bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
TBAJ-587, a novel diarylquinoline, is active against
Mycobacterium abscessus
Authors: Fan Junsheng , Tan Zhili , He Siyuan , Li Anqi , Jia Yaping , Li Juan , Zhang Zhemin , Li Bing , Chu Haiqing
Published: October 2024

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) infections are extremely difficult to treat due to a natural resistance to many antimicrobials. TBAJ-587 is a novel diarylquinoline, which shows higher anti-tuberculosis activity, lower lipophilicity, and weaker inhibition of hERG channels than bedaquiline (BDQ). The susceptibilities of 11 NTM reference strains and 194 clinical
Mycobacterium abscessus
isolates to TBAJ-587 were determined by the broth microdilution assay. The activity of TBAJ-587 toward the growth of
M. abscessus
in macrophages was also evaluated. Minimum bactericidal concentration and time-kill kinetic assays were conducted to distinguish between the bactericidal and bacteriostatic activities of TBAJ-587. The synergy between TBAJ-587 and eight clinically important antibiotics was determined using a checkerboard assay. TBAJ-587 was highly effective against
M. abscessus
by targeting its F-ATP synthase
c
chain. The antimicrobial activities of TBAJ-587 and BDQ toward intracellular
M. abscessus
were comparable. The
in vivo
activities of TBAJ-587 and BDQ in an immunocompromised mouse model were also comparable. TBAJ-587 expressed bactericidal activity and was compatible with eight anti-NTM drugs commonly used in clinical practice; no antagonism was discovered. As such, TBAJ-587 represents a potential candidate for the treatment of NTM infections.
Dual roles for a tick protein disulfide isomerase during the life cycle of the Lyme disease agent
Authors: Tang Xiaotian , Cui Yingjun , Namarra Ushuu , Tian Xiuqi , Rivas-Giorgi Freddie , Fikrig Erol
Published: October 2024

The protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) family is a group of enzymes that have thiol-disulfide oxidoreductase, disulfide isomerase, and redox-dependent chaperone activities. PDIs facilitate diverse infections in mammalian hosts by directly binding to pathogens, immunomodulation, or enabling microbial invasion of host cells. PDI homologs within pathogens are also potential virulence factors. However, whether PDIs within blood-feeding ticks influence microbial infection remains unknown. In this study, we investigated the role of
Ixodes scapularis
PDIs, on the Lyme disease agent,
Borrelia burgdorferi. I. scapularis
has five PDIs (IsPDIs), and
IsPDIA6
gene expression is reduced upon
B. burgdorferi
infection in the tick. IsPDIA6-mediated trypsin inhibitor gene expression contributes to
B. burgdorferi
colonization within the tick midgut. IsPDIA6 is also secreted into the host during tick feeding, alters cytokine/chemokine expression at the tick bite site, and influences the initial stage of bacterial infection in mice. These data demonstrate that a PDI from a blood-feeding vector plays a role in the life cycle of an extracellular pathogen.

IMPORTANCE

Vector-borne diseases are a leading cause of death and illness worldwide, and more than 80% of the global population live in areas at risk from at least one major vector-borne disease. In this study, we demonstrate a dual role of a specific
Ixodes
tick protein disulfide isomerase (PDI) in inhibiting the ability of the Lyme disease agent to colonize ticks and also in enhancing the initial stage of spirochete infection of mice. This study represents a novel conceptual advancement that a PDI from a blood-feeding vector plays important roles in the life cycle of an extracellular pathogen.
Genome sequences of dengue virus serotypes 2, 3, and 4 isolated from adult patients in Thailand
Authors: Songjaeng Adisak , Chin-Inmanu Kwanrutai , Proykhunthod Phitchapha , Poraha Ranyikar , Sayboonruan Preeyanuch , Prayongkul Dararat , Mairiang Dumrong , Suputtamongkol Yupin , Angkasekwinai Nasikarn , Punyadee Nuntaya , Avirutnan Panisadee
Published: October 2024

Here, we present the genome sequences of dengue viruses (DENV) isolated from adult patients in Thailand during 2016–2017: DENV2 (412749), DENV3 (416384), and DENV4 (416709). These sequences provide valuable genetic and evolutionary information for dengue research and antiviral development.
Complete genome sequence of two
Christensenella minuta
strains CIP 112228 and CIP 112229, isolated from human fecal samples
Authors: Bouchier Christiane , Touak Gérald , Rei Damien , Clermont Dominique
Published: October 2024

Christensenella minuta
is one of the representative bacterial species of the human gut microbiome. We report the complete genome sequence of two strains,
Christensenella minuta
CIP 112228 and CIP 112229, isolated from two healthy volunteers.
Genomic characterization of parvovirus and beak and feather disease virus in cockatiel (
Nymphicus hollandicus
)
Authors: Sarker Subir , Talukder Saranika , Bhuiyan Md. Safiul Alam , Haque Md. Hakimul
Published: October 2024

This study reveals the genomes of psittaciform chaphamaparvovirus 5 (PsChPV-5) and a beak and feather disease virus (BFDV), discovered in the fecal samples of cockatiels. The genomes of PsChPV-5 and BFDV are 4,366 and 2,009 base pairs long, respectively, each exhibiting the characteristic genomic structures of their respective genera.
Draft genome of hydrocarbon-degrader
Burkholderia cepacia
BCTT, isolated from soil chronically polluted with crude oil in Trinidad
Authors: Ramdass Amanda Christine , Rampersad Sephra Nalini
Published: October 2024

