bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Study of Prediction of Ground Settlement of Shield Tunnel Based on EEMD-BO-GRU Algorithm
Authors: Ma Xufei , Xu Yingshun , Yang Jie , Wu Jian , Tong Fei , Song Jintao
Published: March 2023

Because the finite element method cannot meet the needs of shield tunnel engineering, multiple linear regression and traditional machine learning algorithms are difficult to effectively solve the shield tunnel’s nonlinear and non-stationary ground surface settlement data. Based on the Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) algorithm of Ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD) and Bayesian optimization (BO), this paper puts forward a prediction method of ground surface settlement during shield tunneling. Taking the shield tunnel construction of Zhijiang Road in Hangzhou as an example, by comparing with the traditional machine learning algorithm, the results show that RMSE, MAE, and MAPE of this algorithm are increased by 1.9313 mm, 1.7526 mm, and 4.9553%. It can be explained that this method has higher prediction accuracy and a more stable prediction effect, and the EEMD algorithm can effectively improve the generalization ability of the algorithm.
Communication Interference Signal Recognition Based on Complex Number Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Chen Yazhong , Shan Jingmiao , Zhang Chuanhao
Published: March 2023

Modern wireless communication systems are facing an increasingly complex electromagnetic environment, which is affected by a variety of noise and interference signals. In the communication process, if the communication party can effectively identify the type of interference signal, it can take corresponding anti-interference measures to avoid or suppress interference to the maximum extent and reduce the damage of interference to communication quality. In recent years, with the continuous development of deep learning and its outstanding performance in image and speech processing, it has been verified that deep learning has extremely strong nonlinear mapping and data expression capabilities, inspiring researchers to apply deep learning to the field of communication anti-jamming, and improving the antijamming capability of the system. In this paper, an algorithm of interference signal recognition based on a complex convolution neural network is proposed. It also introduces the network architecture. Next, six typical interference signals at each level are identified, and the results are analyzed. The last chapter of the paper summarizes the full text. The experimental results show that the recognition ability of the interference signal recognition algorithm proposed in this paper is better than that of the traditional convolutional neural network.
The design of a manipulator drive system based on the main control chip
Authors: Wang Zhuolin
Published: March 2023

This paper mainly studies and designs the control system of a four-degree-of-freedom manipulator. As a motion control system, the control system is mainly oriented to the bottom, striving to develop an industrial manipulator system with high stability, strong reliability, and accurate positioning. Firstly, according to the control requirements of the mechanical arm system, a single CPU system control scheme is designed as a whole, that is, to control the steering gear rotation by controlling the duty cycle of the PWM wave output by the central controller, to achieve the position control of each joint. In terms of hardware, the main components are ARM microprocessor STM32F103ZET6, MG995 steering gear, MG945 steering gear, ultrasonic sensor, and power module. The joint motion control system is built by building a hardware platform and designing a software control program. In software design, the control program is divided into an initialization module and an operation module according to the modular design idea, and the program of each module is designed separately.
Monitoring System of Rare Earth Electrolysis Equipment Based on OPC UA Technology
Authors: Chen Jie , Liu Feifei , Wen Zhenxin , Zhou Dong
Published: March 2023

A set of rare earth electrolysis equipment monitoring systems based on OPC unified architecture is proposed given the complex environment of the rare earth electrolysis workshop, the difficulty of data acquisition, and the interconnection between equipment. The monitoring client of rare earth electrolysis equipment based on OPC UA communication protocol is designed and developed with C # language. The connection between the OPC UA server and the monitoring system is realized, and the data acquisition and real-time monitoring of the running state of the electrolysis equipment are completed. The primary goal of the rare earth electrolysis field equipment is to acquire and monitor rare earth electrolysis process current, voltage, and other internal state data in real-time.
System development of silicon photonics links for CERN experiments and accelerators
Authors: Scarcella C. , Detraz S. , Lalović M. , Marcon L. , Olanterä L. , Prousalidi T. , Sandven U. , Sigaud C. , Soós C. , Troska J.
Published: March 2023

Future upgrades of the CERN Experiments and Accelerators require optical links capable of handling the large data volume generated in particle detectors and beam position (BPMs) sensors. Silicon Photonics optical transceivers are a promising candidate to process the required data rate as well as efficiently operate in the harsh radiation environment. We present the experimental characterisation of silicon modulators together with demonstration of optical transmitters based on custom designed Silicon Photonics integrated circuits.
An AB-BNCT epithermal neutron source using 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction
Authors: Wang Y.Q. , Du J.L. , Lin H. , Zhou X.Ch. , Lin C. , Qiu J. , Li J.Y. , Guan X.C. , Gu L.
Published: March 2023

A suitable neutron source is indispensable for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT). This article proposes a design of beam shaping assembly (BSA) for an accelerator-based BNCT (AB-BNCT) epithermal neutron source facility using 7Li(p,n)7Be reaction, and the results show that all parameters of BSA meet the recommended values of International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). The dose distribution and parameters in the Snyder head phantom are calculated using the Monte Carlo simulations to evaluate the performance of the epithermal neutron beam.
A novel method for assessing imaging quality of coded-aperture gamma-ray camera to radioactive plane source
Authors: Zhao Mingyang , Wang Zhonghai , Zhu Balin , Bai Lixin , Zhou Rong , Yang Chaowen
Published: March 2023

