bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Introduction to the Diagnostics in Periodontology and Implant Dentistry issue
Authors: Kinane Denis F. , Bornstein Michael M.
Published: September 2024

Chronic inflammatory periodontal disease and its related condition, peri‐implant disease, are highly prevalent globally and require accurate and speedy diagnosis. The focus of this volume dedicated to diagnostics is to cover modern enhancements in accuracy, simplicity and speed. An international assortment of experts has been tasked with reviewing defined areas of current best practice as well innovation in the field of periodontitis and peri‐implantitis diagnostics. Periodontitis and peri‐implantitis are irreversible, chronic, cumulative conditions propagated by bacteria and host factors, which involve soft and hard tissue changes, and these changes are measured in the diagnostic process. Clinically relevant modifications to the healthy state are detected using clinical, radiological and laboratory or point of care testing, and these testing approaches are critically reviewed at length in this state‐of‐the‐art resume of periodontal diagnostics.
Trends and challenges in liquid‐preserved boar semen production: From boar to product
Authors: Schulze Martin , Henneberg Sophie , Riedel Anine , Hensel Britta
Published: September 2024

Boar semen production plays a pivotal role in modern swine breeding programmes, influencing the genetic progress and overall efficiency of the pork industry. This review explores the current challenges and emerging trends in liquid‐preserved boar semen production, addressing key issues that impact the quality and quantity of boar semen. Advances in new reproductive technologies, boar selection, housing, semen processing, storage and transport, and the need for sustainable practices including the use of artificial intelligence are discussed to provide a comprehensive overview of the field.
Towards an improved understanding of Ca–Mg carbonates with nonplanar surfaces: An experimental approach
Authors: Zhang Yi‐Fan , Mueller Mathias , Hoffmann René , Riechelmann Sylvia , Chakraborty Sumit , Kaczmarek Stephen E. , Beyer Christopher , Immenhauser Adrian
Published: September 2024

Saddle dolomite is a Ca–Mg carbonate characterized by curved crystal faces, curved cleavage and sweeping extinction under cross‐polarized light. Saddle dolomite and, generally, Ca–Mg carbonates with curved crystal faces, are often assigned to the burial (hydrothermal) realm and serve as proxy archives for hydrogeochemical processes in sedimentary basins and orogens. At present, the physicochemical conditions leading to the formation of these peculiar warped carbonates are unclear, and the mechanisms inducing the curvature of their crystal lattice are debated. This study uses laboratory experiments to assess the factors controlling the formation of carbonates with curved crystal faces as a function of fluid temperature, reactant size, fluid salinity and fluid Mg : Ca. Results show that a range of magnesium calcites with curved surfaces form at elevated temperatures (ca 220°C) from calcium‐rich fluids (Mg : Ca = 0.43) within a wide range of fluid salinities (5 to 40 wt.%). Magnesium calcites that nucleate epitaxially on rhombohedral or saddle dolomite substrates exhibit warped surfaces, while those that nucleate on calcite seeds form flat surfaces. Although the two crystal habits can co‐occur, Mg‐calcites with curved crystal faces (Mg : Ca of 0.35 to 0.40) tend to be more calcium‐rich than those with flat faces (Mg : Ca of 0.58 to 0.74). In experiments with higher fluid temperature (230°C), calcite reactants undergo replacement by dolomite exhibiting planar crystal faces. The results collectively indicate that the formation of Ca–Mg carbonates with warped surfaces is likely related to a combination of geochemical and physical parameters and various threshold limits, as opposed to one specific parameter, for example, elevated fluid temperature, as is commonly reported in the literature. Although most of the present experimental precipitates are disordered magnesian calcites with bent crystal faces, it is reasonable, at the level of a tentative working hypothesis, that these represent precursors of many ancient saddle dolomites commonly found in burial settings.
RETRACTED: Diagnostic value for methylation in cervical cancer based on a small‐molecule fluorescent probe targeting DNMT1
Authors: Yang Baohua , Xu Chao , Li Hang , Zhu Xiuxiang , Xia Ziyin , Xu Ling , Zhang Qian
Published: September 2024

Background

Value analysis of a small‐molecule fluorescent probe for methylation detection in different cervical lesions.

Materials and Methods

(1) The grayscale values of distinct lesion tissues were remarkably distinct among the four groups (p < 0.05). The comparison of the grayscale value between the two groups showed that the CA group noticeably exceeded the LSIL and cervicitis groups, and the HSIL group was apparently higher than the LSIL and cervicitis groups (p < 0.05); (2) The mean grayscale values of the enrolled subjects were calculated with 55.21 as the midline, with >55.21 as positive and ≤55.21 as negative.

Results

The results showed that the positive rate of the cervicitis group was 0.00%, the LSIL group 67.74%, the HSIL group 83.33%, and the CA group 100.00%. The results among the four groups were notably distinct (p < 0.05); (3) The comparison among DAPI, probe, bright, and merged images of cervicitis, LSIL, HSIL, and CA indicated that different cervical lesions were with quite various stains.

