bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3D feasibility of 2D RNA–RNA interaction paths by stepwise folding simulations
Authors: Beckmann Irene K. , Waldl Maria , Will Sebastian , Hofacker Ivo L.
Published: December 2023

The structure of an RNA, and even more so its interactions with other RNAs, provide valuable information about its function. Secondary structure-based tools for RNA–RNA interaction predictions provide a quick way to identify possible interaction targets and structures. However, these tools ignore the effect of steric hindrance on the tertiary (3D) structure level, and do not consider whether a suitable folding pathway exists to form the interaction. As a consequence, these tools often predict interactions that are unrealistically long and could be formed (in three dimensions) only by going through highly entangled intermediates. Here, we present a computational pipeline to assess whether a proposed secondary (2D) structure interaction is sterically feasible and reachable along a plausible folding pathway. To this end, we simulate the folding of a series of 3D structures along a given 2D folding path. To avoid the complexity of large-scale atomic resolution simulations, our pipeline uses coarse-grained 3D modeling and breaks up the folding path into small steps, each corresponding to the extension of the interaction by 1 or 2 bp. We apply our pipeline to analyze RNA–RNA interaction formation for three selected RNA–RNA complexes. We find that kissing hairpins, in contrast to interactions in the exterior loop, are difficult to extend and tend to get stuck at an interaction length of 6 bp. Our tool, including source code, documentation, and sample data, is available atwww.github.com/irenekb/RRI-3D.
Identification of high-performing antibodies for Moesin for use in Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence
Authors: Alshafie Walaa , Ayoubi Riham , Fotouhi Maryam , Southern Kathleen , Laflamme Carl ,   NeuroSGC/YCharOS collaborative group
Published: December 2023

Moesin is a cytoskeletal adaptor protein, involved in the modification of the actin cytoskeleton, with relevance to Alzheimer’s Disease. Well characterized anti-Moesin antibodies would benefit the scientific community. In this study, we have characterized ten Moesin commercial antibodies in Western Blot, immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence using a standardized experimental protocol based on comparing read-outs in knockout cell lines and isogenic parental controls. These studies are part of a larger, collaborative initiative seeking to address antibody reproducibility by characterizing commercially available antibodies for human proteins and publishing the results openly as a resource for the scientific community. While use of antibodies and protocols vary between laboratories, we encourage readers to use this report as a guide to select the most appropriate antibodies for their specific needs.
Mental health and access to care in the Montagnard migrant community: Examining perspectives across four generations in North Carolina
Authors: McGinley John , Ksor Risuin , Bush Catherine
Published: December 2023

Background The Montagnards are a diverse group of indigenous tribes from the Central Highlands of Vietnam. With thousands now resettled in the United States, Montagnard migrant communities face unique mental health challenges stemming from decades of trauma, war, and persecution. Research has demonstrated that health challenges facing migrant communities are often compounded by sociocultural, political, and economic factors associated with resettlement, and by a lack of access to health care. Methods In this qualitative study, framework analysis was used to assess mental health care access across multiple generations of Montagnards in North Carolina. Semi-structured interviews and mental health screenings were conducted with twenty-six participants. Interviews were transcribed and analyzed using Dedoose software. Results The results show that some Montagnards, especially elders, have an understanding of emotional, psychological, and social wellbeing that differs from the standard concept of “mental health” as defined by the CDC. Pervasive negative beliefs about mental illness, alongside cultural values of strength and family reputation, lead some Montagnards to avoid discussing mental health publicly. Barriers such as the cost of treatment and challenges with communication and language limit access to care and disproportionately affect older community members. However, only younger Montagnards showed symptoms of mental illness on the diagnostic screenings. Conclusions Montagnard migrant communities in North Carolina do not have adequate access to mental health care. Community-based interventions are needed to improve mental, emotional, and social wellbeing, increase access to care, and provide culturally-responsive support to Montagnards.
The impact of microalbuminuria and insulin resistance as prognostic biomarker for nephropathy in obese persons: a systematic review
Authors: Jha Roshan Kumar , Dhok Archana , Shukla Samarth , Acharya Sourya , Anjankar Ashish
Published: December 2023

Background: The progression of weight gain over the normal level is accompanied by an increase in renovascular damage markers, such as microalbuminuria. Microalbuminuria could be an indication of vascular disturbances caused by obesity. The global pandemic of renal disease has something to do with the link between obesity and type-2 diabetes. Furthermore, microalbuminuria can also be a possible factor for developing insulin resistance syndrome and high blood pressure. The goal of this research is to analyze the impact that insulin resistance, as well as microalbuminuria, play in predicting the severity of nephropathy among obese individuals and also look into these markers in identifying patients with this condition.

Methods: The selected studies (updated to November 2022) were evaluated using the Electronic PubMed database. Based on our selection criteria only those that included high-quality investigations on the relevance of insulin resistance and microalbuminuria as markers of nephropathy in obese people were included. We evaluated this link using odds ratios with a confidence interval of 95%.

