bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbiome of Pacific oyster spat is shaped by ocean warming but not acidification
Authors: Zhong Kevin Xu , Chan Amy M. , Collicutt Brenna , Daspe Maxim , Finke Jan F. , Foss Megan , Green Timothy J. , Harley Christopher D. G. , Hesketh Amelia V. , Miller Kristina M. , Otto Sarah P. , Rolheiser Kate , Saunders Rob , Sutherland Ben J. G. , Suttle Curtis A.
Published: March 2024

Pacific oysters (
Magallana gigas,
a.k.a.
Crassostrea gigas
), the most widely farmed oysters, are under threat from climate change and emerging pathogens. In part, their resilience may be affected by their microbiome, which, in turn, may be influenced by ocean warming and acidification. To understand these impacts, we exposed early-development Pacific oyster spat to different temperatures (18°C and 24°C) and
p
CO
2
levels (800, 1,600, and 2,800 µatm) in a fully crossed design for 3 weeks. Under all conditions, the microbiome changed over time, with a large decrease in the relative abundance of potentially pathogenic ciliates (
Uronema marinum
) in all treatments with time. The microbiome composition differed significantly with temperature, but not acidification, indicating that Pacific oyster spat microbiomes can be altered by ocean warming but is resilient to ocean acidification in our experiments. Microbial taxa differed in relative abundance with temperature, implying different adaptive strategies and ecological specializations among microorganisms. Additionally, a small proportion (~0.2% of the total taxa) of the relatively abundant microbial taxa were core constituents (>50% occurrence among samples) across different temperatures,
p
CO
2
levels, or time. Some taxa, including A4b bacteria and members of the family
Saprospiraceae
in the phyla
Chloroflexi
(syn.
Chloroflexota
) and
Bacteroidetes
(syn.
Bacteroidota
), respectively, as well as protists in the genera
Labyrinthula
and
Aplanochytrium
in the class
Labyrinthulomycetes
, and
Pseudoperkinsus tapetis
in the class
Ichthyosporea
were core constituents across temperatures,
p
CO
2
levels, and time, suggesting that they play an important, albeit unknown, role in maintaining the structural and functional stability of the Pacific oyster spat microbiome in response to ocean warming and acidification. These findings highlight the flexibility of the spat microbiome to environmental changes.

IMPORTANCE

Pacific oysters are the most economically important and widely farmed species of oyster, and their production depends on healthy oyster spat. In turn, spat health and productivity are affected by the associated microbiota; yet, studies have not scrutinized the effects of temperature and
p
CO
2
on the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microbiomes of spat. Here, we show that both the prokaryotic and, for the first time, eukaryotic microbiome of Pacific oyster spat are surprisingly resilient to changes in acidification, but sensitive to ocean warming. The findings have potential implications for oyster survival amid climate change and underscore the need to understand temperature and
p
CO
2
effects on the microbiome and the cascading effects on oyster health and productivity.
Assessment of the performance of the plasma separation card for HIV-1 viral load monitoring in South Africa
Authors: Chimoyi Lucy , Hans Lucia , Oladimeji Matthew , Kindra Gurpreet , Diallo Karidia , Ayalew Kassahun , Setswe Geoffrey K. , Carmona Sergio
Published: March 2024

Scaling up of newer innovations that address the limitations of the dried blood spot and the logistics of plasma monitoring is needed. We employed a multi-site, cross-sectional assessment of the plasma separation card (PSC) on blood specimens collected from all consenting adults, assenting young and pediatric patients living with HIV from 10 primary healthcare clinics in South Africa. Venous blood for EDTA-plasma samples was collected and analyzed according to the standard of care assay, while collected capillary blood for the PSC samples was analyzed using the Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/Cobas TaqMan (CAP/CTM) HIV-1 Test at the National Reference laboratories. McNemar tests assessed the differences in concordance between the centrifuged plasma and dried plasma spots. The usability of PSC by blood spotting, PSC preparation, and pre-analytical work was assessed by collecting seven-point Likert-scale data from healthcare and laboratory workers. We enrolled 538 patients, mostly adults [
n
= 515, 95.7% (95% CI: 93.7%–97.1%)] and females [
n
= 322, 64.2% (95% CI: 60.0%–68.1%)]. Overall, 536 paired samples were collected using both PSC- and EDTA-plasma diagnostics, and 502 paired PSC- and EDTA-plasma samples assessed. Concordance between the paired samples was obtained for 446 samples. Analysis of these 446 paired samples at 1,000 copies per milliliter threshold yielded an overall sensitivity of 87.5% [95% CI: 73.2%–95.8%] and specificity of 99.3% [95% CI: 97.9%–99.8%]. Laboratory staff reported technical difficulties in most tasks. The usability of the PSC by healthcare workers was favorable. For policymakers to consider PSC scale-up for viral load monitoring, technical challenges around using PSC at the clinic and laboratory level need to be addressed.

