bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Socio-Economic Conditions on Individuals’ Health: Development of an Index and Examination of its Association with Three of the Most Frequently Registered Diseases in Lazio Region of Italy
Authors: Valentini Ilaria , Nurchis Mario Cesare , Altamura Gerardo , Cicchetti Americo , Damiani Gianfranco , Arbia Giuseppe
Published: June 2024

This study examines spatial disparities and associations between the social deprivation index (SDI) and Type 2 Diabetes, Dementia, and Heart Failure in Italy’s Lazio Region. The primary goal is to assess how social deprivation impacts health inequalities by analysing SDI-disease correlations. This retrospective study uses 2020 socioeconomic data and 2021 epidemiological indicators in Lazio Region, Italy. The SDI, constructed following established guidelines, measures social deprivation. Statistical tools, including regression models, Moran’s I test, and LISA techniques, are used to analyse spatial patterns. Utilizing a retrospective approach, we merge 2020 socioeconomic and 2021 epidemiological data for analysis. The SDI is computed using established methods. Spatial disparities are explored through regression models, Moran’s I test, and LISA techniques. The study reveals significant disparities in disease incidence. District V in Rome exhibits high Type 2 Diabetes (113.75/1000) and Heart Failure (37.98/1000) rates, while Marcetelli has elevated Dementia incidence (19.74). Southern municipalities face high unemployment (up to 25%), whereas bordering areas have higher education levels (30–60%). Disease hotspots emerge in Rome and centre-north municipalities, aligning with social deprivation patterns. Regression models confirm the link between disease incidence and socioeconomic indicators. SDI ranges from − 1.31 to + 10.01. This study underscores a correlation between social deprivation and disease incidence. Further national-level research is essential to deepen our understanding of how social deprivation influences health outcomes, with potential implications for addressing health disparities both regionally and nationally.
The sound of surgery-development of an acoustic trocar system enabling laparoscopic sound analysis
Authors: Ostler-Mildner Daniel , Wegener Luca , Fuchtmann Jonas , Feussner Hubertus , Wilhelm Dirk , Navab Nassir
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Acoustic information can contain viable information in medicine and specifically in surgery. While laparoscopy depends mainly on visual information, our goal is to develop the means to capture and process acoustic information during laparoscopic surgery.

Methods

To achieve this, we iteratively developed three prototypes that will overcome the abdominal wall as a sound barrier and can be used with standard trocars. We evaluated them in terms of clinical applicability and sound transmission quality. Furthermore, the applicability of each prototype for sound classification based on machine learning was evaluated.

Results

Our developed prototypes for recording airborne sound from the intraperitoneal cavity represent a promising solution suitable for real-world clinical usage All three prototypes fulfill our set requirements in terms of clinical applicability (i.e., air-tightness, invasiveness, sterility) and show promising results regarding their acoustic characteristics and the associated results on ML-based sound classification.

Conclusion

In summary, our prototypes for capturing acoustic information during laparoscopic surgeries integrate seamlessly with existing procedures and have the potential to augment the surgeon’s perception. This advancement could change how surgeons interact with and understand the surgical field.
Eating Disorders in Sexual and Gender Minority Adolescents
Authors: Nagata Jason M. , Stuart Elena , Hur Jacqueline O. , Panchal Smriti , Low Patrick , Chaphekar Anita V. , Ganson Kyle T. , Lavender Jason M.
Published: June 2024

Purpose of Review

To consolidate recent literature addressing eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors among sexual and gender minority (SGM) adolescents, including but not limited to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) adolescents.

Recent Findings

Sexual and gender minority adolescents are at heightened vulnerability to eating disorders and disordered eating behaviors compared to their cisgender and heterosexual peers, potentially due to minority stress, gender norms, objectification, and the influence of the media, peers, and parents. We report findings from recent literature on the epidemiology and prevalence, assessment, mental health comorbidity, quality of life and psychosocial functioning, risk and protective factors, and treatment and interventions for eating disorders in sexual and gender minority adolescents.

Addressing eating disorders in sexual and gender minority adolescents requires an integrated approach consisting of screening, tailored treatment, and comprehensive support to address intersectional challenges. Gender-affirming and trauma-informed care approaches may be considered.
Learning unbounded-domain spatiotemporal differential equations using adaptive spectral methods
Authors: Xia Mingtao , Li Xiangting , Shen Qijing , Chou Tom
Published: June 2024

Rapidly developing machine learning methods have stimulated research interest in computationally reconstructing differential equations (DEs) from observational data, providing insight into the underlying mechanistic models. In this paper, we propose a new neural-ODE-based method that spectrally expands the spatial dependence of solutions to learn the spatiotemporal DEs they obey. Our spectral spatiotemporal DE learning method has the advantage of not explicitly relying on spatial discretization (e.g., meshes or grids), thus allowing reconstruction of DEs that may be defined on unbounded spatial domains and that may contain long-ranged, nonlocal spatial interactions. By combining spectral methods with the neural ODE framework, our proposed spectral DE method addresses the inverse-type problem of reconstructing spatiotemporal equations in unbounded domains. Even for bounded domain problems, our spectral approach is as accurate as some of the latest machine learning approaches for learning or numerically solving partial differential equations (PDEs). By developing a spectral framework for reconstructing both PDEs and partial integro-differential equations (PIDEs), we extend dynamical reconstruction approaches to a wider range of problems, including those in unbounded domains.
Praxelis cleggiae (Compositae: Eupatorieae: Praxeliinae), a new species from the granite inselbergs in the east of the Departamento de Santa Cruz, Bolivia
Authors: Hind D. J. Nicholas , Edwards Sara L.
Published: June 2024

