bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comprendre les déterminants du ressenti thermique humain à l’aide de l’intelligence artificielle : une expérience participative
Authors: Migliari Matteo , Hayashi Kazuki , Ulanowski Yan , Laporte Stéphane , Hendel Martin , Parison Sophie , Despax Julien , Chesne Loïc , Baverel Olivier
Published: October 2024

Le changement climatique exige une remise en question des pratiques d’urbanisation. Les environnements urbains influencent la relation des résidents avec les espaces extérieurs et intérieurs, avec des conséquences sur la consommation d’énergie et les rejets de chaleur à l’intérieur de ses limites. Les avantages de l’éclaircissement des revêtements de sol des espaces publics pour réduire les îlots de chaleur urbains ont été confirmés par la littérature scientifique, mais les effets de rebond en termes d’augmentation de la sensation thermique extérieure (OTS) doivent encore être analysés par des expériences empiriques. Cette étude présente les résultats d’une expérience participative de confort thermique impliquant 75 volontaires exprimant des votes de sensation thermique (TSV) à l’aveugle sur des revêtements de surface de différentes réflectivités. Chaque TSV était lié aux caractéristiques physiques et psychologiques du sujet, à son emplacement et aux conditions microclimatiques au moment du vote. 714 chaînes de données collectées lors de la canicule d’août 2022 ont été traitées par des méthodes d’intelligence artificielle (IA) successives : apprentissage supervisé, explications additives de Shapley, réduction de dimension par approximation et projection uniforme de la variété (UMAP), et regroupement hiérarchique basé sur la densité des applications avec bruit (HDBSCAN). Ce post-traitement a permis de définir des clusters caractérisés par une répartition similaire des 10 variables les plus influentes sur le TSV, résultant en des valeurs TSV similaires. Les calculs d’IA et l’analyse des graphiques sur DesignExplorer ont montré que les pavés réfléchissants aggravent le stress thermique des personnes. Ces résultats montrent que l’éclaircissement des espaces publics, souvent employé dans de nombreux réaménagements urbains, n’est pas une solution adaptée pour protéger les citoyens des risques sanitaires du changement climatique.
Le « jumeau numérique environnemental » à l’échelle du territoire, les données au cœur des cas d’usage
Authors: Josse Fanny , Riss Sylvain
Published: October 2024

Le jumeau numérique constitue une avancée majeure dans la gestion et la modélisation des territoires. Cet article présente une méthodologie incrémentale et itérative pour la construction d’un jumeau numérique environnemental, en s’appuyant sur l’analyse de cas d’usage. La définition de ces cas d’usage permet d’identifier les données numériques territoriales nécessaires à la création du jumeau numérique. Les résultats de cette étude offrent un éventail d’applications permettant de planifier et de gérer les territoires tout en intégrant les enjeux environnementaux. En se basant sur l’analyse de projets existants de jumeaux numériques à grande échelle et en décomposant leurs différentes applications et compositions, cette approche permet aux décideurs d’anticiper les impacts des changements climatiques, d’optimiser la gestion des ressources et de concevoir des stratégies d’aménagement plus durables et résilientes.
Optimisation du flux d’information dans les projets de rénovation : une approche par les données liées
Authors: Naanaa Haya , Derigent William , El Haouzi Hind Bril , Lezoche Mario
Published: October 2024

L’architecture, l’ingénierie et la construction impliquent intrinsèquement des processus complexes, de multiples parties prenantes et des scénarios de prise de décision dynamiques. Le succès de tels projets repose en grande partie sur la circulation efficace d’informations précises et pertinentes auprès des diverses personnes impliquées. Cet article explore l’importance cruciale de fournir la bonne information à la bonne personne au bon moment. Dans ces projets, l’interopérabilité joue un rôle central pour garantir l’échange de données fluide à travers des plateformes et des canaux de communication divers. De plus, l’article examine la contribution des données liées à la personnalisation de la diffusion de l’information en fonction des besoins distincts des différentes parties prenantes, en tenant compte de facteurs tels que leurs rôles, leur expertise et leur autorité décisionnelle. Il aborde également les défis posés par la diversité des canaux de communication et suggère des moyens de les intégrer de manière harmonieuse dans un cadre cohérent. Les résultats initiaux montrent des améliorations prometteuses du flux d’information et de l’efficacité des projets, soulignant les applications pratiques et les avantages de la mise en oeuvre de données liées et d’ontologies dans les projets de rénovation.
Self-Etching Ceramic Primer Affects Surface Topography and Roughness of Two Zirconia-Reinforced Lithium Silicate Ceramics
Authors: Alhalabi Feras
Published: October 2024

Objective This article evaluates the etching efficacy of a self-etching ceramic primer (SECP) on zirconia-reinforced lithium silicate (ZLS) ceramics.

