bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Consumo precoz de tabaco y alcohol como factores modificadores del riesgo de uso de marihuana
Authors: Iglesias Verónica , Cavada Gabriel , Silva Claudio , Cáceres Dante
Published: June 2007

OBJETIVO: Evaluar la relación entre consumo precoz de tabaco y alcohol y el riesgo de consumir marihuana en escolares. MÉTODOS: Estudio transversal con datos del IV Estudio Nacional de Consumo de Drogas en Población Escolar, año 2001. Se analizó 54,001 escolares de ocho a 20 años de edad. Como variables predictoras se consideró el autoreporte de consumo de tabaco y alcohol, la edad de inicio de consumo de tabaco y/o alcohol, y la intensidad de uso del tabaco. Como variable resultado se utilizó el autoreporte de uso de marihuana y la edad de inicio de consumo de ésta. Para el análisis de los datos se utilizó regresión de Poisson y regresión de Weibull. RESULTADOS: Los escolares presentaron alta prevalencia de consumo de tabaco, alcohol y marihuana (77%, 79% y 23% respectivamente). El consumo de tabaco en presencia de consumo de alcohol fue un factor de riesgo de uso de marihuana (RP=10.4; IC 95%: 8.9;12.2). El inicio tardío de consumo de tabaco (HR=0.85; IC 95%: 0.84;0.86) y alcohol (HR=0.90; IC 95%: 0.89;0.91) resultó ser un factor protector del uso de marihuana. La probabilidad de consumo de marihuana fue mayor en quienes fumaban todos o casi todos los días en relación a quienes fumaban sólo los fines de semana (RP=3.11; IC 95%: 2.96;3.26 vs. RP=1.70; IC 95%: 1.58;1.83). CONCLUSIONES: El riesgo de consumo de marihuana se asoció significativamente con la edad de inicio de consumo de tabaco, la frecuencia de consumo de tabaco y el consumo simultáneo de alcohol. Las estrategias de prevención deberían orientarse a evitar el consumo precoz de tabaco en escolares.
Fatores associados ao início da vida sexual de adolescentes matriculados em uma unidade de saúde da família da zona leste do Município de São Paulo, Brasil
Authors: Borges Ana Luiza Vilela , Latorre Maria do Rosário Dias de Oliveira , Schor Néia
Published: June 2007

Com o objetivo de analisar os aspectos individuais e familiares associados ao início da vida sexual, foram entrevistados, entre junho e dezembro de 2002, 383 adolescentes solteiros entre 15 e 19 anos de idade, residentes na área de abrangência de uma unidade de saúde da família da zona leste do Município de São Paulo, Brasil. Os dados foram analisados por meio de regressão logística múltipla separadamente para homens e mulheres. Os resultados mostraram que o namoro e a idade foram associados ao início da vida sexual dos adolescentes. No entanto, somente entre os homens, observou-se como fatores associados variáveis relacionadas aos pais e mães e, apenas entre as mulheres, variáveis relacionadas à propriedade do domicílio e aos irmãos. Dessa forma, o namoro e as questões familiares, tais como os valores parentais no tocante às práticas sexuais de adolescentes e a presença de irmão(ã) que já passou por gravidez antes de uma união, são aspectos que necessitam ser incorporados na formulação de políticas de saúde reprodutiva e sexual voltadas aos adolescentes, pois mostraram ser determinantes na iniciação sexual dos jovens entrevistados.
Mapeamento de internações hospitalares por problemas respiratórios e possíveis associações à exposição humana aos produtos da queima da palha de cana-de-açúcar no estado de São Paulo
Authors: Lopes Fábio Silva , Ribeiro Helena
Published: June 2007

INTRODUÇÃO: O uso de Sistemas de Informações Geográficas em pesquisas na área de saúde pública é cada vez maior, devido às possibilidades de comparação de dados dispostos em tabelas e mapas através de sua sobreposição. Tal sobreposição possibilita uma nova leitura dos dados associados à dimensão do espaço. Os programas SIG são ideais para pesquisas em geografia da saúde. Em estudos ecológicos de causa/efeito, envolvendo variáveis ambientais e os efeitos deletérios à saúde humana, o geoprocessamento constitui um interessante recurso para gerar hipóteses para estudos mais aprofundados sobre o tema. OBJETIVO: Este estudo objetivou a construção de um SIG para verificar a possível correlação entre os produtos das queimadas de cana-de-açúcar e a incidência de problemas respiratórios em regiões afetadas, através das técnicas de geoprocessamento. METODOLOGIA: Consistiu em organizar dados de queimadas e internações por afecções respiratórias do Estado de São Paulo, no período de 2000 a 2004, estruturando um SIG em duas escalas. Na primeira, foram criadas cartas temáticas de todo o Estado e identificadas áreas de interesse para estudos em escala local. A segunda consistiu na construção de SIG abrangendo a meso-região de Bauru, para observar a intersecção dos agravos à saúde em áreas de queimada. RESULTADOS: Nos mapas elaborados e numa análise de correlações espaciais observou-se maior incidência de doenças respiratórias em regiões onde há prática de queimadas. O material produzido constitui um conjunto de dados que permite ao pesquisador verificar hipóteses para subsidiar estudos no âmbito da saúde ambiental.
BBNJ Agreement: A New Infrastructure to Foster Benefit Sharing of Marine Genetic Resources
Authors: Gottlieb Hiroko Muraki , Ardron Jeff A. , Brown Abbe E. L.
Published: February 2025

