bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the Public Health Implications of Virulent and Antibiotic‐Resistant Bacteria in Côte d’Ivoire’s Ready‐to‐Eat Salads
Authors: N’zi N’goran Parfait , Gbonon Valérie Carole , Guédé Kipré Bertin , Afran Sidjè Arlette , Angaman Djédoux Maxime
Published: August 2024

In Côte d’Ivoire, the popularity of ready‐to‐eat salads has grown substantially. Despite their convenience, these products often face criticism for their microbiological safety. This research was conducted to assess the virulence and antibiotic resistance profiles of Escherichia coli (E. coli), Salmonella spp., and Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) isolated from salads available in hypermarkets across Abidjan. The study utilized a combination of microbiological and molecular biology techniques. Results indicated that E. coli isolates harbored virulence genes such as stx2 (50%) and ST (62.50%), though genes stx1 and LT were absent in the samples tested. In S. aureus, virulence genes detected included sea (55.55%), sec (11.110%), and sed (44.44%). The antibiotic resistance assessment revealed high resistance in E. coli to β‐lactam antibiotics, with all isolates resistant to cefuroxime (100%) and the majority to ampicillin and cefoxitin (87.5%). Most Salmonella spp. isolates were sensitive to the antibiotics tested, except for cefoxitin and ampicillin, showing resistance rates of 42.85% and 57.15%, respectively. Staphylococcus aureus demonstrated considerable resistance, particularly to cefoxitin (44.44%), benzylpenicillin (100%), and ampicillin (55.55%). In addition, resistance to aminoglycosides (55.55% to both kanamycin and gentamicin) and macrolides (66.66% to erythromycin and 55.55% to clindamycin) was noted. Resistance to various fluoroquinolones ranged between 33.33% and 55.55%. The presence of resistance genes such as blaTEM (10.52%), qnrA (2.26%), qnrB (5.26%), qnrS (5.26%), and mecA (13.15%) in E. coli and S. aureus underscores the challenge of multidrug resistance, exhibiting phenotypes such as ESBL (50%), Meti‐R (55.55%), KTG (44.44%), MLSB (44.44%), and FQ‐R (25%). These results carry significant epidemiological and public health implications, highlighting the urgent need for improved safety regulations and practices regarding ready‐to‐eat salads in urban food markets.
Clinical Manifestation and Phylogenetic Analysis of Peste des Petits Ruminants in Local Iraqi Breed Sheep in Al‐Diwaniyah Province
Authors: Mansour Khalefa A. , Hussain Muthanna H. , Al-Husseiny Saad H. , Abid Asaad J. , Kshash Qassim H.
Published: August 2024

Peste des petits ruminants (PPR), a contagious virus that infects sheep and goats, damages livestock globally. This study examined the clinical features and phylogenetic analysis of the PPR virus in Iraqi breed sheep from Al‐Diwaniyah province. A clinical trial of 610 sheep from different flocks found 150 oral lesions. Special primers for RT‐PCR and Mega11 for phylogenetic analysis were used to study the PPR virus nucleoprotein (N) gene. The PPR infection rate was 44.6% in 4–12 month olds (n = 33/131) and 4.8% in 36–48 month olds (n = 3/75). A 608‐bp PPR virus partial N gene sequence was found in 49.3% of samples by RT‐PCR. In leucine, isoleucine, proline, glycine, alanine, glutamine, asparagine, threonine, serine, arginine, and lysine codons, 25 amino acid alterations were found. The protein codon 56 alanine‐valine alteration was most significant. Moving from a smaller hydrophobic amino acid to one with a bigger side chain may reduce protein stability. Steric hindrance or protein shape change from Valine’s extended side chain may impact folding, stability, functionality, and interactions with other molecules. Furthermore, phylogenetic analysis showed that the Nigerian strain (MN271586) was most similar to our Iraqi strain, with 100% identity and coverage. This study found the Peste des Petits Ruminants (PPR) virus in sheep flocks in Al‐Diwaniyah Governorate, Iraq, which is genetically similar to neighboring countries. PPR virus strains must be monitored and genetically characterized since N gene alterations can affect infection and propagation.
Research on the Coupling Relationship between Professional Clusters and Industrial Clusters in the Pearl River Delta Region of China
Authors: Li Li , Hu Yuzhou , Zheng Sisi , Lin Yimian
Published: August 2024

