bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Perceived quality of life and associated factors in long COVID syndrome among older Brazilians: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Salci Maria Aparecida , Carreira Lígia , Baccon Wanessa Cristina , Marques Francielle Renata Danielli Martins , Höring Carla Franciele , Oliveira Magda Lúcia Félix de , Milan Natália Simeão , de Souza Flávia Cristina Sierra , Gallo Adriana Martins , Covre Eduardo Rocha , Dixe Maria Anjos , Querido Ana , Vissoci João Ricardo Nickenig , Facchini Luiz Augusto , Laranjeira Carlos
Published: January 2023

Aims and objectives

This paper aims to: (a) determine the personal, sociodemographic, clinical, behavioural, and social characteristics of older Brazilians with clinical evidence of long COVID; (b) evaluate perceived quality of life and determine its association with personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical and social variables; and (c) assess significant predictors of high perceived QoL.

Background

Given the inherent vulnerabilities of the ageing process, the older people are an at‐risk group for both contagion of SARS‐CoV‐2 and the perpetuation of residual symptoms after infection, the so‐called long COVID or post‐COVID syndrome.

Design

A cross‐sectional survey design using the STROBE checklist.

Methods

Brazilian older people with long COVID syndrome (n = 403) completed a phone survey measuring personal, sociodemographic, behavioural, clinical, and social characteristics, and perceived Quality of Life (QoL). Data were collected from June 2021–March 2022. A multiple linear regression model was performed to identify salient variables associated with high perceived QoL.

Results

The mean age of participants was 67.7 ± 6.6 years old. The results of the multivariate regression model showed that race, home ownership, daily screen time, musculoskeletal and anxiety symptoms, and work situation were the significant predictors of QoL among COVID‐19 survivors.

Conclusions

Knowledge about the persistence of physical, emotional, and social symptoms of COVID‐19 can help nurses and other healthcare providers to improve the management of survivors, bringing benefits to the whole society.

Relevance to clinical practice

Given the novelty of long‐COVID and its heterogeneous trajectory, interventions focusing on the repercussions and requirements unique to more vulnerable older persons should be developed and these aspects should be included in public health recommendations and policymakers' concerns.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution was required to design, to outcome measures or undertake this research. Patients/members of the public contributed only to the data collection.
Chlorophyll f production in two new subaerial cyanobacteria of the family Oculatellaceae
Authors: Shen Li‐Qin , Zhang Zhong‐Chun , Huang Li , Zhang Lu‐Dan , Yu Gongliang , Chen Min , Li Renhui , Qiu Bao‐Sheng
Published: January 2023

Chlorophyll (Chl) f was recently identified in a few cyanobacteria as the fifth chlorophyll of oxygenic organisms. In this study, two Leptolyngbya‐like strains of CCNU0012 and CCNU0013 were isolated from a dry ditch in Chongqing city and a brick wall in Mount Emei Scenic Area in China, respectively. These two strains were described as new species: Elainella chongqingensis sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Synechococcales) and Pegethrix sichuanica sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Synechococcales) by the polyphasic approach based on morphological features, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene and secondary structure comparison of 16S‐23S internal transcribed spacer domains. Both strains produced Chl a under white light (WL) but additionally induced Chl f synthesis under far‐red light (FRL). Unexpectedly, the content of Chl f in P. sichuanica was nearly half that in most Chl f‐producing cyanobacteria. Red‐shifted phycobiliproteins were also induced in both strains under FRL conditions. Subsequently, additional absorption peak beyond 700 nm in the FRL spectral region appeared in these two strains. This is the first report of Chl f production induced by FRL in the family Oculatellaceae. This study not only extended the diversity of Chl f‐producing cyanobacteria but also provided precious samples to elucidate the essential binding sites of Chl f within cyanobacterial photosystems.
Taxonomic study of Scytosiphon (Phaeophyceae) from temperate coasts of Argentina
Authors: Croce Maria Emilia , Hoshino Masakazu , Gauna Maria Cecilia , Parodi Elisa R. , Kogame Kazuhiro
Published: January 2023

Scytosiphon is a common intertidal genus widely distributed on temperate coasts worldwide. Recently, eight species have been delimited with molecular tools. Although S. lomentaria is the only species that predominates in the macroalgal literature of the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SwAO), unpublished molecular data obtained for a population study of S. lomentaria revealed hidden species diversity of Scytosiphon among the individuals collected from four localities at the SwAO. The aim of this study was to revise the identity and phylogenetic relationships of Scytosiphon from temperate coasts of the SwAO using DNA data. Thalli were collected from the Argentinean coast between 39° S and 43° S, from which cox1 and rbcL gene sequences were obtained. Phylogenies and haplotype networks were inferred and morphology of gametophytes was studied. Four species were recognized, S. lomentaria, S. promiscuus, S. shibazakiorum, and one species that belongs to a complex of species known as “Scytosiphon Atlantic complex.” This complex was known to occur only in the North Atlantic, however, the results found in this study revealed that it has an extended distribution range that includes the southern hemisphere, where its populations have high genetic diversity and unique haplotypes. The morphological differences among the four species were subtle; denoting that previous Scytosiphon records from the SwAO attributed to the renowned S. lomentaria could represent different species. In addition, sex ratio and genome‐wide single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) analyses were done for populations of S. promiscuus presumably introduced to the SwAO, and the results indicated that they included female‐dominant parthenogenetic populations, which were probably introduced from Japan.
Phrase Rhythm and Loss in the Music of Maurice Ravel
Authors: Blättler Damian
Published: January 2023