With the wide application of the coded-aperture gamma-ray
camera in the field of nuclear radiation monitoring, research on its
imaging performance of radioactive point sources has increasingly
matured. However, because of the difficulty in obtaining complex
radioactive plane sources with specific activity distributions,
there is a lack of experimental research on imaging performance of
such sources currently, the main focus being on simulation research
and on-site imaging trials. In addressing the issue, we proposed a
method to assess image quality of coded-aperture gamma-ray camera to
such sources, and performed imaging experiments with a custom-made
gamma-ray camera. Driven by a two-axis computer-numerical control
(CNC) motion platform, a point source was moved through prescribed
paths at a given velocity, from which a custom activity distribution
plane source for coded-aperture imaging was constructed. Peak
signal-to-noise ratio and structural index similarity were the two
indicators used to evaluate the imaging quality of the plane source
for seven distinct shapes. The results indicate that the imaging
quality of the plane source imaged by our custom-made camera and
constructed using our method is excellent with these two indicators
being better than 17 dB and 0.996, respectively. Our method
provides good reliability and practicality, and offers an
alternative approach for assessing imaging quality of coded-aperture
gamma-ray camera for complex radioactive plane sources.
Oil adsorbing and transporting surfaces: a simulative determination of parameters for bionic functional textiles
Authors: Wagner Jan , Akdere Musa , Gürbüz Kevser , Beek Leonie , Klopp Kai , Ditsche Petra , Mail Matthias , Gries Thomas , Barthlott Wilhelm
Published: March 2023

Certain superhydrophobic plants, such as Salvinia molesta, are able to adsorb oil films from water surfaces and thus separate the oil from the water. There are first attempts to transfer this phenomenon to technical surfaces, but the functional principle and the influence of certain parameters are not yet fully understood. The aim of this work is to understand the interaction behavior between biological surfaces and oil, and to define design parameters for transferring the biological model to a technical textile. This will reduce the development time of a biologically inspired textile. For this purpose, the biological surface is transferred into a 2D model and the horizontal oil transport is simulated in Ansys Fluent. From these simulations, the influence of contact angle, oil viscosity and fiber spacing/diameter ratio was quantified. The simulation results were verified with transport tests on spacer fabrics and 3D prints. The values obtained serve as a starting point for the development of a bio-inspired textile for the removal of oil spills on water surfaces. Such a bio-inspired textile provides the basis for a novel method of oil–water separation that does not require the use of chemicals or energy. As a result, it offers great added value compared to existing methods.
Optimality of the triangular lattice for Lennard–Jones type lattice energies: a computer-assisted method
Authors: Bétermin Laurent
Published: March 2023

It is well-known that any Lennard–Jones type potential energy must have a periodic ground state given by a triangular lattice in dimension 2. In this paper, we describe a computer-assisted method that rigorously shows such global minimality result among 2-dimensional lattices once the exponents of the potential have been fixed. The method is applied to the widely used classical

(
12
,
6
)

Lennard–Jones potential, which is the main result of this work. Furthermore, a new bound on the inverse density (i.e. the co-volume) for which the triangular lattice is minimal is derived, improving those found in (Bétermin and Zhang 2015 Commun. Contemp. Math.
17 1450049) and (Bétermin 2016 SIAM J. Math. Anal.
48 3236–3269). The same results are also shown to hold for other exponents as additional examples and a new conjecture implying the global optimality of a triangular lattice for any parameters is stated.
Effects of rod radius and voltage on streamer discharge in a short air gap
Authors: FU Yuwei , HE Mengsha , CHEN Chi , WANG Chuang , ZHANG Zaiqin
Published: March 2023

Streamer discharge is the inaugural stage of gas discharge, and the average electron energy directly determines the electron collision reaction rate, which is a key parameter for studying streamer discharge. Therefore, taking into account the average electron energy, this work establishes a fluid chemical reaction model to simulate and study the course of evolution of a streamer discharge in a 5 mm rod–plate gap, considering 12 particles and 27 chemical reactions. It introduces the electron energy drift diffusion equation into the control equation, and analyzes the temporal and spatial changes of average electron energy, electric field intensity and electron density with change in rod radius and voltage. The effects of voltage and rod radius on the course of streamer discharge can be reflected more comprehensively by combining the average electron energies. Three different values of 0.3 mm, 0.4 mm and 0.5 mm are set for the rod radius, and three different values of 5 kV, 6 kV and 7 kV are set for the voltage. The influence of an excitation reaction on the streamer discharge is studied. The findings indicate that, as voltage raises, the streamer head’s electron density, electric field and average electron energy all rise, and the streamer develops more quickly. When the rod radius increases, the electron density, electric field and average electron energy of the streamer head all decrease, and the streamer’s evolution slows down. When an excitation reaction is added to the model, the average electron energy, the magnitude of the electric field and the density of electrons decrease, and the evolution of the streamer slows down. An increase in average electron energy will lead to an increase in electric field strength and electron density, and the development of the streamer will be faster.
On Snobbery
Authors: Johnson King Zoë A
Published: March 2023

