that the increasing rate of conversion of prey into adult predators can destabilize the ecosystem. It is found that the increasing rate of predation on juvenile predators by adults reduces the number of juveniles that can mature into adults which may create instability in the system.
Average Waiting Time of Customers in Single-Server Uncertain Queueing System
Authors: Liu Yang
Published: July 2024

Uncertain queueing system is an important research object in the field of operations research, and widely exists in logistics, production, insurance and other fields. In order to further analyze the performance of the single-service uncertain queueing system, this paper derives the generalized inverse uncertainty distributions of the waiting times of customers, and provides the calculation formulas for the average waiting times of customers on this basis. Finally, this paper also provides two examples to illustrate the generalized inverse uncertainty distributions of waiting times and the calculation formulas of the average waiting times under specific uncertainty distributions.
Advances in Nanoparticles for Skin Protection — A Review
Authors: Hossain Nayem , Abdullah Md. , Ahsan Zahid , Yesmin Farzana , Islam Md. Aminul , Islam Samsul
Published: July 2024

Nanoparticles (NPs) have revolutionized the field of skin protection and treatment by offering unique properties that enhance drug delivery, efficacy and safety. This review explores the advances in NP technology for various skin applications, including protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation, treatment of skin diseases and enhancement of cosmetic products. NPs, such as zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, are extensively used in sunscreens for their effective UV-blocking capabilities without leaving a white residue. In medical applications, NPs improve active ingredients’ stability, penetration, and controlled release, making them ideal for treating skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema and skin cancer. The review also highlights the role of NPs in cosmetic formulations, where they enhance product texture, stability, and bioavailability of active ingredients, leading to better skin hydration and antiaging effects. Despite their benefits, the potential risks and regulatory challenges associated with NP use in skin products are discussed, emphasizing the need for comprehensive safety evaluations and adherence to regulatory standards. Future research directions include optimizing NP formulations for targeted delivery, reducing systemic absorption and improving patient compliance. This review underscores the transformative potential of NPs in dermatology and skincare, advocating for balanced development to maximize benefits while ensuring safety.
Fractal dimension and its implication to mineral exploration: a case study from the Jonnagiri and Gadag gold deposits in India
Authors: Swain S. K. , Roy P. N. S.
Published: July 2024

Fractal dimensions characterize the spatial distribution pattern of mineral deposits, allowing the mineralization processes beneath and at the surface to be understood. This study considered a mineralized vein along the fracture/shear zone near the Dona Temple in the Jonnagiri gold deposit and borehole data from the Sangli Block in the Gadag gold deposit. The above-mentioned zones were considered using fractal dimensional analysis to constrain the fluid-flow pathways. The box-counting technique was used to measure the fractal dimension of the mineralized vein along the surface from a detailed to a regional scale. The fractal correlation integral method was used to provide the fractal dimension values from the gold assay (in g t
−1
). The box-counting fractal dimension values obtained varied from 1.07 to 1.36, whilst the fractal dimensions obtained from the fractal correlation integral method ranged from 0.03 to 1.97. Higher fractal values signify a fully matured interlinked fracture/fault network with steep fluid-flow pathways, while lower values indicate the converse condition. Further, the study showed that the fractal analysis of the mineralized vein along the fracture/shear zone appeared to correlate with the fault system rather than with the litho-contact. Economic gold deposition occurs mainly along a structure with a steep fractal gradient, which is the target area for economic gold exploration.
Multi-Stream Scheduling of Inference Pipelines on Edge Devices - a DRL Approach
Authors: Pereira Danny , Ghosh Sumana , Dey Soumyajit
Published: July 2024

Low-power edge devices equipped with Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) are a popular target platform for real-time scheduling of inference pipelines. Such application-architecture combinations are popular in Advanced Driver-assistance Systems for aiding in the real-time decision-making of automotive controllers. However, the real-time throughput sustainable by such inference pipelines is limited by resource constraints of the target edge devices. Modern GPUs, both in edge devices and workstation variants, support the facility of concurrent execution of computation kernels and data transfers using the primitive of
streams
, also allowing for the assignment of priority to these streams. This opens up the possibility of executing computation layers of inference pipelines within a multi-priority, multi-stream environment on the GPU. However, manually co-scheduling such applications while satisfying their throughput requirement and platform memory budget may require an unmanageable number of profiling runs. In this work, we propose a Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL)-based method for deciding the start time of various operations in each pipeline layer while optimizing the latency of execution of inference pipelines as well as memory consumption. Experimental results demonstrate the promising efficacy of the proposed DRL approach in comparison with the baseline methods, particularly in terms of real-time performance enhancements, schedulability ratio, and memory savings. We have additionally assessed the effectiveness of the proposed DRL approach using a real-time traffic simulation tool IPG CarMaker.
Atherosclerosis Biomarkers by Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) - Maintenance version June 2024
Authors: Saba Luca , Schoepf Uwe Joseph
Published: July 2024