Results: Overall, 15 studies, including over 10,000 obese individuals, were evaluated for this study. The summative results revealed that microalbuminuria and insulin may be strong indicators for the advancement of nephropathy in individuals with diabetes mellitus and obese individuals. In support of this, more studies need to be carried out on obese individuals with nephropathy in the absence of diabetes to confirm the relevance of these biomarkers as a prevention measure.

Conclusions: Understanding the importance of the impact microalbuminuria and resistance to insulin play as biomarkers in the health of obese individuals may be very important to prevent nephropathy progression and premature death in both diagnosed and undiagnosed situations. A limitation of this review is that it didn't focus on other anomalies related to obesity such as cardiovascular disease or diabetes.
Assessment and comparison of quality of alcohol-based hand sanitizers, pre- and peri-COVID-19 pandemic outbreak in Kenya
Authors: Omari Samuel , Ng'ong'a Florence , Kimotho James
Published: December 2023

Background: In the wake of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the World Health Organization recommended the use of alcohol-based hand rubs (ABHRs) to curb transmission, leading to increased production and use. This has posed a danger of production and use of poor-quality ABHRs.

Methods: This study assessed and compared the quality of ABHRs in the Kenyan market that were produced before and after the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020. Quality testing was carried out against European EN 1500:2013 and Kenyan EAS 789:2013 Standards.

Results: The study found that 27.8% of the peri-pandemic sanitizers had less than 90% bactericidal reduction activity as compared to 12.5% manufactured pre-pandemic. Only 25% peri-pandemic ABHRs met the EAS 789:2013 acceptable limit of over 60% alcohol content. Product adulteration with methanol was found in 20 % of the samples with only 5% complying with FDA approval limit of <0.063% v/v methanol. Study found no correlation between the total alcohol content and the efficacy of ABHRs.

Conclusions: The study found that more substandard products were produced during the pandemic. This raises a concern about possible emergence of alcohol resistant strains of microorganisms. The study therefore recommends an adequate quality monitoring system to curb against substandard products.
Exfoliative dermatitis; new safety signal detection regarding Meropenem in VigiBase™: A study based on WHO database
Authors: Sami Ahmed , Mahmood Mohammed Mohammed , M. Younus Manal
Published: December 2023

Background Cutaneous adverse drug reactions (CADRs) account for nearly one-third of all adverse drug reactions (ADRs), and severe reactions while they are rare, can dramatically affect patients’ quality of life or even cost them their lives. While clinical trials may prove medicine’s effectiveness, they cannot give a thorough picture of the drug’s safety profile. Spontaneous surveillance and data mining techniques provide a promising complementary technique for post-marketing monitoring to detect safety signals. Objective The objective of this research was to assess the data obtained and uploaded to VigiBase about adverse medication responses affecting the skin and surrounding structures, with a specific focus on identifying any possible signals linked with Meropenem that are not currently indicated on the medicine label. Methods A retrospective study involved clinical review and data mining of patients who suffered cutaneous reactions reported to national Pharmacovigilance centers in Iraq and other countries from January 2010 to December 2021; a total of 4,510 reports were found in Iraq and filtered according to several criteria to obtain a safety signal with the most significant impact on public health. To improve the signal quality, all global cases were included in evaluating the detected signal, excluding duplicate and incomplete reports. Results In a total of 65 cases that contained Meropenem as the suspected cause of exfoliative dermatitis (ED), only 53 cases met the inclusion criteria. Assessment of the included cases proved the detection of a new unlabeled signal that links Meropenem to ED. The mean affected age was 59 years, and males outnumbered females (30:23). The combination showed to be statistically significant (IC025, 2.961; PRR025, 8.227; ROR025, 8.244), and causality assessment showed a possible relation in more than 70% of the cases. Conclusion Spontaneous reporting systems, despite their limitations, are vital to pharmacovigilance systems and the identified signal needs further research.
Key opinion shapers’ perceptions of climate migration: Why and how to put climate justice at the centre of climate change education.
Authors: Sakellari Maria
Published: December 2023

The domain of climate justice has yet to receive sufficient attention in the realm of research on climate change education. This paper seeks to address the significant issue of migration as a result of climate change, which is widely regarded as a major injustice. Specifically, it aims to examine how journalists, NGOs, and policy makers conceptualise climate migration and the related concept of climate justice. These actors play a critical role in shaping individuals' understanding of climate change and their ability to make informed decisions about it. The study utilises its generated results to propose a structure for prioritising climate justice in climate change education, with the aim of facilitating the societal revaluation of climate change.
On the generalized β-absolute convergence of single and multiple Fourier series
Authors: Kiran N. Darji
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we provide sufficient conditions for the generalized β-absolute convergence of multiple Fourier series of a function of p-(Λ1, ... ,ΛN)-bounded variation.
Technology Innovation to Apply the Freecycle Concept: Background, Evolution and Technological Solutions
Authors: Santos Gilberto , Figueiredo Bruno , Carvalho Sandro , Silva João Carlos
Published: December 2023