Burkholderia cepacia
BCTT
,
isolated from chronically polluted soil in Trinidad, shows a capacity to survive in crude oil as a sole carbon source. Here, we report its high-quality draft genome sequence and highlight those pathways and genes involved in xenobiotic degradation. These data give a clearer insight into this organism’s biotechnological potential.
Whole-genome sequence of
Bacillus subtilis
TR6 strain isolated from tomato (
Solanum lycopersicum
L.) roots
Authors: Chebotar Vladimir K. , Gancheva Maria S. , Chizhevskaya Elena P. , Keleinikova Oksana V. , Baganova Maria E. , Zaplatkin Alexander N. , Pishchik Veronika N.
Published: October 2024

Here, we announce the sequence of endophyte
Bacillus subtilis
TR6 strain isolated from tomato roots growing in a greenhouse in St. Petersburg, Russia. With a length of 4,071,622 bp, this strain contained 4,073 potential coding sequences and 10 predicted secondary metabolite biosynthesis gene clusters.
Mice colonized with the defined microbial community OMM19.1 are susceptible to
Clostridioides difficile
infection without prior antibiotic treatment
Authors: Chua Michelle , Collins James
Published: October 2024

Diverse gut microorganisms present in humans and mice are essential for the prevention of microbial pathogen colonization. However, antibiotic-induced dysbiosis of the gut microbiome reduces microbial diversity and allows
Clostridioides difficile
(
C. difficile
) to colonize the intestine. The Oligo-Mouse-Microbiota 19.1 (OMM19.1) is a synthetic community that consists of bacteria that are taxonomically and functionally designed to mimic the specific pathogen-free mouse gut microbiota. Here, we examined the susceptibility of OMM19.1 colonized mice to
C. difficile
infection (CDI) at a range of infectious doses (10
3
, 10
5
, and 10
7
spores) without prior antibiotic treatment. We found that mice colonized with OMM19.1 were susceptible to CDI regardless of the dose. The clinical scores increased with increasing
C. difficile
dosage. Infection with
C. difficile
was correlated with a significant increase in
Ligilactobacillus murinus
and
Escherichia coli
, while the relative abundance of
Bacteroides caecimuris, Akkermansia muciniphila, Extibacter muris, and Turicimonas muris
was significantly decreased following CDI. Our results demonstrate that the OMM19.1 community requires additional bacteria to enable
C. difficile
colonization resistance.

IMPORTANCE

The human gut microbiota consists of a wide range of microorganisms whose composition and function vary according to their location and have a significant impact on health and disease. The ability to generate and test the defined microbiota within gnotobiotic animal models is essential for determining the mechanisms responsible for colonization resistance. The exact mechanism(s) by which healthy microbiota prevents
Clostridioides difficile
infection is unknown, although competition for nutrients, active antagonism, production of inhibitory metabolites (such as secondary bile acids), and microbial manipulation of the immune system are all thought to play a role. Here, we colonized germ-free C57BL/6 mice with a synthetic bacterial community (OMM19.1) that mimics the specific pathogen-free mouse microbiota. Following breeding, to enable immune system development, F1 mice were infected with three different doses of
C. difficile
. Our research suggests that there are additional essential microbial functions that are absent from the current OMM19.1 model.
Antimicrobial and antibiofilm activity of human recombinant H1 histones against bacterial infections
Authors: Arévalo-Jaimes Betsy Verónica , Salinas-Pena Mónica , Ponte Inmaculada , Jordan Albert , Roque Alicia , Torrents Eduard
Published: October 2024

Histones possess significant antimicrobial potential, yet their activity against biofilms remains underexplored. Moreover, concerns regarding adverse effects limit their clinical implementation. We investigated the antibacterial efficacy of human recombinant histone H1 subtypes against
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PAO1, both planktonic and in biofilms. After the
in vitro
tests, toxicity and efficacy were assessed in a
P. aeruginosa
PAO1 infection model using
Galleria mellonella
larvae. Histones were also evaluated in combination with ciprofloxacin (Cpx) and gentamicin (Gm). Our results demonstrate antimicrobial activity of all three histones against
P. aeruginosa
PAO1, with H1.0 and H1.4 showing efficacy at lower concentrations. The bactericidal effect was associated with a mechanism of membrane disruption.
In vitro
studies using static and dynamic models showed that H1.4 had antibiofilm potential by reducing cell biomass. Neither H1.0 nor H1.4 showed toxicity in
G. mellonella
larvae, and both increased larvae survival when infected with
P. aeruginosa
PAO1. Although
in vitro
synergism was observed between ciprofloxacin and H1.0, no improvement over the antibiotic alone was noted
in vivo
. Differences in antibacterial and antibiofilm activity were attributed to sequence and structural variations among histone subtypes. Moreover, the efficacy of H1.0 and H1.4 was influenced by the presence and strength of the extracellular matrix. These findings suggest histones hold promise for combating acute and chronic infections caused by pathogens such as
P. aeruginosa
.

IMPORTANCE

The constant increase of multidrug-resistant bacteria is a critical global concern. The inefficacy of current therapies to treat bacterial infections is attributed to multiple mechanisms of resistance, including the capacity to form biofilms. Therefore, the identification of novel and safe therapeutic strategies is imperative. This study confirms the antimicrobial potential of three histone H1 subtypes against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Furthermore, histones H1.0 and H1.4 demonstrated
in vivo
efficacy without associated toxicity in an acute infection model of
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
PAO1 in
Galleria mellonella
larvae. The bactericidal effect of these proteins also resulted in biomass reduction of
P. aeruginosa
PAO1 biofilms. Given the clinical significance of this opportunistic pathogen, our research provides a comprehensive initial evaluation of the efficacy, toxicity, and mechanism of action of a potential new therapeutic approach against acute and chronic bacterial infections.
Use of immunomodulatory treatment for non-infectious uveitis: an International Ocular Inflammation Society report of real-world practice
Authors: Branford Jasmin A , Bodaghi Bahram , Ferreira Lisia Barros , McCluskey Peter J , Thorne Jennifer E , Matthews Janet M ,   International Study Group for Systemic Immunomodulatory Drug Treatment of Non‐Infectious Uveitis, Smith Justine R
Published: October 2024

Background

Non-infectious uveitis is a diverse group of inflammatory conditions that collectively account for substantial blindness worldwide. Expert guidelines and results of clinical trials guide treatment, but real-world clinical care is impacted by additional factors. In 2023, an international group of uveitis-specialised ophthalmologists formed theInternational Study Group for Systemic Immunomodulatory Drug Treatment of Non-Infectious Uveitisto report current practice.

