bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Management of monochorionic diamniotic twin gestation affected by Type‐II selective fetal growth restriction: cost‐effectiveness analysis
Authors: Morgan J. C. , Rios J. , Kahl T. , Prasad M. , Rausch A. , Longman R. , Mehra S. , Shaaban A. , Premkumar A.
Published: November 2024

Objective

Monochorionic twin gestations affected by Type‐II selective fetal growth restriction (sFGR) are at increased risk of intrauterine fetal demise, extreme preterm birth, severe neurodevelopmental impairment (NDI) and neonatal death of one or both twins. In the absence of a consensus on the optimal management strategy, we chose to evaluate which strategy was cost‐effective in the setting of Type‐II sFGR.

Methods

A decision‐analytic model was used to compare expectant management (EM), bipolar cord occlusion (BCO), radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and fetoscopic laser photocoagulation (FLP) for a hypothetical cohort of 10 000 people with a monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy affected by Type‐II sFGR. Probabilities and utilities were derived from the literature. Costs were derived from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project and adjusted to 2023 USD. The analytic horizon, taken from the perspective of the pregnant patient, extended throughout the life of the child or children. An incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of 50 000 USD per quality‐adjusted life year defined the willingness‐to‐pay threshold. One‐way and probabilistic sensitivity analysis was also performed.

Results

For base‐case estimates, RFA was the most cost‐effective strategy compared with all of the other interventions included, with an incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio of 14 243 USD per quality‐adjusted life year. One‐way sensitivity analysis demonstrated that the utilities assigned to fetal demise and severe NDI, as well as the costs of preterm birth before 32 weeks, most strongly impacted the model outcomes. On probabilistic sensitivity analysis, RFA was the most cost‐effective strategy in 78% of runs, followed by BCO at 20%, EM at 2% and FLP in 0% of runs. When compared with EM, RFA led to 58 fewer births before 28 weeks' gestation, 273 fewer cases of severe NDI and 22 more deliveries after 32 weeks. When compared with FLP, RFA resulted in 259 fewer cases of severe NDI and 3177 more births after 32 weeks. When compared with BCO, RFA resulted in 1786 more neurologically intact neonates and 34 fewer cases of severe NDI.

Conclusions

On base‐case analysis, RFA was found to be the most cost‐effective strategy in the management of monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancies affected by Type‐II sFGR. However, these findings were not robust on sensitivity analysis, indicating the potential benefit of BCO and EM. In the absence of large clinical trials, these data should not be taken to guide management. Future studies should evaluate management strategies for Type‐II sFGR related to long‐term neonatal outcomes, inclusive of quality‐of‐life indicators, in a prospective multicenter cohort. © 2024 The Author(s). Ultrasound in Obstetrics & Gynecology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Society of Ultrasound in Obstetrics and Gynecology.
Bounds and dualities of Type II Little String Theories
Authors: Baume Florent , Oehlmann Paul-Konstantin , Ruehle Fabian
Published: November 2024

Abstract

We explore the symmetry structure of Type II Little String Theories and their T-dualities. We construct these theories both from the bottom-up perspective starting with seed Superconformal Field Theories, and from the top-down using F-/M-theory. By exploiting anomaly inflow and unitarity of the LST worldsheet theory, we derive strong conditions on the possible 6D bulk theories and their flavor algebras. These constraints continue to apply if gravity is coupled to the theory. We also study the higher form symmetry structure of these theories and show how they get exchanged under T-duality. Finally, we comment on seemingly consistent bottom-up Little String Theories that cannot be constructed from the top-down approach.
Flavor invariants for the SM with one singlet vector-like quark
Authors: de Lima E. L. F. , Nishi C. C.
Published: November 2024

Abstract

We study the flavor invariants of the SM augmented by one singlet vector-like quark. Aided by the Hilbert series, we construct all the basic invariants with which any flavor invariant can be written as a polynomial. In special, this theory contains one CP odd invariant of degree six which has degree much lower than the usual Jarlskog invariant of the SM. We find the nonlinear polynomial relations (syzygies) of lowest degrees involving these basic invariants, including the expression of the square of the CP odd invariant of lowest degree in terms of CP even invariants. The SU(3) identity underlying this syzygy is uncovered in terms of invariant tensors, which can be applied to rewrite any square of a CP odd invariant of the same form, involving three hermitean matrices of size three. We demonstrate by an example that there is CP violation that is not detected by the CP odd invariants proposed in the literature so far but it can be detected with the full list of CP odd invariants found here.
Linear topological invariants for kernels of differential operators by shifted fundamental solutions
Authors: Debrouwere Andreas , Kalmes Thomas
Published: November 2024

We characterize the condition

$$(\Omega )$$

(
Ω
)

for smooth kernels of partial differential operators in terms of the existence of shifted fundamental solutions satisfying certain properties. The conditions

$$(P\Omega )$$

(
P
Ω
)

and

$$(P\overline{\overline{\Omega }})$$

(
P

Ω
¯

¯

)

for distributional kernels are characterized in a similar way. By lifting theorems for Fréchet spaces and (PLS)-spaces, this provides characterizations of the problem of parameter dependence for smooth and distributional solutions of differential equations by shifted fundamental solutions. As an application, we give a new proof of the fact that the space

$$\{ f \in {\mathscr {E}}(X) \, | \, P(D)f = 0\}$$

{
f
∈
E
(
X
)

|

P
(
D
)
f
=
0
}

satisfies

$$(\Omega )$$

(
Ω
)

for any differential operator P(D) and any open convex set

$$X \subseteq {\mathbb {R}}^d$$

X
⊆

R

d

.
Pathologic and clinical correlates of region-specific brain GFAP in Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Phillips Jared M. , Winfree Rebecca L. , Seto Mabel , Schneider Julie A. , Bennett David A. , Dumitrescu Logan C. , Hohman Timothy J.
Published: November 2024

