bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New Religious Movement, Old Religious Movement
Authors: Robison Claire C
Published: March 2024

This chapter leads the reader through a brief historical summary of the Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava traditions from which ISKCON derives, tracing the long view of the development of a transnational religious organization with a focus on the local and transregional networks at each major step in its formation. Beginning in sixteenth-century Bengal, it follows Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism’s transregional development in early modern India and its institutionalization within the context of colonial Bengal. It also discusses the growth of a Gauḍīya global missionary imperative during the colonial period, a precursor to A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami’s establishment of ISKCON, its transnational spread, and its subsequent re-importation to India as a highly systematized form of Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇavism, an example of a transnational, multivocal religious traditionalism.
Conclusion
Authors: Robison Claire C
Published: March 2024

The conclusion of this study considers ISKCON’s identity in India as a form of religious modernity, grounded in revising religion through refiguring devotees’ relation to family, religion, nation, and culture. ISKCON’s growth in Mumbai as a globalized religious organization demonstrates that local, lived religion in urban India today is intertwined with transnational networks, even alongside rhetorics of traditionalism. Today, this lived religion has expanded into broader realms of engagement in Mumbai and beyond. Second and third generation Indian devotees organize polished kīrtans that draw glamorous audiences in South Bombay, while some temple brahmacaris have attained widespread social media popularity as motivational speakers and lifestyle coaches. These new faces of ISKCON in India are fashioning an urban bhakti for the next generation.
Schizachyrium scoparium (C4) better tolerates drought than Andropogon gerardii (C4) via constant CO2 supply for photosynthesis during water stress
Authors: Dekirmenjian Alina , Montano Diego , Budny Michelle L , Lemoine Nathan P
Published: March 2024

Abstract. Climate change is dramatically altering global precipitation patterns across terrestrial ecosystems, making it critically important that we understand both how and why plant species vary in their drought sensitivities. Andropogon gerardii and Schizachyrium scoparium, both C4 grasses, provide a model system for understanding the physiological mechanisms that determine how species of a single functional type can differ in drought responses, an issue remains a critical gap in our ability to model and predict the impacts of drought on grassland ecosystems. Despite its greater lability of foliar water content, previous experiments have demonstrated that S. scoparium maintains higher photosynthetic capacity during droughts. It is therefore likely that the ability of S. scoparium to withstand drought instead derives from a greater metabolic resistance to drought. Here, we tested the following hypotheses: (H1) A. gerardii is more vulnerable to drought than S. scoparium at both the population and organismal levels, (H2) A. gerardii is less stomatally flexible than S. scoparium, and (H3) A. gerardii is more metabolically limited than S. scoparium. Our results indicate that it is actually stomatal limitations of CO2 supply that limit A. gerardii photosynthesis during drought. Schizachyrium scoparium was more drought-resistant than A. gerardii based on long-term field data, organismal biomass production and physiological gas exchange measurements. While both S. scoparium and A. gerardii avoided metabolic limitation of photosynthesis, CO2 supply of A. gerardii was greatly reduced during late-stage drought stress. That two common, co-occurring C4 species possess such different responses to drought highlights the physiological variability inherent within plant functional groups and underscores the need for more studies of C4 drought tolerance.
Regulation of sexual differentiation initiation inSchizosaccharomyces pombe
Authors: Kawamukai Makoto
Published: March 2024

The fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe is an excellent model organism to explore cellular events owing to rich tools in genetics, molecular biology, cellular biology, and biochemistry. Schizosaccharomyces pombe proliferates continuously when nutrients are abundant but arrests in G1 phase upon depletion of nutrients such as nitrogen and glucose. When cells of opposite mating types are present, cells conjugate, fuse, undergo meiosis, and finally form 4 spores. This sexual differentiation process in S. pombe has been studied extensively. To execute sexual differentiation, the glucose-sensing cAMP-PKA (cyclic adenosine monophosphate-protein kinase A) pathway, nitrogen-sensing TOR (target of rapamycin) pathway, and SAPK (stress-activating protein kinase) pathway are crucial, and the MAPK (mitogen-activating protein kinase) cascade is essential for pheromone sensing. These signals regulate ste11 at the transcriptional and translational levels, and Ste11 is modified in multiple ways. This review summarizes the initiation of sexual differentiation in S. pombe based on results I have helped to obtain, including the work of many excellent researchers.
Identifying TAD-like domains on single-cell Hi-C data by graph embedding and changepoint detection
Authors: Liu Erhu , Lyu Hongqiang , Liu Yuan , Fu Laiyi , Cheng Xiaoliang , Yin Xiaoran
Published: March 2024

Motivation

Topologically associating domains (TADs) are fundamental building blocks of 3D genome. TAD-like domains in single cells are regarded as the underlying genesis of TADs discovered in bulk cells. Understanding the organization of TAD-like domains helps to get deeper insights into their regulatory functions. Unfortunately, it remains a challenge to identify TAD-like domains on single-cell Hi-C data due to its ultra-sparsity.