An effective implementation of the Part II of the Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ Agreement) will require understanding the relevance of the infrastructure in the treaty text. The Agreement’s Part II provides a new framework of information and benefit sharing of marine genetic resources of areas beyond national jurisdiction and associated Digital Sequence Information and Traditional Knowledge. This chapter for the edited collection “Decoding Marine Genetic Resource Governance under the BBNJ Agreement” explores the infrastructure of the Agreement. The chapter views infrastructure of an implementing agreement to be robust when there is a Conference of the Parties (COP) with a decision-making function, a Secretariat and various subsidiary bodies (e.g., Scientific and Technical Body) that provide support for the COP to make informed decisions in an objective manner. A strong infrastructure also facilitates transparency through an open-access information platform and inclusivity provisions, which allow a wide range of stakeholders to be timely informed and facilitate active participation in meetings. Further, a strong infrastructure builds in functions to review the progress of implementation so that any gaps can be addressed by the COP or the Parties, with the support of the subsidiary bodies. These aspects are essential to ensure that with input from various stakeholders, the COP can make timely and well-informed decisions to enhance the health of the two-thirds of the global ocean.
Das Erzählen des eigenen Todes. Narrative Spezifika
Authors: Klatt Andrea
Published: February 2025

Im systematischen Teil dieser Studie wird der erzähltheoretisch-diachrone Entwicklungsbogen ausgehend von der klassischen über die strukturalistische bis hin zu den postmodern erneuerten Erzähltheorien unter Hinzunahme von Textbeispielen erneut vollzogen. Dieser Teil beginnt mit einer heuristischen Untersuchung des Todes als Erzählgegenstand, in der die zuvor eingeführten Erzählbegriffe systematisch erprobt werden. Im zweiten Abschnitt werden die narrativen Spezifika autobiographischer Sterbeerzählungen im Lichte ihrer Funktionalität im Bewältigungsprozess analysiert. Im dritten Abschnitt wird die Suspension der Wirklichkeitsreferenz als die Grundprämisse fiktionaler Sterbeerzählungen anhand des Hauptbeispiels Der fernste Ort (2001) von Daniel Kehlmann untersucht.
Einzelanalysen
Authors: Klatt Andrea
Published: February 2025

Im exemplarischen Teil dieser Studie untersuche ich drei deutschsprachige Erzähltexte der Gegenwart, in denen eine direkte Konfrontation mit dem eigenen Tod entweder den Erzählauslöser oder die vorherrschende Thematik darstellt. In der Analyse von Arbeit und Struktur (2013) von Wolfgang Herrndorf (Kap. 5, Abschn. 1) erhebe ich Einwände gegen die in germanistischen Forschungsbeiträgen konstatierte Fiktionalisierung des Textes und plädiere für ein pragmatisches Text- und Fiktionsverständnis und dafür, den Text partizipativ-intuitiv zu lesen. Das zweite Textbeispiel, Tage wie Hunde (2019) von Ruth Schweikert, untersuche ich im Hinblick auf entindividualisierte Erzählstrategien. In Schweikerts autobiographischer Erzählung werden sowohl Subjektives und Kollektives als auch Faktualität und Fiktionalität hybridisiert (Kap. 5, Abschn. 2), wobei beiden Hybridisierungsformen eine Bewältigungsfunktion in der Konfrontation mit der schweren Brustkrebserkrankung der Autorin zukommt. Der anschließend untersuchte Roman Robinsons blaues Haus (2012) von Ernst Augustin (Kap. 5, Abschn. 3) ist eine fiktionale Erzählung, in der über autobiographische und autopoetologische Erzählelemente ein Verhältnis zum Tod dargestellt und dieser Umgang auch einer impliziten Leser:in anempfohlen wird. Meine drei Hauptbeispiele eint, dass in diesen fiktionale und faktuale Elemente hybridisiert werden, deren Unterschiedlichkeit ich kontrastiv herausarbeite.
The evolutionary history of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) revealed by chloroplast and nuclear genomes analysis
Authors: Frascarelli Giulia , Galise Teresa R. , D’Agostino Nunzio , Cafasso Donata , Cozzolino Salvatore , Cortinovis Gaia , Sparvoli Francesca , Bellucci Elisa , Di Vittori Valerio , Nanni Laura , Pieri Alice , Rossato Marzia , Vincenzi Leonardo , Benazzo Andrea , Delledonne Massimo , Bitocchi Elena , Papa Roberto
Published: February 2025

Key message

The origin of common bean was investigated throughout chloroplast and nuclear WGS data considering recombination events. Our results support the Mesoamerican origin of common bean.