Materials and Methods Celtra Duo (DeguDent GmbH, Hanau-Wolfgang, Germany) and Vita Suprinity (Vita Zahnfabrik, Bad Säckingen, Germany) were used in this study. A total of 36 ceramic slices were prepared from each ceramic material and randomly distributed into three groups according to the surface treatment applied (n = 12 per group). Group 1 (polished) was polished with silicon carbide paper discs and did not undergo any surface treatment; group 2 (SECP) was surface treated with SECP (Monobond Etch and Prime, Ivoclar Vivadent, Schaan, Liechtenstein); group 3 (hydrofluoric acid [HF]) was surface treated with 4.7% HF etching. Half of the specimens (n = 6) from each group were gold-sputtered, and the surface topographic alterations were evaluated by scanning electron microscopy at magnifications of 5,000× and 10,000 × . The surface roughness of the other half (n = 6) from each group was tested using a three-dimensional optical profiler. Data were statistically analyzed using two-way analysis of variance and Tukey's multiple comparisons test.

Results Both SECP and HF etching surface treatments resulted in a statistically significant increase (p < 0.05) in the surface roughness of both ceramic materials, compared to that of their respective control group specimens (polished). HF etching resulted in a significant dissolution of the glassy phase of each ceramic.

Conclusion SECP can effectively etch ZLS ceramics. The etching patterns created after the application of SECP were mild compared to those produced by HF etching. The topographic surface features of ceramics are affected by both, surface treatment and material composition.
The Relationship between Delirium and Dementia
Authors: Umoh Mfon E. , Fitzgerald Dennis , Vasunilashorn Sarinnapha M. , Oh Esther S. , Fong Tamara G.
Published: October 2024

Delirium and dementia are common causes of cognitive impairment in older adults. They are distinct but interrelated. Delirium, an acute confusional state, has been linked to the chronic and progressive loss of cognitive ability seen in dementia. Individuals with dementia are at higher risk for delirium, and delirium itself is a risk factor for incident dementia. Additionally, delirium in individuals with dementia can hasten underlying cognitive decline. In this review, we summarize recent literature linking these conditions, including epidemiological, clinicopathological, neuroimaging, biomarker, and experimental evidence supporting the intersection between these conditions. Strategies for evaluation and diagnosis that focus on distinguishing delirium from dementia in clinical settings and recommendations for delirium prevention interventions for patients with dementia are presented. We also discuss studies that provide evidence that delirium may be a modifiable risk factor for dementia and consider the impact of delirium prevention interventions on long-term outcomes.
Characterization of Nonsmall Cell Lung Carcinoma in Limited Biopsy Samples and Identifying Optimal Immunohistochemical Marker Combinations in Resource-Constrained Setup: An Institutional Experience
Authors: Grover Ankita , Osama Md Ali , Dhawan Shashi
Published: October 2024

Background The incorporation of immunohistochemical markers in the analysis of small biopsy samples, as outlined in the fourth edition of the World Health Organization Blue books, represents a noteworthy advancement in the diagnosis of advanced-stage lung carcinoma. This improved the histological classification for poorly differentiated nonsmall cell lung carcinomas (NSCLCs), especially in small biopsy specimens. Despite challenges in obtaining viable cells from diminutive tumor samples, a focused immunohistochemical panel effectively distinguishes histological types in most NSCLC. This preserves tissue for subsequent molecular testing.

Material and Methods This study examined 130 consecutive lung biopsy cases initially diagnosed as NSCLC, including various biopsy types (transbronchial, endobronchial, ultrasound-guided, computed tomography-guided). Carcinomas were categorized based on specific characteristics, such as glands and/or mucin for adenocarcinomas, keratinization and/or intercellular bridges for squamous cell carcinomas, and recognition of poorly differentiated NSCLC. Cases lacking clear morphological attributes underwent reclassification using immunohistochemical markers (TTF1, Napsin A, p63, and p40).

Results TTF1 exhibited superior sensitivity (97.56%) and specificity (96.77%) for adenocarcinoma compared with Napsin A, with sensitivity and specificity at 90.24 and 93.3%, respectively. p63 and p40 demonstrated 100% sensitivity for squamous cell carcinoma, with p40 being more specific than p63 (100% vs. 82.92%). Using TTF1 and p63 as a conventional panel, 87% of cases were subtyped. However, the combination of TTF1 and p40 achieved accurate classification in 94.66% (71/75) of cases, and all four markers allowed subtype identification in 97.2% (73/75) of cases.