The development of education should serve the needs of economic and social development by providing high‐quality and appropriate professionals for economic development. Recently, the implementation of Double High Plan has provided many opportunities for the cultivation of high‐level professional groups. In the process of professional group construction, the extent of coupling between the level of professional group construction and the level of regional economic clusters is an important evaluation. This work is based on the list of proposed projects for the construction of high‐level professional clusters in Guangdong Province between 2019 and 2021. This list is issued by the department of education of Guangdong Province. The quantitative indicators and coupling models are established to estimate the degree of coupling between the construction of professional clusters in 9 prefecture‐level cities located in the Pearl River Delta region and the level of regional industrial clusters. The results presented in this work show that the professional cluster construction and industrial construction level of four prefecture‐level cities, including Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Foshan, and Dongguan, achieve coordinated development, while the remaining areas are mostly in transformation and integration stages. This is because the development level of industrial clusters has surpassed the construction of professional clusters in universities, resulting in a mismatch between talent cultivation and the requirements of economic development. This mismatch is manifested in three aspects. First, the supply and demand do not align in terms of the scale of professional groups and industrial clusters. Second, insufficient integration of professional clusters and industrial clusters. Finally, this mismatch is evident in imbalanced resource allocation. The fit between the setting of professional clusters and the structure of industrial clusters is not high. Based on the aforementioned analysis, this work presents suggestions for promoting the integration of industry and education and school‐enterprise cooperation among universities in the Pearl River Delta region. This will eventually enhance the construction of high‐level professional groups in the Pearl River Delta region and result in coordinated economic and social development.
Three Weeks on a Ketogenic Diet Reduces Free Testosterone and Free Estradiol in Middle‐Aged Obese Men and Women
Authors: Svart Mads , Rittig Nikolaj , Luong Thien Vinh , Gopalasingam Nigopan , Vestergaard Esben Thyssen , Gormsen Lars , Søndergaard Esben , Thomsen Henrik Holm , Gravholt Claus H.
Published: August 2024

Background. Beta‐hydroxybuturate (β‐OHB) supplements are commonly utilized in sports by both recreational and professional athletes. In a recent study, we observed a drop in testosterone levels following the oral ingestion of racemic sodium‐β‐OHB. In this investigation, we aim to determine whether a single oral dose of ketone ester (study I) and prolonged endogenous ketosis (study II) also reduces testosterone levels. Design. This investigation integrated samples from two distinct studies. Study I was a randomized, controlled, crossover trial with ten healthy, young male participants receiving either a weight‐adjusted ketone ester or control (water, CTR) and vice versa following an overnight fast. Repeated blood sampling was used to monitor plasma β‐OHB and testosterone levels. Study II, another randomized, controlled, crossover trial, included 11 middle‐aged participants (five males). They followed either a ketogenic diet (KD) characterized by low carbohydrates and high fat content or a standard diet (SDD) for three weeks. After each study period, participants underwent examination following an overnight fast, with repeated measures employed to analyze concentrations of plasma β‐OHB and sex hormone levels. Results. Study I: Testosterone decreased from 23.8 ± 2.4 nmol/l to 22.3 ± 2.5 nmol/l 300 minutes after the ketone ester and increased from 20.9 ± 2.1 nmol/l to 22.2 ± 1.9 300 minutes after CTR. This difference was not significant, p = 0.06. Study II. Total testosterone was unaffected after the KD compared to the SDD in men (20.2 ± 1.23 nmol/l vs. 18.2 ± 1.23 nmol/l (p = 0.1)) and was lower after KD in women (0.87 ± 0.06 vs. 1.1 ± 0.06 nmol/l (p < 0.0001)). Sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) increased in men after KD compared with SDD (31.2 ± 2.6 nmol/l vs 25.0 ± 2.6 nmol/l, p < 0.0001) and women (26.5 ± 3.05 nmol/l vs 24.2 ± 3.05 nmol/l, p = 0.003). The free androgen index decreased after KD in men (ratio: 0.65 ± 0.05 vs. ratio: 0.74 ± 0.05, p = 0.04) and in women (ratio: 0.036 ± 0.006 vs. SDD 0.05 ± 0.006, p = 0.0001). Free estradiol index was also found lower after KD in men (ratio: 3.1 ± 0.8 vs. ratio: 4.8 ± 0.8, p = 0.0003) and in women (ratio: 1.2 ± 2.2 vs. 9.8 ± 2.2, p = 0.0001). Conclusion. Our findings indicate that the acute ingestion of ketone ester may not reduce testosterone levels in healthy young males. However, a three‐week exposure to KB from a KD results in an increase in SHBG in men and women with obesity as well as it lowers free testosterone and estradiol for men and women. We thus present evidence of crosstalk between alterations in a metabolite, β‐OHB, and the regulation of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐gonadal axis from a KD. The clinical impact of this reduction remains to be investigated. This trial is registered with NCT04156477​ and NCT05012748.
Supplementary Figure 2 from Anti-EGFR Antibody–Drug Conjugate Carrying an Inhibitor Targeting CDK Restricts Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Growth
Authors: Cheung Anthony , Chenoweth Alicia M. , Johansson Annelie , Laddach Roman , Guppy Naomi , Trendell Jennifer , Esapa Benjamina , Mavousian Antranik , Navarro-Llinas Blanca , Haider Syed , Romero-Clavijo Pablo , Hoffmann Ricarda M. , Andriollo Paolo , Rahman Khondaker M. , Jackson Paul , Tsoka Sophia , Irshad Sheeba , Roxanis Ioannis , Grigoriadis Anita , Thurston David E. , Lord Christopher J. , Tutt Andrew N. J. , Karagiannis Sophia N.
Published: August 2024