The remarkable evolutionary history of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) has led to the emergence of three wild main gene pools corresponding to three different eco-geographical areas: Mesoamerica, the Andes and northern Peru/Ecuador. Recent works proposed novel scenarios, and the northern Peru/Ecuador population has been described as a new species called P. debouckii, rekindling the debate about the origin of P. vulgaris. Here we shed light on the origin of P. vulgaris by analyzing the chloroplast and nuclear genomes of a large varietal collection representing the entire geographical distribution of wild forms including a large collection of Mesoamerican and Andean individuals. We assembled 37 chloroplast genomes de novo and used them to construct a time frame for the divergence of the genotypes under investigation, revealing that the separation of the Mesoamerican and northern Peru/Ecuador gene pools occurred ~ 0.15 Mya. Our results clearly support a Mesoamerican origin of the common bean and reject the recent P. deboukii hypothesis. These results also imply two independent migratory events from Mesoamerica to the North and South Andes, probably facilitated by birds. Our work represents a paradigmatic example of the importance of taking into account the genetic rearrangements produced by recombination when investigating phylogeny and of the analysis of wild forms when studying the evolutionary history of a crop species.
Characterization of ultramarine blue in Roman wall paintings: case study from Volsinii (Bolsena, Italy)
Authors: Bernabale Martina , Felici Anna Candida , Atanasio Pierfrancesco , Buccini Luca , Passeri Daniele , Rossi Marco , Binaco Paolo , Dini Danilo
Published: February 2025

The identification of blue pigments in Roman wall paintings provides crucial insights into the materials, artistic techniques, and trade routes in the antiquity. The present study focuses on the analysis of a blue pigment lump discovered at Ponticello (Bolsena, Italy) initially thought to be Egyptian blue. The lump pigment is compared with two synthetic ultramarine pigments (Poggi and Divolo), “Herculaneum blue,” Egyptian blue, and natural lapis lazuli from Monte Somma, Italy. Through a multi-analytical approach that comprehends energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (ED-XRF) spectroscopy, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD), the pigment was univocally identified as natural lazurite, the primary component of lapis lazuli. Chemometrics, including principal component analysis (PCA), was applied to the ED-XRF data to reveal patterns in the elemental composition of the samples. This finding is significant as ultramarine blue was a rare and expensive material in Roman times, which was traditionally sourced from distant regions like Afghanistan. While this study does not aim to determine the geographical provenance of the pigment, it offers important insights into Roman artistic practices, economic resources, and trade networks. Future research will explore the chemical composition of the pigments present in the frescoes from the archaeological area of Volsinii to provide important further insights into ancient material exchanges.

Graphical Abstract
GNOme, an ontology for glycan naming and subsumption
Authors: Zhang Wenjin , Vesser Michelle , Edwards Nathan
Published: February 2025

While GlyTouCan provides stable identifiers for referencing glycan structures, they are not organized semantically. GNOme, a glycan naming and subsumption ontology and a member of the OBOFoundry, organizes GlyTouCan accessions for automated reasoning and interactive browsing of glycan structures by subsumption. GNOme makes it quick and easy to discover glycans with a specific degree of characterization; provides a text-based table of common synonyms for specific structures and compositions; enumerates glycan subsumption relationships for automated reasoning; and assigns each glycan to well-defined categories based on their degree of characterization. As an OBOFoundry ontology, GNOme can be readily integrated with other OBOFoundry ontologies and standards initiatives that need to refer to glycans with various degrees of characterization. GNOme is integrated with GlyGen, a glycoinformatics knowledge base, providing navigation to “related glycans,” and expanding the utility of species and glycan classification annotations. GNOme is available at https://gnome.glyomics.org/ and via GlyGen, the OBO Foundry, and GitHub.

Graphical abstract
Effect of probenecid on the whole-body disposition of 6-bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine in humans assessed with long axial field-of-view PET/CT
Authors: Jackwerth Matthias , Mairinger Severin , Rausch Ivo , Weber Maria , Jorda Anselm , Nics Lukas , Langsteger Werner , Zeitlinger Markus , Hacker Marcus , Langer Oliver
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Multidrug resistance-associated proteins (MRPs) have a widespread tissue distribution. They play an important role in drug disposition and drug-drug interactions (DDIs) and have been associated with various diseases. PET with 6-bromo-7-[11C]methylpurine ([11C]BMP) has been used to assess MRP1 function in the brain and lungs of mice. [11C]BMP crosses cellular membranes by passive diffusion followed by intracellular conjugation with glutathione and MRP1-mediated efflux of the radiolabelled glutathione-conjugate. In this study, we assessed the effect of the prototypical organic anion transporter inhibitor probenecid on the whole-body disposition of [11C]BMP to examine its suitability for measuring the function of MRP1 and possibly other MRP subtypes across multiple tissues.

Methods

Seven healthy volunteers (3 women, 4 men) underwent two dynamic whole-body PET scans on a long axial field-of-view (LAFOV) PET/CT system after intravenous injection of [11C]BMP, without and with pre-treatment with a single oral dose of probenecid. Volumes of interest were outlined for several MRP-expressing tissues (cerebral cortex, cerebellum, choroid plexus, retina, lungs, myocardium, skeletal muscle, kidneys, and liver). Tissue time-activity curves were corrected for the contribution of vascular radioactivity and the elimination rate constant (k
E, h− 1) was calculated as a parameter for tissue MRP function.

Results

Radioactivity was primarily excreted into the urinary bladder and urinary clearance was significantly decreased after probenecid administration (− 50 ± 16%). Following probenecid administration, k
E was significantly decreased in the kidneys (− 43 ± 20%), liver (− 18 ± 15%), myocardium (− 16 ± 12%), skeletal muscle (− 51 ± 34%), and retina (− 57 ± 29%, non-blood-corrected).