Praxelis cleggiae (Compositae: Eupatorieae: Praxeliinae) is described and illustrated from the granite inselbergs (upon which it is most common), and on road crown chippings on old roads, in the Departamento de Santa Cruz, Bolivia; it has a disjunct distribution and is also found on the Serranía San Simón, in the San Ignacio Schist belt, Departamento de Beni. Material of this species was mostly determined as P. insignis (Malme) R.M.King & H.Rob., a Brazilian species, described from the metamorphosed sandstone of what is now the Parque Nacional da Chapada dos Guimarães in Mato Grosso State. The two species have some superficial resemblance, but differ significantly in plant size, internode length (relative to leaf length), branching, leaf shape and size, phyllaries, achenes and pappus. The total number of species of Praxelis recognised in Bolivia is now seven, and 20 species in the genus worldwide.
Identification and evaluation of a six-lncRNA prognostic signature for multiple myeloma
Authors: Xu Lu , Xie Zhihao , Jiang Huanlin , Wang Erpeng , Hu Min , Huang Qianlei , Hao Xinbao
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Multiple myeloma (MM) is the second most common hematologic malignancy, and there is no cure for this disease. This study aimed to explore the prognostic value of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in MM and to reveal related immune and chemotherapy resistance mechanisms.

Methods

In this study, lncRNA profiles from the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (MMRF) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases were analyzed to identify lncRNAs linked to MM patient survival. A risk assessment model stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups, and survival was evaluated. Additionally, a triple-ceRNA (lncRNA–miRNA–mRNA) network was constructed, and functional analysis was performed. The research also involved immune function analysis and chemotherapy drug sensitivity assessment using oncoPredict and the GDSC dataset.

Results

We identified 422 lncRNAs significantly associated with overall survival in MM patients and ultimately focused on the 6 with the highest prognostic value. These lncRNAs were used to develop a risk score formula that stratified patients into high- and low-risk groups. Kaplan–Meier analysis revealed shorter survival in high-risk patients. We integrated this lncRNA signature with clinical parameters to construct a nomogram for predicting MM prognosis. Additionally, a triple-ceRNA network was constructed to reveal potential miRNA targets, coding genes related to these lncRNAs and significantly enriched pathways. Immune checkpoint gene expression and immune cell composition were also analyzed in relation to the lncRNA risk score. Finally, using the oncoPredict tool, we observed that high-risk patients exhibited decreased sensitivity to key MM chemotherapeutics, suggesting that lncRNA profiles are linked to chemotherapy resistance.
Making Epidemiological and Clinical Studies FAIR Using the Example of COVID-19
Authors: Pigeot Iris , Ahrens Wolfgang , Darms Johannes , Fluck Juliane , Golebiewski Martin , Hahn Horst K. , Hu Xiaoming , Intemann Timm , Kasbohm Elisa , Kirsten Toralf , Klammt Sebastian , Klopfenstein Sophie Anne Ines , Lassen-Schmidt Bianca , Peters Manuela , Sax Ulrich , Waltemath Dagmar , Schmidt Carsten Oliver
Published: June 2024

FAIRification of personal health data is of utmost importance to improve health research and political as well as medical decision-making, which ultimately contributes to a better health of the general population. Despite the many advances in information technology, several obstacles such as interoperability problems remain and relevant research on the health topic of interest is likely to be missed out due to time-consuming search and access processes. A recent example is the COVID-19 pandemic, where a better understanding of the virus’ transmission dynamics as well as preventive and therapeutic options would have improved public health and medical decision-making. Consequently, the NFDI4Health Task Force COVID-19 was established to foster the FAIRification of German COVID-19 studies.

This paper describes the various steps that have been taken to create low barrier workflows for scientists in finding and accessing German COVID-19 research. It provides an overview on the building blocks for FAIR health research within the Task Force COVID-19 and how this initial work was subsequently expanded by the German consortium National Research Data Infrastructure for Personal Health Data (NFDI4Health) to cover a wider range of studies and research areas in epidemiological, public health and clinical research. Lessons learned from the Task Force helped to improve the respective tasks of NFDI4Health.
Heterogeneous deformation in fold and thrust belts induced by anisotropies in the ocean topography; the South Portuguese Variscan Zone example (SW Portugal)
Authors: Bolacha E. , Dias R. , Fonseca P.E.
Published: June 2024

