bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous denoising and reconstruction of distributed acoustic sensing seismic data via a multicascade deep-learning method
Authors: Cheng Ming , Lin Jun , Dong Xintong , Lu Shaoping , Zhong Tie
Published: August 2023

Distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) has been moderately used in seismic exploration as a consequence of its advantages, such as low cost, high resolution, high sensitivity, and strong resistance to high temperatures. Nonetheless, seismic data recorded by the DAS system often are seriously contaminated by a massive amount of background noise and recording gaps, which also decrease the quality of DAS seismic data. Building on its success in numerous fields of data processing, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) also have been applied to seismic data denoising as well as reconstruction and achieved good performance compared with traditional methods. However, relatively few CNN-based studies have been done on the simultaneous denoising and reconstruction of seismic data, especially for the complex DAS seismic data with a low signal-to-noise ratio. In this study, we have developed a multicascade network structure in combination with a channel attention mechanism (MCA-Net) to achieve the simultaneous denoising and reconstruction of DAS seismic data by only using a unified trained model. Particularly, our MCA-Net consists of three branches of cascade networks that can extract abundant features from DAS seismic data with different resolutions. Furthermore, we deploy some channel attention modules and aggressive blocks to MCA-Net to fuse these aforementioned multiresolution features and thus improving the feature extraction ability of the whole network. Meanwhile, a high-quality training data set composed of paired clean complete and noisy incomplete patches is used to train MCA-Net in a supervised fashion. Some synthetic and real DAS seismic data are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of MCA-Net, and our method exhibits better denoising and reconstruction performance than some traditional methods and two existing CNN architectures.
Information Technology and Telemedicine Services in Community Oncology Practices
Authors: Loh Kah Poh , Wang Ying , Yilmaz Sule , Nightingale Chandylen L. , Parsons Susan K. , Braun-Inglis Christa , Gada Umang , Montes Alexander , Magnuson Allison , Culakova Eva , Strause Sarah , Kamen Charles , Dressler Emily , Mustian Karen , Morrow Gary , Mohile Supriya ,   on behalf of the Landscape Committee, Neuman Heather B. , Nightingale Chandylen L. , Parsons Susan K. , Obeng-Gyasi Samilia , Cooley Mary E. , Loh Kah Poh , Ramsey Scott D. , McDonald Andrew M. , Foust Melyssa , Braun-Inglis Christa , Kyono Wade T. , Drescher Charles W. , Wood Eden G. , Dressler Emily V.
Published: August 2023

PURPOSE

We described information technology support and use of telemedicine for cancer care and research purposes at community oncology practices within the National Cancer Institute Community Oncology Research Program (NCORP).

METHODS

We used data from the NCORP 2017 and 2022 Landscape Assessments. Separate logistic regression models were used to assess factors associated with the use of telemedicine for delivery of cancer care in 2017 and for research purposes in 2022 (cancer care delivery not assessed in 2022).

RESULTS

Information was available from 210 and 259 practice groups excluding pediatric-only groups in 2017 and 2022, respectively. In 2017, 30% of practice groups used telemedicine for delivery of cancer care; half of these (15% overall) could use telemedicine for research purposes. In 2022, telemedicine was used for research purposes in 73% of practice groups. In multivariable models, self-identifying as a safety-net hospital was associated with a lower odd of telemedicine use for delivery of cancer care (adjusted odds ratio [AOR], 0.39; 95% CI, 0.17 to 0.93), whereas affiliation with a designated critical access hospital was associated with a higher odd of telemedicine use for delivery of cancer care (AOR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.10 to 4.76). Having a general survivorship clinic (AOR, 1.92; 95% CI, 1.04 to 3.54) and number of oncology providers (increase per 10 providers; AOR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.05 to 1.65) were associated with telemedicine use for research purposes.

CONCLUSION

Almost one third of NCORP practice groups used telemedicine for cancer care delivery in 2017. In 2022, there is high capacity among NCORP practices (almost three-quarters) to use telemedicine for research purposes, especially among practices with a general survivorship clinic and a greater provider number.
Safety, Feasibility, and Acceptability of a Multisite Individualized Exercise Intervention for People with Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Nicol Jennifer L. , Cunningham Brent J. , WOODROW CARMEL , ADLARD KIRSTEN N. , PAPINCZAK ZOE E. , SPENCE ROSALIND R. , BOYTAR ALEXANDER N. , MOLLEE PETER , WEBER NICHOLAS , NICOL ANDREW J. , HILL MICHELLE M. , SKINNER TINA L.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

High rates of disease- and treatment-related symptoms, such as bone lesions, in people with multiple myeloma (MM) create uncertainty on the safety and feasibility of exercise. This study determined the safety, feasibility, and acceptability of an individualized exercise medicine program for people with MM at any disease stage.

Methods

A multisite, randomized waitlist-controlled trial was conducted of an individualized, high-intensity aerobic, resistance, and impact-loading exercise program. The exercise sessions were supervised twice weekly by accredited exercise physiologists, with one additional unsupervised session per week, for 12 wk. Safety was determined by number of adverse and serious adverse events. Feasibility outcome measures were study eligibility, recruitment, adherence, and attrition. Acceptability was determined by qualitative interviews and subjective levels of enjoyment.

