bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on RSV transmission in a single-centre observational study
Authors: Betts Tara Anne , Darby Alice Elizabeth , Hussain Faris , Edwards Martin
Published: June 2024

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the introduction of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) resulted in an unprecedented reduction in the transmission of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the predominant cause of bronchiolitis. As NPIs were eased, it was speculated that RSV transmission would return with an increase in the severity of bronchiolitis. In a large tertiary hospital, a dramatic reduction in the incidence of bronchiolitis was seen during the COVID-19 pandemic. The easing of NPIs correlated with an increase in RSV transmission particularly in the community; however, there was no evidence of an increase in the severity of bronchiolitis.
The 2014 West Africa Ebola crisis: lessons from UK Defence Healthcare Engagement in Sierra Leone
Authors: Jalloh Mohammed Boie , Round J A
Published: June 2024

The 2014 West Africa Ebola virus disease outbreak prompted the deployment to Sierra Leone of non-governmental organisations and the UK Joint Inter-Agency Taskforce including personnel from the UK Defence Medical Services (DMS). Some of these military personnel partnered with the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) as an example of Defence Healthcare Engagement (DHE).

UK DMS mentors assisted RSLAF to plan and upscale Ebola treatment units. Use of military analysis and planning tools facilitated robust and flexible plans to be produced while under significant time and resource constraints. Macrosimulation exercises enabled large numbers to be trained and standard operating procedures to be developed.

Fundamental to success was a mutual respect between the DHE partners while maintaining host nation primacy throughout. DHE in this example offered advantages over non-governmental organisations. Transferable lessons for future DHE from the RSLAF-UK DMS partnership are described in this paper.
Identifying psychological risk and resilience in high-risk military personnel
Authors: Bennett Neanne , Lawrence-Wood E , McFarlane A
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Combat exposure has been associated with the emergence of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms in military personnel; however, not all veterans are negatively impacted by their operational experience. In many instances, the absence of symptoms following operational service is attributed to resilience. This study explored the construct of resilience by examining the relationship between levels of deployment-related exposures and psychological symptoms, as well as identifying factors that may contribute to resilience and emerging risk.

Method

Participants were special forces personnel who completed self-report questionnaires 1 month before deployment and 4 months post deployment. Subgroups were created based on psychological reactivity to deployment exposures, representing risk, vulnerability and resilience. Regression analysis assessed the contribution of factors that were predictive of risk or resilience groups specifically.

Results

Results showed the overall levels of psychological reactivity in this population post deployment were low; however, differences between risk and resilience subgroups were found. Subthreshold indicators of psychological reactivity, as well as deployment factors such as increased deployment frequency and time spent away from home, were found to contribute to differences between risk and resilient trajectories.

Conclusion

Findings reflect a military population with low psychological symptoms despite high trauma exposure. However, subtle underlying differences between subgroups suggest that the early identification of risk and emerging trajectories is possible. Risk and resilience in military populations needs to consider subthreshold indicators and individual differences over time.
Personalising veteran healthcare: recognising barriers to access for minority and under-represented groups of veterans
Authors: Campbell Gavin M , Perry MP , Milford J , Murphy D
Published: June 2024

Veterans are not a demographically homogenous group, yet minority groups continue to be under-represented in research and report feeling less able to access clinical services to seek support. While veteran-specific healthcare has responded to the needs of the majority, the success of veteran mental health services is contingent on serving the whole veteran population. Key to the personalisation of healthcare is the question of access and a need to address specific inequalities and barriers to help-seeking behaviour. In this paper, we explore the issues of access to veteran healthcare at three levels: those barriers common to all veterans; those common to all minority groups of veterans; and those relevant to specific minority groups of veterans. Stigma, military attitudes and culture (eg, stoicism), and access to services and professionals with veteran-specific knowledge are universal barriers across veteran groups. Minority groups report a heightening of these barriers, alongside being �othered� in veteran care settings, a lack of representation of them or their experiences in service descriptions and advertising, a lack of professional cultural competencies on specific issue, and the veteran environment potentially being retraumatising. Finally, barriers specific to individual groups are discussed. Attending to these is essential in developing holistic approaches to personalised healthcare that meets the needs of all veterans.
Missed opportunities for guidance on sexually transmitted infection services: a global review of national HIV PrEP guidance
Authors: Spielman Erica , Mello Maeve B , Schaefer Robin , Ong Jason , Schmidt Heather-Marie A , Henderson Mary , Vinti Pietro , Prochazka Mateo , Luhmann Niklas , Baggaley Rachel
Published: June 2024

Objectives

People who use or would benefit from pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV infection are disproportionately affected by sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Integrating STI services when offering PrEP fosters synergies and efficiencies in response to HIV/STI and promotes people-centred care. Including guidance on STI interventions for people on PrEP may facilitate implementation and uptake. We conducted a global review of national PrEP guidance documents and analysed the inclusion of recommendations for the provision of STI services by country level of income.

Methods

We searched national PrEP guidance documents published by WHO Member States through the WHO, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) databases, thePrEPWatchrepository and Google. Information on a range of STI-related interventions was extracted from documents available by October 2023.