Methods

221 study group members from 53 countries completed a 30-item questionnaire on their management of non-infectious uveitis including: indications for and investigations prior to initiating systemic immunomodulatory drugs, use of conventional and biological drugs, and follow-up of treated patients.

Results

Major indications to initiate systemic immunomodulatory drugs were: uveitis not controlled with oral prednis(ol)one (n=208, 94.1%), specific uveitis diagnosis (n=197, 89.1%), and patient intolerance of oral prednis(ol)one (n=186, 84.2%). All members (n=221, 100%) performed pretreatment screens including: blood chemistry (n=217, 98.2%), blood examination (n=207, 93.7%), and Quantiferon assay (n=196, 88.7%). Eight conventional and 14 biological drugs were prescribed: methotrexate was the preferred conventional drug overall (n=126, 57.0%) and for 9 of 11 uveitides, and adalimumab was the preferred biological drug overall (n=216, 97.7%) and for 11 of 11 uveitides. When drugs were combined, methotrexate plus adalimumab was most popular (n=158 of 188 members, 84.0%). Patients with inactive uveitis were typically evaluated and screened for drug toxicity every 6–12 weeks (n=161, 72.9%, and 165, 74.7%, respectively).

Conclusion

Our report describes practice patterns of a large international group of uveitis specialists treating non-infectious uveitis with systemic immunomodulatory drugs.
Health problems and injury management in adolescent handball: the Safeplay one-season cohort study of 679 players
Authors: Møller Merete , Isaksen Johansen Stian , Myklebust Grethe , Nielsen Rasmus Oestergaard , Möller Sören , Mikkelsen Ulla , Wedderkopp Niels , Lind Martin
Published: October 2024

Objectives

To assess (1) the 1-year prevalence of previous shoulder, knee and ankle injuries; (2) the in-season prevalence proportion (prevalence) of injuries and illnesses, injury incidence rate (ir) and injury burden (product of ir and weeks with injuries); (3) initial injury management strategies.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study of 679 highest-division Danish handball players aged 14–18. Players self-reported past-year shoulder, knee and ankle injuries at baseline, and weekly information on any handball-related injuries (irrespective of time loss and medical attention), illnesses, exposure hours and injury management over 31 weeks.

Results

At baseline, 46% (95% CI 42% to 49%) of the players reported a past-year shoulder, knee or ankle injury. The weekly average injury and illness prevalence was 21% (95% CI 19% to 23%) and 2% (95% CI 1.7% to 2.3%), respectively, and the ir was 9.4 (95% CI 8.7 to 10.2)/1000 hours. Females experienced the highest injury burden from knee injuries (ir: 1.7 (95% CI 1.3 to 2.2) × 6.7 (95% CI 4.7 to 8.7) weeks with injury/1000 hours), while males experienced the highest injury burden from shoulder injuries (ir: 1.3 (95% CI 1.0 to 1.7) × 5.7 (95% CI 3.6 to 7.8) weeks with injury/1000 hours). Health professionals were consulted in 58% (95% CI 54% to 62%) of injuries, players independently made the return to sport decision in 44% (95% CI 37% to 51%) of injury recurrences, and used analgesics, mainly (91% (95% CI 85% to 95%)) sourced from home, in 24% (95% CI 21% to 28%) of injuries.

Conclusion

Almost half of highest-division adolescent Danish handball players reported a previous past-year shoulder, knee or ankle injury. Any time during the season, 21% reported an injury and 2% an illness. The highest injury burdens were from knee injuries in females and shoulder injuries in males. Health professionals often managed injuries, but players frequently made return to sport decisions independently and commonly used analgesics sourced from home.
(Un)equal treatment in the ‘tobacco-free generation’
Authors: Kniess Johannes
Published: October 2024

The idea of a ‘tobacco-free generation’ promises to make smoking a thing of the past by making cigarettes unavailable to birth cohorts in the future. If implemented, such a generational ban would lead to a society in which some individuals are allowed the freedom to smoke while others are not. This paper examines the ethical significance of this fact through the lens of ‘relational egalitarianism’, an approach to social justice that emphasises equal and respectful social relationships. It explores various dimensions in which a society can fail to live up to the idea of equal status, such as the denial of moral agency, discrimination, stigmatisation, the unequal recognition of interests and violations of political equality. While acknowledging the complexity of practical and ethical challenges, the paper maintains that the generational ban need not violate egalitarian commitments.
The Case against compulsory vaccination: the failed arguments from risk imposition, tax evasion, ‘social liberty’, and the priority of life
Authors: Steinhoff Uwe
Published: October 2024