IMPORTANCE

Findings from this manuscript emphasize the reliability of the plasma separation card (PSC), a novel diagnostic method that can be implemented in healthcare facilities in resource-constrained settings. The agreement of the PSC with the standard of care EDTA plasma for viral load monitoring is high. Since the findings showed that these tests were highly specific, we recommend a scale-up of PSC in South Africa for diagnosis of treatment failure.
Complex
N
-glycans are important for interspecies transmission of H7 influenza A viruses
Authors: Spruit Cindy M. , Palme Diana I. , Li Tiehai , Ríos Carrasco María , Gabarroca García Alba , Sweet Igor R. , Kuryshko Maryna , Maliepaard Joshua C. L. , Reiding Karli R. , Scheibner David , Boons Geert-Jan , Abdelwhab Elsayed M. , de Vries Robert P.
Published: March 2024

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) can overcome species barriers by adaptation of the receptor-binding site of the hemagglutinin (HA). To initiate infection, HAs bind to glycan receptors with terminal sialic acids, which are either
N
-acetylneuraminic acid (NeuAc) or
N
-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc); the latter is mainly found in horses and pigs but not in birds and humans. We investigated the influence of previously identified equine NeuGc-adapting mutations (S128T, I130V, A135E, T189A, and K193R) in avian H7 IAVs
in vitro
and
in vivo
. We observed that these mutations negatively affected viral replication in chicken cells but not in duck cells and positively affected replication in horse cells.
In vivo
, the mutations reduced virus virulence and mortality in chickens. Ducks excreted high viral loads longer than chickens, although they appeared clinically healthy. To elucidate why these viruses infected chickens and ducks despite the absence of NeuGc, we re-evaluated the receptor binding of H7 HAs using glycan microarray and flow cytometry studies. This re-evaluation demonstrated that mutated avian H7 HAs also bound to α2,3-linked NeuAc and sialyl-LewisX, which have an additional fucose moiety in their terminal epitope, explaining why infection of ducks and chickens was possible. Interestingly, the α2,3-linked NeuAc and sialyl-LewisX epitopes were only bound when presented on tri-antennary
N
-glycans, emphasizing the importance of investigating the fine receptor specificities of IAVs. In conclusion, the binding of NeuGc-adapted H7 IAV to tri-antennary
N
-glycans enables viral replication and shedding by chickens and ducks, potentially facilitating interspecies transmission of equine-adapted H7 IAVs.

IMPORTANCE

Influenza A viruses (IAVs) cause millions of deaths and illnesses in birds and mammals each year. The viral surface protein hemagglutinin initiates infection by binding to host cell terminal sialic acids. Hemagglutinin adaptations affect the binding affinity to these sialic acids and the potential host species targeted. While avian and human IAVs tend to bind to
N
-acetylneuraminic acid (sialic acid), equine H7 viruses prefer binding to
N
-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc). To better understand the function of NeuGc-specific adaptations in hemagglutinin and to elucidate interspecies transmission potential NeuGc-adapted viruses, we evaluated the effects of NeuGc-specific mutations in avian H7 viruses in chickens and ducks, important economic hosts and reservoir birds, respectively. We also examined the impact on viral replication and found a binding affinity to tri-antennary
N
-glycans containing different terminal epitopes. These findings are significant as they contribute to the understanding of the role of receptor binding in avian influenza infection.
Wall teichoic acid substitution with glucose governs phage susceptibility of
Staphylococcus epidermidis
Authors: Beck Christian , Krusche Janes , Notaro Anna , Walter Axel , Kränkel Lara , Vollert Anneli , Stemmler Regine , Wittmann Johannes , Schaller Martin , Slavetinsky Christoph , Mayer Christoph , De Castro Cristina , Peschel Andreas
Published: March 2024

The species- and clone-specific susceptibility of
Staphylococcus
cells for bacteriophages is governed by the structures and glycosylation patterns of wall teichoic acid (WTA) glycopolymers. The glycosylation-dependent phage-WTA interactions in the opportunistic pathogen
Staphylococcus epidermidis
and in other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) have remained unknown. We report a new
S. epidermidis
WTA glycosyltransferase TagE whose deletion confers resistance to siphoviruses such as ΦE72 but enables binding of otherwise unbound podoviruses.
S. epidermidis
glycerolphosphate WTA was found to be modified with glucose in a
tagE
-dependent manner. TagE is encoded together with the enzymes PgcA and GtaB providing uridine diphosphate-activated glucose. ΦE72 transduced several other CoNS species encoding TagE homologs, suggesting that WTA glycosylation via TagE is a frequent trait among CoNS that permits interspecies horizontal gene transfer. Our study unravels a crucial mechanism of phage-
Staphylococcus
interaction and horizontal gene transfer, and it will help in the design of anti-staphylococcal phage therapies.

