bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Visual outcomes and prognostic factors in ischaemic retinal vasculitis
Authors: Yap Aaron , Kearns Helen , Sims Joanne L , Niederer Rachael L
Published: August 2024

Purpose

Our aim was to describe the visual outcomes and determine the clinical factors in ischaemic retinal vasculitis (IRV) that were predictive of a poor visual prognosis or infectious aetiology.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of consecutive presentations of IRV to Auckland District Health Board from 2009 to 2022.

Results

The median age at presentation was 39.2 years and 108 (53.7%) were women. The total median follow-up was 4.8 years. Infectious aetiology was present in 151 eyes (52.1%). Moderate visual loss (20/50 to 20/200) occurred in 20 eyes (6.9%) and severe visual loss (≤20/200) occurred in 41 eyes (14.1%). Median visual acuity was 20/30 (IQR 20/25 to 20/100) on presentation and 20/25 (IQR 20/20 to 20/50) at final follow-up. Retinitis (HR 4.675 p=0.048) and cystoid macular oedema (CME) (HR 7.265 p<0.001) were significantly associated with vision loss. There was concurrent macular ischaemia in 26 eyes (19.4%) and CME in 52 eyes (17.9%). Retinitis was predictive of infectious aetiology (p=0.006) and cotton wool spots for non-infectious aetiology (p<0.001). Retinal haemorrhage (HR 5.580 p=0.001), retinal vein occlusion (HR 5.071 p=0.001) and quadrants of ischaemia (HR 2.222 p=0.025) were significantly associated with vitreous haemorrhage.

Conclusion

In patients with IRV, 21% of affected individuals sustained moderate-to-severe vision loss over 5 years. Ultra-widefield fluorescein angiography can be used to quantify the risk of neovascular complications and guide treatment.
Experiences of children with bronchiectasis and their parents in a novel play-based therapeutic exercise programme: a qualitative analysis
Authors: Jones Taryn , Baque Emmah , O'Grady Kerry-Ann , Kohler Brooke E , Goyal Vikas , McCallum Gabrielle B , Chang Anne , Trost Stewart
Published: August 2024

Objectives

To explore the experiences and perceptions of children with bronchiectasis and their parents regarding an 8-week play-based therapeutic exercise programme.

Design

Qualitative study with inductive content analysis.

Setting

Individual semistructured interviews were conducted. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim, and coding was guided by the content. Content categories were established via consensus moderation.

Participants

10 parents and 10 children with bronchiectasis aged 5–12 years.

Results

From the perspective of children, the most important components of the programme were fun with friends and being active at home as a family. Parents valued the community-based sessions, perceived the programme to be engaging and motivating. Parents perceived improvements in their child’s endurance, coordination and physical activity level. They described the home programme as fun but noted that finding time was difficult. Both parents and children thought that in-person exercise sessions would be better than exercise sessions delivered online.

Conclusions

Children who participated in the play-based exercise programme, found it fun, motivating and accessible. Parents perceived positive impacts on fitness, coordination and physical activity.

Trial registration number

The trial was registered with, Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Register (ACTRN12619001008112).
Protocol for a randomised controlled unblinded feasibility trial of HD-DRUM: a rhythmic movement training application for cognitive and motor symptoms in people with Huntington’s disease
Authors: Ioakeimidis Vasileios , Busse Monica , Drew Cheney J G , Pallmann Philip , Watson Guy B , Jones Derek , Palombo Marco , Schubert Robin , Rosser Anne E , Metzler-Baddeley Claudia
Published: August 2024

Introduction

Huntington’s disease (HD) is an inherited neurodegenerative disease causing progressive cognitive and motor decline, largely due to basal ganglia (BG) atrophy. Rhythmic training offers promise as therapy to counteract BG-regulated deficits. We have developed HD-DRUM, a tablet-based app to enhance movement synchronisation skills and improve cognitive and motor abilities in people with HD. This paper outlines a randomised controlled unblinded trial protocol to determine the feasibility of a larger effectiveness trial for HD-DRUM. Additionally, the trial investigates cognitive and motor function measures, along with brain microstructure, aiming to advance our understanding of the neural mechanisms underlying training effects.

Methods, design and analysis

50 individuals with HD, confirmed by genetic testing, and a Total Functional Capacity (TFC) score of 9–13, will be recruited into a two-arm randomised controlled feasibility trial. Consenting individuals with HD will be randomised to the intervention group, which entails 8 weeks of at-home usage of HD-DRUM or a usual-activity control group. All participants will undergo cognitive and motor assessments, alongside ultra-strong gradient (300 mT/m) brain microstructural MRI before and after the 8-week period. The feasibility assessment will encompass recruitment, retention, adherence and acceptability of HD-DRUM following prespecified criteria. The study will also evaluate variations in cognitive and motor performance and brain microstructure changes resulting from the intervention to determine effect size estimates for future sample size calculations.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received favourable ethical opinion from the Wales Research Ethics Committee 2 (REC reference: 22/WA/0147) and is sponsored by Cardiff University (SPON1895-22) (Research Integrity, Governance and Ethics Team, Research & Innovation Services, Cardiff University, second Floor, Lakeside Building, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, CF14 4XW). Findings will be disseminated to researchers and clinicians in peer-reviewed publications and conference presentations, and to participants, carers and the general public via newsletters and public engagement activities. Data will be shared with the research community via the Enroll-HD platform.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN11906973.
Development and validation of a predictive model for pulmonary infection risk in patients with traumatic brain injury in the ICU: a retrospective cohort study based on MIMIC-IV
Authors: Shi Yulin , Hu Yong , Xu Guo Meng , Ke Yaoqi
Published: August 2024

