bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Suppressing communication errors using quantum-enabled forward error correction
Authors: Burenkov Ivan A. , Annafianto N. Fajar R. , Jabir M. V. , Battou Abdella , Polyakov Sergey V.
Published: September 2023

Because noise is inherent to all measurements, optical communication requires error identification and correction to protect and recover user data. Yet, error correction, routinely used in classical receivers, has not been applied to receivers that take advantage of quantum measurement. Here, we show how information uniquely available in a quantum measurement can be employed for efficient error correction. Our quantum-enabled forward error correction protocol operates on quadrature phase shift keying (QPSK) and achieves more than 80 dB error suppression compared to the raw symbol error rate and approximately 40 dB improvement of symbol error rates beyond the QPSK classical limit. With a symbol error rate below 10−9 for just 11 photons per bit, this approach enables reliable use of quantum receivers for ultra-low power optical communications. Limiting optical power improves the information capacity of optical links and enables scalable networks with coexisting quantum and classical channels in the same optical fiber.
CuFeO2 prepared by electron cyclotron wave resonance-assisted reactive HiPIMS with two magnetrons and radio frequency magnetron sputtering
Authors: Písaříková A. , Olejníček J. , Venkrbcová I. , Nožka L. , Cichoň S. , Azinfar A. , Hippler R. , Helm C. A. , Mašláň M. , Machala L. , Hubička Z.
Published: October 2023

In this study, thin films of CuFeO2 were prepared using radio frequency reactive sputtering (RF) and reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering combined with electron cyclotron wave resonance plasma (HiPIMS-ECWR). The plasma was characterized using an RF ion probe. Plasma density, tail electron energy, and electron temperature were extracted from the measured data. The films were deposited on fluorine-doped tin oxide-coated glass and quartz glass, with the substrates being heated during the deposition process. The final delafossite CuFeO2 structure was formed after annealing in an argon gas flow at 550–600 °C. The ideal deposition conditions were found to be with a stoichiometric ratio of Cu:Fe = 1:1, which was the optimal condition for creating the delafossite CuFeO2 structure. The measured optical bandgap of CuFeO2 was 1.4 eV. The deposited CuFeO2 films were subjected to photoelectrochemical measurements in the cathodic region to investigate their potential application in solar photocatalytic water splitting. The films showed photocatalytic activity, with a photocurrent density of around 70 μA/cm2 (under an incident light irradiation of 62 mW/cm2, AM 1.5 G). The electrochemical properties of the layers were studied using open circuit potential, linear voltammetry, and chronoamperometry. The surface morphology and chemical composition of the layers were analyzed by atomic force microscopy and energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, respectively. The crystalline structure was determined using XRD and Raman spectroscopy. The results of these methods are presented and discussed in this article.
Long-term evaluation of clinical success and safety of omadacycline in nontuberculous mycobacteria infections: a retrospective, multicenter cohort of real-world health outcomes
Authors: El Ghali Amer , Morrisette Taylor , Alosaimy Sara , Lucas Kristen , Tupayachi-Ortiz Maria G. , Vemula Raaga , Wadle Carly , Philley Julie V. , Mejia-Chew Carlos , Hamad Yasir , Stevens Ryan W. , Zeuli John D. , Webb Andrew J. , Fiske Christina T. , Simonyan Anahit , Cimino Christo L. , Mammadova Mehriban , Umana Virginia E. , Hasbun Rodrigo , Butt Saira , Molina Kyle C. , Thomas Michael , Kaip Emily A. , Bouchard Jeannette , Gore Tristan W. , Howard Catessa , Cabanilla M. Gabriela , Holger Dana J. , Frens Jeremy J. , Barger Melissa , Ong Aaron , Cohen Keira A. , Rybak Michael J.
Published: September 2023

Infections due to nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) continue to increase in prevalence, leading to problematic clinical outcomes. Omadacycline (OMC) is an aminomethylcycline antibiotic with FDA orphan drug and fast-track designations for pulmonary NTM infections, including
Mycobacteroides abscessus
(MAB). This multicenter retrospective study across 16 U.S. medical institutions from January 2020 to March 2023 examined the long-term clinical success, safety, and tolerability of OMC for NTM infections. The cohort included patients aged ≥18 yr, who were clinically evaluable, and` had been treated with OMC for ≥3 mo without a previous diagnosis of cystic fibrosis. The primary outcome was 3 mo clinical success, with secondary outcomes including clinical improvement and mortality at 6- and 12 mo, persistence or reemergence of infection, adverse effects, and reasons for OMC utilization. Seventy-five patients were included in this analysis. Most patients were female (48/75, 64.0%) or Caucasian (58/75, 77.3%), with a median (IQR) age of 59 yr (49–67). Most had NTM pulmonary disease (33/75, 44.0%), skin and soft tissue disease (19/75, 25.3%), or osteomyelitis (10/75, 13.3%), and
Mycobacterium abscessus
(60/75, 80%) was the most commonly isolated NTM pathogen. The median (IQR) treatment duration was 6 mo (
4
–
14
), and the most commonly co-administered antibiotic was azithromycin (33/70, 47.1%). Three-month clinical success was observed in 80.0% (60/75) of patients, and AEs attributable to OMC occurred in 32.0% (24/75) of patients, leading to drug discontinuation in 9.3% (7/75).
Spatiotemporal monitoring of a periodontal multispecies biofilm model: demonstration of prebiotic treatment responses
Authors: Ghesquière Justien , Simoens Kenneth , Koos Erin , Boon Nico , Teughels Wim , Bernaerts Kristel
Published: September 2023