Conclusion

The grayscale value, positive rate, and stained picture of distinct cervical lesions were remarkably different. The small‐molecule fluorescent probe has a good value in differentiating cervical lesions and can be considered for popularization and application.
Association between experienced stigma, anxiety, depression and loneliness among people with drug‐resistant tuberculosis in Lagos Nigeria: The moderating role of social support
Authors: Adejumo Olusola Adedeji , Haffejee Firoza , Jinabhai Champaklal , Daniel Olusoji
Published: September 2024

Background

This study assessed the moderating effect of social support on the association between experienced stigma versus anxiety, depression and loneliness among people with drug‐resistant tuberculosis.

Methods

A descriptive cross‐sectional study was conducted among 203 adults on treatment for drug‐resistant tuberculosis for at least 8 weeks. Validated scales were used to assess experienced stigma, anxiety, depression, loneliness and social support. Partial correlations and hierarchical multiple regression were used to determine the moderating effect of social support on the association between experienced stigma versus anxiety, depression and loneliness. The interaction was visualised using slope analysis.

Results

Anxiety, loneliness and depression were reported by 148 (72.9%), 114 (56.2%) and 128 (63.1%) of the 203 participants, respectively. Experienced stigma was positively associated with depression (B = 0.428, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = 0.374, p < 0.001) and loneliness (B = 0.285, p = 0.001). Social support was negatively associated with depression (B = −0.255, p < 0.001), anxiety (B = −0.406, p < 0.001) and loneliness (B = −0.270, p = 0.001). The impact of experienced stigma on depression was different at low (B = 0.567, SE = 0.115, p < 0.001) and high (B = 0.275, SE = 0.253, p = 0.024) groups of social support. Similarly, at low social support, the effect of experienced stigma on loneliness (B = 0.491, SE = 0.250, p < 0.001) and anxiety (B = 0.254, SE = 0.060, p = 0.044) was different compared to the effect of experienced stigma on loneliness (B = 0.275, SE = 0.253, p = 0.024) and anxiety (B = 0.127, SE = 0.094, p = 0.307) at high group of social support.

Conclusion

In this study, social support reduced the effects of experienced stigma on anxiety, depression and loneliness suggesting that improving social support among people with drug‐resistant tuberculosis is crucial in reducing the negative effects of stigma on anxiety, depression and loneliness.
On the intersection form of fillings
Authors: Zhou Zhengyi
Published: September 2024

We prove, by an ad hoc method, that exact fillings with vanishing rational first Chern class of flexibly fillable contact manifolds have unique integral intersection forms. We appeal to the special Reeb dynamics (stronger than ADC in [Lazarev, Geom. Funct. Anal. 30 (2020), no. 1, 188–254]) on the contact boundary, while a more systematic approach working for general ADC manifolds is developed independently by Eliashberg, Ganatra and Lazarev. We also discuss cases where the vanishing rational first Chern class assumption can be removed. We derive the uniqueness of diffeomorphism types of exact fillings of certain flexibly fillable contact manifolds and obstructions to contact embeddings, which are not necessarily exact.
The impact of acute blood‐flow‐restriction resistance exercise on somatosensory‐evoked potentials in healthy adults
Authors: Maudrich Tom , Degener Sebastian , Ragert Patrick , Kenville Rouven
Published: September 2024

Blood‐flow‐restriction exercise (BFREX) is an emerging method to stimulate hypertrophy and strength without the need for high training loads. However, the impact of BFREX concerning somatosensory processing remains elusive. Here, we aimed to investigate the acute effects of BFREX on somatosensory processing in healthy adults using somatosensory‐evoked potentials (SEPs). Twelve healthy adults (23.0 ± 3.2 years of age) participated in a randomized crossover experiment, consisting of three experimental conditions: application of blood‐flow restriction without resistance exercise (BFR), resistance exercise for multiple sets with blood‐flow restriction (BFREX) and traditional resistance exercise (unilateral biceps curls) for multiple sets without BFR (EX). SEP measurements were recorded bilaterally before, during and after each condition. SEP amplitudes were largely unaffected during various occlusive conditions. Nonetheless, our findings demonstrate a significant decrease in N9 latencies for condition EX compared with BFR, specifically in the exercised limb (mean difference = −0.26 ms, SE = 0.06 ms, P = 0.002, d = −0.335). This study provides evidence on the lack of impact of BFREX within the somatosensory domain, according to current guidelines. As an alternative method to traditional high‐load resistance exercise, BFREX might offer a considerable upside for rehabilitative settings by reducing strain on the musculoskeletal system.
The dorsal thalamic lateral geniculate nucleus is required for visual control of head direction cell firing direction in rats
Authors: Street James S. , Jeffery Kate J.
Published: September 2024

Head direction (HD) neurons, signalling facing direction, generate a signal that is primarily anchored to the outside world by visual inputs. We investigated the route for visual landmark information into the HD system in rats. There are two candidates: an evolutionarily older, larger subcortical retino‐tectal pathway and a more recently evolved, smaller cortical retino‐geniculo‐striate pathway. We disrupted the cortical pathway by lesioning the dorsal lateral geniculate thalamic nuclei bilaterally, and recorded HD cells in the postsubicular cortex as rats foraged in a visual‐cue‐controlled enclosure. In lesioned rats we found the expected number of postsubicular HD cells. Although directional tuning curves were broader across a trial, this was attributable to the increased instability of otherwise normal‐width tuning curves. Tuning curves were also poorly responsive to polarizing visual landmarks and did not distinguish cues based on their visual pattern. Thus, the retino‐geniculo‐striate pathway is not crucial for the generation of an underlying, tightly tuned directional signal but does provide the main route for vision‐based anchoring of the signal to the outside world, even when visual cues are high in contrast and low in detail.

image

Key points

Head direction (HD) cells indicate the facing direction of the head, using visual landmarks to distinguish directions.

