bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The two alternative NADH:quinone oxidoreductases from
Staphylococcus aureus
: two players with different molecular and cellular roles
Authors: Sena Filipa V. , Sousa Filipe M. , Pereira Ana R. , Catarino Teresa , Cabrita Eurico J. , Pinho Mariana G. , Pinto Francisco R. , Pereira Manuela M.
Published: July 2024

Staphylococcus aureus
is an opportunistic pathogen that has emerged as a major public health threat due to the increased incidence of its drug resistance.
S. aureus
presents a remarkable capacity to adapt to different niches due to the plasticity of its energy metabolism. In this work, we investigated the energy metabolism of
S. aureus
, focusing on the alternative NADH:quinone oxidoreductases, NDH-2s.
S. aureus
presents two genes encoding NDH-2s (NDH-2A and NDH-2B) and lacks genes coding for Complex I, the canonical respiratory NADH:quinone oxidoreductase. This observation makes the action of NDH-2s crucial for the regeneration of NAD
+
and, consequently, for the progression of metabolism. Our study involved the comprehensive biochemical characterization of NDH-2B and the exploration of the cellular roles of NDH-2A and NDH-2B, utilizing knockout mutants (Δ
ndh-2a
and Δ
ndh-2b
). We show that NDH-2B uses NADPH instead of NADH, does not establish a charge-transfer complex in the presence of NADPH, and its reduction by this substrate is the catalytic rate-limiting step. In the case of NDH-2B, the reduction of the flavin is inherently slow, and we suggest the establishment of a charge transfer complex between NADP
+
and FADH
2
, as previously observed for NDH-2A, to slow down quinone reduction and, consequently, prevent the overproduction of reactive oxygen species, which is potentially unnecessary. Furthermore, we observed that the lack of NDH-2A or NDH-2B impacts cell growth, volume, and division differently. The absence of these enzymes results in distinct metabolic phenotypes, emphasizing the unique cellular roles of each NDH-2 in energy metabolism.

IMPORTANCE

Staphylococcus aureus
is an opportunistic pathogen, posing a global challenge in clinical medicine due to the increased incidence of its drug resistance. For this reason, it is essential to explore and understand the mechanisms behind its resistance, as well as the fundamental biological features such as energy metabolism and the respective players that allow
S. aureus
to live and survive. Despite its prominence as a pathogen, the energy metabolism of
S. aureus
remains underexplored, with its respiratory enzymes often escaping thorough investigation.
S. aureus
bioenergetic plasticity is illustrated by its ability to use different respiratory enzymes, two of which are investigated in the present study. Understanding the metabolic adaptation strategies of
S. aureus
to bioenergetic challenges may pave the way for the design of therapeutic approaches that interfere with the ability of the pathogen to successfully adapt when it invades different niches within its host.
Erratum to: Nanodiamonds as Lutetium-177 Carriers for Nuclear Medicine
Authors: Kazakov A. G. , Babenya J. S. , Ekatova T. Y. , Vinokurov S. E. , Khvorostinin E. Y. , Ushakov I. A. , Zukau V. V. , Stasyuk E. S. , Nesterov E. A. , Sadkin V. L. , Rogov A. S. , Myasoedov B. F.
Published: July 2024

Erratum
Inequalities in children’s tooth decay requiring dental extraction under general anaesthetic: a longitudinal study using linked electronic health records
Authors: Firman Nicola , Dezateux Carol , Muirhead Vanessa
Published: July 2024

Background

Dental extraction under general anaesthetic (DGA) is the most severe and irreversible dental treatment for childhood tooth decay. We investigated inequalities in DGA in an ethnically diverse, disadvantaged school-age population and associations of DGA with prior excess weight.

Methods

We identified 608 278 children aged 5–16 years in 2017–2022 from linked hospital and primary care electronic health records (EHRs) for a London, UK region. We estimated ORs (95% CI) for DGA, adjusting for sex, ethnicity, locality and deprivation. We linked 120 985 EHRs to school weight records and estimated HRs (95% CI) for DGA by excess weight (body mass index ≥91st centile) using Cox’s proportional regression.

Results

3034 children had at least one DGA (0.50%; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.52). Children from white Irish (OR: 1.96; 95% CI 1.17 to 3.29), other Asian (1.23; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.50), Bangladeshi (1.49; 95% CI 1.30 to 1.70) and Pakistani (1.41; 95% CI 1.21 to 1.65) ethnicities were more likely and those from Chinese (0.48; 95% CI 0.27 to 0.86), white and black African (0.59; 95% CI 0.35 to 0.98), other mixed (0.69; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.95), Indian (0.65; 95% CI 0.53 to 0.81), black African (0.79; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.93) and other black (0.62; 95% CI 0.48 to 0.82) ethnicities and living in less deprived areas less likely, to have had a DGA. Five- (HR: 0.80; 95% CI 0.66 to 0.94) and 11- year-olds (0.78; 95% CI 0.62 to 0.99) with excess weight were less likely to have had a DGA.

