bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Microalgae as a multibenefit natural solution for the wastewater industry: A UK pilot‐scale study
Authors: Ekins‐Coward Thea , Ho Francesca Mei , Whittle Ivor , Viñuela Ruth
Published: July 2024

Commercialization of microalgae for wastewater treatment (WWT) is limited due to the large footprints and long hydraulic retention times (HRT) of standard systems, making integration into wastewater (WW) grey infrastructure unfeasible. Industrial Phycology Ltd has developed a process that manipulates the metabolic plasticity of microalgae for WWT. Initial batch trials in a 27 m3 demonstration plant treating municipal tertiary WW achieved a final effluent of 0.27 ± 0.2 mg/L and 0.009 ± 0.003 mg/L phosphate and ammonium, respectively, in 12 h HRT. A continuous flow‐through system was retrofitted onto a small rural WWT site owned by South West Water for tertiary treatment. Phosphate and emerging contaminants (ECs) were monitored over 12 months at an average flow of 1.5–2.2 m3/h. Consistent phosphate removal was observed with a reduction in ECs within a HRT of 16.5 h. This demonstrates that the microalgae process can retrofitted as a green infrastructure option, delivering benefits vital to sustainable development.
Expatriate Teachers’ Experiences with Organizational Factors in International Schools: A Case Study
Authors: Norris Kerry , Shriner Michael
Published: July 2024

The purpose of this qualitative, exploratory case study was to examine the personal and professional experiences of expatriate international teachers at international schools to develop a deeper, more heuristic understanding of the international teaching experience, particularly how the experiences might affect their decision to remain at a school past their initial contract period. International teachers are more likely to renew contracts when there is a reciprocity of trust and respect between faculty and administration, authentic appreciation, strong community and access to quality professional development. Participants value strong, student-centered leadership and philosophical approaches rooted in diversity, equity, and inclusion. More research surrounding diversity, equity and inclusion in international schools is required, specifically surrounding administrators and the lack of diversity within international school leadership.
Do 14–17-month-old infants use iconic speech and gesture cues to interpret word meanings?
Authors: Aussems Suzanne , Devey Smith Lottie , Kita Sotaro
Published: July 2024

This experimental study investigated whether infants use iconicity in speech and gesture cues to interpret word meanings. Specifically, we tested infants' sensitivity to size sound symbolism and iconic gesture cues and asked whether combining these cues in a multimodal fashion would enhance infants' sensitivity in a superadditive manner. Thirty-six 14–17-month-old infants participated in a preferential looking task in which they heard a spoken nonword (e.g., “zudzud”) while observing a small and large object (e.g., a small and large square). All infants were presented with an iconic cue for object size (small or large) (1) in the pitch of the spoken non-word (high vs low), (2) in gesture (small or large), or (3) congruently in pitch and gesture (e.g., a high pitch and small gesture indicating a small square). Infants did not show a preference for congruently sized objects in any iconic cue condition. Bayes factor analyses showed moderate to strong support for the null hypotheses. In conclusion, 14–17-month-old infants did not use iconic pitch cues, iconic gesture cues, or iconic multimodal cues (pitch and gesture) to associate speech sounds with their referents. These findings challenge theories that emphasize the role of iconicity in early language development.
Lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic for ventilation and indoor air quality
Authors: Morawska Lidia , Li Yuguo , Salthammer Tunga
Published: July 2024

The rapid global spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) at the beginning of 2020 presented the world with its greatest health challenge in decades. It soon became clear that governments were unprepared to respond appropriately to this crisis. National and international public health authorities were confused about the transmission routes of the virus and the control measures required to protect against it. In particular, the need to reduce the risk of infection through sufficient and effective ventilation of indoor spaces was given little attention. In this review, we discuss insights and key lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic regarding the role of ventilation as an effective means against airborne transmission of pathogens and, more broadly, for supporting good indoor air quality.
Mapping Africa’s EV revolution
Authors: Mutiso Rose M.
Published: July 2024

Six years ago, my colleagues and I published an
article in the World Economic Forum
asking if Africa was ready for the electric vehicle (EV) revolution. At that time, the African EV sector was nascent, and we concluded that more data and research were needed to draw firmer conclusions, emphasizing the absence of Africa-specific data in major EV publications and calling for dedicated analysis tailored to the continent's needs.
Minimal compact group actions on C∗-algebras with simple fixed point algebras
Authors: Izumi Masaki
Published: July 2024

The notion of quasi-product actions of a compact group on a C[Formula: see text]-algebra was introduced by Bratteli et al. in their attempt to seek an equivariant analogue of Glimm’s characterization of non-type I C[Formula: see text]-algebras. We show that a faithful minimal action of a second countable compact group on a separable C[Formula: see text]-algebra is quasi-product whenever its fixed point algebra is simple. This was previously known only for compact abelian groups and for profinite groups. Our proof relies on a subfactor technique applied to finite index inclusions of simple C[Formula: see text]-algebras in the purely infinite case, and also uses ergodic actions of compact groups in the general case. As an application, we show that if moreover the fixed point algebra is a Kirchberg algebra, such an action is always isometrically shift-absorbing, and hence is classifiable by the equivariant KK-theory due to a recent result of Gabe-Szabó.
Random circular billiards on surfaces of constant curvature: Pseudo integrability and mixing
Authors: Vales Túlio
Published: July 2024