Results

We propose scKTLD, an in silico tool for the identification of TAD-like domains on single-cell Hi-C data. It takes Hi-C contact matrix as the adjacency matrix for a graph, embeds the graph structures into a low-dimensional space with the help of sparse matrix factorization followed by spectral propagation, and the TAD-like domains can be identified using a kernel-based changepoint detection in the embedding space. The results tell that our scKTLD is superior to the other methods on the sparse contact matrices, including downsampled bulk Hi-C data as well as simulated and experimental single-cell Hi-C data. Besides, we demonstrated the conservation of TAD-like domain boundaries at single-cell level apart from heterogeneity within and across cell types, and found that the boundaries with higher frequency across single cells are more enriched for architectural proteins and chromatin marks, and they preferentially occur at TAD boundaries in bulk cells, especially at those with higher hierarchical levels.

Availability and implementation

scKTLD is freely available at https://github.com/lhqxinghun/scKTLD.
Making head and neck cancer clinical data Findable-Accessible-Interoperable-Reusable to support multi-institutional collaboration and federated learning
Authors: Gouthamchand Varsha , Choudhury Ananya , Hoebers Frank J P , Wesseling Frederik W R , Welch Mattea , Kim Sejin , Kazmierska Joanna , Dekker Andre , Haibe-Kains Benjamin , van Soest Johan , Wee Leonard
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Federated learning (FL) is a group of methodologies where statistical modelling can be performed without exchanging identifiable patient data between cooperating institutions. To realize its potential for AI development on clinical data, a number of bottlenecks need to be addressed. One of these is making data Findable-Accessible-Interoperable-Reusable (FAIR). The primary aim of this work is to show that tools making data FAIR allow consortia to collaborate on privacy-aware data exploration, data visualization, and training of models on each other’s original data.

Methods

We propose a “Schema-on-Read” FAIR-ification method that adapts for different (re)analyses without needing to change the underlying original data. The procedure involves (1) decoupling the contents of the data from its schema and database structure, (2) annotation with semantic ontologies as a metadata layer, and (3) readout using semantic queries. Open-source tools are given as Docker containers to help local investigators prepare their data on-premises.

Results

We created a federated privacy-preserving visualization dashboard for case mix exploration of 5 distributed datasets with no common schema at the point of origin. We demonstrated robust and flexible prognostication model development and validation, linking together different data sources—clinical risk factors and radiomics.

Conclusions

Our procedure leads to successful (re)use of data in FL-based consortia without the need to impose a common schema at every point of origin of data.

Advances in knowledge

This work supports the adoption of FL within the healthcare AI community by sharing means to make data more FAIR.
Nav1.8 in small dorsal root ganglion neurons contributes to vincristine-induced mechanical allodynia
Authors: Nascimento de Lima Ana Paula , Zhang Huiran , Chen Lubin , Effraim Philip R , Gomis-Perez Carolina , Cheng Xiaoyang , Huang Jianying , Waxman Stephen G , Dib-Hajj Sulayman D
Published: March 2024

Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy is a common side effect of vincristine treatment, which is accompanied by pain and can be dose-limiting. The molecular mechanisms that underlie vincristine-induced pain are not well understood. We have established an animal model to investigate pathophysiological mechanisms of vincristine-induced pain. Our previous studies have shown that the tetrodotoxin-sensitive voltage-gated sodium channel Nav1.6 in medium-diameter dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons contributes to the maintenance of vincristine-induced allodynia.

In this study, we investigated the effects of vincristine administration on excitability in small-diameter DRG neurons and whether the tetrodotoxin-resistant (TTX-R) Nav1.8 channels contribute to mechanical allodynia. Current-clamp recordings demonstrated that small DRG neurons become hyper-excitable following vincristine treatment, with both reduced current threshold and increased firing frequency. Using voltage-clamp recordings in small DRG neurons, we now show an increase in TTX-R current density and a −7.3 mV hyperpolarizing shift in the half-maximal potential (V1/2) of activation of Nav1.8 channels in vincristine-treated animals, which likely contributes to the hyperexcitability that we observed in these neurons.

Notably, vincristine treatment did not enhance excitability of small DRG neurons from Nav1.8 knockout mice, and the development of mechanical allodynia was delayed but not abrogated in these mice. Together, our data suggest that sodium channel Nav1.8 in small DRG neurons contributes to the development of vincristine-induced mechanical allodynia.
The effect of front-of-package nutrition labelling on product composition
Authors: Bauner Christoph , Rahman Rajib
Published: March 2024

We analyse the effect of front-of-package nutrition labelling using the example of France, where Nutri-Score was adopted in 2017. Our focus is on changes in available products, i.e. on producer choices rather than consumer choices. Employing a difference-in-differences approach, we find that products introduced or altered after the change receive better Nutri-Score ratings than those introduced before the adoption, indicating a shift to items that are healthier overall. In addition, there is some evidence of bunching at the cutoffs for better Nutri-Score grades, which suggests that the improvements are at least in part a strategic reaction to the Nutri-Score introduction.
Endemic does not mean constant as SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve
Authors: Otto Sarah P , MacPherson Ailene , Colijn Caroline
Published: March 2024

