bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cellular and molecular waypoints along the path of T cell exhaustion
Authors: Lan Xin , Zebley Caitlin C. , Youngblood Ben
Published: September 2023

Thirty years of foundational research investigating molecular and cellular mechanisms promoting T cell exhaustion are now enabling rational design of T cell–based therapies for the treatment of chronic infections and cancer. Once described as a static cell fate, it is now well appreciated that the developmental path toward exhaustion is composed of a heterogeneous pool of cells with varying degrees of effector potential that ultimately converge on a terminally differentiated state. Recent description of the developmental stages along the differentiation trajectory of T cell exhaustion has provided insight into past immunotherapeutic success and future opportunities. Here, we discuss the hallmarks of distinct developmental stages occurring along the path to T cell dysfunction and the impact of these discrete CD8
+
T cell fates on cancer immunotherapy.
Sinking while you swim: A dual role for CCR7 in leukocyte migration
Authors: Donnelly Hannah , Mandrou Elena , Insall Robert
Published: September 2023

The CCR7 receptor allows dendritic cells to sense the chemokine CCL19. It also depletes CCL19 from the environment by endocytosis, leading to local gradients that can steer cells accurately and robustly through tissues, even over long distances (see related Research Article by Alankoet al.).
Case Commentary: The hidden side of oxacillin resistance in
Staphylococcus aureus
Authors: Giulieri Stefano G.
Published: September 2023

Acquisition of PBP2a (encoded by the
mec
gene) is the key resistance mechanism to β-lactams in
Staphylococcus aureus
. The
mec
gene can be easily detected by PCR assays; however, these tools will miss
me
c-independent oxacillin resistance. This phenotype is mediated by mutations in cell wall metabolism genes that can be acquired during persistent infections under prolonged antibiotic exposure. The complex case presented by Hess et al. (Antimicrob Agents Chemother 67:e00437-23, 2023,
https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.00437-23
) highlights the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in the management of
me
c-independent oxacillin resistance.
Divergent roles of Rad4 and Rad23 homologs in
Metarhizium robertsii
’s resistance to solar ultraviolet damage
Authors: Zhang Yi-Lu , Peng Han , Zhang Ke , Ying Sheng-Hua , Feng Ming-Guang
Published: September 2023

The anti-ultraviolet (UV) role of a Rad4-Rad23-Rad33 complex in budding yeast relies on nucleotide excision repair (NER), which is mechanistically distinct from photorepair of DNA lesions generated under solar UV irradiation but remains poorly known in filamentous fungi. Here, two nucleus-specific Rad4 paralogs (Rad4A and Rad4B) and nucleocytoplasmic shuttling Rad23 ortholog are functionally characterized by multiple analyses of their null mutants in
Metarhizium robertsii
, an entomopathogenic fungus lacking Rad33. Rad4A was proven to interact with Rad23 and contribute significantly more to conidial UVB resistance (90%) than Rad23 (65%). Despite no other biological function, Rad4A exhibited a very high activity in photoreactivation of UVB-impaired/inactivated conidia by 5-h light exposure due to its interaction with Rad10, an anti-UV protein clarified previously to have acquired a similar photoreactivation activity through its interaction with a photolyase in
M. robertsii
. The NER activity of Rad4A or Rad23 was revealed by lower reactivation rates of moderately impaired conidia after 24-h dark incubation but hardly observable at the end of 12-h dark incubation, suggesting an infeasibility of its NER activity in the field where nighttime is too short. Aside from a remarkable contribution to conidial UVB resistance, Rad23 had pleiotropic effect in radial growth, aerial conidiation, antioxidant response, and cell wall integrity but no photoreactivation activity. However, Rad4B proved redundant in function. The high photoreactivation activity of Rad4A unveils its essentiality for
M. robertsii
’s fitness to solar UV irradiation and is distinct from the yeast homolog’s anti-UV role depending on NER.

IMPORTANCE

Resilience of solar ultraviolet (UV)-impaired cells is crucial for the application of fungal insecticides based on formulated conidia. Anti-UV roles of Rad4, Rad23, and Rad33 rely upon nucleotide excision repair (NER) of DNA lesions in budding yeast. Among two Rad4 paralogs and Rad23 ortholog characterized in
Metarhizium robertsii
lacking Rad33, Rad4A contributes to conidial UVB resistance more than Rad23, which interacts with Rad4A rather than functionally redundant Rad4B. Rad4A acquires a high activity in photoreactivation of conidia severely impaired or inactivated by UVB irradiation through its interaction with Rad10, another anti-UV protein previously proven to interact with a photorepair-required photolyase. The NER activity of either Rad4A or Rad23 is seemingly extant but unfeasible under field conditions. Rad23 has pleiotropic effect in the asexual cycle
in vitro
but no photoreactivation activity. Therefore, the strong anti-UV role of Rad4A depends on photoreactivation, unveiling a scenario distinct from the yeast homolog’s NER-reliant anti-UV role.
Development of a rapid lateral flow assay for detection of anti-coccidioidal antibodies
Authors: Grill Francisca J. , Svarovsky Sergei , Gonzalez-Moa Maria , Kaleta Erin , Blair Janis E. , Lovato Lydia , Grant Richard , Ross Kyle , Linnehan Barbara K. , Meegan Jenny , Reilly Kenta S. , Brown Ashlyn , Williams Stacy , Chung Yunro , Magee D. Mitchell , Grys Thomas E. , Lake Douglas F.
Published: September 2023