Plasma glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is an emerging biomarker of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), with higher blood GFAP levels linked to faster cognitive decline, particularly among individuals with high brain amyloid burden. However, few studies have examined brain GFAP expression to clarify if peripheral associations reflect brain changes. This study aimed to correlate region-specific GFAP mRNA expression (n = 917) and protein abundance (n=386) with diverse neuropathological measures at autopsy in the Religious Orders Study and Rush Memory and Aging Project (ROS/MAP) and to characterize the interaction between brain GFAP and brain amyloid burden on downstream outcomes. We assessed GFAP gene expression in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, caudate nucleus, and posterior cingulate cortex with respect to core AD pathology (amyloid-β and tau), cerebrovascular (microinfarcts, macroinfarcts, and cerebral amyloid angiopathy [CAA]), proteinopathic (TDP-43, Lewy bodies), and cognitive outcomes. These associations were further examined at the protein level using tandem-mass tag proteomic measurements from the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. We also assessed GFAP interactions with AD neuropathology on downstream outcomes. Cortical GFAP gene and protein expression were significantly upregulated in participants with a neuropathologically confirmed AD diagnosis at autopsy (all PFDR < 3.5e−4), but not in individuals positive for tau pathology and negative for amyloid pathology (all PFDR > 0.05). Higher cortical GFAP levels were associated with increased amyloid pathology, CAA pathology, and faster cognitive decline (all PFDR < 3.3e−3). GFAP’s associations with phosphorylated tau burden and cognition were influenced by amyloid burden, being most pronounced among amyloid-positive individuals, confirming previous in vivo biomarker observations. No associations were observed between GFAP gene expression and outcomes in the caudate nucleus. Our results support previous biomarker findings and suggest that higher brain GFAP levels are associated with higher brain amyloid burden and faster cognitive decline among amyloid-positive individuals.
Neuronal and oligodendroglial, but not astroglial, tau translates to in vivo tau PET signals in individuals with primary tauopathies
Authors: Slemann Luna , Gnörich Johannes , Hummel Selina , Bartos Laura M. , Klaus Carolin , Kling Agnes , Kusche-Palenga Julia , Kunte Sebastian T. , Kunze Lea H. , Englert Amelie L. , Li Yunlei , Vogler Letizia , Katzdobler Sabrina , Palleis Carla , Bernhardt Alexander , Jäck Alexander , Zwergal Andreas , Hopfner Franziska , Roemer-Cassiano Sebastian N. , Biechele Gloria , Stöcklein Sophia , Bischof Gerard , van Eimeren Thilo , Drzezga Alexander , Sabri Osama , Barthel Henryk , Respondek Gesine , Grimmer Timo , Levin Johannes , Herms Jochen , Paeger Lars , Willroider Marie , Beyer Leonie , Höglinger Günter U. , Roeber Sigrun , Franzmeier Nicolai , Brendel Matthias
Published: November 2024

Tau PET has attracted increasing interest as an imaging biomarker for 4-repeat (4R)-tauopathy progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP). However, the translation of in vitro 4R-tau binding to in vivo tau PET signals is still unclear. Therefore, we performed a translational study using a broad spectrum of advanced methodologies to investigate the sources of [18F]PI-2620 tau PET signals in individuals with 4R-tauopathies, including a pilot PET autopsy study in patients. First, we conducted a longitudinal [18F]PI-2620 PET/MRI study in a 4-repeat-tau mouse model (PS19) and detected elevated [18F]PI-2620 PET signals in the presence of high levels of neuronal tau. An innovative approach involving cell sorting after radiotracer injection in vivo revealed higher tracer uptake in single neurons than in the astrocytes of PS19 mice. Regional [18F]PI-2620 tau PET signals during the lifetime correlated with the abundance of fibrillary tau and with autoradiography signal intensity in PSP patients and disease controls who underwent autopsy 2–63 months after tau PET. In autoradiography, tau-positive neurons and oligodendrocytes with a high AT8 density, but not tau-positive astrocytes, were the drivers of [18F]PI-2620 autoradiography signals in individuals with PSP. The high tau abundance in oligodendrocytes at the boundary of gray and white matter facilitated the identification of an optimized frontal lobe target region to detect the tau burden in patients with PSP. In summary, neuronal and oligodendroglial tau constitutes the dominant source of tau PET radiotracer binding in 4-repeat-tauopathies, translating to an in vivo signal.
Review on Symptomatic pedunculated leiomyomas in pregnancy with special consideration of an example case
Authors: Bubmann Jonas , Wild Carl Mathis , Dannecker Christian , Franitza Manuela , Eser Bernadette , Seefried Marina C. , Kroencke Thomas , Voisard Philipp , Jeschke Udo , Garrido Fabian
Published: November 2024

Objectives/Hypothesis

Symptomatic pedunculated leiomyomas in pregnancy; review of the literature with special consideration of an example case.