Results

Of the 113 national PrEP guidance documents retrieved, STIs were mentioned in 77% (90/117). Viral hepatitis B testing and vaccination were recommended by most high-income countries (HICs) and low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). Recommendation for syphilis testing was prominent in HICs (91%) and moderately noted in LMICs (68%). Gonorrhoea and chlamydia testing was recommended frequently in HICs (88%) and 42% in LMICs. However, the review noted that, to a much lesser extent, specific type of testing for these pathogens was mentioned. Recommendation for quarterly STI testing for syphilis, gonorrhoea and chlamydia was ubiquitous, while the need to offer STI partner services was rarely mentioned.

Conclusions

PrEP services offer an opportunity for improved and expanded STI services, increasing person-centred care and addressing STI epidemics alongside HIV. Our review highlights the strengths and gaps in incorporating critical STI interventions into national PrEP normative guidance. Addressing these gaps through a stepwise approach and increasing targeted testing and partner services can help improve quality of care and support an effective response to HIV and other STIs.
Online palliative care curriculum: contextual adaptation for Nigerian healthcare workers
Authors: Ogbenna Ann , Caputo Matthew , Akodu Babatunde , Drane Denise , Ohanete Debora , Doobay-Persaud Ashti , Ogunseitan Adeboye , Johnson Lyra , Hou Lifang , Akanmu Alani , Hauser Joshua M
Published: June 2024

Objectives

This study reports on a yearlong sequence of three periodic, virtual trainings in primary palliative care for healthcare professionals across Nigeria. Our overall objective was to determine the impact of the full course on participants’ attitudes, knowledge, skills and plans to implement and deliver palliative care in their local contexts.

Methods

The curriculum for this programme was codeveloped by a team of USA and Nigerian palliative care professionals and delivered via three 3-day virtual sessions. Daily surveys, knowledge tests and end-of-training surveys were administered to participants electronically. Demographics, knowledge scores, confidence levels and self-reported achievement were analysed using descriptive statistics.

Results

Pretraining and post-training knowledge scores showed significant improvement with average gains of 10.3 percentage points in training 1 (p<0.001) to 11.7 percentage points in training 2 (p=0.01). More than three-quarters of participants improved their test scores. Most participants (89.4%–100%) agreed that they had achieved the daily learning objectives across all trainings. Nearly 100% of participants reported that they felt more empowered as healthcare workers, more confident in their decision-making and more comfortable communicating with patients and other healthcare workers about palliative care.

Conclusions

Healthcare workers in Nigeria demonstrated increased knowledge and confidence in providing palliative care as a result of an adapted virtual training programme. Further research is needed to (1) demonstrate feasibility for online trainings in similar resource-limited settings and (2) evaluate impact on patient-centred outcomes.
Birthdate-based commercial tobacco sales restrictions: will ‘tobacco-free generation’ policies advance or delay the endgame?
Authors: Malone Ruth E , McAfee Tim
Published: June 2024

Endgame thinking means transitioning from merely trying to ‘control’ the tobacco epidemic to developing plans and measures to bring it to an end within a specific time, by changing the underlying dynamics that have created and perpetuated it for more than a century. Among the innovative policies characterised as ‘endgame’ policies are so-called ‘tobacco-free generation’ or ‘smoke-free generation’ policies, which prohibit sales of some or all tobacco products to individuals born on or after a particular date. Such birthdate-based sales restrictions (BSR) have intuitive appeal, largely because they do not appreciably disrupt the status quo of retail sales, which continue unchanged for all those born before the designated cut-off date. They also hold the potential for further denormalising tobacco use and sales by anticipating the long-term end of tobacco sales. In this Special Communication, we analyse BSR policies through an endgame lens and propose questions that should be discussed in jurisdictions considering them. We suggest that this policy has potential underexamined pitfalls, particularly related to equity, and that if enacted, it should include policy guardrails and be part of a package of endgame measures.
Valorization of lignin by crosslinking for slow-release urea fertilizer systems: A promising approach for agricultural applications
Authors: Vafakish Bahareh , Babaei-Ghazvini Amin , Patel Ravi , Acharya Bishnu
Published: June 2024

Slow-release fertilizers hold promise for their extensive use in agriculture. Urea, a commonly employed fertilizer, poses the risk of elevated nitrogen levels in soil due to its water solubility when used improperly. To address this issue, the development of a cost-effective and biodegradable urea slow-release matrix was pursued by crosslinking wheat straw-derived lignin with epichlorohydrin at varying ratios (1:1, 1:2, and 2:1) and subsequently impregnating it with urea. The crosslinked lignin matrices exhibited superior properties compared to unmodified lignin. After 8 days of immersion in water, the percentage release of urea from the crosslinked lignin matrices reached 48%, whereas it was 95% for unmodified lignin. Characterization techniques such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, 13C nuclear magnetic resonance, and thermogravimetry analysis were employed to gain insights into the structural and functional aspects of the crosslinked lignin. The results revealed that the crosslinked lignin possessed a higher surface area and exhibited more suitable functional groups for urea impregnation. The controlled hydrophilic-lipophilic balance of the crosslinked lignin matrices offers significant advantages in fertilizer systems, enabling a controlled and gradual release of urea. This innovative approach not only offers enhanced control over nutrient delivery but also demonstrates the potential of lignin as a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for slow-release fertilizer formulations. This development provides an effective solution to address the issue of excessive nitrogen levels and opens up new avenues in material development, holds promise for sustainable agriculture and paves the way for further advancements in the field.
Dopant concentration effects on Si$$_{1-x}$$Ge$$_{x}$$ crystals for emerging light-source technologies: a molecular dynamics study
Authors: Dickers Matthew D. , Sushko Gennady B. , Korol Andrei V. , Mason Nigel J. , Fantuzzi Felipe , Solov’yov Andrey V.
Published: June 2024