COVID-19 has become endemic, with dynamics that reflect the waning of immunity and re-exposure, by contrast to the epidemic phase driven by exposure in immunologically naïve populations. Endemic does not, however, mean constant. Further evolution of SARS-CoV-2, as well as changes in behavior and public health policy, continue to play a major role in the endemic load of disease and mortality. In this article, we analyze evolutionary models to explore the impact that a newly arising variant can have on the short-term and longer-term endemic load, characterizing how these impacts depend on the transmission and immunological properties of the variants. We describe how evolutionary changes in the virus will increase the endemic load most for a persistently immune-escape variant, by an intermediate amount for a more transmissible variant, and least for a transiently immune-escape variant. Balancing the tendency for evolution to favor variants that increase the endemic load, we explore the impact of vaccination strategies and non-pharmaceutical interventions that can counter these increases in the impact of disease. We end with some open questions about the future of COVID-19 as an endemic disease.
Lack of Immune Resilience Negatively Affects Physical Resilience: Results From the InCHIANTI Follow-Up Study
Authors: Pellegrino Raffaello , Paganelli Roberto , Di Iorio Angelo , Bandinelli Stefania , Mussi Chiara , Sparvieri Eleonora , Volpato Stefano , Tanaka Toshiko , Ferrucci Luigi
Published: March 2024

There is consistent evidence that immune response declines with aging, with wide interindividual variability and a still unclear relationship with the development of frailty. To address this question, we assessed the role of immune resilience (capacity to restore immune functions), operationalized as the neutrophil-to-lymphocytes ratio (NL-ratio) and monocytes-to-lymphocytes ratio (ML-ratio), in the pathway that from robust status shifts to pre-frailty and frailty, and finally to death. The InCHIANTI study enrolled representative samples from the registry lists of 2 towns in Tuscany, Italy. Baseline data were collected in 1998, with follow-up visits every 3 years. The 1 453 participants enrolled were assessed and followed for lifestyle, clinical condition, physical performance, clinical, and physiological measures. For the purpose of this analysis, we used only 1 022 subjects aged 65 or older at baseline. Participants in the 3 highest deciles of distribution for NL-ratio (>2.44) were more likely to experience a transition from robust to pre-frail, and to overt frailty status. Moreover, NL-ratio (tenth decile > 3.53) and ML-ratio (tenth decile > 2.02) were both predictors of mortality. These results were independent of chronological age, sex, comorbidities, and chronic low-grade inflammation assessed by high sensitivity C-reactive protein measurement. The 2 leucocytes-derived ratios, NL-ratio and ML-ratio, represent markers of immune resilience and predict changes in physical resilience and mortality. These biomarkers are inexpensive because they are based on data routinely collected in clinical practice and can be used to assess the risk of frailty progression and mortality.

Clinical Trials Registration Number: NCT01331512
Azimuthal pore pressure response to teleseismic waves: effects of damage and stress anisotropy
Authors: Panteleev Ivan , Lyakhovsky Vladimir , Shalev Eyal
Published: March 2024

Pore pressure oscillations induced by stress variations, including propagating seismic waves from remote earthquakes, have been widely observed in various groundwater systems. The monitored pressure change in wells shows significant water-level oscillations to volumetric strain as well as to S and Love waves. Recent observations demonstrated azimuthal dependence of the pore pressure oscillations with respect to stress indicators and fault zone orientation. Within the fault zone, damage-induced anisotropy is the result of the alignment and orientation of cracks and other internal flaws within the rock. In this work, we provide a complete quantitative description of the pore pressure changes induced by passing seismic waves associated with different orientations and values of principal stress and damage tensor components. The model quantifies the azimuthal dependence of the pore pressure response by a non-dimensional ratio defined as the amplitude of the pressure oscillations induced by a shear strain normalized to the volumetric strain. Three angles and two values are needed to calculate the azimuthal dependence of the pore pressure response: the angle between the directions of the maximum horizontal stress and the seismic event; fault zone orientation; microcrack orientation within the fault zone; and damage and stress values. The model predicts that maximum pore pressure response occurs when microcracks and maximum horizontal stress are in the same orientation, high damage and high stress anisotropy. By adjusting these quantities, we recalculate results of recent seismological studies in the Arbuckle disposal well, Osage County, Oklahoma. The presented model successfully predicts the observed azimuthal dependence in wave-induced fluid pressure response and relates the anisotropic response to tectonic indicators such as the orientations of the maximum horizontal stress, fault zone, and microfractures.
Unravelling the excitation mechanism of very long-period (VLP) tremors in the Gulf of Guinea: evidence for vibrations of thin surface crustal plates
Authors: Xia Yingjie , Feng Xuping , Chen Xiaofei
Published: March 2024