Supplementary Figure 2. Single-cell RNA sequencing analyses of HER2, ER and EGFR in breast cancer.
Supplementary Table S1 from Evaluating the Base Excision Repair Inhibitor TRC102 and Temozolomide for Patients with Recurrent Glioblastoma in the Phase 2 Adult Brain Tumor Consortium Trial BERT
Authors: Ahluwalia Manmeet S. , Ozair Ahmad , Drappatz Jan , Ye Xiaobu , Peng Sen , Lee Matthew , Rath Sanhita , Dhruv Harshil , Hao Yue , Berens Michael E. , Walbert Tobias , Holdhoff Matthias , Lesser Glenn J. , Cloughesy Timothy F. , Sloan Andrew E. , Takebe Naoko , Couce Marta , Peereboom David M. , Nabors Burt , Wen Patrick Y. , Grossman Stuart A. , Rogers Lisa R.
Published: August 2024

Key Resources Table
Supplementary Figure S4 from Evaluating the Base Excision Repair Inhibitor TRC102 and Temozolomide for Patients with Recurrent Glioblastoma in the Phase 2 Adult Brain Tumor Consortium Trial BERT
Authors: Ahluwalia Manmeet S. , Ozair Ahmad , Drappatz Jan , Ye Xiaobu , Peng Sen , Lee Matthew , Rath Sanhita , Dhruv Harshil , Hao Yue , Berens Michael E. , Walbert Tobias , Holdhoff Matthias , Lesser Glenn J. , Cloughesy Timothy F. , Sloan Andrew E. , Takebe Naoko , Couce Marta , Peereboom David M. , Nabors Burt , Wen Patrick Y. , Grossman Stuart A. , Rogers Lisa R.
Published: August 2024

Correlation between MPG mRNA and MPG protein abundance values in glioblastoma from the CPTAC database.
Supplementary Figure S2 from Evaluating the Base Excision Repair Inhibitor TRC102 and Temozolomide for Patients with Recurrent Glioblastoma in the Phase 2 Adult Brain Tumor Consortium Trial BERT
Authors: Ahluwalia Manmeet S. , Ozair Ahmad , Drappatz Jan , Ye Xiaobu , Peng Sen , Lee Matthew , Rath Sanhita , Dhruv Harshil , Hao Yue , Berens Michael E. , Walbert Tobias , Holdhoff Matthias , Lesser Glenn J. , Cloughesy Timothy F. , Sloan Andrew E. , Takebe Naoko , Couce Marta , Peereboom David M. , Nabors Burt , Wen Patrick Y. , Grossman Stuart A. , Rogers Lisa R.
Published: August 2024

Signaling Pathway Impact Analysis
Table S1 from Exosomal Thomsen–Friedenreich Glycoantigen: A New Liquid Biopsy Biomarker for Lung and Breast Cancer Diagnoses
Authors: Hsu Chang-Chieh , Su Yafei , Rittenhouse-Olson Kate , Attwood Kristopher M. , Mojica Wilfrido , Reid Mary E. , Dy Grace K. , Wu Yun
Published: August 2024

Supplementary Table S1. Characteristics of Lung Cancer Patients and Controls.
Supplementary Figure S4 from Exosomal Thomsen–Friedenreich Glycoantigen: A New Liquid Biopsy Biomarker for Lung and Breast Cancer Diagnoses
Authors: Hsu Chang-Chieh , Su Yafei , Rittenhouse-Olson Kate , Attwood Kristopher M. , Mojica Wilfrido , Reid Mary E. , Dy Grace K. , Wu Yun
Published: August 2024

Supplementary Figure S4. Repeatability and reproducibility of SPR assay in detecting exosomal TF-Ag-α. The levels of exosomal TF-Ag-α in serum samples from one normal control, one lung cancer patient and one breast cancer patient were measured by operator 1 (a) and operator 2 (b) on 3 different days, 3 replicates per day. The mean, standard deviation, and coefficient of variation (CV) were reported. (c) Pearson correlation of results from operator 1 and operator 2.
Figure 7 from Exosomal Thomsen–Friedenreich Glycoantigen: A New Liquid Biopsy Biomarker for Lung and Breast Cancer Diagnoses
Authors: Hsu Chang-Chieh , Su Yafei , Rittenhouse-Olson Kate , Attwood Kristopher M. , Mojica Wilfrido , Reid Mary E. , Dy Grace K. , Wu Yun
Published: August 2024

Blinded evaluation of exosomal TF-Ag-α in breast cancer diagnosis using a test set of patients with breast cancer and controls. A, Exosomal TF-Ag-α expression was significantly higher in serum samples from patients with breast cancer at all stages (total n = 25; stages 0–IV, 5 per stage) than normal controls (n = 5 including 2 patients with benign breast conditions; ****, P < 0.0001). B, ROC curve of comparison between patients with breast cancer (n = 25) and normal controls (n = 5). The AUC was 1.00. C, The sensitivity (SEN) and specificity (SPE) of exosomal TF-Ag-α in distinguishing patients with breast cancer from normal controls using a cutoff value of 0.484 obtained from the training set.
Figure 6 from Exosomal Thomsen–Friedenreich Glycoantigen: A New Liquid Biopsy Biomarker for Lung and Breast Cancer Diagnoses
Authors: Hsu Chang-Chieh , Su Yafei , Rittenhouse-Olson Kate , Attwood Kristopher M. , Mojica Wilfrido , Reid Mary E. , Dy Grace K. , Wu Yun
Published: August 2024