Results

Of 203 people with MM screened, 88% were eligible, with 34% accepting participation (60 people) and 20% attrition for the between-group analysis, meeting a priori criteria (≥25% and <25%, respectively). No adverse or serious adverse events attributed to testing and/or exercise training were reported. Attendance at supervised exercise sessions was 98%, with 45% completion of the home-based exercise sessions. Adherence rates were 35%, 63%, and 34% for the aerobic, resistance, and impact-loading protocols, with 55%, 80%, and 37% of participants meeting a priori criteria (75% of protocol). Acceptability of the exercise program was high (mean, 82%; 95% confidence interval, 78%–87%) and highly supported by qualitative responses.

Conclusions

An individualized, high-intensity aerobic, resistance, and impact-loading exercise medicine program is safe and acceptable, and feasible by some measures for people with MM. Adherence to the prescribed exercise protocols was limited by comorbidities and disease symptoms. Strategies to improve unsupervised exercise completion are warranted in this population.
Queer identities in translation: a multilingual case study of Taktsis’ The third wedding wreath
Authors: Valkanou Theodora , Kourouni Kyriaki
Published: August 2023

Κουίρ (queer) ταυτότητες σε μετάφραση: η περίπτωση του μυθιστορήματος Το Τρίτο Στεφάνι του Κώστα Ταχτσή σε διαφορετικές γλώσσεςΤο Τρίτο Στεφάνι του Κώστα Ταχτσή αποτελεί ένα εξαιρετικά δημοφιλές μυθιστό-ρημα της νεοελληνικής λογοτεχνίας, με υψηλές πωλήσεις επί σειρά ετών, παρά την αρχική του απόρριψη από πολλούς εκδότες, η οποία είχε ως αποτέλεσμα τη δημο-σίευσή του ιδίοις αναλώμασι το 1962. Το μυθιστόρημα έγινε διάσημο για την πρω-τοποριακή χρήση της γλώσσας, όπως αυτή αποτυπώνεται στις ζωντανές αφηγή-σεις ανάμεσα στις δύο πρωταγωνίστριες, και για την ανυπόκριτη αναπαράσταση της ελληνικής μικροαστικής τάξης της εποχής. Θεωρείται, επίσης, αξιόλογο έργο για την τολμηρή περιγραφή ρευστών σεξουαλικών ταυτοτήτων. Ο Ταχτσής απεικονίζει τις ομο- και αμφιφυλόφιλες αρσενικότητες σε συνδυασμό με το στοιχείο του κουίρ στη γλώσσα, προκειμένου να ανατρέψει τα ετεροκανονικά έμφυλα στερεότυπα που επικρατούσαν στην ελληνική κοινωνία της εποχής του. Η μελέτη, λαμβάνοντας υ-πόψη το πλούσιο υπο-κείμενο του μυθιστορήματος, εντοπίζει στοιχεία κουίρ στις περιγραφές των μη ετεροκανονικών χαρακτήρων και τις δραστηριότητές τους, κα-θώς και σημεία όπου αποτυπώνεται η διάσταση του κουίρ σε κειμενικό επίπεδο. Στη συνέχεια, εξετάζει συγκριτικά τη μεταφορά τους στις μεταφράσεις προς τα αγ-γλικά (Chioles, 1985), γαλλικά (Lacarrière, 1981), ιταλικά (Minucci, 1992) και γερ-μανικά (Josing-Gundert, 1984), με στόχο την εύρεση και ανάδειξη μοτίβων στην α-πόδοση του κουίρ στα συγκεκριμένα μεταφράσματα. Costas Taktsis’ The Third Wedding Wreath is an immensely popular long-selling Modern Greek novel, despite the fact that it was initially rejected by many publishers and eventually published at the author’s own expense in 1962. The novel has been acclaimed for its innovative use of language through the two female protagonists’ vivid narration and the unpretentious representation of the Greek petite-bourgeoisie of the time. Nonetheless, it is also considered a noteworthy novel for its bold portrayal of fluid sexual identities. Taktsis combines the depiction of homo- and bisexual masculinities with queerness in language to subvert the heteronormative gender stereotypes of the Greek society of his time. Taking into consideration the rich subtext of the novel, this paper locates features of queerness in descriptions of non-heteronormative characters and activities associated with them, as well as specific instances of queering on the textual level in the novel. It then contrastively examines their transfer in the translations into English (Chioles, 1985), French (Lacarrière, 1981), Italian (Minucci, 1992), and German (Josing-Gundert, 1984), seeking to identify emerging patterns with respect to the treatment of queerness in the specific translated texts.
Framework for virtual education of COVID-19 vaccines for Mandarin-speaking learners: an educational intervention module
Authors: Wang JiCi , Moy Benjamin M. , Kaufhold Ross T. , Muzaurieta Aurelio , Xia Yang , Jiang Shannon , Yim Angela , Chang Miller Jane , Zhou Shiwei , Lee Pearl , Hou Lisa , Lee Janilla , Heung Michael
Published: August 2023

Background: In the United States, patients with limited English proficiency face significant barriers to comprehending and acting upon health-related information, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. The ability of health professionals to communicate COVID-19-related information to Mandarin-speaking patients has proved critical in discussions about vaccine efficacy, side effects, and post-vaccine protection.