The Gulf of Guinea exhibits a continuous emission of narrow-band and long-period signals (16, 26 and 27 s) on teleseismic records, yet the underlying excitation mechanism remains unclear. This study establishes a connection between these tremors and the vibration of thin, decoupled crustal plates at unexplored volcanoes in the gulf. We first formulate the damped plate oscillation equation, by incorporating the vibration of the thin surface crustal plate and magma flow in the subsurface sill. The findings reveal that a fundamental-mode vibration with a period of several dozen seconds can be induced by a crustal plate that is less than 1.0 km thick but extends over tens of kilometres in both length and width, given a subsurface sill depth exceeding 10.0 cm. The thin plate hypothesis also allows for excitation of a few overtone modes, but such waves in higher frequencies diminish over long distances, leaving only the monotonous fundamental-mode vibration at teleseismic stations. The long duration of Guinea tremors at each recurrence is attributed to the presence of low viscosity basaltic magma, which influences the damping factor. Direct wave loads at the shallow gulf serve as the primary vibration source, accounting for seasonal variations and recurring patterns. Sporadic energy bursts may also occur due to large storms. Radiation patterns of Guinea tremors are linked to the geometric structure of the thin plate. Our theoretical estimates of tremor spectra closely align with observed data, confirming the model’s accuracy in capturing reported Guinea tremor characteristics. This study provides valuable insights into the origins of very long-period tremors at continental volcanoes.
A co-designed evaluation study to identify Breastfeeding Knowledge of General Practitioners’ and Practice Nurses’
Authors: McGuinness Denise , Ni Mhurchu Siobhan , Frazer Kate , Bhardwaj Nancy , Cornally Paula , Cantwell Marie , Cullen Marina , McNamara Edel , McDonald Rita , Carroll Lisa , Cullen Walter , Kincaid Regina , Vickers Niamh
Published: March 2024

The World Health Organization and American Academy of Paediatrics recommend exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months of age, with continued breastfeeding along with complementary solid foods for up to 2 years and beyond. Despite the well-established importance of breastfeeding, Irish rates remain the lowest in Europe. Healthcare professionals’ breastfeeding knowledge and skills have a positive impact on increasing breastfeeding rates. There is limited evidence of the knowledge, attitudes or practices of general practitioners (GPs) and general practice nurses (GPNs), which is essential to breastfeeding in Ireland. The aim of this study was to evaluate the breastfeeding knowledge, attitudes and practices of GPs and GPNs in one community healthcare organisation (CHO) in Ireland. A co-designed evaluation study was used following low-risk ethical exemption (LS-LR-22-161). A modified version of a validated breastfeeding questionnaire was developed. A Project Steering Committee was established that included patient, and public involvement stakeholders. The anonymised survey was distributed via online Qualtrics platform (November 2022–February 2023). STROBE Guidelines were utilised. The overall response rate was 25.9% (n = 121) and valid responses were reported in the article. The total population size was n = 468 (GPs n = 290 and GPNs n = 178). Our pilot study identified that 42.7% (n = 47/110) of respondents never attended a breastfeeding education programme, and 53.9% (n = 55/102) identified that their knowledge could be improved. The majority of respondents, 92.9% (n = 92/99) wish to complete further education in breastfeeding. The results of this pilot study in one CHO in Ireland indicate a gap in knowledge and a need for specific breastfeeding and lactation theoretical and skills training for GPs and GPNs working in primary care to support, promote and protect breastfeeding.
AIF translocation into nucleus caused by Aifm1 R450Q mutation: generation and characterization of a mouse model for AUNX1
Authors: Shi Tao , Chen Ziyi , Li Jin , Wang Hongyang , Wang Qiuju
Published: March 2024

Mutations in AIFM1, encoding for apoptosis-inducing factor (AIF), cause AUNX1, an X-linked neurologic disorder with late-onset auditory neuropathy (AN) and peripheral neuropathy. Despite significant research on AIF, there are limited animal models with the disrupted AIFM1 representing the corresponding phenotype of human AUNX1, characterized by late-onset hearing loss and impaired auditory pathways. Here, we generated an Aifm1 p.R450Q knock-in mouse model (KI) based on the human AIFM1 p.R451Q mutation. Hemizygote KI male mice exhibited progressive hearing loss from P30 onward, with greater severity at P60 and stabilization until P210. Additionally, muscle atrophy was observed at P210. These phenotypic changes were accompanied by a gradual reduction in the number of spiral ganglion neuron cells (SGNs) at P30 and ribbons at P60, which coincided with the translocation of AIF into the nucleus starting from P21 and P30, respectively. The SGNs of KI mice at P210 displayed loss of cytomembrane integrity, abnormal nuclear morphology, and dendritic and axonal demyelination. Furthermore, the inner hair cells and myelin sheath displayed abnormal mitochondrial morphology, while fibroblasts from KI mice showed impaired mitochondrial function. In conclusion, we successfully generated a mouse model recapitulating AUNX1. Our findings indicate that disruption of Aifm1 induced the nuclear translocation of AIF, resulting in the impairment in the auditory pathway.
Causal modulation of lipid metabolism may shape the inflammatory microenvironment and potentially augment immunotherapy: a comprehensive genetic landscape revealed by Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Li Wenjie , Wang Wei
Published: March 2024