Arguments for mandatory or compulsory vaccination must justify the coercive infringement of bodily integrity via the injection of chemicals that permanently affect a body’s inner constitution. Four arguments are considered. The allegedly libertarian argument declares unvaccinated persons a threat; accordingly, vaccination could take the form of justifiable defence of self and others. This argument conflates material and statistical threats. The harsh coercive measures permissible in defence against the former are not permissible in prevention of the latter. The argument from tax evasion claims that people can be permissibly coerced into bearing their fair financial burdens of community life and likens this to sharing burdens in the face of a viral threat. The argument fails to demonstrate that vaccination would be fair, permissible in spite of potential lethal side-effects, and sufficiently similar to taxation despite the categorical difference between temporary deprivation of money and permanent deprivation of one’s original inner bodily constitution. The argument from ‘social liberty’ claims that the loss of freedom due to mandatory vaccination is only apparent, namely outweighed by corresponding gains in freedom. This argument conflates freedom as the absence of coercion with freedom as the presence of options for action. It fails to give the former its due weight and to demonstrate that persons may be coerced into increasing the options of others. The argument from the priority of life elevates the protection of life to an absolute value. This is unwarranted and leads to counterintuitive implications. Without better arguments, mandatory vaccination must be rejected.
Presence and concentration of lead in keys and keyring items
Authors: Stroebel Benjamin , Rezania Zaynab , Yang Duzong , Yendell Stephanie J
Published: October 2024

Objectives

Environmental lead is a persistent hazard that disproportionately affects children. Keys are known sources of lead exposure in children, but little is known about the specific lead content or frequency of lead in keys. We identified differences in lead concentration and frequency across items with different physical characteristics.

Methods

This study tested a convenience sample of keys and keychain objects using an X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analyzer.

Results

The mean lead concentration across 362 objects tested was 1722 ppm (SD 3657 ppm; range 95.5–44 400 ppm). Lead was present in the majority (64%) of objects tested. Door keys had the highest concentration of lead (mean 2646 ppm; SD 3701 ppm). Door keys had significantly more lead than both vehicle keys (p<0.0001) and electronic fobs (p=0.0004). Gold-coloured keys contained significantly more lead than silver-coloured keys (p<0.0001). Copied keys were significantly more likely to contain detectable levels of lead compared with original keys (p<0.0001); however, this relationship was not significant when controlling for key type. There was a positive association between key age and lead concentration (p=0.009).

Conclusion

Keys were less likely to contain lead if they were silver-coloured; car keys or electronic fobs; and newer. However, several categories of keys with less lead contained high lead levels, and the majority of items tested (64%) contained more lead than limits on lead in keys that were implemented in Minnesota after data collection (90 ppm). The levels of lead identified highlight the need for public education and potential additional regulatory guidelines for keys.
Enhancing the light yield of He:CF$$_4$$ based gaseous detector
Authors: Amaro Fernando Domingues , Antonietti Rita , Baracchini Elisabetta , Benussi Luigi , Bianco Stefano , Campagnola Roberto , Capoccia Cesidio , Caponero Michele , Cardoso Danilo Santos , de Carvalho Luan Gomes Mattosinhos , Cavoto Gianluca , Costa Igor Abritta , Croce Antonio , Dané Emiliano , Dho Giorgio , Di Giambattista Flaminia , Di Marco Emanuele , D’Astolfo Melba , D’Imperio Giulia , Fiorina Davide , Iacoangeli Francesco , Islam Zahoor ul , Lima Jùnior Herman Pessoa , Kemp Ernesto , Maccarrone Giovanni , Mano Rui Daniel Passos , Marcelo Gregorio Robert Renz , Marques David José Gaspar , Mazzitelli Giovanni , McLean Alasdair Gregor , Messina Andrea , Meloni Pietro , Monteiro Cristina Maria Bernardes , Nobrega Rafael Antunes , Pains Igor Fonseca , Paoletti Emiliano , Passamonti Luciano , Petrucci Fabrizio , Piacentini Stefano , Piccolo Davide , Pierluigi Daniele , Pinci Davide , Prajapati Atul , Renga Francesco , Roque Rita Joana da Cruz , Rosatelli Filippo , Russo Alessandro , dos Santos Joaquim Marques Ferreira , Saviano Giovanna , Silva Pedro Alberto Oliveira Costa , Spooner Neil John Curwen , Tesauro Roberto , Tomassini Sandro , Torelli Samuele
Published: October 2024

The CYGNO experiment aims to build a large ($$\mathcal {O}(10)$$

O
(
10
)

m$$^3$$

3

) directional detector for rare event searches, such as nuclear recoils (NRs) induced by dark matter (DM), such as weakly interactive massive particles (WIMPs). The detector concept comprises a time projection chamber (TPC), filled with a He:CF$$_4$$

4

60/40 scintillating gas mixture at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, equipped with an amplification stage made of a stack of three gas electron multipliers (GEMs) which are coupled to an optical readout. The latter consists in scientific CMOS (sCMOS) cameras and photomultipliers tubes (PMTs). The maximisation of the light yield of the amplification stage plays a major role in the determination of the energy threshold of the experiment. In this paper, we simulate the effect of the addition of a strong electric field below the last GEM plane on the GEM field structure and we experimentally test it by means of a 10 $$\times $$
×
10 cm$$^2$$

2

readout area prototype. The experimental measurements analyse stacks of different GEMs and helium concentrations in the gas mixture combined with this extra electric field, studying their performances in terms of light yield, energy resolution and intrinsic diffusion. It is found that the use of this additional electric field permits large light yield increases without degrading intrinsic characteristics of the amplification stage with respect to the regular use of GEMs.
GRASIAN: shaping and characterization of the cold hydrogen and deuterium beams for the forthcoming first demonstration of gravitational quantum states of atoms
Authors: Killian Carina , Blumer Philipp , Crivelli Paolo , Hanski Otto , Kloppenburg Daniel , Nez François , Nesvizhevsky Valery , Reynaud Serge , Schreiner Katharina , Simon Martin , Vasiliev Sergey , Widmann Eberhard , Yzombard Pauline
Published: October 2024