Conclusion In a resource-constrained setting, subtyping NSCLC in small biopsy can be effectively accomplished using a minimal panel consisting of TTF1 and p40 immunohistochemical markers.
Different roads take me home: the nonlinear relationship between distance and flows during China’s Spring Festival
Authors: Luan Xiaofan , Paryzat Hurex , Chu Jun , Shu Xinyi , Gu Hengyu , Tong De , Li Bowen
Published: October 2024

Human mobility modelling has attracted scholarly attention from physics-based methods and social science explanatory approaches. However, there is limited knowledge of the nonlinear relationship of flows and distance in intercity mobility and regional differences in the nonlinear relationship. Focusing on China’s long-distance and large-scale mobility during the Spring Festival, this paper develops a framework to explain the nonlinear relationship. Using the Gradient Boosting Decision Tree (GBDT) model and Tencent Big Data, we find that there are three types of nonlinear relationships, namely plateau (almost zero distance decay parameter), drop (decreasing distance decay parameter) and rebound (increasing distance decay parameter after decreasing). The provincial differences also reveal that the nonlinear relationships depend on the domestic relative location and the intra-provincial urban system. This result shows that the cities in the coastal province enjoy a more inclusive spatial structure, which supports the migration from the periphery of the province. In contrast, the inland cities are concerned with embracing the migrants and settling them down.
Identification method for micro–nano defects in Si3N4 ceramic bearing rollers
Authors: Yu Dongling , Shen Haican , Huang Shuping , Jiang Peng , Zhang Liping , Dong Feng
Published: October 2024

In response to the surface micro–nano defects of small Si3N4 ceramic bearing rollers during use, as well as the poor generalization ability and low accuracy of the object detection model trained on the micro and nano defect dataset, an enhanced recognition algorithm based on deep convolutional generative adversarial networks is proposed. Due to the limited size of the dataset, the DCGAN model is reconstructed to effectively expand the micro–nano defect dataset. In addition, noise generalization is applied to stabilize DCGAN model training, creating a low-dimensional manifold distribution to ensure significant overlap between the data and the original dataset, and activating Jensen–Shannon (JS) divergence for stable training. To verify the effectiveness of the enhanced dataset, synthetic micro–nano defects are used to improve the YOLO-v4-tiny object detection model. By comparing t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) and feature vectors, it can be found that the images generated by the optimized DCGAN have higher grayscale feature diversity and better visual consistency. After generations of enhancements, the micro–nano defect detection speed has reached 226FPS, and the accuracy has reached 97.41%.
Study of arc and magnetic field parameters under delayed breaking condition of DB-DC VCB
Authors: Huang Chongyang , Yang Shurui , Shan Zengyu , Li Zhengbo , Cao Yundong
Published: October 2024

Taking the mechanical double-break DC vacuum circuit breaker (DB DC VCB) as the research object, the magnetic field and temperature field distribution between the breaks and the plasma characteristics under the working condition of gap difference caused by actuator dispersion are investigated to explore the difference in arc characteristics between the two breaks. Based on the system of Maxwell and magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations, a non-simultaneous breaking model of the DB DC VCB is established, and parameters such as magnetic flux density, plasma velocity, inter-contact pressure, and ion and electron temperatures are calculated. The simulation results show that the cathode surface field emission effect is stronger in the small gap break (delayed breaking break). Besides, in the small gap break, the arc temperature is higher, the rate of decrease of temperature is lower, the electron velocity is higher, the magnetic flux density is lower, the regulatory ability of the magnetic field is weaker, and the plasma diffusion speed is slower. In the arc ignition stage, the arc aggregation state duration of the small gap break is longer than that of the normal break, which means the arc in the small gap break gets diffused and arc energy dissipation becomes harder. Therefore, the arc energy density of the delayed breaking break is greater, the arc morphology transition time is longer, the residual particle concentration after arc extinguishing is higher, and the probability of re-strike breakdown increases with the increase in gap difference. Improving the synchronization of the actuator could improve the breaking ability of the DB DC VCB. Index terms—plasma arc, double-break direct current vacuum circuit breaker (DB-DC VCB), transverse magnetic field (TMF), magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) model.
Paraneoplastic renal dysfunction in fly cancer models driven by inflammatory activation of stem cells
Authors: Kwok Sze Hang , Liu Yuejiang , Bilder David , Kim Jung
Published: October 2024

Tumors can induce systemic disturbances in distant organs, leading to physiological changes that enhance host morbidity. In Drosophila cancer models, tumors have been known for decades to cause hypervolemic “bloating” of the abdominal cavity. Here we use allograft and transgenic tumors to show that hosts display fluid retention associated with autonomously defective secretory capacity of fly renal tubules, which function analogous to those of the human kidney. Excretion from these organs is blocked by abnormal cells that originate from inappropriate activation of normally quiescent renal stem cells (RSCs). Blockage is initiated by IL-6-like oncokines that perturb renal water-transporting cells and trigger a damage response in RSCs that proceeds pathologically. Thus, a chronic inflammatory state produced by the tumor causes paraneoplastic fluid dysregulation by altering cellular homeostasis of host renal units.
Knot data analysis using multiscale Gauss link integral
Authors: Shen Li , Feng Hongsong , Li Fengling , Lei Fengchun , Wu Jie , Wei Guo-Wei
Published: October 2024