Conclusion

We found marked ethnic and socioeconomic inequalities in childhood DGA. Further research is needed to understand factors mediating inequalities in DGA. These findings emphasise the importance of targeting the wider determinants of inequalities in tooth extraction and ensuring equitable access to preventive and restorative dentistry.
Knowledge translation and knowledge mobilization from the FoodBAll project
Authors: Wishart David S.
Published: July 2024

This report describes the knowledge mobilization and translation outcomes of the Canadian-funded portion of a large, international project called the Food Biomarker Alliance (FoodBAll), which ran from 2015 to 2019. This remarkably successful project led to a large number of important findings, outputs, and impacts. In particular, FoodBAll unequivocally demonstrated that metabolomics could be used to not only discover biomarkers of food intake (BFIs), but also to measure diet in a more objective manner. FoodBAll also created standards for assessing and validating BFIs, papers and databases describing BFIs, and kits for measuring BFIs and it laid the groundwork for many global studies exploring food composition and precision nutrition.
A comparison of approaches to quantify carbon for ecosystem service assessments through time
Authors: Schwantes Amanda M. , Rauen Firkowski Carina , Rodriguez Peter S. , Gonzalez Andrew , Fortin Marie-Josée
Published: July 2024

Monitoring of global climate regulation ecosystem services is needed to inform national accounts, meet emission targets, and evaluate nature-based climate solutions. As carbon monitoring is context-dependent, the most useful methodological approach will depend on the spatial extent and resolution, temporal frequency, baseline, available data, funding, and dominant drivers of change, all of which will impact results and interpretation. Here, focusing on above and belowground carbon storage and sequestration, we review four groups of methods for estimating trends in carbon over time: (1) field-based measurements, (2) land cover maps with reference carbon values by land cover type, (3) statistical and machine learning models linking field measurements to remotely sensed data, and (4) mass balance models representing key carbon pools and flows between them. We discuss strengths, limitations, and best practices for each method to assist researchers in implementing an approach or critically evaluating whether an existing carbon dataset can be used for a different project. The best methods often account for spatial variability of carbon, ecosystem interconnections, and temporal stability of carbon stocks against future environmental changes. Effective carbon monitoring can help determine optimal conservation, restoration, and/or land management interventions with win-win outcomes for both conservation and nature-based climate solutions.
Exploring new physics in the late Universe’s expansion through non-parametric inference
Authors: Sabogal Miguel A. , Akarsu Özgür , Bonilla Alexander , Di Valentino Eleonora , Nunes Rafael C.
Published: July 2024

In this study, we investigate deviations from the Planck-$$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM model in the late universe ($$z \lesssim 2.5$$

z
≲
2.5

) using the Gaussian Processes method, with minimal assumptions. Our goal is to understand where exploring new physics in the late universe is most relevant. We analyze recent Cosmic Chronometers (CC), Type Ia Supernovae (SN), and Baryon Acoustic Oscillations (BAO) data. By examining reconstructions of the dimensionless parameter $$\delta (z)$$

δ
(
z
)

, which measures deviations of the Hubble parameter from the Planck-$$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM predictions, we identify intriguing features at low ($$z \lesssim 0.5$$

z
≲
0.5

) and high ($$z \gtrsim 2$$

z
≳
2

) redshifts. Deviations from the Planck-$$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM model were not significant between $$0.5\lesssim z \lesssim 2$$

0.5
≲
z
≲
2

. Using the combined CC+SN+BAO dataset, we gain insights into dark energy (DE) dynamics, resembling characteristics of omnipotent DE, extending beyond quintessence and phantom models. DE exhibits n-quintessence traits for $$z\gtrsim 2$$

z
≳
2

, transitioning with a singularity around $$z\sim 2$$

z
∼
2

to usual phantom traits in $$1\lesssim z\lesssim 2$$

1
≲
z
≲
2

. DE characteristics differ between scenarios ($$H_0$$

H
0

-SH0ES and $$H_0$$

H
0

-$$\Lambda $$
Λ
&CMB), with $$H_0$$

H
0

-SH0ES leaning towards phantom traits and $$H_0$$

H
0

-$$\Lambda $$
Λ
&CMB towards quintessence. We suggest exploring new physics at $$z\lesssim 0.5$$

z
≲
0.5

and $$1.5\lesssim z\lesssim 2.5$$

1.5
≲
z
≲
2.5

, particularly around $$z = 2$$

z
=
2

, to understand cosmological tensions such as $$H_0$$

H
0

and $$S_8$$

S
8

.
Additively Manufactured, Flexible 5G Electronics for MIMO, IoT, Digital Twins, and Smart Cities Applications
Authors: Callis Theodore W. , Hu Kexin , Jamal Hani Al , Tentzeris Manos M.
Published: July 2024

This review encompasses additive manufacturing techniques for crafting 5G electronics, showcasing how these methods innovate device creation with novel examples. A wearable phased array device on commonplace 3D printed material is described, with integrated microfluidic cooling channels used for thermal regulation of integrated circuit bulk components. Mechanical and electrical tunability are exemplified in an origami-inspired phased array structure. A 3D printed IoT cube structure shows the flexibility in the number of geometries additively manufactured 5G devices can adhere to. Finally, integrating 3D optical lenses with 5G electronics is shown.
Design of BTO-Based Compact Electro-Optic Modulator
Authors: He Chengxing , Shen Mohan , Tang Hong X.
Published: July 2024