Conclusion

Our study highlights the great potential of LAFOV PET/CT to assess drug disposition and transporter-mediated DDIs in humans at a whole-body, multi-tissue level. Due to the slow elimination of [11C]BMP-derived radioactivity from the human brain, [11C]BMP appears unsuitable to measure cerebral MRP1 function in humans, but it may be used to assess the function of MRP1 and possibly other MRP subtypes in various peripheral tissues.

Trial registration

EudraCT 2021-006348-29. Registered 15 December 2021.
Dynamic multi-period recycling collection routing with uncertain material quality
Authors: Cuellar-Usaquén Daniel , Ulmer Marlin W. , Antons Oliver , Arlinghaus Julia C.
Published: February 2025

We consider the problem of collecting and processing waste material. At a production facility, a known amount of inventory is required for production (e.g., paper) for every period. Instead of new material, the facility relies on collected and processed waste material (e.g., paper waste). This material is collected from regional waste collection locations. The amount of waste material per location is uncertain, as is the quality of the collected waste, i.e., the resulting inventory when processing the material. If the inventory is insufficient at the end of a period, costly new material must be bought. Each period, decisions are made about how much waste material to collect from which location and how to route the collection vehicles accordingly. Ideally, inventory is built to hedge against quality uncertainty and to ensure efficient routing operations in future periods. We propose a stochastic lookahead method that samples a set of scenarios and solves a simplified two-stage stochastic program in every period. We show the value of our method for two case studies, one based on real-world data from Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, and one from the literature with data from the United Kingdom. We further conduct a detailed analysis of our method and the problem characteristics. The results show that our method effectively anticipates all sources of uncertainty, reducing cost significantly compared to benchmark policies. This superior performance is due to appropriate state-dependent supplier selection that considers the percentage of material loss, available material, and routing cost for current and future periods.
Environmental changes in central Mesoamerica in the Archaic and Formative periods
Authors: Caballero Margarita , Ortega Beatriz , Lozano-García Socorro , Montero Donají , Torres Esperanza , Soler Ana María
Published: February 2025

This study aims to improve the understanding of climatic fluctuations in the southern Basin of Mexico (BM) during the Archaic (11,500–4,000 cal bp) and Formative (4,000–2,000 cal bp) archaeological periods, when early sedentary settlements at the Zohapilco and Atlapulco sites developed from ∼8,000–7,500 cal bp. This study is based on the analysis of diatoms, pollen, microalgae, charcoal, magnetic susceptibility, geochemistry (organic carbon and titanium) and micromorphology in sediments from a section in a 5 m deep trench at Tulyehualco in the southern BM, close to the Zohapilco and Atlapulco archaeological sites. The chronology is based on five radiocarbon dates and on the correlation with two dated tephra layers. Abundant diatoms and microalgae attest for a period of high lake levels during the deglaciation (17,000–11,000 cal bp), followed by lowering lake levels during the Greenlandian (11,000–8,200 cal bp) when summer insolation peaked, and more oxidative subaerial conditions likely caused poor pollen preservation. Micromorphological analysis showed soil development processes and poor diatom and pollen preservation that confirmed subaerial (dry land) conditions during the 8,200 cal bp cold event. Zohapilco and Atlapulco were first occupied during this period of environmental difficulty. Better diatom and pollen preservation suggest a return to wetter conditions at ~ 7,500–6,500 cal bp, but unusually high charcoal concentrations could reflect human impact in the landscape since the mid Archaic. The diatom record showed that the late Formative (2,000 cal bp, 50 bc) abandonment of sites in the BM was associated with a new reduction in lake levels and a sedimentation hiatus.
Human-AI collaboration for ultrasound diagnosis of thyroid nodules: a clinical trial
Authors: Edström Axel Bukhave , Makouei Fatemeh , Wennervaldt Kasper , Lomholt Anne Fog , Kaltoft Mikkel , Melchiors Jacob , Hvilsom Gitte Bjørn , Bech Magne , Tolsgaard Martin , Todsen Tobias
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This clinical trial examined how the articifial intelligence (AI)-based diagnostics system S-Detect for Thyroid influences the ultrasound diagnostic work-up of thyroid ultrasound (US) performed by different US users in clinical practice and how different US users influences the diagnostic accuracy of S-Detect.

Methods

We conducted a clinical trial with 20 participants, including medical students, US novice physicians, and US experienced physicians. Five patients with thyroid nodules (one malignant and four benign) volunteered to undergo a thyroid US scan performed by all 20 participants using the same US systems with S-Detect installed. Participants performed a focused thyroid US on each patient case and made a nodule classification according to the European Thyroid Imaging Reporting And Data System (EU-TIRADS). They then performed a S-Detect analysis of the same nodule and were asked to re-evaluate their EU-TIRADS reporting. From the EU-TIRADS assessments by participants, we derived a biopsy recommendation outcome of whether fine needle aspiration biopsy (FNAB) was recommended.

Results

The mean diagnostic accuracy for S-Detect was 71.3% (range 40–100%) among all participants, with no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.31). The accuracy of our biopsy recommendation outcome was 69.8% before and 69.2% after AI for all participants (p = 0.75).