Coccidioidesspp. are dimorphic fungi that are capable of infecting human and non-human mammals and can cause diverse manifestations of coccidioidomycosis or Valley fever (VF). In combination with clinical symptoms and radiographic findings, antibody-based diagnostic tests are often used to diagnose and monitor patients with VF. Chitinase 1 (CTS1) has previously been identified as the seroreactive antigen used in these diagnostic assays to detect anticoccidial IgG. Here, an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect IgG to CTS1 demonstrated 165 of 178 (92.7%) patients with a positive result by immunodiffusion (ID) and/or complement fixation (CF) had antibodies to the single antigen CTS1. We then developed a rapid antibody lateral flow assay (LFA) to detect anti-CTS1 antibodies. Out of 143 samples tested, the LFA showed 92.9% positive percent agreement [95% confidence interval (CI), 84.3%–96.9%] and 97.7% negative percent agreement (95% CI, 87.9%–99.6%) with ID and CF assays. Serum or plasma from canines, macaques, and dolphins was also tested by the CTS1 LFA. Test line densities of the CTS1 LFA correlated in a linear manner with the reported CF and ID titers for human and non-human samples, respectively. This 10-min point-of-care test for the rapid detection of anti-coccidioidal antibodies could help to inform healthcare providers in real-time, potentially improving the efficiency of healthcare delivery.
Associating bovine herpesvirus 1 envelope glycoprotein gD with activated phospho-PLC-γ1(S1248)
Authors: Liu Chang , Yuan Weifeng , Yang Hao , Ni Junqing , Tang Linke , Zhao Heci , Neumann Donna , Ding Xiuyan , Zhu Liqian
Published: September 2023

Phospholipase C gamma 1 (PLC-γ1) may locate at distinct subcellular locations, such as cytosol, plasma membrane, and nucleus for varied biological functions. Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) productive infection activates PLC-γ1 signaling, as demonstrated by increased protein levels of phosphorylated-PLC-γ1 at Ser1248 [p-PLC-γ1(S1248)], which benefits virus productive infection. Here, for the first time, we reported that Golgi apparatus also contains activated p-PLC-γ1(S1248). And BoHV-1 productive infection at later stages (24 hpi) increased the accumulation of p-PLC-γ1(S1248) in the Golgi apparatus, where p-PLC-γ1(S1248) forms highlighted puncta observed via a confocal microscope. Coimmunoprecipitation studies demonstrated that the Golgi p-PLC-γ1(S1248) is specifically associated with the viral protein gD but not gC. In addition, we found that p-PLC-γ1(S1248) is consistently associated with both the plasma membrane-associated virions and the released virions. When the virus-infected cells were treated with PLC-γ1-specific inhibitor, U73122, for a short duration of 4 hours prior to the endpoint of virus infection, we found that the viral protein gD was trapped in the Golgi apparatus, suggesting that the PLC-γ1 signaling may facilitate trafficking of progeny virions out of this organelle. These findings provide a novel insight into the interplay between PLC-γ1 signaling and BoHV-1 replication.

IMPORTANCE

Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) productive infection increases protein levels of phosphorylated-phospholipase C gamma 1 at Ser1248 [p-PLC-γ1(S1248)]. However, whether it causes any variations to p-PLC-γ1(S1248) localization is not well understood. Here, for the first time, we found that partial p-PLC-γ1(S1248) is residing in the Golgi apparatus, where the accumulation is enhanced by virus infection. p-PLC-γ1(S1248) is consistently associated with virions, partially via binding to gD, in both the Golgi apparatus and cytoplasm membranes. Surprisingly, it also associates with the released virions. Of note, this is the first evidenced BoHV-1 virion-bound host protein. It seems that p-PLC-γ1(S1248) works as an escort during trafficking of progeny virions out of Golgi apparatus to the plasma membranes as well as releasing outside of the cell membranes. Furthermore, we showed that the activated p-PLC-γ1(S1248) is potentially implicated in the transport of virions out of Golgi apparatus, which may represent a novel mechanism to regulate virus productive infection.
In vivo
efficacy of pitavastatin combined with itraconazole against
Aspergillus fumigatus
in silkworm models
Authors: Majima Hidetaka , Arai Teppei , Kamei Katsuhiko , Watanabe Akira
Published: September 2023

Azole resistance in
Aspergillus fumigatus
is a worldwide concern and new antifungal drugs are required to overcome this problem. Statin, a 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitor, has been reported to suppress the growth of
A. fumigatus
, but little is known about its
in vivo
antifungal effect against
A. fumigatus
. In this study, we evaluated the
in vivo
efficacy of pitavastatin (PIT) combined with itraconazole (ITC) against azole-susceptible and azole-resistant strains with silkworm models. Prolongation of survival was confirmed in the combination-therapy (PIT and ITC) group compared to the no-treatment group in both azole-susceptible and azole-resistant strain models. Furthermore, when the azole-susceptible strain was used, the combination-therapy resulted in a higher survival rate than with ITC alone. Histopathological analysis of the silkworms revealed a reduction of the hyphal amount in both azole-susceptible and azole-resistant strain models. Quantitative evaluation of fungal DNA by qPCR in azole-susceptible strain models clarified the reduction of fungal burden in the combination-therapy group compared with the no-treatment group and ITC-alone group. These results indicate that the efficacy of PIT was enhanced when combined with ITC
in vivo
. As opposed to most statins, PIT has little drug–drug interaction with azoles in humans and can be used safely with ITC. This combination therapy may be a promising option as an effective treatment in clinical settings in the future.