This is a paper about the nature of snobbery and the undermining import of a charge of snobbery. On my account, snobs sincerely attempt to identify and correctly evaluate the aesthetically relevant features of an object, but they get things wrong, and their getting things wrong is explained by the fact that they under-value that which they associate with being lower-class. We can see the need for this account by reflecting on examples, and can distinguish it from existing accounts of snobbery by thinking about when and why evidence of snobbery constitutes higher-order evidence against one’s aesthetic judgements. Existing accounts either are consistent with snobs’ aesthetic judgements being flawless, and thus not undermined by evidence of snobbery, or they imply that the canonical reasoning-process for arriving at aesthetic judgements has been bypassed altogether. On my account, by contrast, snobbery does not bypass the canonical aesthetic reasoning-process but distorts it in systematic and predictable ways.
Postmortem Histopathologic Findings and SARS-CoV-2 Detection in Autopsy Kidneys of Patients With COVID-19: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mahjani Mahsa , Parvin Mahmoud , Ghobadi Saeed , Jafari Alireza , Ahangar Hassan , Gohari Sheida , Gohari Sepehr
Published: March 2023

Objectives

This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the prevalence of postmortem kidney histopathologic features of patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in addition to the rate of renal tropism in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2).

Methods

We searched Web of Science, PubMed, Embase, and Scopus up to September 2022 to identify eligible studies. A random-effects model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. Cochran Q test and Higgins I2 were used to assess evidence of heterogeneity.

Results

In total, 39 studies were included in the systematic review. The meta-analysis included 35 studies consisting of a total of 954 patients, with an average age of 67.1 years. The pooled prevalence of acute tubular injury (ATI)–related changes was the predominant finding (85% [95% confidence interval, 71%-95%]), followed by arteriosclerosis (80%), vascular congestion (66%), and glomerulosclerosis (40%). Endotheliitis (7%), fibrin microthrombi (12%), focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (1%), and calcium crystal deposits (1%) were seen in a smaller number of autopsies. The overall average rate of virus detection was 47.79% in the pooled data of 21 studies (272 samples).

Conclusions

The main finding—ATI—correlated to clinical COVID-19–associated acute kidney injury. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 in kidney samples in addition to vascular lesions in kidneys can be linked to direct kidney invasion by the virus.
Workplace Exposure Measurements of Emission from Industrial 3D Printing
Authors: Kangas Anneli , Kukko Kirsi , Kanerva Tomi , Säämänen Arto , Akmal Jan Sher , Partanen Jouni , Viitanen Anna-Kaisa
Published: March 2023

Particle and gaseous contaminants from industrial scale additive manufacturing (AM) machines were studied in three different work environments. Workplaces utilized powder bed fusion, material extrusion, and binder jetting techniques with metal and polymer powders, polymer filaments, and gypsum powder, respectively. The AM processes were studied from operator’s point of view to identify exposure events and possible safety risks. Total number of particle concentrations were measured in the range of 10 nm to 300 nm from operator’s breathing zone using portable devices and in the range of 2.5 nm to 10 µm from close vicinity of the AM machines using stationary measurement devices. Gas-phase compounds were measured with photoionization, electrochemical sensors, and an active air sampling method which were eventually followed by laboratory analyses. The duration of the measurements varied from 3 to 5 days during which the manufacturing processes were practically continuous. We identified several work phases in which an operator can potentially be exposed by inhalation (pulmonary exposure) to airborne emissions. A skin exposure was also identified as a potential risk factor based on the observations made on work tasks related to the AM process. The results confirmed that nanosized particles were present in the breathing air of the workspace when the ventilation of the AM machine was inadequate. Metal powders were not measured from the workstation air thanks to the closed system and suitable risk control procedures. Still, handling of metal powders and AM materials that can act as skin irritants such as epoxy resins were found to pose a potential risk for workers. This emphasizes the importance of appropriate control measures for ventilation and material handling that should be addressed in AM operations and environment.
Informant Characteristics Influence Reports of Participant Functioning and their Associations with Neuropsychological Performance in Non-Hispanic Black Adults
Authors: Graves Lisa V , Hamill Sharon , Larry Maiya , Williams Destiny
Published: March 2023

Objective

Assessing one’s functional capacity—in addition to neuropsychological performance—is essential for determining neurocognitive status, and functional assessment is often provided via informant report. Although informant characteristics have been shown to influence reports of participant functioning, the degree to which they moderate relationships between reported functioning and participant performance on neuropsychological testing is unclear. Moreover, associations among informant characteristics, reported functioning, and neuropsychological performance have not been adequately examined with non-Hispanic Black (NHB) samples, despite this population’s disproportionately high risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.