In the past decade, topological data analysis has emerged as a powerful algebraic topology approach in data science. Although knot theory and related subjects are a focus of study in mathematics, their success in practical applications is quite limited due to the lack of localization and quantization. We address these challenges by introducing knot data analysis (KDA), a paradigm that incorporates curve segmentation and multiscale analysis into the Gauss link integral. The resulting multiscale Gauss link integral (mGLI) recovers the global topological properties of knots and links at an appropriate scale and offers a multiscale geometric topology approach to capture the local structures and connectivities in data. By integration with machine learning or deep learning, the proposed mGLI significantly outperforms other state-of-the-art methods across various benchmark problems in 13 intricately complex biological datasets, including protein flexibility analysis, protein–ligand interactions, human Ether-à-go-go-Related Gene potassium channel blockade screening, and quantitative toxicity assessment. Our KDA opens a research area—knot deep learning—in data science.
Contrasts in the Spanish and Korean external possession constructions
Authors: Aranovich Raúl , Kim Jong-Bok
Published: October 2024

In many languages, an argument external to a nominal can be interpreted as a possessor of that nominal. Korean and
Spanish both have such constructions, but the external possessors contrast in their case features, grammatical functions,
distribution, and semantic properties (e.g. alienability). This paper develops a Construction Grammar account that treats external
possessors as unselected arguments licensed through a conventional implicature.
Pragmatics and cognition in Easy Language
Authors: Fuchs Julia
Published: October 2024

A core area of pragmatics is conversational implicatures, where speakers imply a meaning that is not part of what is literally said. Not all people have the ability to easily understand such common (implicit) forms of communication. For these people, Easy Language has been developed, i.e. a form of barrier-free communication with substantially simplified syntax and lexis. Moreover, Easy Language is based on the principle of maximum explicitness. However, the heterogeneous target groups and the different types of implicature have not been systematically taken into account. Therefore, this article is the first to take an in-depth look at conversational implicatures in Easy Language. It shows that a universal principle of maximum explicitness for Easy Language is too short-sighted. Instead, the principle of explicitness must be considered in relation to the different target groups and the types of implicature. The article provides an impulse for further (empirical) research in this emerging field.
Four-year-olds’ visuospatial cognitive abilities and their relation to observer‑viewpoint gestures across three
communicative tasks
Authors: Boden Ulrich J. , Kern Friederike , Koutalidis Sofia , Abramov Olga , Nemeth Anne , Kopp Stefan , Rohlfing Katharina J.
Published: October 2024

The gesture-as-simulated-action framework explains the occurrence of iconic gestures. Accordingly, simulated
visual imagery gives rise to observer-viewpoint, whereas simulated motor imagery gives rise to character-viewpoint gestures.
Because little is known about whether this relationship is either the product of becoming a competent speaker in different
communicative tasks or exists from an early age, we investigated 4-year-olds. In the first session, 55 children performed three
different communicative tasks. In the second session, we administered a SON-R non-verbal intelligence test to assess children’s
cognitive abilities. Results revealed a strong association between the frequency with which children used observer-viewpoints
gestures and their scores in visual processing abilities. Because the association between gestures and visuospatial cognitive
abilities was found across three communicative tasks, we can propose that it is a general ability rather than a phenomenon of
task-specific discourse competence. We discuss these findings in terms of gestural threshold and cognitive offloading.
Titanium used to create superheavy livermorium
Authors: Jarman Sam
Published: October 2024

A new technique at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory brings an island of stability closer, as Sam Jarman reports.
Speedy stars point to evidence for an intermediate-mass black hole
Authors: Jarman Sam
Published: October 2024

The best evidence yet for an intermediate-mass black hole has been claimed by an international team of astronomers.
Icy exoplanet found to be potentially habitable
Authors: Williams Abigail
Published: October 2024

Astronomers have discovered that the temperate exoplanet LHS 1140 b may have an atmosphere, could be covered in ice, and may even have an ocean of liquid water.
New quantum processor made with germanium quantum dots
Authors: Wogan Tim
Published: October 2024

A quantum computing system that uses the spins of holes in germanium quantum dots has been unveiled by researchers in the Netherlands.
Inverse Mpemba effect seen in a trapped-ion qubit
Authors: Kwan Jacklin
Published: October 2024

The inverse Mpemba effect – the puzzling observation whereby a cold system heats up faster than a warm system – has been observed in a quantum bit (qubit).
Sound waves used to move objects in a liquid
Authors: Dumé Isabelle
Published: October 2024

Researchers in Switzerland have used sound waves to manipulate objects in disordered environments such as liquids.
Why North America has a ‘tornado alley’ and South America doesn’t
Authors: Harris Margaret
Published: October 2024

Scientists at Purdue University have concluded that the flat surface of the Gulf of Mexico is responsible for creating “tornado alley” in the North American Great Plains.
Fermilab is ‘doomed’ without overhaul
Authors: Gwynne Peter
Published: October 2024

A group of anonymous whistleblowers say that Fermilab is in “crisis” and needs a management shake-up, as Peter Gwynne reports.
Particle physicist Tsung-Dao Lee dies aged 97
Authors: Banks Michael
Published: October 2024

The Nobel laureate was famed for his work on parity violation in the 1950s, Michael Banks explains.
Nuclear shipping
Authors: Jones Clifford , Chamberlain Neville
Published: October 2024