A particular subset of Ravel's output features a phrase‐rhythmic technique wherein tonal and thematic returns are accompanied by surprisingly asymmetrical or ambiguous phrase rhythm. This defies both generic conventions linking thematic reprise and tonal closure to relatively stable phrase rhythm and specific expectations created by these works’ formal processes, and contrasts with trajectories moving from phrase‐rhythmic instability to stability which Ravel deploys in other works. The set of pieces which features this technique includesÀ la manière de … Chabrier, theMenuet sur le nom d'Haydn, pieces fromLe Tombeau de Couperin, the last of theValses nobles et sentimentales, and the ‘Blues’ movement from the Violin Sonata. This study notes how themes of loss and distance connect these pieces, allowing for the phrase‐rhythmic technique to be bound up with interpretative implications which can enhance our understanding of how phrase rhythm can carry expressive freight.
Pathogenicity of phospholipase B1 of Trichosporon asahii in immunosuppressed mice
Authors: Cheng Xiaoxian , Zhu He , Bai Shuang , Zou Yuekun , Xia Zhikuan , Yang Rongya
Published: January 2023

Background

Trichosporon asahii is an opportunistic pathogenic yeast‐like fungus. Phospholipase B1 (PLB1) is an important virulence factor of pathogenic fungi such as Candida albicans and Cryptococcus neoformans, and there are few studies on the role of PLB1 in the pathogenicity of T. asahii.

Objectives

To investigate the role of PLB1 in the pathogenicity of T. asahii.

Methods

A strain with low secretion of PLB1 (4848) was screened, a PLB1 overexpression strain (PLB1OX) was constructed, and the differences in histopathology, fungal load of organ, survival time of mice, the levels of IL‐6, IL‐10, TNF‐α, and GM‐GSF in the serum and organs caused by the two strains were compared.

Results

Histopathology showed that spores and hyphae were observed in both groups, and PLB1OX led to more fungal invasion. The fungal loads in the kidney, lung, spleen and liver in the PLB1OXgroup were significantly higher than those in the 4848 group, and the survival time of mice was significantly lower than that in the 4848 group. The levels of TNF‐α in the serum, liver, spleen, lung and kidney of the PLB1OX group were lower than those of the 4848 group, while the level of IL‐10 in the serum was higher than that of the 4848 group.

Conclusions

These results suggest that PLB1 can enhance the invasive function of T. asahii and affect the secretion of TNF‐α and IL‐10 which may affect the host antifungal immune response, providing evidence that PLB1 plays a role in the pathogenic infection of T. asahii.
Continuous dosing of nikkomycin Z against systemic candidiasis, in vivo and in vitro correlates
Authors: Sass Gabriele , Larwood David J. , Martinez Marife , Stevens David A.
Published: January 2023

Background

Candidiasis is the most common cause of fungal sepsis, and new agents are of interest to ameliorate current deficiencies in therapy. Nikkomycin Z (NIKZ) is an inhibitor of chitin synthase, interfering with fungal cell wall development.

Objectives/Methods

We studied NIKZ therapy of disseminated murine candidiasis, via continuous drug exposure, in drinking water, to compensate for rapid clearance of the drug.

Results

Drinking, and thus drug intake in the NIKZ groups, as well as body weight, was affected by the degree of illness. NIKZ effect on survival, despite reduced drinking initially after infection, was highly efficacious and dose‐related, and comparable to fluconazole, though neither were curative with the regimens employed. The challenge was rapidly lethal to all untreated animals, whereas NIKZ groups achieved >50% survival. Assays of residual fungal infection were consistent with impressions of efficacy based on survival. Although NIKZ MIC for Candida albicans appeared unpromising, mycelial formation assays more closely correlated with in vivo observations.

Conclusions

In vitro‐in vivo disparity may be explained by NIKZ tissue concentration in the target tissue and/or by enhanced NIKZ action on mycelial formation, a morphological change in vivo wherein chitin synthesis is more critical, compared to NIKZ activity in inhibiting planktonic growth. A sustained release oral form of NIKZ in drug development for humans could hold promise, possibly also in future exploring previously demonstrated synergy in vitro with other antifungals.
Clinical diagnostic criteria of benign adult familial myoclonus epilepsy type 1 are highly concordant with genetic testing
Authors: Ishibashi Haruka , Kobayashi Katsuya , Tojima Maya , Neshige Shuichiro , Hitomi Takefumi , Ishiura Hiroyuki , Tsuji Shoji , Maruyama Hirofumi , Takahashi Ryosuke , Ikeda Akio
Published: January 2023

Background

The clinical diagnostic criteria for benign adult familial myoclonus epilepsy (BAFME) originally included (1) cortical tremor and infrequent generalized seizures, (2) autosomal dominant inheritance, (3) lack of cognitive decline and other neurological symptoms, (4) electrophysiological findings of cortical reflex myoclonus, and (5) lack of clear clinical progression (BAFME criteria‐1). It was revised such that (1) included partial seizures, and (3) and (5) may develop among middle‐aged patients (Revised criteria‐2). The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare proposed their criteria, which included the EEG and MRI findings (MHLW criteria‐3). Recently, high‐frequency oscillations, superimposed on the giant somatosensory evoked potential P25 component (P25‐HFOs), have been found useful as a biomarker for BAFME diagnosis.