ROC analysis to evaluate diagnostic performance of exosomal TF-Ag-α in breast cancer. ROC curves of comparisons between all patients with breast cancer (n = 70) and normal controls (n = 29; A); nonmetastatic breast cancer (stages 0–III, n = 55) and normal controls (n = 29; B); metastatic breast cancer (stage IV, n = 15) and normal controls (n = 29; C); luminal A/B breast cancer (n = 44) and normal controls (n = 29; D); triple-negative breast cancer (n = 9) and normal controls (n = 29; E); and HER2-positive breast cancer (n = 17) and normal controls (n = 29; F). The sensitivity (SEN), specificity (SPE), AUC, and cutoff values of exosomal TF-Ag-α for each comparison are summarized in G.
Data from Exosomal Thomsen–Friedenreich Glycoantigen: A New Liquid Biopsy Biomarker for Lung and Breast Cancer Diagnoses
Authors: Hsu Chang-Chieh , Su Yafei , Rittenhouse-Olson Kate , Attwood Kristopher M. , Mojica Wilfrido , Reid Mary E. , Dy Grace K. , Wu Yun
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Exosomes are nanosized extracellular vesicles released by cells to transport biomolecules such as proteins and RNAs for intercellular communication. Exosomes play important roles in cancer development and metastasis; therefore, they have emerged as potential liquid biopsy biomarkers for cancer screening, diagnosis, and management. Many exosome cargos, including proteins, RNAs, and lipids, have been extensively investigated as biomarkers for cancer liquid biopsy. However, carbohydrates, an important type of biomolecule, have not yet been explored for this purpose. In this study, we reported a new exosomal carbohydrate biomarker, α-linked Thomsen–Friedenreich glycoantigen (TF-Ag-α; Galβ1-3GalNAc-α). To translate our discovery into clinical settings, we developed a surface plasmon resonance–based assay which utilized a unique mAb, JAA-F11, with high specificity to measure the levels of exosomal TF-Ag-α in blood. To the best of our knowledge, we are the first to demonstrate that exosomes carry TF-Ag-α. We detected exosomal TF-Ag-α in as low as 10 μL serum samples from patients with cancer, but in contrast, levels were negligible in those from normal controls. With a total of 233 patients with cancer and normal controls, we showed that exosomal TF-Ag-α detected lung cancer (n = 60) and breast cancer (n = 95) from normal controls (n = 78) with ≥95% and ≥97% accuracy, respectively. These results demonstrated that exosomal TF-Ag-α is a potential liquid biopsy biomarker for cancer diagnosis.
Significance:
Exosomes or small extracellular vesicles have emerged as potent biomarkers of cancer liquid biopsy. We discovered a new exosomal carbohydrate marker, TF-Ag-α (Galβ1-3GalNAc-α), and showed that exosomal TF-Ag-α detected both lung and breast cancers with >95% accuracy. Our findings demonstrated that exosomal TF-Ag-α is a promising liquid biopsy biomarker for cancer screening and early detection.
Data from Age-Related Increases in IGFBP2 Increase Melanoma Cell Invasion and Lipid Synthesis
Authors: Alicea Gretchen M. , Patel Payal , Portuallo Marie E. , Fane Mitchell E. , Wei Meihan , Chhabra Yash , Dixit Agrani , Carey Alexis E. , Wang Vania , Rocha Murilo R. , Behera Reeti , Speicher David W. , Tang Hsin-Yao , Kossenkov Andrew V. , Rebecca Vito W. , Wirtz Denis , Weeraratna Ashani T.
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Aged patients with melanoma (>65 years old) have more aggressive disease relative to young patients (<55 years old) for reasons that are not completely understood. Analysis of the young and aged secretome from human dermal fibroblasts identified >5-fold levels of IGF-binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) in the aged fibroblast secretome. IGFBP2 functionally triggers upregulation of the PI3K-dependent fatty acid biosynthesis program in melanoma cells. Melanoma cells co-cultured with aged dermal fibroblasts have higher levels of lipids relative to those co-cultured with young dermal fibroblasts, which can be lowered by silencing IGFBP2 expression in fibroblasts prior to treating with conditioned media. Conversely, ectopically treating melanoma cells with recombinant IGFBP2 in the presence of conditioned media from young fibroblasts or overexpressing IGFBP2 in melanoma cells promoted lipid synthesis and accumulation in melanoma cells. Treatment of young mice with rIGFBP2 increases tumor growth. Neutralizing IGFBP2 in vitro reduces migration and invasion in melanoma cells, and in vivo studies demonstrate that neutralizing IGFBP2 in syngeneic aged mice reduces tumor growth and metastasis. Our results suggest that aged dermal fibroblasts increase melanoma cell aggressiveness through increased secretion of IGFBP2, stressing the importance of considering age when designing studies and treatment.
Significance:
The aged microenvironment drives metastasis in melanoma cells. This study reports that IGFBP2 secretion by aged fibroblasts induces lipid accumulation in melanoma cells, driving an increase in tumor invasiveness. Neutralizing IGFBP2 decreases melanoma tumor growth and metastasis.
Monocyte Single-Cell Multimodal Profiling in Cardiovascular Disease Risk States
Authors: Bashore Alexander C. , Xue Chenyi , Kim Eunyoung , Yan Hanying , Zhu Lucie Y. , Pan Huize , Kissner Michael , Ross Leila S. , Zhang Hanrui , Li Mingyao , Reilly Muredach P.
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND:

Monocytes are a critical innate immune system cell type that serves homeostatic and immunoregulatory functions. They have been identified historically by the cell surface expression of CD14 and CD16. However, recent single-cell studies have revealed that they are much more heterogeneous than previously realized.