Given a random map [Formula: see text], we define a random billiard map on a surface of constant curvature (Euclidean plane, hyperbolic plane, or the sphere). The Liouville measure is invariant for this billiard map. Finally, we show some dynamical properties such as ergodicity in the case of random circular billiards.
On multiplicative automorphisms of incidence algebras
Authors: Kaigorodov Evgeniy , Krylov Piotr , Tuganbaev Askar
Published: July 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be the incidence algebra of the preordered set [Formula: see text] over the ring [Formula: see text]. In the case of a finite connected partially ordered set [Formula: see text], we prove that the subgroup of inner multiplicative automorphisms is a direct factor of the group of multiplicative automorphisms of the algebra [Formula: see text]. As a consequence, we obtain several matching criteria of the subgroup of inner multiplicative automorphisms with the group of multiplicative automorphisms.
ORCHESTRATING INNOVATION: DIVERSITY OF TEAM CHARACTERISTICS IN THE SYMPHONY OF NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
Authors: YUAN HANG , ZHANG SEN , ZHAO MENGRU , HORI KEISUKE , HOSHINO YUSUKE , SHIMIZU HIROSHI
Published: July 2024

This study investigates the strategic orchestration of New Product Development (NPD) teams, focusing on how age diversity influences their innovation capabilities within the competitive landscape of firms. As firms encounter an evolving demographic landscape, the role of team composition, particularly age diversity, becomes critical in tuning innovation and market alignment. This paper synthesises the disparate findings from the innovation management literature on the impact of age diversity, employing dual theoretical perspectives: information/decision-making and similarity/categorisation. The former suggests that age diversity brings diverse knowledge that boosts innovation, while the latter indicates it might hinder social cohesion and team performance. Addressing the gaps in existing research, this study explores tenure diversity and team familiarity as moderators in the age diversity–performance relationship. It hypothesises that tenure diversity can enhance knowledge exchange and innovation but may complicate social interactions, whereas high team familiarity might restrict new idea generation by homogenising knowledge. Empirical analysis conducted on a dataset of 21,370 observations from Japanese sake breweries reveals that tenure diversity and team familiarity are critical in moderating the effects of age diversity on NPD outcomes. These findings enrich the NPD literature by highlighting the importance of demographic diversity and provide new insights into managing age-related dynamics in team settings. The study underscores the need for managerial strategies that leverage demographic diversity to enhance NPD effectiveness.
Reducing the Effect of Uncertainty in Mamdani–Type Fuzzy Inference System Using Qubits
Authors: Nigusie Alemu Matiwos
Published: July 2024

The success of fuzzy logic in effectively capturing subjective knowledge which are uncertain or ambiguous in nature lies on the fact that fuzzy sets assigns a degree of membership to each linguistic variable of a crisp value. As a condition the degree of membership values to all linguistic variables should add up to one. This abstract condition is neither probabilistic nor realistic in quantum mechanics. Probabilistic is in a sense that the normalization condition of quantum mechanics isn’t satisfied. Realistic is in a sense that the condition isn’t physically proven experimentally. In this paper, a novel quantum Mamdani-type fuzzy inference system is proposed. The proposed system consists of quantum fuzzification, quantum fuzzy inference and quantum defuzzification steps. Instead of assigning degree of membership values for linguistic variables, the proposed inference engine assigns a quantum state for a crisp value. Hence, a crisp input is fuzzified into superposition of linguistic variables represented by qubits. The proposed quantum Mamdani-type fuzzy inference system is tested to captures expert knowledge more realistically than the Mamdani-type fuzzy inference system, is thus less vulnerable to effects of uncertainties.
Characterization and Biological Activity of Silver Nanoparticles from (Rhizophora Mucronata) Mangrove Extract
Authors: Pauline C. R. , Akshita  , Pavithra T. , Kannan Kamala , Sivaperumal Pitchiah
Published: July 2024

In this study, silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were biosynthesized from a crude leaf extract of Rhizophora mucronata. The initial phytochemical analysis of the sample revealed the presence of tannins, steroids, terpenoids, saponins and flavonoids which contribute to the reduction and stabilization of silver ions during the synthesis process. Characterization techniques, including FTIR, UV–Vis spectroscopy, SEM and EDS, confirmed the successful synthesis of AgNPs with distinctive properties. The UV–Vis spectra exhibited an absorption peak around 420 nm, characteristic of AgNPs. SEM images revealed the crystal nature of the nanoparticles, indicating structural stability. The agar well-diffusion method was employed to determine the zone of inhibition against different pathogens. The leaf extract demonstrated the highest antibacterial potential, with substantial zones of inhibition observed against all tested pathogens. The potent anti-inflammatory activity showed the minimum and maximum inhibition of protein denaturation at concentration of 25[Formula: see text]g/mL and 100[Formula: see text]g/mL are 28% and 69%, respectively. The silver nanoparticles demonstrated anti-inflammatory properties by inhibiting protein denaturation, suggesting their potential therapeutic applications. The mangrove R. mucronata leaf extract decided to be a favorable reducing agent for the biological synthesis of silver nanoparticles with potent antimicrobial activity.
Higher-Order Networks Representation and Learning: A Survey
Authors: Tian Hao , Zafarani Reza
Published: July 2024