Objective

To develop a nomogram for predicting occurrence of secondary pulmonary infection in patients with critically traumatic brain injury (TBI) during their stay in the intensive care unit, to further optimise personalised treatment for patients and support the development of effective, evidence-based prevention and intervention strategies.

Data source

This study used patient data from the publicly available MIMIC-IV (Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care IV) database.

Design

A population-based retrospective cohort study.

Methods

In this retrospective cohort study, 1780 patients with TBI were included and randomly divided into a training set (n=1246) and a development set (n=534). The impact of pulmonary infection on survival was analysed using Kaplan-Meier curves. A univariate logistic regression model was built in training set to identify potential factors for pulmonary infection, and independent risk factors were determined in a multivariate logistic regression model to build nomogram model. Nomogram performance was assessed with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves and Hosmer-Lemeshow test, and predictive value was assessed by decision curve analysis (DCA).

Result

This study included a total of 1780 patients with TBI, of which 186 patients (approximately 10%) developed secondary lung infections, and 21 patients died during hospitalisation. Among the 1594 patients who did not develop lung infections, only 85 patients died (accounting for 5.3%). The survival curves indicated a significant survival disadvantage for patients with TBI with pulmonary infection at 7 and 14 days after intensive care unit admission (p<0.001). Both univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses showed that factors such as race other than white or black, respiratory rate, temperature, mechanical ventilation, antibiotics and congestive heart failure were independent risk factors for pulmonary infection in patients with TBI (OR>1, p<0.05). Based on these factors, along with Glasgow Coma Scale and international normalised ratio variables, a training set model was constructed to predict the risk of pulmonary infection in patients with TBI, with an area under the ROC curve of 0.800 in the training set and 0.768 in the validation set. The calibration curve demonstrated the model’s good calibration and consistency with actual observations, while DCA indicated the practical utility of the predictive model in clinical practice.

Conclusion

This study established a predictive model for pulmonary infections in patients with TBI, which may help clinical doctors identify high-risk patients early and prevent occurrence of pulmonary infections.
Blockade of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase induces immunogenic cell death and accelerates immunotherapy
Authors: Nakamura Motoki , Magara Tetsuya , Yoshimitsu Maki , Kano Shinji , Kato Hiroshi , Yokota Keisuke , Okuda Katsuhiro , Morita Akimichi
Published: August 2024

Background

Enhanced glucose metabolism has been reported in many cancers. Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a rate-limiting enzyme involved in the pentose phosphate pathway, which maintains NADPH levels and protects cells from oxidative damage. We recently found that low G6PD expression correlates with active tumor immunity. However, the mechanism involving G6PD and tumor immunity remained unclear.

Methods

We conducted in vitro studies using G6PD-knocked down malignant melanoma cells, pathway analysis using the GEO dataset, in vivo studies in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) using a mouse melanoma model, and prognostic analysis in 42 melanoma patients and 30 lung cancer patients who were treated with ICIs.

Results

Inhibition of G6PD, both chemically and genetically, has been shown to decrease the production of NADPH and reduce their oxidative stress tolerance. This leads to cell death, which is accompanied by the release of high mobility group box 1 and the translocation of calreticulin to the plasma membrane. These findings suggested that inhibiting G6PD can induce immunogenic cell death. In experiments with C57BL/6 mice transplanted with G6PD-knockdown B16 melanoma cells and treated with anti-PD-L1 antibody, a significant reduction in tumor size was observed. Interestingly, inhibiting G6PD in only a part of the lesions increased the sensitivity of other lesions to ICI. Additionally, out of 42 melanoma patients and 30 lung cancer patients treated with ICIs, those with low G6PD expression had a better prognosis than those with high G6PD expression (p=0.0473; melanoma, p=0.0287; lung cancer).