METHODS:

We utilized cellular indexing of transcriptomes and epitopes by sequencing (CITE-seq) and single-cell RNA sequencing to describe the comprehensive transcriptional and phenotypic landscape of 437 126 monocytes.

RESULTS:

This high-dimensional multimodal approach identified vast phenotypic diversity and functionally distinct subsets, including IFN-responsive, MHCII
hi
(major histocompatibility complex class II), monocyte-platelet aggregates, as well as nonclassical, and several subpopulations of classical monocytes. Using flow cytometry, we validated the existence of MHCII
+
CD275
+
MHCII
hi
, CD42b
+
monocyte-platelet aggregates, CD16
+
CD99
−
nonclassical monocytes, and CD99
+
classical monocytes. Each subpopulation exhibited unique characteristics, developmental trajectories, transcriptional regulation, and tissue distribution. In addition, alterations associated with cardiovascular disease risk factors, including race, smoking, and hyperlipidemia were identified. Moreover, the effect of hyperlipidemia was recapitulated in mouse models of elevated cholesterol.

CONCLUSIONS:

This integrative and cross-species comparative analysis provides a new perspective on the comparison of alterations in monocytes in pathological conditions and offers insights into monocyte-driven mechanisms in cardiovascular disease and the potential for monocyte subpopulation targeted therapies.
Human Eyes–Inspired Recurrent Neural Networks Are More Robust Against Adversarial Noises
Authors: Choi Minkyu , Zhang Yizhen , Han Kuan , Wang Xiaokai , Liu Zhongming
Published: August 2024

Humans actively observe the visual surroundings by focusing on salient objects and ignoring trivial details. However, computer vision models based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) often analyze visual input all at once through a single feedforward pass. In this study, we designed a dual-stream vision model inspired by the human brain. This model features retina-like input layers and includes two streams: one determining the next point of focus (the fixation), while the other interprets the visuals surrounding the fixation. Trained on image recognition, this model examines an image through a sequence of fixations, each time focusing on different parts, thereby progressively building a representation of the image. We evaluated this model against various benchmarks in terms of object recognition, gaze behavior, and adversarial robustness. Our findings suggest that the model can attend and gaze in ways similar to humans without being explicitly trained to mimic human attention and that the model can enhance robustness against adversarial attacks due to its retinal sampling and recurrent processing. In particular, the model can correct its perceptual errors by taking more glances, setting itself apart from all feedforward-only models. In conclusion, the interactions of retinal sampling, eye movement, and recurrent dynamics are important to human-like visual exploration and inference.
On the Search for Data-Driven and Reproducible Schizophrenia Subtypes Using Resting State fMRI Data From Multiple Sites
Authors: Krohne Lærke Gebser , Hansen Ingeborg Helbech , Madsen Kristoffer H.
Published: August 2024

For decades, fMRI data have been used to search for biomarkers for patients with schizophrenia. Still, firm conclusions are yet to be made, which is often attributed to the high internal heterogeneity of the disorder. A promising way to disentangle the heterogeneity is to search for subgroups of patients with more homogeneous biological profiles.

We applied an unsupervised multiple co-clustering (MCC) method to identify subtypes using functional connectivity data from a multisite resting-state data set. We merged data from two publicly available databases and split the data into a discovery data set (143 patients and 143 healthy controls (HC)) and an external test data set (63 patients and 63 HC) from independent sites. On the discovery data, we investigated the stability of the clustering toward data splits and initializations. Subsequently we searched for cluster solutions, also called “views,” with a significant diagnosis association and evaluated these based on their subject and feature cluster separability, and correlation to clinical manifestations as measured with the positive and negative syndrome scale (PANSS). Finally, we validated our findings by testing the diagnosis association on the external test data.