Network data has become widespread, larger, and more complex over the years. Traditional network data is dyadic, capturing the relations among pairs of entities. With the need to model interactions among more than two entities, significant research has focused on higher-order networks and ways to represent, analyze, and learn from them. There are two main directions to studying higher-order networks. One direction has focused on capturing higher-order patterns in traditional (dyadic) graphs by changing the basic unit of study from nodes to small frequently observed subgraphs, called motifs. As most existing network data comes in the form of pairwise dyadic relationships, studying higher-order structures within such graphs may uncover new insights. The second direction aims to directly model higher-order interactions using new and more complex representations such as simplicial complexes or hypergraphs. Some of these models have long been proposed, but improvements in computational power and the advent of new computational techniques have increased their popularity. Our goal in this paper is to provide a succinct yet comprehensive summary of the advanced higher-order network analysis techniques. We provide a systematic review of the foundations and algorithms, along with use cases and applications of higher-order networks in various scientific domains.
Fairness in Large Language Models: A Taxonomic Survey
Authors: Chu Zhibo , Wang Zichong , Zhang Wenbin
Published: July 2024

Large Language Models (LLMs) have demonstrated remarkable success across various domains. However, despite their promising performance in numerous real-world applications, most of these algorithms lack fairness considerations. Consequently, they may lead to discriminatory outcomes against certain communities, particularly marginalized populations, prompting extensive study in fair LLMs. On the other hand, fairness in LLMs, in contrast to fairness in traditional machine learning, entails exclusive backgrounds, taxonomies, and fulfillment techniques. To this end, this survey presents a comprehensive overview of recent advances in the existing literature concerning fair LLMs. Specifically, a brief introduction to LLMs is provided, followed by an analysis of factors contributing to bias in LLMs. Additionally, the concept of fairness in LLMs is discussed categorically, summarizing metrics for evaluating bias in LLMs and existing algorithms for promoting fairness. Furthermore, resources for evaluating bias in LLMs, including toolkits and datasets, are summarized. Finally, existing research challenges and open questions are discussed.
Analyzing and explaining privacy risks on time series data: ongoing work and challenges
Authors: Allard Tristan , Asghar Hira , Avoine Gildas , Bobineau Christophe , Cauchois Pierre , Fromont Elisa , Monreale Anna , Naretto Francesca , Pellungrini Roberto , Pratesi Francesca , Rousset Marie-Christine , Voyez Antonin
Published: July 2024

Currently, privacy risks assessment is mainly performed as audits conducted by data privacy analysts. In the TAILOR project, we promote a more systematic and automatic approach based on interpretable metrics and formal methods to evaluate privacy risks and to control the tension between data privacy and utility. In this paper, we focus on privacy risks raised by publishing time series datasets, and we survey the methods developed in TAILOR to analyze and quantify privacy risks depending on different publisher and attacker models.
Toward an Anthropology of Self-Care
Authors: Rosenbaum Susanna , Talmor Ruti
Published: July 2024

This article posits self-care as a powerful analytic in contemporary anthropology, one that provides insight into both long-standing anthropological concerns about the person, power, and inequality and more contemporary questions about relationality, futurity, and anthropology itself. The cascade of crises that defines the now results in a collective preoccupation with care, the self, and self-care. In this moment, the work of scholars who have long theorized systemic abandonment and the unequal distribution of care is crucial not just to understanding the present but to imagining a new way forward. Proposing what an anthropology of self-care might look like, we start with the term's emergence in Black feminist thought and Foucault's late writing. We then explore how it moves through anthropology and how it has been defined by Indigenous, disability, queer, and Black feminist epistemologies. We end with sections on what we term literatures of refusal and self-care's relation to these. We thus argue that self-care provides a unique angle through which to grapple with the discipline's legacy and to imagine a new anthropology.
Conspiracy Theories as Productive Practices: Toward a Theory of Conspiratorial Style, Agency, and Politics
Authors: Saglam Erol
Published: July 2024

This article reviews anthropological explorations of conspiracy theories—in dialogue with insights from other disciplines, primarily political science, philosophy, and social psychology—to frame conspiracy theories as productive social practices. While conspiracy theories are often depicted through their epistemological shortcomings and associated with social and political margins, this article traces the nascent threads across anthropological scholarship to reach an emic understanding of those narratives and their sociopolitical reverberations and proposes approaching conspiracy theories through their style, agentive implications, and political effects. Conspiratorial style, the article argues, pertains not to the content of the narrative but to its incessant seeking of covert operations beyond readily visible forms as well as a growing flexibility regarding the narrator's belief in the narrative's veracity. The agentivizing dynamic generated through conspiracism differentiates contemporary conspiracism from its predecessors and involves an empowering current. Finally, the article focuses on how contemporary conspiracism is intricately linked to political contestations.
Locating the State: Between Region and History
Authors: Brandel Andrew , Adorján István , Randeria Shalini
Published: July 2024