Aim

We examined the genetic diagnosis of BAFME type 1 and its consistency with the three diagnostic criteria and P25‐HFOs.

Methods

Twenty‐four Japanese patients, who underwent BAFME genetic testing, were rated using three independent diagnostic criteria and P25‐HFOs.

Results

Twenty‐one patients were genetically diagnosed with BAFME type 1. Nineteen patients fulfilled BAFME‐1 (sensitivity 90%), and 21 fulfilled Revised‐2 and MHLW criteria‐3 (sensitivity 100%). We could evaluate P25‐HFOs in 19 of the 21 gene‐positive patients, and 17 of the 19 patients showed P25‐HFOs. Three patients with negative genetic testing did not meet any of the criteria and had no P25‐HFOs.

Conclusions

The three available clinical diagnostic criteria for BAFME were highly concordant with the positive result for genetic testing.
Rickettsial infection‐related encephalitis/encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion of the corpus callosum
Authors: Houssem Slimène , Khadija Sonda Moalla , Salma Sakka , Nouha Farhat , Mariem Damak , Chokri Mhiri
Published: January 2023

Mild encephalopathy with reversible splenial lesion (MERS) is a rare clinicoradiological entity characterized by a transient mild encephalopathy and MRI findings of a reversible lesion in the splenium of the corpus callosum. Here, we report an atypical case of MERS in a 22‐year‐old woman who presented with 2‐day history of headaches and confusion associated with fever and who completely recovered within 7 days. Exhaustive biological tests panel revealed positive IgM rickettsial antibody, and the final diagnosis was MERS caused by rickettsial infection. Although viruses are the most common pathogen of MERS, for proper management, bacteria should be considered, as they may also lead to this condition.
Low Power, First Offers, and Reservation Prices: Weak Negotiators are Self‐anchored by Their Own Alternatives
Authors: Maaravi Yossi , Heller Ben , Levy Aharon
Published: January 2023

Although most scholars recommend making the first offer in negotiations, recent research and practitioners' experience have uncovered a second‐mover advantage in certain situations. In the current article, we explore this first‐ versus second‐mover dynamic by investigating the circumstances under which negotiators would make less favorable first offers than they would receive were they to move second, focusing on the effects of negotiation power in the form of alternatives. Additionally, we examine the effects of low power on reservation prices and whether these effects could be mitigated using an anchor‐debiasing technique. In Study 1, we manipulated negotiators' power in the form of the best alternative to the negotiated agreement and examined its effect on first offers and reservation prices. Our results showed that low‐power negotiators would receive more favorable first offers than they would have made themselves when facing either low‐ or medium‐power counterparts. Also, our results suggest that low‐power negotiators had less favorable reservation prices than their medium‐ and high‐ power counterparts. In Study 2, we investigated whether this effect would persist in the face of anchor‐debiasing techniques. Our results showed that while anchor‐debiasing techniques did improve their first offers, low‐power negotiators would still benefit from making the counteroffer rather than moving first. Our findings uncover the disadvantageous effects of low power on first‐offer magnitude while offering practical advice to negotiators.
Artificial intelligence‐assisted determination of available sites for palatal orthodontic mini implants based on palatal thickness through CBCT
Authors: Tao Tianjin , Zou Ke , Jiang Ruiyi , He Ketai , He Xian , Zhang Mengyun , Wu Zhouqiang , Shen Xiaojing , Yuan Xuedong , Lai Wenli , Long Hu
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To develop an artificial intelligence (AI) system for automatic palate segmentation through CBCT, and to determine the personalized available sites for palatal mini implants by measuring palatal bone and soft tissue thickness according to the AI‐predicted results.

Materials and Methods

Eight thousand four hundred target slices (from 70 CBCT scans) from orthodontic patients were collected, labelled by well‐trained orthodontists and randomly divided into two groups: a training set and a test set. After the deep learning process, we evaluated the performance of our deep learning model with the mean Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), average symmetric surface distance (ASSD), sensitivity (SEN), positive predictive value (PPV) and mean thickness percentage error (MTPE). The pixel traversal method was proposed to measure the thickness of palatal bone and soft tissue, and to predict available sites for palatal orthodontic mini implants. Then, an example of available sites for palatal mini implants from the test set was mapped.

Results

The average DSC, ASSD, SEN, PPV and MTPE for the segmented palatal bone tissue were 0.831%, 1.122%, 0.876%, 0.815% and 6.70%, while that for the palatal soft tissue were 0.741%, 1.091%, 0.861%, 0.695% and 12.2%, respectively. Besides, an example of available sites for palatal mini implants was mapped according to predefined criteria.