We present a compact electro-optic (EO) modulator design exploiting the strong Pockels effect of Barium Titanate (BaTiO3 or BTO). This proposed structure, using parallel-plate electrodes tightly sandwiching the EO media, could achieve V[Formula: see text]L value as low as 35[Formula: see text]V[Formula: see text]m, a significant reduction from current photonic-integrated Pockels EO modulators with V[Formula: see text]L value around 1[Formula: see text]V⋅cm. Compared to plasmonic EO modulators, this proposed structure offers much lower optical loss. The small footprint and low-loss properties of this modulator design allow for its future embodiment in photonic-integrated CMOS circuits.
Strengthening International Cooperation on Blue Carbon under the Green Silk Road Initiative: China’s Practical Pathways
Authors: WANG Sheng
Published: July 2024

The blue carbon reservoir plays a unique role in addressing climate change and holds significant importance for China’s advancement in the “dual carbon” initiative. The mechanisms, carbon reduction potential, and potential economic value of blue carbon align with the goals of the Green Silk Road initiative. China’s conceptual frameworks, strategies and practices provide strong impetus for enhancing international cooperation and supporting the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative. Looking ahead, integrating blue carbon into the focal points of international cooperation will contribute China’s wisdom and solutions to global sustainable development.
SimClone: Detecting Tabular Data Clones Using Value Similarity
Authors: Yang Xu , Rajbahadur Gopi Krishnan , Lin Dayi , Wang Shaowei , Jiang Zhen Ming (Jack)
Published: July 2024

Data clones are defined as multiple copies of the same data among datasets. The presence of data clones between datasets can cause issues such as difficulties in managing data assets and data license violations when using datasets with clones to build AI software. However, detecting data clones is not trivial. The majority of the prior studies in this area rely on structural information to detect data clones (e.g., font size, column header). However, tabular datasets used to build AI software are typically stored without any structural information. In this article, we propose a novel method called SimClone for data clone detection in tabular datasets without relying on structural information. SimClone method utilizes value similarities for data clone detection. We also propose a visualization approach as a part of our SimClone method to help locate the exact position of the cloned data between a dataset pair. Our results show that our SimClone outperforms the current state-of-the-art method by at least 20% in terms of both F1-score and AUC. In addition, SimClone’s visualization component helps identify the exact location of the data clone in a dataset with a Precision@10 value of 0.80 in the top 20 true positive predictions.
Towards Smartphone-based 3D Hand Pose Reconstruction Using Acoustic Signals
Authors: Wang Shiyang , Wang Xingchen , Jiang Wenjun , Miao Chenglin , Cao Qiming , Wang Haoyu , Sun Ke , Xue Hongfei , Su Lu
Published: July 2024

Accurately reconstructing 3D hand poses is a pivotal element for numerous Human-Computer Interaction applications. In this work, we propose SonicHand, the first smartphone-based 3D hand pose reconstruction system using purely inaudible acoustic signals. SonicHand incorporates signal processing techniques and a deep learning framework to address a series of challenges. First, it encodes the topological information of the hand skeleton as prior knowledge and utilizes a deep learning model to realistically and smoothly reconstruct the hand poses. Second, the system employs adversarial training to enhance the generalization ability of our system to be deployed in a new environment or for a new user. Third, we adopt a hand tracking method based on channel impulse response estimation. It enables our system to handle the scenario where the hand performs gestures while moving arbitrarily as a whole. We conduct extensive experiments on a smartphone testbed to demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of our system from various dimensions. The experiments involve 10 subjects performing up to 12 different hand gestures in three distinctive environments. When the phone is held in one of the user’s hands, the proposed system can track joints with an average error of 18.64 mm.
Timing Side-Channel Mitigation via Automated Program Repair
Authors: Ruan Haifeng , Noller Yannic , Tizpaz-Niari Saeid , Chattopadhyay Sudipta , Roychoudhury Abhik
Published: July 2024

Side-channel vulnerability detection has gained prominence recently due to Spectre and Meltdown attacks. Techniques for side-channel detection range from fuzz testing to program analysis and program composition. Existing side-channel mitigation techniques repair the vulnerability at the IR/binary level or use runtime monitoring solutions. In both cases, the source code itself is not modified, can evolve while keeping the vulnerability, and the developer would get no feedback on how to develop secure applications in the first place. Thus, these solutions do not help the developer understand the side-channel risks in her code and do not provide guidance to avoid code patterns with side-channel risks. In this article, we present
Pendulum
, the first approach for automatically locating and repairing side-channel vulnerabilities in the source code, specifically for timing side channels. Our approach uses a quantitative estimation of found vulnerabilities to guide the fix localization, which goes hand-in-hand with a pattern-guided repair. Our evaluation shows that
Pendulum
can repair a large number of side-channel vulnerabilities in real-world applications. Overall, our approach integrates vulnerability detection, quantization, localization, and repair into one unified process. This also enhances the possibility of our side-channel mitigation approach being adopted into programmingenvironments.
Evaluating Zero Rating: A Comparative Analysis of four South American Countries
Authors: Triviño Roberto , Franco Antonio , Ochoa-Urrego Rafael-Leonardo
Published: July 2024