Conclusion

G6PD inhibition is a potent therapeutic strategy that triggers immunogenic cell death in tumors, significantly augmenting the efficacy of immunotherapies.
Nivolumab plus relatlimab in patients with previously treated microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient metastatic colorectal cancer: the phase II CheckMate 142 study
Authors: Overman Michael J , Gelsomino Fabio , Aglietta Massimo , Wong Mark , Limon Miron Maria Luisa , Leonard Gregory , García-Alfonso Pilar , Hill Andrew G , Cubillo Gracian Antonio , Van Cutsem Eric , El-Rayes Bassel , McCraith Stephen M , He Beilei , Lei Ming , Lonardi Sara
Published: August 2024

Background

Programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors, including nivolumab, have demonstrated long-term survival benefit in previously treated patients with microsatellite instability-high/mismatch repair-deficient (MSI-H/dMMR) metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC). PD-1 and lymphocyte-activation gene 3 (LAG-3) are distinct immune checkpoints that are often co-expressed on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes and contribute to tumor-mediated T-cell dysfunction. Relatlimab is a LAG-3 inhibitor that has demonstrated efficacy in combination with nivolumab in patients with melanoma. Here, we present the results from patients with MSI-H/dMMR metastatic CRC treated with nivolumab plus relatlimab in the CheckMate 142 study.

Methods

In this open-label, phase II study, previously treated patients with MSI-H/dMMR metastatic CRC received nivolumab 240 mg plus relatlimab 160 mg intravenously every 2 weeks. The primary end point was investigator-assessed objective response rate (ORR).

Results

A total of 50 previously treated patients received nivolumab plus relatlimab. With median follow-up of 47.4 (range 43.9–49.2) months, investigator-assessed ORR was 50% (95% CI 36% to 65%) and disease control rate was 70% (95% CI 55% to 82%). The median time to response per investigator was 2.8 (range 1.3–33.1) months, and median duration of response was 42.7 (range 2.8–47.0+) months. The median progression-free survival per investigator was 27.5 (95% CI 5.3 to 43.7) months with a progression-free survival rate at 3 years of 38%, and median overall survival was not reached (95% CI 17.2 months to not estimable), with a 56% overall survival rate at 3 years. The most common any-grade treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) were diarrhea (24%), asthenia (16%), and hypothyroidism (12%). Grade 3 or 4 TRAEs were reported in 14% of patients, and TRAEs of any grade leading to discontinuation were observed in 8% of patients. No treatment-related deaths were reported.

Conclusions

Nivolumab plus relatlimab provided durable clinical benefit and was well tolerated in previously treated patients with MSI-H/dMMR metastatic CRC.

Trial registration number

NCT02060188.
Intensive care unit interventions to improve quality of dying and death: scoping review
Authors: Naya Kazuaki , Sakuramoto Hideaki , Aikawa Gen , Ouchi Akira , Oyama Yusuke , Tanaka Yuta , Kaneko Kentaro , Fukushima Ayako , Ota Yuma
Published: August 2024

Background

Intensive care units (ICUs) have mortality rates of 10%–29% owing to illness severity. Postintensive care syndrome-family affects bereaved relatives, with a prevalence of 26% at 3 months after bereavement, increasing the risk for anxiety and depression. Complicated grief highlights issues such as family presence at death, inadequate physician communication and urgent improvement needs in end-of-life care. However, no study has comprehensively reviewed strategies and components of interventions to improve end-of-life care in ICUs.

Aim

This scoping review aimed to analyse studies on improvement of the quality of dying and death in ICUs and identify interventions and their evaluation measures and effects on patients.

Methods

MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO and Central Journal of Medicine databases were searched for relevant studies published until December 2023, and their characteristics and details were extracted and categorised based on the Joanna Briggs model.

Results

A total of 24 articles were analysed and 10 intervention strategies were identified: communication skills, brochure/leaflet/pamphlet, symptom management, intervention by an expert team, surrogate decision-making, family meeting/conference, family participation in bedside rounds, psychosocial assessment and support for family members, bereavement care and feedback on end-on-life care for healthcare workers. Some studies included alternative assessment by family members and none used patient assessment of the intervention effects.

Conclusion

This review identified 10 intervention strategies to improve the quality of dying and death in ICUs. Many studies aimed to enhance the quality by evaluating the outcomes through proxy assessments. Future studies should directly assess the quality of dying process, including symptom evaluation of the patients.
Absolute lymphocyte count as a biomarker for best supportive care transition in metastatic breast cancer
Authors: Horimoto Yoshiya , Jimbo Hikari , Ishizuka Yumiko , Nogami Noriko , Kutomi Goro , Watanabe Junichiro
Published: August 2024

Objectives

Time is crucial for patients with metastatic breast cancer (MBC), and clinicians are expected to determine the optimal timing for best supportive care (BSC) transition but no evident marker has been established. We recently revealed that absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) was a prognostic marker for patients with MBC. Thus, we investigated whether ALC could be an indicator of the best timing for the BSC transition.

Methods

101 patients with MBC were retrospectively investigated, and the relationship between clinicopathological factors, including ALC, and the duration of the last treatment was analysed.

Results

Mean ALC significantly gradually decreased during the last three systemic treatments towards BSC transition. Patients of younger age, with special histology type, hormone receptor-positive tumours and low ALC at the start of the last treatment had significantly shorter time-to-treatment-termination (TTT) for the last treatment. When ALC was classified into low and high, the mean TTT of the last treatment in the ALC-low group was significantly shorter (16.4 weeks) compared with that in the ALC-high group (30.2 weeks; p=0.004).