Biofilms are complex polymicrobial communities which are often associated with human infections such as the oral disease periodontitis. Studying these complex communities under controlled conditions requires
in vitro
biofilm model systems that mimic the natural environment as close as possible. This study established a multispecies periodontal model in the drip flow biofilm reactor in order to mimic the continuous flow of nutrients at the air-liquid interface in the oral cavity. The design is engineered to enable real-time characterization. A community of five bacteria,
Streptococcus gordonii
-GFPmut3*,
Streptococcus oralis
-GFPmut3*,
Streptococcus sanguinis
-pVMCherry,
Fusobacterium nucleatum
, and
Porphyromonas gingivalis
-SNAP26 is visualized using two distinct fluorescent proteins and the SNAP-tag. The biofilm in the reactor develops into a heterogeneous, spatially uniform, dense, and metabolically active biofilm with relative cell abundances similar to those in a healthy individual. Metabolic activity, structural features, and bacterial composition of the biofilm remain stable from 3 to 6 days. As a proof of concept for our periodontal model, the 3 days developed biofilm is exposed to a prebiotic treatment with L-arginine. Multifaceted effects of L-arginine on the oral biofilm were validated by this model setup. L-arginine showed to inhibit growth and incorporation of the pathogenic species and to reduce biofilm thickness and volume. Additionally, L-arginine is metabolized by
Streptococcus gordonii
-GFPmut3* and
Streptococcus sanguinis
-pVMCherry, producing high levels of ornithine and ammonium in the biofilm. In conclusion, our drip flow reactor setup is promising in studying spatiotemporal behavior of a multispecies periodontal community.

Importance

Periodontitis is a multifactorial chronic inflammatory disease in the oral cavity associated with the accumulation of microorganisms in a biofilm. Not the presence of the biofilm as such, but changes in the microbiota (i.e., dysbiosis) drive the development of periodontitis, resulting in the destruction of tooth-supporting tissues. In this respect, novel treatment approaches focus on maintaining the health-associated homeostasis of the resident oral microbiota. To get insight in dynamic biofilm responses, our research presents the establishment of a periodontal biofilm model including
Streptococcus gordonii
,
Streptococcus oralis
,
Streptococcus sanguinis
,
Fusobacterium nucleatum
, and
Porphyromonas gingivalis
. The added value of the model setup is the combination of simulating continuously changing natural mouth conditions with spatiotemporal biofilm profiling using non-destructive characterization tools. These applications are limited for periodontal biofilm research and would contribute in understanding treatment mechanisms, short- or long-term exposure effects, the adaptation potential of the biofilm and thus treatment strategies.
Development of a new effective African swine fever virus vaccine candidate by deletion of the H240R and MGF505-7R genes results in protective immunity against the Eurasia strain
Authors: Li Jiangnan , Song Jie , Zhou Shijun , Li Shuai , Liu Jia , Li Tingting , Zhang Zhaoxia , Zhang Xianfeng , He Xijun , Chen Weiye , Zheng Jun , Zhao Dongming , Bu Zhigao , Huang Li , Weng Changjiang
Published: September 2023

African swine fever is a contagious and lethal disease of domestic pigs and wild boars, which has caused significant economic loss for the swine industry. African swine fever virus (ASFV) is the etiological agent of ASF. Until now, no effective commercial vaccine and antiviral drugs are available for ASF control. Here, we report a new designed live-attenuated mutant (ASFV-ΔH240R-Δ7R) by deleting H240R and MGF505-7R genes based on the highly pathogenic ASFV HLJ/18 backbone. The viral titer of ASFV-ΔH240R-Δ7R was decreased approximately 1.0 log in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) compared with its parental ASFV HLJ/18, and it is highly stability following 30 serial passages
in vitro
. Piglets immunized by intramuscular inoculation with 10
3
or 10
5
HAD
50
of ASFV-ΔH240R-Δ7R displayed safety without any ASF-related signs and could not be transmitted by direct contact. In addition, the immunized pigs produced specific antibodies against p30 but not those cohabitation piglets. Challenged with a virulent ASFV isolate HLJ/18, the piglets in the immunized group with 10
3
HAD
50
of ASFV-ΔH240R-Δ7R obtained clinically significant 100% protection with mild clinical symptoms, whereas the piglets in the immunized group with 10
5
HAD
50
of ASFV-ΔH240R-Δ7R obtained 100% protection without clinical symptoms. Moreover, the piglets in the immunized group with 10
5
HAD
50
of ASFV-ΔH240R-Δ7R exhibited low levels of virus replication and with no observed pathological changes by postmortem and histological analysis. Overall, our results provided a new designed live vaccine candidate and rationalized the understanding of ASFV gene function, virus attenuation, and protection against ASFV infection.