Method

In this cross-sectional observational study, we examined the influence of informant characteristics on informant reports of participant functioning (assessed via the Functional Activities Questionnaire [FAQ]) and associations between reported functioning and participant performance on neuropsychological testing, among NHB adult participants in the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center cohort (n = 1024).

Results

Informants who were younger, female, more educated, knew participants longer, or lived with participants reported poorer participant functioning (p < .001). However, younger (vs. older) informants provided reports of functioning that were more predictive of visuoconstructional ability and visual memory, and male (vs. female) informants provided reports of functioning that were more predictive of verbal memory, visuoconstructional ability and visual memory, and language (ps < .001).

Conclusions

Within the context of neurocognitive evaluations of NHB participants, informant characteristics may influence subjective reports of participants’ functioning and the extent to which reported functioning corroborates objective participant performance on neuropsychological testing.
Lesion Shedding Model: unraveling site-specific contributions to ctDNA
Authors: Rhrissorrakrai Kahn , Utro Filippo , Levovitz Chaya , Parida Laxmi
Published: March 2023

Sampling circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) using liquid biopsies offers clinically important benefits for monitoring cancer progression. A single ctDNA sample represents a mixture of shed tumor DNA from all known and unknown lesions within a patient. Although shedding levels have been suggested to hold the key to identifying targetable lesions and uncovering treatment resistance mechanisms, the amount of DNA shed by any one specific lesion is still not well characterized. We designed the Lesion Shedding Model (LSM) to order lesions from the strongest to the poorest shedding for a given patient. By characterizing the lesion-specific ctDNA shedding levels, we can better understand the mechanisms of shedding and more accurately interpret ctDNA assays to improve their clinical impact. We verified the accuracy of the LSM under controlled conditions using a simulation approach as well as testing the model on three cancer patients. The LSM obtained an accurate partial order of the lesions according to their assigned shedding levels in simulations and its accuracy in identifying the top shedding lesion was not significantly impacted by number of lesions. Applying LSM to three cancer patients, we found that indeed there were lesions that consistently shed more than others into the patients’ blood. In two of the patients, the top shedding lesion was one of the only clinically progressing lesions at the time of biopsy suggesting a connection between high ctDNA shedding and clinical progression. The LSM provides a much needed framework with which to understand ctDNA shedding and to accelerate discovery of ctDNA biomarkers. The LSM source code has been available in the IBM BioMedSciAI Github (https://github.com/BiomedSciAI/Geno4SD).
Auto-Kla: a novel web server to discriminate lysine lactylation sites using automated machine learning
Authors: Lai Fei-Liao , Gao Feng
Published: March 2023

Recently, lysine lactylation (Kla), a novel post-translational modification (PTM), which can be stimulated by lactate, has been found to regulate gene expression and life activities. Therefore, it is imperative to accurately identify Kla sites. Currently, mass spectrometry is the fundamental method for identifying PTM sites. However, it is expensive and time-consuming to achieve this through experiments alone. Herein, we proposed a novel computational model, Auto-Kla, to quickly and accurately predict Kla sites in gastric cancer cells based on automated machine learning (AutoML). With stable and reliable performance, our model outperforms the recently published model in the 10-fold cross-validation. To investigate the generalizability and transferability of our approach, we evaluated the performance of our models trained on two other widely studied types of PTM, including phosphorylation sites in host cells infected with SARS-CoV-2 and lysine crotonylation sites in HeLa cells. The results show that our models achieve comparable or better performance than current outstanding models. We believe that this method will become a useful analytical tool for PTM prediction and provide a reference for the future development of related models. The web server and source code are available at http://tubic.org/Kla and https://github.com/tubic/Auto-Kla, respectively.
Latitudinal gradients in the skull shape and assemblage structure of delphinoid cetaceans
Authors: McCurry Matthew R , Park Travis , Coombs Ellen J , Hart Lachlan J , Laffan Shawn
Published: March 2023

Within delphinoid cetaceans, snout shape is significantly correlated to diet, with long-snouted raptorial-feeding predators preying on smaller and more agile prey than shorter-snouted species. Although there have been several studies into longirostry from a functional perspective there have been no quantitative analyses of spatial variation in skull shape or how the pattern in skull shape morphospace occupation varies between assemblages. Here we analyse the cranial morphological variation of Delphinoidea assemblages. Firstly, we calculate mean and Gi* hotspot statistics of skull shape across the world’s oceans. We find that tropical and subtropical assemblages exhibit higher average measures of longirostry. This pattern is likely caused by differences in the availability of certain prey types in warmer and cooler environments. Secondly, we calculate mean pairwise distance as well as mean nearest taxon distance in functional traits between the members of 119 unique delphinoid assemblages. There was a trend for low latitude assemblages to exhibit greater overdispersion in PC1 (snout length) compared those from high latitudes. Our results suggest that ocean temperature is influential in determining the diversity, range limits and assemblage structure of delphinoid cetaceans.
Strategic Information: A Qualitative Study on the Use of Digital Curriculum Vitae for Social Work with Vulnerable Clients
Authors: Schmidt Alexandrina
Published: March 2023