IMPORTANCE

Azole resistance among
A. fumigatus
isolates has recently been increasingly recognized as a cause of treatment failure, and alternative antifungal therapies are required to overcome this problem. Our study shows the
in vivo
efficacy of PIT combined with ITC against
A. fumigatus
using silkworm models by several methods including evaluation of survival rates, histopathological analysis, and assessment of fungal burden. Contrary to most statins, PIT can be safely administered with azoles because of less drug–drug interactions, so this study should help us to verify how to make use of the drug in clinical settings in the future.
The GGDEF protein Dgc2 suppresses both motility and biofilm formation in the filamentous cyanobacterium
Leptolyngbya boryana
Authors: Toida Kazuma , Kushida Wakana , Yamamoto Hiroki , Yamamoto Kyoka , Ishii Kaichi , Uesaka Kazuma , Kanaly Robert A. , Kutsuna Shinsuke , Ihara Kunio , Fujita Yuichi , Iwasaki Hideo
Published: September 2023

Colony pattern formations of bacteria with motility manifest complicated morphological self-organization phenomena.
Leptolyngbya boryana
is a filamentous cyanobacterium, which has been used as a genetic model organism for studying metabolism including photosynthesis and nitrogen fixation. A widely used type strain [wild type (WT) in this article] of this species has not been reported to show any motile activity. However, we isolated a spontaneous mutant strain that shows active motility (gliding activity) to give rise to complicated colony patterns, including comet-like wandering clusters and disk-like rotating vortices on solid media. Whole-genome resequencing identified multiple mutations in the genome of the mutant strain. We confirmed that inactivation of the candidate gene
dgc2
(
LBDG_02920
) in the WT background was sufficient to give rise to motility and morphologically complex colony patterns. This gene encodes a protein containing the GGDEF motif which is conserved at the catalytic domain of diguanylate cyclase (DGC). Although DGC has been reported to be involved in biofilm formation, the
dgc2
mutant significantly facilitated biofilm formation, suggesting a role for the
dgc2
gene in suppressing both gliding motility and biofilm formation. Thus,
Leptolyngbya
is expected to be an excellent genetic model for studying dynamic colony pattern formation and to provide novel insights into the role of DGC family genes in biofilm formation.

IMPORTANCE

Self-propelled bacteria often exhibit complex collective behaviors, such as formation of dense-moving clusters, which are exemplified by wandering comet-like and rotating disk-like colonies; however, the molecular details of how these structures are formed are scant. We found that a strain of the filamentous cyanobacterium
Leptolyngbya
deficient in the GGDEF protein gene
dgc2
elicits motility and complex and dynamic colony pattern formation, including comet-like and disk-like clusters. Although c-di-GMP has been reported to activate biofilm formation in some bacterial species, disruption of
dgc2
unexpectedly enhanced it, suggesting a novel role for this GGDEF protein for inhibiting both colony pattern formation and biofilm formation.
Barriers to childhood asthma care in sub-Saharan Africa: a multicountry qualitative study with children and their caregivers
Authors: Naidoo Kimesh Loganathan , Dladla Sindisiwe , Mphahlele Reratilwe Ephenia , Mosler Gioia , Muyemayema Sophie , Ssemata Andrew Sentoogo , Mkutumula Elizabeth , Adeyeye Olayinka Olufunke , Moyo Melinda , Goodman Olayinka , Kuyinu Yetunde , Nantanda Rebecca , Ticklay Ismail , Mujuru Hilda Angela , Grigg Jonathan , Masekela Refiloe
Published: September 2023

Objectives

This study identifies barriers and provides recommendations to improve asthma care in children across sub-Saharan Africa, where qualitative data is lacking despite high rates.

Design

One of the aims of our National Institute for Health Research global health research group ‘Achieving Control of Asthma in Children in Africa’ was to use qualitative thematic analysis of transcribed audio recordings from focus group discussions (FGDs) to describe barriers to achieving good asthma control.

Setting

Schools in Blantyre (Malawi), Lagos (Nigeria), Durban (South Africa), Kampala (Uganda) and Harare (Zimbabwe).

Participants

Children (n=136), 12–14 years with either asthma symptoms or a diagnosis and their caregivers participated in 39 FGDs. All were recruited using asthma control questions from the Global Asthma Network survey.