A response to the Transactions article by James McKenzie on making the shipping industry more environmentally friendly (August 2024).
We need to make teaching fun
Authors: Downie Neil , Huber Michael
Published: October 2024

In response to the careers article by Katherine Skipper on the challenges of retaining and recruiting good physics teachers (May 2024).
The original boffin?
Authors: Foulkes John
Published: October 2024

A response to John Hill’s letter about whether the term “boffin” derives from a certain “D T Boffin” (June 2024).
Peering inside the biological nano-universe
Authors: Hiscott Laura
Published: October 2024

Barbora Špačková, who is setting up a new single-molecule optics lab in Prague, talks to Laura Hiscott about moving from theoretical to experimental physics, developing a technique for seeing the invisible, and the joy of refining her technology for real-world applications.
Landscapes under the stars
Authors: White Colin , Davey Shaun
Published: October 2024

Realizing he’d never seen the Milky Way with his own eyes, Colin White joined photographer Shaun Davey on a nighttime expedition to capture the heart of the galaxy.
Binary amplitude holograms for shaping complex light fields with digital micromirror devices
Authors: Gutiérrez-Cuevas R , Popoff S M
Published: October 2024

Digital micromirror devices are a popular type of spatial light modulators for wavefront shaping applications. While they offer several advantages when compared to liquid crystal modulators, such as polarization insensitivity and rapid-switching, they only provide a binary amplitude modulation. Despite this restriction, it is possible to use binary holograms to modulate both the amplitude and phase of the incoming light, thus allowing the creation of complex light fields. Here, a didactic exploration of various types of binary holograms is presented. A particular emphasis is placed on the fact that the finite number of pixels coupled with the binary modulation limits the number of complex values that can be encoded into the holograms. This entails an inevitable trade-off between the number of complex values that can be modulated with the hologram and the number of independent degrees of freedom available to shape light, both of which impact the quality of the shaped field. Nonetheless, it is shown that by appropriately choosing the type of hologram and its parameters, it is possible to find a suitable compromise that allows shaping a wide range of complex fields with high accuracy. In particular, it is shown that choosing the appropriate alignment between the hologram and the micromirror array allows for maximizing the number of complex values. Likewise, the implications of the type of hologram and its parameters on the diffraction efficiency are also considered.
Accelerating protein–protein interaction screens with reduced AlphaFold-Multimer sampling
Authors: Bellinzona Greta , Sassera Davide , Bonvin Alexandre M J J
Published: October 2024

Motivation

Discovering new protein–protein interactions (PPIs) across entire proteomes offers vast potential for understanding novel protein functions and elucidate system properties within or between an organism. While recent advances in computational structural biology, particularly AlphaFold-Multimer, have facilitated this task, scaling for large-scale screenings remains a challenge, requiring significant computational resources.

Results

We evaluated the impact of reducing the number of models generated by AlphaFold-Multimer from five to one on the method’s ability to distinguish true PPIs from false ones. Our evaluation was conducted on a dataset containing both intra- and inter-species PPIs, which included proteins from bacterial and eukaryotic sources. We demonstrate that reducing the sampling does not compromise the accuracy of the method, offering a faster, efficient, and environmentally friendly solution for PPI predictions.

Availability and implementation

The code used in this article is available at https://github.com/MIDIfactory/AlphaFastPPi. Note that the same can be achieved using the latest version of AlphaPulldown available at https://github.com/KosinskiLab/AlphaPulldown
Chain-aware graph neural networks for molecular property prediction
Authors: Wang Honghao , Zhang Acong , Zhong Yuan , Tang Junlei , Zhang Kai , Li Ping
Published: October 2024

Motivation

Predicting the properties of molecules is a fundamental problem in drug design and discovery, while how to learn effective feature representations lies at the core of modern deep-learning-based prediction methods. Recent progress shows expressive power of graph neural networks (GNNs) in capturing structural information for molecular graphs. However, we find that most molecular graphs exhibit low clustering along with dominating chains. Such topological characteristics can induce feature squashing during message passing and thus impair the expressivity of conventional GNNs.

Results

Aiming at improving node features’ expressiveness, we develop a novel chain-aware graph neural network model, wherein the chain structures are captured by learning the representation of the center node along the shortest paths starting from it, and the redundancy between layers are mitigated via initial residual difference connection (IRDC). Then the molecular graph is represented by attentive pooling of all node representations. Compared to standard graph convolution, our chain-aware learning scheme offers a more straightforward feature interaction between distant nodes, thus it is able to capture the information about long-range dependency. We provide extensive empirical analysis on real-world datasets to show the outperformance of the proposed method.