Methods: The authors created a one-hour educational module to help Mandarin-speaking medical students better convey COVID-19 vaccine information to Mandarin-only speakers. The module is composed of an educational guide, which introduced key terminology and addressed commonly asked questions, and pre- and post-surveys. The authors recruited 59 Mandarin-speaking medical students all of whom had previously completed a medical Mandarin elective. The module and surveys were distributed and completed in August 2021. Data analysis measured the change in aggregate mean for subjective five-point Likert-scale questions and change in percent accuracy for objective knowledge-based questions.

Results: 86.4% of participants were primary English speakers with variable levels of Mandarin proficiency. The educational module significantly improved participants' subjective comfort level in discussing the COVID-19 vaccine in English and Mandarin. The largest improvement in both English and Mandarin was demonstrated in participants' ability to explain differences between the COVID-19 vaccines, with an aggregate mean improvement of 0.39 for English and 1.48 for Mandarin. Survey respondents also demonstrated increased percent accuracy in knowledge-based objective questions in Mandarin.

Conclusions: This module provides Mandarin-learning medical students with skills to deliver reliable information to the general population and acts as a model for the continued development of educational modules for multilingual medical professionals.
High Discounts and Low Fundamental Surplus: An Equivalence Result for Unemployment Fluctuations
Authors: Mitra Indrajit , Seo Taeuk , Xu Yu
Published: August 2023

We establish an observational equivalence between unemployment fluctuations of the Diamond-Mortensen-Pissarides search economy augmented with time varying risk premia and an otherwise identical economy without risk premia but with a time varying value of leisure. This equivalence holds for general risk premia processes and allows us to view the effects of different models of risk premia as operating through a single channel—one that alters the value of leisure. We derive simple expressions for semielasticities of labor market tightness with respect to productivity and risk premium shocks. We show wages can be used to detect misspecification in the discount rate process used in hiring decisions.

This paper was accepted by Lukas Schmid, finance.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix is available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2022.03712 .
Binary Matrix Factorization and Completion via Integer Programming
Authors: Günlük Oktay , Hauser Raphael Andreas , Kovács Réka Ágnes
Published: August 2023

Binary matrix factorization is an essential tool for identifying discrete patterns in binary data. In this paper, we consider the rank-k binary matrix factorization problem (k-BMF) under Boolean arithmetic: we are given an n × m binary matrix X with possibly missing entries and need to find two binary matrices A and B of dimension n × k and k × m, respectively, which minimize the distance between X and the Boolean product of A and B in the squared Frobenius distance. We present a compact and two exponential size integer programs (IPs) for k-BMF and show that the compact IP has a weak linear programming (LP) relaxation, whereas the exponential size IPs have a stronger equivalent LP relaxation. We introduce a new objective function, which differs from the traditional squared Frobenius objective in attributing a weight to zero entries of the input matrix that is proportional to the number of times the zero is erroneously covered in a rank-k factorization. For one of the exponential size Ips, we describe a computational approach based on column generation. Experimental results on synthetic and real-world data sets suggest that our integer programming approach is competitive against available methods for k-BMF and provides accurate low-error factorizations.

Funding: O. Günlük was partially supported by the Office of Naval Research [Grant N00014-21-1-2575]. R. Á. Kovács was supported by a doctoral scholarship from The Alan Turing Institute under the EPSRC [Grant EP/N510129/1] and the Office for National Statistics. R. A. Hauser was supported by The Alan Turing Institute under the EPSRC [Grant EP/N510129/1].
Long-term rare giant sialolithiasis for 30 years: A case report and review of literature
Authors: Mao Jit-Swen , Lee Yu-Chien , Chi Jessie Chao-Yun , Yi Wan-Ling , Tsou Yung-An , Lin Chia-Der , Tai Chih-Jaan , Shih Liang-Chun
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND

Sialolithiasis is one of the most common salivary gland disorders, most commonly affecting the submandibular gland. Submandibular sialolithiasis can be treated using non-invasive conservative measures and invasive treatments. Treatment selection was based on the ductal system anatomy and the size and location of the stones. This study aimed to review the updates on sialolithiasis treatment and compare the different management strategies of the variables.

CASE SUMMARY

This report presents a case of a long-term, rare, and giant sialolithiasis within the submandibular gland parenchyma for 30 years in an older adult. Our patient presented with painless right submandibular swelling. Computed tomography revealed a calcified mass measuring 35 mm × 20 mm within the right submandibular gland. In this case, the infection and fibrosis of the affected gland and size of the stone did not provide us with other alternatives except for the excision of the involved gland. Thus, right submandibular sialoadenectomy was performed via the transcervical approach. After the surgery, the patient recovered without any complaints, side effects, or complications.