A low energy particle confined by a horizontal reflective surface and gravity settles in gravitationally bound quantum states. These gravitational quantum states (GQS) were so far only observed with neutrons. However, the existence of GQS is predicted also for atoms. The GRASIAN collaboration pursues the first observation of GQS of atoms, using a cryogenic hydrogen beam. This endeavor is motivated by the higher densities, which can be expected from hydrogen compared to neutrons, the easier access, the fact that GQS were never observed with atoms and the accessibility to hypothetical short-range interactions. In addition to enabling gravitational quantum spectroscopy, such a cryogenic hydrogen beam with very low vertical velocity components—a few cm $$\hbox {s}^-1$$

s
-

1

, can be used for precision optical and microwave spectroscopy. In this article, we report on our methods developed to reduce background and to detect atoms with a low horizontal velocity, which are needed for such an experiment. Our recent measurement results on the collimation of the hydrogen beam to 2 mm, the reduction of background and improvement of signal-to-noise and finally our first detection of atoms with velocities $$<{72}\,\hbox {ms}{^-1}$$

<
72

ms

-

1

are presented. Furthermore, we show calculations, estimating the feasibility of the planned experiment and simulations which confirm that we can select vertical velocity components in the order of cm $$\hbox {s}^-1$$

s
-

1

.
Integral expressions for derivations of multiarrangements
Authors: Feigin Misha , Wang Zixuan , Yoshinaga Masahiko
Published: October 2024

The construction of an explicit basis for a free multiarrangement is not easy in general. Inspired by the integral expressions for quasi-invariants of the symmetric group, we present integral expressions for specific bases of certain multiarrangements. Our construction covers the cases of three lines in dimension [Formula: see text] (previously examined by Wakamiko) and free multiarrangements associated with complex reflection groups (Hoge, Mano, Röhrle, Stump). Furthermore, we propose a conjectural basis for the module of logarithmic vector fields of the extended Catalan arrangement of type [Formula: see text].
Quantum-corrected Schwarzschild AdS black hole surrounded by quintessence: Thermodynamics and shadows
Authors: Hamil B. , Lütfüoğlu B. C. , Dahbi L.
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we study the quantum-corrected Schwarzschild AdS black hole surrounded by quintessence matter in two folds: its thermal quantities and shadows. For this purpose, first, we present a detailed analysis of the influences of the quintessence matter field on Hawking temperature, mass, Gibbs free energy, and specific heat functions. Then, we examine the shadows by following Carter’s approach. We find that the shadow radius value takes smaller values for greater quintessence state parameter values. On the other hand, we see that the shadow radius takes greater values for greater values of the normalization parameter. Finally, in a brief section, we discuss the energy emission rate and show that the Gaussian-type plots’ peak values are also affected by the quintessence matter field parameters.
EXACT SOLUTIONS OF NONLINEAR FRACTIONAL CAHN–ALLEN EQUATION ARIES IN DIFFERENT NONLINEAR PHYSICAL PHENOMENON USING UNIFIED TECHNIQUE
Authors: MOHAMMED NAJLA A. , ALAM MD. NUR , TALIB IMRAN , CHING DENNIS LING CHUAN , ASSIRI TAGHREED A. , HASSAN MOHAMMAD , ALSHEHERY SULTAN , FAYZ-AL-ASAD MD. , ALJOHANI A. F. , SEHRA  , KHAN ILYAS
Published: October 2024

The nonlinear fractional Cahn–Allen (NFCA) equation provides insight into phase modifications and pattern elaboration in natural structures, clarifying how various states of matter have changed throughout time. By using a unified technique, this study aims to present novel, precise solutions to the NFCA problem. This method has led to the discovery of a broad spectrum of soliton solutions, ranging from dark compactons and dark solitons to periodic kink behaviors, rough wave behaviors, and periodic patterns featuring peaked crests and troughs. It has also unveiled anti-kink periodic behaviors, periodic wave behaviors, bright-dark single solitons, periodic patterns displaying anti-peaked crests and anti-troughs, bright solitons, and compound soliton phenomena. Notably, these accomplishments have been made possible through the utilization of Maple software. These findings are important for fractional nonlinear dynamical models (FNLDMs). In order to clarify many dynamic behaviors that solutions of the NFCA equation display in other scientific fields, such as quantum mechanics, mathematical biology, and plasma physics, contour plots and 3D surface representations of these exact solutions are also featured. Through our investigation using the unified technique, we have unveiled a plethora of novel discoveries. Employing this method has revealed a total of 54 fresh findings. In contrast, Javeed et al. [S. Javeed, S. Saif and D. Baleanu, New exact solutions of fractional Cahn–Allen equation and fractional DSW system, Adv. Differential Equations 2018 (2018) 459] applied the first integral technique, resulting in only eight outcomes. Upon comparing their results with ours, our approach has yielded an additional four out of six innovative results. As far as we are aware, the application of our technique to the NFCA equation has not been previously documented. We anticipate that future research will expand this methodology to include other FNLDMs.
Breaking Barriers in Immersive Stories: Empathy, Representation, and Access
Authors: Thompson Tyechia L. , Lyon Eric , Lages Wallace
Published: October 2024

The
Interactions
website (interactions.acm.org) hosts a stable of bloggers who share insights and observations on HCI, often challenging current practices. Each issue we'll publish selected posts from some of the leading and emerging voices in the field.
AugmenToxic: Leveraging Reinforcement Learning to Optimize LLM Instruction Fine-Tuning for Data Augmentation to Enhance Toxicity Detection
Authors: Bodaghi Arezo , Fung Benjamin C. M. , A. Schmitt Ketra
Published: October 2024