If anthropology once concerned itself with politics in stateless societies outside Euro-America over and against prevailing Euro-American political theory, today anthropologists see the state at work everywhere. Anthropologists have sought to trouble spatial metaphors of state power that assumed, among other things, its centralization and the unitary character of sovereignty. Locating the state through an attendant question of region, we explore recent literatures on everyday state practices in Central and Eastern Europe and South Asia to show how different regional histories and configurations of knowledge continue to structure our assumptions about the state and its functions as well as the grammar of our descriptions. We suggest that the state could prove to be a useful optic for the study of region, which provides an alternative to an overly rigid local/global dichotomy that continues to shadow our theorizations.
Modulating vertebrate physiology by genomic fine-tuning of GPCR functions
Authors: Schöneberg Torsten
Published: July 2024

G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a crucial role as membrane receptors, facilitating the communication of eukaryotic species with their environment and regulating cellular and organ interactions. Consequently, GPCRs hold immense potential in contributing to adaptation to ecological niches and responding to environmental shifts. Comparative analyses of vertebrate genomes reveal patterns of GPCR gene loss, expansion, and signatures of selection. Integrating these genomic data with insights from functional analyses of gene variants enables the interpretation of genotype-phenotype correlations. This review underscores the involvement of GPCRs in adaptive processes, presenting numerous examples of how alterations in GPCR functionality influence vertebrate physiology or, conversely, how environmental changes impact GPCR functions. The findings demonstrate that modifications in GPCR function contribute to adapting to aquatic, arid, and nocturnal habitats, influencing camouflage strategies, and specializing in particular dietary preferences. Furthermore, the adaptability of GPCR functions provides an effective mechanism in facilitating past, recent, or ongoing adaptations in animal domestication and human evolution and should be considered in therapeutic strategies and drug development.
Does Helping Others Always Benefit Health? Longitudinal Evidence on the Relationship between Helping Behavior and Depression: The Mediating Role of Life Satisfaction and the Moderating Effect of IADL
Authors: Cheng Yan , Wei Yue , Tang Shao-Liang
Published: July 2024

Background. This study aims to explore whether helping behavior is always beneficial for alleviating depression or if there is a “moderation is the key” effect. Materials and Methods. This study focused on a sample of 7,436 participants from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS). The 10‐item Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD‐10) was used to identify the presence of depression. Linear mixed model and Quasi‐Bayesian estimation methods were used to explore the mediating role of life satisfaction in the relationship between helping behavior and depression, as well as the moderating effects of the instrumental activity of daily living (IADL). Additionally, we employed the Johnson–Neyman technique to visualize the moderating effect of IADL. Results. Helping behavior shows a negative correlation with depression (B = −0.170, p = 0.020), where life satisfaction fully mediates this relationship (effect = −0.055, 95% confidence interval = −0.088 to −0.022). Moreover, the association between helping behavior and life satisfaction is moderated by IADL (B = −0.047, p < 0.001). Specifically, when IADL is below 0.56, helping behavior positively impacts life satisfaction. In contrast, when IADL exceeds 1.99, helping behavior has a detrimental effect on life satisfaction. Conclusions. This study highlights the significant positive impact of helping behavior on depression alleviation, which is achieved by increasing life satisfaction. Notably, although helping behavior has positive effects on individuals, not everyone can benefit directly from it. Only those without functional limitations are more likely to experience the benefits of such behavior. Therefore, when policymakers and researchers develop strategies to encourage individuals in helping behavior to combat depression, they should consider two key approaches. First, life satisfaction should be used as an important indicator in the treatment of depression, allowing for timely adjustments to ensure the effectiveness and individualization of treatment plans. Second, the principle of “moderation is the key” should be prioritized, ensuring that helping behavior can maximize its benefits and help individuals emerge from the shadows of depression.
The Registered Practical Nurse (RPN) Role in an Academic Acute Care Hospital: A Mixed Method Study of the Barriers and Facilitators to Practice
Authors: Weiser Natalie , Dissanayake Melanie , Santiago Cecilia , Harrington Fiona , Benny Gerard Nichelle , Dimmock Sarah , Canzian Sonya , Topolovec-Vranic Jane
Published: July 2024