Study design

Retrospective narrative review with an example case.

Methods

Systematic evaluation of 37 reports.

Example case

A 36-year-old Caucasian primigravida was referred symptomatic at 16 + 0 weeks due to a 13,5 cm myoma causing pain, constipation, urine retention and dysesthesias. Our patient underwent myomectomy at 17 + 0 weeks. One pedunculated leiomyoma was successfully removed.

Conclusion

Myomectomy can be performed and is safe for pedunculated fibroids in pregnancy. Depending on the clinical scenario, surgical removal may be indicated. Based on the size of the fibroids and expected adhesions, a laparotomy is a safe option and is not a contraindication for vaginal birth in the case of pedunculated fibroids. Myomas larger than 10 cm should be removed by laparotomy.
An ultra-endurance event leads to changes in circulating regulatory T-cells, CD4+ naïve and CD8+ effector memory T-cells in the 48 h post-race recovery period
Authors: Lithgow Hannah , Gibson Laura , Wilson Russell , Guthrie Neil , Ingram-Sills Lesley , Clifford Tom , Ross Mark
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Exercise is known to acutely affect T-lymphocyte populations in the peripheral blood, which is intensity- and duration-dependent. However, effects of longer duration endurance exercise (>5 h) on T-cells in the days following are unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate the circulating T-cell changes that occur in response to an ultra-endurance event, which may provide insight into the inflammatory response to ultra-endurance exercise.

Methods

Ten individuals (m = 7, f = 3) completing an Ironman 70.3 event volunteered for the study. Peripheral blood samples were taken 1–2 days pre-race (PRE-RACE), and 1 day (RACE + 1) and 2 days (RACE + 2) post-race, with circulating T-cells enumerated by flow cytometry (total CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells, regulatory T-cells [CD4+CD25+CD127−; TREG], naïve [CD27+CD45RA+; NA], central memory [CD27+CD45RA−; CM], effector memory [CD27−CD45RA−; EM], and effector memory CD45RA+ [CD27−CD45RA+; EMRA]).

Results

There were no changes in total CD3+, CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. TREG RACE + 1 was significantly higher compared to PRE-RACE, as were the proportion of CD4+ NA cells and CD8+ CM cells at RACE + 2; CD8+ EM cells fell at RACE + 2 (absolute counts and proportion).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the ultra-endurance event evoked T-cell changes over the 48 h recovery period, with an increase in T-cells that regulate the immune response, and a reduction in circulating EM T-cells, most likely trafficked to sites of tissue damage and inflammation.
Controlled dietary phosphate loading in healthy young men elevates plasma phosphate and FGF23 levels
Authors: Gerber Jennifer Scotti , Arroyo Eva Maria Pastor , Pastor Johanne , Correia Miguel , Rudloff Stefan , Moe Orson W. , Egli-Spichtig Daniela , Mohebbi Nilufar , Wagner Carsten A.
Published: November 2024

Increased dietary inorganic phosphate (Pi) intake stimulates renal Pi excretion, in part, by parathyroid hormone (PTH), fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23) or dopamine. High dietary Pi may also stimulate sympathetic outflow. Rodent studies provided evidence for these regulatory loops, while controlled experiments in healthy humans examined periods of either a few hours or several weeks, and often varied dietary calcium intake. The effects of controlled, isolated changes in dietary Pi intake over shorter periods are unknown. We studied the effects of a low or high Pi diet on parameters of mineral metabolism in 10 healthy young men. Participants received a standardized diet (1000 mg phosphorus equivalent/day) supplemented with either a phosphate binder (low Pi diet) or phosphate capsules (750 mg phosphorus, high Pi diet) in a randomized cross-over trial for 5 days with a 7-day washout between diets. High Pi intake increased plasma Pi levels and 24-h excretion and decreased urinary calcium excretion. High Pi intake increased intact FGF23 (iFGF23) and suppressed plasma Klotho without affecting cFGF23, PTH, calcidiol, calcitriol, Fetuin-A, dopamine, epinephrine, norepinephrine, metanephrine, or aldosterone. Higher iFGF23 correlated with lower calcitriol and higher PTH. These data support a role for iFGF23 in increasing renal Pi excretion and reducing calcitriol in healthy young men during steady-state high dietary Pi intake. High dietary Pi intake elevated blood Pi levels in healthy young subjects with normal renal function and may therefore be a health risk, as higher serum Pi levels are associated with cardiovascular risk in the general population.
Is Helicobacter pylori infection a risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in children?
Authors: Barakat Sana , Abdel-Fadeel Mohamed , Sharaki Ola , Shafei Mohamed El , Elbanna Basant , Mahfouz Aml
Published: November 2024