CONCLUSION

Tailored management is important for preserving gland function, maintaining low risk, and reducing patient discomfort.
Feasibility and Acceptability of Spanish-Language Parenting Interventions for Young Children With Developmental Delays
Authors: Safer-Lichtenstein Jonathan , McIntyre Laura Lee , Rodriguez Geovanna , Gomez Douglas , Puerta Stephanie , Neece Cameron L.
Published: August 2023

Hispanic/Latinx parents of children with developmental delays/disabilities (DD) face disparities in service access and research participation. In the present study, 60 Spanish-speaking caregivers of young children with DD participated in randomly assigned stress reduction interventions (psychoeducation/support groups or Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction [MBSR]), followed by behavioral parent training (BPT). Caregiver attendance and satisfaction ratings were measured, and focus groups gathered additional information on caregivers' takeaways from the interventions. Caregivers demonstrated high satisfaction across interventions, with slightly greater preference for psychoeducation/support groups, and qualitative data indicated that the relevance of the information and style of delivery may be responsible. Researchers and clinicians may attain greater engagement with this population by focusing on intervention services that include psychoeducation and peer support elements.
Technical limits of sensitivity for EIT magnetometry
Authors: McKelvy J. A. , Maldonado M. A. , Novikova I. , Mikhailov E. E. , Matsko A. B.
Published: August 2023

Optical magnetometers based on electromagnetically induced transparency
(EIT) in atomic vapor can in principle achieve outstanding sensitivity
and accuracy in a small volume. Up until now, however, the predicted
fundamental quantum-noise-limited sensitivity has not been achieved in
practice due to various technical limitations associated with the
measurement apparatus. Here we analyze these restrictions and propose
viable mitigation strategies for performance optimization. As an
example, we show that an EIT magnetometer can theoretically achieve
sensitivity better than 100 fT at 1 s measurement time
under realistic conditions.
Autofocus methods based on laser illumination
Authors: Hua Zhijie , Zhang Xu , Tu Dawei
Published: August 2023

Autofocusing system plays an important role in microscopic measurement. However, natural-image-based autofocus methods encounter difficulties in improving focusing accuracy and robustness due to the diversity of detection objects. In this paper, a high-precision autofocus method with laser illumination was proposed, termed laser split-image autofocus (LSA), which actively endows the detection scene with image features. The common non-learning-based and learning-based methods for LSA were quantitatively analyzed and evaluated. Furthermore, a lightweight comparative framework model for LSA, termed split-image comparison model (SCM), was proposed to further improve the focusing accuracy and robustness, and a realistic split-image dataset of sufficient size was made to train all models. The experiment showed LSA has better focusing performance than natural-image-based method. In addition, SCM has a great improvement in accuracy and robustness compared with previous learning and non-learning methods, with a mean focusing error of 0.317µm in complex scenes. Therefore, SCM is more suitable for industrial measurement.
Efficiency-boosted semiconductor optical amplifiers via mode-division multiplexing
Authors: Wang Yi , Wei Yihui , Dolores-Calzadilla Victor , Dai Daoxin , Williams Kevin , Smit Meint , Jiao Yuqing
Published: August 2023

Semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOAs) are a fundamental building block for many photonic systems. However, their power inefficiency has been setting back operational cost reduction, circuit miniaturization, and the realization of more complex photonic functions such as large-scale switches and optical phased arrays. In this work, we demonstrate significant gain and efficiency enhancement using an extra degree of freedom of light—the mode space. This is done without changing the SOA’s material design, and therefore high versatility and compatibility can be obtained. Light is multiplexed in different guided modes and reinjected into the same gain section twice without introducing resonance, doubling the interaction length in a broadband manner. Up to 87% higher gain and 300% higher wall-plug efficiency are obtained in a double-pass SOA compared to a conventional single-pass SOA, at the same operating current, in the wavelength range of 1560–1580 nm.
The σB alternative sigma factor circuit modulates noise to generate different types of pulsing dynamics
Authors: Loman Torkel E. , Locke James C. W.
Published: August 2023

Single-cell approaches are revealing a high degree of heterogeneity, or noise, in gene expression in isogenic bacteria. How gene circuits modulate this noise in gene expression to generate robust output dynamics is unclear. Here we use the Bacillus subtilis alternative sigma factor σB as a model system for understanding the role of noise in generating circuit output dynamics. σB controls the general stress response in B. subtilis and is activated by a range of energy and environmental stresses. Recent single-cell studies have revealed that the circuit can generate two distinct outputs, stochastic pulsing and a single pulse response, but the conditions under which each response is generated are under debate. We implement a stochastic mathematical model of the σB circuit to investigate this and find that the system’s core circuit can generate both response types. This is despite one response (stochastic pulsing) being stochastic in nature, and the other (single response pulse) being deterministic. We demonstrate that the main determinant for whichever response is generated is the degree with which the input pathway activates the core circuit, although the noise properties of the input pathway also biases the system towards one or the other type of output. Thus, our work shows how stochastic modelling can reveal the mechanisms behind non-intuitive gene circuit output dynamics.
A triple distinction of cerebellar function for oculomotor learning and fatigue compensation
Authors: Masselink Jana , Cheviet Alexis , Froment-Tilikete Caroline , Pélisson Denis , Lappe Markus
Published: August 2023