In this study, we conduct atomistic-level molecular dynamics simulations on fixed-sized silicon-germanium (Si$$_{1-x}$$

1
-
x

Ge$$_{x}$$

x

) crystals to elucidate the effects of dopant concentration on the crystalline inter-planar distances. Our calculations consider a range of Ge dopant concentrations between pure Si (0%) and 15%, and for both the optimised system state and a temperature of 300K. We observe a linear relationship between Ge concentration and inter-planar distance and lattice constant, in line with the approximation of Vegard’s Law, and other experimental and computational results. These findings will be employed in conjunction with future studies to establish precise tolerances for use in crystal growth, crucial for the manufacture of crystals intended for emerging gamma-ray crystal-based light source technologies.

Graphical abstract
Understanding Informatics in Continuing Vocational Education and Training Data in Germany
Authors: Dörpinghaus Jens , Binnewitt Johanna , Samray David , Hein Kristine
Published: June 2024

Objectives.
The purpose of this study is to reveal the importance of informatics in continuing vocational education in Germany. The labour market is a field with diverse data structures and multiple applications, for example connecting jobseekers and trainings or jobs. The labour market heavily relies on vocational education and training and advanced vocational qualification to meet challenges, e.g., digitalization.
Study Methods.
Since continuing vocational education and training (CVET) is a structurally important lever for the digital transformation of work, this article presents a methodological procedure for content analysis that provides information about the significance of computer science in unregulated continuing education offerings and in formal continuing education regulations.
Findings.
The question of the extent to which continuing education programs include informaticss topics is investigated, assuming that they can be found in continuing education as cross-cutting topics in a wide variety of thematic contexts. Our results indicating the need for training in computing education. At the same time, computing education offers the highest share of unregulated CVET programs. This could reflect the fact that training and further education regulations in Germany are designed open to technology.
Conclusions.
We present a novel and unique approach to analyze the importance of informatics and digitalization in CVET advertisements and official regulations for the same.
TA-Detector: A GNN-based Anomaly Detector via Trust Relationship
Authors: Wen Jie , Jiang Nan , Li Lang , Zhou Jie , Li Yanpei , Zhan Hualin , Kou Guang , Gu Weihao , Zhao Jiahui
Published: June 2024

With the rise of mobile Internet and AI, social media integrating short messages, images, and videos has developed rapidly. As a guarantee for the stable operation of social media, information security, especially graph anomaly detection (GAD), has become a hot issue inspired by the extensive attention of researchers. Most GAD methods are mainly limited to enhancing the homophily or considering homophily and heterophilic connections. Nevertheless, due to the deceptive nature of homophily connections among anomalies, the discriminative information of the anomalies can be eliminated. To alleviate the issue, we explore a novel method
TA-Detector
in GAD by introducing the concept of trust into the classification of connections. In particular, the proposed approach adopts a designed trust classier to distinguish trust and distrust connections with the supervision of labeled nodes. Then, we capture the latent factors related to GAD by graph neural networks (GNN), which integrate node interaction type information and node representation. Finally, to identify anomalies in the graph, we use the residual network mechanism to extract the deep semantic embedding information related to GAD. Experimental results on two real benchmark datasets verify that our proposed approach boosts the overall GAD performance in comparison to benchmark baselines.
Context, Composition, Automation, and Communication: The C
2
AC Roadmap for Modeling and Simulation
Authors: Uhrmacher Adelinde M , Frazier Peter , Hähnle Reiner , Klügl Franziska , Lorig Fabian , Ludäscher Bertram , Nenzi Laura , Ruiz-Martin Cristina , Rumpe Bernhard , Szabo Claudia , Wainer Gabriel , Wilsdorf Pia
Published: June 2024

Simulation has become, in many application areas, a
sine qua non
. Most recently, COVID-19 has underlined the importance of simulation studies and limitations in current practices and methods. We identify four goals of methodological work for addressing these limitations. The first is to provide better support for capturing, representing, and evaluating the context of simulation studies, including research questions, assumptions, requirements, and activities contributing to a simulation study. In addition, the composition of simulation models and other simulation studies’ products must be supported beyond syntactical coherence, including aspects of semantics and purpose, enabling their effective reuse. A higher degree of automating simulation studies will contribute to more systematic, standardized simulation studies and their efficiency. Finally, it is essential to invest increased effort into effectively communicating results and the processes involved in simulation studies to enable their use in research and decision making. These goals are not pursued independently of each other, but they will benefit from and sometimes even rely on advances in other sub-fields. In this article, we explore the basis and interdependencies evident in current research and practice and delineate future research directions based on these considerations.
Unified View Empirical Study for Large Pretrained Model on Cross-Domain Few-Shot Learning
Authors: Zhuo Linhai , Fu Yuqian , Chen Jingjing , Cao Yixin , Jiang Yu-Gang
Published: June 2024