The Variscan fold and thrust belt related with the South Portuguese Zone presents a SW forward propagation and the coeval development of synthetic folds and thrusts pervasive at all scales. Although several models have been proposed for their formation, the estimated strain pattern is more compatible with a push from the rear induced by the north-eastern subduction zone. Although there is a strong consistence concerning the kinematics of these Variscan structures, there is an important contrast of their geometries between the inner and the external sectors, where the very low dips prevails. Although, there are some previous models suggesting that the behaviour of the more external domains could be related with the interference between the undeformed sedimentary sequence of the upper plate with the active margin of the fold and thrust belt, independent evidence of this process is lacking. The realization of scaled analogue experiments concerning the Carboniferous evolution of SW Iberia Variscides, not only show that they could induced the flat lying major thrust of the external domains, but also emphasize their important role in the structural evolution of much of the fold and thrust belt.
Incidence and Outcomes of Brucella Endocarditis in a High-Prevalence Area: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Pan Shufang , Zhao Yunyue , Zhou Kaixiang , Chen Shuru , Maimaitiming Miriban , Wu Jing , Tuerxun Maimaitiaili , Chong Yutian , Zhu Jianyun
Published: June 2024

Objective

To analyze the clinical characteristics of Brucella endocarditis (BE) and observe the factors related to death to provide guidance for clinical treatment.

Methods

This study examined all patients with BE admitted to The First People’s Hospital of Kashi Prefecture between January 2017 and November 2023. Clinical characteristics and follow-up outcomes were collected for analysis.

Results

This study revealed 774 cases of brucellosis and 14 cases of BE, with an overall incidence rate of 1.88%. Most of the patients were male (71.43%) and lived in areas where brucellosis is common. Patients ranged in age from 26 to 68 years. Common symptoms reported among patients included chest tightness and fatigue, and a significant portion also presented with congestive heart failure. Most patients exhibited normal white blood cell counts (WBC) but had elevated levels of C-reactive protein (CRP). Transthoracic ultrasound (TTE) revealed cardiac valve vegetation in all patients, along with positive blood cultures. Six patients (42.86%) completed heart surgery, and ten (71.43%) completed anti-infection treatment. Six patients died, five of whom did not undergo surgery. The other patient with Marfan syndrome died after surgery. Sex, WBC count, neutrophil (NEUT) and total bilirubin (TBIL) were significant factors associated with regression in BE patients (P < 0.05) according to univariate analysis.

Conclusions

Patients with BE in Kashi have a severe clinical presentation at diagnosis, but early detection with improved cardiac ultrasound and aggressive treatment can improve the prognosis.
Telemedicine in neurology: challenges and opportunities
Authors: Al-Faraj Abrar O , Ukonu Nene , Mohtar Omar , Jha Vibhav , Chen Dickson T. , Lau K. H. Vincent
Published: June 2024

Objective

Our aim is to explore the common challenges encountered by neurologists in telemedicine.

Methods

We performed a cross-sectional study via an anonymous survey to explore neurologists’ experiences with telemedicine. A survey was sent to randomly selected 200 participants from academic institutions in the United States. We performed descriptive statistics, reported as percentages for each survey question.

Results

One hunderd and ten  neurologists completed the survey. Fifty-one percent of neurologists stated that they experienced technological issues in (1%–20%) of telemedicine visits and 57% needed technical assistance from informational technology ( support. Thirty-four percent of neurologists agree that the inability to perform physical examination make them feel worried that they are providing a sub-optimal care for their patients and 55% recommended a subsequent in-person visit for further evaluation in (1%–20%) of telemedicine visits. Most Neurologists (95%) rated patients’ technological challenges in setting up a telemedicine visit as the most common issue encountered and 37% rated both patient’s cognitive/mental disability and the limited availability of interpreter services for non-English speaking patients to be the other common challenges encountered during telemedicine visits. Neurologists rated improving administrative support (39%), integrating EMR with video and telephone calls (37%), and allotment of sufficient time to complete telemedicine visits (27%) to be the most important issues to be addressed to facilitate using telemedicine in neurology.

Significance

Potential opportunities to improve neurologists’ experiences with telemedicine include improving technological support, integrating virtual platforms within EMR and providing adequate administrative support. Patients with cognitive and or physical disabilities may need additional support to engage in the healthcare system via telemedicine.
Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations, 7th Edition: Cerebral Venous Thrombosis, 2024
Authors: Field Thalia S. , Lindsay M. Patrice , Wein Theodore , Debicki Derek B. , Gorman Johnathon , Heran Manraj K.S. , Levin Leonard A. , Lund Rebecca , Moharir Mahendranath , Peeling Lissa , Perera Kanjana S. , Siegal Deborah , Verreault Steve , Foley Norine , Martin Chelsy , Smith Eric E. , Mountain Anita , Mandzia Jennifer
Published: June 2024

The 7th edition of the Canadian Stroke Best Practice Recommendations (CSBPR) is a comprehensive summary of current evidence-based recommendations, appropriate for use by healthcare providers and system planners, and intended to drive healthcare excellence, improved outcomes and more integrated health systems. This edition includes a new module on the management of cerebral venous thrombosis (CVT). Cerebral venous thrombosis is defined as thrombosis of the veins of the brain, including the dural venous sinuses and/or cortical or deep veins. Cerebral venous thrombosis is a rare but potentially life-threatening type of stroke, representing 0.5–1.0% of all stroke admissions. The reported rates of CVT are approximately 10–20 per million and appear to be increasing over time. The risk of CVT is higher in women and often associated with oral contraceptive use and with pregnancy and the puerperium. This guideline addresses care for adult individuals who present to the healthcare system with current or recent symptoms of CVT. The recommendations cover the continuum of care from diagnosis and initial clinical assessment of symptomatic CVT, to acute treatment of symptomatic CVT, post-acute management, person-centered care, special considerations in the long-term management of CVT, including pregnancy and considerations related to CVT in special circumstances such as trauma and vaccination. This module also includes supporting materials such as implementation resources to facilitate the adoption of evidence into practice and performance measures to enable monitoring of uptake and effectiveness of recommendations.
Review of secondary phases formed under natural alkaline conditions at low temperatures and implications for cement–bentonite interactions in radioactive waste repositories
Authors: Shimbashi Misato , Yokoyama Shingo , Sato Tsutomu
Published: June 2024