Previous observational and experimental studies have suggested a relationship between statin treatments and the augmentation of immunotherapy effects; however, the causal role of statin usage in promoting antitumor immunity remains largely unexplored. Utilizing large-scale genome-wide association studies, we conducted a Mendelian Randomization (MR) analysis to examine the association between genetically proxied inhibition of the gene for 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR), a specific target of statins, and 524 immunotherapy-related profiles, encompassing immune cells, inflammatory cytokines, immune checkpoints, and gut microbiota. Our findings indicated a suggestive association between statin therapy and proinflammatory as well as antitumor effects; notably, inhibition of HMGCR demonstrated a robust link with increased susceptibility of various immune cell types, including basophil cells, white blood cells, eosinophil cells, neutrophil cells, activated CD8+ T cells, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells; furthermore, a causal relationship was observed between statin use and a decrease in terminal CD8+ T cells, granulocytes, monocytes, and myeloid-derived suppressor cells; genetically proxied statin usage was also significantly associated with elevated levels of proinflammatory cytokines and immunotherapy-related gut microbiota; importantly, the potential inhibition of HMGCR in influencing the response to immunotherapy was confirmed in the real-world cohorts. This study provides novel insights into the regulatory role of HMGCR inhibition in antitumor immunity, suggesting that strategies targeting HMGCR or lipid regulation may hold therapeutic potential for enhancing the efficacy of immunotherapy.
Methylotrophic methanogenesis in the Archaeoglobi revealed by cultivation of Ca. Methanoglobus hypatiae from a Yellowstone hot spring
Authors: Lynes Mackenzie M , Jay Zackary J , Kohtz Anthony J , Hatzenpichler Roland
Published: March 2024

Over the past decade, environmental metagenomics and polymerase chain reaction-based marker gene surveys have revealed that several lineages beyond just a few well-established groups within the Euryarchaeota superphylum harbor the genetic potential for methanogenesis. One of these groups are the Archaeoglobi, a class of thermophilic Euryarchaeota that have long been considered to live non-methanogenic lifestyles. Here, we enriched Candidatus Methanoglobus hypatiae, a methanogen affiliated with the family Archaeoglobaceae, from a hot spring in Yellowstone National Park. The enrichment is sediment-free, grows at 64–70°C and a pH of 7.8, and produces methane from mono-, di-, and tri-methylamine. Ca. M. hypatiae is represented by a 1.62 Mb metagenome-assembled genome with an estimated completeness of 100% and accounts for up to 67% of cells in the culture according to fluorescence in situ hybridization. Via genome-resolved metatranscriptomics and stable isotope tracing, we demonstrate that Ca. M. hypatiae expresses methylotrophic methanogenesis and energy-conserving pathways for reducing monomethylamine to methane. The detection of Archaeoglobi populations related to Ca. M. hypatiae in 36 geochemically diverse geothermal sites within Yellowstone National Park, as revealed through the examination of previously published gene amplicon datasets, implies a previously underestimated contribution to anaerobic carbon cycling in extreme ecosystems.
Cell-to-cell heterogeneity drives host–virus coexistence in a bloom-forming alga
Authors: Joffe Nir , Kuhlisch Constanze , Schleyer Guy , Ahlers Nadia S , Shemi Adva , Vardi Assaf
Published: March 2024

Algal blooms drive global biogeochemical cycles of key nutrients and serve as hotspots for biological interactions in the ocean. The massive blooms of the cosmopolitan coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi are often infected by the lytic E. huxleyi virus, which is a major mortality agent triggering bloom demise. This multi-annual “boom and bust” pattern of E. huxleyi blooms suggests that coexistence is essential for these host–virus dynamics. To investigate host–virus coexistence, we developed a new model system from an E. huxleyi culture that recovered from viral infection. The recovered population coexists with the virus, as host cells continue to divide in parallel to viral production. By applying single-molecule fluorescence in situ hybridization (smFISH) to quantify the fraction of infected cells, and assessing infection-specific lipid biomarkers, we identified a small subpopulation of cells that were infected and produced new virions, whereas most of the host population could resist infection. To further assess population heterogeneity, we generated clonal strain collections using single-cell sorting and subsequently phenotyped their susceptibility to E. huxleyi virus infection. This unraveled substantial cell-to-cell heterogeneity across a continuum of susceptibility to resistance, highlighting that infection outcome may vary depending on the individual cell. These results add a new dimension to our understanding of the complexity of host–virus interactions that are commonly assessed in bulk and described by binary definitions of resistance or susceptibility. We propose that phenotypic heterogeneity drives the host–virus coexistence and demonstrate how the coexistence with a lytic virus provides an ecological advantage for the host by killing competing strains.
Advancing a major US airline’s practice in flight-level checked baggage prediction
Authors: Chen Shijie , Park Chiwoo , Guo Qianwen , Sun Yanshuo
Published: March 2024

In this paper, we aim to address a relevant estimation problem that aviation professionals encounter in their daily operations. Specifically, aircraft load planners require information on the expected number of checked bags for a flight several hours prior to its scheduled departure to properly palletize and load the aircraft. However, the checked baggage prediction problem has not been sufficiently studied in the literature, particularly at the flight level. Existing prediction approaches have not properly accounted for the different impacts of overestimating and underestimating checked baggage volumes on airline operations. Therefore, we propose a custom loss function, in the form of a piecewise quadratic function, which aligns with airline operations practice and utilizes machine learning algorithms to optimize checked baggage predictions incorporating the new loss function. We consider multiple linear regression, LightGBM, and XGBoost, as supervised learning algorithms. We apply our proposed methods to baggage data from a major airline and additional data from various US government agencies. We compare the performance of the three customized supervised learning algorithms. We find that the two gradient boosting methods (i.e., LightGBM and XGBoost) yield higher accuracy than the multiple linear regression; XGBoost outperforms LightGBM while LightGBM requires much less training time than XGBoost. We also investigate the performance of XGBoost on samples from different categories and provide insights for selecting an appropriate prediction algorithm to improve baggage prediction practices. Our modeling framework can be adapted to address other prediction challenges in aviation, such as predicting the number of standby passengers or no-shows.
Why do users override alerts? Utilizing large language model to summarize comments and optimize clinical decision support
Authors: Liu Siru , McCoy Allison B , Wright Aileen P , Nelson Scott D , Huang Sean S , Ahmad Hasan B , Carro Sabrina E , Franklin Jacob , Brogan James , Wright Adam
Published: March 2024