Helicobacter py
lori infection has been investigated as a potential risk factor for non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Some studies suggest a possible link between the two conditions. The purpose of this study is to study the relationship between H. pylori infection and NAFLD in pediatrics and its relation to NAFLD grades. A case–control study to identify predictors of NAFLD and a comparative cross-sectional approach to determine factors affecting NAFLD grades were adopted. One hundred NAFLD children (ultrasound-based) and a control group of 100 non-NAFLD children were recruited. Both groups were evaluated by detecting H. pylori stool antigen. Immunoglobulin G antibodies to Cag A (cytotoxin-associated gene A), Vac A (vacuolating cytotoxin A), Gro EL (chaperonin Gro EL), HCPC (Helicobacter cysteine-rich protein C), and Ure A (Urease subunit A) were assessed in the serum of those with positive stool antigen. H. pylori infection was significantly higher in NAFLD children compared to the control group (64% versus 25%, p-value < .001). (NAFLD children showed higher Cag A and Vac A positivity (34, 10%) versus (2%, 0%) in the control group, respectively, p-value < .001). The regression model showed that H. pylori positivity (OR (odds ratio) = 5.021, 95% CI (confidence interval): 1.105–22.815), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (Homa IR) (OR = 18.840, 95% CI: 3.998–88.789), waist percentile (OR = 1.184, 95% CI: 1.044–1.344), and triglycerides (OR = 1.029, 95% CI: 1.012–1.047) were predictors for NAFLD. Cag A positivity (OR = 2.740, 95% CI: 1.013–7.411) was associated with higher NAFLD grade (grade 2 fatty liver).

Conclusions:
H. pylori infection could increase the risk of NAFLD in children. Triglycerides, waist circumference, and Homa IR are significant independent predictors of NAFLD.

What is Known:

• NAFLD has become one of the most common liver diseases among children because of the increased 
prevalence of pediatric obesity.• Dyslipidemia and insulin resistance play a central role in NAFLD pathogenesis. • NAFLD could be explained by the multiple-hit hypothesis. The gut microbiota is an important factor in this hypothesis (gut liver axis).

What is New:

• Helicobacter pylori infection could increase the risk of NAFLD in children. • H. pylori Cytotoxin-associated gene A (Cag A) positivity is associated with higher NAFLD grade.
MGSAN: multimodal graph self-attention network for skeleton-based action recognition
Authors: Wang Junyi , Li Ziao , Liu Bangli , Cai Haibin , Saada Mohamad , Meng Qinggang
Published: November 2024

Due to the emergence of graph convolutional networks (GCNs), the skeleton-based action recognition has achieved remarkable results. However, the current models for skeleton-based action analysis treat skeleton sequences as a series of graphs, aggregating features of the entire sequence by alternately extracting spatial and temporal features, i.e., using a 2D (spatial features) plus 1D (temporal features) approach for feature extraction. This undoubtedly overlooks the complex spatiotemporal fusion relationships between joints during motion, making it challenging for models to capture the connections between different temporal frames and joints. In this paper, we propose a Multimodal Graph Self-Attention Network (MGSAN), which combines GCNs with self-attention to model the spatiotemporal relationships between skeleton sequences. Firstly, we design graph self-attention (GSA) blocks to capture the intrinsic topology and long-term temporal dependencies between joints. Secondly, we propose a multi-scale spatio-temporal convolutional network for channel-wise topology modeling (CW-TCN) to model short-term smooth temporal information of joint movements. Finally, we propose a multimodal fusion strategy to fuse joint, joint movement, and bone flow, providing the model with a richer set of multimodal features to make better predictions. The proposed MGSAN achieves state-of-the-art performance on three large-scale skeleton-based action recognition datasets, with accuracy of 93.1% on NTU RGB+D 60 cross-subject benchmark, 90.3% on NTU RGB+D 120 cross-subject benchmark, and 97.0% on the NW-UCLA dataset. Code is available at https://github.com/lizaowo/MGSAN.
Optimal direct oral anticoagulant for upper gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Ono Yoshitaka , Hatta Waku , Tarasawa Kunio , Ogata Yohei , Abe Hiroko , Sato Isao , Hatayama Yutaka , Saito Masahiro , Jin Xiaoyi , Uno Kaname , Koike Tomoyuki , Imatani Akira , Hamada Shin , Fujimori Kenji , Fushimi Kiyohide , Masamune Atsushi
Published: November 2024

Background

The patients taking direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are at high risk for developing ischemic stroke and delayed bleeding in upper gastrointestinal endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD). We aimed to identify the optimal DOAC based on both adverse events in upper gastrointestinal ESD.

Methods

A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted using the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in Japan. We included patients on a DOAC undergoing upper gastrointestinal ESD between 2012 and 2021. The primary outcomes were ischemic stroke occurring after upper gastrointestinal ESD and delayed bleeding in gastroduodenal and esophageal ESD. Inverse probability weightings were applied to balance the four DOAC groups (dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban), and logistic regression analyses were performed to compare the outcomes.

Results

We analyzed 9729 patients on a DOAC undergoing upper gastrointestinal ESD. Ischemic stroke developed after upper gastrointestinal ESD in 1.4%, 0.7%, 0.6%, and 0.8% of patients taking dabigatran, rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban, respectively, after weighting. Rivaroxaban and apixaban showed significantly lower risk of ischemic stroke compared with dabigatran (odds ratio, 0.15 and 0.12, respectively) in standard doses. The delayed bleeding developed after gastroduodenal ESD in 7.6%, 14.6%, 19.2%, and 17.3% of patients taking each DOAC, respectively, with the lowest risk in dabigatran, followed by rivaroxaban. A similar pattern was observed in delayed bleeding in esophageal ESD (3.2%, 5.4%, 7.5%, and 5.5% in each DOAC), but with no significant results.