The challenge of cross-domain few-shot learning (CD-FSL) stems from the substantial distribution disparities between target and source domain images, necessitating a model with robust generalization capabilities. In this work, we posit that large-scale pretrained models are pivotal in addressing the CD-FSL task owing to their exceptional representational and generalization prowess. To our knowledge, no existing research comprehensively investigates the utility of large-scale pretrained models in the CD-FSL context. Addressing this gap, our study presents an exhaustive empirical assessment of the Contrastive Language–Image Pre-Training model within the CD-FSL task. We undertake a comparison spanning six dimensions: base model, transfer module, classifier, loss, data augmentation, and training schedule. Furthermore, we establish a straightforward baseline model, E-base, based on our empirical analysis, underscoring the importance of our investigation. Experimental results substantiate the efficacy of our model, yielding a mean gain of 1.2% in 5-way 5-shot evaluations on the BSCD dataset.
Adaptive Scheduling of High-Availability Drone Swarms for Congestion Alleviation in Connected Automated Vehicles
Authors: Pang Shengye , Li Yi , Qin Zhen , Zhao Xinkui , Chen Jintao , Wang Fan , Yin Jianwei
Published: June 2024

The Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) serves as a pivotal element within urban networks, offering decision support to users and connected automated vehicles (CAVs) through comprehensive information gathering, sensing, device control, and data processing. Presently, ITS predominantly relies on sensors embedded in fixed infrastructure, notably Roadside Units (RSUs). However, RSUs are confined by coverage limitations and may encounter challenges in prompt emergency responses. On-demand resources, such as drones, present a viable option to supplement these deficiencies effectively. This paper introduces an approach where Software-Defined Networking (SDN) and Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) technologies are integrated to formulate a high-availability drone swarm control and communication infrastructure framework, comprising the cloud layer, edge layer, and device layer. Drones confront limitations in flight duration attributed to battery limitations, posing a challenge in sustaining continuous monitoring of road conditions over extended periods. Effective drone scheduling stands as a promising solution to overcome these constraints. To tackle this issue, we initially utilized Graph WaveNet, a specialized graph neural network structure tailored for spatial-temporal graph modeling, for training a congestion prediction model using real-world dataset inputs. Building upon this, we further propose an algorithm for drone scheduling based on congestion prediction. Our simulation experiments using real-world data demonstrate that, compared to the baseline method, the proposed scheduling algorithm not only yielded superior scheduling gains but also mitigated drone idle rates.
Methods–Temperature-Dependent Gassing Analysis by On-Line Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry of Lithium-Ion Battery Cells with Commercial Electrolytes
Authors: Reuter Lennart , Dickmanns Jonas L. S. , Strehle Benjamin , Hartmann Louis , Maglia Filippo , Jung Roland , Suthar Bharatkumar , Gasteiger Hubert A.
Published: June 2024

The evolution of gases is often associated with the decomposition of the electrolyte or active materials. Thus, its detection can be powerful for understanding degradation mechanisms in Li-ion batteries (LIBs). Here, we present an evaluation method for gas detection and quantification by on-line electrochemical mass spectrometry (OEMS) when using volatile electrolytes (e.g., electrolytes with linear alkyl carbonates) and a new OEMS cell design for improved leak tightness. With a significant fraction of the gases in the cell head-space being electrolyte vapor, we observe a pressure/time-dependency of the electrolyte background in the mass spectrometer, for which we here developed a correction method. We apply this method for the temperature-dependent gas analysis of a graphite/NCM831205 full-cell with an LP57 (1 M LiPF6 in EC:EMC 3:7 wt:wt) electrolyte. We conclude that the activation energy of the gas evolution associated with the formation of the solid-electrolyte interphase (SEI) is ∼15–20 kJ mol−1. Furthermore, we identify a significant temperature dependence of the lithium alkoxide triggered trans-esterification of EMC with an activation energy of ∼70 kJ mol−1. Lastly, the temperature-dependent analysis reveals the relation between the evolution of hydrogen related to water and HF impurities during the initial SEI formation and in situ generated protons.
Investigating the Performance and Safety of Li-Ion Cylindrical Cells Using Acoustic Emission and Machine Learning Analysis
Authors: Fordham Arthur , Joo Seung-Bin , Owen Rhodri E. , Galiounas Elias , Buckwell Mark , Brett Dan J. L. , Shearing Paul R. , Jervis Rhodri , Robinson James B.
Published: June 2024