Background. Registered Practical Nurses (RPNs) are considered a critical component of high functioning nursing and interprofessional care teams. Therefore, it is important to ensure that RPNs feel valued within their roles within acute care settings. High acute care demands in tandem with unsupported workplace environments can lead to increased levels of job dissatisfaction, burnout, and ultimately impact retention. Identifying and examining the barriers and facilitators that enable RPNs to be optimally equipped within acute care are critical towards ensuring success in their role. In this study, we explore the experiences of RPNs and perspectives of nurse leaders on RPN integration into an acute care setting. Methods. A mixed method study among RPNs (n = 10) and nurse leaders (n = 10) was conducted. This included administration of the Assessment for Collaborative Environments (ACE‐15) tool to measure interprofessional integration, collaboration, and teamwork. Semi‐structured interviews were also held with all participants to explore both the lived experiences of RPNs in the acute care environment and the perspectives of nurse leaders who had supported the onboarding and integration of RPNs. Results. Our inductive content analysis identified 5 themes: preintegration process, nursing team dynamics, RPN role clarity, challenges to RPN integration, and benefits to RPN integration. ACE‐15 data showed no significant differences in the level of teamness and internal disagreement between RPNs and nurse leaders (t (17) = 0.37 and p = 4.60). RPNs reporting a higher level of teamness described a more positive integration experience than those who reported a lower level of teamness. Conclusion. The integration of a new role to existing teams brings both benefits and challenges which are experienced uniquely by RPNs and nurse leaders. Nurse leaders can utilize findings of this study to better prepare their staff and units for the integration of new roles into their models of care.
Effect of Drying Method and Coating With Gum Arabic on Physicochemical Properties, Betalain Content, LDL Oxidation, and Storage Stability of Dried Red Beetroot Slices
Authors: Kamel Sahar M. , Alqurashi Randah M. , Alshebly Anoud M. , Saleh Farag A. , Alnemr Tareq M. , Ali Hoda F. , Ali Salim A. , Asiri Saeed A. , Ibrahim Marwa E. , Alqahtani Nashi K.
Published: July 2024

Red beetroot is a unique vegetable crop with high nutritional value and various health benefits, but due to the short shelf life, it requires a suitable preservation method. The purpose of the current investigation is to study the impacts of pretreatment coating with gum Arabic and drying method (oven, microwave, and freeze‐drying) on the quality parameters and storage stability of beetroot slices. Freeze‐dried beetroot samples showed the lowest moisture content (MC) (7.59%) and the highest rehydration ratio (RR) (5.47), betalain content (48.57 mg/100 g), antioxidant activity (70.92%), and overall acceptability scores (4.48). Generally, the pretreatment coating with gum Arabic reduced the degradation of betalain and antioxidants and maintained higher sensory scores of dried beetroot samples compared to uncoated ones. The beetroot extract prepared from freeze‐dried and coated with gum Arabic samples decreased the oxidation of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) compared to control. Freeze‐dried samples coated with gum Arabic revealed higher storage stability (after 4 weeks of storage at room temperature) in terms of betalain content and antioxidant activity with values of 43.84 mg/100 g and 67.02%, respectively, compared to uncoated ones which recorded 35.15 mg/100 g and 64.22% for betalain content and antioxidant activity, respectively. Generally, freeze‐drying and coating with gum Arabic is considered a promising treatment to maintain the quality and storage stability of dried beetroot slices. Further investigations including nutritional, technological, and economic aspects are required for the optimum application in the future.
A Cross‐Sectional Study to Assess Diabetes as a Risk Factor for Root Caries Amongst the Elderly Population in Udupi District, Karnataka State, India
Authors: Kalra Kush , Vasthare Ramprasad , K. N. Shivashankar , Singla Nishu , Singhal Deepak Kumar , Singla Ritesh
Published: July 2024

Objectives. To compare the prevalence of root surface carious lesions among the nondiabetic and diabetic elderly population and its association with various risk factors. Methods. An observational analytical cross‐sectional study was conducted among 800 elderly participants, 431 males and 369 females, aged 50 years and above, with a minimum of ten teeth present, with 400 being diabetic and 400 nondiabetic from the various hospitals of the Udupi district. Demographics, socioeconomic status, oral hygiene practices, oral abusive habits, and history of type 2 diabetes were collected using an interviewer‐administered questionnaire followed by an intraoral examination to assess root caries. The primary outcome measure was the presence of any carious or filled root surface. Binary logistic regression univariate analysis was done for all the predictor variables, and those with significant associations were further analyzed by multivariate analysis with the enter method in a single‐step model. An appropriate nomogram was designed for risk prediction. Results. Overall, the root caries prevalence was 37.3%, and the mean root caries index was 14.28%. The prevalence of root caries was 46% in people with diabetes and 28.5% in nondiabetics. Participants with type 2 diabetes, less education, low socioeconomic status, and using finger cleaning had a significantly higher risk of developing root caries. Additionally, those who used removable partial dentures (RPDs) were found to be 4.65 times more likely to have root caries than those who did not use RPDs. Conclusion. Elderly diabetics are at a higher risk for developing root caries and are strongly advised to maintain good oral hygiene practices and to undergo periodic dental evaluations. Therefore, it is crucial to emphasize early diagnosis and treatment of root caries in this population.
Supplementary Video S3 from Integrating DNA Methylation and Hydroxymethylation Data with the Mint Pipeline
Authors: Cavalcante Raymond G. , Patil Snehal , Park Yongseok , Rozek Laura S. , Sartor Maureen A.
Published: July 2024

This video shows the user how to run the pipeline and shows examples of results and where to find them within the project file structure.
Supplementary Video S5 from CrosstalkNet: A Visualization Tool for Differential Co-expression Networks and Communities
Authors: Manem Venkata , Adam George Alexandru , Gruosso Tina , Gigoux Mathieu , Bertos Nicholas , Park Morag , Haibe-Kains Benjamin
Published: July 2024