Addressing the challenge of toxic language in online discussions is crucial for the development of effective toxicity detection models. This pioneering work focuses on addressing imbalanced datasets in toxicity detection by introducing a novel approach to augment toxic language data. We create a balanced dataset by instructing fine-tuning of Large Language Models (LLMs) using Reinforcement Learning with Human Feedback (RLHF). Recognizing the challenges in collecting sufficient toxic samples from social media platforms for building a balanced dataset, our methodology involves sentence-level text data augmentation through paraphrasing existing samples using optimized generative LLMs. Leveraging generative LLM, we utilize the Proximal Policy Optimizer (PPO) as the RL algorithm to fine-tune the model further and align it with human feedback. In other words, we start by fine-tuning a LLM using an instruction dataset, specifically tailored for the task of paraphrasing while maintaining semantic consistency. Next, we apply PPO and a reward function, to further fine-tune (optimize) the instruction-tuned LLM. This RL process guides the model in generating toxic responses. We utilize the Google Perspective API as a toxicity evaluator to assess generated responses and assign rewards/penalties accordingly. This approach guides LLMs through PPO and the reward function, transforming minority class samples into augmented versions. The primary goal of our methodology is to create a balanced and diverse dataset to enhance the accuracy and performance of classifiers in identifying instances from the minority class. Utilizing two publicly available toxic datasets, we compared various techniques with our proposed method for generating toxic samples, demonstrating that our approach outperforms all others in producing a higher number of toxic samples. Starting with an initial 16,225 toxic prompts, our method successfully generated 122,951 toxic samples with a toxicity score exceeding 30%. Subsequently, we developed various classifiers using the generated balanced datasets and applied a cost-sensitive learning approach to the original imbalanced dataset. The findings highlight the superior performance of classifiers trained on data generated using our proposed method. These results highlight the importance of employing RL and a data-agnostic model as a reward mechanism for augmenting toxic data, thereby enhancing the robustness of toxicity detection models.
Recommendation Unlearning via Influence Function
Authors: Zhang Yang , Hu Zhiyu , Bai Yimeng , Wu Jiancan , Wang Qifan , Feng Fuli
Published: October 2024

Recommendation unlearning is an emerging task to serve users for erasing unusable data (e.g., some historical behaviors) from a well-trained recommender model. Existing methods process unlearning requests by fully or partially retraining the model after removing the unusable data. However, these methods are impractical due to the high computation cost of full retraining and the highly possible performance damage of partial training. In this light, a desired recommendation unlearning method should obtain a similar model as full retraining in a more efficient manner, i.e., achieving complete, efficient and harmless unlearning.

In this work, we propose a new
Influence Function-based Recommendation Unlearning
(IFRU) framework, which efficiently updates the model without retraining by estimating the influence of the unusable data on the model via the
influence function
. In the light that recent recommender models use historical data for both the constructions of the optimization loss and the computational graph (e.g., neighborhood aggregation), IFRU jointly estimates the direct influence of unusable data on optimization loss and the spillover influence on the computational graph to pursue complete unlearning. Furthermore, we propose an importance-based pruning algorithm to reduce the cost of the influence function. IFRU is harmless and applicable to mainstream differentiable models. Extensive experiments demonstrate that IFRU achieves more than 250 times acceleration compared to retraining-based methods with recommendation performance comparable to full retraining. Codes are available at https://github.com/baiyimeng/IFRU.
Cooperation and Fairness in Multi-Agent Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Aloor Jasmine Jerry , Nayak Siddharth Nagar , Dolan Sydney , Balakrishnan Hamsa
Published: October 2024

Multi-agent systems are trained to maximize shared cost objectives, which typically reflect system-level efficiency. However, in the resource-constrained environments of mobility and transportation systems, efficiency may be achieved at the expense of fairness — certain agents may incur significantly greater costs or lower rewards compared to others. Tasks could be distributed inequitably, leading to some agents receiving an unfair advantage while others incur disproportionately high costs. It is, therefore, important to consider the tradeoffs between efficiency and fairness in such settings.

We consider the problem of fair multi-agent navigation for a group of decentralized agents using multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL). We consider the reciprocal of the coefficient of variation of the distances traveled by different agents as a measure of fairness and investigate whether agents can learn to be fair without significantly sacrificing efficiency (i.e., increasing the total distance traveled). We find that by training agents using min-max fair distance goal assignments along with a reward term that incentivizes fairness as they move toward their goals, the agents (1) learn a fair assignment of goals and (2) achieve almost perfect goal coverage in navigation scenarios using only local observations. For goal coverage scenarios, we find that, on average, the proposed model yields a 14% improvement in efficiency and a 5% improvement in fairness over a baseline model that is trained using random assignments. Furthermore, an average of 21% improvement in fairness can be achieved by the proposed model as compared to a model trained on optimally efficient assignments; this increase in fairness comes at the expense of only a 7% decrease in efficiency. Finally, we extend our method to environments in which agents must complete coverage tasks in prescribed formations and show that it is possible to do so without tailoring the models to specific formation shapes. [Code]

1
Anodically Grown Pt(II) Oxide Microelectrode/Nanoelectrode pH Sensor
Authors: Bahdad Abdullah Omar O. , Leonard Kevin C.
Published: October 2024

Operando measurements of local pH at the nanoscale can significantly improve the understanding of the complex microenvironments that exist in electrochemical systems. However, attempts to easily fabricate a nano-sized pH electrode that can operate under a wide range of pH conditions and have fast temporal responses have been difficult. Here, we show that an anodic-grown Pt/Pt(II) oxide pH sensor manufactured in alkaline conditions (1 M NaOH) shows a near-Nernstian response (−60 mV/pH) from pH 0 to pH 14, is insensitive to dissolved oxygen, cation, and anion identities, and responds correctly in solution with different ionic strengths. This is in contrast to Pt/Pt(II) oxide films grown in acidic media, which do not demonstrate a Nernstian relationship due to cation interference other than H+. We observed a response time of 2.25 s, corresponding to 90% of the final measured pH, for an approximately twelve-fold pH step change when growing the Pt(II) oxide layer on a platinum nanoelectrode. Our findings emphasize the influence of solution pH used for anodization synthesis on the anodic Pt(II) oxide pH sensing properties. The direct oxidation approach for fabricating Pt/Pt(II) oxide microelectrode/nanoelectrode pH sensors can simplify the manufacture of real-time pH sensors for complex aqueous environments.
Ni/N/MPC Nanocomposites Synthesized via Microwave-Assisted Biomass Conversion for Efficient H2O2 Detection
Authors: Wang Mei , Cai Jin , Bai Jianmei , Bu Quan
Published: October 2024