IMPORTANCE

Phages are highly specific for certain bacterial hosts, and some can transduce DNA even across species boundaries. How phages recognize cognate host cells remains incompletely understood. Phages infecting members of the genus
Staphylococcus
bind to wall teichoic acid (WTA) glycopolymers with highly variable structures and glycosylation patterns. How WTA is glycosylated in the opportunistic pathogen
Staphylococcus epidermidis
and in other coagulase-negative staphylococci (CoNS) species has remained unknown. We describe that
S. epidermidis
glycosylates its WTA backbone with glucose, and we identify a cluster of three genes responsible for glucose activation and transfer to WTA. Their inactivation strongly alters phage susceptibility patterns, yielding resistance to siphoviruses but susceptibility to podoviruses. Many different CoNS species with related glycosylation genes can exchange DNA via siphovirus ΦE72, suggesting that glucose-modified WTA is crucial for interspecies horizontal gene transfer. Our finding will help to develop antibacterial phage therapies and unravel routes of genetic exchange.
Emergence of multidrug-resistant
Pandoraea sputorum
in Japan
Authors: Koizumi Juri , Nasu Yutaka , Hirai Yuji , Nakaminami Hidemasa
Published: March 2024

Pandoraea
is a pathogenic bacterium naturally resistant to various antimicrobials, including colistin. Here, we report the whole-genome sequence of
Pandoraea sputorum
, which exhibits high-level multidrug resistance, isolated from a hospitalized patient in Japan.
Bioactive exometabolites drive maintenance competition in simple bacterial communities
Authors: Chodkowski John L. , Shade Ashley
Published: March 2024

During prolonged resource limitation, bacterial cells can persist in metabolically active states of non-growth. These maintenance periods, such as those experienced in stationary phase, can include upregulation of secondary metabolism and release of exometabolites into the local environment. As resource limitation is common in many environmental microbial habitats, we hypothesized that neighboring bacterial populations employ exometabolites to compete or cooperate during maintenance and that these exometabolite-facilitated interactions can drive community outcomes. Here, we evaluated the consequences of exometabolite interactions over the stationary phase among three environmental strains:
Burkholderia thailandensis
E264,
Chromobacterium subtsugae ATCC 31532
, and
Pseudomonas syringae
pv.
tomato
DC3000. We assembled them into synthetic communities that only permitted chemical interactions. We compared the responses (transcripts) and outputs (exometabolites) of each member with and without neighbors. We found that transcriptional dynamics were changed with different neighbors and that some of these changes were coordinated between members. The dominant competitor
B. thailandensis
consistently upregulated biosynthetic gene clusters to produce bioactive exometabolites for both exploitative and interference competition. These results demonstrate that competition strategies during maintenance can contribute to community-level outcomes. It also suggests that the traditional concept of defining competitiveness by growth outcomes may be narrow and that maintenance competition could be an additional or alternative measure.

IMPORTANCE

Free-living microbial populations often persist and engage in environments that offer few or inconsistently available resources. Thus, it is important to investigate microbial interactions in this common and ecologically relevant condition of non-growth. This work investigates the consequences of resource limitation for community metabolic output and for population interactions in simple synthetic bacterial communities. Despite non-growth, we observed active, exometabolite-mediated competition among the bacterial populations. Many of these interactions and produced exometabolites were dependent on the community composition but we also observed that one dominant competitor consistently produced interfering exometabolites regardless. These results are important for predicting and understanding microbial interactions in resource-limited environments.
Decoding the chemical language of
Suillus
fungi: genome mining and untargeted metabolomics uncover terpene chemical diversity
Authors: Mudbhari Sameer , Lofgren Lotus , Appidi Manasa R. , Vilgalys Rytas , Hettich Robert L. , Abraham Paul E.
Published: March 2024

Ectomycorrhizal fungi establish mutually beneficial relationships with trees, trading nutrients for carbon.
Suillus
are ectomycorrhizal fungi that are critical to the health of boreal and temperate forest ecosystems. Comparative genomics has identified a high number of non-ribosomal peptide synthetase and terpene biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) potentially involved in fungal competition and communication. However, the functionality of these BGCs is not known. This study employed co-culture techniques to activate BGC expression and then used metabolomics to investigate the diversity of metabolic products produced by three
Suillus
species (
Suillus hirtellus
EM16,
Suillus decipiens
EM49, and
Suillus cothurnatus
VC1858), core members of the pine microbiome. After 28 days of growth on solid media, liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry identified a diverse range of extracellular metabolites (exometabolites) along the interaction zone between
Suillus
co-cultures. Prenol lipids were among the most abundant chemical classes. Out of the 62 unique terpene BGCs predicted by genome mining, 41 putative prenol lipids (includes 37 putative terpenes) were identified across the three
Suillus
species using metabolomics. Notably, some terpenes were significantly more abundant in co-culture conditions. For example, we identified a metabolite matching to isomers isopimaric acid, sandaracopimaric acid, and abietic acid, which can be found in pine resin and play important roles in host defense mechanisms and
Suillus
spore germination. This research highlights the importance of combining genomics and metabolomics to advance our understanding of the chemical diversity underpinning fungal signaling and communication.

IMPORTANCE

Using a combination of genomics and metabolomics, this study’s findings offer new insights into the chemical diversity of
Suillus
fungi, which serve a critical role in forest ecosystems.
Loeys-Dietz syndrome and Goldenhar syndrome unveiled together
Authors: Verma Henuka , Verma Prashant Kumar , Rajvanshi Nikhil , Bhat Nowneet Kumar
Published: March 2024

Haemifacial microsomia is an asymmetrical congenital tissue malformation developed from the first and second branchial arches with or without multi-system involvement. Alternatively recognised as Goldenhar syndrome or oculoauriculovertebral spectrum (OAVS), it is an aetiologically heterogeneous group of disorders showing dominant trends in inheritable form.