This video presents on how to extract the top genes based on their degree, either from the epithelium or stromal compartments.
Data from CrosstalkNet: A Visualization Tool for Differential Co-expression Networks and Communities
Authors: Manem Venkata , Adam George Alexandru , Gruosso Tina , Gigoux Mathieu , Bertos Nicholas , Park Morag , Haibe-Kains Benjamin
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Variations in physiological conditions can rewire molecular interactions between biological compartments, which can yield novel insights into gain or loss of interactions specific to perturbations of interest. Networks are a promising tool to elucidate intercellular interactions, yet exploration of these large-scale networks remains a challenge due to their high dimensionality. To retrieve and mine interactions, we developed CrosstalkNet, a user friendly, web-based network visualization tool that provides a statistical framework to infer condition-specific interactions coupled with a community detection algorithm for bipartite graphs to identify significantly dense subnetworks. As a case study, we used CrosstalkNet to mine a set of 54 and 22 gene-expression profiles from breast tumor and normal samples, respectively, with epithelial and stromal compartments extracted via laser microdissection. We show how CrosstalkNet can be used to explore large-scale co-expression networks and to obtain insights into the biological processes that govern cross-talk between different tumor compartments.

Significance: This web application enables researchers to mine complex networks and to decipher novel biological processes in tumor epithelial-stroma cross-talk as well as in other studies of intercompartmental interactions. Cancer Res; 78(8); 2140–3. ©2018 AACR.
O contrário da morte é a festa: uma análise sobre a Festa do Preto Velho enquanto patrimônio autorregistrado de Belo Horizonte
Authors: França Bianca Zacarias , Silva Fernanda Cristina de Oliveira e
Published: July 2024

The Preto Velho’s Celebration or Night of Liberation is an Afro-religious celebration that has been happening since 1982 at May 13th Square in Belo Horizonte city. This sacred celebration opens possibilities for commemorating the 'end of slavery', using references from their own culture and printing a differentiated approach on how to remember the day when, officially, the extinction of one of the worst human existence conditions. This refers to the intense debate about the permanence of precariousness and violence against afro-descendant people in Brazilian society. The square, which is recognized as a place with power of axé or ngunzo, becomes, on festival days, the extension of the terreiro and space for the celebration of life. The opposite of death is the party! (Simas & Rufino 2018)
A Nakba contínua e múltipla: palestinos do Iraque e da Síria no Brasil
Authors: Othman Helena de Morais Manfrinato , Hamid Sonia Cristina
Published: July 2024

Considerando la colonización y limpieza étnica de Palestina y cómo esto resultó en la expulsión masiva de personas y su desplazamiento forzado, en este artículo pretendemos enmarcar el problema del refugio palestino. Basado en nuestras respectivas etnografías con palestinos de Irak y Siria que llegaron a Brasil, en diferentes momentos, a partir de la creciente política humanitaria brasileña (autor, fecha; autor, fecha), ya sea a través del programa de reasentamiento solidario o mediante la facilitación de visas de turista. , intentaremos trazar un paralelo con estos flujos, describiendo sus trayectorias desde Palestina a los países árabes y de allí a Brasil. En nuestro país, discutiremos cómo la forma en que se produjeron sus desplazamientos y el estatus que les otorgaron resultaron en diferentes relaciones con el Estado brasileño y con las comunidades árabes y palestinas ya constituidas. Al describir estos procesos, llamaremos la atención sobre los efectos actuales de la Nakba en las vidas de los palestinos en la diáspora.
Mapping-Guided Ablation for Persistent Atrial Fibrillation (MAP-AF): A Multicenter, Single-Blind, Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Takahashi Yoshihide , Kobori Atsushi , Hiroshima Kenichi , Sakamoto Yuichiro , Kimura Masaomi , Inaba Osamu , Tanimoto Kojiro , Hanazawa Ryoichi , Hirakawa Akihiro , Goya Masahiko , Sasano Tetsuo
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

The clinical outcome of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) for persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) is suboptimal. Mapping studies have demonstrated atrial sites outside of the pulmonary veins displaying focal activation patterns during AF. We sought to determine whether adding catheter ablation of focal activation sites to PVI improves clinical outcomes of catheter ablation for persistent AF.

METHODS:

In this multicenter, randomized, single-blinded trial, we assigned patients with persistent AF to either PVI alone or to mapping-guided ablation of focal activation sites in addition to PVI in a 1:1 ratio. In the mapping-guided group, both atria were mapped after PVI using a Pentaray catheter (Biosense-Webster) and focal activation sites identified by CARTOFINDER (Biosense-Webster) were ablated. The primary end point was freedom from AF or atrial tachycardia without antiarrhythmic drugs beyond a 90-day blanking period.