Results

There were four key themes identified: (1) Poor understanding, (2) difficulties experienced with being diagnosed, (3) challenges with caring for children experiencing an acute asthma episode and (4) suboptimal uptake and use of prescribed medicines. An inadequate understanding of environmental triggers, a hesitancy in using metred dose inhalers and a preference for oral and alternate medications were identified as barriers. In addition, limited access to healthcare with delays in diagnosis and an inability to cope with expected lifestyle changes was reported. Based on these findings, we recommend tailored education to promote access to and acceptance of metred dose inhalers, including advocating for access to a single therapeutic, preventative and treatment option. Furthermore, healthcare systems should have simpler diagnostic pathways and easier emergency access for asthma.

Conclusions

In a continent with rapidly increasing levels of poorly controlled asthma, we identified multiple barriers to achieving good asthma control along the trajectory of care. Exploration of these barriers reveals several generalisable recommendations that should modify asthma care plans and potentially transform asthma care in Africa.

Trial registration number

269211.
Year-to-year trajectories of hospital utilisation rates among patients with COPD: a real-world, single-centre, retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yii Anthony , Xu Xiaomeng , Loh Chee Hong , Bahety Priti , Navarro Rojas Aldo Amador , Milea Dominique , Tee Augustine
Published: September 2023

Objectives

The long-term clinical trajectory of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in terms of year-to-year hospital utilisation rates can be highly variable and is not well studied. We investigated year-to-year trends of hospitalisation or emergency department (ED) visits among patients with COPD over 3 years, identified distinct trajectories and examined associated predictive factors.

Design

A retrospective cohort study.

Setting

Data were extracted from the Changi General Hospital, Singapore COPD data warehouse.

Participants

Patients with COPD aged ≥40 years with 3 years of follow-up data.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

The yearly rates of hospitalisations or ED visits, stratified by COPD-related or all-cause, were described. Group-based trajectory modelling was used to identify clinically distinct trajectories year-by-year. Baseline predictive factors associated with different trajectories were examined.

Results

In total, 396 patients were analysed (median age 70 years; 87% male). Four trajectories were generated for year-to-year trends in COPD-related hospitalisations/ED visits (C1–C4: consistently frequent, consistently infrequent, improving and worsening); post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) was a significant predictor of trajectory, with worse lung function being the main factor associated with less favourable trajectories. For all-cause hospitalisations/ED visits, four trajectories were identified (A1–A4: infrequent and stable, frequent and stable, frequent and decreasing, frequent and increasing); significant differences in age (p=0.041), sex (p=0.016) and ethnicity (p=0.005) were found between trajectories. Higher overall comorbidity burden was a key determinant in less favourable trajectories of all-cause hospitalisations/ED visits.

Conclusions

Distinct trajectories were demonstrated for hospitalisations/ED visits related to COPD or all causes, with predictive associations between FEV1and COPD trajectory and between comorbidities and all-cause trajectory. Trajectories carry nuanced prognostic information and may be useful for clinical risk stratification to identify high-risk individuals for preventative treatments.
Acute respiratory distress syndrome: potential of therapeutic interventions effective in treating progression from COVID-19 to treat progression from other illnesses—a systematic review
Authors: Ragel Emma J , Harris Lynda K , Campbell Richard A
Published: September 2023

Background

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is the most severe form of lung injury, rendering gaseous exchange insufficient, leading to respiratory failure. Despite over 50 years of research on the treatment of ARDS when developed from illnesses such as sepsis and pneumonia, mortality remains high, and no robust pharmacological treatments exist. The progression of SARS-CoV-2 infections to ARDS during the recent global pandemic led to a surge in the number of clinical trials on the condition. Understandably, this explosion in new research focused on COVID-19 ARDS (CARDS) rather than ARDS when developed from other illnesses, yet differences in pathology between the two conditions mean that optimal treatment for them may be distinct.

Aim

The aim of the present work is to assess whether new therapeutic interventions that have been developed for the treatment of CARDS may also hold strong potential in the treatment of ARDS when developed from other illnesses. The study objectives are achieved through a systematic review of clinical trials.

Results

The COVID-19 pandemic led to the identification of various therapeutic interventions for CARDS, some but not all of which are optimal for the management of ARDS. Interventions more suited to CARDS pathology include antithrombotics and biologic agents, such as cytokine inhibitors. Cell-based therapies, on the other hand, show promise in the treatment of both conditions, attributed to their broad mechanisms of action and the overlap in the clinical manifestations of the conditions. A shift towards personalised treatments for both CARDS and ARDS, as reflected through the increasing use of biologics, is also evident.

Conclusions

As ongoing CARDS clinical trials progress, their findings are likely to have important implications that alter the management of ARDS in patients that develop the condition from illnesses other than COVID-19 in the future.
Economic insecurity exposure and cognitive function in late life
Authors: Luo Yanan , Xu Ming , Liang Richard
Published: September 2023

Objectives

This study took the State-owned Enterprises (SOE) reform from 1996 to 2002 in China as a natural experiment to explore the consequences of economic insecurity exposure during early-adulthood and mid-adulthood on cognitive function in later life.