Purpose: This article shows the proposal of a useful application, which facilitates communication and interaction between two people, promoting and putting into practice the concept of Freecycle.
Methodology/Approach: A contextualisation of the theme is done, namely the concept of Freecycle, showing how it emerged and evolved, as well as how technology can be applied to it for its promotion. Based on this study, the information systems and technological architectures of the proposed solution are shown.
Findings: Freecycle has been gaining more and more relevance, being seen as a way to reduce the waste of goods, which can lead to the reduction of raw materials spent to produce new goods. The proposed application allows this concept to be put into practice, playing an active role in improving the conditions of our planet.
Research Limitation/implication: The application is under development, and this article presents the results achieved so far. In the future, more tests will be done when the application is fully developed with a larger population.
Originality/Value of paper: The currently existing applications do not contemplate all the potentialities of Freecycle, so the proposed solution intends to improve the dissemination of this concept and reduce the emission of greenhouse gases, protecting our planet.
Linear Program-Based Policies for Restless Bandits: Necessary and Sufficient Conditions for (Exponentially Fast) Asymptotic Optimality
Authors: Gast Nicolas , Gaujal Bruno , Yan Chen
Published: December 2023

We provide a framework to analyze control policies for the restless Markovian bandit model under both finite and infinite time horizons. We show that when the population of arms goes to infinity, the value of the optimal control policy converges to the solution of a linear program (LP). We provide necessary and sufficient conditions for a generic control policy to be (i) asymptotically optimal, (ii) asymptotically optimal with square root convergence rate, and (iii) asymptotically optimal with exponential rate. We then construct the LP-index policy that is asymptotically optimal with square root convergence rate on all models and with exponential rate if the model is nondegenerate in finite horizon and satisfies a uniform global attractor property in infinite horizon. We next define the LP-update policy, which is essentially a repeated LP-index policy that solves a new LP at each decision epoch. We conclude by providing numerical experiments to compare the efficiency of different LP-based policies.

Funding: This work was supported by Agence Nationale de la Recherche [Grant ANR-19-CE23-0015].
An evaluation of an online education programme to improve nurses' ability to support carers to use subcutaneous medicines
Authors: Parker Deborah , Reymond Liz , Cooper Karen , Tieman Jennifer , Ivynian Serra
Published: December 2023

Background:

Most Australians say they wish to die at home, but many are admitted to inpatient facilities for symptom management. Caring@home resources can be used to support informal carers to manage breakthrough symptoms safely using subcutaneous medicines. Nurses require education about how to teach informal carers to use these resources.

Aim:

To evaluate the effectiveness and relevance of an online education programme for registered nurses (RNs) about using the caring@home resources.

Methods:

Nurses must complete an online survey prior to the commencement of the online education programme and again upon completion to assess their change in skills, knowledge, confidence and attitudes of the RNs. T-tests were conducted to compare average pre- and post-education scores.

Findings:

The knowledge, skills and confidence of RNs to teach carers improved significantly following the completion of an education programme. There was a significant change in attitude, meaning that the perceived benefit of teaching informal carers to give subcutaneous medicines improved. All reported they would use the resources in their clinical practice.

Conclusion:

The online education programme is an effective and cost-efficient strategy to educate nurses to support informal carers to help manage breakthrough symptoms using subcutaneous medicines.
Comparison of outcomes between fungal and non-fungal periprosthetic joint infections in total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Yang Hong-Yeol , Cheon Jae-Hyeok , Jung Dong-Min , Seon Jong-Keun
Published: December 2023

Aims

Fungal periprosthetic joint infections (PJIs) are rare, but their diagnosis and treatment are highly challenging. The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical outcomes of patients with fungal PJIs treated with two-stage exchange knee arthroplasty combined with prolonged antifungal therapy.

Methods

We reviewed our institutional joint arthroplasty database and identified 41 patients diagnosed with fungal PJIs and treated with two-stage exchange arthroplasty after primary total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between January 2001 and December 2020, and compared them with those who had non-fungal PJIs during the same period. After propensity score matching based on age, sex, BMI, American Society of Anesthesiologists grade, and Charlson Comorbidity Index, 40 patients in each group were successfully matched. The surgical and antimicrobial treatment, patient demographic and clinical characteristics, recurrent infections, survival rates, and relevant risk factors that affected joint survivorship were analyzed. We defined treatment success as a well-functioning arthroplasty without any signs of a PJI, and without antimicrobial suppression, at a minimum follow-up of two years from the time of reimplantation.

Results

The fungal PJI group demonstrated a significantly worse treatment success rate at the final follow-up than the non-fungal PJI group (65.0% (26/40) vs 85.0% (34/40); p < 0.001). The mean prosthesis-free interval was longer in the fungal PJI group than in the non-fungal PJI group (6.7 weeks (SD 5.8) vs 4.1 weeks (SD 2.5); p = 0.020). The rate of survivorship free from reinfection was worse in the fungal PJI group (83.4% (95% confidence interval (CI) 64.1 to 92.9) at one year and 76.4% (95% CI 52.4 to 89.4) at two years) than in the non-fungal PJI group (97.4% (95% CI 82.7 to 99.6) at one year and 90.3% (95% CI 72.2 to 96.9) at two years), but the differences were not significant (p = 0.270). Cox proportional hazard regression analysis identified the duration of the prosthesis-free interval as a potential risk factor for failure (hazard ratio 1.128 (95% CI 1.003 to 1.268); p = 0.043).