RESULTS:

A total of 98 patients were assigned to the mapping-guided group and 102 to the PVI alone group. In the mapping-guided group, focal activation sites were identified at 2.6±0.3 and 2.5±0.2 sites per patient in the left and right atrium, respectively. Patients were followed up for 768.5 (interquartile range, 723.75–915.75) and 755.5 days (interquartile range, 728.5–913.75) in the mapping-guided ablation and the PVI alone groups, respectively. Freedom from AF/atrial tachycardia without antiarrhythmic drugs at 2-year follow-up was 66.8% and 75.2% in the mapping-guided ablation and the PVI alone groups, respectively (hazard ratio, 1.26 [95% CI, 0.76–2.10];
P
=0.37). Adverse events occurred in 3 patients (3.0%) and none (0%) in the mapping-guided ablation and the PVI alone groups, respectively (
P
=0.12).

CONCLUSIONS:

In patients with persistent AF, the addition of mapping-guided ablation of focal activation sites to PVI did not improve clinical outcomes compared with PVI alone.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://center6.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/index.cgi?function=02
; Unique identifier: UMIN000037569.
Identifying the Mechanisms of a Peripherally Limited Exercise Phenotype in Patients With Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction
Authors: Skow Rachel J. , Sarma Satyam , MacNamara James P. , Bartlett Miles F. , Wakeham Denis J. , Martin Zachary T. , Samels Mitchel , Nandadeva Damsara , Brazile Tiffany L. , Ren Jimin , Fu Qi , Babb Tony G. , Balmain Bryce N. , Nelson Michael D. , Hynan Linda S. , Levine Benjamin D. , Fadel Paul J. , Haykowsky Mark J. , Hearon Christopher M.
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

We identified peripherally limited patients using cardiopulmonary exercise testing and measured skeletal muscle oxygen transport and utilization during invasive single leg exercise testing to identify the mechanisms of the peripheral limitation.

METHODS:

Forty-five patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (70±7 years, 27 females) completed seated upright cardiopulmonary exercise testing and were defined as having a (1) peripheral limitation to exercise if cardiac output/oxygen consumption (VO
2
) was elevated (≥6) or 5 to 6 with a stroke volume reserve >50% (n=31) or (2) a central limitation to exercise if cardiac output/VO
2
slope was ≤5 or 5 to 6 with stroke volume reserve <50% (n=14). Single leg knee extension exercise was used to quantify peak leg blood flow (Doppler ultrasound), arterial-to-venous oxygen content difference (femoral venous catheter), leg VO
2
, and muscle oxygen diffusive conductance. In a subset of participants (n=36), phosphocreatine recovery time was measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy to determine skeletal muscle oxidative capacity.

RESULTS:

Peak VO
2
during cardiopulmonary exercise testing was not different between groups (central: 13.9±5.7 versus peripheral: 12.0±3.1 mL/min per kg;
P
=0.135); however, the peripheral group had a lower peak arterial-to-venous oxygen content difference (central: 13.5±2.0 versus peripheral: 11.1±1.6 mLO
2
/dL blood;
P
<0.001). During single leg knee extension, there was no difference in peak leg VO
2
(
P
=0.306), but the peripherally limited group had greater blood flow/VO
2
ratio (
P
=0.024), lower arterial-to-venous oxygen content difference (central: 12.3±2.5 versus peripheral: 10.3±2.2 mLO
2
/dL blood;
P
=0.013), and lower muscle oxygen diffusive conductance (
P
=0.021). A difference in magnetic resonance spectroscopy–derived phosphocreatine recovery time was not detected (
P
=0.199).

CONCLUSIONS:

Peripherally limited patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction identified by cardiopulmonary exercise testing have impairments in oxygen transport and utilization at the level of the skeletal muscle quantified by invasive knee extension exercise testing, which includes an increased blood flow/V̇O
2
ratio and poor muscle diffusive capacity.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT04068844.
Long-Term Outcomes Following Sirolimus-Coated Balloon or Drug-Eluting Stents for Treatment of In-Stent Restenosis
Authors: Wańha Wojciech , Iwańczyk Sylwia , Januszek Rafał , Wolny Rafał , Tomasiewicz Brunon , Kuliczkowski Wiktor , Reczuch Krzysztof , Pawlus Paweł , Pawłowski Tomasz Z. , Kuźma Łukasz , Kubler Piotr , Niezgoda Piotr , Kubica Jacek , Gil Robert J. , Pawłowski Tomasz F. , Gąsior Mariusz , Jaguszewski Miłosz , Wybraniec Maciej , Witkowski Adam , Kowalewski Mariusz , D’Ascenzo Fabrizio , Greco Antonio , Bartuś Stanisław , Lesiak Maciej , Grygier Marek , Wojakowski Wojciech , Cortese Bernardo
Published: July 2024

BACKGROUND:

Evidence suggests that drug-coated balloons may benefit in-stent restenosis (ISR) treatment. However, the efficacy of new-generation sirolimus-coated balloon (SCB) compared with the latest generation drug-eluting stents (DESs) has not been studied in this setting.

METHODS:

All patients in the EASTBORNE (The All-Comers Sirolimus-Coated Balloon European Registry) and DEB-DRAGON (DEB vs Thin-DES in DES-ISR: Long Term Outcomes) registries undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention for DES-ISR were included in the study. The primary study end point was target lesion revascularization at 24 months. Secondary end points were major adverse cardiovascular events, all-cause death, myocardial infarction, and target vessel revascularization at 24 months. Our goal was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of SCB versus thin-struts DES in ISR at long-term follow-up.