Conclusions

Rivaroxaban might be an optimal DOAC for upper gastrointestinal ESD showing a lower risk for both ischemic stroke and delayed bleeding.
Management and prevention of Neisseria meningitidis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections in the context of evolving antimicrobial resistance trends
Authors: Marshall Helen S. , Molina Jean-Michel , Berlaimont Valérie , Mulgirigama Aruni , Sohn Woo-Yun , Berçot Béatrice , Bobde Shravani
Published: November 2024

Purpose

To describe the relationships between Neisseria meningitidis (NM) and Neisseria gonorrhoeae (NG) at genetic, population, and individual levels; to review historical trends in antimicrobial resistance (AMR); to review the treatment and preventive landscapes and explore their potential impact on AMR.

Methods

A narrative literature search was conducted in PubMed, with searches restricted to 2003–2023 and additional articles included based on expertise.

Results

NM and NG are closely related bacterial pathogens causing invasive meningococcal disease (IMD) and gonorrhea, respectively. NM can currently be treated with most antibiotics and generally has a wild-type susceptibility profile, whereas NG is increasingly resistant even in the first line of treatment. These pathogens share 80–90% genetic identity and can asymptomatically cohabit the pharynx. While AMR has historically been rare for NM, recent reports show this to be an emerging clinical concern. Extensively drug-resistant NG are reported globally, with data available from 73 countries, and can lead to treatment failure. Importantly, Neisseria commensals within the normal microbiota in the pharynx can act as a genetic reservoir of resistance to extended-spectrum cephalosporins. Novel oral antibiotics are urgently needed to treat a growing threat from antibiotic-resistant NG, recognized as a major global concern to public health by the World Health Organization. Numerous vaccines are available to prevent IMD, but none are approved for gonorrhea. Research to identify suitable candidates is ongoing.

Conclusion

Holistic management of AMR in IMD and gonorrhea should couple judicious use of existing antibiotics, optimization of vaccination programs, and development of novel antibiotics and vaccines.

Graphical abstract
The impact of digitalization and virtualization on technology transfer in strategic collaborative partnerships
Authors: Sarala Riikka M. , Tarba Shlomo Y. , Zahoor Nadia , Khan Huda , Cooper Sir Cary L. , Arslan Ahmad
Published: November 2024

Digitalization and virtualization are integral parts of today’s competitive and dynamic business environments. Yet very little is known about the impact of digitalization and virtualization on technology transfer in strategic collaborative partnerships. Therefore, examining the impact of digitalization and virtualization on technology transfer in strategic collaborative partnerships holds much potential for contributing to the ongoing discussions in the technology transfer literature. This introductory article to the Special Issue reflects on the contributions of the Special Issue articles to the research on technology transfer and reveals three central themes through which the articles as a whole contribute to research in technology transfer: Theme 1 describes the role of digitalization in technology transfer outcomes, Theme 2 focuses on extending the understanding of knowledge transfer capabilities to include digital and virtual capabilities, and Theme 3 illustrates how technology transfer facilitators and intermediaries continue to play an important role in technology transfer in the digital world. We conclude the introductory article by proposing four promising avenues for future research on technology transfer in the digital age. These include Avenue 1: Understanding context specificity and temporality, Avenue 2: Focusing on capabilities and government policy, Avenue 3: Bridging distance, and Avenue 4: Protecting against threats.
Proof of the Paszkiewicz conjecture about a product of positive contractions
Authors: Ando Hiroshi , Miyamoto Yuki , Ozawa Narutaka
Published: November 2024

The Paszkiewicz conjecture about a product of positive contractions asserts that given a decreasing sequence

$$T_1\ge T_2\ge \dots $$

T
1

≥

T
2

≥
⋯

of positive contractions on a separable infinite-dimensional Hilbert space, the product

$$S_n=T_n\dots T_1$$

S
n

=

T
n

⋯

T
1

converges strongly. Recently, the first named author verified the conjecture for certain classes of sequences. In this paper, we prove the Paszkiewicz conjecture in full generality. Moreover, we show that in some cases, a generalized version of the Paszkiewicz conjecture also holds.
A 17-Year Experience of a Large Dedicated Fellowship in Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy: A Blueprint for Modern Day Training Program
Authors: Bharadwaj Sushma , Lowsky Robert , Mikkilineni Lekha , Smith Melody , Weng Wen-Kai
Published: November 2024

The field of allogeneic blood and marrow transplantation-cellular therapy (BMT-CT) has evolved through incremental advances. Engineered donor grafts, gene editing and chimeric antigen receptor T-cells are all standard clinical practice. Consequently, the scientific knowledge and complexity of clinical skills needed for next generation of BMT-CT physicians have increased. We report a 17-year experience of arguably the largest 12-month BMT-CT clinical fellowship program in the USA. Seventy-three (73) trainees were accepted and 2 cohorts that reflected different time periods (2007–1016 and 2017–2024, inclusive) and different core training curriculum were compared. The cohorts were equivalent in terms of demographics; notably, most (70%) had graduated from international medical schools and trained in the US on a non-immigrant J1 visa. In 2015, we introduced a structured mentoring program to address the desire of trainees for experience with scholarly activities. There was a high rate of successful academic careers with a trend toward a higher likelihood of academic retention following structured mentoring (70% vs 89%). In this report, we included our detailed core curriculum and highlight potential future changes as a blueprint for modern day programs to ensure that graduate “transplant docs” can continue to contribute at the highest academic level.
The possible interaction between tryptophan and its metabolites with delirium in older patients with critical illnesses
Authors: Kollu Korhan , Kurku Huseyin , Unlu Ali , Ecer Busra , Guney Ibrahim , Kizilarslanoglu Muhammet Cemal
Published: November 2024

Aim

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between delirium and tryptophan and its metabolites in critically ill older patients.