This study investigates the use of the digital curriculum vitae (CV), a digital information system, in social work with vulnerable clients. The investigation takes the constructionist grounded theory approach to examine twenty-one open-ended qualitative interviews with social workers in Danish job centres. Social workers use digital CVs in three ways. First, they collect detailed information about their clients through a digital CV, which tests their vulnerable positions. Second, social workers can use the information collected in the digital CV to reveal skills and resources that clients do not value and rework the attitudes of clients towards the labour market. Third, social workers who work with the most vulnerable clients avoid and adapt digital CV usage to benefit their clients and thus resist prescribed procedures. Overall, the use of digital CVs depends on the perceived vulnerability of the clients. The current study shows that social workers collect and strategically employ digitally stored information to help their clients. Hence, they may risk overlooking the complexity of social issues or compromising the transparency of social work. The study demonstrates that the digitalisation of public service makes social work strategic in response to socially and technologically constraining welfare situations.
Downregulation of MALAT1 is a hallmark of tissue and peripheral proliferative T cells in COVID-19
Authors: Dey Shoumit , Ashwin Helen , Milross Luke , Hunter Bethany , Majo Joaquim , Filby Andrew J , Fisher Andrew J , Kaye Paul M , Lagos Dimitris
Published: March 2023

T cells play key protective but also pathogenic roles in COVID-19. We studied the expression of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in COVID-19 T-cell transcriptomes by integrating previously published single-cell RNA sequencing datasets. The long intergenic non-coding RNA MALAT1 was the most highly transcribed lncRNA in T cells, with Th1 cells demonstrating the lowest and CD8+ resident memory cells the highest MALAT1 expression, amongst CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells populations, respectively. We then identified gene signatures that covaried with MALAT1 in single T cells. A significantly higher number of transcripts correlated negatively with MALAT1 than those that correlated. Enriched functional annotations of the MALAT1- anti-correlating gene signature included processes associated with T-cell activation such as cell division, oxidative phosphorylation, and response to cytokine. The MALAT1 anti-correlating gene signature shared by both CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells marked dividing T cells in both the lung and blood of COVID-19 patients. Focussing on the tissue, we used an independent patient cohort of post-mortem COVID-19 lung samples and demonstrated that MALAT1 suppression was indeed a marker of MKI67+ proliferating CD8+ T cells. Our results reveal MALAT1 suppression and its associated gene signature are a hallmark of human proliferating T cells.
The Time for Action Is Now: The Impact of Timing of Infectious Disease Consultation for Staphylococcus aureus Bacteremia
Authors: Cole J Chase , Jankowski Christopher A , Verdecia Jorge L , Isache Carmen L , Ravi Malleswari S , McCarter Yvette S , Casapao Anthony M
Published: March 2023

This retrospective cohort study was performed to compare clinical outcomes between patients with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia who received an early versus late infectious disease consultation. Early consultation resulted in significantly greater adherence to quality care indicators and shorter hospital stays.
Risk Factors, Temporal Dependence, and Seasonality of Human Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamases-Producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae Colonization in Malawi: A Longitudinal Model-Based Approach
Authors: Sammarro Melodie , Rowlingson Barry , Cocker Derek , Chidziwisano Kondwani , Jacob Shevin T , Kajumbula Henry , Mugisha Lawrence , Musoke David , Lester Rebecca , Morse Tracy , Feasey Nicholas , Jewell Chris
Published: March 2023

Background

Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest estimated death rate attributable to antimicrobial resistance, especially from extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E). However, the dynamics of human colonization in the community with ESBL-E are not well described. Inadequate water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure and associated behaviors are believed to play an important role in transmission of ESBL-E, and an improved understanding of the temporal dynamics of within-household transmission could help inform the design of future policies.

Methods

In this 18-month study, using microbiological data and household surveys, we built a multivariable hierarchical harmonic logistic regression model to identify risk factors for colonization with ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae, reflecting household structure and temporal correlation of colonization status.

Results

Being male was associated with a lower risk of colonization with ESBL-producing E. coli (odds ratio [OR], 0.786; credible interval [CrI], .678–.910), whereas the use of a tube well or a borehole was associated with an increased risk (OR, 1.550; CrI, 1.003–2.394). For ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae, recent antibiotic exposure increased risk of colonization (OR, 1.281; CrI, 1.049–1.565), whereas sharing plates decreased that risk (OR, 0.672; CrI, .460–.980). Finally, the temporal correlation range of 8 to 11 weeks provided evidence that within-household transmission occurs within this time frame.