A major finding of our study was that the stability of the clustering was highly dependent on variations in the data set, and even across initializations, we found only a moderate subject clustering stability. Nevertheless, we still discovered one view with a significant diagnosis association. This view reproducibly showed an overrepresentation of schizophrenia patients in three subject clusters, and one feature cluster showed a continuous trend, ranging from positive to negative connectivity values, when sorted according to the proportions of patients with schizophrenia. When investigating all patients, none of the feature clusters in the view were associated with severity of positive, negative, and generalized symptoms, indicating that the cluster solutions reflect other disease related mechanisms.
UAdam: Unified Adam-Type Algorithmic Framework for Nonconvex Optimization
Authors: Jiang Yiming , Liu Jinlan , Xu Dongpo , Mandic Danilo P.
Published: August 2024

Adam-type algorithms have become a preferred choice for optimization in the deep learning setting; however, despite their success, their convergence is still not well understood. To this end, we introduce a unified framework for Adam-type algorithms, termed UAdam. It is equipped with a general form of the second-order moment, which makes it possible to include Adam and its existing and future variants as special cases, such as NAdam, AMSGrad, AdaBound, AdaFom, and Adan. The approach is supported by a rigorous convergence analysis of UAdam in the general nonconvex stochastic setting, showing that UAdam converges to the neighborhood of stationary points with a rate of O(1/T). Furthermore, the size of the neighborhood decreases as the parameter β1 increases. Importantly, our analysis only requires the first-order momentum factor to be close enough to 1, without any restrictions on the second-order momentum factor. Theoretical results also reveal the convergence conditions of vanilla Adam, together with the selection of appropriate hyperparameters. This provides a theoretical guarantee for the analysis, applications, and further developments of the whole general class of Adam-type algorithms. Finally, several numerical experiments are provided to support our theoretical findings.
A Subtle Subversion
Authors: Soufi Youcef
Published: August 2024

The Arab socio-political dominance of 7th-8th century AD Muslim conquerors made its way into the classical legal discourse on kafāʾa (suitable matches in marriage). Most classical jurists considered the marriage of an Arab woman to a non-Arab man to be one of several potential sources of shame to the bride and her family. This article traces how the Persian scholars of the Šāfiʿī school in Khurasan subverted Arabo-centrism in considerations of marriage by reinterpreting the legal doctrine of kafāʾa in the late 10th-11th centuries. Khurasanian Šāfiʿīs built upon but ultimately departed from the position of their colleagues in Iraq on Arab superiority: They formulated a new understanding of lineage which excluded considerations of ethnicity. The discussion of the doctrine of kafāʾa provides an example of how non-Arabs carved a place for themselves within an Islamic legal culture that originally disadvantaged them.
The Earliest Manuscripts of Kairouan (9th-11th Centuries): New Approaches for a More Accurate Dating
Authors: Bongianino Umberto , Salah Clément
Published: August 2024

Based on the close examination of 32 manuscripts produced in Kairouan between the 9th and the 11th centuries, this article reassesses the content and function of their paratext and interrogates some diagnostic features of their scripts and page layout. In the first part, we demonstrate that some dated notes can refer to auditions and readings that occurred decades before the production of the manuscripts on which they appear, and therefore cannot be used as termini ante quem for dating them. In the second part, we discuss some key palaeographic parameters for a better understanding of Ifrīqī scripts, their origin, and their development, with a view to establishing a set of reliable criteria for a more accurate dating and contextualisation of this little-known material.
Trajectories of Contestation: Motivational Dynamics in Repressive Regimes
Authors: Khalil Fatma Z. , van Stekelenburg Jacquelien
Published: August 2024

This article examines four different trajectories of contestation individuals go through. We highlight how the five motivational dynamics function per trajectory, depending on how they interact within individuals’ psyche, their perceptions, and the surrounding political setting. We argue that through the citizens’ narratives about these political moments we can better understand how the motivational dynamics function per trajectory of contention. Our focal point is to disentangle how, under the same political conditions, individuals act differently, even though they might hold the same political stances. Repression is a focal point of analysis in the article showing how the individuals within the various trajectories react to regime’s repression differently. It is the context within which individuals within the four trajectories function that is affecting their behaviour. We investigate how the ways individual express dissent change by interacting with the regime whose repressive actions might push them to change their attitudes.
Analysis of Persian WhatsApp Messages with Reference to Age, Politeness, and the Speech Act of Request
Authors: Keshavarz Mohamad Hossein , Bahri Hossein
Published: August 2024

This study investigated WhatsApp messages exchanged between two generations of Iranian students and their respective lecturers in light of politeness, age, and the speech act of request. We utilised two sets of data: messages sent by current young students to two young lecturers, and those sent by former middle-aged students to two senior lecturers. Altogether, 100 WhatsApp messages were analysed (50 from each data set) focusing on salutations, body, and closing parts. The findings revealed that politeness is expressed differently across the two age groups: the younger students’ messages featured short and informal expressions and frequent use of emojis while the older group utilised elaborate messages to express politeness through the frequent use of honorifics and other politeness markers. Moreover, the younger group used WhatsApp messages towards their academic goals, such as requesting the postponement of an exam, whereas the older group messages aimed at re-establishing solidarity with their lecturers.
The description of a novel Gloeothece species (Chroococcales, Cyanobacteria) from China, based on a polyphasic approach
Authors: CHEN JIAXIN , LI SHUHENG , LI RENHUI , YU GONGLIANG , CAI FANGFANG
Published: August 2024