Conclusion

Fungal PJIs had a lower treatment success rate than non-fungal PJIs despite two-stage revision arthroplasty and appropriate antifungal treatment. Our findings highlight the need for further developments in treating fungal PJIs.

Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2023;105-B(12):1286–1293.
Classification of distinct osteoarthritis subtypes with different knee joint tissues by gene expression profiles
Authors: Xue Yuan , Zhou Liang , Wang Jiaqian
Published: December 2023

Aims

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) involves a variety of tissues in the joint. Gene expression profiles in different tissues are of great importance in order to understand OA.

Methods

First, we obtained gene expression profiles of cartilage, synovium, subchondral bone, and meniscus from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Several datasets were standardized by merging and removing batch effects. Then, we used unsupervised clustering to divide OA into three subtypes. The gene ontology and pathway enrichment of three subtypes were analyzed. CIBERSORT was used to evaluate the infiltration of immune cells in different subtypes. Finally, OA-related genes were obtained from the Molecular Signatures Database for validation, and diagnostic markers were screened according to clinical characteristics. Quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT‐PCR) was used to verify the effectiveness of markers.

Results

C1 subtype is mainly concentrated in the development of skeletal muscle organs, C2 lies in metabolic process and immune response, and C3 in pyroptosis and cell death process. Therefore, we divided OA into three subtypes: bone remodelling subtype (C1), immune metabolism subtype (C2), and cartilage degradation subtype (C3). The number of macrophage M0 and activated mast cells of C2 subtype was significantly higher than those of the other two subtypes. COL2A1 has significant differences in different subtypes. The expression of COL2A1 is related to age, and trafficking protein particle complex subunit 2 is related to the sex of OA patients.

Conclusion

This study linked different tissues with gene expression profiles, revealing different molecular subtypes of patients with knee OA. The relationship between clinical characteristics and OA-related genes was also studied, which provides a new concept for the diagnosis and treatment of OA.

Cite this article: Bone Joint Res 2023;12(12):702–711.
Paradigm shift towards emergency cholecystectomy: one site experience of the Chole-QuiC process
Authors: Hamid M , Bird J , Yeo J , Shrestha A , Carter M , Kudhail K , Akingboye A , Sellahewa C
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Substantial evidence exists for the superiority of emergency over delayed cholecystectomy for gallstone disease during primary admission. Despite this, emergency surgery rates in the UK remain low compared with other developed countries, with great variation in care across the nation. We aimed to describe the local paradigm shift towards emergency surgery and investigate outcomes.

Methods

This is a prospective observational study examining patients enrolled onto an emergency cholecystectomy pathway, following the hospital’s subscription to the Royal College of Surgeons of England’s Cholecystectomy Quality Improvement Collaborative (Chole-QuIC), between 1 December 2021 and 31 January 2023. Multivariate logistical regression models were used to identify patient and hospital factors associated with postoperative outcomes.

Results

Of the 307 suitable acute admissions, 261 (85%) had an emergency cholecystectomy, compared with 5% preceding the Chole-QuIC interventions. Waiting time dropped from 67 to 5 days. A total of 208 (79.7%) patients were primary presentations, 92 (35.2%) were classed Tokyo grade 2 and 142 (54.4%) were obese. A total of 23 (8.8%) patients underwent preoperative endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography, and 26 (10%) patients had a subtotal cholecystectomy. Favourable outcomes (Clavien Dindo ≥3) were observed in first presentations (odds ratio (OR) 0.35; p=0.042) and for operation times within 7 days (OR 0.32; p=0.037), with worse outcomes in BMI ≥35 (OR 3.32; p=0.005) and operation time >7 days (OR 3.11; p=0.037).

Conclusion

A paradigm shift towards emergency cholecystectomy benefits both the patient and the service. Positive outcomes are apparent for early operation in patients presenting for the first time and recurrent attendees, with early operation (<7 days) providing the most favourable outcome in a select patient group.
Label-free multimodal imaging with simultaneous two-photon and three-photon microscopy and kernel-based nonlinear scaling denoising
Authors: Wu Wentao , Brandt Christoph , Zhou Xin , Tang Shuo
Published: December 2023

We report on a compact multimodal imaging system that can acquire two-photon microscopy (2PM) and three-photon microscopy (3PM) images simultaneously. With dual excitation wavelengths, multiple contrasts including two-photon-excitation-fluorescence (2PEF), second harmonic generation (SHG), and third harmonic generation (THG) are acquired simultaneously from cells, collagen fibers, and interfaces, all label-free. Challenges related to the excitation by two wavelengths and the effective separation of 2PM and 3PM signals are discussed and addressed. The data processing challenge where multiple contrasts can have significantly varying signal levels is also addressed. A kernel-based nonlinear scaling (KNS) denoising method is introduced to reduce noise from ultra-low signal images and generate high-quality multimodal images. Simultaneous 2PM and 3PM imaging is demonstrated on various tissue samples. The simultaneous acquisition speeds up the imaging process and minimizes the commonly encountered problem of motion artifacts and mechanical drift in sequential acquisition. Multimodal imaging with simultaneous 2PM and 3PM will have great potential for label-free in-vivo imaging of biological tissues.
Physical-layer impairment estimation for random bandwidth traffic
Authors: Xu Yuxin , Agrell Erik , Brandt-Pearce Maite
Published: December 2023