Conclusions

We describe different risks for colonization with different enteric bacterial species. Our findings suggest interventions to reduce transmission targeted at the household level need to focus on improving water, sanitation, and hygiene infrastructure and associated behaviors, whereas at the community level, they should focus on both environmental hygiene and antibiotic stewardship.
Hepatitis C Virus Reinfection in a Real-World Cohort of Homeless-Experienced Individuals in Boston
Authors: Beiser Marguerite E , Shaw Leah C , Shores Savanna K , Carson Joanne M , Hajarizadeh Behzad
Published: March 2023

Background

People experiencing homelessness are disproportionately affected by hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection compared with housed populations. Surveillance for HCV reinfection after successful treatment is a critical step in the care cascade, but limited data on reinfection are available among this highly marginalized group. This study assessed posttreatment reinfection risk in a real-world cohort of homeless-experienced individuals in Boston.

Methods

Individuals receiving HCV direct-acting antiviral treatment through Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program during 2014–2020 with posttreatment follow-up assessment were included. Reinfection was identified based on recurrent HCV RNA at 12 weeks posttreatment with HCV genotype switch or any recurrent HCV RNA following sustain virologic response.

Results

A total of 535 individuals were included (81% male, median age 49 years, 70% unstably housed or homeless at treatment initiation). Seventy-four HCV reinfections were detected, including 5 second reinfections. HCV reinfection rate was 12.0/100 person-years (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.5–15.1) overall, 18.9/100 person-years (95% CI: 13.3–26.7) among individuals with unstable housing and 14.6/100 person-years (95% CI: 10.0–21.3) among those experiencing homelessness. In adjusted analysis, experiencing homelessness (vs stable housing, adjusted hazard ratio, 2.14; 95% CI: 1.09–4.20; P = .026) and drug use within 6 months before treatment (adjusted hazard ratio, 5.23; 95% CI: 2.25–12.13; P < .001) were associated with increased reinfection risk.

Conclusions

We found high HCV reinfection rates in a homeless-experienced population, with increased risk among those homeless at treatment. Tailored strategies to address the individual and systems factors impacting marginalized populations are required to prevent HCV reinfection and to enhance engagement in posttreatment HCV care.
Marx’s equalised rate of exploitation
Authors: Cogliano Jonathan F
Published: March 2023

Marx assumes a uniform rate of exploitation throughout Capital, yet the theoretical basis for this assumption and its role in his theory of value are not widely recognised in the existing literature. This article shows that Marx assumed a tendentially equalised rate of exploitation to be the outcome of labour mobility and that he viewed this as a general tendency of capitalist economies. Marx draws extensively on Adam Smith to support his views on labour mobility and the equalised rate of exploitation. The close connection between Smith and Marx on notions of labour mobility is examined here. Understanding the role of labour mobility and the equalised rate of exploitation in Marx’s work holds implications for contemporary approaches to classical-Marxian price and value theory and supports the view that Marx’s theory of value is, in the most general sense, a theory of the allocation of social labour.
Indigenous Medea: space, time, and resistance in Wesley Enoch’s Black Medea
Authors: Kearns Clare
Published: March 2023

In Wesley Enoch’s 2000 play Black Medea, Seneca’s Medea is reworked for settler-colonial Australia: Enoch’s Medea is an Indigenous woman from an unnamed Land who falls in love with Jason, an Indigenous man from the city with ambitions to succeed by settler-colonial standards. Against the will of her family, Medea reveals to Jason the natural resources lying underneath her Land and allows him to overturn the sacred earth in pursuit of profit for a Western corporation. The tragedy chronicles the subsequent demise of Jason and Medea’s relationship in the settler city and Medea’s filicidal retaliation for Jason’s crimes. Despite the radically different setting of Black Medea from its Roman antecedent, the two plays share numerous thematic concerns as well as several key moments in which the Senecan text is quoted verbatim. This essay contends that in Black Medea, Enoch apprehends topoi of displacement and temporal normativity from Seneca’s Medea and mobilizes them to elucidate the conditions of Indigenous Australians under settler colonialism. By doing so, he offers critical insight towards the use of Indigeneity as an analytic for Medea myths ancient and modern.
lncHUB2: aggregated and inferred knowledge about human and mouse lncRNAs
Authors: Marino Giacomo B , Wojciechowicz Megan L , Clarke Daniel J B , Kuleshov Maxim V , Xie Zhuorui , Jeon Minji , Lachmann Alexander , Ma’ayan Avi
Published: March 2023

Long non-coding ribonucleic acids (lncRNAs) account for the largest group of non-coding RNAs. However, knowledge about their function and regulation is limited. lncHUB2 is a web server database that provides known and inferred knowledge about the function of 18 705 human and 11 274 mouse lncRNAs. lncHUB2 produces reports that contain the secondary structure fold of the lncRNA, related publications, the most correlated coding genes, the most correlated lncRNAs, a network that visualizes the most correlated genes, predicted mouse phenotypes, predicted membership in biological processes and pathways, predicted upstream transcription factor regulators, and predicted disease associations. In addition, the reports include subcellular localization information; expression across tissues, cell types, and cell lines, and predicted small molecules and CRISPR knockout (CRISPR-KO) genes prioritized based on their likelihood to up- or downregulate the expression of the lncRNA. Overall, lncHUB2 is a database with rich information about human and mouse lncRNAs and as such it can facilitate hypothesis generation for many future studies. The lncHUB2 database is available at https://maayanlab.cloud/lncHUB2.