Cyanobacteria, with strong adaptability, occupied an important position on the earth all the time. In this study, the strain of coccoid cyanobacteria (CHAB 5847) was isolated and purified from Guizhou Province, China. The phylogenetic and taxonomic characteristics of CHAB 5847 were studied using polyphasic approach combining morphological, ecological and molecular data. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence, the studied strain occupied a unique position, and clustered in Gloeothece clade. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of two clones of the studied strain shared 93.1%–98.1% similarity to other Gloeothece species, which supports well it to be a new member of Gloeothece genus. Furthermore, the unique pattern of D1-D1′, Box-B and V3 helix of the 16S–23S rRNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) secondary structure revealed that the strain represented a novel species. These results support the establishment of a new species of Gloeothece genus with the name G. guizhouensis sp. nov.
Colonialism, Racism, and Childhoods: Introduction
Authors: Blume Oeur Freeden , Varga Donna
Published: August 2024

Over the past two decades, pressing questions around childhood, age, difference, and power have traversed the multidisciplinary study of childhood, and have come to overlap increasingly with writings on colonialism. While children remain relatively under-analyzed across this scholarship, children and notions of childhood are always implicated in colonialism and its vestiges. Moreover, legacies of colonialism shape the images of children who dominate headlines today, from cruel policies which separate migrant children from their families at the United States—Mexico border, to Israel’s continued assault on Gaza and the deliberate targeting of Palestinian children, to young climate activists who have mobilized around the globe. Our special issue explores questions around colonialism and childhood, and specifically their processes of racialization; and argues for a general practice of decolonizing the study of childhood. The authors—representing several disciplines and regions—have contributed essays which cover two broad themes. The first three articles speak to histories of colonialism and their entwinement with childhood, and the challenges actors face in attempting to reckon with those histories. The next three articles take up discussions concerning childhood as a colonialist racialized concept, and pose questions about who is deserving of care and whose care should be recognized as good for children. Our queries recognize the important work already being done by childhood studies scholars, invite newer researchers to the field to consider childist concerns, and welcome all to imagine futures beyond our present crises.
The Europeanization of Wage Policy and Its Consequences for Labor Politics: The Case of Ireland
Authors: Maccarrone Vincenzo
Published: August 2024

This article investigates the transnational labor politics associated with the Europeanization of wage policy, based on process tracing of Irish minimum wage regulation reforms over the past two decades. The policy struggle in Ireland started as an employer-led domestic challenge to market-embedding regulation and was then affected by two EU interventions on wage policy: one with a de-regulatory orientation (during EU-IMF conditionality) and one with a re-regulatory one (with the approval of the EU minimum wage directive). Findings show that differences in collective action undertaken by employers and trade unions to influence wage policy at the national level can be explained by the intersection of each actor’s preferences toward market-constraining or liberalizing labor regulation and their access to supranational (EU-level) institutions and support. This analysis contributes to debates on how transnational opportunity structures can alter labor’s and employers’ local power resources and strategies.
Modeling of servo dynamic stiffness for multiple-periodic repetitive learning control system
Authors: Yao Wu-Sung
Published: August 2024

Servo dynamic stiffness is a pivotal index in characterizing the rejecting performance for the exogenous periodic disturbances of the repetitive learning control system. In this paper, the mathematical modeling of the servo dynamic stiffness for the well-designed repetitive learning control system with multiple-periodic signals is studied by the frequency analysis method. To analysis the complex form of the servo dynamic stiffness, the magnitudes of the direct (real part) and quadrature (imaginary part) servo dynamic stiffness at harmonics of the disturbance are discussed based on the parameters of the repetitive learning controller. An illustrated example of the two linear servomotors with the mechanical coupling is given in this study. Computer simulation are presented to illustrate the effect of the proposed measurement method of the servo dynamic stiffness for the multiple-periodic repetitive learning control system. The proposed servo dynamic stiffness modeling can be used to accurate design the parameters of the repetitive learning control system, such that the batter control performance of the repetitive learning control system at most of the harmonics of the multi-periodic input signal can be achieved.
Feasibility of online psychosocial interventions to promote mental health recovery and well-being
Authors: Leah Peanchanan , Riewpaiboon Wachara , Sirirungruang Issavara , Visuttipun Paranee
Published: August 2024

Background:

Amid the increasing trend and huge impact of mental illness, psychosocial support (PSS) has been asserted to support individuals’ recovery. Unfortunately, about 80% of affected people cannot access care as needed. Meanwhile, digital technology has a considerable role in closing service gaps.

Aims:

This convergent parallel mixed methods study examines existing mental health service utilization, users’ needs for PSS, and feasibility of online PSS development.

Methods:

A cross-sectional interview survey was conducted using a semi-structured questionnaire at a super tertiary psychiatric hospital in Thailand from March to May 2023, with three groups of service users, having self-perceived conditions/diagnosis of schizophrenia ( n = 100), mood disorders ( n = 84), and others including alcohol and substance use, anxiety and personality disorders ( n = 52). Four focus group discussions with three user groups ( n = 16) and one multidisciplinary provider group ( n = 7) were parallelly executed. Quantitative and qualitative data were convergently analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, and thematic and content analysis.

Results:

Critical shortcomings of PSS were indicated by 75.8% of user participants. Six common types of self-determined PSS were psychoeducational program, support group, skills training, counseling, supported employment, and complimentary therapy. While psychoeducational program was feasible, support group, and counseling were possibly featured within the ‘all-at-once’ online intervention development.