Methods

This prospective and observational study was conducted on patients who were > 60 years of age and hospitalized for at least 24 h at the internal medicine ICU in the tertiary health care unit (n = 120). All consecutively selected patients were evaluated for delirium at the baseline and follow-up period at the bedside by an intensive care specialist. At the end of the 24 h follow up, the patients were divided into two groups (with and without delirium). Clinical properties and tryptophan (TRP) and its metabolites [kynurenine (KYN), kynurenic acid (KYNA), quinolinic acid (QA), 3-hydroxykynurenine (3-HK), 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA)] were compared between groups.

Results

The median age of the patients was 79.5 (62–95) years and 53.3% were female. The median age and CCI score were significantly higher among patients with delirium than in those without delirium (P = 0.001 and 0.031, respectively). The level of TRP was significantly (borderline) decreased among patients with delirium (P = 0.056). The KYN/TRP and QA/TRP ratios were statistically and significantly higher in patients with delirium than those without (P < 0.001 and P = 0.016, respectively). The best predictive values for detecting delirium were calculated as ≤ 14,100 ng/mL for TRP (AUC: 0.601, P = 0.052), > 1.12 for KYN/TRP ratio (AUC: 0.704, P < 0.001), and > 0.75 for QA/TRP ratio (AUC: 0.627, P = 0.013). The QA/TRP ratio showed independent and borderline significant association with being delirium in multivariable regression analysis (Odds ratio: 2.007, P = 0.066).

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that tryptophan and its metabolites obtained within the first 24 h of ICU admission might have predictive value for determining high-risk older patients for delirium.
Advancing the next generation of high-performance metal matrix composites through metal particle reinforcement
Authors: Alem Sayed Ali Ahmad , Sabzvand Mohammad Hossein , Govahi Parnian , Poormehrabi Pooria , Hasanzadeh Azar Mahdi , Salehi Siouki Sara , Rashidi Reza , Angizi Shayan , Bagherifard Sara
Published: November 2024

Metal matrix composites (MMCs) offer asignificant boost to achieve a wide range of advanced mechanical properties and improved performance for a variety of demanding applications. The addition of metal particles as reinforcement in MMCs is an exciting alternative to conventional ceramic reinforcements, which suffer from numerous shortcomings. Over the last two decades, various categories of metal particles, i.e., intermetallics, bulk metallic glasses, high-entropy alloys, and shape memory alloys, have become popular as reinforcement choices for MMCs. These groups of metal particles offer a combination of outstanding physico-mechanical properties leading to unprecedented performances; moreover, they are significantly more compatible with the metal matrices compared to traditional ceramic reinforcements. In this review paper, the recent developments in MMCs are investigated. The importance of understanding the active mechanisms at the interface of the matrix and the reinforcement is highlighted. Moreover, the processing techniques required to manufacture high-performance MMCs are explored identifying the potential structural and functional applications. Finally, the potential advantages and current challenges associated with the use of each reinforcement category and the future developments are critically discussed. Based on the reported results, the use of metal particles as reinforcement in MMCs offers a promising avenue for the development of advanced materials with novel mechanical properties. Further progress requires more in-depth fundamental research to realize the active reinforcing mechanisms at the atomic level to precisely identify, understand, and tailor the properties of the integrated composite materials.
Stimuli-responsive hydrogels for skin wound healing and regeneration
Authors: Xin Hai , Maruf D S Abdullah Al , Akin-Ige Foluso , Amin Samiul
Published: November 2024

Skin wounds are not only an aesthetic concern but also pose great risks to quality of life and general health. As the most promising biomaterial, hydrogels are three-dimensional polymeric networks and have attracted intense research attention. Hydrogels have developed a diverse range of biomedical and biopharmaceutical applications, owing to their large water content, biocompatibility, tunable mechanical properties, and stimuli-responsiveness. Stimuli-responsive hydrogels are smart materials which exhibit gelation, structural, degradation, performance and function changes when treated with external stimulations. Using these hydrogels to prepare wound dressing is a rapidly growing research area and has exhibited encouraging healing outcomes in small animal models, especially for the treatment of chronic wounds, diabetic wounds, and persistent skin inflammations. The present work gives a detailed and critical analysis on the design strategies, gelation mechanisms, materials selection, stimuli-responsiveness, hydrogel degradation, drug release profiles, and treatment outcomes of wound dressings prepared by the hydrogels with sensitivity to temperature, pH, reactive oxygen species (ROS), glucose, enzymes, and lights. We summarize, analyze, and critically evaluate the most recent publications in this area to explain, compare, and assess why and how various synthetic and bio-polymers are utilized by materials scientists to develop the next generation of skin wound dressing and regeneration.