Acoustic emission (AE) is a low-cost, non-invasive, and accessible diagnostic technique that uses a piezoelectric sensor to detect ultrasonic elastic waves generated by the rapid release of energy from a localised source. Despite the ubiquity of the cylindrical cell format, AE techniques applied to this cell type are rare in literature due to the complexity of acoustic wave propagation in cylindrical architectures alongside the challenges associated with sensor coupling. Here, we correlate the electrochemical performance of cells with their AE response, examining the differences during pristine and aged cell cycling. AE data was obtained and used to train various supervised binary classifiers in a supervised setting, differentiating pristine from aged cells. The highest accuracy was achieved by a deep neural network model. Unsupervised machine learning (ML) models, combining dimensionality reduction techniques with clustering, were also developed to group AE signals according to their form. The groups were then related to battery degradation phenomena such as electrode cracking, gas formation, and electrode expansion. There is the potential to integrate this novel ML-driven approach for widespread cylindrical cell testing in both academic and commercial settings to help improve the safety and performance of lithium-ion batteries.
Intestinal retinol saturase is implicated in the development of obesity and epithelial homeostasis upon injury
Authors: Kiefer Marie F. , Meng Yueming , Yang Na , Vahrenbrink Madita , Wulff Sascha , Li Chen , Wowro Sylvia J. , Petricek Konstantin M. , Sommerfeld Manuela , Flores Roberto E. , Obermayer Benedikt , Piepelow Karolin , Klaus Susanne , Hartl Kimberly , Guillot Adrien , Tacke Frank , Sigal Michael , Schupp Michael
Published: June 2024

Retinol saturase (RetSat) is an oxidoreductase with unknown function in the intestine. We found that RetSat localizes in intestinal epithelial cells and that its deletion reduced weight gain and fat mass in obese mice. In colitis, which decreased intestinal RetSat expression in humans and mice, RetSat ablation improved the epithelial architecture of the murine colon, presumably by decreasing ROS production, thus rendering RetSat a novel target for metabolic and inflammatory bowel disease.
Altered glucose kinetics occurs with aging: a new outlook on metabolic flexibility
Authors: Curl Casey C. , Leija Robert G. , Arevalo Jose A. , Osmond Adam D. , Duong Justin J. , Huie Melvin J. , Masharani Umesh , Horning Michael A. , Brooks George A.
Published: June 2024

To determine metabolic flexibility in response to an OGTT, we studied healthy young and older men and women to determine glucose kinetics and changes in RER. Compared to young subjects, glucose kinetics were suppressed in older healthy individuals during an OGTT. Surprisingly, the age-related changes in glucose flux were not reflected in RER measurements; thus, RER measurements do not give a complete view of metabolic flexibility in healthy individuals.
Intramuscular diacylglycerol accumulates with acute hyperinsulinemia in insulin-resistant phenotypes
Authors: McKenna Colleen F. , Stierwalt Harrison D. , Zemski Berry Karin A. , Ehrlicher Sarah E. , Robinson Matthew M. , Zarini Simona , Kahn Darcy E. , Snell-Bergeon Janet K. , Perreault Leigh , Bergman Bryan C. , Newsom Sean A.
Published: June 2024

Postprandial hyperinsulinemia is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes and may increase muscle lipids. However, it is unclear how the relationship between acute hyperinsulinemia and the muscle lipidome interacts across metabolic phenotypes, thus contributing to insulin resistance. We observed that acute hyperinsulinemia elevates muscle 1,2-DAGs in insulin-resistant phenotypes, whereas ceramides were unaltered. Insulin-mediated acylcarnitine reductions are also hindered with high-fat feeding. The postprandial period may exacerbate insulin resistance in metabolically unhealthy phenotypes.
The vestigial pinna-orienting system in humans briefly suppresses superior auricular muscle activity during reflexive orienting toward auditory stimuli
Authors: Schroeer Andreas , Corona-Strauss Farah I. , Hannemann Ronny , Hackley Steven A. , Strauss Daniel J.
Published: June 2024

This study provides evidence that two auricular muscles in humans, the posterior and superior auricular muscles (PAM, SAM), react fundamentally different to lateralized transient auditory stimuli, especially during active listening. Although the PAM reacts with a transient increase in ipsilateral activity, ongoing ipsilateral SAM activity is briefly suppressed at the same time. This indicates the presence of a more complex and nuanced pinna-orienting system, with synchronized excitatory and inhibitory components in humans, than previously suspected.
Causes of Unwarranted Variation and Disparity in Breast Cancer Management in Regional and Rural Area
Authors: Davis Kimberley J. , Campbell Chantal , Costelloe Rebekah , Song Ting , Fylyk Glaucia , Yu Ping , Craig Steven J.
Published: June 2024