IMPORTANCE

African swine fever (ASF) caused by ASF virus (ASFV) is a highly contagious and acute hemorrhagic viral disease in domestic pigs. Until now, no effective commercial vaccine and antiviral drugs are available for ASF control. Here, we generated a new live-attenuated vaccine candidate (ASFV-ΔH240R-Δ7R) by deleting H240R and MGF505-7R genes from the highly pathogenic ASFV HLJ/18 genome. Piglets immunized with ASFV-ΔH240R-Δ7R were safe without any ASF-related signs and produced specific antibodies against p30. Challenged with a virulent ASFV HLJ/18, the piglets immunized with high-dose group (105 HAD50) exhibited 100% protection without clinical symptoms, showing that low levels of virus replication with no observed pathogenicity by postmortem and histological analysis. Overall, our results provided a new strategy by designing live-attenuated vaccine candidate, resulting in protection against ASFV infection.
Genome sequence of
Gordonia alkaliphila
strain WW102, isolated from influent wastewater at a research center with multiple-species research animal facilities
Authors: Kim Sung Guk , Reyna Mariela , Park Miseon , Wang Sharon X. , Foley Steven L.
Published: September 2023

Gordonia alkaliphila
is a little known mesophilic Gram-positive rod-shaped bacterium. We report the 3.85-Mbp genome sequence of
G. alkaliphila
strain WW102, isolated from wastewater at a research center with multiple-species laboratory animal facilities. The genome predicted FadD32 gene clusters that are involved in the biosynthesis of mycolic acids as found in
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
.
Draft genomes of
Aeromonas caviae
from patients with cholera-like illness during the 2022–2023 cholera outbreak in Malawi
Authors: Jere Khuzwayo C. , Chibwe Innocent , Chaima David , Kasambala Watipaso , Mhango Chimwemwe , Bitilinyu-Bangoh Joseph , Mvula Bernard , Kipandula Wakisa , Kamng'ona Arox W. , Steele A. Duncan , Chauma-Mwale Annie , Hungerford Daniel , Kagoli Matthew , Nyaga Martin M. , Dube Queen , French Neil , Cunliffe Nigel A. , Msefula Chisomo L. , Chaguza Chrispin
Published: September 2023

Aeromonas caviae
is an increasingly recognized etiological agent of acute gastroenteritis. Here, we report five draft genomes of
A. caviae
isolated from suspected cholera cases during the 2022–2023 cholera outbreak in Malawi.
Closed genome sequences of two
Listeria monocytogenes
ST121 strains
Authors: Tibbs-Cortes Bienvenido W. , Schultz Dylan L. , Schmitz-Esser Stephan
Published: September 2023

We performed Oxford Nanopore and Illumina sequencing to generate accurate, closed genomes for the
Listeria monocytogenes
strains 6179 and L58-55. The new assemblies were generally similar to the previous Illumina-based assemblies, but additional rRNA operons and repeat regions were identified in the new assembly for strain 6179.
Ammonium “nutrient capacitor” model for δ15N signatures associated with marine anoxic events
Authors: Uveges Benjamin T. , Pearson Ann
Published: September 2023

Geochemical records of ancient periods of warm climate can be useful to help understand the looming effects of modern anthropogenic warming, including changes to biogeochemical nutrient cycles. Stable nitrogen isotope compositions of marine sediments archive the balance of processes in the global nitrogen cycle. However, the unusual isotopic signals of Mesozoic oceanic anoxic events (OAEs) remain enigmatic, thus hindering our understanding of nitrogen cycle processes and dynamics under conditions of ocean deoxygenation. Here, we present an ammonium “nutrient capacitor” model of the water-column nitrogen cycle to explain the anomalously negative isotopic compositions seen in Mesozoic OAE sediments. Our model applies isotopic inferences derived from high-resolution records of Lake Kivu sediments to show how periodic chemocline overturning of redox-stratified water columns during Mesozoic OAEs may have delivered ammonium to the photic zone in excess of primary producer requirements. Smoothed, stochastic sampling of the changing fluxes within the nitrogen cycle across these events can simulate OAE nitrogen isotope records.
Adoption in England: past and present challenges
Authors: Talbot Jonathan , Bell Jacquelyn , Mandal Abhijit , Finlay Fiona
Published: September 2023

Over the last century, changes in legislation, social constructs and the perceptions of what family life ‘should’ look like have significantly transformed the process of adoption in England. The role of adoption has shifted from providing orphaned children a stable new home to today’s regulated process mainly supporting children who have suffered early physical or social adversity. This provides significant challenges to adopters, paediatricians, child psychiatrists and teachers who can only support adopted children by understanding their needs.
Pigmented dermatofibrosarcoma (Bednar tumour) of scalp
Authors: Agarwal Apoorva , Rana Chanchal
Published: September 2023

Pigmented dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP) also known as Bednar tumour is a very rare variant of DFSP which is considered to be of intermediate grade along with the presence of melanin-containing dendritic cells. Only a handful of cases have been described in the literature so far. It is centred around the dermis or subcutis and can pose a diagnostic challenge by being confused with other pigmented lesions of the skin. We hereby report one such unusual case of a man in his late 20s presenting with swelling over the forehead for the past 7 years. Hence a diagnosis of pigmented DFSP should always be considered while reporting pigmented subcutaneous lesions with spindle cell morphology.
Toxic leukoencephalopathy versus delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy after oral morphine sulphate overdose
Authors: Rossi Nicholas P , Sathyanarayanan Goutham , Mahmood MdSakir , Shakespeare David
Published: September 2023

Toxic leukoencephalopathy (TLE) is a rare pathology caused by various substances including opioids (notably heroin), immunosuppressants, chemotherapy agents, cocaine, alcohol and carbon monoxide. However, although heroin is metabolised by the body into morphine, there is a striking paucity in cases of primary oral morphine-induced TLE, especially in the adult population. We present the case of a man in his 40s admitted to hospital in respiratory depression with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 6 after taking an overdose of oral morphine sulphate. Following a complete recovery to baseline, he was then readmitted with an acute deterioration in his neurobehavioural condition. Initial investigations returned normal but MRI showed changes characteristic for TLE.