Database URL: https://maayanlab.cloud/lncHUB2
Bacterial Endosymbionts Identified From Leafhopper (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) Vectors of Phytoplasmas
Authors: Cooper William Rodney , Walker William B , Angelella Gina M , Swisher Grimm Kylie D , Foutz Jillian J , Harper Scott J , Nottingham Louis B , Northfield Tobin D , Wohleb Carrie H , Strausbaugh Carl A
Published: March 2023

Insects often harbor bacterial endosymbionts that provide them with nutritional benefit or with protection against natural enemies, plant defenses, insecticides, and abiotic stresses. Certain endosymbionts may also alter acquisition and transmission of plant pathogens by insect vectors. We identified bacterial endosymbionts from four leafhopper vectors (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae) of ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species by direct sequencing 16S rDNA and confirmed endosymbiont presence and identity by species-specific conventional PCR. We examined three vectors of Ca. Phytoplasma pruni, causal agent of cherry X-disease [Colladonus geminatus (Van Duzee), Colladonus montanus reductus (Van Duzee), Euscelidius variegatus (Kirschbaum)] – and a vector of Ca. Phytoplasma trifolii, the causal agent of potato purple top disease [Circulifer tenellus (Baker)]. Direct sequencing of 16S identified the two obligate endosymbionts of leafhoppers, ‘Ca. Sulcia’ and ‘Ca. Nasuia’, which are known to produce essential amino acids lacking in the leafhoppers’ phloem sap diet. About 57% of C. geminatus also harbored endosymbiotic Rickettsia. We identified ‘Ca. Yamatotoia cicadellidicola’ in Euscelidius variegatus, providing just the second host record for this endosymbiont. Circulifer tenellus harbored the facultative endosymbiont Wolbachia, although the average infection rate was only 13% and all males were Wolbachia-uninfected. A significantly greater percentage of Wolbachia-infected Ci. tenellus adults than uninfected adults carried Ca. P. trifolii, suggesting that Wolbachia may increase this insect’s ability to tolerate or acquire this pathogen. Results of our study provide a foundation for continued work on interactions between leafhoppers, bacterial endosymbionts, and phytoplasma.
Within and beyond 12-month efficacy and safety of antithrombotic strategies in patients with established coronary artery disease: two companion network meta-analyses of the 2022 joint clinical consensus statement of the European Association of Percutaneous Cardiovascular Interventions (EAPCI), European Association for Acute CardioVascular Care (ACVC), and European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC)
Authors: Navarese Eliano Pio , Landi Antonio , Oliva Angelo , Piccolo Raffaele , Aboyans Victor , Angiolillo Dominick , Atar Dan , Capodanno Davide , Fox Keith A A , Halvorsen Sigrun , James Stefan , Jüni Peter , Kunadian Vijay , Leonardi Sergio , Mehran Roxana , Montalescot Gilles , Niebauer Josef , Price Susanna , Storey Robert F , Völler Heinz , Vranckx Pascal , Windecker Stephan , Valgimigli Marco
Published: March 2023

Aims

To appraise all available antithrombotic treatments within or after 12 months following coronary revascularization and/or acute coronary syndrome in two network meta-analyses.

Methods and results

Forty-three (N = 189 261 patients) trials within 12 months and 19 (N = 139 086 patients) trials beyond 12 months were included for efficacy/safety endpoints appraisal. Within 12 months, ticagrelor 90 mg bis in die (b.i.d.) [hazard ratio (HR), 0.66; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.49–0.88], aspirin and ticagrelor 90 mg (HR, 0.85; 95% CI, 0.76–0.95), or aspirin, clopidogrel and rivaroxaban 2.5 mg b.i.d. (HR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.51–0.86) were the only treatments associated with lower cardiovascular mortality, compared with aspirin and clopidogrel, without or with greater bleeding risk for the first and the other treatment options, respectively. Beyond 12 months, no strategy lowered mortality; compared with aspirin; the greatest reductions of myocardial infarction (MI) were found with aspirin and clopidogrel (HR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.55–0.85) or P2Y12 inhibitor monotherapy (HR, 0.76; 95% CI: 0.61–0.95), especially ticagrelor 90 mg (HR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.32–0.92), and of stroke with VKA (HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.44–0.76) or aspirin and rivaroxaban 2.5 mg (HR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.44–0.76). All treatments increased bleeding except P2Y12 monotherapy, compared with aspirin.

Conclusion

Within 12 months, ticagrelor 90 mg monotherapy was the only treatment associated with lower mortality, without bleeding risk trade-off compared with aspirin and clopidogrel. Beyond 12 months, P2Y12 monotherapy, especially ticagrelor 90 mg, was associated with lower MI without bleeding trade-off; aspirin and rivaroxaban 2.5 mg most effectively reduced stroke, with a more acceptable bleeding risk than VKA, compared with aspirin.