In rats, we investigated whether this visual information is routed through the thalamus to the visual cortex or arrives via the superior colliculus, which is a phylogenetically older and (in rodents) larger pathway.

We lesioned the thalamic dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) in rats and recorded the responsiveness of cortical HD cells to visual cues.

We found that cortical HD cells had normal tuning curves, but these were slightly more unstable during a trial. Most notably, HD cells in dLGN‐lesioned animals showed little ability to distinguish highly distinct cues and none to distinguish more similar cues.

These results suggest that directional processing of visual landmarks in mammals requires the geniculo‐cortical pathway, which raises questions about when and how visual directional landmark processing appeared during evolution.
Development and Assessment of the Performance of a Novel Parabolic Trough Solar Collector-Driven Three-Stage Cooling Cycle
Authors: Al-Mughanam Tawfiq , Khaliq Abdul
Published: September 2024

A gaseous flow is employed as heat transfer fluid (HTF) in a parabolic trough solar collector (PTSC) for simultaneous production of cooling at three different levels of temperature to meet the demands of air conditioning, refrigeration, and ultra-low-temperature refrigeration required to ensure the efficacy of some special vaccines. The combined system consists of five subsystems including PTSC, Kalina cycle (KC), ejector refrigeration cycle (ERC), cascaded refrigeration cycle (CRC), and absorption refrigeration cycle (ARC). A simulation through an engineering equation solver (EES) is conducted to assess the impact of internal tube diameter of absorber and solar irradiation on rise of HTF temperature and mass flowrate of Kalina cycle fluid. It is determined that for given solar irradiation, the temperature of HTF goes down when internal diameter of absorber tube is enlarged. The influence of weather conditions; solar irradiation and ambient temperature, type of HTF, and concentration of ammonia–water basic solution on thermal and exergy efficiencies of three-stage cooling cycle (TSC) are examined. The TSC with helium-operated PTSC delivers better results than air and CO2. Exergy analysis shows that solar collector (30.26%) dissipates the highest exergy, followed by the ejector (12.5%) and vapor generator subsystem (7.61%). The type of CRC fluid pair affects TSC cycle refrigeration capacity and cooling exergy efficiency. The promotion of solar irradiation from 850 to 1200 W/m2 increases the cooling exergy efficiency of the three-stage cycle from 6.72% to 9.52% when the evaporator temperature is set at −45 °C and CRC employs NH3-propylene.
Achieving optical transparency in live animals with absorbing molecules
Authors: Ou Zihao , Duh Yi-Shiou , Rommelfanger Nicholas J. , Keck Carl H. C. , Jiang Shan , Brinson Kenneth , Zhao Su , Schmidt Elizabeth L. , Wu Xiang , Yang Fan , Cai Betty , Cui Han , Qi Wei , Wu Shifu , Tantry Adarsh , Roth Richard , Ding Jun , Chen Xiaoke , Kaltschmidt Julia A. , Brongersma Mark L. , Hong Guosong
Published: September 2024

Optical imaging plays a central role in biology and medicine but is hindered by light scattering in live tissue. We report the counterintuitive observation that strongly absorbing molecules can achieve optical transparency in live animals. We explored the physics behind this observation and found that when strongly absorbing molecules dissolve in water, they can modify the refractive index of the aqueous medium through the Kramers-Kronig relations to match that of high-index tissue components such as lipids. We have demonstrated that our straightforward approach can reversibly render a live mouse body transparent to allow visualization of a wide range of deep-seated structures and activities. This work suggests that the search for high-performance optical clearing agents should focus on strongly absorbing molecules.
Learning with Lakota scientists
Authors: Thorp H. Holden
Published: September 2024

In her bestselling book
Braiding Sweetgrass
, Robin Wall Kimmerer describes the reciprocity between humans and nature while also contemplating another potentially beneficial relationship—between Indigenous knowledge and Western science. Not surprisingly, this integration is easier said than done. Recently, for example, the US National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM) terminated a $2 million study on how to best combine Indigenous and Western approaches to understanding the natural world. The problem? As Kimmerer herself said on this page, effective collaboration with Indigenous communities requires Western science to respect cultural practices and scientific ideas that diverge from the reductionist approach. Unless the scientific community leans into this discomfort, we will never unlock the possibility that this relationship could help address some of society’s most distressing problems.
The emerging challenge of
Enterococcus faecalis
endocarditis after transcatheter aortic valve implantation: time for innovative treatment approaches
Authors: Cusumano Jaclyn A. , Kalogeropoulos Andreas P. , Le Provost Mathieu , Gallo Nicolas R. , Levine Steven M. , Inzana Thomas , Papamanoli Aikaterini
Published: September 2024