Introduction. Breast cancer management is complex, requiring personalised care from multidisciplinary teams. Research shows that there is unwarranted clinical variation in mastectomy rates between rural and metropolitan patients; that is, variation in treatment which cannot be explained by disease progression or medical necessity. This study aims to determine the clinical and nonclinical factors contributing to any unwarranted variation in breast cancer management in rural patients and to evaluate how these factors and variations relate to patient outcomes. Methods. Comprehensive data from patients who had primary breast cancer surgery from 2010 to 2014 in either a rural or metropolitan location in a single local health district was analysed (n = 686). Records were subset into two rurality groupings based on the postcode in which the patient resided, and the Modified Monash Model (MMM), an Australian system for classifying rurality. Statistical analysis was used to compare rural and metropolitan cohorts on treatments, patient characteristics, timeliness, and outcomes (recurrence and survival). Results. Rural patients had higher mastectomy rates than metropolitan patients (57% vs. 34%, p < 0.001), despite a lack of difference in clinical or demographic factors accounting for such variation. The length of time between treatment pathway stages was consistently longer amongst rural patients (p < 0.01). Rural women also had worse survival outcomes, especially amongst HER2‐positive patients who had significantly lower survival (5‐year 74% vs 82%; 10‐year 49% vs 71%, p < 0.05) than metropolitan HER2‐positive patients. Conclusion. This study reveals clinical disparities among rural breast cancer patients, that cannot be explained by demographic and clinical factors alone. Rural patients face lower rates of breast‐conserving surgery and treatment delays, attributable to systemic barriers such as limited access to specialist care, high travel costs, and suboptimal care coordination. These findings have important implications for improving equity and collaboration in delivering person‐centred breast cancer care.
Dietary Effects of Fermented Cottonseed Meal Substituting Fishmeal on the Growth, Biochemical Indexes, Antioxidant Capacity, and Muscle Quality of Juvenile Golden Pompano (Trachinotus ovatus)
Authors: Wang Zhanzhan , Liao Shuling , Huang Zhong , Wang Jun , Wang Yun , Yu Wei , Huang Xiaolin , Luo Maoyan , Lin Heizhao , Zhou Chuanpeng
Published: June 2024

This study investigated the effects of the dietary replacing fishmeal (FM) with fermented cottonseed meal (FCSM) on growth performance, body coloration, serum biochemistry, muscle quality, and liver antioxidant capacity of juvenile golden pompano (Trachinotus ovatus). Fish were fed with five experimental diets (0 (FM), 12.5% (CSM12.5), 25% (CSM25), 50% (CSM50), and 100% (CSM100) replacement levels) for 8 weeks. The weight gain rate (WGR), specific growth rate (SGR), and condition factor (CF) in fish fed with CSM25 were significantly higher than those of the FM (P < 0.05). ALT, GLU, TG, TC, and LDL of fish fed with CSM100 diet were significantly higher than those in FM (P < 0.05). No significant difference was observed in SOD, CAT, and MDA among all treatments (P > 0.05). The relative gene expression of Nrf2 of fish fed with CSM25 diet was higher than that of the other groups (P < 0.05). The relative gene expression of Keap-1 of fish fed with CSM25 diet was lower than those in FM (P < 0.05). In addition, the replacement of a high proportion of FM with FCSM negatively affect the liver antioxidant capacity of fish. With dietary replacement of FM with FCSM increasing 0%–25%, the relative expressions of GH, myf5, and MSTN were significantly upregulated (P > 0.05). Based on these results, we recommend that of FCSM in the diet of golden pompano, whereas the optimal level of FCSM should be carefully evaluated. In conclusion, the optimum level of dietary replacing FM with FCSM in T. ovatus diet was 24.74%−29.38% based on SGR and WGR.
Abstract PO-001: GPR65-low tumor clones reprogram macrophage via VEGF signaling and confer antigen-independent CAR-T resistance
Authors: Mavuluri Jayadev
Published: June 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies can be curative for CD19+ hematological malignancies, though are limited by frequent patient relapse and response failures. Here, we identify GPR65 as a tumor-specific determinant of responsiveness to CAR-T cell therapy. In patients and an immune competent mouse model of B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) response to CAR-T cell therapy, high GPR65 is associated with a complete tumor response. In mice, GPR65 knockout (GPR65 KO) tumors are resistant to CAR-T cell therapy in vivo, without antigen loss. Single-cell network analyses reveal that GPR65 deficiency remodels tumor interactions with host macrophages, partially through increasing tumor VEGFA. This leads to increased macrophage numbers and preferential M2 macrophage polarization. Either depletion of host macrophages or deletion of VEGFA from GPR65 KO tumors restores responsiveness to CAR-T cell treatment. Anti-VEGFA therapy in combination with CAR-T cell administration also prolongs the survival of GPR65 KO tumor-bearing mice. Our results indicate that tumor GPR65 expression is important for B-ALL responses to CAR-T cell therapy through its impact on the tumor microenvironment and supports new approaches to identify and overcome CAR-T cell resistance.