Methods

Data were obtained from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Survey (CHARLS), 2014 and 2015. CHARLS is a nationally representative survey covering 28 provinces in China. A total of 4536 urban dwellers born earlier than 1971 (aged 25 years old and above at the start of the SOE reform in 1996) were included in our analyses. Using province-year-level economic loss from the layoffs, we examined the impact of economic insecurity exposure on the cognitive function score by using a difference-in-differences model with 1996–2002 as the cut-off.

Results

Individuals exposed to economic insecurity have significantly decreased cognitive function, in which a 1% point increase in expected economic loss would decrease the cognitive function score by 0.09 (95% CI: −0.17 to –0.01). Given that the average intensity of expected economic loss was 11.59% and the mean score of cognitive function was 21.26, exposure to the SOE reforms led to an average decrease in the cognitive function score by at least 4.91%.

Conclusions

Providing cognitive health surveillance and psychological counselling may be important for preventing cognitive decline among those experiencing economic insecurity.
KLRG1 marks tumor-infiltrating CD4 T cell subsets associated with tumor progression and immunotherapy response
Authors: Ager Casey R , Zhang Mingxuan , Chaimowitz Matthew , Bansal Shruti , Tagore Somnath , Obradovic Aleksandar , Jugler Collin , Rogava Meri , Melms Johannes C , McCann Patrick , Spina Catherine , Drake Charles G , Dallos Matthew C , Izar Benjamin
Published: September 2023

Current methods for biomarker discovery and target identification in immuno-oncology rely on static snapshots of tumor immunity. To thoroughly characterize the temporal nature of antitumor immune responses, we developed a 34-parameter spectral flow cytometry panel and performed high-throughput analyses in critical contexts. We leveraged two distinct preclinical models that recapitulate cancer immunoediting (NPK-C1) and immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response (MC38), respectively, and profiled multiple relevant tissues at and around key inflection points of immune surveillance and escape and/or ICB response. Machine learning-driven data analysis revealed a pattern of KLRG1 expression that uniquely identified intratumoral effector CD4 T cell populations that constitutively associate with tumor burden across tumor models, and are lost in tumors undergoing regression in response to ICB. Similarly, a Helios-KLRG1+subset of tumor-infiltrating regulatory T cells was associated with tumor progression from immune equilibrium to escape and was also lost in tumors responding to ICB. Validation studies confirmed KLRG1 signatures in human tumor-infiltrating CD4 T cells associate with disease progression in renal cancer. These findings nominate KLRG1+CD4 T cell populations as subsets for further investigation in cancer immunity and demonstrate the utility of longitudinal spectral flow profiling as an engine of dynamic biomarker discovery.
Analytical and numerical models for strain and load calculations for geosynthetic liner systems on steep slopes
Authors: Yu Yan , Rowe R. Kerry
Published: September 2023

The paper develops an analytical model based on the force equilibrium for the design of steep slope geosynthetic liner systems to overcome downdrag loads from waste settlement. This analytical model calculates the required tensile stiffness for a high strength/stiffness geotextile (HS-GTX) reinforcement over the GMB to limit the maximum HS-GTX tensile strain to 5% and the maximum GMB strain to 4% on the side slope. The numerical model illustrates the need for reducing the GMB tensile strains for a single GMB liner on a steep landfill slope and confirms that the use of a HS-GTX over the GMB is able to limit the maximum HS-GTX and GMB tensile strains to the acceptable strain levels. The analytical model developed in this paper is a practical tool for preliminary design to limit tensile strains of the HS-GTX and GMB in a steep slope geosynthetic liner system.
Assessment of twin tunnelling induced settlement and load transfer mechanism of a single pile in dry sand
Authors: Lu Hu , Shi Jiangwei , Shi Chao , Pei Weiwei , Chen Shaoming
Published: September 2023

This study conducted both three-dimensional physical model tests and numerical back-analyses to examine the performance of a single pile subjected to twin tunnelling beneath the pile toe in dry sand. Moreover, numerical parametric analyses were carried out to assess the impact of working load level and tunnel volume loss on pile behaviour. The findings revealed that the first tunnelling induced a 1.9% dp (pile diameter) settlement in the pile when the pile toe was 0.5 D (tunnel diameter) above the twin tunnels, which had a 1.0% volume loss. The settlement was accompanied by an upward load transfer mechanism. The second tunnelling had a reduced impact and induced only 76% of the settlement caused by the first tunnelling. The study also showed that tunnelling-induced shearing behaviours weakened beneath the pile toe with a decrease in working load, resulting in reduced pile head settlement. Moreover, the computed pile settlement increased by 178% when the tunnel volume loss increased from 0.5% to 2%. The findings of this study offer valuable data for the validation and calibration of numerical models. In addition, the outcome from this study provides useful insights into the prediction of the pile-soil-tunnel interaction when subjected to twin tunnelling.
Revisiting canonical quantization of radiation: the role of the vacuum field
Authors: Cetto A. M. , de la Peña L. , Pérez-Barragán J. F.
Published: September 2023