Conclusions

Our data suggest that ALC values, which decrease as MBC progresses, could serve as a potential indicator for determining the optimal timing of BSC transition.
Quantifying uncertainty of in situ horizontal stress and geotechnical parameters using a Bayesian inference approach for pressuremeter tests
Authors: Zheng Dongming , Zhang Bo , Chalaturnyk Rick
Published: August 2024

Understanding in situ horizontal stress is crucial for various applications in deep ground, including oil drilling, hydraulic fracturing, and nuclear waste repository design. The pressuremeter has gained increasing attention as a tool for characterizing in situ stress fields and engineering properties of soil and rock. However, quantifying the uncertainties associated with in situ horizontal stress and geotechnical parameters remains a challenging task. In this study, we propose a Bayesian inference approach formulated by an objective function that calculates the logarithm of the probability density function using observed and predicted data to address this problem. This approach integrates the analytical solution and the finite-difference numerical model into the Bayesian model. The Bayesian inference approach consists of two phases: (1) using the maximum a posteriori method for point estimation, and (2) employing Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling to obtain parameter statistics from posterior distributions. Compared to frequentist statistical methods, the Bayesian inference approach provides a natural way to incorporate prior knowledge, update our beliefs by conditioning on the observed data, and facilitate exploratory analysis of Bayesian models with various diagnostic tools. This provides a robust and adaptable framework for addressing uncertainty in the study of in situ stress fields and geotechnical parameters using the pressuremeter.
Bellerophontid molluscs in the Grimsby Formation (Llandovery, lower Silurian), Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and their paleoecological and taphonomic implications
Authors: Pratt Brian R. , Hopkins Graeme J. , Hopkins Richard J.
Published: August 2024

Specimens of a small bellerophontid mollusc, considered conspecific with Planorbis bilobatus Conrad 1839 from coeval strata in New York State, were recovered from the Grimsby Formation (lower Llandovery, lower Silurian), exposed in the Niagara Escarpment of western Hamilton, Ontario. Because Conrad’s species name is pre-occupied and is a secondary homonym, the new material is assigned to Tritonophon grimsbyensis n. sp. As Conrad’s original specimens are lost and where he collected them is unknown, a neotype from the Grimsby Formation is designated. These bellerophonts are preserved as casts on the soles of thin, fine-grained, sandstone beds interbedded with shale. These beds are probably tempestites Most are juvenile forms oriented on their sides, but in some beds adults with a widely expanded aperture are oriented aperture-down. Some specimens exhibit a V-shaped sinus on the median lobe, which is rarely preserved in Silurian examples. The aperture-down orientation suggests that this was the stable position during gentle wave action as well as probably their life position. Beds containing only juveniles may be evidence that the bellerophonts occasionally experienced a population boom but then were killed off during the storm event. Fine-grained sandstone fills the shell interiors, likely emplaced during wave-induced agitation. However, the shell walls are cast in mudstone, indicating that they dissolved during shallow burial and mud was pumped into the moulds. This may have been aided by episodic ground motion due to earthquakes that mobilized the adjacent sediment.
Small pelagic fish: new frontiers in science and sustainable management
Authors: Rooper Christopher N. , Boldt Jennifer L. , Uriarte Andres , Hansen Cecilie , Ward Tim , Gaichas Sarah
Published: August 2024

Small pelagic fishes occupy an important trophic role in every global aquatic ecosystem, and many species are heavily exploited by fisheries, including some of the largest and most valuable capture fisheries in the world. In November 2022, a symposium on small pelagic fish titled “ Small Pelagic Fish: New Frontiers in Science and Sustainable Management” was cohosted by PICES, ICES, and FAO in Lisbon, Portugal. This special issue contains a collection of research manuscripts that explore approaches currently being used and developed to assess and manage small pelagic fishes. In particular, this issue covers topics on novel approaches to surveying small pelagic fishes, incorporating environmental covariates into management, management strategy evaluation, and aspects of the economics of small pelagic fisheries. The conclusions highlight the importance of new approaches that seek to enhance small pelagic fish surveys and ecosystem monitoring, incorporate that ecosystem information into management strategy evaluation, and predict the potential impacts of ecosystem changes on outcomes for economies and communities that rely on sustainable populations of small pelagic fishes.
Application of Generative Adversarial Networks in Semi-Annotated Defect Synthesis and Detection Under Limited Resources
Authors: Tseng Shih-Hsien , Tsai Yuan-Ke
Published: August 2024