In cases of opioid toxicity such as ours, TLE is difficult to differentiate from delayed post-hypoxic leukoencephalopathy, due to their similar clinical presentation, disease progression and radiological manifestation. We explore how clinicians can approach this diagnostic uncertainty.
Combined surgical and conservative endodontic management of Oehler’s type 3b dens invaginatus aided by guided tissue regeneration
Authors: Ahmad Sarah , Alam Sharique , Andrabi Syed Mukhtar-Un-Nisar , Kumar Ashok
Published: September 2023

The present case describes the successful healing of a periapical lesion associated with the left maxillary lateral incisor (# 22, Federation Dentaire Internationale) having a type 3b dens invaginatus tooth morphology. The treatment was complicated by the presence of blunderbuss root apex and large periapical lesion (>10 mm) with through and through bone defect (Bucco palatal cortical bone perforation, Von Arx Type 1b). An adolescent boy reported palatal swelling and pus discharge in relation to tooth #22. A thorough clinical and radiographic examination revealed tooth #22 as having a type 3b dens invaginatus with an open apex and a diagnosis of pulp necrosis and acute apical abscess. The case was managed by non-surgical root canal treatment followed by endodontic surgery using principles of guided tissue regeneration. A 5-year recall revealed an asymptomatic functional tooth with complete healing.
Primary Small Cell Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of nasopharynx with metastatic cervical lymph nodes: an exceedingly rare entity with review of literature
Authors: Marak James R , Chauhan Abhishek , Anand Nidhi , Khurana Rohini
Published: September 2023

Small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of nasopharynx is extremely rare and displays aggressive nature with a poor prognosis. Neuroendocrine tumours rarely arise from the head and neck region and pose a diagnostic and management challenge. In English literature, only 16 cases of primary small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of nasopharynx have been reported so far; and to the best of our knowledge, this is the seventeenth case and second in the younger age group. Here, we report the case of an adolescent male patient who presented with nasal blockage, repeated episodes of epistaxis and neck swellings. After proper diagnostic workup, the diagnosis of small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of nasopharynx was made. The patient was treated with chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy. Imaging investigation executed after the end of the treatment exhibited complete remission of the disease. The patient is kept under active surveillance with no signs of relapse at present.
Acute aortic intraluminal thrombus with embolisation and lower-limb ischaemia following intravenous iron sucrose infusion reaction
Authors: Okaj Iva , Pai Menaka , Harlock John , Warkentin Theodore Earl
Published: September 2023

A woman in her 50s developed iron deficiency anaemia. Her medical history included hypertension, asthma and remote postpartum pulmonary embolism. There was a strong family history of atherosclerosis. After receiving intravenous iron sucrose (500 mg), she developed vomiting and large-volume diarrhoea, followed by diaphoresis, back pain, haemoconcentration (haematocrit increase, 0.242 to 0.326), leucocytosis and platelet count decline. Myocardial infarction was ruled out and the truncal pain subsided. However, 2 days postdischarge, she was diagnosed with aortic intraluminal thrombus (ILT) with embolisation into the lower extremities. The limbs were salvaged by emergency embolectomies and fasciotomies. Acute aortic ILT is a rare disorder that has not been previously reported as a complication of parenteral iron therapy. We postulate that acute intravascular volume losses (vomiting and diarrhoea) with resulting haemoconcentration and catecholamine-associated platelet activation and consumption, in a patient with subclinical aortic atherosclerosis, triggered acute aortic ILT presenting as lower-limb ischaemia.
Implementation of a nurse-led multidisciplinary huddle meeting for improvement of early rehabilitation in ICU: a healthcare quality improvement project
Authors: Naya Kazuaki , Sakuramoto Hideaki , Aikawa Gen , Hayashi Kotaro
Published: September 2023

The physical decline of critically ill patients affects their discharge from the intensive care unit (ICU) and their subsequent lives. Therefore, it is essential to actively provide rehabilitation at an early stage through multidisciplinary cooperation and protocols. This paper aims to describe the results of a project to improve the implementation rate of early rehabilitation. We established the ICU Early Rehabilitation Group, consisting of nurses, intensivists and physical therapists, and developed a protocol to perform early rehabilitation. According to this protocol, a nurse-led ‘multidisciplinary rehabilitation huddle meeting’ was introduced for early rehabilitation. Rehabilitation status, muscle strength and physical function were compared 9 months before and after the introduction of the huddle meeting. In addition, we assessed adverse events during rehabilitation. Since the introduction of huddle meetings, the implementation rate has been 100%. Furthermore, rehabilitation was implemented earlier and at a higher level after introducing huddle meetings. However, no significant difference was detected in muscle strength and physical function of the patients. In addition, no adverse events occurred during rehabilitation. This quality improvement project facilitated an earlier start to rehabilitation and a higher level of rehabilitation practice. Huddle meetings were smoothly introduced and settled in through multiprofessional communication. The lack of adverse events also suggested the programme’s effectiveness in safely implementing this type of rehabilitation at an early and high level.
Radiographic pneumonia in young febrile infants presenting to the emergency department: secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study
Authors: Florin Todd A , Ramilo Octavio , Banks Russell K , Schnadower David , Quayle Kimberly S , Powell Elizabeth C , Pickett Michelle L , Nigrovic Lise E , Mistry Rakesh , Leetch Aaron N , Hickey Robert W , Glissmeyer Eric W , Dayan Peter S , Cruz Andrea T , Cohen Daniel M , Bogie Amanda , Balamuth Fran , Atabaki Shireen M , VanBuren John M , Mahajan Prashant , Kuppermann Nathan
Published: September 2023