The alteration of bentonite under alkaline conditions and the subsequent changes in properties such as permeability and self-sealing ability should be evaluated for the performance assessment of radioactive waste repositories. As the period of evaluation for alterations is extremely long, natural analog (NA) studies that can observe long-term phenomena similar to the system of radioactive waste repositories have significant advantages. However, locations that can be set up as NA study sites with significant similarity are limited and should be pursued by localizing analog systems. This literature review summarized studies reporting secondary phases formed at low temperatures (<100°C) under a broader range of natural sites which are chemically similar to the alkaline conditions expected at bentonite in radioactive waste repositories, including near pyrometamorphic rocks, near ophiolites, and in alkaline saline lakes. This review provides insights into the species, formation conditions, and stability of secondary phases that could be formed during cement–bentonite interactions and the timescale for mineralogical transitions from a metastable to a stable phase. The findings could be useful for selecting secondary phases to be considered in reactive transport modeling for predicting cement–bentonite interactions in radioactive waste repositories.
Helping the Helpers: Mental Health Challenges of Psychosocial Support Workers During the Russian-Ukrainian War
Authors: Kang Hun , Fischer Ian C. , Esterlis Irina , Kolyshkina Alla , Ponomarenko Liudmyla , Chobanian Anna , Vus Viktor , Pietrzak Robert H.
Published: June 2024

Objective:

The ongoing Russian–Ukrainian war has been linked to mental health problems in the Ukrainian general population. To date, however, scarce research has examined the mental health of psychosocial support workers (PSWs) in Ukraine who have a burdensome workload in the context of ongoing conflict. This study aimed to examine the prevalence and correlates of burnout, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and suicidal ideation (SI) in PSWs in Ukraine during the Russian–Ukrainian war.

Methods:

One hundred seventy-eight PSWs in Ukraine completed a survey assessing war exposure, mental health, and psychosocial characteristics.

Results:

A total 59.6% of PSWs screened positive for burnout, 38.2% for PTSD, and 10.7% for current SI. Lower optimism was associated with greater odds of burnout. Greater distress from witnessing war-related destruction, lower optimism, lower presence of meaning in life, and lower levels of close social relationships were associated with greater odds of burnout. Lower presence of meaning in life was associated with greater odds of SI.

Conclusions:

Results of this study highlight the mental health challenges faced by PSWs in Ukraine during the ongoing Russian–Ukrainian war. They further suggest that interventions to foster meaning in life and promote social connectedness may “help the helpers” during this ongoing conflict.
Investigations on the turbulentnon-turbulent interface in supersonic compressible plate turbulent boundary layer
Authors: Su Shuhuai , Long Yanguang , Wang Jinjun , Li Xinliang
Published: June 2024

The turbulent boundary layer (TBL) is a widely existing flow phenomenon in nature and engineering applications. Its strong mixing effect can achieve more sufficient material mixing, heat transport, etc. The understanding of the entrainment process and mechanism of irrotational fluids entering the turbulent region can be promoted by studying the geometric and dynamic characteristics of turbulent

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non-turbulent interfaces (TNTI). In compressible flow, it is unclear whether the properties of TNTI will change and whether the entrainment will show different features due to the influence of compressibility. Based on the direct numerical simulation results of supersonic compressible plate TBLs with Mach number of 2.9, the geometric and dynamic characteristics of TNTI are investigated in this paper. The interface is identified by the enstrophy method, and the height, thickness, fractal dimension, enstrophy transportation and entrainment characteristics of the interface are investigated. It is found that for the enstrophy transportation in a TBL, the contribution of compressibility-related terms accounts for approximately 13.4 % of the total enstrophy transportation, which tends to transfer the enstrophy of turbulence near the interface to both directions vertical to the interface. This promotes the expansion of the turbulent region towards the non-turbulent region, and the mean height, thickness and entrainment velocity are increased by approximately 3.7 %, 7.0 % and 8.5 %, respectively, while the fractal dimension is basically unaffected. Different from the incompressible flow, the contribution of the compressibility-related terms to the entrainment velocity is independent of the local curvature, and the intense entrainment process is more likely to occur on a highly curved concave surface.
Social influences on the relationship between dissociation and psychotic-like experiences
Authors: Heriot-Maitland Charles , Wykes Til , Peters Emmanuelle
Published: June 2024

Background

Shame is experienced as a threat to social self, and so activates threat-protective responses. There is evidence that shame has trauma-like characteristics, suggesting it can be understood within the same conceptual framework as trauma and dissociation. Evidence for causal links among trauma, dissociation, and psychosis thus warrant the investigation of how shame may influence causal mechanisms for psychosis symptoms.