Infective endocarditis (IE) is a life-threatening infection that has nearly doubled in prevalence over the last two decades due to the increase in implantable cardiac devices. Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is currently one of the most common cardiac procedures. TAVI usage continues to exponentially rise, inevitability increasing TAVI-IE. Patients with TAVI are frequently nonsurgical candidates, and TAVI-IE 1-year mortality rates can be as high as 74% without valve or bacterial biofilm removal.
Enterococcus faecalis,
a historically less common IE pathogen, is the primary cause of TAVI-IE. Treatment options are limited due to enterococcal intrinsic resistance and biofilm formation. Novel approaches are warranted to tackle current therapeutic gaps. We describe the existing challenges in treating TAVI-IE and how available treatment discovery approaches can be combined with an
in silico
“Living Heart” model to create solutions for the future.
The relationship between
pqs
gene expression and acylhomoserine lactone signaling in
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Soto-Aceves Martín P. , Smalley Nicole E. , Schaefer Amy L. , Greenberg E. Peter
Published: September 2024

The opportunistic pathogen
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
has complex quorum sensing (QS) circuitry, which involves two acylhomoserine lactone (AHL) systems, the LasI AHL synthase and LasR AHL-dependent transcriptional activator system and the RhlI AHL synthase-RhlR AHL-responsive transcriptional activator. There is also a quinoline signaling system [the
Pseudomonas
quinolone signal (PQS) system]. Although there is a core set of genes regulated by the AHL circuits, there is strain-to-strain variation in the non-core QS regulon. A size reduction of the QS regulon occurs in laboratory evolution experiments with the model strain PAO1. We used transcriptomics to test the hypothesis that reductive evolution in the PAO1 QS regulon can in large part be explained by a null mutation in
pqsR
, the gene encoding the transcriptional activator of the
pqs
operon. We found that PqsR had very little influence on the AHL QS regulon. This was a surprising finding because the last gene in the PqsR-dependent
pqs
operon,
pqsE
, codes for a protein, which physically interacts with RhlR, and this interaction is required for RhlR-dependent activation of some genes. We used comparative transcriptomics to examine the influence of a
pqsE
mutation on the QS regulon and identified only three transcripts, which were strictly dependent on PqsE. By using reporter constructs, we showed that the PqsE influence on other genes was dependent on experimental conditions and we have gained some insight about those conditions. This work adds to our understanding of the plasticity of the
P. aeruginosa
QS regulon and to the role PqsE plays in RhlR-dependent gene activation.

IMPORTANCE

Over many generations of growth in certain conditions,
Pseudomonas aeruginosa
undergoes a large reductive evolution in the number of genes activated by quorum sensing. Here, we rule out one plausible route of the reductive evolution: that a mutation in a transcriptional activator PqsR or the PqsR activation of
pqsE
, which codes for a chaperone for the quorum sensing signal-responsive transcription factor RhlR, explains the finding. We further provide information about the influence of PqsR and PqsE on quorum sensing in
P. aeruginosa
.
A fungal ubiquitin ligase and arrestin binding partner contribute to pathogenesis and survival during cellular stress
Authors: du Plooy Lukas M. , Telzrow Calla L. , Nichols Connie B. , Probst Corinna , Castro-Lopez Natalia , Wormley Floyd L. , Alspaugh J. Andrew
Published: September 2024

Cellular responses to external stress allow microorganisms to adapt to a vast array of environmental conditions, including infection sites. The molecular mechanisms behind these responses are studied to gain insight into microbial pathogenesis, which could lead to new antimicrobial therapies. Here, we explore a role for arrestin protein-mediated ubiquitination in stress response and pathogenesis in the pathogenic fungus
Cryptococcus neoformans
. In a previous study, we identified four arrestin-like proteins in
C. neoformans
and found that one of these is required for efficient membrane synthesis, likely by directing interaction between fatty acid synthases and the Rsp5 E3 ubiquitin ligase. Here, we further explore
Cn
Rsp5 function and determine that this single Ub ligase is absolutely required for pathogenesis and survival in the presence of cellular stress. Additionally, we show that a second arrestin-like protein, Ali2, similarly facilitates interaction between Rsp5 and some of its protein targets. Of the four postulated
C. neoformans
arrestin-like proteins, Ali2 appears to contribute the most to
C. neoformans
pathogenesis, likely by directing Rsp5 to pathogenesis-related ubiquitination targets. A proteomics-based differential ubiquitination screen revealed that several known cell surface proteins are ubiquitinated by Rsp5 and a subset also requires Ali2 for their ubiquitination. Rsp5-mediated ubiquitination alters the stability and the localization of these proteins. A loss of Rsp5-mediated ubiquitination results in cell wall defects that increase susceptibility to external stresses. These findings support a model in which arrestin-like proteins guide Rsp5 to ubiquitinate specific target proteins, some of which are required for survival during stress.