Objective

The lack of evidence-based criteria to guide chest radiograph (CXR) use in young febrile infants results in variation in its use with resultant suboptimal quality of care. We sought to describe the features associated with radiographic pneumonias in young febrile infants.

Study design

Secondary analysis of a prospective cohort study in 18 emergency departments (EDs) in the Pediatric Emergency Care Applied Research Network from 2016 to 2019. Febrile (≥38°C) infants aged ≤60 days who received CXRs were included. CXR reports were categorised as ‘no’, ‘possible’ or ‘definite’ pneumonia. We compared demographics, clinical signs and laboratory tests among infants with and without pneumonias.

Results

Of 2612 infants, 568 (21.7%) had CXRs performed; 19 (3.3%) had definite and 34 (6%) had possible pneumonias. Patients with definite (4/19, 21.1%) or possible (11/34, 32.4%) pneumonias more frequently presented with respiratory distress compared with those without (77/515, 15.0%) pneumonias (adjusted OR 2.17; 95% CI 1.04 to 4.51). There were no differences in temperature or HR in infants with and without radiographic pneumonias. The median serum procalcitonin (PCT) level was higher in the definite (0.7 ng/mL (IQR 0.1, 1.5)) vs no pneumonia (0.1 ng/mL (IQR 0.1, 0.3)) groups, as was the median absolute neutrophil count (ANC) (definite, 5.8 K/mcL (IQR 3.9, 6.9) vs no pneumonia, 3.1 K/mcL (IQR 1.9, 5.3)). No infants with pneumonia had bacteraemia. Viral detection was frequent (no pneumonia (309/422, 73.2%), definite pneumonia (11/16, 68.8%), possible pneumonia (25/29, 86.2%)). Respiratory syncytial virus was the predominant pathogen in the pneumonia groups and rhinovirus in infants without pneumonias.

Conclusions

Radiographic pneumonias were uncommon in febrile infants. Viral detection was common. Pneumonia was associated with respiratory distress, but few other factors. Although ANC and PCT levels were elevated in infants with definite pneumonias, further work is necessary to evaluate the role of blood biomarkers in infant pneumonias.
British Society of Gastroenterology guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Rushbrook Simon M , Kendall Timothy James , Zen Yoh , Albazaz Raneem , Manoharan Prakash , Pereira Stephen P , Sturgess Richard , Davidson Brian R , Malik Hassan Z , Manas Derek , Heaton Nigel , Prasad K Raj , Bridgewater John , Valle Juan W , Goody Rebecca , Hawkins Maria , Prentice Wendy , Morement Helen , Walmsley Martine , Khan Shahid A
Published: September 2023

These guidelines for the diagnosis and management of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) were commissioned by the British Society of Gastroenterology liver section. The guideline writing committee included a multidisciplinary team of experts from various specialties involved in the management of CCA, as well as patient/public representatives from AMMF (the Cholangiocarcinoma Charity) and PSC Support. Quality of evidence is presented using the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation (AGREE II) format. The recommendations arising are to be used as guidance rather than as a strict protocol-based reference, as the management of patients with CCA is often complex and always requires individual patient-centred considerations.
Commuting and sick leave: a retrospective longitudinal study among a Belgian military population
Authors: Hinderijckx Peter , Collée Audrey , Godderis Lode , Dhondt Erwin , Goorts Kaat
Published: September 2023

Objectives

In a military context, people often have to deal with long commuting distance. The aim of the current study is to investigate to what extent commuting distances predict sickness absence among a military population.

Methods

The present study is based on a dynamic cohort of active-duty military personnel of the Belgian Defence. A proportional hazard Andersen-Gill model was used to determine the effect of commuting distance on the recurrence of sickness absence, considering relevant covariates. In a second model, an interaction term for commuting and traffic congestion was introduced.

Results

Higher commuting distances led to higher risk of recurring sickness absence, which was 9%, 15%, 8% and 11% higher, respectively, for distances of 5–14 km, 15–29 km, 30–59 km or >60 km compared with a distance of <5 km.

A commuting distance of 30–59 km increased the risk with 47%, 33%, 35% and 76% if the reported traffic congestion was, respectively, 5–20%, 20–40%, 40–70% and 70–100% compared with a commuting distance of <5 km and a reported traffic congestion of 0–5%. A commuting distance of >60 km increased the risk with 25% and 76%, respectively, for a reported traffic congestion of 5–20% and 70–100% compared with a commuting distance of <5 km and a reported traffic congestion of 0–5%.