Methods

This study tested the interaction between dissociation and shame, specifically external shame (feeling shamed by others), in predicting psychotic-like experiences (PLEs) six months later in a general population sample (N = 314). It also tested if social safeness moderates these effects. A longitudinal, online questionnaire design tested a moderation model (dissociation-shame) and a moderated moderation model (adding social safeness), using multiple regressions with bootstrap procedures.

Results

Although there was no direct effect of dissociation on PLEs six months later, there was a significant interaction effect with shame, controlling for PLEs at baseline. There were complex patterns in the directions of effects: For high-shame-scorers, higher dissociation predicted higher PLE scores, but for low-shame-scorers, higher dissociation predicted lower PLE scores. Social safeness was found to significantly moderate these interaction effects, which were unexpectedly more pronounced in the context of higher social safeness.

Conclusions

The results demonstrate evidence for an interaction between dissociation and shame on its impact on PLEs, which manifests particularly for those experiencing higher social safeness. This suggests a potential role of social mechanisms in both the etiology and treatment of psychosis, which warrants further testing in clinical populations.
Binational Indianism in James DeMars’s Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Roses
Authors: Martínez Figueroa Adriana
Published: June 2024

Since the late nineteenth century, the “Indian” as symbol has been a recurring trope in the art music of Mexico and the United States. Composers in both countries have often turned to representations of Indigenous Peoples as symbolic of nature, spirituality, and/or aspects of the national Self. This article seeks to place James DeMars's opera Guadalupe, Our Lady of the Roses (2008) in the context of two major cultural trends: Indianism in the U.S., and the representation of Mexico by U.S. composers. DeMars's use of Indigenous instruments in Guadalupe, including Mexican pre-Hispanic percussion, and flutes performed by famed Navajo-Ute flutist R. Carlos Nakai, continues the Indianist tradition of associating the Indigenous cultures of both countries with nature, spirituality, and authenticity. Similar associations emerge in the development and reception of both “world music” and the Native American recording industry since the 1980s, as exemplified by Nakai's career. DeMars uses these instruments in combination with Plains Native American features and generic exoticisms to represent both the Mexican Indigenous Peoples and the spiritual message of the opera. The sympathetic treatment of Indigenous cultures in Guadalupe nevertheless exists in tension with their exoticism and Otherness; in this the work is representative of U.S. cultural responses to Mexico stretching back throughout the long twentieth century.
Bottlenecks in biobased approaches to plastic degradation
Authors: Bergeson Amelia R. , Silvera Ashli J. , Alper Hal S.
Published: June 2024

Plastic waste is an environmental challenge, but also presents a biotechnological opportunity as a unique carbon substrate. With modern biotechnological tools, it is possible to enable both recycling and upcycling. To realize a plastics bioeconomy, significant intrinsic barriers must be overcome using a combination of enzyme, strain, and process engineering. This article highlights advances, challenges, and opportunities for a variety of common plastics.
Hydrogen-induced tunable remanent polarization in a perovskite nickelate
Authors: Yuan Yifan , Kotiuga Michele , Park Tae Joon , Patel Ranjan Kumar , Ni Yuanyuan , Saha Arnob , Zhou Hua , Sadowski Jerzy T. , Al-Mahboob Abdullah , Yu Haoming , Du Kai , Zhu Minning , Deng Sunbin , Bisht Ravindra S. , Lyu Xiao , Wu Chung-Tse Michael , Ye Peide D. , Sengupta Abhronil , Cheong Sang-Wook , Xu Xiaoshan , Rabe Karin M. , Ramanathan Shriram
Published: June 2024

Materials with field-tunable polarization are of broad interest to condensed matter sciences and solid-state device technologies. Here, using hydrogen (H) donor doping, we modify the room temperature metallic phase of a perovskite nickelate NdNiO3 into an insulating phase with both metastable dipolar polarization and space-charge polarization. We then demonstrate transient negative differential capacitance in thin film capacitors. The space-charge polarization caused by long-range movement and trapping of protons dominates when the electric field exceeds the threshold value. First-principles calculations suggest the polarization originates from the polar structure created by H doping. We find that polarization decays within ~1 second which is an interesting temporal regime for neuromorphic computing hardware design, and we implement the transient characteristics in a neural network to demonstrate unsupervised learning. These discoveries open new avenues for designing ferroelectric materials and electrets using light-ion doping.
Full electrical manipulation of perpendicular exchange bias in ultrathin antiferromagnetic film with epitaxial strain
Authors: Qi Jie , Zhao Yunchi , Zhang Yi , Yang Guang , Huang He , Lyu Haochang , Shao Bokai , Zhang Jingyan , Li Jialiang , Zhu Tao , Yu Guoqiang , Wei Hongxiang , Zhou Shiming , Shen Baogen , Wang Shouguo
Published: June 2024