Conclusion

In this trial, we did not find S-Detect to improve the thyroid diagnostic work-up in clinical practice among novice and intermediate ultrasound operators. However, the operator had a substantial impact on the AI-generated ultrasound diagnosis, with a variation in diagnostic accuracy from 40 to 100%, despite the same patients and ultrasound machines being used in the trial.
MRI-guided laser interstitial thermal therapy in epilepsy: indications, technique and outcome in an adult population. A single-center data analysis
Authors: Infante Nazaret , Conesa Gerardo , Pérez-Enríquez Carmen , Capellades Jaume , de Oliveira Luísa Panadés , Vilella Laura , Principe Alessandro , del Mar Crespi-Vallespir Maria , Gallardo-Mir Mireia , Rocamora Rodrigo
Published: February 2025

Background

Magnetic Resonance Imaging guided Laser Interstitial Thermal Therapy (MRIgLITT) is a promising treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) and an alternative to open surgery. However, the relationship between clinical and radiological factors and postoperative outcomes is unclear. This study explores the indications, technical challenges, and outcomes of MRIgLITT in terms of seizure control and cognitive changes across various pathologies.

Methods

A retrospective single-center analysis included 32 MRIgLITT procedures performed between January 2019 and December 2023. Procedures used the Visualase® system for laser ablation, with stereotactic robotic guidance for fiber placement. Data included demographics, clinical and surgical details (ablated volume, timing, power and accuracy), and postoperative follow-up assessed seizure outcomes and complications. Cognitive changes were analyzed using a Reliable Change Index (RCI) before and one year after the procedure.

Results

The 32 procedures involved 28 patients with MRI-diagnosed pathologies: 14 hippocampal sclerosis (HS), 7 hypothalamic hamartoma (HH), 3 focal cortical dysplasia (FCD), 2 periventricular heterotopia (PVH), 1 tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), and 1 low-grade glioma. Some cases required multiple approaches.

Postoperative follow-up averaged 33 months. Among HS patients, 71.42% achieved Engel I, and 21.43% Engel II. In HH, 85.7% initially became gelastic seizure-free, with complete freedom after additional treatment. Engel I outcomes were 28.6%, while 57.2% showed significant improvement (Engel I + II). FCD patients had a 66.6% Engel I success rate. One PVH patient became seizure-free, while the TSC patient was Engel III at last follow-up. RCI analysis showed that 71.44% of patients experienced cognitive stability (RCI > −1.64) or improvement (RCI > 1.64) at one-year post-procedure.

Conclusions

MRIgLITT is a safe, minimally invasive alternative for epilepsy surgery, offering quicker recovery and showing better performance preserving cognitive function. It is particularly effective for deep or complex epileptic foci and patients who might refuse open surgery.
Intraspecific variation of the hedgehog arteriviruses, which may constitute a new genus in the subfamily Heroarterivirinae of the family Arteriviridae
Authors: Dastjerdi Akbar , Davies Hannah , Inglese Nadia , Holland Samantha , Samborskiy Dmitry V. , Gorbalenya Alexander E.
Published: February 2025

We recently discovered a novel member of the family Arteriviridae, hedgehog arterivirus 1 (HhAV-1), in the brains of hedgehogs with fatal encephalitis. In this study, we classified this virus and investigated its intrahost genomic diversity using next-generation sequencing. We sequenced HhAV-1 genomes from specimens from seven hedgehogs (two males and five females) with signs of encephalitis that were collected in Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, and Cambridgeshire, England, and had died or been euthanised between 2013 and 2024. Analysis of the intrahost populations of these seven HhAV-1 isolates and a previously described isolate revealed the presence of single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), which were most frequent in open reading frames 5, 6, and 7, encoding glycoprotein 5, the membrane protein, and the nucleocapsid protein. Pairwise comparisons of the eight HhAV-1 variants showed that the nucleotide sequence identity values in their combined complete coding sequences ranged from 76.2% to 100%. The eight HhAV-1 variants also shared at least 82.8% amino acid sequence identity in five domains that are involved in replication and are used for the classification of nidoviruses: 3CLpro, NiRAN, RdRp, ZBD, and HEL1. In a replicase-based phylogenetic tree of members of the family Arteriviridae, the HhAV-1 variants formed a sister cluster to African pouched rat arterivirus. A DEmARC-based pairwise distance analysis indicated that these viruses may comprise a new species, for which we propose the name "Xiarterivirus erinaceid", in a new genus in the subfamily Heroarterivirinae.
Clinical revenues of selective use of [18F]-FDG-PET/CT scanning in the management of Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia
Authors: Verkaik Dewi , Westgeest Annette C. , Wu Jian Ling , Sigaloff Kim C. E. , Lambregts Merel M. C. , de Boer Mark G. J.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Although [18F]-FDG-PET/CT scanning (PET/CT) is recommended for managing Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia (SAB), its added value remains debated. This study investigated the clinical revenues of selective PET/CT use in SAB by considering three consequence-categories: detection of new infection foci, performance of new interventions, and alterations in antimicrobial therapy.

Methods

All adult patients with ≥ 1 blood culture (BC) positive with Staphylococcus aureus admitted in a Dutch academic center between 201711 and 202311 were identified. Standard practice was to order PET/CT for patients with community acquired SAB and/or positive BCs after ≥ 48 h of treatment, or if multiple foci, or persistent fever, or endocarditis were present. Clinical- and laboratory data were obtained from electronic health records. Numbers-needed-to-scan (NNT-scan) were calculated for each consequence-category. Regression analyses were performed to identify variables correlated with consequence-bearing PET/CT.