Conclusions

Our AI system showed high accuracy for palatal segmentation and thickness measurement, which is helpful for the determination of available sites and the design of a surgical guide for palatal orthodontic mini implants.
Treatment with an inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 9 or cathepsin K lengthens embryonic lower jaw bone
Authors: Houchen Claire J. , Castro Bethany , Hahn Leat Portia , Mohammad Nashwa , Hall‐Glenn Faith , Bumann Erin E.
Published: January 2023

Objectives

Skeletal malocclusions are common, and severe malocclusions are treated by invasive surgeries. Recently, jaw bone length has been shown to be developmentally controlled by osteoclasts. Our objective was to determine the effect of inhibiting osteoclast‐secreted proteolytic enzymes on lower jaw bone length of avian embryos by pharmacologically inhibiting matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP9) or cathepsin K (CTSK).

Methods

Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica) embryos were given a single dose of an inhibitor of MMP9 (iMMP9), an inhibitor CTSK (iCTSK), or vehicle at a developmental stage when bone deposition is beginning to occur. At a developmental stage when the viscerocranium is largely calcified, the heads were scanned via micro‐computed tomography and reproducible landmarks were placed on 3D‐reconstructed skulls; the landmark coordinates were used to quantify facial bone dimensions.

Results

Approximately half of the quail given either iMMP9 or iCTSK demonstrated an overt lower jaw phenotype, characterized by longer lower jaw bones and a greater lower to upper jaw ratio than control embryos. Additionally, iMMP9‐treated embryos exhibited a significant change in midface length and iCTSK‐treated embryos had significant change in nasal bone length.

Conclusion

MMP9 and CTSK play a role in osteoclast‐mediated determination of lower jaw bone length. Pharmacological inhibition of MMP9 or CTSK may be a promising therapeutic alternative to surgery for treating skeletal jaw malocclusions, but more preclinical research is needed prior to clinical translation.
Genetic associations between gene polymorphisms on 3p25 and oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Yuan Minyan , Zheng Xueqing , Jing Jiaojiao , Li Yang , Liu Nianke , Song Yaling
Published: January 2023

Objectives

To evaluate the association of SYN2, PPARG, RAF1, TIMP4, and IQSEC1 polymorphisms in 3p25 with oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in the Chinese Han population.

Subjects and Methods

Genomic DNA was extracted from 494 subjects with or without OSCC. Basic information on the subjects, clinical data, and prognoses were collected. Fifteen candidate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were selected and genotyped. The statistical analyses included descriptive statistics, logistic regression, survival, and functional annotation was performed.

Results

IQSEC1‐rs2686742 correlated with OSCC occurrence. In addition, RAF1‐rs1051208, PPARG‐rs10865710, PPARG‐rs3856806, IQSEC1‐rs2686742, PPARG‐rs1175544, IQSEC1‐rs9211, and IQSEC1‐rs2600322 were significantly associated with the clinical characteristics of patients with OSCC. The log‐rank test showed that IQSEC1‐rs2600322 may play an important role in the survival of patients with OSCC. The Cox regression analysis suggested that PPARG‐rs10865710, PPARG‐rs7649970, IQSEC1‐rs9211, IQSEC1‐rs2600322, and IQSEC1‐rs12487715 influenced survival outcomes. The functional annotation indicated that the transcript levels of IQSEC1 were upregulated in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma tissues, whereas PPARG gene transcription was downregulated.

Conclusions

IQSEC1‐rs2686742 may be closely associated with OSCC onset. Multiple SNPs in IQSEC1 and PPARG genes correlated with the clinical characteristics of OSCC, among which PPARG‐rs10865710, IQSEC1‐rs9211, and IQSEC1‐rs2600322 were associated with cancer prognosis.
Relationship between oral lesions and severe SARS‐CoV‐2 infection in intensive care unit patients
Authors: Favia Gianfranco , Barile Giuseppe , Tempesta Angela , Copelli Chiara , Novielli Gianluigi , Dell'Olio Fabio , Capodiferro Saverio , Spirito Francesca , Brienza Nicola , Ribezzi Mario , Vestito Maria Concetta , Corriero Alberto , Carpagnano Elisiana , Moschetta Antonio , Chironna Maria , Loconsole Daniela , Centrone Francesca , Quadri Mir Faeq Ali , Tartaglia Gianluca Martino , Limongelli Luisa
Published: January 2023

Objective

Oral lesions received increased attention as likely new signs or secondary manifestations of COVID‐19. Therefore, we clinically examined oral cavity of patients with COVID‐19 and investigated oral lesions and patient comorbidities as possible risk factors of COVID‐19 disease outcome.

Methods

From January to March 2022, a prospective study was conducted by recruiting all COVID‐19 patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit and Respiratory Intensive Care Unit of Maxi‐Emergencies Hospital in Bari, Italy.

Results

From the enrolled 103 COVID‐19 patients, 46.6% were females and 53.4% were males. Findings show that risk of presenting with severe COVID‐19 disease was higher in patients who developed oral lesions related to COVID‐19 than those with no oral lesions (RR = 7.998, p = .002). Next, patients with concomitant autoimmune diseases were at higher risk of a negative COVID‐19 disease outcome than those without comorbidities (OR = 8.838, p = .026).