The cerebellum implements error-based motor learning via synaptic gain adaptation of an inverse model, i.e. the mapping of a spatial movement goal onto a motor command. Recently, we modeled the motor and perceptual changes during learning of saccadic eye movements, showing that learning is actually a threefold process. Besides motor recalibration of (1) the inverse model, learning also comprises perceptual recalibration of (2) the visuospatial target map and (3) of a forward dynamics model that estimates the saccade size from corollary discharge. Yet, the site of perceptual recalibration remains unclear. Here we dissociate cerebellar contributions to the three stages of learning by modeling the learning data of eight cerebellar patients and eight healthy controls. Results showed that cerebellar pathology restrains short-term recalibration of the inverse model while the forward dynamics model is well informed about the reduced saccade change. Adaptation of the visuospatial target map trended in learning direction only in control subjects, yet without reaching significance. Moreover, some patients showed a tendency for uncompensated oculomotor fatigue caused by insufficient upregulation of saccade duration. According to our model, this could induce long-term perceptual compensation, consistent with the overestimation of target eccentricity found in the patients’ baseline data. We conclude that the cerebellum mediates short-term adaptation of the inverse model, especially by control of saccade duration, while the forward dynamics model was not affected by cerebellar pathology.
Unlock digital health promotion in LMICs to benefit the youth
Authors: Ferretti Agata , Vayena Effy , Blasimme Alessandro
Published: August 2023

As digital technologies such as smartphones and fitness bands become more ubiquitous, individuals can engage in self-monitoring and self-care, gaining greater control over their health trajectories along the life-course. These technologies appeal particularly to young people, who are more familiar with digital devices. How this digital transformation facilitates health promotion is therefore a topic of animated debate. However, most research to date focuses on the promise and peril of digital health promotion (DHP) in high-income settings, while DHP in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remain largely unexplored. This narrative review aims to fill this gap by critically examining key ethical challenges of implementing DHP in LMICs, with a focus on young people. In the existing literature, we identified potential impediments as well as enabling conditions. Aspects to consider in unlocking the potential of DHP include (1) addressing the digital divide and structural injustice in data-related practices; (2) engaging the target population and responding to their specific needs given their economic, cultural, and social contexts; (3) monitoring the quality and impact of DHP over time; and (4) improving responsible technology governance and its implementation. Addressing these concerns could result in meaningful health benefits for populations lacking access to more conventional healthcare resources.
Solving teenage and young mothers’ childhood immunization hesitance and non-compliance through mobile immunization friendly service for working mothers in Ibadan, Nigeria- A research note
Authors: Omobowale Mofeyisara O. , Amodu Olukemi K. , Amodu Folakemi A.
Published: August 2023

Mobile Immunization for working mothers (SheVaccs) is an intervention targeted at working mothers in the informal markets of Ibadan to address problem of vaccine hesitance and drop-out among different categories of mother. These mothers have great responsibilities–keeping their homes stable and their children healthy. But these mothers have challenges of different magnitudes that prevented them from immunizing their children, and for teenage mothers they are faced with socio-cultural and socio-economic obstacles and have not responded positively to childhood immunization. In relation to these challenges, SheVaccs intervention study provided friendly immunization, counselling services, and information around vaccination schedules to working mothers in Ibadan, Nigeria. The intervention covered adolescent and young mothers’ population in the selected markets. Mobile clinic was set up in 3 different purposively selected markets in Ibadan. Data were collected through qualitative methods of observation and 21 in-depth interviews with teenage mothers, and 6 key informant interviews with their significant others. All data were subjected to content analysis. The age range of mothers involved in the study was between 17–23 years, almost all participants had no post- secondary school education. All mothers in this study find it difficult to attend conventional immunization centers, due to stigmatization, subtle hostility and embarrassment they experienced during pregnancy and after in some of these centers. Many of them were ignorant and have also been mis-socialized into motherhood and childcare. They preferred an immunization service that is mobile, with “strangers” who are friendly, understanding and will not judge them for ‘‘being anti-social”. Friendly Mobile immunization services targeted at teenage and young mothers will remove clog of stigmatization and hostility and minimize incidence of childhood Immunization Hesitance and non-compliance to schedule.
The safety and efficacy of remimazolam tosylate combined with propofol in upper gastrointestinal endoscopy: A multicenter, randomized clinical trial
Authors: Wei Ai , Ma Shijin , Dou Yuzhe , Wang Xiaojun , Wu Jianxiong , Zhou Shuzhi , Deng Yanfang , Liu Xinquan , Li Dongming , Yang Mengchang
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Hypotension is the most common adverse event under propofol-mediated sedation and is possible to cause varying degrees of damage to patients. Whereas remimazolam has a poorer sedative effect than propofol.

Aim

The aim of this study was to explore the advantages of the combination of remimazolam tosylate and propofol.

Methods

304 patients were divided into the remimazolam tosylate group (RT group), the propofol group (P group), and the remimazolam tosylate plus propofol group(R+T group). The primary outcome was the incidence of hypotension. Secondary outcomes included the results of sedation and recovery. The safety results mainly include the incidence of Hypotension, adverse respiratory events, postoperative nausea and vomiting, hiccup, cough, body movement and bradycardia.

Results

The incidence of hypotension was 56.7% in the P group, 12.6% in the RT group, and 31.3% in the R+P group, three groups of pairwise comparisons showed statistical differences, with P< 0.001. The incidence of body movement was significantly higher in the RT group (26.1%) than in the P group (10.3%) and the R+P group (12.5%), P = 0.004. The endoscopist satisfaction was higher in the P (3.87±0.44) and R+P (3.95±0.22)groups than in the RT(3.53±0.84) group. The incidence of adverse events, in descending order, was P group, RT group, and R+P group (93.8%vs.61.3%vs.42.7%).