Results

Of 397 SAB patients, 143 (36%) underwent PET/CT. This led to detection of new foci in 73/143 patients (NNT-scan ≈ 2), new interventions in 33/143 patients (NNT-scan ≈ 4), and a change in antimicrobial therapy in 44/143 patients (NNT-scan ≈ 3). A CRP > 200 mg/L at presentation and positive follow-up BCs at 48 h were independently associated with interventions following PET/CT (adjusted OR and 95%CI 3.2 (1.2–8.3) and 2.6 (1.0-6.7) respectively). PET/CT results instigated changes in antimicrobial therapy predominantly in patients < 65 years and those with a CRP < 100 at presentation.

Conclusions

Selective PET/CT ordering in real-life practice resulted in a relatively low NNT-scan across all consequence-categories. Further research is warranted to optimize patient selection for PET/CT using clinical parameters or profiles.
Smallholder rice farmers' resilience to water insecurity in Ogun State Nigeria
Authors: Sanusi Muyinatu M. , Dries Liesbeth
Published: February 2025

Agriculture in Nigeria is essentially rainfed. This makes smallholder rice farming households vulnerable to water insecurity caused by weather-related shocks. This research assesses the resilience of smallholder rice farmers to water insecurity in Ogun State, Nigeria using cross-sectional data collected through an open data kit-powered questionnaire. The aim of the research is to examine the connection between specific resilience capacities of smallholder rice farming households and water insecurity caused by weather-related shocks. To this end, a measure of resilience to water insecurity is developed that incorporates household investments in water management techniques using a categorical principal component analysis. The potential correlation between the dimensions of resilience capacities and different types of weather-related shocks is tested. The research shows that smallholder rice farming households in the study area have a low overall level of resilience. Moreover, farmers are able to absorb shocks but their ability to adapt to shocks is low. It is therefore important to improve the capacities of farming households to become more structurally resilient to water insecurity in the long run by enhancing their ability to adapt, mitigate the impact of shocks, and implement coping strategies.
Online deep learning’s role in conquering the challenges of streaming data: a survey
Authors: Sulaiman Muhammad , Farmanbar Mina , Kagami Shingo , Belbachir Ahmed Nabil , Rong Chunming
Published: February 2025

In an era defined by the relentless influx of data from diverse sources, the ability to harness and extract valuable insights from streaming data has become paramount. The rapidly evolving realm of online learning techniques is tailored specifically for the unique challenges posed by streaming data. As the digital world continues to generate vast torrents of real-time data, understanding and effectively utilizing online learning approaches are pivotal for staying ahead in various domains. One of the primary goals of online learning is to continuously update the model with the most recent data trends while maintaining and improving the accuracy of previous trends. Based on the various types of feedback, online learning tasks can be divided into three categories: learning with full feedback, learning with limited feedback, and learning without feedback. This survey aims to identify and analyze the key challenges associated with online learning with full feedback, including concept drift, catastrophic forgetting, skewed learning, and network adaptation, while the other existing reviews mainly focus on a single challenge or two without considering other scenarios. This article also discusses the application and ethical implications of online learning. The results of this survey provide valuable insights for researchers and instructional designers seeking to create effective online learning experiences that incorporate full feedback while addressing the associated challenges. In the end, some conclusions, remarks, and future directions for the research community are provided based on the findings of this review.
Characterization of Delta-7 Alkenone Desaturase in Haptophyte Gephyrocapsa huxleyi Through Heterologous Expression in Tisochrysis lutea
Authors: Yoneda Kohei , Kobayashi Chinatsu , Araie Hiroya , Morita Rikuri , Harada Ryuhei , Shigeta Yasuteru , Endo Hirotoshi , Maeda Yoshiaki , Suzuki Iwane
Published: February 2025

The marine haptophyte Gephyrocapsa huxleyi is an ecologically and geochemically important phytoplankton due to its contribution to the global carbon cycle and its ability to biosynthesize certain alkenones. These alkenones are long-chain alkyl ketones with two to four trans-type double bonds. The genes encoding alkenone desaturase in G. huxleyi have not been experimentally characterized so far, partly due to the difficulty of inducing genetic transformation in G. huxleyi. Therefore, we introduced the putative alkenone delta-7 desaturase of G. huxleyi (designated “DesT”) to the transformable and alkenone-producing haptophyte Tisochrysis lutea. We found two types of coding sequences for DesT, which are probably derived from the expression products of different alleles, and designated them “DesT-1” and “DesT-2.” The ratio of C37:3 to C37:2 methyl alkenone in the DesT-1 transformant was significantly higher than that in the mock strain that expressed only the hygromycin resistance gene, suggesting that DesT-1 was an alkenone delta-7 desaturase in G. huxleyi. In the protein structure, a tunnel where a substrate alkenone penetrates was predicted to be located around the histidine box of DesT, and hydrophilic and hydrophobic amino acids were respectively located at the proximal (near side to the histidine box) and distal ends of the tunnel. This is the first study to conduct experimental characterization of the alkenone metabolism-related gene in G. huxleyi. The heterologous expression system using T. lutea paves the way for further characterization of the alkenone metabolism-related genes in less transformable haptophytes.
Kepler sets of linear recurrence sequences
Authors: Berend D. , Kumar R.
Published: February 2025