Zero-rating refers to the practice of mobile network operators in which data consumed in privileged applications is not counted against a subscriber's Internet data allowance. The network neutrality debate has recently focused on the growing popularity of zero-rating in mobile networks. While in South America, some network neutrality laws have zero-rating limitations, these are not absolute and have become very popular among mobile operators and attractive for users. However, some researchers highlight that the practice could violate users’ rights and network neutrality principles, while others argue that it allows users to access the Internet at a lower cost. This article analyzes the zero-rating offerings in Brazil, Colombia, Chile, and Ecuador using a political-economic and developmental approach through contextualization to identify and assess potential effects on access, competition, use, and affordability. The results reveal complex relationships and positive and negative effects, depending on the case, where zero-rating could be partially positive for digital inclusion in Ecuador and Colombia but not for Brazil and Chile.
Abelmoschus esculentus Improves Hippocampal Function Associated with Dipeptidyl Peptidase‐4 in High Fat Diet‐Fed db/db Mice
Authors: Peng Chiung-Huei , Wang Chau-Jong , Yang Yen-Yu , Huang Chien-Ning , Lee Huei-Jane
Published: July 2024

Hippocampal function can be impaired by diabetes mellitus (DM) and obesity. Abelmoschus esculentus (AE) fractions reportedly mitigate the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by downregulating dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4)‐mediated insulin resistance. AE extracted by alcohol (fraction 1, F1) and water (fraction 2, F2) contained quercetin glycosides and polysaccharides, respectively. In this study, we investigated whether AE affects hippocampal function in in vitro and in vivo systems. Our results indicate that F1 or F2 enhanced neurogenesis and synapse formation in palmitate‐treated hippocampal neural cells, presumably by downregulating DPP‐4. In db/db mice fed with high fat diet, the hippocampal insulin resistance correlated spatial recognition, with fraction F2 improving hippocampal function. Of note, the alteration of neurogenesis seems interconnecting with changes in gut microbiota. In summary, AE can improve hippocampal function, attenuate insulin resistance, and promote neurogenesis by regulating DPP‐4. AE, particularly F2, has the potential to serve as an adjuvant in preventing DM‐associated AD.
Network Pharmacology Prediction and Experimental Validation of Ferulic Acid’s Protective Effects against Diclofenac‐Induced Liver Injury
Authors: Alatawi Fatema S. , Omran Awatif M. E. , Alatawi Mohsen S. , Rashad Eman , Yasin Noha A. E. , Soliman Ahmed F.
Published: July 2024

Despite being one of the most consumed analgesics worldwide, liver injury is an adverse effect of diclofenac (DF). In pursuit of reliable hepatoprotective natural remedies, this study aimed to investigate the potential protective effect of ferulic acid (FA) and its mechanism against DF‐induced liver injury. Various network databases and datasets were used to collect targets corresponding to FA and DF‐induced liver injury. Enrichment analyses of common targets were performed, a protein‐protein interaction (PPI) network was constructed, the hub genes were identified, and the upstream miRNA interacting with the top hub gene was later predicted. A DF‐induced liver injury rat model was established to verify FA’s protective effects, and the selected hub gene expression level with its upstream regulatory miRNA and a downstream set of targets was examined to elucidate the underlying mechanism. A total of 18 genes were identified as potential targets of FA to protect against DF‐induced liver injury. Data from the enrichment and PPI analyses and the prediction of the upstream miRNAs indicated that the most worthwhile pair to study was miR‐296‐5p/Jun. In vivo findings showed that coadministration of FA significantly reduced the DF‐induced alterations in the liver function indices, oxidative stress, and liver histology. Mechanistically, FA downregulated the expression of Jun, Bim, Bax, Casp3, IL‐1β, IL‐6, and TNF‐α, whereas it upregulated the expression of rno‐miR‐296‐5p and Bcl2. In conclusion, combining network pharmacology and an in vivo study revealed that miR‐296‐5p/Jun axis could mediate the mitigative effect of FA against DF‐induced liver injury.
In Vitro Antioxidant and Antibacterial Activities of Medicinal Flower Laligurans Rhododendron arboreum Collected from Kathmandu Valley, Nepal
Authors: Jha Anil Kumar , Khalid Monowar Alam , Labh Shyam Narayan
Published: July 2024

Rhododendron arboreum, known as Nepal’s national flower and belonging to the Ericaceae family, thrives throughout the Himalayan region. This study investigates the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of Rhododendron arboreum flowers. Three different extracts were prepared at concentrations ranging from 10 to 640 μg/mL and assessed for their total phenolic content (TPC), total flavonoid content (TFC), and DPPH radical scavenging activity. Results showed significant accumulation of antioxidant compounds (P < 0.05), with TPC levels of 37.78, 67.29, and 53.46 mg GAE/g and TFC values of 49.46, 67.46, and 65.71 mg QE/g for LGP, LGE, and LGA at 640 μg/mL, respectively. DPPH activity was highest in LGE (96.33%), followed by LGA (87.11%) and LGP (76.59%), compared to the standard (77.38%). The antibacterial properties were significant against Aeromonas hydrophila, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli at 100% concentration, with inhibition rates of 15%, 16%, and 17% for LGP, LGE, and LGA, respectively. These findings indicate that Rhododendron arboreum petals, rich in bioactive compounds, possess strong antioxidant and antibacterial properties, making them potential candidates for developing cost‐effective therapeutic formulations. Further research should focus on isolating specific bioactive compounds and understanding their molecular mechanisms to enhance therapeutic efficacy.
Figure 1 from Noninvasive Lung Cancer Subtype Classification Using Tumor-Derived Signatures and cfDNA Methylome
Authors: Li Shuo , Li Wenyuan , Liu Bin , Krysan Kostyantyn , Dubinett Steven M.
Published: July 2024