Objectives

To evaluate the capability of using generative artificial intelligence (AI) in summarizing alert comments and to determine if the AI-generated summary could be used to improve clinical decision support (CDS) alerts.

Materials and Methods

We extracted user comments to alerts generated from September 1, 2022 to September 1, 2023 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. For a subset of 8 alerts, comment summaries were generated independently by 2 physicians and then separately by GPT-4. We surveyed 5 CDS experts to rate the human-generated and AI-generated summaries on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree) for the 4 metrics: clarity, completeness, accuracy, and usefulness.

Results

Five CDS experts participated in the survey. A total of 16 human-generated summaries and 8 AI-generated summaries were assessed. Among the top 8 rated summaries, five were generated by GPT-4. AI-generated summaries demonstrated high levels of clarity, accuracy, and usefulness, similar to the human-generated summaries. Moreover, AI-generated summaries exhibited significantly higher completeness and usefulness compared to the human-generated summaries (AI: 3.4 ± 1.2, human: 2.7 ± 1.2, P = .001).

Conclusion

End-user comments provide clinicians’ immediate feedback to CDS alerts and can serve as a direct and valuable data resource for improving CDS delivery. Traditionally, these comments may not be considered in the CDS review process due to their unstructured nature, large volume, and the presence of redundant or irrelevant content. Our study demonstrates that GPT-4 is capable of distilling these comments into summaries characterized by high clarity, accuracy, and completeness. AI-generated summaries are equivalent and potentially better than human-generated summaries. These AI-generated summaries could provide CDS experts with a novel means of reviewing user comments to rapidly optimize CDS alerts both online and offline.
Ensuring useful adoption of generative artificial intelligence in healthcare
Authors: Jindal Jenelle A , Lungren Matthew P , Shah Nigam H
Published: March 2024

Objectives

This article aims to examine how generative artificial intelligence (AI) can be adopted with the most value in health systems, in response to the Executive Order on AI.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed how technology has historically been deployed in healthcare, and evaluated recent examples of deployments of both traditional AI and generative AI (GenAI) with a lens on value.

Results

Traditional AI and GenAI are different technologies in terms of their capability and modes of current deployment, which have implications on value in health systems.

Discussion

Traditional AI when applied with a framework top-down can realize value in healthcare. GenAI in the short term when applied top-down has unclear value, but encouraging more bottom-up adoption has the potential to provide more benefit to health systems and patients.

Conclusion

GenAI in healthcare can provide the most value for patients when health systems adapt culturally to grow with this new technology and its adoption patterns.
Reparations in environmental cases: should the International Criminal Court consider the Inter-American Court of Human Rights’ jurisprudence?
Authors: Perez-Leon-Acevedo Juan-Pablo
Published: March 2024

In a context where supranational courts order reparations in environmental cases, this article examines whether the International Criminal Court (ICC) should pay attention to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACtHR) reparations jurisprudence in environmental cases. The ICC has yet to engage with environmental cases and order ensuing reparations. However, the ICC Statute contains an environmental war crime, ‘ecocide’ may be incorporated into it, and some ICC cases/ICC complaints involved environmental damages. This article examines constraints of a potential extrapolation of IACtHR’s reparation jurisprudence to the ICC’s reparations system in environmental cases: differences between IACtHR’s and ICC’s mandates, particularly their reparations systems; and potential backlash from states/other actors vis-à-vis ‘green’ reparations jurisprudence. This article also provides justifications for ICC/IACtHR cross-fertilization: international human rights law is embedded in ICC’s reparations law and practice, and need for a coherent international law of reparations in environmental cases across supranational courts. Through adapted cross-fertilization, the ICC’s reparations system should consider IACtHR’s reparations practice concerning environmental cases.
Effects of a neuropsychosocial teleassistance intervention on social cognition and health-related quality of life of pediatric patients with neuromuscular diseases
Authors: García Irune , Martínez Oscar , Amayra Imanol , Salgueiro Monika , Rodríguez Alicia Aurora , López-Paz Juan Francisco
Published: March 2024

Objective

This study aimed to determine the effects of a neuropsychosocial teleassistance group-based intervention on improving social cognitive functioning and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in pediatric neuromuscular diseases (NMD).

Methods

Thirty-five pediatric patients with NMD were assigned to the neuropsychosocial intervention program (n = 20) or waiting list control condition (n = 15). The intervention group received an integrative approach that combines training in social cognition with cognitive behavioral therapy. All participants completed a neuropsychological and clinical assessment at baseline and follow-up, which included tests of social cognition, both for emotion recognition and theory of mind, and HRQoL. Repeated-measures multivariate analysis of covariance was used to determine the effects of the teleassistance program.