We present a case of a boy in early childhood with concomitant craniofacial features of craniofacial microsomia with Loeys-Dietz syndrome. He had a unilateral hypoplastic face, asymmetrical ear malformations and multiple preauricular tags with epibulbar dermoid (features suggestive of Goldenhar syndrome). On detailed clinical evaluation, he met Beighton’s criteria and was diagnosed with arterial tortuosity. Further molecular testing confirmed the diagnosis of Loeys-Dietz syndrome type II.

Loeys-Dietz syndrome is characterised by aortic root enlargement or type A dissection with or without other vascular malformations and facial midline defects. Molecular testing is required to establish the diagnosis because of overlapping features with other connective tissue disorders.
Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome or not? An exploration of atypical presentations
Authors: Anthony Lakmali , Bayat Iman
Published: March 2024

Klippel-Trenaunay syndrome (KTS) is a rare, congenital disorder typically emerging in early infancy or childhood. The classic presentation of KTS is distinguished by a triad of clinical features: a port-wine stain, early-onset varicosities and limb overgrowth. However, a notable variant of KTS has been documented, characterised by limb shortening rather than lengthening, occasionally referred to as 'inverse KTS'. This report details two cases that display this unusual presentation—both patients had classical features of port-wine stain and varicose veins but both experienced shortening of the affected limb. Whether these cases represent a variant of KTS or a new clinical syndrome altogether is uncertain. They however offer valuable insights into the nuances and breadth of clinical manifestations associated with this syndrome.
Cost-effectiveness analysis of two interventions to promote physical activity in a multiethnic population at high risk of diabetes: an economic evaluation of the 48-month PROPELS randomized controlled trial
Authors: Heathcote Laura Ellen , Pollard Daniel J , Brennan Alan , Davies Melanie J , Eborall Helen , Edwardson Charlotte L , Gillett Michael , Gray Laura J , Griffin Simon J , Hardeman Wendy , Henson Joseph , Khunti Kamlesh , Sharp Stephen , Sutton Stephen , Yates Thomas
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Physical activity (PA) is protective against type 2 diabetes (T2D). However, data on pragmatic long-term interventions to reduce the risk of developing T2D via increased PA are lacking. This study investigated the cost-effectiveness of a pragmatic PA intervention in a multiethnic population at high risk of T2D.

Materials and methods

We adapted the School for Public Health Research diabetes prevention model, using the PROPELS trial data and analyses of the NAVIGATOR trial. Lifetime costs, lifetime quality-adjusted life years (QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs) were calculated for each intervention (Walking Away (WA) and Walking Away Plus (WA+)) versus usual care and compared with National Institute for Health and Care Excellence’s willingness-to-pay of £20 000–£30 000 per QALY gained. We conducted scenario analyses on the outcomes of the PROPELS trial data and a threshold analysis to determine the change in step count that would be needed for the interventions to be cost-effective.

Results

Estimated lifetime costs for usual care, WA, and WA+ were £22 598, £23 018, and £22 945, respectively. Estimated QALYs were 9.323, 9.312, and 9.330, respectively. WA+ was estimated to be more effective and cheaper than WA. WA+ had an ICER of £49 273 per QALY gained versus usual care. In none of our scenario analyses did either WA or WA+ have an ICER below £20 000 per QALY gained. Our threshold analysis suggested that a PA intervention costing the same as WA+ would have an ICER below £20 000/QALY if it were to achieve an increase in step count of 500 steps per day which was 100% maintained at 4 years.

Conclusions

We found that neither WA nor WA+ was cost-effective at a limit of £20 000 per QALY gained. Our threshold analysis showed that interventions to increase step count can be cost-effective at this limit if they achieve greater long-term maintenance of effect.

Trial Registration number

ISRCTN registration:ISRCTN83465245: The PRomotion Of Physical activity through structuredEducation with differing Levels of ongoing Support for those with pre-diabetes (PROPELS)https://doi.org/10.1186/ISRCTN83465245.
Pilot feasibility and efficacy of a strategy to sustain A1C improvement among diverse adults with type 2 diabetes completing a diabetes care management program
Authors: Montero Alex Renato , Nassar Carine M , Ahmed Saba , Magee Michelle
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Evidence-based strategies are needed to sustain improvements in outcomes following diabetes care management (DCM) programs. We examined the impact of Boot Camp-Plus (BC-Plus), an innovative sustaining strategy, on A1C among adults with type 2 diabetes completing a 3-month Diabetes Boot Camp (DBC). This health system sponsored program consisted of diabetes self-management education and support, medical nutrition therapy and antihyperglycemic medications management.

Research design and methods

From March 2019 to July 2021, adult DBC completers with Medicare or a health system Medicaid or employee commercial plan were enrolled in BC-Plus for 9 months. DBC completers not meeting insurance eligibility or who declined to participate in BC-Plus acted as controls. During the first 3 months, BC-Plus participants received ongoing daily remote blood glucose (BG) monitoring; and during all 9 months, they received monthly check-in calls with BG review by a medical assistant who addressed needs for supplies/drugs, whether participants were checking BGs, and self-care encouragement. Escalation to a nurse practitioner occurred if the monthly BG trend was >200 mg/dL and/or several BG <80 mg/dL and/or new A1C >9.0% were identified. A1C was followed for an additional 9 months post-BC-Plus. A longitudinal mixed effects analysis was used to assess change in A1C from month 0 to month 21 of follow-up between BC-Plus participants versus controls.