Defect detection is a crucial technology that is extensively employed in the manufacturing industry to monitor and ensure the quality of output. Deep learning models have shown remarkable potential for defect detection. However, the success of these models heavily relies on voluminous training data. Collecting substantial amounts of defect data is challenging in practical settings, and the tedious process of pixel-level defect annotation further complicates the task. Among the common defects encountered in manufacturing, scratches are particularly significant. To address these challenges, this study proposes a two-phase generative adversarial network (GAN) approach for synthesizing defect images and generating semi-automatic pixel-wise labels for anomaly detection. The first phase primarily focuses on synthesizing images, while the second phase involves the pixel-wise labeling of the images. The synthesized paired images generated by the GANs serve as input to the semantic network. Notably, the proposed methodology requires only a few real defect samples for training and a small amount of annotated data, making it practical and computationally efficient for implementation in the manufacturing industry. Experimental results indicate the effectiveness of the proposed deep-learning solution in defect detection, specifically in identifying scratches on various textured and patterned surfaces. A notably high detection accuracy is achieved, validating the potential of the approach in real-world manufacturing scenarios.
Overlapping Group Sparse Regularization Technique for Vibration-Based Regional Damage Detection of Structures
Authors: Luo Ziwei , Liu Huanlin , Ouyang Zhiyong
Published: August 2024

In structural damage detection (SDD) studies, regularization techniques have shown potential for improving ill-posedness. However, existing methods based on regularization techniques cannot yield satisfactory results for the SDD problem involving regional damages. Based on the sparse distribution characteristics of regional damages in the finite element (FE) model, this study proposes a novel SDD method that integrates sensitivity analysis of modal parameters with overlapping group sparse regularization. First, the relationship between modal parameters and structural damages is established based on sensitivity analysis. Then, the overlapping group sparsity of regional damages is analyzed and the objective function for SDD can be defined. Finally, a grouping matrix is introduced to transform the objective function from overlapping to non-overlapping group sparse regularization. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed method, both numerical simulations and experimental studies are employed, and comparative studies are conducted with the SDD method based on the [Formula: see text]-norm regularization. The identification results indicate that the proposed method can handle regional damages in the FE model and identify both single and multiple damages well.
Effect of Graphene Reinforcements on the Natural Frequencies of Metal Foams Sandwich Spherical Panels Situated on Kerr Elastic Foundation Considering Moisture Changes
Authors: Ge Junying , Zhang Zhaogui , Liu Yanrui
Published: August 2024

The existing study examines the moisture-dependent vibrational behavior of a metal foam spherical panel that is positioned between two composite layers reinforced with graphene platelets (GPL). The Kerr foundation, a three-parameter elastic foundation, supports the model. Based on specified functionalities, the pores’ arrangement and the GPL dispersion throughout the core and face sheets, respectively, are taken into consideration. The Halpin–Tsai and extended rule of mixture micromechanical models are utilized to ascertain the face sheets’ effective hygromechanical property values. After the motion equations are determined, the frequencies are extracted using the analytical technique, which is particularly effective for shells with simply supported edges. The impacts of various influences on the natural frequencies are considered and addressed over the course of the inquiry. It is shown that natural frequencies drop with increasing porosity coefficient. Furthermore, a small amount of GPL is shown to have a strong reinforcing effect on the stiffness of the structure, hence enhancing natural frequencies. The outcomes of this investigation can be beneficial to a variety of industries such as aerospace, automotive, marine, and civil engineering, where spherical shells are commonly employed. Furthermore, the outcomes might function as a standard for subsequent research. These results not only advance the understanding of moisture effects on composite structures but also provide a foundation for future research aimed at optimizing material properties for specific applications. Additionally, this study offers practical insights for the design and manufacturing of more resilient and efficient spherical components in real-life engineering scenarios.
Synchronous Tracking Control Strategy of Dual-Actuator Excited Shaking Table
Authors: Wang Juke , Li Fangfang
Published: August 2024

The electro-hydraulic shaking table in the laboratory is specifically designed to replicate the desired earthquake ground motion for engineering structure, requiring precise synchronization of its dual exciters and accurate tracking of the target signal. The system faces challenges such as control errors and actuator asynchronization due to the nonlinear effects of the shaking table system and the structural model. To address the issues of inadequate tracking and synchronization accuracy, this study introduces a novel strategy for synchronizing the motion of the exciters and establishes a fuzzy logic controller (FLC) for the shaking table to minimize synchronization errors of dual exciters. Furthermore, an adaptive inverse controller (AIC) is developed for the exciters to enhance tracking accuracy. By combining FLC and AIC, this approach leverages the strengths of both control techniques to achieve superior control performance. The proposed control is implemented through MATLAB\Simulink, and numerical analyses are conducted under various conditions. The numerical results demonstrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the proposed control strategy.
Experimental Investigation of Factors Affecting Repeatability in Diameter Measurements Using Machine Vision
Authors: Suresh Ashik , Dhanish P. B.
Published: August 2024

Machine vision technology has recently made significant strides, showcasing its ability to efficiently inspect items under evaluation. This study explores the feasibility of employing machine vision for measuring shaft diameter as a viable alternative to traditional instruments. An experimental investigation was conducted to address this challenge by evaluating how various factors influence the repeatability of shaft diameter measurements captured with a camera under backlighting conditions. An experiment was designed and conducted following the latest international standards to determine measurement repeatability. The study systematically varied parameters such as shaft diameter, shaft-camera distance, camera sensor type, image format, lighting intensity, camera sensitivity and shutter speed. Results highlighted significant factors impacting measurement repeatability and facilitated the development of an empirical model to predict repeatability based on these parameters. The model’s predictions were validated through confirmation experiments. The final outcomes showcased comparable results when measured using a digital micrometer. This research advances the understanding of machine vision capabilities in precision measurements and supports its potential application in industrial settings.
Inverse scattering transform for the higher-order integrable discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation with nonzero boundary conditions
Authors: Li Xin , Guo Rui
Published: August 2024