Conclusions

These findings support measures to reduce the distance and frequency of commuting in order to reduce sickness absence, considering for example remote working, a more responsible geographical distribution of the offices or a revision of the employees’ job-changing policies.
Field observations of the movements of locally adapted Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua) living in zero and sub-zero centigrade temperatures for half the year
Authors: Green John M. , Schornagel Dustin , Nguyen Khanh Q. , Pennell Curtis , Morris Corey J.
Published: September 2023

Atlantic cod ( Gadus morhua Linnaeus, 1758) can experience mortality at sub-zero (<0 °C) temperatures in ice-infested waters, and many populations migrate to deeper and warmer areas during winter. An exception is the resident population in Gilbert Bay, Labrador, which annually experiences 6 months of sub-zero temperatures. We used the VEMCO Positioning System to estimate fish locations to determine depth utilization and seasonal movements of tagged Gilbert Bay cod ranging in size from 43 to 75 cm. This is the first study to directly monitor the movements of adult Atlantic cod for extended periods (months) in sub-zero temperatures. Gilbert Bay cod remained active under an ice-covered surface during the 6 months of sub-zero temperatures. During both warm (>0 °C) and cold (≤0 °C) periods, fish spent similar amounts of time not moving, moving slowly, and moving at medium and fast rates. They tended to utilize shallow depths, <10 m, beneath surface ice during winter, while utilizing deeper depths as well during other times of the year. Surprisingly, fish that resided within our tracking array year-round had greater cumulative swimming distances during sub-zero periods compared to warmer periods. No tracked fish died during winter, further highlighting the cold adaptiveness of this population and its importance to biodiversity conservation.
Cosmogenesis as symmetry transformation
Authors: Balcerzak Adam , Lisaj Mateusz
Published: September 2023

We consider the quantized bi-scalar gravity, which may serve as a locally Lorentz invariant cosmological model with varying speed of light and varying gravitational constant. The equation governing the quantum regime for the case of homogeneous and isotropic cosmological setup is a Dirac-like equation which replaces the standard Wheeler–DeWitt equation. We show that particular cosmogenesis may occur as a result of the action of the symmetry transformation which due to Wigner’s theorem can either be unitary or antiunitary. We demonstrate that the transition from the pre-big-bang contraction to the post-big-bang expansion – a scenario that also occurs in string quantum cosmologies – can be attributed to the action of charge conjugation, which belongs to the class of antiunitary transformations. We also demonstrate that the emergence of the two classical expanding post-big-bang universe–antiuniverse pairs, each with opposite spin projections, can be understood as being triggered by the action of a unitary transformation resembling the Hadamard gate.
A Survey on Collaborative Learning for Intelligent Autonomous Systems
Authors: Anjos Julio C. S. Dos , Matteussi Kassiano J. , Orlandi Fernanda C. , Barbosa Jorge L. V. , Silva Jorge Sá , Bittencourt Luiz F. , Geyer Cláudio F. R.
Published: September 2023

This survey examines approaches to promote Collaborative Learning in distributed systems for emergent Intelligent Autonomous Systems (IAS). The study involves a literature review of Intelligent Autonomous Systems based on Collaborative Learning, analyzing aspects in four dimensions: computing environment, performance concerns, system management, and privacy concerns, mapping the significant requirements of systems to the emerging Artificial intelligence models. Furthermore, the article explores Collaborative Learning Taxonomy for IAS to demonstrate the correlation between IoT, Big Data, and Human-in-the-Loop. Several technological open issues exist in the aforementioned domains (such as in applications of autonomous driving, robotics in healthcare, cyber security, and others) to effectively achieve the future deployment of Intelligent Autonomous Systems. This Survey aims to organize concepts around IAS, indicating the approaches used to extract knowledge from data in Collaborative Learning for IAS, and identifying open issues. Moreover, it presents a guide to overcoming the existing challenges in decision-making mechanisms with IAS, providing a holistic vision of Big Data and Human-in-the-Loop.
A Survey of Single Image Rain Removal Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Su Zhipeng , Zhang Yixiong , Shi Jianghong , Zhang Xiao-Ping
Published: October 2023

The rain removal task is to restore a clean image from the contaminated image by separating the background. Since the rise of deep learning in 2016, the task of image deraining has also stepped into the era of deep learning. Numerous researchers have devoted themselves to the field of computer vision and pattern recognition. However, there is still a lack of comprehensive review papers focused on using deep learning to perform rain removal tasks. In this paper, we present a comprehensive review of single image deraining based on deep learning over the past ten years. Two categories of deraining methods are discussed: the data-driven approach and the data-model-based approach. For the first type, we compare the existing network structures and loss functions. For the second type, we analyze the combination of different deraining models with deep learning, and each branch method is introduced in detail. Additionally, we quantitatively investigate the performances of the existing state-of-the-art methods on both publicly synthetic and real datasets. The trend of image deraining is also discussed.
HAvatar: High-fidelity Head Avatar via Facial Model Conditioned Neural Radiance Field
Authors: Zhao Xiaochen , Wang Lizhen , Sun Jingxiang , Zhang Hongwen , Suo Jinli , Liu Yebin
Published: October 2023