Overview of the data usage and study design. A tissue RRBS dataset (n = 60) was used to identify subtype-specific methylation markers. We filtered the markers that were not differential between the solid tumor tissues and the noncancer plasma samples (n = 30). The remaining subtype-specific markers were then validated using an independent tissue RRBS dataset (n = 43), TCGA project’s tumor tissue methylation data (n = 794), and RNA-seq data (n = 1,029). We applied the subtype-specific markers identified from tumor tissue to train and validate the subtype classification model on plasma cfDNA using the cfMethyl-Seq data of the patients with lung cancer (n = 106). Then we validated this cfDNA-based classification model on an independent cfMethyl-Seq dataset (n = 27).
Left Atrial Roof Enlargement Is a Distinct Feature of Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Backhaus Sören J. , Nasopoulou Anastasia , Lange Torben , Schulz Alexander , Evertz Ruben , Kowallick Johannes T. , Hasenfuß Gerd , Lamata Pablo , Schuster Andreas
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

It remains unknown to what extent intrinsic atrial cardiomyopathy or left ventricular diastolic dysfunction drive atrial remodeling and functional failure in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF). Computational 3-dimensional (3D) models fitted to cardiovascular magnetic resonance allow state-of-the-art anatomic and functional assessment, and we hypothesized to identify a phenotype linked to HFpEF.

METHODS:

Patients with exertional dyspnea and diastolic dysfunction on echocardiography (E/e′, >8) were prospectively recruited and classified as HFpEF or noncardiac dyspnea based on right heart catheterization. All patients underwent rest and exercise-stress right heart catheterization and cardiovascular magnetic resonance. Computational 3D anatomic left atrial (LA) models were generated based on short-axis cine sequences. A fully automated pipeline was developed to segment cardiovascular magnetic resonance images and build 3D statistical models of LA shape and find the 3D patterns discriminant between HFpEF and noncardiac dyspnea. In addition, atrial morphology and function were quantified by conventional volumetric analyses and deformation imaging. A clinical follow-up was conducted after 24 months for the evaluation of cardiovascular hospitalization.

RESULTS:

Beyond atrial size, the 3D LA models revealed roof dilation as the main feature found in masked HFpEF (diagnosed during exercise-stress only) preceding a pattern shift to overall atrial size in overt HFpEF (diagnosed at rest). Characteristics of the 3D model were integrated into the LA HFpEF shape score, a biomarker to characterize the gradual remodeling between noncardiac dyspnea and HFpEF. The LA HFpEF shape score was able to discriminate HFpEF (n=34) to noncardiac dyspnea (n=34; area under the curve, 0.81) and was associated with a risk for atrial fibrillation occurrence (hazard ratio, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.01–1.04];
P
=0.003), as well as cardiovascular hospitalization (hazard ratio, 1.02 [95% CI, 1.00–1.04];
P
=0.043).

CONCLUSIONS:

LA roof dilation is an early remodeling pattern in masked HFpEF advancing to overall LA enlargement in overt HFpEF. These distinct features predict the occurrence of atrial fibrillation and cardiovascular hospitalization.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT03260621.
Visit‐to‐Visit Systolic Blood Pressure Variability Independently Predicts Cardiovascular Events in a Kidney Transplant Recipients' Cohort
Authors: Bussalino Elisabetta , Picciotto Daniela , Macciò Lucia , Parodi Angelica , Gandolfo Maria Teresa , Viazzi Francesca
Published: July 2024

Background

The predictive role of blood pressure variability for all‐cause mortality and fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events has been described in the general population and in patients with diabetes, independently of mean BP. Although systolic blood pressure variability has been proposed as an informative measure for predicting clinical outcomes in patients with chronic kidney disease, its role in kidney transplant recipients is still debatable.

Methods and Results

We performed a retrospective, observational, monocentric analysis of all kidney transplant recipients in follow‐up at the outpatient Nephrology Clinic of San Martino Hospital from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2016, who underwent kidney transplantation >12 months. The primary outcome was a fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular event (myocardial infarction, unstable angina, stroke, and hospitalization for heart failure). Visit‐to‐visit systolic blood pressure variability was expressed as the SD of systolic blood pressure values recorded at baseline and 3 months up to 18 months. Among the 272 patients (mean age, 64±13; 63% men) included in the present analyses, for each increase of 2.7 mm Hg in systolic blood pressure SD, the risk for events increased 3‐fold (hazard ratio [HR], 3.1 [95% CI, 1.19–7.88];
P
=0.02), and patients in the highest tertile of systolic blood pressure SD showed a 4‐fold increased risk (HR, 4.1 [95% CI, 1.34–12.43];
P
=0.01). This relationship was maintained even after incremental adjustment for time‐averaged pulse pressure, age, diabetes, and prior cardiovascular event (HR, 3.2 [95% CI, 1.1–10.0];
P
=0.04).