Results

A total of 838 DCM completers were identified, among whom 281 joined the BC-Plus intervention and 557 acted as controls. Mean age was 55.9 years; 58.2% were women; 66.2% were black; and 30.6% insured by Medicare. BC-Plus participants experienced significantly lower A1C compared with controls and remained below 8.0% to month 18.

Conclusions

Among completers of a 3-month DCM program, a low intensity 9-month sustaining strategy maintained A1C under 8.0% (HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set) threshold for diabetes control) compared with controls for 15 months after completion of the initial DCM intervention.
Interconnections between unintended pregnancy, alcohol and other drug use, and pregnancy, birth, infant, childhood and socioeconomic outcomes: a scoping review
Authors: McNamara Kelly A , Murnion Bridin , Fotheringham Penelope , Terplan Mishka , Lintzeris Nicholas , Oei Ju Lee , Bond Diana M , Nassar Natasha , Black Kirsten I
Published: March 2024

Background

Unintended pregnancy (UIP) and substance use disorder share underlying root causes with similar impacts for women and their offspring in pregnancy, birth and beyond. Furthermore, intoxication with alcohol and other drugs (AOD) increases the risk of UIP.

Objectives

To assess the available evidence on associations between UIP and health, social and economic outcomes, in women who use AOD.

Search strategy

The review utilised the Joanna Briggs Institute Methodology for Scoping Reviews and PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) reporting guidelines. The search was conducted across multiple databases, including Scopus and Medline, and limited to studies published between January 2000 to June 2023.

Selection criteria

Studies reporting on interactions between AOD use and UIP, and pregnancy, birth, infant, childhood, social or economic outcomes. All patterns and types of AOD use, except isolated use of tobacco, were included. Studies were available in English and conducted in high-income countries.

Data collection and analysis

Selected articles were reviewed, and data collected by two independent reviewers using a standardised data extraction sheet. Findings were summarised and reported descriptively.

Main results

A total of 2536 titles and abstracts were screened, 97 full texts were reviewed, and three studies were selected for inclusion in the scoping review. There was heterogeneity in types and patterns of AOD use, differences in study design and tools to assess pregnancy intention, and each focused on disparate outcomes. No study assessed or reported on birth outcomes.

Conclusion

There is a paucity of data examining the intersection between AOD use and UIP and further research is needed.
Birth cohort effects on diagnosed atrial fibrillation incidence: nationwide cohort study from 1980 to 2018
Authors: Vinter Nicklas , Cordsen Pia , Johnsen Søren Paaske , Benjamin Emelia J , Frost Lars , Trinquart Ludovic
Published: March 2024

Background

The incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) shows substantial temporal trends, but the contribution of birth cohort effects is unknown. These effects refer to the relationship between birth year and the likelihood of developing AF. We aimed to assess trends in cumulative incidence of diagnosed AF across birth cohorts and to disentangle the effects of age, birth cohort and calendar period by using age–period–cohort analyses.

Methods

In a Danish nationwide population-based cohort study, 4.7 million individuals were selected at a given index age (45, 55, 65 and 75 years) free of AF and followed up for diagnosed AF. For each index age, we assessed trends in 10-year cumulative incidence of AF across six 5-year birth cohorts. An age–period–cohort model was estimated using Poisson regression with constrained spline functions collapsing data into 1-year intervals across ages and calendar years.

Results

Cumulative incidence of AF diagnosis increased across birth cohorts for all index ages (ptrend<0.001). Compared with the first birth cohort, the diagnosed AF incidence rate ratio in the last birth cohort was 3.0 (95% CI 2.9 to 3.2) for index age 45 years, 2.9 (2.8 to 3.0) for 55 years, 2.8 (2.7 to 2.8) for 65 years and 2.7 (2.6 to 2.7) for 75 years. Age–period–cohort analyses showed substantial birth cohort effects independent of age, with no clear period effect. Compared with individuals born in 1930, the diagnosed AF incidence rate was 0.125 smaller among individuals born in 1885 and was four times larger among individuals born in 1975.

Conclusion

Substantial birth cohort effects, independent of age and calendar period, influence trends in diagnosed AF incidence.
Rationale and design of Treatment of Acute Ischaemic Stroke with Edaravone Dexborneol II (TASTE-2): a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Authors: Wang Chunjuan , Gu Hong-Qiu , Dong Qiang , Xu Anding , Wang Ning , Yang Yi , Wang Feng , Wang Yongjun
Published: March 2024

Background

Edaravone dexborneol is believed to be a novel cytoprotective drug, demonstrating a synergistic combination of antioxidative and anti-inflammatory properties in animal models. The Treatment of Acute Ischaemic Stroke with Edaravone Dexborneol (TASTE) trial demonstrated its superior efficacy over edaravone alone for acute ischaemic stroke (AIS) patients. However, its efficacy in individuals undergoing endovascular therapy (EVT) remains uncertain.