Availability and implementation

The MolPath code is publicly available at https://github.com/Assassinswhh/Molpath.
Doubly-robust and heteroscedasticity-aware sample trimming for causal inference
Authors: Khan S , Ugander J
Published: October 2024

A popular method for variance reduction in causal inference is propensity-based trimming, the practice of removing units with extreme propensities from the sample. This practice has theoretical grounding when the data are homoscedastic and the propensity model is parametric (Yang & Ding, 2018; Crump et al., 2009), but in modern settings where heteroscedastic data are analyzed with non-parametric models, existing theory fails to support current practice. In this work, we address this challenge by developing new methods and theory for sample trimming. Our contributions are three-fold: first, we describe novel procedures for selecting which units to trim. Our procedures differ from previous works in that we trim not only units with small propensities, but also units with extreme conditional variances. Second, we give new theoretical guarantees for inference after trimming. In particular, we show how to perform inference on the trimmed sub-population without requiring that our regressions converge at parametric rates. Instead, we make only fourth-root rate assumptions like those in the double machine learning literature. This result applies to conventional propensity-based trimming as well and thus may be of independent interest. Finally, we propose a bootstrap-based method for constructing simultaneously valid confidence intervals for multiple trimmed sub-populations, which are valuable for navigating the trade-off between sample size and variance reduction inherent in trimming. We validate our methods in simulation, on the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and on a semi-synthetic Medicare dataset and find promising results in all settings.
Mucosal dominant presentation of hydralazine-induced antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis
Authors: Wu Michelle , Blake Stephanie , Carroll Adam , Cheung Karen , O’Toole Sandra , Youssef Peter , Thomas Charlotte
Published: October 2024

The typical clinical spectrum of hydralazine-induced antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV) involves glomerulonephritis and pulmonary haemorrhage, with or without cutaneous features. Cases with isolated cutaneous features are rare. We report an 84-year-old woman with hydralazine-induced AAV presenting with violaceous plaques with ulceration and considerable mucositis without other organ involvement.
EV-miRNA associated with environmental air pollution exposures in the MADRES cohort
Authors: Foley Helen Bermudez , Eckel Sandrah P , Yang Tingyu , Vigil Mario , Chen Xinci , Marsit Carmen , Farzan Shohreh F , Bastain Theresa M , Habre Rima , Breton Carrie V
Published: October 2024

Air pollution is a hazardous contaminant, exposure to which has substantial consequences for health during critical periods, such as pregnancy. MicroRNA (miRNA) is an epigenetic mechanism that modulates transcriptome responses to the environment and has been found to change in reaction to air pollution exposure. The data are limited regarding extracellular-vesicle (EV) miRNA variation associated with air pollution exposure during pregnancy and in susceptible populations who may be disproportionately exposed. This study aimed to identify EV-miRNA expression associated with ambient, residential exposure to PM2.5, PM10, NO2, O3 and with traffic-related NOx in 461 participants of the MADRES cohort, a low income, predominantly Hispanic pregnancy cohort based in Los Angeles, CA. This study used residence-based modeled air pollution data as well as Nanostring panels for EVmiRNA extracted with Qiagen exoRNeasy kits to evaluate 483 miRNA in plasma in early and late pregnancy. Average air pollution exposures were considered separately for 1-day, 1-week, and 8-week windows before blood collection in both early and late pregnancy. This study identified 63 and 66 EV-miRNA significantly associated with PM2.5 and PM10, respectively, and 2 miRNA associated with traffic-related NOX (False Discovery Rate-adjusted P-value < .05). Of 103 unique EV-miRNA associated with PM, 92% were associated with lung conditions according to HMDD (Human miRNA Disease Database) evidence. In particular, EV-miRNA previously identified with air pollution exposure also associated with PM2.5 and PM10 in this study were: miR-126, miR-16-5p, miR-187-3p, miR200b-3p, miR486-3p, and miR-582-3p. There were no significant differences in average exposures in early vs late pregnancy. Significant EV-miRNAs were only identified in late pregnancy with an 8-week exposure window, suggesting a vulnerable timeframe of exposure, rather than an acute response. These results describe a wide array of EV-miRNA for which expression is affected by PM exposure and may be in part mediating the biological response to ambient air pollution, with potential for health implications in pregnant women and their children.
Campylobacter fetus Plasmid Diversity: Comparative Analysis of Fully Sequenced Plasmids and Proposed Classification Scheme
Authors: Pena-Fernández Nerea , van der Graaf-van Bloois Linda , Duim Birgitta , Zomer Aldert , Wagenaar Jaap A , Ocejo Medelin , Lavín Jose Luís , Collantes-Fernández Esther , Hurtado Ana , Aduriz Gorka
Published: October 2024