Conclusion

Co-administration had fewer adverse events than propofol monotherapy, also had a better sedative effect and higher endoscopist satisfaction than remimazolam monotherapy.

Trial registration

Clinical trial registration number: NCT05429086.
PHRF1 promotes the class switch recombination of IgA in CH12F3-2A cells
Authors: Lee Jin-Yu , Chou Nai-Lin , Yu Ya-Ru , Shih Hsin-An , Lin Hung-Wei , Lee Chine-Kuo , Chang Mau-Sun
Published: August 2023

PHRF1 is an E3 ligase that promotes TGF-β signaling by ubiquitinating a homeodomain repressor TG-interacting factor (TGIF). The suppression of PHRF1 activity by PML-RARα facilitates the progression of acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). PHRF1 also contributes to non-homologous end-joining in response to DNA damage by linking H3K36me3 and NBS1 with DNA repair machinery. However, its role in class switch recombination (CSR) is not well understood. In this study, we report the importance of PHRF1 in IgA switching in CH12F3-2A cells and CD19-Cre mice. Our studies revealed that Crispr-Cas9 mediated PHRF1 knockout and shRNA-silenced CH12F3-2A cells reduced IgA production, as well as decreased the amounts of PARP1, NELF-A, and NELF-D. The introduction of PARP1 could partially restore IgA production in PHRF1 knockout cells. Intriguingly, IgA, as well as IgG1, IgG2a, and IgG3, switchings were not significantly decreased in PHRF1 deficient splenic B lymphocytes isolated from CD19-Cre mice. The levels of PARP1 and NELF-D were not decreased in PHRF1-depleted primary splenic B cells. Overall, our findings suggest that PHRF1 may modulate IgA switching in CH12F3-2A cells.
The effect of script reform on levels of orthographic knowledge: Evidence from alphasyllabary Malayalam scripts
Authors: Nambiar Krithika , Kishore Kiran , Bhargava Pranesh
Published: August 2023

This study explores the idea of the two levels of orthographic knowledge, i.e. lexical and sublexical; in particular, how these levels are affected in the case of the Indian language Malayalam that went through a script reform in 1971. Through reading and writings tasks, we compare the performance of elderly participants who gained literacy in the traditional script (with complex ligatures), with younger participants who gained literacy in the reformed script (with simpler glyphs). Both the groups read text faster in reformed script indicating script simplification was beneficial. While writing, the elderly participants largely employed the traditional script and younger ones used the reformed script. The study provides proof from non-European alphabet that orthographic knowledge indeed has two independent but related levels. Although a change in script affects both the levels, sublexical one seems more resistant to change, possibly due to less opportunities to update it.
Protocol for the development of coarse-grained structures for macromolecular simulation using GROMACS
Authors: Niranjan Vidya , Rao Purushotham , Uttarkar Akshay , Kumar Jitendra
Published: August 2023

Coarse-grained simulations have emerged as a valuable tool in the study of large and complex biomolecular systems. These simulations, which use simplified models to represent complex biomolecules, reduce the computational cost of simulations and enable the study of larger systems for longer periods of time than traditional atomistic simulations. GROMACS is a widely used software package for performing coarse-grained simulations of biomolecules, and several force fields have been developed specifically for this purpose. In this protocol paper, we explore the advantages of using coarse-grained simulations in the study of biomolecular systems, focusing specifically on simulations performed using GROMACS. We discuss the force fields required for these simulations and the types of research questions that can be addressed using coarse-grained simulations. We also highlight the potential benefits of coarse-grained simulations for the development of new force fields and simulation methodologies. We then discuss the expected results from coarse-grained simulations using GROMACS and the various techniques that can be used to analyze these results. We explore the use of trajectory analysis tools, as well as thermodynamic and structural analysis techniques, to gain insight into the behavior of biomolecular systems.
Locating perpetrators of violence against women in India: An analysis of married men’s characteristics associated with intimate partner violence
Authors: Chandra Rakesh , Srivastava Sonal , Singh Aditya , Mukherjee Saradiya , Patel Jeetendra Kumar
Published: August 2023

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) against married women is widely prevalent in India. Using recent data from NFHS-5, we analyzed the association between husbands’ characteristics and IPV. Separate logistic regression models were developed for three distinct “husband characteristic groups” namely demographic, social and economic groups, and one final model including only statistically significant variables. IPV has been found to be significantly associated with men’s age, age gap between husband and wife, men’s educational level, religion, caste, region, number of daughters, wife’s decision-making autonomy, men’s IPV justifying attitude, alcoholism and substance abuse among men, type of work and wealth. We suggest shifting the policy gaze from women and prioritizing men’s education, control on substance abuse and alcoholism among men as well as employment opportunities to tackle the violence against women.
Failure assessment in lithium-ion battery packs in electric vehicles using the failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) approach
Authors: Kirana Rizky Cahya , Purwanto Nicco Avinta , Azis Nadana Ayzah , Joelianto Endra , Santosa Sigit Puji , Budiman Bentang Arief , Nguyen Le Hoa , Turnip Arjon
Published: August 2023