The problem of modeling an animatable 3D human head avatar under lightweight setups is of significant importance but has not been well solved. Existing 3D representations either perform well in the realism of portrait images synthesis or the accuracy of expression control, but not both. To address the problem, we introduce a novel hybrid explicit-implicit 3D representation, Facial Model Conditioned Neural Radiance Field, which integrates the expressiveness of NeRF and the prior information from the parametric template. At the core of our representation, a synthetic-renderings-based condition method is proposed to fuse the prior information from the parametric model into the implicit field without constraining its topological flexibility. Besides, based on the hybrid representation, we properly overcome the inconsistent shape issue presented in existing methods and improve the animation stability. Moreover, by adopting an overall GAN-based architecture using an image-to-image translation network, we achieve high-resolution, realistic and view-consistent synthesis of dynamic head appearance. Experiments demonstrate that our method can achieve state-of-the-art performance for 3D head avatar animation compared with previous methods.
Report on the Second International Workshop on Teaching Performance Analysis of Computer Systems 2023
Authors: de Nitto Persone Vittoria , Tay Y.C.
Published: October 2023

The First International Workshop on Teaching Performance Analysis of Computer Systems (TeaPACS1) in 2021 came to the conclusion among participants that there is a need to continue and regularly update the discussion on teaching strategies, changing the curriculum, reaching out to the systems community, facing the new generation and their new learning habits, etc.
Entanglement Management through Swapping over Quantum Internets
Authors: Zeng Yiming , Zhang Jiarui , Liu Zhenhua , Yang Yuanyuan
Published: October 2023

Quantum Internet has the potential to support a wide range of applications in quantum communication and quantum computing by generating, distributing, and processing quantum information. Generating a long-distance quantum entanglement is one of the most essential functions of a quantum Internet to facilitate these applications. However, entanglement is a probabilistic process, and its success rate drops significantly as distance increases. Entanglement swapping is an efficient technique used to address this challenge. How to efficiently manage the entanglement through swapping is a fundamental yet challenging problem. In this paper, we will consider two swapping methods: (1) BSM: a classic entanglement-swapping method based on Bell State measurements that fuse two successful quantum links, (2) nfusion: a more general and efficient swapping method based on Greenberger-Horne-Zeilinger measurements, capable of fusing n successful quantum links. Our goal is to maximize the entanglement rate for multiple quantum-user pairs over the quantum Internet with an arbitrary topology. We propose efficient entanglement management algorithms that utilized the unique properties of BSM and n-fusion. Evaluation results highlight that our approach outperforms existing routing protocols.
Special Issue on The ACM SIGMETRICS Workshop on Measurements for Self-Driving Networks
Authors: Gupta Arpit , Durairajan Ramakrishnan , Willinger Walter
Published: October 2023

The design and implementation of autonomous or "selfdriving networks" represent some of today's most significant challenges in networking research. The vision for these networks is that they will be able to make management and control decisions in real time, typically without human intervention. Recent technological advancements, like SDN and 5G networks, along with scientific innovations such as XAI and transformers, have paved the way for this vision. Key innovations include: (1) fully programmable, protocol-independent data planes and the languages to program them; (2) scalable platforms capable of processing distributed streaming data, bolstered by the latest tools and software for data analysis and machine learning (ML).
Morphology and Transport Characterization of Catalyst Layers for CO2 Reduction
Authors: Lorenzutti Francesca , Haussener Sophia
Published: October 2023

Gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) help to reduce transport limitations in devices for electrochemical CO2 reduction. Homogenized modeling of such devices requires input of morphological characteristics and effective transport properties of the porous structure, which can be obtained by pore-scale methods. Due to the small pore sizes and layer thicknesses, such characterization of the catalyst layer (CL) is difficult. In this work, CL structures digitalized by FIB-SEM nano-tomography were analyzed to obtain a set of morphological descriptors and were considered as geometrical domains in direct pore-scale simulations to calculate tensors of effective diffusion coefficient, permeability, tortuosity, and effective ionic and electronic conductivity. The CL properties vary significantly depending on the diffusion and flow direction, and samples of similar composition and synthesis technique exhibit different transport behaviors. The reported results provide a quantitative morphological analysis and a reliable set of effective properties to be used in homogenized device modeling, a net improvement over the most commonly used empirical or analytical formulations. The data set was obtained directly from the pore-scale structure of real CLs and contributes to making device-scale homogenized modeling of GDEs more accurate and reliable.
Glycolytic enzyme PFKFB3 regulates sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 in proangiogenic glomerular endothelial cells under diabetic condition
Authors: Yu Baixue , Shen Kaiyuan , Li Tingting , Li Jiawei , Meng Mei , Liu Wenjie , Tang Qunye , Zhu Tongyu , Wang Xin , Leung Susan W. S. , Shi Yi
Published: October 2023

Proangiogenetic glomerular endothelial cells (GECs) are activated in diabetic nephropathy. High glucose upregulates glycolytic enzyme phosphofructokinase/fructose bisphosphatase 3 (PFKFB3) in proangiogenetic cells. PFKFB3 protects the glomerular filtration barrier by targeting endothelial S1pR1. MiRNA-590-3p restores endothelial cell function and mitigates diabetic nephropathy.
Guarding Your Social Circle: Strategies to Protect Key Connections and Edge Importance
Authors: Shetty Nisha P. , Muniyal Balachandra , Dokania Akshat , Datta Sohom , Gandluri Manas Subramanyam , Maben Leander Melroy , Priyanshu Aman
Published: September 2023