Graphical abstract
Reflecting on IPEF’s impact and charting the future: a perspective of US domestic politics
Authors: Chen Shaofeng
Published: November 2024

The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF), a key economic component of the Biden administration’s strategy for the Indo-Pacific, was launched to serve both economic and geopolitical purposes. At the heart of these objectives is the aim to undermine China’s growing influence in the Asia–Pacific region. If well implemented, it is expected to pose a series of challenges to China. The Biden administration’s strategic project, however, is very likely to fall short of its ambitious goals due to the constraints imposed by the US domestic politics, which significantly influences the content of the IPEF and the overall negotiation process. Both the Democratic and Republican parties have been embracing protectionism more than ever, which has greatly undercut the concessional space for any free trade move. In areas such as supply chain resilience, clean economy and fair economy, where the IPEF member states have come to consensus, the Biden administration has chosen to take a pro-workers approach notwithstanding the divergent interest pursuits by different interest groups within the US. This politically correct approach, however, is likely to face challenges in its implementation, as it largely conflicts with the interests of major corporations. Additionally, the Republican-controlled House of Representatives holds the purse strings, adding another layer of complexity to the situation. Meanwhile, the tussles and uncertainties surrounding the domestic politics of the US is very likely to discourage other member states.
Increasing solar UV radiation in Dortmund, Germany: data and trend analyses and comparison to Uccle, Belgium
Authors: Lorenz Sebastian , Heinzl Felix , Bauer Stefan , Janßen Marco , De Bock Veerle , Mangold Alexander , Scholz-Kreisel Peter , Weiskopf Daniela
Published: November 2024

Increasing solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) can raise human exposure to UVR and adversely affect the environment. Precise measurements of ground-level solar UVR and long-term data series are crucial for evaluating time trends in UVR. This study focuses on spectrally resolved data from a UVR measuring station in Dortmund, Germany (51.5° N, 7.5° E, 130 m a.s.l.). After a strict quality assessment, UV data, such as the daily maximum UV Index (UVImax) and daily erythemal radiant exposure (Her,day) values, were analyzed concerning monthly and annual distribution, frequency, occurrence of highest values and their influencing factors. An advanced linear trend model with a flexible covariance matrix was utilized and applied to monthly mean values. Missing values were estimated by a validated imputation method. Findings were compared to those from a station in Uccle, Belgium (50.8° N, 4.3° E, 100 m a.s.l.). Parameters possibly influencing trends in both UVR and global radiation, such as ozone and sunshine duration, were additionally evaluated. The 1997–2022 trend results show a statistically significant increase in monthly mean of Her,day (4.9% p. decade) and UVImax (3.2% p. decade) in Dortmund and Her,day (7.5% p. decade) and UVImax (5.8% p. decade) in Uccle. Total column ozone shows a slight decrease in the summer months. Global radiation increases similarly to the UV data, and sunshine duration in Dortmund increases about twice as much as global radiation, suggesting a strong influence of change in cloud cover. To address health-related consequences effectively, future adaptation and prevention strategies to climate change must consider the observed trends.

Graphical abstract
Comparing Machine Learning Models for Strength and Ductility in High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Ibarra-Hoyos Diego , Simmons Quentin , Poon S. Joseph
Published: November 2024

We compare several machine learning (ML) models that predict the yield strength and plasticity of high-entropy alloys (HEAs) for achieving high-accuracy with notably low root mean square errors (RMSE). Our models, developed using a comprehensive database of single-phase body-centered cubic (BCC) HEAs and BCC + B2 HEAs (where B2 is ordered BCC), integrate advanced feature engineering reflecting the current understanding of electronic factors, atomic ordering informed by mixing enthalpy, and the D parameter associated with stacking fault energy in HEAs. This approach enables systematic comparisons of different ML models, providing deep insights into the mechanical properties of BCC and related alloys. By leveraging genetic algorithms for feature selection and meticulous hyperparameter optimization, our ML framework excels in both predictive power and interpretability. The rigorous validation process includes repeated k-fold cross-validation and leave-one-out cross-validation (LOOCV), ensuring robust generalization. Moreover, our use of Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAP) revealed critical predictors such as the testing temperature-to-melting temperature ratio $$\left(\frac{{T}_{test}}{{T}_{melt}}\right)$$

T

test

T

melt

, the mixing enthalpy $$\left(\Delta {\text{H}}_{\text{mix}}\right)$$

Δ

H
mix

and the D parameter, which play key roles in determining plasticity and yield strength. Our work represents an advancement in designing high-performance HEAs with optimized strength and ductility, offering a powerful tool for predicting mechanical properties and exploring new candidate alloys with exceptional mechanical behavior.
A Qualitative Approach to Universal Numerical Integrators (UNIs) with Computational Application
Authors: Tasinaffo Paulo M. , Dias Luiz A. V. , da Cunha Adilson M.
Published: November 2024

Universal Numerical Integrators (UNIs) can be defined as the coupling of a universal approximator of functions (e.g., artificial neural network) with some conventional numerical integrator (e.g., Euler or Runge–Kutta). The UNIs are used to model non-linear dynamic systems governed by Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs). Among the main types of UNIs existing in the literature, we can mention (i) The Euler-Type Universal Numerical Integrator (E-TUNI), (ii) The Runge-Kutta Neural Network (RKNN), and (iii) The Non-linear Auto Regressive Moving Average with Exogenous input or NARMAX model. All of them are equally accurate, regardless of their order. Furthermore, one of the reasons for writing this article is to show the reader that there are many other UNIs besides these. Thus, this article aims to carry out a detailed bibliographic review of this object of study, taking into more significant consideration the qualitative aspects of these UNIs. Computational experiments are also presented in this article to prove the numerical effectiveness of the main types of UNIs in the literature. Therefore, it is expected that this paper will help researchers in the future development of new UNIs.
Selling Books with Algorithms
Authors: Muenchrath Anna
Published: November 2024