The inverse scattering transform is a tool for solving the initial value problem of nonlinear equations, and the solution of the initial-value problem by inverse scattering transform proceeds in three steps: direct scattering, time evolution and inverse problem. In this paper, we discuss the higher-order integrable discrete nonlinear Schrödinger equation which is subjected to inverse scattering transform under nonzero boundary conditions, and the corresponding soliton solutions are obtained and illustrated.
Dark dimension and the effective field theory limit
Authors: Branchina Carlo , Branchina Vincenzo , Contino Filippo , Pernace Arcangelo
Published: August 2024

In [1], we pointed out that in the Dark Dimension scenario [2] theoretical issues arise when the prediction for the vacuum energy [Formula: see text], that is obtained from swampland conjectures in string theory, is confronted with the corresponding result for [Formula: see text] in the effective field theory (EFT) limit. One of the problems concerns the widely spread belief that in higher dimensional EFTs with compact dimensions the vacuum energy is automatically finite. On the contrary, our analysis shows that [Formula: see text] contains (previously missed) UV-sensitive terms. Our work was challenged in [3]. Here we show why in our opinion the claims in [3] are flawed, and provide further support to our findings. We conclude presenting ideas on the physical mechanism that should dispose of the large UV contributions to [Formula: see text].
Dynamics and parameter identification of SIRDS models with aging population factor
Authors: Li Siqi , Wang Yi , Cao Jinde , Liu Yang
Published: August 2024

Some infectious diseases can cause individuals’ death, and aging factor is not negligible in the disease-induced death. In addition, incidence rate often plays a great role in modeling the spread of diseases. Hence, we consider two Susceptible–Infective–Recovered–Deceased–Susceptible (SIRDS) models with aging population factor and different incidence rates in this paper. The first model assumes the bilinear incidence rate, whereas the second model assumes the standard incidence rate. We investigate the dynamic properties of each model through both analytical and numerical approaches. Our results indicate that the dynamical properties of the first model are entirely dominated by the basic reproduction number, while additional condition is needed for the second one. Moreover, for the first model without vital dynamics and re-susceptibility, we derive an equation for the final size, analyze the solution of the implicit equation and identify some critical model parameters. Finally, numerical simulations are conducted to shed some light on the development of control strategies and to verify theoretical results.
Proposition of a novel SIRS epidemic model with double epidemics and coexisting epidemics
Authors: El Koufi Amine , Mourad Ouyadri , El Fatini Mohamed
Published: August 2024

Improving epidemic models to better reflect reality has long been a prominent concern for governments and researchers. This paper presents a novel Susceptible–Infected–Recovered–Susceptible (SIRS) epidemic model for human populations, offering a comprehensive analysis. The proposed model introduces a generalized SIRS epidemics framework encompassing three propagation scenarios. The paper establishes the positivity and boundedness of the system and demonstrates the stability of its equilibrium points. Furthermore, a controlled system is introduced, accompanied by three suggested control strategies to minimize the infected population while optimizing cost. To validate the analytical findings, a numerical example is provided. The paper concludes with a summary and outlines future research directions.
Improved Tibetan Word Vectors Models Based on Position Information Fusion
Authors: Lv Hui , Lv Hao , Yang Liu , Shen Jun , Duo La , Li Yan , Zhou Qingguo , Yong Binbin
Published: August 2024

Tibetan language processing is crucial for preserving its rich cultural heritage and reducing communication barriers between different languages. However, as a low-resource language, the development of Tibetan natural language processing has lagged behind. To address the unique and complex structural information of Tibetan, this article improves the embedding model based on fundamental Tibetan Component-and-Character-and-Word-based Embedding (TCCWE) to enhance the effectiveness of word vector representation. We incorporate position information into the training of Tibetan word vectors, developing models based on components, characters, and their integration. Furthermore, to evaluate the effectiveness of these word vectors, we propose an intrinsic evaluation set, wordsimT, based on
k
-means clustering. Experimental results demonstrate that the character-based positional vector integration model achieves a Spearman's rank correlation coefficient of 79.99% on the wordsimT benchmark, outperforming the baseline TCCWE model by 1.51%. Additionally, we validate the proposed models in downstream text classification tasks. These findings underscore the importance of incorporating positional information in Tibetan word vectors.
Transcoding V-PCC Point Cloud Streams in Real-time
Authors: Rudolph Michael , Schneegass Stefan , Rizk Amr
Published: August 2024

Dynamic Point Clouds are a representation for 3D immersive media that allows users to freely navigate a scene while consuming the content. However, this comes at the cost of substantial data size, requiring efficient compression techniques to make point cloud videos accessible. Addressing this, Video-based Point Cloud Compression (V-PCC) projects points into 2D patches to compress video frames, leveraging the high compression efficiency of legacy video codecs and exploiting temporal correlations in the 2D images. However, clustering and projecting points into meaningful 2D patches is computationally intensive, leading to high encoding latency in V-PCC. Applying adaptive streaming techniques, originating from traditional video streaming, multiplies the computational effort as multiple encodings of the same content are required. In this light, transcoding a compressed representation into lower qualities for dynamic adaptation to user requirements is gaining popularity.