Achieving effective manipulation of perpendicular exchange bias effect remains an intricate endeavor, yet it stands a significance for the evolution of ultra-high capacity and energy-efficient magnetic memory and logic devices. A persistent impediment to its practical applications is the reliance on external magnetic fields during the current-induced switching of exchange bias in perpendicularly magnetized structures. This study elucidates the achievement of a full electrical manipulation of the perpendicular exchange bias in the multilayers with an ultrathin antiferromagnetic layer. Owing to the anisotropic epitaxial strain in the 2-nm-thick IrMn3 layer, the considerable exchange bias effect is clearly achieved at room temperature. Concomitantly, a specific global uncompensated magnetization manifests in the IrMn3 layer, facilitating the switching of the irreversible portion of the uncompensated magnetization. Consequently, the perpendicular exchange bias can be manipulated by only applying pulsed current, notably independent of the presence of any external magnetic fields.
Geographic sources of ozone air pollution and mortality burden in Europe
Authors: Achebak Hicham , Garatachea Roger , Pay María Teresa , Jorba Oriol , Guevara Marc , Pérez García-Pando Carlos , Ballester Joan
Published: June 2024

Ground-level ozone (O3) is a harmful air pollutant formed in the atmosphere by the interaction between sunlight and precursor gases. Exposure to current O3 levels in Europe is a major source of premature mortality from air pollution. However, mitigation actions have been mainly designed and implemented at the national and regional scales, lacking a comprehensive assessment of the geographic sources of O3 pollution and its associated health impacts. Here we quantify both national and imported contributions to O3 and their related mortality burden across 813 contiguous regions in 35 European countries, representing about 530 million people. Imported O3 contributed to 88.3% of all O3-attributable deaths (intercountry range 83–100%). The greatest share of imported O3 had its origins outside the study domain (that is, hemispheric sources), which was responsible for 56.7% of total O3-attributable mortality (range 42.5–87.2%). It was concluded that achieving the air-quality guidelines set out by the World Health Organization and avoiding the health impacts of O3 require not only the implementation of national or coordinated pan-European actions but also global strategies.
Isatuximab, lenalidomide, dexamethasone and bortezomib in transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma: the randomized phase 3 BENEFIT trial
Authors: Leleu Xavier , Hulin Cyrille , Lambert Jerome , Bobin Arthur , Perrot Aurore , Karlin Lionel , Roussel Murielle , Montes Lydia , Cherel Brieuc , Chalopin Thomas , Slama Borhane , Chretien Marie-Lorraine , Laribi Kamel , Dingremont Claire , Roul Christophe , Mariette Clara , Rigaudeau Sophie , Calmettes Claire , Dib Mamoun , Tiab Mourad , Vincent Laure , Delaunay Jacques , Santagostino Alberto , Macro Margaret , Bourgeois Emmanuelle , Orsini-Piocelle Frederique , Gay Julie , Bareau Benoit , Bigot Noemie , Vergez François , Lebreton Pierre , Tabrizi Reza , Waultier-Rascalou Agathe , Frenzel Laurent , Le Calloch Ronan , Chalayer Emilie , Braun Thorsten , Lachenal Florence , Corm Selim , Kennel Celine , Belkhir Rakiba , Bladé Jean-Sebastien , Joly Bertrand , Richez-Olivier Valentine , Gardeney Helene , Demarquette Helene , Robu-Cretu Daniela , Garderet Laurent , Newinger-Porte Muriel , Kasmi Amine , Royer Bruno , Decaux Olivier , Arnulf Bertrand , Belhadj Karim , Touzeau Cyrille , Mohty Mohamad , Manier Salomon , Moreau Philippe , Avet-Loiseau Hervé , Corre Jill , Facon Thierry
Published: June 2024

CD38-targeting immunotherapy is approved in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone in patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM) that are transplant ineligible (TI) and is considered the best standard of care (SOC). To improve current SOC, we evaluated the added value of weekly bortezomib (V) to isatuximab plus lenalidomide and dexamethasone (IsaRd versus Isa-VRd). This Intergroupe Francophone of Myeloma phase 3 study randomized 270 patients with NDMM that were TI, aged 65–79 years, to IsaRd versus Isa-VRd arms. The primary endpoint was a minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity rate at 10−5 by next-generation sequencing at 18 months from randomization. Key secondary endpoints included response rates, MRD assessment rates, survival and safety. The 18-month MRD negativity rates at 10−5 were reported in 35 patients (26%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 19–34) in IsaRd versus 71 (53%, 95% CI 44–61) in Isa-VRd (odds ratio for MRD negativity 3.16, 95% CI 1.89–5.28, P < 0.0001). The MRD benefit was consistent across subgroups at 10−5 and 10−6, and was already observed at month 12. The proportion of patients with complete response or better at 18 months was higher with Isa-VRd (58% versus 33%; P < 0.0001), as was the proportion of MRD negativity and complete response or better (37% versus 17%; P = 0.0003). At a median follow-up of 23.5 months, no difference was observed for survival times (immature data). The addition of weekly bortezomib did not significantly affect the relative dose intensity of IsaRd. Isa-VRd significantly increased MRD endpoints, including the 18-month negativity rate at 10−5, the primary endpoint, compared with IsaRd. This study proposes Isa-VRd as a new SOC for patients with NDMM that are TI. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04751877.
Preparation of thiourea derivative incorporated Ag3PO4 core shell for enhancement of photocatalytic degradation performance of organic dye under visible radiation light
Authors: El-Shamy Omnia A. A. , Selim Hanaa , Elkholy Ahmed S. , Kamal Rasha S. , Saleh Nashwa M. , Abd El-Sattar Nour E. A.
Published: June 2024