IMPORTANCE

Microbial proteins involved in human infectious diseases often need to be modified by specific chemical additions to be fully functional. Here, we explore the role of a particular protein modification, ubiquitination, in infections due to the human fungal pathogen
Cryptococcus neoformans
. We identified a complex of proteins responsible for adding ubiquitin groups to fungal proteins, and this complex is required for virulence. These proteins are fungal specific and might be targets for novel anti-infection therapy.
Actioning atrial fibrillation identified by ambulance services in England: a qualitative exploration
Authors: Wilkinson Chris , Moloney Susan , McClelland Graham , Todd Adam , Doran Tim , Price Christopher
Published: September 2024

Objectives

To explore the acceptability and feasibility of detection of atrial fibrillation (AF) by emergency medical services (EMS) and identify potential barriers and facilitators to implementing a formal pathway to facilitate follow-up in primary care, which could reduce the risk of AF-related stroke.

Design

Qualitative study using focus groups and one-to-one interviews guided by a semistructured topic guide.

Setting

North East England.

Participants

Focus groups with 18 members of the public and one-to-one online interviews with 11 healthcare and service providers (six paramedics and five experts representing cardiology, general practice (GP), public health, research, policy and commissioning).

Results

All participant groups were supportive of a role of EMS in identifying AF as part of routine assessment and formalising the response to AF detection. However, this should not create delays for EMS since rate-controlled AF is non-urgent and alternative community mechanisms exist to manage it. Public participants were concerned about communication of the AF diagnosis and whether this should be ‘on scene’ or in a subsequent GP appointment. Paramedics reported frequent incidental identification of AF, but it is not always clear ‘on scene’ that this is a new diagnosis, and there is variation in practice regarding whether (and how) this is communicated to the GP. Paramedics also focused on ensuring the safety of non-conveyed patients and a perceived need for an ‘active’ reporting process, so that a finding of AF was actioned. Field experts felt that a formal pathway would be useful and favoured a simple intervention without adding to time pressures unnecessarily.

Conclusions

There is support for the development of a formal pathway to ensure follow-up for people with AF that is incidentally detected by EMS. This has the potential to improve anticoagulation rates and reduce the risk of stroke.
Empowering Portable Age-Related Macular Degeneration Screening: Evaluation of a Deep Learning Algorithm for a Smartphone Fundus Camera
Authors: Savoy Florian Mickael , Rao Divya Parthasarathy , Toh Jun Kai , Ong Bryan , Sivaraman Anand , Sharma Ashish , Das Taraprasad
Published: September 2024

Objectives

Despite global research on early detection of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), not enough is being done for large-scale screening. Automated analysis of retinal images captured via smartphone presents a potential solution; however, to our knowledge, such an artificial intelligence (AI) system has not been evaluated. The study aimed to assess the performance of an AI algorithm in detecting referable AMD on images captured on a portable fundus camera.

Design, setting

A retrospective image database from the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) and target device was used.

Participants

The algorithm was trained on two distinct data sets with macula-centric images: initially on 108,251 images (55% referable AMD) from AREDS and then fine-tuned on 1108 images (33% referable AMD) captured on Asian eyes using the target device. The model was designed to indicate the presence of referable AMD (intermediate and advanced AMD). Following the first training step, the test set consisted of 909 images (49% referable AMD). For the fine-tuning step, the test set consisted of 238 (34% referable AMD) images. The reference standard for the AREDS data set was fundus image grading by the central reading centre, and for the target device, it was consensus image grading by specialists.

Outcome measures

Area under receiver operating curve (AUC), sensitivity and specificity of algorithm.

Results

Before fine-tuning, the deep learning (DL) algorithm exhibited a test set (from AREDS) sensitivity of 93.48% (95% CI: 90.8% to 95.6%), specificity of 82.33% (95% CI: 78.6% to 85.7%) and AUC of 0.965 (95% CI:0.95 to 0.98). After fine-tuning, the DL algorithm displayed a test set (from the target device) sensitivity of 91.25% (95% CI: 82.8% to 96.4%), specificity of 84.18% (95% CI: 77.5% to 89.5%) and AUC 0.947 (95% CI: 0.911 to 0.982).

Conclusion

The DL algorithm shows promising results in detecting referable AMD from a portable smartphone-based imaging system. This approach can potentially bring effective and affordable AMD screening to underserved areas.
Protocol of digital decision support system (DDSS) embedded within a tele-primary healthcare platform in Pakistan: an assessment of usability, acceptability, effectiveness and perceived quality of care in a resource-constrained setting
Authors: Tahir Hasan Nawaz , Habib Shifa , Jabeen Rawshan , Dhanwani Anny , Jawed Samrah , Guerrero-Torres Lorena , Khurram Sara Saeed , Aga Iffat Zafar , Karim Mahek , Kazi Abdul Momin , Zaidi Shehla
Published: September 2024

Background

A digital decision support system in healthcare is a digital health intervention that assists healthcare professionals in decision-making by providing treatment recommendations and enhancing diagnostic accuracy and quality of care. This will be the first study in Pakistan to assess the system’s usability, acceptability and effectiveness in improving healthcare outcomes while also evaluating the perceived quality of care. This comprehensive assessment will inform policy development in areas such as the scale-up of digital health interventions, data privacy and technology interoperability. Measures of effectiveness will include changes in clinical outcomes through a patient exit feedback survey. This study aims to evaluate the role of digital decision support systems in healthcare decision-making, which may be integrated into Pakistan’s tele-primary healthcare system.