The use of batteries in electric cars comes with inherent risks. As the crucial component of these vehicles, batteries must possess a highly dependable safety system to ensure the safety of users. To establish such a reliable safety system, a comprehensive analysis of potential battery failures is carried out. This research examines various failure modes and their effects, investigates the causes behind them, and quantifies the associated risks. The failure modes and effect analysis (FMEA) method is employed to classify these failures based on priority numbers. By studying 28 accident reports involving electric vehicles, data is collected to identify potential failure modes and evaluate their risks. The results obtained from the FMEA assessment are used to propose safety measures, considering the importance of the potential failure modes as indicated by their risk priority number (RPN). The design incorporates safeguards against mechanical stress, external short circuits, and thermal runaway incidents. The findings of this study enhance our understanding of electric vehicle (EV) battery safety and offer valuable insights to EV manufacturers, regulators, and policymakers, aiding them in the development of safer and more reliable electric vehicles.
Modeling of individual debris flows based on DEMNAS using Flow-R: A case study in Sigi, Central Sulawesi
Authors: Putra Moch Hilmi Zaenal , Dinata Indra Andra , Sadisun Imam Achmad , Sarah Dwi , Aulia Atin Nur , Sukristiyanti Sukristiyanti
Published: August 2023

On 2018 September 28, 18:03 a local time (10:03 am UTC), the Mw 7.5 earthquake with a focal depth of about 20 km devastated the Palu region in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia resulting in a catastrophic disaster and many casualties. The Palu earthquakes triggered widespread landslides upstream, contributing to the sizeable material volume accumulated in rivers and mountain slopes. After the Palu earthquake, from September 28, 2018, until December 2021, at least 24 events of debris floods have occurred, which have spread to 15 villages. As of late, the empirical debris flow model Flow-R, software for susceptibility mapping of debris flows at a regional scale, was published. While Flow-R's applicability on a regional scale has been confirmed in several studies, the calibrated case using back-analysis of individual debris flow events in Indonesia based on DEMNAS with a spatial resolution of 8.3 m has never been conducted. Local debris flows modeling using Flow-R was evaluated with three well-documented debris flow events on the break slopes on the west and east sides of the Palu Valley. Quantitative analysis was carried out in this study to assess the accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of models. First, the result shows the individual back-analysis model of debris flows found good agreement between debris-flow paths predicted and documented debris flow path extent. However, the parameters for rheological properties and erosion rate required in the software are limited. Second, the quantitative analysis shows accuracy, positive, and negative predictive value, which varies considerably. Based on the study, Flow-R is not suitable for comprehensive hazard mapping but provides a direct information about possible run-outdebris flow paths. Furthermore, lateral spreading and friction of Flow-R model results can be used to calibrate the process with rheological properties and erosion rate in other numerical modeling software, either for forward or back analysis.
Mass spectrometry in snake venom research
Authors: Leonardi Adrijana
Published: August 2023

Mass spectrometry allows rapid and reliable identification and characterisation of proteins and peptides in snake venoms. With the increasing availability of transcriptomic and genomic data, there is a growing database of protein sequences that is essential for protein identification. Snake venoms are analysed using a multi-dimensional proteomic approach known as ‚venomics‘. Proteins are first separated by one- or two-dimensional gel electrophoresis or reversed-phase liquid chromatography. The individual protein spots or fractions are digested enzymatically and the resulting peptides are analysed by mass spectrometry. The proteins are identified by comparing the mass spectra of the peptides with those in the database. High-performance mass spectrometers allow the analysis of venoms even without prior separation of the protein mixture. We have analysed the protein composition (proteome) of two European snake venoms of greatest medical interest, the nose-horned viper (Vipera a. ammodytes) and the common adder (Vipera b. berus). The nose-horned viper is the most venomous European snake. Although its bite is rarely fatal, a human wictim often needs to be observed in hospital and treated with an antivenom. The adder is the most widespread European venomous snake and its bite causes milder symptoms than the bite of the nose-horned viper in most cases. To explain the observed differences in the effects of the two venoms at the molecular level, a proteomic study was performed. We also analysed the proteome of the venom of the meadow viper (Vipera ursinii), the most threatened snake species in Europe. It does not pose a threat to humans. In the wild, it feeds mainly on insects, while in captivity it is fed on mice. A comparison of the proteome of the venom of snakes in the wild and snakes in captivity showed clear differences. Thus, the composition of snake venom is diet-dependent. Mass spectrometry is also a very useful tool in the characterisation of antivenoms (antivenomics) to determine their specificity and neutralising power.
Different susceptibility of two Botrytis cinerea strains to supercritical CO2 plant extracts
Authors: Anžlovar Sabina , Dolenc-Koce Jasna
Published: August 2023