In 1997 Amazon started as a small online bookseller. It is now the largest bookseller in the US and one of the largest companies in the world, due, in part, to its implementation of algorithms and access to user data. This Element explains how these algorithms work, and specifically how they recommend books and make them visible to readers. It argues that framing algorithms as felicitous or infelicitous allows us to reconsider the imagined authority of an algorithm's recommendation as a culturally situated performance. It also explores the material effects of bookselling algorithms on the forms of labor of the bookstore. The Element ends by considering future directions for research, arguing that the bookselling industry would benefit from an investment in algorithmic literacy.
Modal Naturalism
Authors: Bryant Amanda , Wilson Alastair
Published: November 2024

How do we know what is possible or impossible, what is inevitable or unattainable, or what would happen under which circumstances? Since modal facts seem distinctively mysterious and difficult to know, the epistemology of modality has historically been fraught with uncertainty and disagreement. The recent literature has been dominated by rationalist approaches that emphasise a priori reasoning (sometimes including direct intuition of possibility). Only recently have alternative approaches emerged which recognize a broader range of sources of modal knowledge. Yet even emerging non-rationalist views have tended to assign scientific investigation at best a supporting role. Our project in this book is to develop and defend a new approach to the epistemology of modal facts which assigns a central role to scientific investigation. According to modal naturalism, science (construed broadly) is our primary source of evidence concerning the modal facts.
Old Delhi's Parallel Book Bazaar
Authors: Dhingra Kanupriya
Published: November 2024

This Element looks at Old Delhi's Daryaganj Sunday Book Market, popularly known as Daryaganj Sunday Patri Kitab Bazaar, as a parallel location for books and a site of resilience and possibilities. The first section studies the bazaar's spatiality - its location, relocation, and respatialisation. Three actors play a major role in creating and organising this spatiality: the sellers, the buyers, and the civic authorities. The second section narrativizes the biographies of the booksellers of Daryaganj to offer a map of the hidden social and material networks that support the informal modes of bookselling. Amidst order and chaos, using their specialised knowledge, Daryaganj booksellers create distinctive mechanisms to serve the diverse reading public of Delhi. Using ethnography, oral interviews, and rhythmanalysis, this Element tells a story of urban aspirations, state-citizen relations, official and unofficial cultural economies, and imaginations of other viable worlds of being and believing.
How wide must Rayleigh–Bénard cells be to prevent finite aspect ratio effects in turbulent flow?
Authors: Stevens Richard J.A.M. , Hartmann Robert , Verzicco Roberto , Lohse Detlef
Published: November 2024

We employ direct numerical simulations to investigate the heat transfer and flow structures in turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection in both cylindrical cells and laterally periodic domains, spanning an unprecedentedly wide range of aspect ratios

$0.075 \leqslant \varGamma \leqslant 32$

. We focus on Prandtl number

${Pr}=1$

and Rayleigh numbers

${{Ra}}=2\times 10^7$

and

${{Ra}}=10^8$

. In both cases, with increasing aspect ratio, the heat transfer first increases, then reaches a maximum (which is more pronounced for the cylindrical case due to confinement effects), and then slightly goes down again before it finally saturates at the large aspect ratio limit, which is achieved already at

$\varGamma \approx 4$

. Already for

$\varGamma \gtrsim 0.75$

, the heat transfers in both cylindrical and laterally periodic domains become identical. The large-

$\varGamma$

limit for the volume-integrated Reynolds number and the boundary layer thicknesses are also reached at

$\varGamma \approx 4$

. However, while the integral flow properties converge at

$\varGamma \approx 4$

, the confinement of a cylindrical domain impacts the temperature and velocity variance distributions up to

$\varGamma \approx 16$

, as thermal superstructures cannot form close to the sidewall.
The impact of storm-induced tree loss on the population of Wilkins’s Finch Nesospiza wilkinsi
Authors: Ryan Peter G. , Moloney Coleen L. , Dilley Ben J. , Glass Trevor , Schofield Andy
Published: November 2024

Wilkins’s Finch Nesospiza wilkinsi is endemic to Nightingale Island (2.5 km2), Tristan da Cunha. It feeds on the woody fruits of the Island Tree Phylica arborea and in 2017 had a population of 120 breeding pairs. In 2021 it was uplisted from “Endangered” to “Critically Endangered” following damage to P. arborea woodland during severe storms in 2019. During a brief visit to Nightingale in February 2024, we confirmed that the finch population in the area of storm-damaged woodland has decreased by up to 75%, but the density in other areas was similar to that prior to 2019. Extrapolating from the 2017 survey, we estimated the current population to be 60–90 breeding pairs. Surveys of P. arborea structure in the storm-affected area indicated that some large trees had survived, despite being flattened, that recruitment of new trees is occurring, and that fruit loads on surviving trees are similar to those in 2017. Satellite imagery from 2005 showed similar woodland loss during another severe storm in 2001 to that experienced in 2019, indicating that the finch has survived similar events in the past. Coupled with the successful release of a biological control agent to limit the impact of the introduced brown soft scale Coccus hesperidum on Phylica fruit production, the future prospect for Wilkins’s Finch is less bleak than previously thought. However, the risk that global warming is increasing the frequency of severe storms remains a concern. Planting more woodland patches in sheltered areas would help to offset future storm damage.