Conclusions

COVID‐19‐related lesions of oral mucosa should not be ignored as they can be early and easily detectable signs of severe COVID‐19 disease condition, thus, serving as a prevention measure for any potential unfortunate event. Findings of this study, without implying causation, offer a direction for future investigations that aim to confirm the presence of specific oral lesions in COVID‐19 patients as signs of severe disease progression.
Psychological distress with relationship satisfaction is moderated by anticipatory relational savoring among non‐deployed military partners
Authors: Froidevaux Nicole M. , Sanchez Hernandez Hugo , Pourmand Vida , Yunusova Asal , Sbarra David A. , Borelli Jessica L.
Published: January 2023

This study recruited participants whose partners were deployed for active‐duty military service to examine whether anticipatory relational savoring moderated the association of psychological distress with relationship satisfaction. Two weeks prior to their partner's deployment (T1), participants (N = 73) completed a self‐report measure of relationship satisfaction. Then, 2 weeks into their partner's deployment (T2), participants completed self‐report measures of stress, loneliness, and depression (combined into a composite index of psychological distress), and relationship satisfaction. Participants also completed a stream‐of‐consciousness task at T2 in which they imagined and discussed their partner's return from deployment. We coded the stream‐of‐consciousness task for anticipatory relational savoring regarding their upcoming reunion with their deployed partner. We found that anticipatory relational savoring moderated the association of psychological distress with during‐deployment relationship satisfaction after adjusting for demographics, interpersonal variables, and deployment‐specific variables; the association did not hold after adjusting for pre‐deployment relationship satisfaction, and thus was robust when considering the distress‐satisfaction association during the deployment but was not when considering changes in relationship satisfaction from pre‐ to during‐deployment. We discuss the potential importance of anticipatory relational savoring for this unique population.
Expanding growers' choice of plant disease management options can promote suboptimal social outcomes
Authors: Murray‐Watson Rachel E. , Cunniffe Nik J.
Published: January 2023

Previous models of growers' decision‐making during epidemics have unrealistically limited disease management choices to just two options. Here, we expand previous game‐theoretic models of grower decision‐making to include three control options: a crop that is tolerant, resistant or susceptible to disease. Using tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) as a case study, we investigate how growers can be incentivized to use different control options to achieve socially optimal outcomes. To do this, we consider the efforts of a ‘social planner’ who moderates the price of crops. We find that subsidizing a tolerant crop costs the social planner more in subsidies, as its use encourages selfishness and widespread adoption. Subsidizing a resistant crop, however, provides widespread benefits by reducing the prevalence of disease across the community of growers, including those that do not control, reducing the number of subsidies required from the social planner. We then use Gini coefficients to measure equitability of each subsidization scheme. This study highlights how grower behaviour can be altered using crop subsidies to promote socially optimal outcomes during epidemics.
Manifestations of B‐cell expansion with NF‐κB and T‐cell anergy disease overlapping with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Xiao Haijuan , Mou Wenjun , Zhang Rui , Guo Xin , Chen Heying , Zhang Liqiang , Liu Gang , Gui Jingang
Published: January 2023

B cell expansion with NF‐κB and T cell anergy (BENTA) is a disease genetically linked with heterozygous gain‐of‐function (GOF) mutations in the CARD11 gene with an autosomal dominant expression. Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by systemic inflammation and hypercytokinaemia. Some BENTA patients share similar clinical manifestations as HLH in various aspects, including fever and splenomegaly. In this study, we reported a 15‐month‐old boy diagnosed as BENTA meeting with diagnostic criteria of HLH. The complications were resolved by antibiotics for controlling severe infection, together with the reduced format of dexamethasone and etoposide for subsiding HLH activities. While the patient was not subjected to disease recurrence and maintained free of infection, a persistent lymphocytosis derived mainly from the expansion of polyclonal B cells was ascertained. Flow cytometry analysis indicated that the subdued degranulation of NK cells prior to treatment had been restored as the HLH‐related complications waned. With largely reduced number and ratios in CD4 and CD8 T cells, their proliferation and Vβ diversity remained in normal ranges. In vitro stimulation experiment revealed a functional abbreviation of T cells as the percentage of IFNγ‐releasing CD3+CD4+ T cells augmented while the percentage reduced in CD3+CD4− T cells. Whole exome sequencing revealed a de novo G123D missense mutation in the CARD11 gene. This new case of BENTA showcased a scenario of predominant HLH activities accompanied by a severe infection normally associated with BENTA. In addition, a brief treatment quenching HLH complication in cooperation with antibiotics for infection control was not able to solve the underlined T cell abnormality as well as B cell expansion caused by CARD11 mutation. A haematopoietic stem cell transplantation or gene therapy is still a pursuit to remedy this inborn error of immunity.
The accuracy of markerless motion capture combined with computer vision techniques for measuring running kinematics
Authors: Van Hooren Bas , Pecasse Noah , Meijer Kenneth , Essers Johannes Maria Nicolaas
Published: January 2023

Background

Markerless motion capture based on low‐cost 2‐D video analysis in combination with computer vision techniques has the potential to provide accurate analysis of running technique in both a research and clinical setting. However, the accuracy of markerless motion capture for assessing running kinematics compared to a gold‐standard approach remains largely unexplored.

Objective

Here, we investigate the accuracy of custom‐trained (DeepLabCut) and existing (OpenPose) computer vision techniques for assessing sagittal‐plane hip, knee, and ankle running kinematics at speeds of 2.78 and 3.33 m s−1 as compared to gold‐standard marker‐based motion capture.

Methods

Differences between the markerless and marker‐based approaches were assessed using statistical parameter mapping and expressed as root mean squared errors (RMSEs).