Aim

To clarify the rationale and design of the TASTE II (TASTE-2) trial.

Design

The TASTE-2 is a multicentre, double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of edaravone dexborneol in patients with AIS and large-vessel occlusion in the anterior circulation. The eligible participants, presenting with a National Institute of Health Stroke Scale score between 6 and 25 (range 0–42, with larger values suggesting severe neurological dysfunction) and an Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score ranging from 6 to 10 (range 0–10, with smaller values suggesting larger infarction) within the initial 24 hours after symptom onset, will be randomly allocated to either the edaravone dexborneol group or the placebo group in equal proportions prior to thrombectomy. The treatment will be continuously administered for a duration of 10–14 days. A follow-up period of 90 days will be implemented for all participants.

Study outcomes

The primary efficacy outcome is defined as achieving favourable functional independence, measured by a modified Rankin Scale of 0–2 at 90 days. The primary safety outcome focuses on the incidence of serious adverse events.

Discussion

The TASTE-2 trial will provide evidence to determine whether the administration of edaravone dexborneol in AIS patients undergoing EVT could yield significant improvements in neurological function.
Revisiting the influence of top-down and bottom-up pressures on Wa hia hé:ta (yellow perch Perca flavescens Mitchill, 1814) population dynamics in Kaniatarowanenneh (the Upper St. Lawrence River): implications for collaborative research
Authors: Perron Mary Ann C. , Charette Cristina , Francis Abraham , Holden Courtney , Moyle Madeleine , Boyle John , Franceschini Jaclyn , Hickey M. Brian C. , Nurse Amanda , Ridal Jeffrey J. , Shuji Kaz , Windle Matthew J.S. , Wylie-Arbic Mackenzie , McGaughey Leigh J.
Published: March 2024

Kaniatarowanenneh (the St. Lawrence River) is the outflow of one of the world’s largest freshwater ecosystems and its ecological health has implications for resource management. The population dynamics of an ecologically and economically important fish, the Wa hia hé:ta, Mohawk for yellow perch ( Perca flavescens), are considered by including data that extend to the past century to redress temporal gaps in comparative literature. We found both a significant top-down effect from piscivorous fish as well as a significant bottom-up effect related to total phosphorus on yellow perch relative abundance in the Lake Ontario–Upper St. Lawrence system. Regarding the bottom-up effect, the current state of yellow perch reflects the population size prior to cultural eutrophication (pre-1940s/50s) likely responding to the re-oligotrophication of the system. These findings emphasize the importance of considering historical records in fish population dynamics research to incorporate shifting population baselines into fisheries management. The study also demonstrates the need for collaborative approaches that bring critical new insights and multivocality.
Psychological commitment of freshwater anglers and its relation to their preferences for stocking and other management actions
Authors: Perry Diana , Siders Zachary A. , Crandall Chelsey , Morales Nia , Arlinghaus Robert , Lorenzen Kai , Camp Edward
Published: March 2024

Understanding stakeholder diversity can help natural resource managers tailor activities to achieve greater stakeholder satisfaction. Stakeholder diversity can be described by the concept of recreational specialization. Centrality-to-lifestyle, one subdimension of specialization that measures the psychological importance of a recreational activity to an angler, has been shown to explain many human dimensions and behaviors of recreational fishers and to correlate with preferences for management actions. We surveyed 9911 anglers in Florida, USA to examine how centrality-to-lifestyle relates to preferences for stocking and other management tools. We found that most anglers support stocking and that anglers of greater centrality-to-lifestyle had more positive views toward stocking than less central anglers. Participants, regardless of level of centrality-to-lifestyle, generally preferred stocking of one species, Florida largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoides), and they preferred habitat management above stocking, with no relation to centrality. The results suggest stocking can improve the satisfaction of anglers of all commitment levels, but habitat improvement could do so even more. Managers might consider prioritizing habitat management over stocking in systems where natural recruitment is ample to increase overall angler satisfaction, and where the anglers will, on average, support such actions independent of the degree of centrality.
Non-zero temperature study of spin 1/2 charmed baryons using lattice gauge theory
Authors: Aarts Gert , Allton Chris , Anwar M. Naeem , Bignell Ryan , Burns Timothy J. , Jäger Benjamin , Skullerud Jon-Ivar
Published: March 2024

We study the behaviour of spin 1/2 charmed baryons as the temperature increases. We make use of anisotropic lattice QCD simulations with $$N_f = 2 + 1$$

N
f

=
2
+
1

dynamical flavours. After determining the positive and negative parity ground state masses at the lowest temperature, we investigate the effect of rising temperature using ratios of thermal lattice correlators with both so-called reconstructed correlators and with simple model correlators. This avoids difficulties associated with non-zero temperature fitting or spectral reconstruction. We find that temperature effects are prominent throughout the hadronic phase for all negative parity channels considered and for some positive parity channels. Subsequently and where possible, we determine the masses of the ground states as a function of temperature. Finally we consider the effect of chiral symmetry restoration and extract an estimate of the pseudocritical temperature from singly charmed baryonic correlators.
Conserved number fluctuations under global rotation in a hadron resonance gas model
Authors: Mukherjee Gaurav , Dutta Dipanwita , Mishra Dipak Kumar
Published: March 2024