In order to improve the sensitivity and stability of the material for the detection of hydrogen peroxide, Ni/N/MPC nanocomposites were synthesized by Ni-based biomass doped with nitrogen. Nickel atoms offer such advantages as good catalytic activity and low cost, while nitrogen doping facilitates the formation of stable hybrid structures and the formation of abundant functional groups on the surface of nanocomposites. The linear equation characterizing the electrode response from the Ni/N/MPC nanocomposites was derived from the relationship between the current signal I and H2O2 concentration, demonstrating a linear range of 0.05–240.15 mmol l−1, along with a detection limit of 0.84 μmol l−1 (S/N = 3). In contrast, the electrochemical signals from Ni/NGCE and Ni/N/GCE sensors were significantly lower than those obtained from the composite materials during cyclic voltammetry testing. In practical sample analysis, the recovery rate and RSD of H2O2 in tap water samples were 97.2%–98.6% and 5.5%–6.4%, respectively. The Ni/N/MPC/GCE sensing platform presents excellent stability and enhanced sensitivity.
Analytical Modeling of Silicon Nanowire Dielectric Modulated Reconfigurable FET Biosensor
Authors: Kumar Anil , Kale Sumit
Published: October 2024

In this paper, we present an analytical modeling of a Silicon Nanowire Dielectric Modulated Reconfigurable FET (SiNW-DMRFET) biosensor having a cavity under the control gate. By employing the 2D Poisson equation, we accurately model the electrostatic characteristics of the proposed biosensor such as surface potential, threshold voltage, electric field, and drain current. The main parameters used to identify biomolecules present in the cavity are the variations detected in the threshold voltage (V

TH
) and ON-current. The simulated and analytical results are compared with the performance of the published literature. We validate the reliability of our analytical approach by conducting simulations of the proposed device on Silvaco TCAD tool. The research conducted through both theoretical and experimental studies indicated that the proposed biosensor exhibited significant improvements in its sensitivity to I

ON
and V

TH
. Specifically, there was a rise of 54.65% in I

ON
sensitivity and 85.71% in V

TH
sensitivity. Furthermore, we show that our model is accurate and reliable by carefully comparing the results of our analysis with the results of the simulation.
Body Mass Index and Prevalence of Obesity in Brazilian Adult Women: Temporal Comparison of Repeated Population‐Based Cross‐Sectional Surveys
Authors: Garcez Anderson , Dias-da-Costa Juvenal Soares , Souza de Bairros Fernanda , Anselmo Olinto Maria Teresa
Published: October 2024

Background: Obesity is a complex multifactorial disease that has been associated with higher morbidity and mortality.

Objectives: This study aimed to compare changes in body mass index (BMI) and obesity prevalence between two cross‐sectional samples of Brazilian women. Furthermore, retrospective assessments of lifetime body weight changes were explored.

Methods: Two independent population‐based cross‐sectional surveys were conducted in 2003 (first survey) and 2015 (second survey) with women living in the urban area city in southern Brazil. Both surveys had a similar design and included 981 women aged 20–60 years. Mean BMI and the presence of obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2) were estimated. Additionally, lifetime body weight change was obtained for the retrospective longitudinal assessment.

Results: After 12 years, there was a significant increase from 25.9 ± 5.3 kg/m2 to 28.1 ± 6.2 kg/m2 in mean BMI. Between 2003 and 2015, the prevalence of obesity increased by 73% (18.0%; 95% CI: 15.8–20.6 vs. 31.2%; 95% CI: 28.3–34.1; p < 0.001). The means of estimated cumulative body weight gain from 15 to 50 years were 15.2 kg (95% CI: 13.3–17.1) and 17.2 kg (95% CI: 15.5–18.9) in 2003 and 2015, respectively; the greater cumulative difference between the two periods was observed at 40 years of age (3.3 kg).

Conclusions: There was a significant increase in the mean BMI and prevalence of obesity between 2003 and 2015. Moreover, women experienced higher body weight gain during their lives in both survey periods, mainly in early adulthood.
Experimental Methods for MDMX Gene Expression Analysis from Patient Tumor Specimens from Phase 1 Trial of ALRN-6924, a Dual Inhibitor of MDMX and MDM2, in Patients with Solid Tumors and Lymphomas Bearing Wild-type TP53
Authors: Saleh Mansoor N. , Patel Manish R. , Bauer Todd M. , Goel Sanjay , Falchook Gerald S. , Shapiro Geoffrey I. , Chung Ki Y. , Infante Jeffrey R. , Conry Robert M. , Rabinowits Guilherme , Hong David S. , Wang Judy S. , Steidl Ulrich , Naik Gurudatta , Guerlavais Vincent , Vukovic Vojislav , Annis D. Allen , Aivado Manuel , Meric-Bernstam Funda
Published: October 2024