Registration URL: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/; Unique identifiers: CRD42021243985 and CRD42021252398.
C2. A Case of Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Cardiomyopathy Presenting with Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia : The Role of Imaging to Confirm Diagnosis
Authors: Permitasari D A , Habibi F N , Ardhianto P
Published: March 2023

Background

Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited condition which predominantly affects young people, characterized by fibrofatty replacement of the right ventricle. It is also commonly being underdiagnosed, so that the role of imaging is imperative to confirm diagnosis of ARVC patient.

Case Summary

A 57-year-old man presented with palpitation, syncope and chest pain. The symptoms had begun since 3 month prior to hospital admission with no family history of premature sudden death. He had been hospitalized 3 times before due to palpitation. Electrocardiogram (ECG) revealed ventricular tachycardia with LBBB morphology and superior axis. Patient was undergoing 100 Joule cardioversion, and the ECG post-cardioversion showed sinus rhythm with inverted T-wave in inferior and anterior leads. Echocardiography revealed enlargement and reduced function of right ventricle (RV). Coroangiography revealed nonsignificant stenosis coronary artery disease. Cardiac MRI showed dyssynchrony RV contraction, reduced RV ejection fraction <40%, hyperintensity in RV endocardium and posteroinferior aspect of endocardium to myocardium left ventricle, representing the fatty infiltration. Our patient had 2 major criteria which established the diagnosis of definite ARVC according to revised Task Force Criteria. Patient was planned to have an implantable cardiac defibrillator.

Discussion

Late clinical presentation of ARVC is rare, thus it should be included in the differential diagnosis when treating older patient with ventricular tachyarrhythmia. This case highlights the importance of imaging, either with echocardiography and cardiac MRI to confirm the diagnosis of ARVC as the potential cause sudden cardiac death.
C6. Acute Limb Ischemia Patient with Covid 19 Progressing to Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia: a Case Report
Authors: Wicaksono  , Kurnianingsih N
Published: March 2023

Background

Acute Limb Ischemia (ALI) and Chronic Limb-Threatening Ischemia (CLTI) are manifestations of Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). The management of ALI and CLTI, apart from optimal medical treatment and lifestyle control, also includes surgery and endovascular revascularization. ALI and CLTI conditions can be a thromboembolic complication of Covid 19.

Case Description

A 58-year-old woman with risk factor Diabetes Mellitus presents with a black leg on the digiti I and digiti II of the right inferior extremity. She also complains of walking pain for 2 months. Previously, She had been treated with complaints of ischemic leg pain 2 months earlier and had performed a Doppler Ultrasound. At that time, she was diagnosed as ALI Grade II-A and was positive for Covid 19, from the laboratory examinations it was found an increase in fibrinogen, 419 mg/dl (Reference value 154.3-397.9) and D-Dimer increased to 0.9 mg/L (Reference value ≤ 0.5), She had undergone a surgical embolectomy procedure. At the time of the last control and based on CT-angiography, she was assessed as CLTI with Fontaine IV, Rutherford V, WIfI 1-1-0 and decided to do endovascular revascularization.

Discussion

The choice of either a surgical procedure or endovascular revascularization depends on grading and the initial assessment. Correct timing of ALI and CLTI treatment will increase limb salvage rate. Covid 19 can also manifest as a condition associated with a hypercoagulable state that can, in turn, lead to both arterial and venous thrombosis.
C9. An Extremely Rare Dual Congenital Disorder of The Heart: Aberrant Tendinous Chords with Tethering of The Tricuspid Leaflet Associated with Wolff-Parkinson-White Syndrome
Authors: Hartoko A , Nugraha M T
Published: March 2023

Background

Aberrant tendinous chords with tethering of the tricuspid leaflets is a rare congenital etiology of tricuspid regurgitation (TR), defined as abnormal insertion of tendinous cords at the clear zone of the tricuspid leaflet and connect to the endocardium instead of the papillary muscles. Wolff-Parkinson-White (WPW) syndrome defined as a congenital condition involving additional conductive cardiac tissue between the atria and the ventricles that provides a pathway for a reentrant tachycardia circuit. Ebstein's anomaly (EA) is the most commonly occurring congenital abnormality that caused TR associated with the WPW. Until now, there is no case report of aberrant tendinous chords with tethering of the tricuspid leaflets that associated with WPW.

Case Illustration

A 26-year-old female with history of recurrent palpitation she was given was referred to our hospital. Resting ECG revealed sinus rhythm with delta wave suggesting diagnostic of WPW. On physical examination we found loud systolic murmur on left lower sternal border. Echocardiography examination revealed dilated right atrial and right ventricle, severe tricuspid regurgitation with restricted septal TV caused by aberrant tendinous chords. No apical displacement of tricuspid leaflet >8 mm/m2 excluding the diagnosis of EA.

Discussion

Both WPW and aberrant tendinous chords with tethering of the tricuspid leaflet are rare congenital disorder of the heart. EA is most common congenital TR associated with WPW, there are rarely reported other congenital TR associated with WPW. This case illustrates extremely rare case where we found both WPW and Aberrant Tendinous Chords.