Canonical quantization has conventionally been adopted as a necessary procedure for the description of the quantum radiation field by analogy between quantum-mechanical oscillators and field oscillators. In this paper we provide the physical basis for the formal quantization of the radiation field interacting with matter in the presence of the vacuum field, taken here as a solution of classical Maxwell equations. Just as the canonical particle operators $$\hat{x}$$

x
^

, $$\hat{p}$$

p
^

have been shown to be the response functions of the particle to this field, here we derive the creation and annihilation operators $$\hat{a}^{\dagger }$$

a
^

†

, $$\hat{a}$$

a
^

, with $$[\hat{a},\hat{a}^{\dagger }]=1$$

[

a
^

,

a
^

†

]
=
1

, as an expression of the field’s response to this interaction. The results obtained shed new light on the physical meaning of the description of light in terms of operators and suggest that neither matter nor radiation are quantized in isolation.
An overview of the eruption of La Soufrière Volcano, St Vincent 2020–21
Authors: Robertson Richard E. A. , Barclay Jenni , Joseph E. P. , Sparks R. S. J.
Published: September 2023

This paper provides an overview of the eruption of La Soufrière Volcano on the island of St Vincent which occurred between 27 December 2020 and 22 April 2022. It sets the stage for the 17 papers included in this Special Publication that showcase the initial scientific findings arising from analysis of the crisis. Here we present a chronology of the eruption and discuss the key findings from these papers while underscoring the areas for which further research is needed.

The detailed account of the eruption offers several lessons for volcanic crisis management and provides insights into the most effective communication process through this type of crisis. It highlights the need for and benefits of planning and preparedness activities prior to an eruption as well as of long-term engagement with disaster management officials and at-risk communities. The value of partnerships both within the island and with external collaborators was shown to be critical as was the use of a multiparametric dataset to assess the course of the eruption. We contend that the papers contained in this publication provide key insights into the mechanisms by which volcanic eruptions can impact populations at risk. The suite of analyses and data have generated a canonical dataset that can provide the framework for new advances in understanding the causes and consequences of varying eruptions worldwide.
Parameterized Complexity of Feature Selection for Categorical Data Clustering
Authors: Bandyapadhyay Sayan , Fomin Fedor V. , Golovach Petr A. , Simonov Kirill
Published: September 2023

We develop new algorithmic methods with provable guarantees for feature selection in regard to categorical data clustering. While feature selection is one of the most common approaches to reduce dimensionality in practice, most of the known feature selection methods are heuristics. We study the following mathematical model. We assume that there are some inadvertent (or undesirable) features of the input data that unnecessarily increase the cost of clustering. Consequently, we want to select a subset of the original features from the data such that there is a small-cost clustering on the selected features. More precisely, for given integers ℓ (the number of irrelevant features) and
k
(the number of clusters), budget
B
, and a set of
n
categorical data points (represented by
m
-dimensional vectors whose elements belong to a finite set of values Σ), we want to select
m
-ℓ relevant features such that the cost of any optimal
k
-clustering on these features does not exceed
B
. Here the cost of a cluster is the sum of Hamming distances (ℓ
0
-distances) between the selected features of the elements of the cluster and its center. The clustering cost is the total sum of the costs of the clusters.

We use the framework of parameterized complexity to identify how the complexity of the problem depends on parameters
k
,
B
, and |Σ|. Our main result is an algorithm that solves the Feature Selection problem in time
f
(
k, B
, |Σ|)⋅
m

g
(
k
, |Σ|)

⋅
n
2
for some functions
f
and
g
. In other words, the problem is fixed-parameter tractable parameterized by
B
when |Σ| and
k
are constants. Our algorithm for Feature Selection is based on a solution to a more general problem, Constrained Clustering with Outliers. In this problem, we want to delete a certain number of outliers such that the remaining points could be clustered around centers satisfying specific constraints. One interesting fact about Constrained Clustering with Outliers is that besides Feature Selection, it encompasses many other fundamental problems regarding categorical data such as Robust Clustering and Binary and Boolean Low-rank Matrix Approximation with Outliers. Thus, as a byproduct of our theorem, we obtain algorithms for all these problems. We also complement our algorithmic findings with complexity lower bounds.
Energy Efficient Beamforming for Small Cell Systems: A distributed Learning and Multicell Coordination Approach
Authors: Zhou Hang , Wang Xiaoyan , Umehira Masahiro , Han Biao , Zhou Hao
Published: September 2023

The integration of small cell architecture and edge intelligence is expected to make high-grade mobile connectivity accessible and thus provide smart and efficient services for various aspects of urban life. It is well known that small cell architecture will cause high inter-cell interference since the adjacent cells share the same frequency band. One of the most promising techniques to mitigate inter-cell interference is beamforming, however, how to coordinate the beamformers in a multicell dynamic network to reach a global optimum is an extremely challenging problem. In this paper, we consider analog beamforming with low-resolution phase shifters, and propose a distributed learning and multicell coordination based energy efficient beamforming approach for multiple-input and single-output (MISO) small cell system. The goal is to maximize the energy efficiency (EE) of the whole system by jointly optimizing the beamformer and transmit power. We perform extensive simulations in both static and dynamic scenarios, and validate the performance of the proposed approach by comparing with baseline and existing schemes. The simulation results demonstrate that the proposed approach outperforms the baseline and existing schemes with an significant improvement in terms of EE for both static and dynamic network settings.
Learning from the Past: Fast NAS for Tasks and Datasets
Authors: Cheung Ming
Published: September 2023