To address the high latency when employing the full decoder-encoder stack of V-PCC during transcoding, we propose RABBIT, a novel technique that only re-encodes the underlying video sub-streams. This is in contrast to slow V-PCC transcoding that reconstructs and re-encodes the raw point cloud at a new quality setting. By eliminating expensive overhead resulting from calculations based on the 3D space representation, the latency of RABBIT is bounded by the latency of transcoding the underlying video streams, allowing optimized video codec implementations to be used to meet the real time requirements of adaptive streaming systems. Our evaluations of RABBIT, using various optimized video codec implementations, shows on-par quality with the baseline V-PCC transcoding given a high-quality representation. Given unicast or multicast distribution of a point cloud stream and in-network or edge transcoders, our evaluations show the tradeoff between rate-distortion performance and the required network bandwidth.
Governance of the High Seas
Authors: Blasiak Robert , Claudet Joachim
Published: August 2024

Covering two-thirds of the ocean and half of the planet's surface, the high seas are increasingly the focus of commercial activity and conservation ambitions. Contrary to narratives of a lawless frontier, they are governed by a dense network of sectoral institutions for shipping, fisheries, and other industries, although these collectively deal with conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity in a fragmented and uneven manner. These gaps were the subject of nearly 20 years of negotiation, resulting in the adoption of the Agreement on Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction in June 2023. The Agreement was designed to address access and benefit sharing associated with marine genetic resources; the establishment of area-based management tools such as marine protected areas, Environmental Impact Assessments, and capacity building; and the transfer of marine technology. Achieving coherence across public and private governance mechanisms will be a significant challenge as human activity increases on the high seas, but it is key to achieving ocean sustainability goals.
De Novo Genes
Authors: Zhao Li , Svetec Nicolas , Begun David J.
Published: August 2024

Although the majority of annotated new genes in a given genome appear to have arisen from duplication-related mechanisms, recent studies have shown that genes can also originate de novo from ancestrally nongenic sequences. Investigating de novo–originated genes offers rich opportunities to understand the origin and functions of new genes, their regulatory mechanisms, and the associated evolutionary processes. Such studies have uncovered unexpected and intriguing facets of gene origination, offering novel perspectives on the complexity of the genome and gene evolution. In this review, we provide an overview of the research progress in this field, highlight recent advancements, identify key technical and conceptual challenges, and underscore critical questions that remain to be addressed.
Experts and Expertise in Organizations: An Integrative Review on Individual Expertise
Authors: Rousseau Denise M. , Stouten Jeroen
Published: August 2024

Experts and expertise contribute to consequential organizational decisions from recruitment to CEO succession, but these constructs are inconsistently operationalized and poorly understood. To better explicate how experts and expertise function in organizations, we first conduct an integrative review of the general literature to describe what is known about these phenomena in cognitive science, psychology, and the clinical and technical professions. This review of the general literature indicates that expertise represents domain-specific hierarchical knowledge structures developed by an individual over time. The quality of the individual's domain-related education, training, and opportunities for practice and learning affects the level of expertise acquired. We then review what is known about experts and expertise in organizations. Many organizational studies on expertise focus on an individual's years of experience rather than the nature of that experience or its contribution to expertise. Conflating expertise with years of experience generally leads to less consistent effects on performance than operationalizing expertise in terms of individual cognitive processes, knowledge, and capabilities. Findings from organizational studies that do assess expertise are in line with the general literature, indicating that the quality of practice and learning experiences are particularly important in developing expertise. We then offer ways for scholars to better study how expertise functions in organizations and conclude by developing implications for practice.
A 25-Year Review of Research on Feedback in Organizations: From Simple Rules to Complex Realities
Authors: Anseel Frederik , Sherf Elad N.
Published: August 2024

Reviewing 25 years of research, we observed that the science of feedback at work is not yet a story of coherent and cumulative progress. Feedback is often generically defined, and assumptions substantially diverge. Consequently, insights often appear disconnected from the way feedback is practiced and experienced in organizations. We organize the literature by making three core assumptions explicit and identifying six distinct substreams of feedback research. For each substream, we highlight insights and limitations and point to seeming contradictions and departures from the daily reality of managers and employees. We call on scholars to explicate assumptions and develop coherent paradigms that mirror the complex realities of feedback in organizational life. We end with five recommendations for building a cumulative science of feedback.
Seeking Communal Emotions in Social Practices That Culturally Evolved to Evoke Emotions: Worship, Kitten Videos, Memorials, Narratives of Love, and More
Authors: Fiske Alan Page , Schubert Thomas W. , Seibt Beate
Published: August 2024