Results

Group × Time interactions revealed significant improvements in the intervention group as compared with the control group for different social cognition’s indicators (AR NEPSY-II: p = .003, η2p = .24; TM NEPSY: p < .001, η2p = .35; Verbal task: p < .001, η2p = .35; Happé’s Strange Stories: p = .049, η2p = .11) and HRQoL (Psychosocial health: p = .012, η2p = .18; Emotional functioning: p = .037, η2p = 0.13; Social functioning: p = .006, η2p = .21; Total: p = .013, η2p = .17), showing medium to large effects.

Conclusions

Patients receiving the neuropsychosocial intervention showed improvements in their social cognition performance and psychosocial HRQoL, providing evidence about the positive effects of the program in pediatric patients with NMD. This should be considered in further research and interventions in this field.
The transcription factor RhMYB17 regulates the homeotic transformation of floral organs in rose (Rosa hybrida) under cold stress
Authors: Yang Tuo , Wang Yi , Li Yuqi , Liang Shangyi , Yang Yunyao , Huang Ziwei , Li Yonghong , Gao Junping , Ma Nan , Zhou Xiaofeng
Published: March 2024

Low temperatures affect flower development in rose (Rosa hybrida), increasing petaloid stamen number and reducing normal stamen number. We identified the low-temperature-responsive R2R3-MYB transcription factor RhMYB17, which is homologous to Arabidopsis MYB17 by similarity of protein sequences. RhMYB17 was up-regulated at low temperatures, and RhMYB17 transcripts accumulated in floral buds. Transient silencing of RhMYB17 by virus-induced gene silencing decreased petaloid stamen number and increased normal stamen number. According to the ABCDE model of floral organ identity, class A genes APETALA 1 (AP1) and AP2 contribute to sepal and petal formation. Transcription factor binding analysis identified RhMYB17 binding sites in the promoters of rose APETALA 2 (RhAP2) and APETALA 2-LIKE (RhAP2L). Yeast one-hybrid assays, dual-luciferase reporter assays, and electrophoretic mobility shift assays confirmed that RhMYB17 directly binds to the promoters of RhAP2 and RhAP2L, thereby activating their expression. RNA sequencing further demonstrated that RhMYB17 plays a pivotal role in regulating the expression of class A genes, and indirectly influences the expression of the class C gene. This study reveals a novel mechanism for the homeotic transformation of floral organs in response to low temperatures.
A pathogenesis-related protein, PRP1, negatively regulates root nodule symbiosis in Lotus japonicus
Authors: Li Hao , Ou Yajuan , Huang Kui , Zhang Zhongming , Cao Yangrong , Zhu Hui
Published: March 2024

The legume-rhizobium symbiosis represents a unique model within the realm of plant-microbe interactions. Unlike typical cases of pathogenic invasion, the infection of rhizobia and their residence within symbiotic cells do not elicit a noticeable immune response in plants. Nevertheless, there is still much to uncover regarding the mechanisms through which plant immunity influences rhizobial symbiosis. In this study, we identify an important player in this intricate interplay: Lotus japonicus PRP1, which serves as a positive regulator of plant immunity but also exhibits the capacity to decrease rhizobial colonization and nitrogen fixation within nodules. The PRP1 gene encodes an uncharacterized protein and is named Pathogenesis-Related Protein1, owing to its orthologue in Arabidopsis thaliana, a pathogenesis-related family protein (At1g78780). The PRP1 gene displays high expression levels in nodules compared to other tissues. We observed an increase in rhizobium infection in the L. japonicus prp1 mutants, whereas PRP1-overexpressing plants exhibited a reduction in rhizobium infection compared to control plants. Intriguingly, L. japonicus prp1 mutants produced nodules with a pinker colour compared to wild-type controls, accompanied by elevated levels of leghaemoglobin and an increased proportion of infected cells within the prp1 nodules. The transcription factor Nodule Inception (NIN) can directly bind to the PRP1 promoter, activating PRP1 gene expression. Furthermore, we found that PRP1 is a positive mediator of innate immunity in plants. In summary, our study provides clear evidence of the intricate relationship between plant immunity and symbiosis. PRP1, acting as a positive regulator of plant immunity, simultaneously exerts suppressive effects on rhizobial infection and colonization within nodules.
Biocontrol strategies against Botrytis cinerea in viticulture: evaluating the efficacy and mode of action of selected winemaking yeast strains
Authors: Tsioka Artemis , Psilioti Dourmousi Konstantina , Poulaki Eirini G , Papoutsis Georgios , Tjamos Sotirios E , Gkizi Danai
Published: March 2024