Nowadays, with the advancement of technology, many retail companies require in-house data scientist teams to build machine learning tasks, such as user segmentation and item price prediction. These teams typically use a trial-and-error process to obtain a good model for a given dataset and machine learning task, which is time-consuming and requires expertise. However, the team may have built models for other tasks on different datasets. This article proposes a framework to obtain a model architecture using the previous solved machine learning tasks and datasets. By analyzing real datasets with over 70,000 images from 11 online retail e-commerce websites, it is demonstrated that the performance of a model is related to the similarity among datasets, models, and machine learning tasks. A framework is hence proposed to obtain the model using the similarities among them. It was proven that the model was 26.6% better in accuracy, and using only 20% of the runtime while comparing to an auto network architecture search library, Auto-Keras, in predicting the attributes of fashion images. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first article to obtain the best model based on the similarity among machine learning tasks, models, and datasets.
A Survey on Deep Learning Based Forest Environment Sound Classification at the Edge
Authors: Meedeniya Dulani , Ariyarathne Isuru , Bandara Meelan , Jayasundara Roshinie , Perera Charith
Published: September 2023

Forest ecosystems are of paramount importance to the sustainable existence of life on earth. Unique natural and artificial phenomena pose severe threats to the perseverance of such ecosystems. With the advancement of artificial intelligence technologies, the effectiveness of implementing forest monitoring systems based on acoustic surveillance has been established due to the practicality of the approach. It can be identified that with the support of transfer learning, deep learning algorithms outperform conventional machine learning algorithms for forest acoustic classification. Further, a clear requirement to move the conventional cloud-based sound classification to the edge is raised among the research community to ensure real-time identification of acoustic incidents. This article presents a comprehensive survey on the state-of-the-art forest sound classification approaches, publicly available datasets for forest acoustics, and the associated infrastructure. Further, we discuss the open challenges and future research aspects that govern forest acoustic classification.
Programmable In-memory Computing Circuit of Fast Hartley Transform
Authors: Hong Qinghui , Huang Richeng , Xiao Pingdan , Li Jun , Sun Jingru , Zhang Jiliang
Published: September 2023

Discrete Hartley transform is a core component of digital signal processing because of its advantages of fast computing speed and less power consumption. Traditional FPGA-based implementation methods have the disadvantage of high latency, which cannot meet the needs of energy-efficient computing in the Internet of Things era. Therefore, A programmable analog memory computing circuit is proposed to accelerate FHT and IFHT calculations for large-scale one-step matrix computation. By adjusting the weight of memristor, different scales of FHT calculation can be achieved. PSPICE simulation results show that the average accuracy of the proposed circuit can reach 99.9%, and the speed can also reach the level of 0.1 μs. The robustness analysis shows that the circuit can tolerate a certain degree of programming error and resistance tolerance. The designed analog circuit is applied to image compression processing, and the image compression accuracy can reach 99.9%.
Aging in females is associated with changes in respiratory modulation of sympathetic nerve activity and blood pressure
Authors: Adams Zoe H. , Blythe Hazel C. , Charkoudian Nisha , Curry Timothy B. , Joyner Michael J. , Kendrick Adrian H. , Nightingale Angus K. , Abdala Sheikh Ana P. , Hart Emma C.
Published: September 2023

The current study demonstrates that respiratory modulation of sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) is reduced in healthy postmenopausal (PMF) versus premenopausal females (YF). Furthermore, respiratory sympathetic modulation was negatively related to resting blood pressure in postmenopausal females, such that blood pressure was greater in individual with less modulation. Reduced respiratory sympathetic modulation may have implications for the autonomic control of blood pressure in aging postmenopausal females, by contributing to age-related sympathetic activation and reducing acute, respiratory-linked blood pressure variation.
Identification and functional analysis of senescent cells in the cardiovascular system using omics approaches
Authors: Mahoney Sophia A. , Dey Amit K. , Basisty Nathan , Herman Allison B.
Published: September 2023

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, and senescent cells have emerged as key contributors to its pathogenesis. Senescent cells exhibit cell cycle arrest and secrete a range of proinflammatory factors, termed the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which promotes tissue dysfunction and exacerbates CVD progression. Omics technologies, specifically transcriptomics and proteomics, offer powerful tools to uncover and define the molecular signatures of senescent cells in cardiovascular tissue. By analyzing the comprehensive molecular profiles of senescent cells, omics approaches can identify specific genetic alterations, gene expression patterns, protein abundances, and metabolite levels associated with senescence in CVD. These omics-based discoveries provide insights into the mechanisms underlying senescence-induced cardiovascular damage, facilitating the development of novel diagnostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Furthermore, integration of multiple omics data sets enables a systems-level understanding of senescence in CVD, paving the way for precision medicine approaches to prevent or treat cardiovascular aging and its associated complications.
Hopf Bifurcation Analysis of a Continuous Investment Update Project Model
Authors: Gao Debao
Published: September 2023