Campylobacter fetus is an animal pathogen that contains 2 mammal-associated subspecies: Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus (Cff) and Campylobacter fetus subsp. venerealis (Cfv) including its biovar intermedius that exhibit different biochemical traits and differences in pathogenicity. Although plasmids are important in the horizontal transfer of antimicrobial resistance genes and virulence factors, C. fetus plasmids are understudied. Here, the closed sequences of 12 plasmids from Spanish C. fetus isolates were compared with the publicly available DNA sequences of C. fetus plasmids and other members of the Campylobacterales order. Sizes of C. fetus plasmids from Spanish isolates ranged between 4 and 50 kb and most of them (10/12) were potentially conjugative. Comparative analysis of the plasmids’ gene content revealed a close genetic relationship between the plasmids of C. fetus isolated in Spain and those from other geographical regions, while being clearly distinct from plasmids of other Campylobacter species. Furthermore, C. fetus plasmids were grouped into two main clusters regardless of their geographic location or lineage. The distribution pattern of relaxase, replicase, and single-stranded DNA binding SSB protein encoding genes showed a clustering comparable to that resulting from plasmid whole gene content analysis, suggesting its potential use for the classification of C. fetus plasmids. Most of the larger plasmids harbored mobile genetic elements. These results can help to better understand the evolutionary dynamics and pathogenic implications of C. fetus plasmids.
The Evolution of Extreme Genetic Variability in a Parasite-Resistance Complex
Authors: Naser-Khdour Suha , Scheuber Fabian , Fields Peter D , Ebert Dieter
Published: October 2024

Genomic regions that play a role in parasite defense are often found to be highly variable, with the major histocompatibility complex serving as an iconic example. Single nucleotide polymorphisms may represent only a small portion of this variability, with Indel polymorphisms and copy number variation further contributing. In extreme cases, haplotypes may no longer be recognized as orthologous. Understanding the evolution of such highly divergent regions is challenging because the most extreme variation is not visible using reference-assisted genomic approaches. Here we analyze the case of the Pasteuria Resistance Complex in the crustacean Daphnia magna, a defense complex in the host against the common and virulent bacterium Pasteuria ramosa. Two haplotypes of this region have been previously described, with parts of it being nonhomologous, and the region has been shown to be under balancing selection. Using pan-genome analysis and tree reconciliation methods to explore the evolution of the Pasteuria Resistance Complex and its characteristics within and between species of Daphnia and other Cladoceran species, our analysis revealed a remarkable diversity in this region even among host species, with many nonhomologous hyper-divergent haplotypes. The Pasteuria Resistance Complex is characterized by extensive duplication and losses of Fucosyltransferase (FuT) and Galactosyltransferase (GalT) genes that are believed to play a role in parasite defense. The Pasteuria Resistance Complex region can be traced back to common ancestors over 250 million years. The unique combination of an ancient resistance complex and a dynamic, hyper-divergent genomic environment presents a fascinating opportunity to investigate the role of such regions in the evolution and long-term maintenance of resistance polymorphisms. Our findings offer valuable insights into the evolutionary forces shaping disease resistance and adaptation, not only in the genus Daphnia, but potentially across the entire Cladocera class.
Objects in Relations: Competing Visions of International Order at the Nexus of Human Rights and Development
Authors: Pantzerhielm Laura
Published: October 2024

How is international order constructed and maintained, disrupted, and struggled about? In this article, I throw new light on these perennial questions of IR scholarship by turning attention to how expert knowledge and the objects it brings forth invite different ways of ordering. Theoretically, I develop a relational ontology of objects through a rereading of Foucauldian archeology and work in political ontology. My empirical story examines two objects of expertise that relate the more encompassing and elusive governance objects “human rights” and “development” in sharply contrasting ways. Born out of postcolonial legal discourse at the United Nations and the political project of “Third World” solidarity, the notion of a human right to development posits development as a human right and makes sense of its realization within an anti-colonial imaginary that politicizes international institutions and interstate relations. In contrast, the “human rights-based approach” that has lately been embraced as a normative methodology by United Nations development agencies evokes a hierarchical vision that privileges norms and knowledge that are seen as international, global, or universal, while seeking to improve and remold actors and practices in developing countries in their image. Despite their seemingly technical nature and international organizations’ well-documented tendency to downplay their value judgments, objects of expertise are thus entangled in and co-constitute different, potentially conflicting visions of international order.
Maribavir use in pediatric immunocompromised hosts: A case series to talk about real-world experience
Authors: Doshi Shreya , Dassner Aimee , Hanisch Benjamin
Published: October 2024

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common infection affecting pediatric immunocompromised hosts. The treatment of CMV in solid organ (SOT) or hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients is challenged by the toxicities associated with antiviral therapies (myelosuppression with valganciclovir, ganciclovir and cidofovir; nephrotoxicity with foscarnet and cidofovir) and the prevalence of resistant/refractory CMV. Maribavir, a novel benzimidazole, competitively inhibits CMV UL97 protein kinase to inhibit DNA synthesis and block nuclear exit of viral particles from CMV-infected cells. It is FDA approved for use in patients at least 12 years of age and weighing at least 35 kg. The use of maribavir in pediatric patients is of interest due to its availability as an oral dosage formulation and improved side effect profile. To date, there are no pediatric case series or studies describing the use of maribavir for CMV treatment.