Citation Format: Jayadev Mavuluri. GPR65-low tumor clones reprogram macrophage via VEGF signaling and confer antigen-independent CAR-T resistance [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth AACR International Meeting on Advances in Malignant Lymphoma: Maximizing the Basic-Translational Interface for Clinical Application; 2024 Jun 19-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2024;5(3_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-001.
Exploring Smartphone App Use in Older Adults with a Chronic Respiratory Disease: The biggest Problem I have Is I Don’t Understand My Phone At All
Authors: Coll Fiona , Grigoletto Isis , Cavalheri Vinicius , Smith Jaimie-Lee , Claxton Scott , Wulff Sheldon , Hill Kylie
Published: June 2024

Introduction: In older people with a chronic respiratory disease, we explored (i) usual Smartphone application (App) use, (ii) the time taken to download and use an App, and (iii) changes in self-efficacy for downloading an App after a single practice session. Methods: Participants were invited to attend one or two separate assessment sessions (Part A and B). Those who attended Part A had data pertaining to their App usage over the previous week extracted from their Smartphone. Those who attended Part B were asked to download and use a pedometer App and “think out loud” during the task. Before and after the task, participants rated their self-efficacy for downloading an App using a Visual Analogue Scale (0–10). Results: Twenty-seven participants (mean ± SD 74 ± 5 years) completed Part A. Commonly used Apps related to communication (e.g., texting; median [interquartile range] 15 [9–25] min/day) and interest (e.g., news; 14 [4–50] min/day). Fifteen participants completed Part B (mean ± SD 73 ± 7 years). The median time taken to download and use the App was 24 (22–37) min. The “think out loud” data converged into four domains: (i) low self-efficacy for using and learning Apps; (ii) reliance on others for help; (iii) unpleasant emotional responses; and (iv) challenges due to changes associated with longevity. Self-efficacy increased by 4 (95% confidence interval: 3–6). Conclusion: This population used Apps mainly to facilitate social connection. It took participants almost half an hour to download and use an App, but a single practice session improved self-efficacy.
Antihypertensive Drugs for the Prevention of Atrial Fibrillation: A Drug Target Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Geurts Sven , Tilly Martijn J. , Lu Zuolin , Stricker Bruno H.C. , Deckers Jaap W. , de Groot Natasja M.S. , Miller Clint L. , Ikram M. Arfan , Kavousi Maryam
Published: June 2024

BACKGROUND:

We investigated the potential impact of antihypertensive drugs for atrial fibrillation (AF) prevention through a drug target Mendelian randomization study to avoid the potential limitations of clinical studies.

METHODS:

Validated published single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that mimic the action of 12 antihypertensive drug classes, including alpha-adrenoceptor blockers, adrenergic neuron blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin-II receptor blockers, beta-adrenoceptor blockers, centrally acting antihypertensive drugs, calcium channel blockers, loop diuretics, potassium-sparing diuretics and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, renin inhibitors, thiazides and related diuretic agents, and vasodilators were used. We estimated, via their corresponding gene and protein targets, the downstream effect of these drug classes to prevent AF via systolic blood pressure using 2-sample Mendelian randomization analyses. The SNPs were extracted from 2 European genome-wide association studies for the drug classes (n=317 754; n=757 601) and 1 European genome-wide association study for AF (n=1 030 836).

RESULTS:

Drug target Mendelian randomization analyses supported the significant preventive causal effects of lowering systolic blood pressure per 10 mm Hg via alpha-adrenoceptor blockers (n=11 SNPs; odds ratio [OR], 0.34 [95% CI, 0.21–0.56];
P
=2.74×10
−05
), beta-adrenoceptor blockers (n=17 SNPs; OR, 0.52 [95% CI, 0.35–0.78];
P
=1.62×10
−03
), calcium channel blockers (n=49 SNPs; OR, 0.50 [95% CI, 0.36–0.70];
P
=4.51×10
−05
), vasodilators (n=19 SNPs; OR, 0.53 [95% CI, 0.34–0.84];
P
=7.03×10
−03
), and all 12 antihypertensive drug classes combined (n=158 SNPs; OR, 0.64 [95% CI, 0.54–0.77];
P
=8.50×10
−07
) on AF risk.

CONCLUSIONS:

Our results indicated that lowering systolic blood pressure via protein targets of various antihypertensive drugs seems promising for AF prevention. Our findings inform future clinical trials and have implications for repurposing antihypertensive drugs for AF prevention.
A new species of Isocapnia (Plecoptera: Capniidae) from China, with notes on I. apicispina Chen & Du, 2017 and I. arcuata Zhiltzova, 1975
Authors: YANG XIAO , DU YU-ZHOU
Published: June 2024

This study describes and illustrates a new species of Isocapnia Banks, 1938, I. niuerheensis Yang & Du, sp. nov., from the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China with a comparison between morphologically related species I. apicispina Chen & Du, 2017 and I. arcuata Zhiltzova, 1975.
The Need for Adaptive Access Control System at the Network Edge
Authors: Aliyu Muhammad , Suru Hassan , Gabi Danlami , Garba Muhammad , Argungu Musa
Published: June 2024