Net-baryon number, net-charge and net-strangeness fluctuations measured in ultra-relativistic heavy-ion collisions may reveal details and insights into the quark-hadron transition, hadrochemical freeze-out and possibly aid in the search of the QCD critical point. By scanning in collision energy, current and upcoming heavy-ion facilities aim to explore the finite density regime where the critical point may lie. Effects due to rotation are also expected in case of peripheral collisions and we report on conserved number susceptibilities as calculated in the hadron resonance gas model augmented by a global angular velocity. Since these quantities are directly related to the experimentally measurable moments of the corresponding distributions our results show the possible impact of vorticity on the theoretical baseline and should be useful for referencing with experimental data and QCD-based calculations.
Quantum spread complexity in neutrino oscillations
Authors: Dixit Khushboo , Haque S. Shajidul , Razzaque Soebur
Published: March 2024

Quantum information theory has recently emerged as a flourishing area of research and quantum complexity, one of its powerful measures, is being applied for investigating complex systems in many areas of physics. Its application to practical physical situations, however, is still few and far between. Neutrino flavor oscillation is a widely studied physical phenomena with far reaching consequences in understanding the standard model of particle physics and to search for physics beyond it. Oscillation arises because of mixing between the flavor and mass eigenstates, and their evolution over time. It is an inherent quantum system for which flavor transitions are traditionally studied with probabilistic measures. We have applied quantum complexity formalism as an alternate measure to study neutrino oscillations. In particular, quantum spread complexity revealed additional information on the violation of charge-parity symmetry in the neutrino sector. Our results indicate that complexity favors the maximum violation of charge-parity, hinted recently by experimental data.
Evolving demographics: a dynamic clustering approach to analyze residential segregation in Berlin
Authors: Masías H. Víctor H. , Stier Julia , Navarro R. Pilar , Valle Mauricio A. , Laengle Sigifredo , Vargas Augusto A. , Crespo R. Fernando A.
Published: March 2024

This paper examines the phenomenon of residential segregation in Berlin over time using a dynamic clustering analysis approach. Previous research has examined the phenomenon of residential segregation in Berlin at a high spatial and temporal aggregation and statically, i.e. not over time. We propose a methodology to investigate the existence of clusters of residential areas according to migration background, age group, gender, and socio-economic dimension over time. To this end, we have developed a sequential mixed methods approach that includes a multivariate kernel density estimation technique to estimate the density of subpopulations and a dynamic cluster analysis to discover spatial patterns of residential segregation over time (2009-2020). The dynamic analysis shows the emergence of clusters on the dimensions of migration background, age group, gender and socio-economic variables. We also identified a structural change in 2015, resulting in a new cluster in Berlin that reflects the changing distribution of subpopulations with a particular migratory background. Finally, we discuss the findings of this study with previous research and suggest possibilities for policy applications and future research using a dynamic clustering approach for analyzing changes in residential segregation at the city level.
Vibrational spectrum of Granular packings with random matrices
Authors: Narayan Onuttom , Mathur Harsh
Published: March 2024

The vibrational spectrum of granular packings can be used as a signature of the jamming transition, with the density of states at zero frequency becoming nonzero at the transition. It has been proposed previously that the vibrational spectrum of granular packings can be approximately obtained from random matrix theory. Here, we show that the autocorrelation function of the density of states shows good agreement between dynamical numerical simulations of frictionless bead packs near the jamming point and the analytic predictions of the Laguerre orthogonal ensemble of random matrices; there is clear disagreement with the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble, establishing that the Laguerre ensemble correctly reproduces the universal statistical properties of jammed granular matter and excluding the Gaussian orthogonal ensemble. We also present a random lattice model which is a physically motivated variant of the random matrix ensemble. Numerical calculations reveal that this model reproduces the known features of the vibrational density of states of frictionless granular matter, while also retaining the correlation structure seen in the Laguerre random matrix theory.

Graphic abstract
Hermitian mean curvature flow
Authors: Yang Jieming
Published: March 2024

A Hermitian curvature flow is proposed and some regularity results are obtained. The stationary solution to the flow, if exists, is a balanced metric which is also Hermitian Yang–Mills with respect to itself.
Analytical simulation of Darcy–Forchheimer flow of hybrid nanofluid through cone with nonlinear heat source and chemical reaction
Authors: Khan Husna A. , Nazeer Ghazala , Inc Mustafa
Published: March 2024