Some investment projects aim not only to produce goods but more importantly, to update and efficiently supply products in accordance with market demand. A double time delay differential dynamics model is formulated for continuous renewal investment projects based on the flowchart of the capital appreciation process and the assumed transfer functions. By analyzing the mathematical model, it can be determined that a unique local asymptotically stable positive equilibrium point exists for the continuous investment project. In accordance with the Hopf branching theorem, the model displays periodic behavior in proximity to its positive equilibrium point under certain conditions. The simulation results are compared under various conditions, and the validity of the relevant conclusions is confirmed.
Bayesian and E-Bayesian Estimation for the Generalized Rayleigh Distribution under Different Forms of Loss Functions with Real Data Application
Authors: Eldemery E. M. , Abd-Elfattah A. M. , Mahfouz K. M. , El Genidy Mohammed M.
Published: September 2023

This paper investigates the estimation of an unknown shape parameter of the generalized Rayleigh distribution using Bayesian and expected Bayesian estimation techniques based on type-II censoring data. Subsequently, these estimators are obtained using four different loss functions: the linear exponential loss function, the weighted linear exponential loss function, the compound linear exponential loss function, and the weighted compound linear exponential loss function. The weighted compound linear exponential loss function is a novel suggested loss function generated by combining weights with the compound linear exponential loss function. We use the gamma distribution as a prior distribution. In addition, the expected Bayesian estimator is obtained through three different prior distributions of the hyperparameters. Moreover, depending on the four distinct forms of loss functions, Bayesian and expected Bayesian estimation techniques are performed using Monte Carlo simulations to verify the effectiveness of the suggested loss function and to compare Bayesian and expected Bayesian estimation methods. Furthermore, the simulation results indicate that, depending on the minimum mean squared error, the Bayesian and expected Bayesian estimations corresponding to the weighted compound linear exponential loss function suggested in this paper have significantly better performance compared to other loss functions, and the expected Bayesian estimator also performs better than the Bayesian estimator. Finally, the proposed techniques are demonstrated using a set of real data from the medical field to clarify the applicability of the suggested estimators to real phenomena and to show that the discussed weighted compound linear exponential loss function is efficient and can be applied in a real-life scenario.
A New Type 1 Alpha Power Family of Distributions and Modeling Data with Correlation, Overdispersion, and Zero-Inflation in the Health Data Sets
Authors: Tekle Getachew , Roozegar Rasool , Ahmad Zubair
Published: September 2023

In the recent era, the introduction of a new family of distributions has gotten great attention due to the curbs of the classical univariate distributions. This study introduces a novel family of distributions called a new type 1 alpha power family of distributions. Based on the novel family, a special model called a new type 1 alpha power Weibull model is studied in depth. The new model has very interesting patterns and it is very flexible. Thus, it can model the real data with the failure rate patterns of increasing, decreasing, parabola-down, and bathtub. Its applicability is studied by applying it to the health sector data, and time-to-recovery of breast cancer patients, and its performance is compared to seven well-known models. Based on the model comparison, it is the best model to fit the health-related data with no exceptional features. Furthermore, the popular models for the data with exceptional features such as correlation, overdispersion, and zero-inflation in aggregate are explored with applications to epileptic seizer data. Sometimes, these features are beyond the probability distribution models. Hence, this study has implemented eight possible models separately to these data and they are compared based on the standard techniques. Accordingly, the zero-inflated Poisson-normal-gamma model which includes the random effects in the linear predictor to handle the three features simultaneously has shown its supremacy over the others and is the best model to fit the health-related data with these features.
Motor Band Sign in Motor Neuron Diseases Using Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mohammadi Sana , Ghaderi Sadegh
Published: September 2023

Motor neuron diseases (MNDs) like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) are progressive neurodegenerative disorders affecting upper and lower motor neurons (UMN and LMN). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) often reveals a “motor band sign” (MBS) of hypointensity along the precentral gyri in ALS, considered a radiologic hallmark. This review comprehensively summarizes the literature on MBS in ALS and related MNDs using multiple MRI techniques. A systematic search was conducted in the PubMed and Scopus databases to identify relevant studies on MBS in MNDs published until August 2023. Twelve studies were included. Most patients had UMN involvement at the onset. MBS was correlated with UMN impairment severity. Susceptibility-weighted imaging (SWI) detected MBS in the majority of MND patients. The use of SWI could be particularly useful in detecting MBS, and it should be considered as part of the routine clinical MRI protocols. Recent studies suggest that hypointensity and atrophy of the primary motor cortex (M1) and nearby regions can be used as MRI markers of UMN impairment in MNDs. Other MRI techniques like T2-weighted (T2-w), T2

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-w, and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) also showed characteristic changes. Furthermore, quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) is an advanced MRI technique that allows sensitive quantification of iron deposition and has shown promise for accurately detecting MBS in MNDs. The findings suggest that MR neuroimaging techniques can provide valuable insights into the pathophysiology of MND and can be used to detect biomarkers such as MBS. The review demonstrates that advanced MRI techniques can detect cortical and white matter changes reflecting upper motor neuron degeneration in MNDs like ALS. To find out how sensitive and suggestive the MBS is in MNDs and neurodegenerative movement disorders and how well it works as a prognostic indicator, we will need to do more research that combines comprehensive prospective and longitudinal research.