The clinical application of Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) is widely available as a technique to optimize the therapeutic approach to treating vascular disease. Evaluation of atherosclerotic arterial plaque characteristics is currently based on qualitative biomarkers. However, the reproducibility of such findings has historically been limited even among experts. Quantitative imaging biomarkers have been shown to have additive value above traditional qualitative imaging metrics and clinical risk scores regarding patient outcomes. However, many definitions and cut-offs are present in the current literature; therefore, standardization of quantitative evaluation of CTA datasets is needed before becoming a valuable tool in daily clinical practice. To establish these biomarkers in clinical practice, techniques are required to standardize quantitative imaging across different manufacturers with cross-calibration. Moreover, the post-processing of atherosclerotic plaque segmentation needs to be optimized and standardized. The goal of a Quantitative Imaging Biomarker Alliance (QIBA) Profile is to provide an implementation guide to generate a biomarker with an effective level of performance, mostly by reducing variability and bias in the measurement. The performance claims represent expert consensus and will be empirically demonstrated at a subsequent stage. Users of this Profile are encouraged to refer to the following site to understand the document’s context: http://qibawiki.rsna.org/index.php/QIBA_Profile_Stages. All statistical performance assessments are stated in carefully considered metrics and according to strict definitions as given in (3-8), which also includes detailed, peer-reviewed rationale on the importance of adhering to such standards. The expected performance is expressed as Claims (Section 1.2). To achieve those claims, Actors (Scanners, Reconstruction Software, Image Analysis Tools, Imaging Physicians, Physicists, and Technologists) must meet the Checklist Requirements (Section 3) covering Subject Handling, Image Data Acquisition, Image Data Reconstruction, Image QA, and Image Analysis. This Profile is at the Clinically Feasible stage (qibawiki.rsna.org/index.php/QIBA_Profile_Stages) which indicate that multiple sites have performed the Profile and found it to be practical and expect it to achieve the claimed performance. QIBA Profiles for other CT, MRI, PET, and Ultrasound biomarkers can be found at qibawiki.rsna.org.
Model-Based Investigation of Recombination Interlayers in PEM Water Electrolysis: Concentration Profiles, Efficiency, and Operational Limits
Authors: Brundiers Steffen , Trinke Patrick , Bensmann Boris , Hanke-Rauschenbach Richard
Published: July 2024

Platinum-based recombination interlayers (ILs) are a promising approach to mitigate hydrogen and oxygen crossover during proton exchange membrane (PEM) electrolysis. Until now, there are only experimental investigations on this topic, which demonstrate the integral behavior of a PEM electrolysis cell with an IL but do not resolve local effects. This paper addresses these issues by proposing a first model-based approach to investigate the effects of ILs in PEM water electrolysis cells. We focus on local concentration profiles, crossover fluxes, Faraday efficiency, operational limits, and heat generation. The experimentally validated model shows that the IL substantially affects the local concentrations of dissolved hydrogen and oxygen. Depending on pressure condition and current density, different species can limit the recombination reaction in the IL. The results show that ILs can extend the operational window even for high cathode pressures and thin membranes if enough oxygen is present in the IL to recombine the permeating hydrogen. Additionally, we demonstrate that ILs do not influence the Faraday efficiency of the cell due to two counteracting loss mechanisms. Finally, our simulations indicate that the heat generation from the recombination reaction in the IL has almost no effect on the temperature distribution in the cell.
Facile Carbothermal Synthesis of Metal Phosphides-Based Multifunctional Electrocatalysts via Polyaniline Doped with Phosphoric Acid
Authors: Mazur Denys O. , Pariiska Olena O. , Kurys Yaroslav I. , Koshechko Vyacheslav G. , Pokhodenko Vitaly D.
Published: July 2024

Transition metal phosphides (TMPs) and their composites are promising non-platinum electrocatalysts for hydrogen evolution (HER), oxygen evolution (OER), and oxygen reduction (ORR) reactions. But traditional methods to obtain these electrocatalysts are usually multi-step and include the participation of hazardous phosphorus compounds during phosphidation. Here, the possibility of using a polyaniline doped with phosphoric acid (PANI∙H3PO4)—as a source of C, N and P simultaneously - to obtain composites based on N,P-doped carbon and nano- and/or submicron TMP particles as HER, OER and ORR electrocatalysts is demonstrated. The pyrolysis of PANI∙H3PO4 together with Co, Ni, Mo, or Fe salt allows the formation of such composite electrocatalysts by the carbon thermal reduction route. Regardless of the pH of the electrolyte, the MoP-based electrocatalyst is characterized in HER by the smallest Tafel slope and overpotential of hydrogen evolution and also exhibits high stability during long-term operation. At the same time, other composites are multifunctional electrocatalysts possessing activity not only in HER, but also in OER and ORR. The proposed approach can be a starting point for a simple, universal in choice of d-metal, and environmentally attractive preparation of multifunctional TMP-based electrocatalysts with further improvement of their performance.
Investigating FSGS-like injury in zebrafish larvae by nifurpirinol: efficacy and molecular insight
Authors: Klawitter Marianne , Mattias Francescapaola , Kliewe Felix , Hammer Elke , Völker Uwe , Simm Stefan , Siegerist Florian , Daniel Sophie , Schindler Maximilian , Endlich Nicole
Published: July 2024

This research investigated the use of nifurpirinol in nanomolar amounts as a prodrug to reliably induce focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)-like damage in transgenic zebrafish larvae. Through proteomic analysis of isolated zebrafish glomeruli, we were further able to identify proteins that are significantly regulated after the manifestation of FSGS. These results are expected to expand our knowledge of the pathomechanism of FSGS.