In many instances, emotions do not simply happen to people by chance. Often, people actively seek out an emotion by engaging in practices that have culturally evolved to evoke that emotion. Such practices tend to be perpetuated and spread if people want to experience the emotion, like to recall it and tell others about it, want to give the emotion to others and experience it together, and/or regard the emotion as a sign of something wonderful. We illustrate this with a newly delineated emotion, kama muta. Many social practices around the world are structured to evoke kama muta. In those culturally evolved practices, and outside them, what typically evokes kama muta is a sudden intensification of communal sharing, or a sudden shift of attention to a communal sharing relationship. It seems probable that other social-relational emotions are also evoked by sudden changes in relationships or the sudden salience of a relationship. This change or saliencing may be incorporated in social practices that are perpetuated because they evoke the sought-after emotion. We suggest that such practices, as well as sudden changes in relationships that occur elsewhere, are especially promising places to discover social-relational emotions.
Maternal use of electronic cigarettes and impact on offspring: a double-hit model
Authors: Mills Amber , Velayutham Murugesan , Corbin Debbie , Suter Lindsey , Robinson Madison , Khramtsov Valery V. , Shouldis Lainey , Cook Mary , Dakhallah Duaa , Chantler Paul D. , Olfert I. Mark
Published: August 2024

These data add to the growing body of literature demonstrating that electronic cigarette (Ecig) use during pregnancy (even without nicotine) is not safe, and primes offspring to have worse cardiovascular health outcomes in early and adult life. A key finding from this work is that a second insult from direct vaping in offspring with prior in utero exposure induces greater vascular dysfunction, increased oxidative stress, and shows evidence of neuronal dysfunction compared with either direct- or maternal-only exposure.
Eletrospinning: Improving the Performance of 1‐D Nanofibers Used in Anodes, Cathodes, and Separators in Lithium‐Ion Batteries
Authors: Yoo JinUk , Kim Dong Hyun , Pyo Sung Gyu
Published: August 2024

Electrospinning enables the rapid and facile production of nanofibers with desired structures and morphologies at room temperature and ambient pressure. These nanofibers are suitable cathode, anode, and separator materials for Li‐ion batteries (LIBs) because of their one‐dimensional(1‐D) structures and mechanical strength as well as their ability to enable rapid Li‐ion transport through short diffusion pathways. The use of electrospun nanofibers in LIBs can lead to better battery rechargeability, lifespan, and performance than those of existing LIBs. In this review article, we first discuss the problems associated with the cathode, anode, and separator materials currently used in LIBs. Next, we describe the improvements achieved by incorporating electrospun nanofibers as cathode, anode, and separator materials in LIBs. We believe that electrospun nanofibers can promote the advancement of LIB technology to realize very‐high‐energy‐density energy storage systems.
Simulating the Individual and Combined Utilization of Cool Paints and Phase Change Materials for Enhancing Energy Efficiency in High‐Rise Office Buildings
Authors: Ghayedhosseini Ali , Baneshi Mehdi , Fathi Amirhossein
Published: August 2024

This paper assesses the separate and simultaneous effects of utilizing cool paints (CPs) and phase change materials (PCMs) in the building envelope of high‐rise office buildings on energy demand. Dynamic building energy simulations are used to investigate these impacts. CPs are known to scatter solar radiation, while PCMs are utilized for thermal energy storage in the building envelope. The effects of three CPs with constant thickness and place of application and three PCMs with varying thicknesses on the inner and outer layers of external walls are investigated, resulting in a total of three and twelve conditions for CPs and PCMs, respectively. Additionally, the study considers 36 modes of the combined use of CPs and PCMs. The study envisages that applying a combination of white CP with ATP23 PCM in the inner layer of external walls reduces 10.11 kW·hr/m2·year energy demand in the building (6.49% and 1.29% decrease in gas and electricity demand, respectively). While CPs are most effective in reducing energy demand during hot seasons, PCMs can provide benefits year‐round. The economic analysis elucidates that the implementation of white CP yields a payback period of 3 years and an internal rate of return of 55% in the second scenario.
Table S2 from HDAC Inhibition Increases CXCL12 Secretion to Recruit Natural Killer Cells in Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma
Authors: Zhu Jiayan , Wang Feng , Wang Lining , Dai Bo , Xu Guilin , Zhao Luyao , Jiang Huimin , Gao Wenhui , Zhang Tingting , Zhao Chenxi , Li Yun-Xuan , Hu Jiong , Li Ke
Published: August 2024

Supplementary Table S2. Patient characteristics of tissue microarray
Supplementary Information from HDAC Inhibition Increases CXCL12 Secretion to Recruit Natural Killer Cells in Peripheral T-cell Lymphoma
Authors: Zhu Jiayan , Wang Feng , Wang Lining , Dai Bo , Xu Guilin , Zhao Luyao , Jiang Huimin , Gao Wenhui , Zhang Tingting , Zhao Chenxi , Li Yun-Xuan , Hu Jiong , Li Ke
Published: August 2024

Supplementary Information