Traffic demands in future elastic optical networks are expected to be heterogeneous with time-varying bandwidth. Estimating the physical-layer impairments (PLIs) for random bandwidth demands is important for cross-layer network resource provisioning. State-of-the-art PLI estimation techniques yield conservative PLI estimates using the maximum bandwidth, which leads to significant over-provisioning. This paper uses probabilistic information on random bandwidth demands to provide a computationally efficient, accurate, and flexible PLI estimate. The proposed model is consistent with the needs of future self-configuring fiber-optic networks and maximally avoids up to a 25% overestimation of PLIs compared to the benchmark for the cases studied, thus reducing the network design margin at a negligible extra computational cost.
Design of an optical linear-discriminant filter: optimization for enhancement of filter transmittance and discrimination accuracy
Authors: Sugisaka Jun-Ichiro , Shimada Shingo , Hirayama Koichi , Yasui Takashi
Published: December 2023

To discriminate fine concave and convex defects on a dielectric substrate, an optical machine learning system is proposed. This system comprises an optical linear-discriminant filter (OLDF) that performs linear discriminant analysis (LDA) of the scattered-wave distribution from target samples. However, the filter output from the OLDF is considerably weak and cannot be measured experimentally. Therefore, an algorithm is also proposed to improve the discrimination accuracy and filter transmittance. The designed filter is validated using a rigorous optical simulator based on vector diffraction theory. We also analyze and discuss a mechanism that provides high transmittance with high discrimination accuracy.
Ultrabroadband flying-focus using an axiparabola-echelon pair
Authors: Pigeon J. J. , Franke P. , Lim Pac Chong M. , Katz J. , Boni R. , Dorrer C. , Palastro J. P. , Froula D. H.
Published: December 2023

Flying-focus pulses promise to revolutionize laser-driven secondary sources by decoupling the trajectory of the peak intensity from the native group velocity of the medium over distances much longer than a Rayleigh range. Previous demonstrations of the flying focus have either produced an uncontrolled trajectory or a trajectory that is engineered using chromatic methods that limit the duration of the peak intensity to picosecond scales. Here we demonstrate a controllable ultrabroadband flying focus using a nearly achromatic axiparabola-echelon pair. Spectral interferometry using an ultrabroadband superluminescent diode was used to measure designed super- and subluminal flying-focus trajectories and the effective temporal pulse duration as inferred from the measured spectral phase. The measurements demonstrate that a nearly transform- and diffraction-limited moving focus can be created over a centimeter-scale—an extended focal region more than 50 Rayleigh ranges in length. This ultrabroadband flying-focus and the novel axiparabola-echelon configuration used to produce it are ideally suited for applications and scalable to >100 TW peak powers.
Flexible and accurate total variation and cascaded denoisers-based image reconstruction algorithm for hyperspectrally compressed ultrafast photography
Authors: Guo Zihan , Yao Jiali , Qi Dalong , Ding Pengpeng , Jin Chengzhi , He Yilin , Xu Ning , Zhang Zhiling , Yao Yunhua , Deng Lianzhong , Wang Zhiyong , Sun Zhenrong , Zhang Shian
Published: December 2023

Hyperspectrally compressed ultrafast photography (HCUP) based on compressed sensing and time- and spectrum-to-space mappings can simultaneously realize the temporal and spectral imaging of non-repeatable or difficult-to-repeat transient events with a passive manner in single exposure. HCUP possesses an incredibly high frame rate of tens of trillions of frames per second and a sequence depth of several hundred, and therefore plays a revolutionary role in single-shot ultrafast optical imaging. However, due to ultra-high data compression ratios induced by the extremely large sequence depth, as well as limited fidelities of traditional algorithms over the image reconstruction process, HCUP suffers from a poor image reconstruction quality and fails to capture fine structures in complex transient scenes. To overcome these restrictions, we report a flexible image reconstruction algorithm based on a total variation (TV) and cascaded denoisers (CD) for HCUP, named the TV-CD algorithm. The TV-CD algorithm applies the TV denoising model cascaded with several advanced deep learning-based denoising models in the iterative plug-and-play alternating direction method of multipliers framework, which not only preserves the image smoothness with TV, but also obtains more priori with CD. Therefore, it solves the common sparsity representation problem in local similarity and motion compensation. Both the simulation and experimental results show that the proposed TV-CD algorithm can effectively improve the image reconstruction accuracy and quality of HCUP, and may further promote the practical applications of HCUP in capturing high-dimensional complex physical, chemical and biological ultrafast dynamic scenes.
Chiral optical solitons in an electrically active multiferroic guiding structure
Authors: Jandieri Vakhtang , Khomeriki Ramaz , Watanabe Koki , Erni Daniel , Werner Douglas H. , Berakdar Jamal
Published: December 2023