Conclusions

Long‐term blood pressure variability represents a risk factor for cardiovascular events in kidney transplant recipients, even independently by several confounding factors including blood pressure load.
Cardiac Structure and Function in 8‐ to 12‐Year‐Old Children Following In‐Utero Exposure to Preeclampsia (FINNCARE Study)
Authors: Renlund‐Vikström Michelle , Jääskeläinen Tiina J. , Kivelä Anni , Heinonen Seppo , Laivuori Hannele , Sarkola Taisto
Published: July 2024

Background

We evaluated how elevated blood pressure in children exposed to preeclampsia (PE) impacted on their cardiac structure and function, as well as relations with maternal, gestational, and perinatal factors and child body size and composition.

Methods and Results

A total of 182 PE (46 early‐onset preeclampsia) and 85 unexposed (non‐PE) children were examined in the FINNCARE study 8 to 12 years after the index pregnancy with echocardiography; office, central, and 24‐hour ambulatory blood pressures; and body anthropometrics and composition. PE children had lower right ventricular basal sphericity index (mean difference, −0.26 95% CI, −0.39 to −0.12) and lower mitral lateral
E
′‐wave peak velocity (−1.4 cm/s [95% CI, −2.1 to −0.6]), as well as higher
E
to
E
′ ratio (0.40 [95% CI, 0.15–0.65]) and indexed tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (0.03 [95% CI, 0.01–0.05]) compared with non‐PE children. These differences were accentuated in early‐onset PE children. Left ventricular mass (LVM) or left atrial volume were not different between PE and non‐PE children. Lean body mass, body fat percentage, and 24‐hour systolic blood pressure were independent predictors of LVM. Lean body mass and body fat percentage were independent predictors of left atrial volume. No significant associations between LVM or left atrial volume and maternal, gestational, or perinatal parameters were found.

Conclusions

Preadolescent PE children display a more globular‐shaped right ventricle with higher longitudinal systolic displacement as well as mildly altered diastolic indices, with the alterations being pronounced in early‐onset preeclampsia. Lean body mass and adiposity are independently related with LVM and left atrial volume, and systolic blood pressure with LVM in both PE and non‐PE children. These unfavorable associations indicate remodeling of cardiac structure in young children also reflected in mild functional changes in PE children.

Registration

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; unique identifier: NCT04676295.
Revisiting Meta-evaluation for Grammatical Error Correction
Authors: Kobayashi Masamune , Mita Masato , Komachi Mamoru
Published: July 2024

Metrics are the foundation for automatic evaluation in grammatical error correction (GEC), with their evaluation of the metrics (meta-evaluation) relying on their correlation with human judgments. However, conventional meta-evaluations in English GEC encounter several challenges, including biases caused by inconsistencies in evaluation granularity and an outdated setup using classical systems. These problems can lead to misinterpretation of metrics and potentially hinder the applicability of GEC techniques. To address these issues, this paper proposes SEEDA, a new dataset for GEC meta-evaluation. SEEDA consists of corrections with human ratings along two different granularities: edit-based and sentence-based, covering 12 state-of-the-art systems including large language models, and two human corrections with different focuses. The results of improved correlations by aligning the granularity in the sentence-level meta-evaluation suggest that edit-based metrics may have been underestimated in existing studies. Furthermore, correlations of most metrics decrease when changing from classical to neural systems, indicating that traditional metrics are relatively poor at evaluating fluently corrected sentences with many edits.
Context-Aware Machine Translation with Source Coreference Explanation
Authors: Vu Huy Hien , Kamigaito Hidetaka , Watanabe Taro
Published: July 2024

Despite significant improvements in enhancing the quality of translation, context-aware machine translation (MT) models underperform in many cases. One of the main reasons is that they fail to utilize the correct features from context when the context is too long or their models are overly complex. This can lead to the explain-away effect, wherein the models only consider features easier to explain predictions, resulting in inaccurate translations. To address this issue, we propose a model that explains the decisions made for translation by predicting coreference features in the input. We construct a model for input coreference by exploiting contextual features from both the input and translation output representations on top of an existing MT model. We evaluate and analyze our method in the WMT document-level translation task of English-German dataset, the English-Russian dataset, and the multilingual TED talk dataset, demonstrating an improvement of over 1.0 BLEU score when compared with other context-aware models.
On some species of the genus Hygrodromicus Tronquet with description of a new species from Pakistan (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Omaliinae: Anthophagini)
Authors: SHAVRIN ALEXEY V.
Published: July 2024

Taxonomic and faunistic data for three species of Hygrodromicus Tronquet, 1981 is presented. Two species are (re-)described and illustrated: H. incrassatus sp. n. from Pakistan and Middle Asian H. splendidus Zerche, 1992. A distribution map for these is given. A new synonymy is established: H. coriaceus (Cameron, 1924) = Hygrogeus ledouxi Coiffait, 1983 syn. n. Additionally, H. splendidus is recorded from Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan for the first time.
Bringing the Value Chain for High-Impact Weather Warnings into the Classroom
Authors: Majumdar Sharanya J. , Hoffmann David , Ebert Elizabeth E. , Golding Brian W.
Published: July 2024