Methods

The study will employ a multimethod approach. The data collection tools are adapted from the WHO’s digital health intervention monitoring and evaluation framework and include a technology assessment, healthcare provider surveys, patient exit interviews and focus group discussions with healthcare providers. Purposive sampling will be used for qualitative interviews with providers (doctors) and patients. Government stakeholders, private sectors, multilateral, academia and policymakers will be engaged through a consultative meeting. We will also conduct a literature review, as well as a comprehensive analysis of existing studies, documents and data relevant to digital decision support systems and digital health interventions implemented globally, and assess the performance, challenges and opportunities.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the Ethics Review Committee at The Aga Khan University (2023-8514-26533). The dissemination of study findings through scientific publications and seminars will enable programme managers and policymakers to design tools to improve the quality of care provided through telemedicine platforms. This will contribute to efficient decision-making, access and quality of care for primary healthcare in low-income and middle-income countries. This study will also inform policy regarding the scale-up of decision support systems in primary care settings, data privacy and technology interoperability.
Plasma proteomic signature of neonates in the context of placental histological chorioamnionitis
Authors: Liu Jing , Liu Die , Sun Qi , Su Yunchao , Tang Lijuan , Liang Haixiao , Ye Fang , Chen Yuanmei , Zhang Qi
Published: September 2024

Background

Placental histological chorioamnionitis (HCA) is recognised as a significant risk factor for various adverse neonatal outcomes. This study aims to explore if the inflammatory protein levels in neonates were associated with HCA.

Methods

All women with singleton births from February 2020 to November 2022 were selected and divided into three groups based on maternal placental pathology results: the HCA-stage 1 group (n=24), the HCA-stage 2 group (n=16) and the control group (n=17). Olink Target 96 Inflammation Panel was used to detect the levels of 92 inflammation-related proteins in the plasma of newborns from all three groups within 24 hours after birth. We compared the protein profiles through differential protein expression analysis.

Results

A total of six inflammation-related proteins exhibited significant differences between the HCA-stage 1 and the control group. Specifically, TRANCE and CST5 were significantly upregulated (p=0.006, p=0.025, respectively), whereas the expression of IFN-gamma, CXCL9, CXCL10 and CCL19 was significantly downregulated (p=0.040, p=0.046, p=0.007, p=0.006, respectively). HCA-stage 2 newborns had significantly elevated levels of CD5 and CD6 and decreased IFN-gamma, CXCL10 and CCL19 in comparison to controls. These differential proteins were significantly enriched in positive regulation of cytokine activity, leucocyte chemotaxis and positive regulation of T-cell activation pathway-related Gene Ontology terms. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis revealed that viral protein interaction with cytokine and cytokine receptor, interleukin-17/NF-kappa B/toll-like receptor/chemokine signalling pathway, and cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction exhibited significant differences. Spearman analysis demonstrated a significant positive connection between the levels of CD6 and CD5 proteins, not only in neonatal leucocytes but also in maternal leucocytes. Additionally, CD6 was found to be associated with neonatal birth weight.

Conclusions

In conclusion, placental histological changes associated with chorioamnionitis appear to influence the expression of inflammatory proteins in offspring. Notably, CD6 and CD5 proteins may potentially contribute to the pathogenesis of HCA-related neonatal diseases.
Abortion patients’ perspectives on enhancing a telemedicine model of post-abortion contraception: a qualitative study
Authors: Boydell Nicola , Buijsen Sophie , Reynolds-Wright John Joseph , Cameron Sharon T , Harden Jeni
Published: September 2024

Background

Access to post-abortion contraception (PAC) is critical for reducing unintended pregnancies and supporting reproductive decision-making. Patients often face challenges in identifying, accessing and initiating their preferred contraceptive methods post-abortion. This may be particularly so with telemedicine models of care with absence of in-person appointments, and reduced opportunities to provide some contraceptive methods. This qualitative service evaluation explored patients' perspectives on PAC consultations and decision-making to inform future PAC service models in the era of telemedicine.

Methods

Qualitative interviews with 15 patients who had telemedicine medical abortion at home up to 12 weeks’ gestation. Data were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

Contraceptive discussions during pre-abortion consultations were valued for supporting informed choices about future contraceptive use. Decision-making was influenced by previous contraception experiences, emotional state at the time of abortion and concerns about contraceptive ‘failure’. Some preferred non-hormonal methods due to past negative experiences with hormonal contraceptives. However, limited information about 'natural' contraceptive methods and concerns about discussing these with healthcare professionals were described. Barriers to accessing preferred methods, particularly long-acting reversible contraception (LARC), included reduced availability of appointments and caring responsibilities. Fast-tracked appointments for LARC fitting post-abortion were valued. The need for flexible PAC consultations and access after abortion, for example, remote consultations complemented by personalised interactions with sexual and reproductive health experts, was emphasised.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the need for flexible and more accessible PAC service models in the era of telemedicine care to ensure timely access to preferred contraceptive methods.
Epidural blood patching in an anticoagulated patient with intracranial hypotension
Authors: Petersen Gabriela , Salmerón-Mercado Mónica Edith , Madrigal-Rentería Karla , Díaz-Alba Alexandra , García-Navarro Víctor
Published: September 2024