A stack of a dielectric planar waveguide with a Kerr-type nonlinearity, sandwiched between two oxide-based helical multiferroic layers is shown to support electrically-controlled chiral solitons. These findings follow from analytical and full numerical simulations. The analytical scheme delivers explicit material parameters for the guided mode soliton and unveils how the soliton propagation characteristics are controlled by tuning the multiferroic helicity and amplitude of the injected electromagnetic wave. Silicon and CS2 are considered as the optical media in the guiding region enclosed by the multiferroic slabs. CS2 has very similar nonlinearity characteristics to silicon but in the linear regime it exhibits a smaller refractive index in the THz frequency range. The scattering simulations are performed using our developed numerical code based on the rigorous coupled wave method and the results for the dispersion curve for the guided mode agree very well with the analytical formula that we derive in this work. The results demonstrate a case of nonlinear pulse generation with field-controlled, nontrivial topological properties.
Terahertz-capillary electrophoresis (THz-CE) for direct detection of separated substances in solutions
Authors: Kitagishi Keiko , Kawai Takayuki , Tonouchi Masayoshi , Serita Kazunori
Published: December 2023

We present a novel technique for capillary electrophoresis (CE) using terahertz (THz) waves, namely “THz-CE,” which enables us to sensitively detect separated substances in a solution flowing in a hollow of capillary whose inner diameter is smaller than 100 µm. Such THz detection could be achieved by utilizing the near-field interaction between a solution filled in a capillary and a point THz source that was locally generated by optical rectification in a nonlinear optical crystal irradiated with a femtosecond pulse laser. Here, we investigated the performance of THz-CE numerically and experimentally, and succeeded in observing the electrophoretic chromatogram for the separation between acetic acid and n-propionic acid by THz-CE.
Reaching “covidianidad”: A qualitative study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the perceived mental health of health care workers in the Dominican Republic
Authors: Baez Caraballo Pamela , Schriger Simone , Escober Jessica , Acevedo Ana , García Alejandro Antonio , Halpern Mina , Lowenthal Elizabeth
Published: December 2023

We aimed to explore how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the lives of healthcare workers (HCWs) in the Dominican Republic. We also aimed to identify the types of resources that HCWs felt were needed to support their mental health. We used purposive and convenience sampling in four health centers in the eastern Dominican Republic to recruit 28 HCWs (doctors, nurses, psychologists, and community health workers) between April 2021 and August 2021. Through semi-structured interviews, we elicited HCWs experiences during the pandemic and how they felt these experiences impacted their mental health. Interview transcripts were analyzed using an inductive/deductive thematic approach. Main stressors experienced during the pandemic by HCWs and their sequelae included anxiety due to misinformation and uncertainty, fear of the disease, the robustness of pandemic-related changes they faced in their work and daily life, and COVID-19’s economic impact. HCWs reflected on protective factors that transformed their acute sense of crisis felt at the beginning of the pandemic into what HCWs referred to as “covidianidad [everyday COVID]”, a situation that became manageable through mechanisms including social support, professional motivation, positive work environment and resilience. Lastly, HCWs identified stigmatization of and limited access to mental health services as challenges to supporting their mental health. While Dominican HCWs were vulnerable to the challenges posed by COVID-19 in sustaining their mental health, for many, the situation became manageable through the evolution of “covidianidad.” Further research and interventions are needed to reduce stigmatization of mental health services and foment a positive environment for HCWs’ mental health, to promote resiliency to future challenges.
Impact of depression on stroke outcomes among stroke survivors: Systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Shewangizaw Seble , Fekadu Wubalem , Gebregzihabhier Yohannes , Mihretu Awoke , Sackley Catherine , Alem Atalay
Published: December 2023

Background

Depression may negatively affect stroke outcomes and the progress of recovery. However, there is a lack of updated comprehensive evidence to inform clinical practice and directions of future studies. In this review, we report the multidimensional impact of depression on stroke outcomes.

Methods

Data sources.PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Global Index Medicus were searched from the date of inception.

Eligibility criteria.Prospective studies which investigated the impact of depression on stroke outcomes (cognition, returning to work, quality of life, functioning, and survival) were included.

Data extraction.Two authors extracted data independently and solved the difference with a third reviewer using an extraction tool developed prior. The extraction tool included sample size, measurement, duration of follow-up, stroke outcomes, statistical analysis, and predictors outcomes.

Risk of bias.We used Effective Public Health Practice Project (EPHPP) to assess the quality of the included studies.

Results

Eighty prospective studies were included in the review. These studies investigated the impact of depression on the ability to return to work (n = 4), quality of life (n = 12), cognitive impairment (n = 5), functioning (n = 43), and mortality (n = 24) where a study may report on more than one outcome. Though there were inconsistencies, the evidence reported that depression had negative consequences on returning to work, functioning, quality of life, and mortality rate. However, the impact on cognition was not conclusive. In the meta-analysis, depression was associated with premature mortality (HR: 1.61 (95% CI; 1.33, 1.96)), and worse functioning (OR: 1.64 (95% CI; 1.36, 1.99)).