University students can learn about weather warnings and contribute to a database for the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) project on value chain approaches to evaluate the end-to-end warning chain. The project offers students a way to understand how information about high-impact weather is created, shared, and used within a complete warning system for a selected event. Their contributions are intended to inform researchers and practitioners on what has and what has not worked well in the warning process. The students use a structured questionnaire designed to collect information on observations, forecasting, hazards, impacts, warning communications, and responses.
2024 AAFP intercat tension guidelines: recognition, prevention and management
Authors: Rodan Ilona , Ramos Daniela , Carney Hazel , DePorter Theresa , Horwitz Debra F , Mills Daniel , Vitale Kristyn
Published: July 2024

Social tension or conflict between household cats is common but, because it often manifests as subtle behavioral changes, it can go unnoticed; it is precisely because most signs are subtle and unrecognized that the term ‘tension’ is used. Where associated tension-related chronic fear-anxiety leads to more overt behavioral concerns and stress-associated disease, cats may face relinquishment by caregivers or even euthanasia if the tension is not relieved. The ‘2024 AAFP intercat tension guidelines: recognition, prevention and management’ have been authored by a Task Force of board-certified veterinary and applied behaviorists and clinical experts in feline medicine and behavior convened by the American Association of Feline Practitioners. The aim is to support veterinary professionals in understanding social behavior between cats and, more specifically, in recognizing intercat tension, preventing or minimizing its occurrence and managing the stressors. In developing the Guidelines, the Task Force has modified the five pillars of a healthy feline environment to provide a framework to assist the prevention or management of intercat tension in households with two or more cats. Because feline social behavior is often misunderstood, the Guidelines debunk 10 common myths that have the potential to negatively impact the wellbeing of companion cats. Extensively illustrated with visual examples of intercat tension and an Appendix detailing a number of case studies, the Guidelines also include a comprehensive table of psychotherapeutic medications, and a detailed algorithm that outlines a systematic approach to preventing, recognizing and resolving intercat tension. A step-by-step approach to introducing a new cat into a household with one or more resident cats is included to further support veterinarians, and a range of management tools to promote client education accompany the Guidelines.
Orthanq: transparent and uncertainty-aware haplotype quantification with application in HLA-typing
Authors: Uzuner Hamdiye , Paschen Annette , Schadendorf Dirk , Köster Johannes
Published: July 2024

Background

Identification of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) types from DNA-sequenced human samples is important in organ transplantation and cancer immunotherapy and remains a challenging task considering sequence homology and extreme polymorphism of HLA genes.

Results

We present Orthanq, a novel statistical model and corresponding application for transparent and uncertainty-aware quantification of haplotypes. We utilize our approach to perform HLA typing while, for the first time, reporting uncertainty of predictions and transparently observing mutations beyond reported HLA types. Using 99 gold standard samples from 1000 Genomes, Illumina Platinum Genomes and Genome In a Bottle projects, we show that Orthanq can provide overall superior accuracy and shorter runtimes than state-of-the-art HLA typers.

Conclusions

Orthanq is the first approach that allows to directly utilize existing pangenome alignments and type all HLA loci. Moreover, it can be generalized for usages beyond HLA typing, e.g. for virus lineage quantification. Orthanq is available under https://orthanq.github.io.
Prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms across trimesters: a study of 110,584 pregnant women covered by a mobile app-based screening programme in Shenzhen, China
Authors: Wu Dadong , Chen Siqi , Zhong Xiaoqi , Zhang Jiayi , Zhao Guanglin , Jiang Lei
Published: July 2024

Background

Antenatal depression is a significant public health issue affecting pregnant women both globally and in China. Using data from a mobile app-based screening programme, this study explored the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms across different trimesters in Shenzhen.

Methods

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted on pregnant women who gave birth in any hospital in Shenzhen between July 2021 and May 2022 and underwent depression screening using an official maternal and infant health mobile app at least once during pregnancy. Depressive symptoms were evaluated using the 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9), with cut-off scores of 5 and 10 for mild and high level of symptoms, respectively. The prevalence for each trimester was determined by calculating the proportion of women scoring 5 or higher. A variety of sociodemographic, obstetric, psychological, and lifestyle factors were assessed for their association with depressive symptoms. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were performed to identify significant predictors.

Results

A total of 110,584 pregnant women were included in the study, with an overall prevalence of depressive symptoms of 18.0% and a prevalence of high-level symptoms of 4.2%. Depressive symptoms were most prevalent in the first trimester (10.9%) and decreased in the second (6.2%) and third trimesters (6.3%). Only a small proportion (0.4%) of women showed persistent depressive symptoms across all trimesters. Anxiety symptoms in early pregnancy emerged as the most significant predictor of depressive symptoms. Other factors linked to an increased risk throughout pregnancy include lower marital satisfaction, living with parents-in-law, experience of negative life events, as well as drinking before and during pregnancy. Factors associated with a reduced risk throughout pregnancy include multiparity and daily physical activity.