Botrytis cinerea poses a recurring threat to viticulture, causing significant yield losses each year. The study explored the biocontrol capabilities of commercially used winemaking yeasts as a strategy to manage B. cinerea in grape berries. The winemaking yeast strains—Saccharomyces cerevisiae ES181, Saccharomyces pastorianus KBG6, S. cerevisiae BCS103, Lachancea thermotolerans Omega, and Torulaspora delbrueckii TD291-reduced B. cinerea growth and conidiation in vitro. Furthermore, they demonstrated a decreased disease severity and number of conidia in grape berries. Among these strains, S. cerevisiae BCS103 was the most effective, inducing the expression of the defense-related gene PR4 in berries. Its diffusible compounds and volatile organic compounds also reduced the expression of BcLTF2, a positive regulator of B. cinerea conidiogenesis. The examined winemaking yeast strains, especially S. cerevisiae BCS103, demonstrated effective inhibition of B. cinerea in vitro and in grape berries, influencing key defense genes and reducing BcLTF2 expression, offering potential solutions for disease management in viticulture. The study underscores the promise of commercially available winemaking yeast strains as eco-friendly tools against B. cinerea in viticulture. Leveraging their safety and existing use in winemaking offers a potential avenue for sustainable disease management.
Does a tragic event affect different aspects of attitudes toward immigration?
Authors: Heizler Odelia , Israeli Osnat
Published: March 2024

Dramatic events can evoke feelings of compassion, fear, or threat, and can affect public opinion regarding controversial issues. Such an event was the drowning of 3-year-old Alan Kurdi, a Syrian boy whose body washed up on a Turkish shore, and was photographed, producing an iconic image that was seen worldwide. The image evoked empathy and compassion that neuroscience and psychological research associate with a motivation to help. This article examines the impact of this event on four different aspects of attitudes toward immigration. The timing of the European Social Survey in Portugal allowed us to use this tragic event as a natural experiment. Our results suggest that Kurdi’s drowning had a significant effect on only two sentiments, but no such impact was detected on other attitudes. The results show that the event did not change the respondents’ opinion regarding the possible negative consequences of immigration on the host country’s economy, crime level, or culture, nor did it change their perception of the skills required by immigrants. On the other hand, the empathy induced by the tragic event increased their willingness to have a less restrictive immigration policy and their openness to having close social relationships with immigrants, although these changes were short-lived.
How galaxy properties vary with filament proximity in the Simba simulations
Authors: Bulichi Teodora-Elena , Davé Romeel , Kraljic Katarina
Published: March 2024

We explore the dependence of global galaxy properties in the Simba simulation as a function of distance from filaments identified using DisPerSE. We exclude haloes with mass Mh > 1013 M⊙ to mitigate the impact of group and cluster environments. Galaxies near filaments are more massive and have more satellites, which we control for by examining deviations from best-fitting scaling relations. At z = 0, star formation (SF) is significantly suppressed within $\lesssim 100$ kpc of filaments, more strongly for satellites, indicating substantial pre-processing in filaments. By z = 2, the trend is weak and if anything indicates an increase in SF activity close to filaments. The suppression at $z\lesssim 1$ is accompanied by lowered H i fractions, and increased metallicities, quenched fractions, and dispersion-dominated systems. H2 fractions are not strongly suppressed when controlling for stellar mass, suggesting that SF efficiency drives the drop in SF. By comparing amongst different Simba feedback variant runs, we show that the majority of SF suppression owes to filamentary shock-heating, but there is a non-trivial additional effect from AGN feedback. When looking around massive (Mh > 1013 M⊙) haloes, those galaxies near filaments behave somewhat differently, indicating that filaments provide an additional environmental effect relative to haloes. Finally, we compare Simba results to EAGLE and IllustrisTNG at z = 0, showing that all models predict SF suppression within $\lesssim 100$  kpc of filaments, none the less, detailed differences may be observationally testable.
Disease-modifying antirheumatic drug selection in Japanese patients with rheumatoid arthritis treated with biologics or JAK inhibitors without methotrexate: A retrospective hospital-based administrative claims database study
Authors: Miyakawa Naohisa , Tsuritani Katsuki , Teixeira Bruno Casaes , Fujio Keishi
Published: March 2024

Objectives

We evaluated the medication selection and clinical characteristics of rheumatoid arthritis patients who started treatment with/without methotrexate (MTX) (using biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs or Janus kinase inhibitors instead) in Japan.

Methods

Using a Japanese hospital-based administrative claims database, rheumatoid arthritis patients who received treatment [abatacept (ABA), interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor, or Janus kinase inhibitor] between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2019 were enrolled.

Results

Overall, 19,301 patients were included (10,530 receiving MTX; 8771 not receiving MTX within 60 days of the first treatment). Mean ages at diagnosis were 60.7 and 65.9 years in the MTX and non-MTX groups, respectively (P < .0001). The non-MTX group had higher proportions of patients with Charlson Comorbidity Index ≥1 (P < .0001) and higher comorbidity rates. ABA was the most frequently used drug among patients with infectious/parasitic, circulatory, and respiratory diseases at baseline. Interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor had the highest use rate among patients with neoplasms; blood, gastrointestinal, and genitourinary diseases; and abnormal clinical/laboratory findings. ABA had the highest persistence probability from 6 months onward.

Conclusions

MTX is used less frequently among older Japanese rheumatoid arthritis patients or those with comorbidities. In such patients, ABA is the most frequently used drug, followed by interleukin-6 receptor inhibitor, when MTX is not used at treatment start.