Results

After temporal alignment and offset removal, both DeepLabCut and OpenPose showed no significant differences with the marker‐based approach at 2.78 m s−1, but some significant differences remained at 3.33 m s−1. At 2.78 m s−1, RMSEs were 5.07, 7.91, and 5.60, and 5.92, 7.81, and 5.66 degrees for the hip, knee, and ankle for DeepLabCut and OpenPose, respectively. At 3.33 m s−1, RMSEs were 7.40, 10.9, 8.01, and 4.95, 7.45, and 5.76 for the hip, knee, and ankle for DeepLabCut and OpenPose, respectively.

Conclusion

The differences between OpenPose and the marker‐based method were in line with or smaller than reported between other kinematic analysis methods and marker‐based methods, while these differences were larger for DeepLabCut. Since the accuracy differed between individuals, OpenPose may be most useful to facilitate large‐scale in‐field data collection and investigation of group effects rather than individual‐level analyses.
A new coat of paint: The bluewashing of justice reinvestment and realignment to community reinvestment
Authors: Dollar Christopher W.
Published: January 2023

Justice reinvestment has been hailed as a solution to mass incarceration across the United States for nearly 20 years. It suggests that inefficiencies in the criminal justice system can be eliminated to reinvest money in high‐incarceration communities to reduce the correlates of crime. However, the implementations have focused on reinvesting criminal justice funds back into public safety, which has led to the “bluewashing” of justice reinvestment. Introduced here, bluewashing occurs when a justice agency that has historically poor social justice performance communicates positive justice performance after implementing a theoretically supported reform in name only. In actuality, the reform has been modified to suit their own continuance. A realignment of the logic and theoretical support of justice reinvestment is critical to produce reforms that can provide relief for states, agencies, and citizens that are promised by justice reinvestment. This work directly connects the justice reinvestment thesis with the spatial interconnectedness of poverty, education, employment, and housing with crime and recidivism. It argues that justice reinvestment is a crime prevention policy that can simultaneously reduce mass incarceration and empower millions of American citizens living in the United States' most brutal conditions.
Children's understanding of values as mental concepts: Longitudinal changes and association with theory of mind
Authors: Misgav Kinneret , Chomsky Anat , Daniel Ella
Published: January 2023

We investigated the conceptualization of values as mental constructs at the beginning of middle childhood. Values describe aspirations guiding individuals in life. Although 6‐year‐olds report meaningful values, a past cross‐sectional study suggested they may conceptualize them in non‐mental terms. We interviewed children on their values at two time‐points (N = 299,Mage T1 = 7.25 years,Mage T2 = 7.94 years). Mental value conceptualization increased over time. Different value types were conceptualized in mental terms to a similar extent. At T2, self‐important values were conceptualized in mental terms less than not‐important ones. We also suggest that Theory of Mind (ToM) may be an underlying mechanism for the increased level of mental conceptualization over time. A cross‐lagged panel model indicated that T1 ToM predicted advances in T2 mental conceptualization, and T1 mental conceptualization predicted advances in T2 ToM. As children develop in their understanding of the social world, their values may transform from observable to mental, possibly making them better motivators of behavior.
Wetland‐type conversion drives the C, N and P stoichiometry change of soil in river plain of lower of the Yellow River
Authors: Lin Qingwei , Huai Zhiwen , Riaz Luqman , Liu Tongshuo , Wang Shishi , Li Yingchen , Bai Xiongxiong , Yan Guangxuan , Yu Fei , Ma Jianmin
Published: January 2023

Land use conversion on river plain has profound impacts on soil characteristics and elemental stoichiometry. Four wetland types (Riparian lower‐beach wetland [RLW], Riparian higher‐beach wetland [RHW], Cultivated wetland [CW] and Mesophytic wetland [MW]) were selected in the lower Yellow River area to investigate the consequence of wetland type conversion on soil carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) stoichiometry. The results demonstrated that wetland conversion induced significant spatio‐temporal variations in soil C, N and P stoichiometry and physicochemical characteristics in soil. Frequent agricultural activities (fertilizer input) raised the nutrient content of natural wetland, particularly in surface soil (0–30 cm). Soil volumetric water content (VWC), soil bulk density (SBD), pH and soil enzyme activity varied significantly in different wetlands. Total carbon (TC) and total nitrogen (TN) contents in MW decreased with increasing soil depth (<40 cm layers), as did TN and total phosphorus (TP) contents in CW. On the other hand, TC, TN and TP contents in RLW and RHW did not change significantly with soil depth. However, the contents of TOC, and Fe/Al‐P, etc., varied among soil layers and among wetland types. Furthermore, the stoichiometric characteristics changed significantly in some soil layers, with mean values being less than the Chinese average. Statistically, significant positive correlations were determined between TC and TN (r = .56), TDC and TP (r = .62), N:P and pH (r = .57) (p < .05) and and pH (r = .66, p < .01). VWC was negatively correlated with pH (r = −.56, p < .05), while C/P was negatively associated with soil temperature (ST) and SBD (r = −.55, r = −.64, p < .05). TDC, IP, TN, Fe/Al‐P and ST were identified as the dominant factors, with the percentage of variance 41%, 20%, 12%, 9% and 6% respectively. These findings have a great scientific significance for the ecological conservation of wetlands in the lower Yellow River area.
Multi‐response optimization of process parameters for remediation of tetrachloroethylene pools by surfactants: Application of Taguchi design of experiment and Artificial Neural Network
Authors: Şahin Yıldız , Kasap Sedanur Selay , Akyol Gökçe , Akyol Nihat Hakan
Published: January 2023