Methods

This study is a retrospective case series compiling the findings the first pediatric patients at Children’s National Hospital, DC that received maribavir. We included children who received maribavir from 01/2017 – 10/2023. Patients were included if they were on maribavir monotherapy, or combination therapy with additional anti-CMV agent(s). The medical records were reviewed for indication of medication use, viral response to therapy and side effects. Side-effects review specifically evaluated for increased LFTs, increased serum creatinine, and decreased absolute neutrophil count or factors that may contribute to early discontinuation of maribavir.

Results (table)

Maribavir was used in three male patients with varied conditions – including solid organ transplant (SOT), hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) and Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) s/p HSCT. Two cases had signs of CMV disease, and one had CMV viremia. All cases included documented CMV resistance (n=2) or refractory CMV (n=1) and had previously been receiving at least one antiviral with CMV activity for at least 14 days and had increasing CMV DNA-emia in the blood. None of the patients had side effects such as nephrotoxicity, liver toxicity or myelosuppression that aggravated after starting maribavir. Dosing of 400mg BID (range 12mg/kg/day to 55mg/kg/day) was used. Once started, maribavir was continued until CMV quantitative levels were undetectable for two weeks. Clearance of CMV and was achieved in all the patients on maribavir or combination of maribavir with other drugs (n=1). Duration of maribavir treatment ranged from 4.2 to 6.2 weeks.

Conclusion

This is the first case series describing use of maribavir in a pediatric population. In this small cohort maribavir is effective and well tolerated. Further studies are needed to better CMV care in children with immunocompromised conditions.
Unique encounter of a branchial cleft cyst compressing the great auricular nerve in an adult: a case report
Authors: AlHabil Yazan , Dola Qasem N , Saadeddin Liza , Sharabati Haneen
Published: October 2024

Branchial cleft cysts, arising from developmental anomalies of the branchial apparatus, represent a rare entity in adult populations. This case report presents a unique instance of a 32-year-old female with a second branchial cleft cyst prominently involving the great auricular nerve, an undocumented finding in the existing literature. The patient initially presented with progressive left-sided neck swelling, accompanied by localized pain radiating to the auricle and headaches, without systemic symptoms. Diagnostic imaging confirmed a cystic mass adjacent to vital neck structures, necessitating surgical intervention. Histopathological analysis post-excision confirmed typical features of a benign branchial cyst. The postoperative course was uneventful, with complete resolution of symptoms upon follow-up. This case capitalizes the diagnostic challenges and therapeutic considerations in managing branchial cleft cysts, particularly highlighting the exceptional involvement of the great auricular nerve. Further research is warranted to elucidate the pathogenesis and optimal management strategies for such atypical presentations.
Dialysis-associated steal syndrome as a rare complication of arteriovenous fistula angioplasty
Authors: Lim Fang Nian Joanne , Ng Zhi Peng Nick
Published: October 2024

The angioplasty of arteriovenous fistulas (AVF) has become indispensable in preserving haemodialysis access. Though well-known complications, such as pseudoaneurysm formation and rupture, can occur, the incidence of severe dialysis-associated steal syndrome (DASS) following AVF angioplasty is low. We describe a patient with limited dialysis options who developed significant DASS following angioplasty of his AVF. After excluding flow-limiting causes of DASS, the patient underwent a successful Revision Using Distal Inflow procedure, redirecting blood flow to his distal arm. Subsequently, all ischaemic symptoms resolved. While effective surgical options are available for the management of DASS, preventive measures such as proper angioplasty balloon sizing remain key.
The safety and efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated envelopes in neuromodulation device implantation: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol
Authors: Daniel Jeremiah Oluwatomi Itodo , Igoli Joanne , Isiakpona Chiwendu , Fenny Benjamin , Osei-Bonsu Joshua , Alemede Peace , Olukoya Olatomiwa , Osunronbi Temidayo
Published: October 2024

Introduction: The implantation of neuromodulation devices is an effective treatment option for neurological conditions, including movement disorders. However, there are associated risks of infection and reoperation. Antibiotic-impregnated envelopes may mitigate these risks, as demonstrated in cardiology, but their safety and efficacy in neuromodulation remain unexplored. This study seeks to evaluate the efficacy of antibiotic-impregnated envelopes in reducing infection and reoperation rates in neuromodulation surgeries, offering recommendations to enhance safety and cost-effectiveness in neuromodulation therapies. Methods and Analysis: Following PRISMA and SWiM guidelines, we will conduct an exhaustive search across major databases, including Medline, Embase, Scopus and the Cochrane Library, to identify all original research articles that investigate the efficacy of antibacterial envelopes for neuromodulation implants and report outcomes with the use of these envelopes. Exclusion criteria include reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, letters to the editor and abstract-only articles. Primary outcomes will include infection rates post-implantation, while secondary outcomes will encompass safety metrics such as complications, reoperation rates and cost-effectiveness. Comprehensive data extraction will capture the study design, participant demographics, specific neuromodulation procedures and detailed outcome measures. Study findings will provide critical insights into the effectiveness of antibiotic-impregnated envelopes in improving patient outcomes in neuromodulation procedures. PROSPERO Registration Number: CRD42024549200: available via https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42024549200