The emergence of edge computing, characterized by its distributed nature and real-time processing, necessitates a paradigm shift in access control mechanisms. Traditional, static methods struggle to adapt to the dynamic and heterogeneous environment of edge computing. This research addresses this gap by proposing an Adaptive Risk-Based Access Control (ARBAC) model specifically designed for edge environments. The objective of this research is to develop a robust access control system that dynamically responds to the changing security landscape of edge computing. The proposed ARBAC model integrates real-time data on user context, resource sensitivity, action severity, and risk history to dynamically assess the security risk associated with each access request. This approach ensures a balance between robust security and user experience by tailoring access controls based on the specific context. The research builds upon the growing recognition of the limitations of traditional access control methods in edge environments. Existing literature highlights the need for adaptive and risk-based access control models to address the dynamic nature of edge computing. This research contributes to this evolving field by proposing an ARBAC model that leverages real-time information for contextually relevant access decisions. The proposed ARBAC model offers several advantages. By dynamically adjusting access controls based on risk levels, the model enhances security and ensures compliance with regulatory requirements. Additionally, it improves network performance by reducing load and facilitating faster access to resources. Furthermore, the model's scalability makes it suitable for managing access in large-scale edge deployments. In conclusion, this research proposes an ARBAC model that aligns with the dynamic nature of edge computing environments. By leveraging real-time data and contextual information, the model offers a robust and adaptable approach to access control, promoting security, compliance, performance, and scalability in edge computing. This research paves the way for further exploration and implementation of ARBAC systems, empowering organizations to effectively manage access control in the evolving landscape of edge computing and IoT.
Attitudes and Practices of Students at the High School of Parcelles Assainies unit 13 on COVID-19 in Dakar, Senegal
Authors: Leye Mamadou , Ndiaye Mbayang , Diouf Jeane , Seck Ibrahima
Published: June 2024

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) was declared a major public health problem in 2019. Like various countries of the world, Senegal has not been spared this scourge. As a result, it was necessary to study the attitudes and practices of the students of the Parcelles Assainies unit 13 high school in Dakar. A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytical study was conducted in 2021. The study population was the students of the Parcelles Assainies high school unit 13. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed using Excel and R software. The average age of the students surveyed was 18.57 years, females predominated (66%). Almost all respondents (93.5%) had a television and 82.8% a mobile phone. Of those surveyed, 81.5% respected the stay-at-home concept. Wearing a mask, washing hands with soap and water, and avoiding gatherings were noted among the students surveyed in 99.3%; 97.56% and 92.68% of cases. Phone ownership was more likely for students surveyed to consistently wear masks (ORaj=2.87 [1.29-6.35]) and to wash their hands regularly with soap and water (ORaj=0.33 [0.12-0.89]). Students surveyed who raised awareness about COVID-19 were more likely to wear masks (ORaj=3.71 [1.79-7.66]). Those who agreed to live with someone who had recovered from COVID-19 washed their hands more with soap and water (ORaj=2.99 [1.09-8.19]). The implementation of handwashing devices was well adopted by the students of the High school of Parcelles Assainies. Ministry for Health and Social Action (MHSA) policies were thus decisive in the fight against COVID-19.
Financial Resource Management Practices and Challenges in Gambella Town Primary Schools, Ethiopia
Authors: Legede Chala , Mamo Tedasse , Debelo Dessalegn
Published: June 2024

This study aimed to investigate the practice and challenges of primary school financial resource management in the Gambella town administration of the Gambella Region. The research adopted a mixed methods approach, utilizing questionnaires and interviews as the main data collection instruments. A total of 102 respondents from five schools and the town education office participated in the study. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics for quantitative data and narrative analysis for qualitative data obtained through interviews. The findings of the study revealed several challenges in the budget implementation process and financial resource utilization in the selected government primary schools. The major challenges identified included the lack of stakeholder participation in the budget implementation process, absence of follow-up and monitoring auditing activities, and the resulting erosion of accountability and transparency in budget utilization. Based on the findings, it is recommended that the town education office and schools take measures to increase stakeholder participation in the budget implementation process. Additionally, schools should report their budget performance to the relevant agencies, and the town education and finance office should establish regular monitoring and evaluation mechanisms. These measures can help address the identified challenges and improve the financial resource management practices in primary schools in the Gambella town administration.
Teacher Training, and Associated Problems and Solutions in the 21st Century's Azerbaijan
Authors: Verdiyeva Mirvari
Published: June 2024

Significant reforms were implemented in the education sector of Azerbaijan after the country gained independence, initiating integration with global educational standards. A key focus was ensuring secondary schools were staffed with subject teachers competent in meeting contemporary requirements, highlighting the importance of a policy for young educators. Consequently, the study examined the professional skills of graduates from the Azerbaijan State Pedagogy University, who would teach geography in this new era. The study delved into the educational engagement of secondary school students, particularly those with well-educated parents, access to modern technology, and the ability to source information globally. It specifically considered the capabilities of geography teacher graduates to engage students' attention and the professional skills necessary for this task. Identified deficiencies were scrutinized, and strategies for their resolution were investigated. Higher education reforms, the shift from Soviet educational practices to the Bologna system was analyzed and contrasted. The study entailed a theoretical evaluation of the professional skills of Azerbaijan State Pedagogical University's geography teacher graduates, scrutinizing the curricula and subject content designed to foster these skills. An assessment of the educational process pinpointed organizational and instructional shortcomings in lectures and seminars. The research culminated in pinpointing gaps in the professional competencies of geography teacher graduates, proposing methods to rectify these gaps and align graduates' skills with contemporary standards.