Experimental Methods for MDMX Gene Expression Analysis from Patient Tumor Specimens
Supplementary Figures 1-5 from Tumor-Specific Major Histocompatibility-II Expression Predicts Benefit to Anti–PD-1/L1 Therapy in Patients With HER2-Negative Primary Breast Cancer
Authors: Gonzalez-Ericsson Paula I. , Wulfkhule Julia D. , Gallagher Rosa I. , Sun Xiaopeng , Axelrod Margaret L. , Sheng Quanhu , Luo Na , Gomez Henry , Sanchez Violeta , Sanders Melinda , Pusztai Lajos , Petricoin Emanuel , Blenman Kim R.M. , Balko Justin M.
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Figure 1: CONSORT diagrams for associated studies. Supplementary Figure 2: Tumor specific MHC-II pattern immunofluorescence in ER+ and TNBC. Supplementary Figure 3: Non-tumor MHC-II expression and comparison of PD-L1+ and HLA-DR+ patient populations. Supplementary Figure 4: RPPA associations with pCR for control and pembrolizumab-treated (Treat) arms, by clinical group. Supplementary Figure 5: RPPA associations with pCR for control and pembrolizumab-treated arms in high-risk ER+ patients.
Figure S2 from Standard-Dose Pembrolizumab Plus Alternate-Dose Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma: KEYNOTE-029 Cohort 1C, a Phase 2 Randomized Study of Two Dosing Schedules
Authors: Long Georgina V. , Robert Caroline , Butler Marcus O. , Couture Felix , Carlino Matteo S. , O'Day Steven , Atkinson Victoria , Cebon Jonathan S. , Brown Michael P. , Dalle Stéphane , Hill Andrew G. , Gibney Geoffrey T. , McCune Steven , Menzies Alexander M. , Niu Cuizhen , Ibrahim Nageatte , Moreno Blanca Homet , Diab Adi
Published: October 2024

Figure S2
Figure S1 from Standard-Dose Pembrolizumab Plus Alternate-Dose Ipilimumab in Advanced Melanoma: KEYNOTE-029 Cohort 1C, a Phase 2 Randomized Study of Two Dosing Schedules
Authors: Long Georgina V. , Robert Caroline , Butler Marcus O. , Couture Felix , Carlino Matteo S. , O'Day Steven , Atkinson Victoria , Cebon Jonathan S. , Brown Michael P. , Dalle Stéphane , Hill Andrew G. , Gibney Geoffrey T. , McCune Steven , Menzies Alexander M. , Niu Cuizhen , Ibrahim Nageatte , Moreno Blanca Homet , Diab Adi
Published: October 2024

Figure S1
Supplementary Data I from A NGS-based Blood Test For the Diagnosis of Invasive HPV-associated Carcinomas with Extensive Viral Genomic Characterization
Authors: Sastre-Garau Xavier , Diop Mamadou , Martin Fernando , Dolivet Gilles , Marchal Frédéric , Charra-Brunaud Claire , Peiffert Didier , Leufflen Léa , Dembélé Birama , Demange Jessica , Tosti Priscillia , Thomas Jacques , Leroux Agnès , Merlin Jean-Louis , Diop-Ndiaye Halimatou , Costa Jean-Marc , Salleron Julia , Harlé Alexandre
Published: October 2024

Supplementary methods
Supplemental Figure 8 from The Prognostic Role of MYC Structural Variants Identified by NGS and FISH in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Sharma Neeraj , Smadbeck James B. , Abdallah Nadine , Zepeda-Mendoza Cinthya , Binder Moritz , Pearce Kathryn E. , Asmann Yan W. , Peterson Jess F. , Ketterling Rhett P. , Greipp Patricia T. , Bergsagel P. Leif , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Kumar Shaji K. , Baughn Linda B.
Published: October 2024

Supplemental Figure 8 shows the distribution of MYC SVs in hyperdiploid and non-hyperdiploid groups
Suppl Figure 1 from A NGS-based Blood Test For the Diagnosis of Invasive HPV-associated Carcinomas with Extensive Viral Genomic Characterization
Authors: Sastre-Garau Xavier , Diop Mamadou , Martin Fernando , Dolivet Gilles , Marchal Frédéric , Charra-Brunaud Claire , Peiffert Didier , Leufflen Léa , Dembélé Birama , Demange Jessica , Tosti Priscillia , Thomas Jacques , Leroux Agnès , Merlin Jean-Louis , Diop-Ndiaye Halimatou , Costa Jean-Marc , Salleron Julia , Harlé Alexandre
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Figure 1: Insertion patterns for all cases harboring HPV DNA integration. Two junctions co-linear (2J-CL) (a), two junctions non-linear (2J-NL) (b), multiple-junctions clustered (MJ-CL) (c) and multiple-junctions scattered (MJ-SC) (d). Insertions are presented with a black line when present in tissue only, a red line when present in plasma only and a dashed black and red line when present in both tissue and plasma. All genomics coordinates use Hg38 reference. Double-dash is used when the insertion is outside an intronic or exonic region of a gene and the closest gene is reported.
Supplemental Figure 7 from The Prognostic Role of MYC Structural Variants Identified by NGS and FISH in Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Sharma Neeraj , Smadbeck James B. , Abdallah Nadine , Zepeda-Mendoza Cinthya , Binder Moritz , Pearce Kathryn E. , Asmann Yan W. , Peterson Jess F. , Ketterling Rhett P. , Greipp Patricia T. , Bergsagel P. Leif , Rajkumar S. Vincent , Kumar Shaji K. , Baughn Linda B.
Published: October 2024

Supplemental Figure 7 shows the influence of various MYC SVs on OS and PFS of the CoMMpass cohort
Supplementary Figure S1 from Prognostic and Predictive Value of HER2 Expression in Ductal Carcinoma In Situ: Results from the UK/ANZ DCIS Randomized Trial
Authors: Thorat Mangesh A. , Levey Pauline M. , Jones J. Louise , Pinder Sarah E. , Bundred Nigel J. , Fentiman Ian S. , Cuzick Jack
Published: October 2024

Supplementary Figure S1