The Kepler set of a sequence

$$(a_n)_{n=0}^\infty$$

(

a
n

)

n
=
0

∞

is the closure of the set of consecutive ratios

$$\{a_{n+1}/a_{n} : n\geq 0\}$$

{

a

n
+
1

/

a
n

:
n
≥
0
}

. Following several studies, dealing with Kepler sets of recurrence sequences of order 2, we study here the case of recurrences of any order.
Fuzzy clustering with $$\hbox {L}_0$$ regularization
Authors: Ferraro Maria Brigida , Forti Marco , Giordani Paolo
Published: February 2025

The Fuzzy K-Means algorithm extends the well-known classical K-Means algorithm by replacing the standard allocation matrix with the membership degree one. Consistently with the fuzzy approach to clustering, this allows for obtaining a soft assignment of the units to the clusters. The units are assigned to the clusters with membership degree taking values in the unit interval. In practice, what we get from Fuzzy K-Means is a fuzzy partition where even the units clearly belonging to only one cluster generally present non-zero membership degrees to all the clusters. In order to overcome this drawback, a generalization of Fuzzy K-Means is proposed where an

$$\hbox {L}_0$$

L
0

regularization term for the membership degree matrix is introduced. This makes it possible to obtain a sparse membership degree matrix, where the units that clearly belong to one cluster have membership degrees strictly equal to one to the cluster involved and zero to the other clusters, without compromising the soft membership degrees of the units with unclear assignments. The adequacy of the proposal is evaluated by means of simulation and real-case studies.
Alcohol use in Early Midlife: Findings from the Age 37 Follow-Up Assessment of the FinnTwin12 Cohort
Authors: Cooke Megan E. , Lumpe Erin , Stephenson Mallory , Urjansson Mia , Aliev Fazil , Palviainen Teemu , Brislin Sarah J. , Piirtola Maarit , Rabinowitz Jill , Latvala Antti , Barr Peter B. , Vuoksimaa Eero , Maes Hermine H. M. , Viken Richard , Rose Richard J. , Kaprio Jaakko , Dick Danielle M. , Aaltonen Sari , Salvatore Jessica E.
Published: February 2025

This paper provides an overview of the most recent assessment, collected in early midlife, of the FinnTwin12 cohort, a population-based study of Finnish twins born in 1983–1987. The twins were invited to complete an online survey assessing a range of variables, including physical and mental health, alcohol use and problems, other substance use, and early midlife environments (e.g., parenthood). In total, 2,085 individuals (~ 40% of the original sample) completed the survey (551 complete twin pairs, 58.7% female, 37.3% monozygotic, Mage = 37.2 years, SD = 1.47 years, age range = 34–39 years). Individuals who participated were more likely to be female, monozygotic, and have higher parental education and less hyperactivity/impulsivity and aggression at age 12 when compared to individuals who were invited but did not participate. Parental alcohol misuse and the twins’ alcohol use and misuse at age 14 were not related to study retention. Alcohol misuse in early midlife was positively associated with nicotine dependence, lifetime use of cannabis and other drugs, trauma exposure, and depressive symptoms, and negatively associated with physical health and having biological children. These new data expand upon the wealth of measures collected as part of previous assessments, expanding the scope of work on the etiology and correlates of alcohol misuse within a longitudinal, genetically-informed framework. In addition to these new survey measures, we are planning an in-person assessment to collect physiological measurements and conduct additional in-depth phenotyping on a subset of twins who have been more intensively studied over the years.
Exploiting effective negative curvature directions via SYMMBK algorithm, in Newton–Krylov methods
Authors: Fasano Giovanni , Piermarini Christian , Roma Massimo
Published: February 2025

In this paper we consider the issue of computing negative curvature directions, for nonconvex functions, within Newton–Krylov methods for large scale unconstrained optimization. In the last decades this issue has been widely investigated in the literature, and different approaches have been proposed. We focus on the well known SYMMBK method introduced for solving large scale symmetric possibly indefinite linear systems (Bunch and Kaufman in Math Comput 31:163–179, 2003; Chandra in Conjugate gradient methods for partial differential equations, Yale University, New Haven, 1978; Conn et al. Trust-region methods. MPS-SIAM Series on Optimization, Philadelphia, 2000; HSL 2013: A collection of Fortran codes for large scale scientific computation. http://www.hsl.rl.ac.uk/), and show how to exploit it to yield an effective negative curvature direction in optimization frameworks. The distinguishing feature of our proposal is that the computation of negative curvatures is basically carried out as by–product of SYMMBK procedure, without storing no more than two additional vectors. Hence, no explicit matrix factorization or matrix storage is required. An extensive numerical experimentation has been performed on problems; the obtained results have been analyzed also through novel profiles (Quality Profiles) which highlighted the good capability of the algorithms which use negative curvature directions to determine better local minimizers.
Seasonal variations, source apportionment, and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in sediments from Klip River, Johannesburg, South Africa
Authors: Makobe Samuel , Seopela Mathapelo P. , Ambushe Abayneh A.
Published: February 2025