Within the scope of the study, the effectiveness of the experimental conditions was tested by performing a multi‐response Taguchi experimental design for the optimization of the minimum cost remediation performance with Tween 80, Methyl beta cyclodextrine (MCD) and Sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) from tetrachloroethylene (PCE) contaminated porous media. Tween 80, MCD and SDS were extensively used in cosmetic industry as emulsifier. Both time of remediation and cost of remediation were studied as two separate response variables in three replicate experiments conducted according to the Taguchi L9 orthogonal experimental design. In the multi‐response Taguchi analysis, the sensitivity analysis was performed by systematically changing the weights determined for two separate response variables in the calculation of total loss of quality (TNQLj). Optimum experimental conditions were determined with the help of the calculated multi‐response signal/noise (S/N) ratios (MRSN). The results show that the type of Flushing Agent is the most important factor in optimizing the remediation time and remediation cost for the removal of dense non‐aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) PCE mass. Flushing rate is considered to be the least contributing factor. Furthermore, the results of the analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that all parameters used in the system had a significant effect on the experimental results and the Taguchi method could explain 97.15% of the Remediation Time and 92.03% of the Remediation Cost. Afterwards, the data obtained from the experiments performed according to the experimental design were modelled using Artificial Neural Network (ANN) to estimate the remediation performance and remediation cost without performing new experiments.
Design, modeling, and simulation of a novel transducer for vibration energy recovery system of speed bump
Authors: Guo Yan , Liao Xuhui , Meng Haodong , Dong Fulong , Yang Shang-Kuo
Published: January 2023

Based on the designed vibration energy recovery system of speed bump, the structure and principle of a novel transducer are introduced in this paper, which is an important part of the system. AMEsim simulation software was used to study the characteristics of the transducer, and the feasibility of the transducer design was verified through modeling and analysis of the dual-cylinder transducer. The coupling model of vehicle speed bump and transducer was analyzed, the dynamic differential equation was listed, and the decoupling operation was carried out. On the basis of the above, Matlab/Simulink was used to establish the model simulation, and the time-domain responses of displacement, velocity, and acceleration of the vibration of the car body, wheel, and transducer in the coupling model system were analyzed. The control variable method was used to further explore the time-domain response of vehicle acceleration in the coupling system only when the vehicle speed changes or the transducer damping changes. Finally, the vibration energy recovery system of the speed bump was built, and the preliminary test proved that the transducer can realize its function.
Energy harvesting optimization using 2D car suspension system actuated by a sawtooth speed bump
Authors: Chiu Min-Chie , Karkoub Mansour , Her Ming-Guo
Published: January 2023

In this work, an optimal suspension system is proposed to reduce the oscillations/vibrations of the car's body and harvest some of the induced vibration energy. The usual shock absorbers are replaced with energy harvesters capable of not only absorbing vibrations for ride comfort but also regenerating electrical energy for onboard use. To investigate the efficiency of the proposed harvesters, the input to the vehicle wheels is assumed to come from a sawtooth-shaped speed bump or rumble speed strip. Also, given the coupling between the various degrees of freedom of the car (heave, pitch, etc.), a half-car model is adopted in the derivation of the equations of motion. To maximize the amount of energy harvested, the design parameters of the harvesters are obtained using the simulated annealing optimization technique with four objective functions. Many of the design parameters, including magnet size, coil turns, and coil layers, are adjusted during the optimization process. Constant and accelerated motions are considered in this study to maximize the generated electricity index and ride comfort efficiency. The simulation results showed that the optimized harvesters were able to regenerate a significant amount of energy while maintaining an acceptable ride comfort level.
Analytical solution of relativistic four quark bound systems
Authors: Shiri N. , Tazimi N. , Monemzadeh M.
Published: January 2023

Since in recent years most of the heavy tetraquarks are discovered by Belle, LHCb, BESIII, etc., it motivated us to study these exotic hadrons. To the extent of our knowledge about the mass characteristics of heavy tetraquarks, we utilize the spinless relativistic Bethe–Salpeter equation by applying the Cornell potential in order to calculate the eigenvalue and mass of heavy tetraquarks. For this purpose, we present an ansatz solution to obtained Schrödinger-like equation to calculate the ground-state energy of diquarks and tetraquarks. Eventually, we compare our obtained predictions for heavy tetraquark masses with available experimental and theoretical data.
Precision studies for string derived $$Z'$$ dynamics at the LHC
Authors: McEntaggart Andrew , Faraggi Alon E. , Guzzi Marco
Published: January 2023

We consider $$Z'$$

Z
′

s in heterotic string derived models and study $$Z'$$

Z
′

resonant production at the TeV scale at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). We use various kinematic differential distributions for the Drell–Yan process at NNLO in QCD to explore the parameter space of such models and investigate $$Z'$$