A middle-aged man had classical clinical and radiographical features of spontaneous intracranial hypotension, refractory to conservative management. His medical history included antiphospholipid syndrome, autoimmune thrombocytopenia and recurrent thrombotic events. To reduce his risk from epidural blood patching, we stopped his anticoagulation, but he developed thrombosis. Despite therapeutic challenges, we performed a fluoroscopically guided epidural blood patch successfully at multiple levels, with significant symptom and radiological improvement maintained at 9 months. We review the place of epidural blood patching in people with spontaneous intracranial hypotension who either take anticoagulants or have coexisting blood disorders.
Lee–Yang edge singularities in QCD via the Dyson–Schwinger equations
Authors: Wan Zi-Yan , Lu Yi , Gao Fei , Liu Yu-xin
Published: September 2024

We take the Dyson–Schwinger Equation approach of QCD for the quark propagator at complex chemical potential to study the QCD phase transition. The phase transition line of the $$(2+1)$$

(
2
+
1
)

-flavor QCD matter in the imaginary chemical potential region is computed via a simplified truncation scheme, whose curvature is found to be consistent with the one at real chemical potential. Moreover, the computation in the complex chemical potential plane allows us to determine the location of the Lee–Yang edge singularities. We show explicitly that the critical end point coincides with the Lee–Yang edge singularities on the real $$\mu _{B} $$

μ
B

axis. We also investigate the scaling behavior of the singularities and discuss the possibility of extrapolating the CEP from a certain range of chemical potential.
Statistical Analysis System of Outage Information in Distribution Network
Authors: Sun Mengjue , Zhang Lijuan
Published: September 2024

When a fault occurs in the distribution network, the power restoration system receives the relevant data and quickly analyzes and evaluates it. After the distribution network is rebuilt to locate and isolate the fault, the network distribution constraints are operated to find the optimal solution of multiple objective functions and the best choice for power restoration. At present, most of the complete solutions adopt the traditional transformation to a single goal to solve the problem. If the implementation of the scheme is complex, the amount of data is very large, affecting the efficiency of the reconstruction model. In this paper, we use the distributed network to select the fault node of the distribution network. We consider the combination of the modified droop control coefficient with the consensus algorithm to realize the secondary optimal control of the multi-microgrid system. We also adopt the real-time dynamic data to follow the target value to ensure the power supply load’s controllable range to avoid the occurrence of regional blackouts. According to the information exchange mode between distribution network nodes and microgrids, a data analysis model of sparse communication is established to control the power output and load capacity of each node in the distribution network area. The composite Depth-First Search algorithm constructed in this paper can control the needs of multi-node energy matching service as well as the fault analysis model, thus realizing the function solution of the preferred node’s output. The simulation model’s experimental results verify that the elastic effect of the distribution network microgrid group operation mode is improved after the optimization with the security as the objective. The results also show that the theory and method in this paper are superior to the current mainstream controllable scheme because they have the advantages of short response time, strong anti-interference ability, and good noise reduction effect, supporting the emergency load’s controllable management in the distribution network.
A survey of some recent developments in GLSMs
Authors: Sharpe Eric
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we briefly survey some developments in gauged linear sigma models (GLSMs). Specifically, we give an overview of progress on constructions of GLSMs for various geometries, GLSM-based computations of quantum cohomology, quantum sheaf cohomology, and quantum K theory rings, as well as two-dimensional abelian and nonabelian mirror constructions.
GLSM resolutions of torsional heterotic ℤ2×ℤ2 orbifolds
Authors: Nibbelink Stefan Groot
Published: September 2024

Heterotic toriodal [Formula: see text] orbifolds may possess discrete torsion between the two defining orbifold twists in the form of additional cocycle factors in their one-loop partition functions. Using Gauged Linear Sigma Models (GLSMs) the consequences of discrete torsion can be uncovered when the orbifold is smoothed out by switching on appropriate blowup modes. Here blowup modes with twisted oscillator excitations are chosen to reproduce bundles that are close to the standard embedding without torsion. The orbifold resolutions with discrete torsion are distinguished from resolutions without torsion, since they require NS5-branes at their exceptional cycles.
Integrality of genus zero Gopakumar–Vafa type invariants of semi-positive varieties
Authors: Chou You-Cheng
Published: September 2024

We give an alternate proof of the integrality conjecture of genus zero Gopakumar–Vafa type invariants on semi-positive varieties using algebraic geometry. The main technique is to relate Gopakumar–Vafa type invariants to quantum K-invariants and to utilize the integrality of the latter.
Symplectic aspects of the gauged (non)linear sigma model
Authors: Xu Guangbo
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we survey the developments of the symplectic aspects about the gauged linear sigma model, invented by Witten 30 years ago.
Global dynamics of a singularly perturbed predator–prey system with Allee effect and small predator’s death rate
Authors: Li Zhengkang , Liu Xingbo
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we consider the global dynamics of a predator–prey system with simplified Holling type IV functional response and Allee effect in prey. Based on geometric singular perturbation theory, we focus on the nonstandard slow–fast dynamics of the system with a small death rate of the predator. We provide the existence and stability of the positive equilibrium and boundary equilibria under the fact that prey-isocline has a single interior local extremum in the first quadrant, whether the prey suffers from weak or strong Allee effect. In the case of weak Allee effect, we prove the existence and location of the unique relaxation oscillation type nontrivial stable periodic orbit by entry–exit function. Meanwhile, the global attractor is observed in the system with strong Allee effect. In addition, combined with the analysis of two equilibria at infinity by means of Poincaré transformation, the global phase portraits of predator–prey system are characterized.
Abelian- and Tauberian-type results for the generalized Stockwell and wavelet transforms
Authors: Buralieva Jasmina Veta
Published: September 2024