The widespread occurrence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in water bodies is a significant cause of concern due to their persistence and toxicity. This study aimed at assessing the qualitative and quantitative profile of 16 EPA PAHs present in sediment collected from nine sites along the Klip River, Johannesburg, South Africa. The target compounds were extracted from sediment by microwave-assisted extraction (MAE). The extraction method accuracy was evaluated by analyzing certified reference material of sediment (CRM-104). The total concentration of PAHs detected in sediment samples ranged from 1.46 to 7.41 mg/kg. High molecular weight (HMW) PAHs were found to be in higher concentrations for both low flow (24.5 mg/kg) and high flow (19.4 mg/kg) seasons compared to the lower molecular weight (LMW) PAHs, which had 11.1 mg/kg for low flow and 5.63 mg/kg for high flow seasons. For identification of source of PAHs in sediments, the diagnostic ratio was employed, which revealed the PAHs were from petrogenic and pyrogenic sources. Toxicity test using zebrafish embryo development test (ZFET) resulted in high mortality, low hatch rate, and high malformations, which indicated the contamination of sediments from the Klip River. These findings suggest that exposure to this water system poses risks to the environment, aquatic life, and humans who depend on it.
The Unbearable Indefiniteness of Spacetime
Authors: Cinti Enrico , Mariani Cristian , Sanchioni Marco
Published: February 2025

We consider the observables describing spatiotemporal properties in the context of two of the most popular approaches to quantum gravity (QG), namely String Theory and Loop QG. In both approaches these observables are described by non-commuting operators. In analogy with recent arguments put forward in the context of non-relativistic quantum mechanics [see Calosi and Mariani (Philos. Compass 16(4):e12731, 2021) for a review], we suggest that the physical quantities corresponding to those observables may be interpreted as ontologically indeterminate—i.e., indeterminate in a way that is non-epistemic and semantic-independent. This working hypothesis has not received enough attention in the current debate on QG, and yet it may prove explanatory useful in several respects. First, it provides a clear background for understanding how some features of QG are ontologically continuous to features of quantum mechanics. Second, it sets the stage for asking new interesting questions about QG, for instance concerning the status of the so-called Eigenstate-Eigenvalue link. Third, it indirectly shows how the debate on ontological indeterminacy may extend well beyond the non-relativistic case, contrary to what seems to be assumed. Fourth, and perhaps more importantly, it provides a promising alternative to the received view on QG [Wüthrich et al. (Philosophy Beyond Spacetime: Implications from Quantum Gravity, Oxford University Press, Oxford, 2021)] according to which spacetime is not fundamental. On the view we shall suggest, spacetime may be indeterminate and yet fundamental.
MOF and MOF-based membranes: promising solutions for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment
Authors: Islam Izaz Ul , Hu Xudong , Shang Jingyi , Ashraf Muhammad Ayaz , Ali Tariq , Aslam Awais Ali , Li Shuang , Li Deliang , Nazir Muhammad Shahid , Wang Xinhai , Yabalak Erdal
Published: February 2025

Water contamination has become a significant global issue in recent decades, with pollutants, such as heavy metals, acids, organic solvents, and pharmaceutical waste contributing to environmental degradation. Various techniques are employed for treating pharmaceutical wastewater, but metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are gaining increasing attention due to their unique properties. MOFs offer exceptional porosity, modular structures, high crystallinity, customizable chemical components, large specific surface area, simple functionalization, and numerous active sites. These coordination compounds consist of poly-nuclear metal nodes and organic linkers, forming highly porous structures. This review focuses on MOF-based membrane separation techniques, including membrane filtration (MF), nanofiltration, organic solvent nanofiltration, ultrafiltration (UF), microfiltration, forward osmosis, reverse osmosis, membrane pervaporation, and membrane distillation, along with their mechanisms for removing pharmaceutical waste. MOFs have shown great promise in enhancing membrane performance by improving adsorption capacities, increasing water flow rates, and optimizing membrane properties. Integrating MOFs with materials like graphene oxide, titania, and silica has further improved their performance. Additionally, green synthesis methods are being developed to create eco-friendly MOFs for sustainable wastewater treatment. MOFs demonstrate effective adsorption capacities for various contaminants, including antibiotics, such as tetracycline, nitroimidazole, and quinolone. Functionalizing MOFs with specific groups has been shown to further enhance their adsorption efficiency. Overall, MOFs offer significant potential for advancing pharmaceutical wastewater treatment and addressing global water contamination challenges.
The Optical Properties, UV-Vis. Absorption and Fluorescence Spectra of 4-Pentylphenyl 4-n-benzoate Derivatives in Different Solvents
Authors: Sıdır Yadigar Gülseven , Sıdır İsa
Published: February 2025

In this paper, electronic absorbance and fluorescence spectra of 4-Pentylphenyl 4-n-benzoate derivatives have been measured in 29 solvents, which are non-polar, polar protic and polar aprotic solvents, and electronic transitions that vary depending on the solvent are identified. As the solvent polarity increases, the forbidden energy difference between the frontier orbitals decreases. The statistical models in order to describe the solvent effect were derived using different solvent parameters. Quite complex and multiple absorbance transitions were observed in different solvent environments. Local fluorescence transition and intramolecular charge transfer occurred in the fluorescence spectra. Absorbance transitions are global transitions, and π*←π is the absorbance electronic transition. The frontier molecular orbitals and electrostatic potential surface were founded using quantum chemical calculations. Refractive indices were found with five different methods and forbidden energy gaps were found with the Tauc method. The forbidden energy ranges were found around 4.1 and 4.5, and the forbidden energy gap decreased as the alkyl chain became longer. All compounds can be defined as insulation materials according to the forbidden energy range. Refractive index values close to the E7 liquid crystal mixture used in liquid crystal display panels were found in the investigated liquid crystals.