Photocatalysis is a promising technique to reduce hazardous organic pollutants using semiconductors under visible light. However, previous studies have been concerned with the behavior of silver phosphate (Ag3PO4) as n-type semiconductors, and the problem of their instability is still under investigation. Herein, 4,4′-(((oxalylbis(azanediyl)) bis(carbonothioyl)) bis(azanediyl)) dibenzoic acid is synthesized by green method and used to enhance the photocatalytic behavior for Ag3PO4. The incorporated Ag3PO4 core–shell is prepared and characterized via XRD, FT-IR, Raman, TEM and BET. Besides, the thermal stability of the prepared core shell was investigated via TGA and DSC measurements. The optical properties and the energy band gap are determined using photoluminescence and DRS measurements. The photodegradation of methylene blue in the presence of the synthesized Ag3PO4 core–shell under visible light is examined using UV/Vis measurements. The effect of initial dye concentration and contact time are studied. In addition, the kinetic behavior of the selected dye during the photodegradation process shows a pseudo-first order reaction with rate constant of 0.015 min−1 for ZAg. The reusability of the Ag3PO4 core shell is evaluated, and the efficiency changed from 96.76 to 94.02% after three cycles, indicating efficient photocatalytic behavior with excellent stability.
Immunomodulatory effects of a cell processing device to ameliorate dysregulated hyperinflammatory disease states
Authors: Westover Angela J. , Humes H. David , Pino Christopher J.
Published: June 2024

Cell directed therapy is an evolving therapeutic approach to treat organ dysfunction arising from hyperinflammation and cytokine storm by processing immune cells in an extracorporeal circuit. To investigate the mechanism of action of the Selective Cytopheretic Device (SCD), in vitro blood circuits were utilized to interrogate several aspects of the immunomodulatory therapy. SCD immunomodulatory activity is due to its effects on circulating neutrophils and monocytes in a low ionized calcium (iCa, Ca2+) blood circuit. Activated neutrophils adhere to the SCD fibers and degranulate with release of the constituents of their exocytotic vesicles. Adhered neutrophils in the low iCa environment display characteristics of apoptotic senescence. These neutrophils are subsequently released and returned back to circulation, demonstrating a clear potential for in vivo feedback. For monocytes, SCD treatment results in the selective adhesion of more pro-inflammatory subsets of the circulating monocyte pool, as demonstrated by both cell surface markers and cytokine secretory rates. Once bound, over time a subset of monocytes are released from the membrane with a less inflammatory functional phenotype. Similar methods to interrogate mechanism in vitro have been used to preliminarily confirm comparable findings in vivo. Therefore, the progressive amelioration of circulating leukocyte activation and immunomodulation of excessive inflammation observed in SCD clinical trials to date is likely due to this continuous autologous leukocyte processing.
Dietary antioxidants and hypertension among menopausal women in Rafsanjan Cohort Study
Authors: Najar Marzieh , Khalili Parvin , Ayoobi Fatemeh , Rezaei Poor Mohadese , Vatankhah Hajar , Pourmirzaei Olyaei Hadi , Vazirinejad Reza , Jamali Zahra
Published: June 2024

Studies on the beneficial role of dietary antioxidants in preventing or managing hypertension in postmenopausal women are infrequent. The present cross-sectional study aimed to assess the association between dietary antioxidants and hypertension among menopausal women in Rafsanjan, a city located in the southeast of Iran. This study was based on data from the Rafsanjan Cohort Study (RCS), as part of the Prospective Epidemiological Research Studies in IrAN (PERSIAN). Among 2359 postmenopausal women, finally, 1936 women were included in this study. Participants were grouped as having normal blood pressure (BP), elevated BP, stage 1 hypertension, or stage 2 hypertension as defined by the 2017 American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) BP guideline. A food frequency questionnaire (FFQ), was utilized to ascertain the levels of various nutrients and dietary antioxidants in the diet. The association between dietary intakes of antioxidants and blood pressure groups was evaluated by crude and adjusted models in the multinominal logistics regression analysis. Normal BP, elevated BP, stage 1 hypertension, and stage 2 hypertension were observed in 35.69%, 3.62%, 10.59%, and 50.10% of postmenopausal women respectively. In the adjusted model, in subjects with higher consumption of β-carotene, the odds ratios of elevated BP in the 3rd quartile was about 2 times (OR: 2.04 (1.06–3.93) higher than 1st quartile. Also, in subjects with medium quality of DAQS, the odds ratios of elevated BP and stage 1 blood pressure were about 2 times (OR: 2.09 (1.05–4.17) and 1.69 times (OR: 1.69 (1.09–2.63) higher than subjects with low quality respectively. Furthermore, we did not find any statistically significant association between increased intake of dietary antioxidants and decreased odds of hypertension. After controlling the effects of confounding variables, increased dietary intake of selenium, carotenoids, vitamin A, vitamin C, and vitamin E did not decrease the odds of hypertension in postmenopausal women. Accordingly, it is suggested that this association be further investigated in the follow-up phase of this prospective study.
Linear matrix genetic programming as a tool for data-driven black-box control-oriented modeling in conditions of limited access to training data
Authors: Praczyk Tomasz , Szymkowiak Maciej
Published: June 2024