Z
′

couplings. In particular, we study the impact of Z-$$Z'$$

Z
′

kinetic-mixing interactions on forward-backward asymmetry ($$A_{FB}$$

A

FB

) and other distributions at the LHC.
Classification of schizophrenia-associated brain regions in resting-state fMRI
Authors: Ahmad Fayyaz , Ahmad Iftikhar , Guerrero-Sánchez Yolanda
Published: January 2023

Recently, advances in neuroscience have attracted attention to the diagnosis, treatment, and damage to schizophrenia-associated brain regions using resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rs-fMRI). This research is immersed in the endowment of machine learning approaches for discriminating schizophrenia patients to provide a viable solution. Toward these goals, firstly, we implemented a two samplet-tests to find the activation difference between schizophrenia patients and healthy controls. The average activation in control is higher than the average activation of the patient. Secondly, we implemented the correlation technique to find variations on presumably hidden associations between brain structure and its associated function. Moreover, current results support the viewpoint that the resting-state function integration is helpful to gain insight into the pathological mechanism of schizophrenia. Finally, Lasso regression is used to find a low-dimensional integration of the rs-fMRI and their experimental results showed that SVM classifier surpasses nine algorithms provided the best results with good accuracy of 94%.
Extensive novel waves evolution of three-dimensional Yu–Toda–Sasa–Fukuyama equation compatible with plasma and electromagnetic applications
Authors: Rashed A. S. , Inc Mustafa , Saleh R.
Published: January 2023

There is no doubt that the investigation of the interaction and propagation of plasma and electromagnetic waves play an important role in understanding these phenomena. The three-dimensional Yu–Toda–Sasa–Fukuyama equation (YTSFE) is a competent mathematical model of waves in plasma, electromagnetics, or fluids. An optimal system of infinitesimal symmetries is constructed to discover extensive and astonishingly exact solutions to the YTSFE. The outstanding solutions include periodic, polynomials, fractional, logarithmic, exponential, hyperbolic, exponential integral, Airy and complex functions. These solutions are significant because they help understand how plasma and electromagnetic applications work at different boundary or initial conditions.
Improvement of electrical properties of ZnO TFT with NbLaO-based stacked gate dielectrics
Authors: Wang Cong , Liu Yurong , Wu Baozi , Sui Jian
Published: January 2023

The double-stacked gate dielectrics (DSGD), which consisted of either NbLaO/Al2O3 or NbLaO/SiO2, were used to improve the electrical performance of zinc oxide thin-film transistor (ZnO-TFT) with single-layer NbLaO gate dielectric (SLGD). Compared to ZnO-TFT with SLGD, the ZnO-TFTs with DSGD exhibit better electrical performance, specifically for the device with the NbLaO/SiO2 DSGD, with an increase of the field-effect mobility from 5.77 cm2V[Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text] to 39.64 cm2V[Formula: see text]s[Formula: see text], an enhancement of the on/off current ratio by two orders of magnitude, a reduction of the subthreshold slope from 110 mV/decade to 70 mV/decade. The performance enhancements are attributed to a low root-mean-square surface roughness of less than 0.3 nm and a low trap-state density of less than [Formula: see text] cm[Formula: see text] (even [Formula: see text] cm[Formula: see text] for the NbLaO/SiO2 DSGD) in the bulk of the channel and at the ZnO/NbLaO interface. The results imply that ZnO-TFTs with DSGD have the potential for the application of high-resolution flat panel display.
DT-DS: CAN Intrusion Detection with Decision Tree Ensembles
Authors: Mehta Jarul , Richard Guillaume , Lugosch Loren , Yu Derek , Meyer Brett H.
Published: January 2023

The controller area network (CAN) protocol, used in many modern vehicles for real-time inter-device communications, is known to have cybersecurity vulnerabilities, putting passengers at risk for data exfiltration and control system sabotage. To address this issue, researchers have proposed to utilize security measures based on cryptography and message authentication; unfortunately, such approaches are often too computationally expensive to be deployed in real time on CAN devices. Additionally, they have developed machine learning (ML) techniques to detect anomalies in CAN traffic and thereby prevent attacks. The main disadvantage of existing ML-based techniques is that they either depend on additional computational hardware or they heuristically assume that all communication anomalies are malicious.

In this article, we show that tree-based learning ensembles outperform anomaly-based techniques like AutoRegressive Integrated Moving Average (ARIMA) and Z-Score when used to detect attacks that result in increased bus utilization. We evaluated the detection capacity of three tree-based ensembles, Adaboost, gradient boosting, and random forests, and collectively refer to these as DT-DS. We conclude that the decision tree ensemble with Adaboost performs best with an area under curve (AUC) score of 0.999, closely followed by gradient boosting and random forests with 0.997 and 0.991 AUC scores, respectively, when trained using message profiles. We observe that with an increase in the observation window, the DT-DS models present an average AUC score of 0.999, and offer a nearly perfect detection of attacks, at the cost of increased latency in detection of attacked messages. We evaluate the performance of the IDS for Aeronautical Radio, Incorporated– (ARINC) encoded CAN communication traffic in avionic systems, generated using an aerospace testbench, ARINC-825TBv2. The IDS has been evaluated against the active attacks of a state-of-the-art predictive attacker model. Additionally, we observed that the performance of IDS approaches such as ARIMA and Z-Score degrade considerably with a decrease in the size of the observation time window. In contrast, the performance of DT-DS models is consistent, with only an average drop of 0.005 in the AUC score.