Botrytis cinerea is an airborne plant pathogen with a necrotrophic lifestyle. As a generalist, B. cinerea has no host specificity and infects over 500 plant species. There are many studies about phenotypic and genotypic diversity of B. cinerea strains from different regions of the world. Two different morphological strains of B. cinerea were previously isolated also in Slovenia from buckwheat. The morphological diversity of B. cinerea is also reflected in different susceptibility to plant extracts. We tested the susceptibility of two B. cinerea strains derived from buckwheat grain to eleven extracts of plant species Humulus lupulus, Nepeta cataria, Taraxacum officinale, Achillea millefolium, Calendula officinalis, Chamomilla recutita, Helichrysum arenarium, Hypericum perforatum, Juniperus communis, Sambucus nigra and Crataegus sp. obtained by supercritical fluid extraction using CO2 (SFE-CO2). The resistance profiles showed that strain II of B. cinerea was generally susceptible to the action of these SFE-CO2 extracts, whereas strain I was more resistant. The concentration-dependent antifungal activity of the extract of chamomile and sandy everlasting indicates their possible use as a fungicide for both strains of B. cinerea.
Association of postprandial postexercise muscle protein synthesis rates with dietary leucine: A systematic review
Authors: Wilkinson Kiera , Koscien Christopher P. , Monteyne Alistair J. , Wall Benjamin T. , Stephens Francis B.
Published: August 2023

Background

Dietary protein ingestion augments post (resistance) exercise muscle protein synthesis (MPS) rates. It is thought that the dose of leucine ingested within the protein (leucine threshold hypothesis) and the subsequent plasma leucine variables (leucine trigger hypothesis; peak magnitude, rate of rise, and total availability) determine the magnitude of the postprandial postexercise MPS response.

Methods

A quantitative systematic review was performed extracting data from studies that recruited healthy adults, applied a bout of resistance exercise, ingested a bolus of protein within an hour of exercise, and measured plasma leucine concentrations and MPS rates (delta change from basal).

Results

Ingested leucine dose was associated with the magnitude of the MPS response in older, but not younger, adults over acute (0–2 h, r2 = 0.64, p = 0.02) and the entire postprandial (>2 h, r2 = 0.18, p = 0.01) period. However, no single plasma leucine variable possessed substantial predictive capacity over the magnitude of MPS rates in younger or older adults.

Conclusion

Our data provide support that leucine dose provides predictive capacity over postprandial postexercise MPS responses in older adults. However, no threshold in older adults and no plasma leucine variable was correlated with the magnitude of the postexercise anabolic response.
Rodent abundance, diversity and community structure in a bubonic plague endemic area, northern Tanzania
Authors: Kessy Stella T. , Makundi Rhodes H. , Sabuni Christopher , Massawe Apia W. , Rija Alfan A.
Published: August 2023

Rodent-borne diseases such as bubonic plague remain a significant threat to public health in tropical countries. In plague-endemic areas, little information exists on the factors triggering periodic bursts, thus rendering preparedness strategies for preventing the negative impacts of the deadly zoonosis difficult. In this study, we assessed how species richness, diversity, and community structure of rodents are associated with plague persistence in Mbulu District, Tanzania. Rodent data were collected using the removal trapping technique. We captured 610 rodents belonging to 12 species, with Mastomys natalensis recording highest abundance. There was significantly higher abundance and species richness in persistent than non-persistent plague locality. Also, house premises recorded significantly lower species richness than farm and forest habitats. Additionally, we found three broad rodent community structures that varied significantly between studied habitat types suggesting high rodent populations interaction at fine-scale resource abundance. The high abundance and diversity of plague-susceptible rodent reservoirs suggestively contribute to the plague persistence in the foci. These results may be useful to developing preparedness strategies in these areas to control plague outbreaks.
The Deranged Bell Numbers
Authors: Belbachir Hacène , Djemmada Yahia , Németh László
Published: August 2023

Based on the combinatorial interpretation of the ordered Bell numbers, which count all the ordered partitions of the set [n] = {1, 2, … n}, this paper introduces the deranged partition as a free-fixed-block permutation of its blocks, then defines the deranged Bell numbers that count the total number of the deranged partitions of [n].

At first, we study the classical properties of these numbers (generating function, explicit formula, convolutions, etc.), we then present an asymptotic behavior of the deranged Bell numbers. Finally, we briefly review some results regarding the r-extension of these numbers by considering that the r first elements must be in distinct blocks.
Shifted Power of a Polynomial with Integral Roots
Authors: Dubickas Artūras
Published: August 2023

In this note, for any integers m, n ≥ 2, we find a condition on a positive integer c under which there exists a monic polynomial

f
∈
ℤ
[
x
]

of degree n for which f(x)
m
– c has mn integral roots counting with multiplicities. This is the case if and only if m = 2 and c is a constant that comes from a solution of the Prouhet-Tarry-Escott problem of size n. For example, the smallest positive integer c for which there exists a monic degree 7 polynomial

f
∈
ℤ
[
x
]

such that f(x)2–c has 14 integral roots is c = 6620176679276160000.
Further Insights into the Mysteries of the Values of Zeta Functions at Integers
Authors: Mináč Ján , Nguyen Tung T. , Tân Nguyễn Duy
Published: August 2023

We present a remarkably simple and surprisingly natural interpretation of the values of zeta functions at negative integers and zero. Namely, we are able to relate these values to areas related to partial sums of powers. We apply these results to further interpretations of values ofL-functions at negative integers. We hint in a very brief way at some expected connections of this work with other current efforts to understand the mysteries of the values of zeta functions at integers.