Conclusions

This large-scale study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and factors associated with antenatal depressive symptoms in Shenzhen. The findings underscore the need for targeted interventions for high-risk groups and the integration of mental health care into routine antenatal services. Continuous, dynamic monitoring of depressive symptoms for pregnant women and ensuring at-risk women receive comprehensive follow-up and appropriate psychological or psychiatric care are crucial for effectively addressing antenatal depression and improving maternal and infant health outcomes.
Pneumatic retinopexy for primary rhegmatogenous retinal detachment: from a clinical trial to the real-life experience
Authors: Iannetta Danilo , Valsecchi Nicola , Finzi Alessandro , Mastropasqua Rodolfo , Muni Rajeev H. , Fontana Luigi
Published: July 2024

Background

To report real-world outcomes of patients with primary Reghmatogenous Retinal Detachment (RRD) treated with Pneumatic Retinopexy (PnR) according to the indications of the Pneumatic Retinopexy versus Vitrectomy for management of Primary Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment Outcomes Randomized Trial (PIVOT) trial.

Methods

Multicenter, retrospective study. Patients treated with PnR for RRD between 2021 and 2023 and a follow-up of at least 6 months were included. Single-procedure anatomical success, final anatomical success, complications, causes of failures, best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after surgery, and the vision-related quality of life using the 25-Item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEI VFQ-25) were reported.

Results

A total of 76 eyes of 76 patients were included. Mean age was 60 ± 8.1 years. Primary anatomic reattachment was achieved by 84.3% of patients and final anatomical reattachment after pars plana vitrectomy was obtained in 100% of patients. BCVA improved from 0.32 (20/40) to 0.04 (20/20) logMar (p < 0.001) at 6 months. The main cause of failure was related to the presence of additional (likely missed) retinal breaks (66.6% of cases). Also, primary PnR failure was more frequent in eyes of patients with older age, macular involvement, worse baseline BCVA, greater extent of the RRD, and increased duration from diagnosis to treatment. Overall, the mean NEI-VFQ 25 composite score was 93.9% ± 6.4 at 6 months.

Conclusions

The criteria of the PIVOT trial can be applied to real-world scenarios in the decision-making process for the treatment of primary RRD, with excellent anatomical and functional outcomes.
Impact of class cancellations on parents’ and children’ adaptation following an outbreak of the Omicron variant during the COVID-19 pandemic in Taiwan in April 2022
Authors: Chao Kuo-Yu , Hsiao Tung-Yuan , Chiang Sum-Fu , Cheng Wei
Published: July 2024

Objective

To explore the impact on Taiwanese parents and children following an outbreak of the Omicron variant during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

Data were collected following class cancellations mandated by the Ministry of Education due to an outbreak of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 in April 2022. A national parent organization developed self-report survey questionnaire, “Impact of the Pandemic-related School Closures/Class Cancellations” (IPRSCCC), assessed parents’ perceived impact of school cancellations on their child/children’ and on their adaptation. The online survey was available between May 4 and May 9, 2022, in 20 districts throughout Taiwan.

Results

A total of 2126 parents representing 2592 children responded. Total scores on the IPRSCCC were significantly higher for parents of children whose classes were cancelled (n = 891) compared with parents whose children continued in-person classes (n = 1053). Parents perceived the class cancellations of the child/children disrupted daily routine, learning loss and impacted academic motivation. They also reported emotional stress and no time for rest, which were associated with parental burnout. However for these parents, there were no significant differences in scores between parents living in low and high socioeconomic areas. Only the subscale score for disrupted daily routine was significantly higher for fathers, and emotional stress was significantly higher for parents with two, or ≥ 3 children. When academic impacts were examined using national examination scores for 12th grade students, the percent of students with scores of ≤ 6 in English, Chinese, and mathematics was higher in 2022 than in 2020.

Conclusions

Higher IPRSCCC scores for parents of children whose classes were cancelled provides additional evidence of the impact of disruptions of in-person classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Examination scores confirmed class cancellations impacted academic performance.
Exploring food consumption patterns in the province of Kenitra, Northwest of Morocco
Authors: Hindi Zakia , Belfakira Chaimaa , Lafram Amina , Bikri Samir , Benayad Asmaa , EL Bilali Hamid , Bügel Susanne Gjedsted , Srednicka-Tober Dominika , Pugliese Patrizia , Strassner Carola , Rossi Laura , Stefanovic Lilliana , Aboussaleh Youssef
Published: July 2024

Background

Morocco is currently undergoing rapid changes in diets and lifestyles, influenced by globalization and urbanization, leading to a shift away from the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet) toward Western diets.

Objective

Describe and explore the food consumption patterns of the population of Kenitra province and their adherence to the MedDiet using a validated survey.

Method

The current cross-sectional study involved 442 respondents from Kenitra province, comprising individuals aged 18 and above. The survey included a combination of closed and open-ended questions regarding food consumption patterns and socio-demographic characteristics. Adherence to the MedDiet was assessed using the Panagiotakos method to calculate the MedDiet score (MDS). Additionally, each participant’s adherence to the MedDiet was evaluated using a method based on Martínez-González’s approach.

Results

The results indicate that 31% of the participants eat vegetables, 28% eat fruits, and 19% eat wholegrain bread daily. Furthermore, 58% regularly use olive oil in their cooking. Eating out of home (OOH) was high, with popular places being restaurants and cafes (70%), fast food outlets (20%), and workplace canteens (7%). Overall, participants showed moderate adherence to the MedDiet, with a mean MDS of 36.3 ± 19.7.

Conclusions

Promoting healthy eating habits is crucial in Kenitra. With moderate consumption of nutrient-dense foods and the popularity of the MedDiet, targeted interventions and educational initiatives can promote healthy dietary behaviors, improving overall public health.