RESULTS:

A total of 1545 patients with 1679 ISR lesions were included in the pooled analysis, of whom 621 (40.2%) patients with 621 lesions were treated with thin-strut DES and 924 (59.8%) patients with 1045 lesions were treated with SCB. The unmatched cohort showed no differences in the incidence of target lesion revascularization (10.8% versus 11.8%;
P
=0.568); however, there was a trend toward lower rates of myocardial infarction (7.4% versus 5.0%;
P
=0.062) and major adverse cardiovascular events (20.8% versus 17.1%;
P
=0.072) in the SCB group. After propensity score matching (n=335 patients per group), there were no significant differences in the rates of target lesion revascularization (11.6% versus 11.8%;
P
=0.329), target vessel revascularization (14.0% versus 13.1%;
P
=0.822), myocardial infarction (7.2% versus 4.5%;
P
=0.186), all-cause death (5.7% versus 4.2%;
P
=0.476), and major adverse cardiovascular event (21.5% versus 17.6%;
P
=0.242) between DES and SCB treatment.

CONCLUSIONS:

In patients with ISR, angioplasty with SCB compared with thin-struts DES is associated with comparable rates of target lesion revascularization, target vessel revascularization, myocardial infarction, all-cause death, and major adverse cardiovascular events at 2 years.
Evaluating Ensemble Predictions of South Asian Monsoon Low Pressure System Genesis
Authors: Suhas D. L. , Boos William R.
Published: July 2024

Synoptic-scale vortices known as monsoon low pressure systems (LPSs) frequently produce intense precipitation and hydrological disasters in South Asia, so accurately forecasting LPS genesis is crucial for improving disaster preparedness and response. However, the accuracy of LPS genesis forecasts by numerical weather prediction models has remained unknown. Here, we evaluate the performance of two global ensemble models—the U.S. Global Ensemble Forecast System (GEFS) and the Ensemble Prediction System of the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF)—in predicting LPS genesis during the years 2021–22. The GEFS successfully predicted about half the observed LPS genesis events 1–2 days in advance; the ECMWF model captured an additional 10% of observed genesis events. Both models had a false alarm ratio (FAR) of around 50% for 1–2-day lead times. In both ensembles, the control run typically exhibited a higher probability of detection (POD) of observed events and a lower FAR compared to the perturbed ensemble members. However, a consensus forecast, in which genesis is predicted when at least 20% of ensemble members forecast LPS formation, had POD values surpassing those of the control run for all lead times. Moreover, probabilistic predictions of genesis over the Bay of Bengal, where most LPSs form, were skillful, with the fraction of ensemble members predicting LPS formation over a 5-day lead time approximating the observed frequency of genesis, without any adjustment or bias correction.
The “Fact of the Matter”: A Model for Working with Activated Internal Object Relations in Psychodynamic Couple Therapy
Authors: Stern Barry L.
Published: July 2024

Extensive clinical scholarship has described the application of object-relational principles, particularly the operation of projective identification, to psychodynamic psychotherapy with couples. The author explores the way in which a more complete depiction of projective processes, one that incorporates each partner’s intrapersonal management of multiple internal object relations, interacting interpersonally in the couple therapy process, can explain the escalating cycles of conflict between couples that are elaborated in the family-systems literature, and be helpful in understanding the object-relational substrate of chronic conflict in couples more generally. A description of how to map each partner’s internal object world through the identification of these cycles in the early couple therapy process is elaborated in a theoretical model and illustrated with case material.
Understanding school-based counselling services in complex systems: Developing a whole system approach
Authors: Hewitt Gillian , Copeland Lauren , Murphy Simon , Jones Siôn , Edwards Amy , Evans Rhiannon
Published: July 2024

Objectives:

Community sites, including schools, are important settings for interventions to promote children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing. A central provision to support mental health in the UK is school- and community-based counselling services. However, the evidence-base for school counselling services is limited by weak evaluation designs, lack of understanding of different counselling approaches in use, and a failure to conceptualise counselling services as part of a wider complex system. To address the last point, this article takes a complex system-focused perspective to explore how a ‘system disruption’, that is counselling service implementation, can be optimised in the Welsh education system.

Design:

The approach used in this study is a mixed-method qualitative design.

Setting:

Participants were recruited from school and community settings. They included children and young people, parents, carers, school staff, counsellors and stakeholders from health and education.

Method:

Consultations, key system stakeholder interviews and school case studies were conducted. All stakeholders were asked about their experiences of local authority-funded school- and community-based counselling services in Wales. Interview and consultation data were analysed using a thematic analysis approach.

Results:

Data converged into three main themes focusing on the specifics of counselling sessions, counselling services as part of universal mental health provision and a whole education system approach. These three themes are brought together into a complex systems-focused model of an optimised school- and community-based counselling service.

Conclusion:

The model offers an opportunity to address issues with current counselling services in Wales and improve outcomes and sustainability by increasing the likelihood they will become embedded in the whole education system.