In the paper, a new evolutionary technique called Linear Matrix Genetic Programming (LMGP) is proposed. It is a matrix extension of Linear Genetic Programming and its application is data-driven black-box control-oriented modeling in conditions of limited access to training data. In LMGP, the model is in the form of an evolutionarily-shaped program which is a sequence of matrix operations. Since the program has a hidden state, running it for a sequence of input data has a similar effect to using well-known recurrent neural networks such as Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) or Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU). To verify the effectiveness of the LMGP, it was compared with different types of neural networks. The task of all the compared techniques was to reproduce the behavior of a nonlinear model of an underwater vehicle. The results of the comparative tests are reported in the paper and they show that the LMGP can quickly find an effective and very simple solution to the given problem. Moreover, a detailed comparison of models, generated by LMGP and LSTM/GRU, revealed that the former are up to four times more accurate than the latter in reproducing vehicle behavior.
Future projections of temperature-related indices in Prince Edward Island using ensemble average of three CMIP6 models
Authors: Maqsood Junaid , Wang Xiuquan , Farooque Aitazaz A. , Nawaz Rana Ali
Published: June 2024

Prince Edward Island (PEI) is an agricultural province heavily relying on rainfed agriculture. The island has already experienced significant impacts from climate change. Accurate projections of PEI temperature extreme indices are required to mitigate and adapt to the changing climate conditions. This study aims to develop ensemble projections using Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6) global circulation models (GCMs) to analyze temperature extremes on PEI. In this study, the ECMWF ERA5 reanalysis dataset was chosen for stepwise cluster analysis (SCA) due to its high accuracy. Three CMIP6 (NorESM2-MM, MPI-ESM1.2-HR, and CanESM5) GCMs, along with their ensemble average, were utilized in the SCA model to project future changes in daily maximum temperature (Tmax) and minimum temperature (Tmin) at four meteorological stations on PEI (East Point, Charlottetown, Summerside, and North Cape) under two shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP2-4.5 and SSP5-8.5). These GCMs were selected based on their low, medium, and high Equilibrium Climate Sensitivity. The bias-corrected results for the future period of Tmax and Tmin showed that the GCM-specific changes in the ECS also impact the regional scale. Additionally, several temperature extreme indices, including the daily temperature range (DTR), summer days (SU), growing degree days (GDD), growing season length (GSL), ice days (ID), and frost days (FD), were analyzed for two future periods: FP1(202–2050) and FP2 (2051–2075). The results indicate that DTR, SU, GDD, and GSL are expected to increase, while ID and FD are projected to decrease during FP1 and FP2 under both scenarios. The future projected mean monthly changes in Tmax, Tmin, and the selected temperature extreme indices highlight warmer future periods and an increase in agriculture-related indices such as GDD and GSL. Specifically, July, August, and September are expected to experience even higher temperatures in the future. As the climate becomes warmer, cold extreme events are projected to be shorter in duration but more intense in terms of their impact. The largest increments/decrements for Tmax, Tmin, and their relevant indices were observed during FP2 under SSP5-8.5. The outcomes of this study provide valuable insights for agricultural development, water resource management, and the formulation of effective mitigation strategies to address the impacts of climate change on PEI.
Future climate projection across Tanzania under CMIP6 with high-resolution regional climate model
Authors: Magang Dawido S. , Ojara Moses A. , Yunsheng Lou , King’uza Philemon H.
Published: June 2024

Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges faced by developing countries due to their lower adaptive capacity, with far-reaching impacts on agriculture. The mid-century period is widely regarded as a critical moment, during which adaptation is deemed essential to mitigating the associated impacts. This study presents future climate projections across Tanzania using the latest generation of global climate models (CMIP6) combined with a high-resolution regional climate model. The findings indicate that, the trends in temperature and precipitation in Tanzania from 1991 to 2020, minimum temperatures showed the highest variability with a trend of 0.3 °C, indicating significant fluctuations in minimum temperature over the decades. Maximum temperatures also showed high variability with a trend of 0.4 °C. There is a range of variability in precipitation per decade for different regions in Tanzania, with some regions experiencing significant decreases in precipitation of up to − 90.3 mm and − 127.6 mm. However, there were also regions that experienced increases in precipitation, although these increases were generally less than 4.8 mm over the decades. The projections of minimum and maximum temperatures from 2040 to 2071 under the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSP) 2–4.5 and SSP 5–8.5 are projected to increase by 0.14 °C to 0.21 °C per decade, across different regions. The average projected precipitation changes per decade vary across regions. Some regions are projected to experience increases in precipitation. Other regions are projected to show decreases in precipitation within the range of − 0.6 mm to 15.5 mm and − 1.5 mm to 47.4 mm under SSP2–4.5 and SSP5–8.5 respectively. Overall, both scenarios show an increase in projected temperatures and precipitation for most regions in Tanzania, with some areas experiencing more significant increases compared to others. The changes in temperatures and precipitation are expected to have significant impacts on agriculture and water resources in Tanzania.