Tauberian-type results characterizing the quasiasymptotic behavior of polynomial multiplication of Lizorkin distributions in terms of their Stockwell transforms are obtained. Some Abelian-type results relating the quasiasymptotic behavior and quasiasymptotic boundedness of Lizorkin distributions to the asymptotic behavior of their Stockwell transforms are given. Several Abelian-type results for the generalized wavelet transform are also presented.
Investigation on hyperbolic Ricci soliton in a perfect fluid spacetime
Authors: Pahan Sampa
Published: September 2024

The aim of this paper is to inspect the geometrical aspects of a perfect fluid spacetime conveying hyperbolic Ricci soliton with torse-forming vector field [Formula: see text]. Next, we have investigated some physical perceptions of perfect fluid spacetime such as dark fluid spacetime, stiff matter fluid spacetime, dust fluid spacetime and radiation fluid spacetime with hyperbolic Ricci soliton in terms of isotropic pressure, the cosmological constant, energy density and gravitational constant. We have also provided two examples of hyperbolic Ricci soliton and hyperbolic Ricci–Bourguignon soliton. Later, we explore the relativistic magneto-fluid spacetime obeying hyperbolic Ricci soliton along with different vector fields.
Study of commutator involving X-generalized skew derivations and annihilators in prime rings
Authors: Bera Nripendu , Dhara Basudeb , Kar Sukhendu
Published: September 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be a prime ring of characteristic is not [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text] its right Martindale ring of quotient and [Formula: see text] be the extended centroid of [Formula: see text]. Suppose that [Formula: see text] is a noncentral multilinear polynomial over [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text].

When [Formula: see text] is a generalized skew derivation, then Yarbil et al. [Annihilators and centralizers of generalized skew derivations on multilinear polynomials, Beitr. Algebra Geom. 59(3) (2018) 573–595] studied the situation [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text] and then described the forms of the map [Formula: see text].

Recently, when [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-generalized skew derivation, then Prajapati and Gupta [On [Formula: see text]-generalized skew derivations having centralizing commutator in prime rings, Comm. Algebra 50(7) (2022) 2997–3006] studied [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text], and then described the forms of the map [Formula: see text].

In this paper, we study the above identity of Yarbil et al., that is, [Formula: see text] for all [Formula: see text], when [Formula: see text] is an [Formula: see text]-generalized skew derivation, and then we described all possible forms of the map.
On the semiring of generalized inverses of a matrix
Authors: Sathi P. H. , Romeo P. G.
Published: September 2024

In this paper, we consider the set of all generalized inverses of an [Formula: see text] matrix [Formula: see text], denoted by [Formula: see text] and define two binary operations, ⊕ and ⋆ with some properties which offer the structure of a semi ring to [Formula: see text]. The compatibility of some partial orders like Sussman’s order, Conrad’s order, etc. is also checked which make it an ordered matrix semiring.
Improved Lower Bound, and Proof Barrier, for Constant Depth Algebraic Circuits
Authors: Bhargav C.S. , Dutta Sagnik , Saxena Nitin
Published: September 2024

We show that any product-depth Δ algebraic circuit for the Iterated Matrix Multiplication polynomial IMM

n, d

(when
d
=
O
(log
n
/log log
n
) must be of size at least

\(n^{\Omega (d^{1/(\varphi ^2)^{\Delta }})}\)

, where φ = 1.618 … is the golden ratio. This improves the recent breakthrough result of Limaye, Srinivasan, and Tavenas (FOCS’21), who showed a super polynomial lower bound of the form

\(n^{\Omega (d^{1/4^{\Delta }})}\)

for constant-depth circuits.

One crucial idea of the (LST21) result was to use set-multilinear polynomials where each set in the variables’ underlying partition could be of different sizes. By picking the set sizes more carefully (depending on the depth we are working with), we first show that any product-depth

\(\Delta\)

set-multilinear
circuit for

\(\mathrm{IMM}_{n,d}\)

(when

\(d = O(\log n)\)

) needs size at least

\(n^{\Omega (d^{1/\varphi ^{\Delta }})}\)

. This improves the

\(n^{\Omega (d^{1/2^{\Delta }})}\)

lower bound of (LST21). We then use their Hardness Escalation technique to lift this to general circuits.

We also show that these techniques cannot improve our lower bound significantly. For the
specific
two set sizes used in (LST21), they showed that their lower bound cannot be improved. We show that for any

\(d^{o(1)}\)

set sizes (out of maximum possible
d
), the scope for improving our lower bound is minuscule. There exists a set-multilinear circuit that has product-depth

\(\Delta\)

and size almost matching our lower bound such that the value of the measure used to prove the lower bound is maximum for this circuit. This results in a barrier to further improvement using the same measure.