Conclusion

Depression affects many aspects of stroke outcomes including survival The evidence is not conclusive on cognition and there was a lack of evidence in low-income settings. The results showed the need for early diagnosis and intervention of depression after stroke.

The protocol was pre-registered on the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) (CRD42021230579).
Prediction models of incontinence and sexual function one year after radical prostatectomy based on data from 20 164 prostate cancer patients
Authors: Sibert Nora Tabea , Kurth Tobias , Breidenbach Clara , Wesselmann Simone , Feick Günther , Carl Ernst-Günter , Dieng Sebastian , Albarghouth Mohamad Hatem , Aziz Atiqullah , Baltes Stefan , Bartolf Elisabeth , Bedke Jens , Blana Andreas , Brock Marko , Conrad Stefan , Darr Christopher , Distler Florian , Drosos Konstantinos , Duwe Gregor , Gaber Amr , Giessing Markus , Harke Nina Natascha , Heidenreich Axel , Hijazi Sameh , Hinkel Andreas , Kaftan Björn Theodor , Kheiderov Shatlyk , Knoll Thomas , Lümmen Gerd , Peters Inga , Polat Bülent , Schrodi Valentin , Stolzenburg Jens-Uwe , Varga Zoltan , von Süßkind-Schwendi Julius , Zugor Vahudin , Kowalski Christoph
Published: December 2023

Background

Incontinence and sexual dysfunction are long-lasting side effects after surgical treatment (radical prostatectomy, RP) of prostate cancer (PC). For an informed treatment decision, physicians and patients should discuss expected impairments. Therefore, this paper firstly aims to develop and validate prognostic models that predict incontinence and sexual function of PC patients one year after RP and secondly to provide an online decision making tool.

Methods

Observational cohorts of PC patients treated between July 2016 and March 2021 in Germany were used. Models to predict functional outcomes one year after RP measured by the EPIC-26 questionnaire were developed using lasso regression, 80–20 splitting of the data set and 10-fold cross validation. To assess performance, R2, RMSE, analysis of residuals and calibration-in-the-large were applied. Final models were externally temporally validated. Additionally, percentages of functional impairment (pad use for incontinence and firmness of erection for sexual score) per score decile were calculated to be used together with the prediction models.

Results

For model development and internal as well as external validation, samples of 11 355 and 8 809 patients were analysed. Results from the internal validation (incontinence:R2= 0.12,RMSE= 25.40, sexual function:R2= 0.23,RMSE= 21.44) were comparable with those of the external validation. Residual analysis and calibration-in-the-large showed good results. The prediction tool is freely accessible:https://nora-tabea.shinyapps.io/EPIC-26-Prediction/.

Conclusion

The final models showed appropriate predictive properties and can be used together with the calculated risks for specific functional impairments. Main strengths are the large study sample (> 20 000) and the inclusion of an external validation. The models incorporate meaningful and clinically available predictors ensuring an easy implementation. All predictions are displayed together with risks of frequent impairments such as pad use or erectile dysfunction such that the developed online tool provides a detailed and informative overview for clinicians as well as patients.
Population preferences for AI system features across eight different decision-making contexts
Authors: Holm Søren , Ploug Thomas
Published: December 2023

Artificial intelligence systems based on deep learning architectures are being investigated as decision-support systems for human decision-makers across a wide range of decision-making contexts. It is known from the literature on AI in medicine that patients and the public hold relatively strong preferences in relation to desirable features of AI systems and their implementation, e.g. in relation to explainability and accuracy, and in relation to the role of the human decision-maker in the decision chain. The features that are preferred can be seen as ‘protective’ of the patient’s interests. These types of preferences may plausibly vary across decision-making contexts, but the research on this question has so far been almost exclusively performed in relation to medical AI. In this cross-sectional survey study we investigate the preferences of the adult Danish population for five specific protective features of AI systems and implementation across a range of eight different use cases in the public and commercial sectors ranging from medical diagnostics to the issuance of parking tickets. We find that all five features are seen as important across all eight contexts, but that they are deemed to be slightly less important when the implications of the decision made are less significant to the respondents.
Quantifying the effects of vagus nerve stimulation on gastric myoelectric activity in ferrets using an interpretable machine learning approach
Authors: Zeydabadinezhad Mahmoud , Horn Charles C. , Mahmoudi Babak
Published: December 2023

Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is a potential treatment option for gastrointestinal (GI) diseases. The present study aimed to understand the physiological effects of VNS on gastrointestinal (GI) function, which is crucial for developing more effective adaptive closed-loop VNS therapies for GI diseases. Electrogastrography (EGG), which measures gastric electrical activities (GEAs) as a proxy to quantify GI functions, was employed in our investigation. We introduced a recording schema that allowed us to simultaneously induce electrical VNS and record EGG. While this setup created a unique model for studying the effects of VNS on the GI function and provided an excellent testbed for designing advanced neuromodulation therapies, the resulting data was noisy, heterogeneous, and required specialized analysis tools. The current study aimed at formulating a systematic and interpretable approach to quantify the physiological effects of electrical VNS on GEAs in ferrets by using signal processing and machine learning techniques. Our analysis pipeline included pre-processing steps, feature extraction from both time and frequency domains, a voting algorithm for selecting features, and model training and validation. Our results indicated that the electrophysiological changes induced by VNS were optimally characterized by a distinct set of features for each classification scenario. Additionally, our findings demonstrated that the process of feature selection enhanced classification performance and facilitated representation learning.
Analysis on spatial difference and spillover effect of development resilience index of sports industry: A case study of 285 cities in China
Authors: Li Yihao , Yuan Yue , Cheng Na
Published: December 2023

The sustainable development of the sports industry has garnered extensive attention worldwide. In this study, after a rigorous explanation of the connotation of the sports industry development resilience coefficient (SIDRC), the Topsis model and exploratory spatial data analysis were comprehensively employed to evaluate and visualize the SIDRC of 285 cities in China. Additionally, a spatial econometric model was constructed to explore the influencing factors of SIDRC. The major conclusions drawn from this study are as follow: (1) While the SIDRC has improved significantly over the study period, it still remains overall at a low level of resilience with a widening gap between cities. (2) A strong spatial imbalance exists in the distribution of SIDRC, with coastal regions demonstrating greater resilience compared to the central and western regions, and provincial capital cities faring better than other cities. (3) Policy support index, economic development level, structural diversity of the sports industry, and social participation play crucial roles in promoting SIDRC. Finally, social participation has a positive impact on SIDRC in neighboring cities by facilitating resource sharing, market expansion, and extending the industrial chain. The paper concludes by offering recommendations such as increasing the construction of sports markets and public participation, which can optimize the layout of the sports industry and enhance industrial development resilience.
The Kelch13 compartment contains highly divergent vesicle trafficking proteins in malaria parasites
Authors: Schmidt Sabine , Wichers-Misterek Jan Stephan , Behrens Hannah Michaela , Birnbaum Jakob , Henshall Isabelle G. , Dröge Jana , Jonscher Ernst , Flemming Sven , Castro-Peña Carolina , Mesén-Ramírez Paolo , Spielmann Tobias
Published: December 2023

Single amino acid changes in the parasite protein Kelch13 (K13) result in reduced susceptibility of P. falciparum parasites to artemisinin and its derivatives (ART). Recent work indicated that K13 and other proteins co-localising with K13 (K13 compartment proteins) are involved in the endocytic uptake of host cell cytosol (HCCU) and that a reduction in HCCU results in reduced susceptibility to ART. HCCU is critical for parasite survival but is poorly understood, with the K13 compartment proteins among the few proteins so far functionally linked to this process. Here we further defined the composition of the K13 compartment by analysing more hits from a previous BioID, showing that MyoF and MCA2 as well as Kelch13 interaction candidate (KIC) 11 and 12 are found at this site. Functional analyses, tests for ART susceptibility as well as comparisons of structural similarities using AlphaFold2 predictions of these and previously identified proteins showed that vesicle trafficking and endocytosis domains were frequent in proteins involved in resistance or endocytosis (or both), comprising one group of K13 compartment proteins. While this strengthened the link of the K13 compartment to endocytosis, many proteins of this group showed unusual domain combinations and large parasite-specific regions, indicating a high level of taxon-specific adaptation of this process. Another group of K13 compartment proteins did not influence endocytosis or ART susceptibility and lacked detectable vesicle trafficking domains. We here identified the first protein of this group that is important for asexual blood stage development and showed that it likely is involved in invasion. Overall, this work identified novel proteins functioning in endocytosis and at the K13 compartment. Together with comparisons of structural predictions it provides a repertoire of functional domains at the K13 compartment that indicate a high level of adaption of endocytosis in malaria parasites.
The material complex of the advanced bronze age from the settlement of the irmenskaya culture of the last bronze age milovanovo-3 from the novosibirsk region
Authors:   The Museum of Local History of Novosibirsk, A. Avtushkova
Published: December 2023

In this article, based on the materials of the settlement of the Irmen culture of the late Bronze Age Milovanovo-3, a small material complex of the developed bronze period of the 1st half of the 2nd millennium BC, including fragments of ceramics and part of a stone product, presumably a vessel, is identified. The purpose of this work is to confirm the identification of a complex of finds from the developed Bronze Age with reference to similar material sources in the archaeological cultures of Western Siberia and Central Asia, namely the sites of the Chemurchek type of China and Mongolia, as well as local cultures — Elunininskaya Samusskaya, Krotovskaya. The article draws attention to a rare find on the territory of the Novosibirsk region — a fragment of a stone vessel, which is the second largest in the region. Based on this find, analogies of which were found in Mongolia, neighboring Altai, Tuva, and on the basis of the ornament of another similar vessel from Krokhalevka-1, even in France, an assumption is made about the existence of cultural ties between the cultures of the southern area and their northern neighbors by finding two stone vessels.All these arguments make it possible to speak of the existence of sustain cultural ties between the between the cultures of the southern area and their northern neighbors.