This paper intends to discuss the hybrid nanofluid flow through a cone in a Darcy–Forchheimer porous media, containing base fluid Methanol (CH3OH), nanoparticles of titanium oxide (TiO2) and copper (Cu). We have examined the flow under the influences of mixed convection, viscous dissipation, chemical reaction, and nonlinear heat source. In hybrid nanofluid flow, viscous dissipation and mixed convection play a crucial role in heat exchangers. By accounting for both mixed convection and viscous dissipation, the addition of nanoparticles into a base fluid improves the transfer of heat and optimizes the performance of the cooling system. Using the laws of conservation, governing equations have been constructed. The flow model is converted using the appropriate similarity transformations from partial differential equations to ordinary differential equations. The homotopy analysis method is used to solve the updated system of equations. When Forchheimer inertial drag parameter is increased, the velocity profile decreases, but it rises when the Darcy number is increased. As the value of exponential heat source parameter rises, the temperature profile increases as well. The result exposes that with an increment in nanoparticle volume fraction, temperature profile also rises but velocity profile decreases.
A microscopic traffic flow model for explaining nonlinear traffic phenomena: Modeling, stability analysis and validation
Authors: Zhu Zhi-Peng , Zhang Jing , Li Shu-Bin , Shi Bai-Ying , Yu Xiao-Hua , Wang Tao
Published: March 2024

As the core of reproducing the real nonlinear phenomena of traffic congestion, the investigation of car-following models, which take into account human factors, has consistently assumed a central role within the domain of transportation science. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that prior studies have invariably employed a fixed value for driver reaction time to stimuli, whereas it is imperative to recognize the dynamic nature of this parameter, closely associated with the instantaneous vehicle speed. To address this issue, this paper constructs a dynamic sensitivity coefficient (DSC), and further develops a nonlinear human factoring car-following model to reveal the relation between the reaction time and the current speed. Firstly, the linear critical stability condition and the mKdV equation of the model are derived by the linear stability analysis and kink–antikink solution analytic method, respectively. Then, the numerical experiments are conducted to demonstrate that the proposed model is more practical and can reproduce the real driving behavior and phenomena. Finally, calibration and validation results exhibit the actual vehicle trajectory can be simulated well.
Predicting fluid flow in reservoirs: analysis of fracture clustering in outcrop analogues
Authors: Sahu Ajay K. , Roy Ankur
Published: March 2024

Researchers have used lacunarity, a parameter that quantifies scale-dependent clustering in patterns, to differentiate fracture networks that belong to the same fractal system. In a previous study, the authors showed that lacunarity is efficient in representing connectivity and fluid flow in fractal-fracture models with the same fractal dimension. The objective of this research is to investigate if the concepts thus developed are applicable to outcrop analogues that are representative of subsurface fractured reservoirs. A set of nested fracture networks belonging to a single fractal system but mapped at different scales and resolutions is considered in this study. Lacunarity and connectivity values of these maps are evaluated using geospatial data analysis techniques. Fracture continuum (FC) models are built from these fracture maps and a streamline simulator, TRACE3D, is used to flow simulate these maps. Results show that although the fractal dimension of these maps is same, differences exist in the values of lacunarity, percolation connectivity and also fluid recovery values. It is further noted that the clustering, connectivity and fluid recovery values can be pairwise correlated very well for these natural fracture maps. Thus, the overall results indicate that connectivity in fracture maps, and hence their flow properties, are controlled by lacunarity or scale-dependent clustering attributes. Therefore, there could be novel applicability of the lacunarity parameter in calibrating discrete fracture network (DFN) models with respect to connectivity in natural fracture maps and the prediction of flow behaviour in fractured reservoirs.

Thematic collection:
This article is part of the Digitally enabled geoscience workflows: unlocking the power of our data collection available at:
https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/digitally-enabled-geoscience-workflows
Governments Setting Limits on AI
Authors: Shein Esther
Published: March 2024

Many countries/regions are considering, or trying to implement, regulations on the training and use of artificial intelligence.
Software Drift
Authors: Neville-Neil George V.
Published: March 2024

Since the systems have a common parent, they probably work in the same technical domain, and therefore the features and fixes that are going to be added are probably similar. KV happens to have an example case at hand: two operating systems that diverged before they added SMP (symmetric multiprocessing) support. When an operating system adds SMP to an existing kernel, the first thing we think of is locks, those handy-dandy little performance killers that we've all been sprinkling around our code since the end of Dennard scaling.
Digital Accessibility Education in Context: Expert Perspectives on Building Capacity in Academia and the Workplace
Authors: Coverdale Andy , Lewthwaite Sarah , Horton Sarah
Published: March 2024

The social model of disability, accessibility legislation, and the digital transformation spurred by COVID-19 expose a lack of accessibility capacity in the workforce, indicating persistent gaps in academic and professional education. We adopt a socio-cultural lens to examine how the context of education and training influences teaching and learning in university and workplace sectors, and how expert educators manage and negotiate these contextual factors to build accessibility capacity. This article reports qualitative research with 55 experienced educators using an expert panel method and focus groups. Analysis highlights the important disconnects and contextual challenges that educators must navigate and negotiate to affect and embed cultural change. We find that faculty and workplace cultures frequently perpetuate precarity in accessibility education, individualising the responsibility to ‘heroes’ or ‘champions’, while disciplinary and role-based silos limit the scope for raising awareness and developing widescale competency. Conversely, centres of excellence and communities of practise can cultivate and sustain links between education and research, engage expert users, and promote interdisciplinary and cross-role learning environments, where accessibility is increasingly recognised as a shared endeavour. We conclude that greater collaboration between academia and industry can enhance pedagogical understanding, to transform accessibility educational practices and build and sustain capacity for the future.