With the growing use of social networks and the consequent rise in the sharing of personal information online, privacy has become a major concern, leading to an increased demand for efficient anonymization techniques. This research proposes innovative methods for hiding information in weighted social network graphs. We provide a topology-modification technique for precisely hiding important nodes in the user network. We also present a differential privacy-based method to safeguard edge weights while taking weight topology correlations into account. With accuracy rates of 87.04% and 94.73%, respectively, our approaches are highly effective in connections to significant nodes and concealing edge weights, respectively. Our methods, which safeguard data integrity to a larger extent than earlier techniques, alter the original graph as little as possible (only 12% of the original edges are changed), as measured by well-known graph metrics. Experiment results on the extracted Instagram posts show that our solutions outperform current approaches in terms of privacy and preserved usefulness.
Computation of the Dielectric and Optical Properties of Dimethylammonium Tin Triiodostanate (II) Perovskite for Solar Cell Application
Authors: Jelimo Chemaoi Perpetua , Nyawere Philip Otieno , Maghanga Christopher Mkirema
Published: September 2023

Hybrid halide perovskites are promising photovoltaic materials for use in solar cells. The ongoing research on perovskites have shown that these materials are potential light-harvesting mediums. The optical properties of dimethylammonium triiodostanate (II) (DASnI3) a hybrid halide perovskites needs to be studied because it can be a good light absorber material due to the wide band gap exhibited. The real and the imaginary parts of the dielectric is a measure of the extent of light absorption. The GGA+U exchange-correlation implemented in Quantum ESPRESSO was used basing on density functional theory to obtain the optical properties. The DASnI3 has a direct band gap of 2.7 eV with the real part of the dielectric diagram indicating that the maximum value of ε1 (ω) is in the visible range of (3.0–3.5 eV). High absorption peaks were also observed in the visible spectral region at energy of around (3.5–4.5 eV) with several weak peaks observed in the energy range of (4.5–14.0 eV). The band structure and the dielectric functions are important in the study of optical properties. These properties expresses the interaction of light with the material medium and thus the luminescence of the device which are important in the use of DASnI3 as a solar cell material in photovoltaics.
Joint Optimal Train Rescheduling and Passenger Flow Control for Speed Limit and High-Demand Scenarios of Urban Rail Transits
Authors: Yuan Jianjun , Zhao Xiaoqun , Chu Pengzi
Published: September 2023

In the operation of urban rail transits, train delays occur frequently, and emergency management is one of the key factors to ensure the service quality. For speed limit scenarios with high demand, this paper takes the train running in the restricted manual (RM) mode in the speed limit zone as an example and discusses a coping method by jointing train rescheduling and passenger flow control. With the goal of maximizing the number of passengers served and minimizing total train delay, a nonlinear optimization model is constructed by taking the train operation-related requirements and passenger flow control-related indicators as constraints, and the model is reformulated to a mixed-integer programming (MIP) model with quadratic constraints, which can be solved by the Gurobi solver. In order to obtain effective solutions faster, a two-stage approach is discussed, which first obtains a rescheduling timetable and then dynamically adjusts the requirement of boarding equalization to obtain the passenger flow control scheme. The validity of the model and the solution approach are discussed with the help of numerical experiments. The results suggest that the model and solution approach are feasible. When the number of trains is fixed, the reasonable implementation of passenger flow control will help to increase the number of passengers served, and the pursuit of a higher equalization of boarding is not conducive to the number of passengers served and the full utilization of transport capacity. The two-stage approach has certain advantages over the direct computing method. The methods in this paper have a guiding value for emergency decision-making in similar delay scenarios.
Central Mucoepidermoid Carcinoma Radiographically Mimicking an Odontogenic Lesion
Authors: Teixeira Lucas Novaes , Perez Erick Gomes , Rosa Ana Cláudia Garcia , Lima Sandro Régis Rodrigues , Soares Mariana Quirino Silveira , Passador-Santos Fabricio , de Araújo Vera Cavalcanti , Soares Andresa Borges
Published: September 2023

Central mucoepidermoid carcinoma (CMEC) is a rare pathological entity with only a few case reports in the literature. The present case reported an uncommon occurrence of CMEC mimicking an odontogenic lesion in a young patient. A 17-year-old female patient sought dental care due to a slight swelling located in the posterior region of the mandible on the left side. Radiographic exams revealed an osteolytic lesion with defined limits in relation to proximity to the pericoronal follicle of tooth #38. The clinical and radiographic diagnostic hypothesis was an odontogenic lesion. Histological sections showed the presence of a neoplasm of glandular origin, not encapsulated, with a predominantly cystic growth pattern. The neoplasm consisted of mucous, intermediate, and squamous cells. In the immunohistochemical staining, the neoplastic cells were positive for cytokeratin 7. Mucous cells were positive for PAS with diastase digestion. The final diagnosis consisted of mucoepidermoid carcinoma. The tumor was removed surgically, and the patient has shown no signs of relapse nor recurrence. In conclusion, CMEC may mimic radiographic features of various pathologies, but despite its rarity, clinicians and oral radiologists should consider CMEC as a diagnostic hypothesis for jaw lesions.