Conclusions:

PSS development based on users’ needs can promote clinical and personal recovery outcomes, and close the service gaps. Users with mood disorders have the potential for online interventions. Peer-provider formalization, co-production approach, community engagement, digital literacy, infrastructures, and equal access factors are crucial for sustainable development.
Digital social work
Authors: López-Peláez Antonio , Kalenda Vávrová Soňa , Gojová Alice , Erro-Garcés Amaya , Acebes Valentín Rafael
Published: August 2024

Social interaction through technology, professional intervention through digital tools, and reorganization of public and private organizations to digitalize their procedures and work with reliable and robust data are three processes that coexist and feed off each other, giving rise to the development of what has been called digital social work. In this article, we briefly analyze some of the characteristics of digital social work, the challenges faced in digitalized societies, and the broadening of the debate on digital divide, which goes beyond access issues, and focuses on what is now considered a key challenge for social welfare: digital vulnerability.
Changes in Use of Prenatal Dental Care After Brazil’s Incentive Policy
Authors: Schuch H.S. , Furtado M. , Chiavegatto Filho A.D.P. , Elani H.W.
Published: August 2024

In 2020, the Brazilian federal government launched the “Prevent Brazil” program to incentivize cities to improve their performance across 7 health care indicators, including prenatal dental care. Our study examines the impact of this policy on the use of oral health care among pregnant women in Brazil. We used a series of cross-sectional data from the Brazilian Public Health System from 2018 to 2023. We linked publicly available data from the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. Our outcome was the proportion of pregnant women receiving prenatal care who had at least 1 dental visit during the past year. Covariates included city-level socioeconomic (income and literacy), demographic (gender, race, and urban areas), and workforce variables (number of dentists working in the public health system per city/year). We estimated the impact of the policy on prenatal dental visits nationwide and stratified by geographic region using interrupted time-series analysis. Our analyses included 99.9% of all Brazilian cities ( n = 5,562). The use of oral health care among pregnant women increased from 15% in 2018 to 69% in 2023. Adjusted estimates show that, after initiation of the Prevent Brazil, dental care use among pregnant women increased nationally at a rate of 4.6 percentage points per 4-mo period (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.5; 4.7). The policy’s largest impact was in the North and Northeast regions, which have the lowest socioeconomic profiles (adjusted time-series rate 5.7 [95% CI 5.3; 6.1] and 5.2 [5.0; 5.4] percent points, respectively). Our findings support the positive impact of the Prevent Brazil policy on prenatal dental care in Brazil. The policy was associated with a countrywide improvement in prenatal dental care use, with a greater impact in socioeconomically disadvantaged regions.
Macrophage Polarization during MRONJ Development in Mice
Authors: Soundia A. , Elzakra N. , Hadaya D. , Gkouveris I. , Bezouglaia O. , Dry S. , Aghaloo T. , Tetradis S.
Published: August 2024

Macrophages are important regulators of bone remodeling, and M1 polarization is observed in the setting of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaws (MRONJ). Here, we characterize the phenotype of macrophages during early stages of MRONJ development in zoledronate (ZA)–treated mice with periodontal disease and explore the role of rosiglitazone, a drug that has been reported to lower the M1/M2 macrophage ratio, in MRONJ burden. Mice received ZA, and experimental periodontal disease (EPD) was induced around their second left maxillary molar. The mice were euthanized 1, 2, or 4 wk later. Micro–computed tomography and histologic and immunohistochemical analyses were carried out. In a separate experiment, mice were treated with ZA in the absence or presence of rosiglitazone, EPD was induced for 5 wk, and the MRONJ burden was assessed. An M1 predilection was noted in ZA versus vehicle (Veh) mice at 1, 2, or 4 wk after ligature placement. M1 cells were found to be positive for MMP-13, and their presence coincided with disruption of the surrounding collagen network in ZA mice. Rosiglitazone caused a reversal in the M1/M2 polarization in Veh and ZA mice. Rosiglitazone did not cause significant radiographic changes 5 wk after EPD in Veh or ZA animals. Importantly, percentage osteonecrosis and bone exposure were decreased in the rosiglitazone-treated versus nontreated ZA sites 5 wk after EPD. Our data point to an important role of M1 macrophage polarization with an overexpression of MMP-13 in the early phases of MRONJ development and provide insight into the use of interventional approaches promoting an M2 phenotype as a preventative means to alleviate MRONJ burden.
Topical Vitamin D Prevents Bone Loss and Inflammation in a Mouse Model
Authors: Kirkwood K.L. , Van Dyke T.E. , Kirkwood C.L. , Zhang L. , Panezai J. , Duran-Pinedo A.E. , Figgins E.L. , Ryan L.K. , Frias-Lopez J.J. , Diamond G.
Published: August 2024

There is a strong association between vitamin D levels and periodontal disease based on numerous epidemiological studies. We have previously shown that experimental deficiency of serum vitamin D in mice leads to gingival inflammation and alveolar bone loss. Treatment of cultured oral epithelial cells with the active form of vitamin D, 1,25(OH)2 vitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3), inhibits the extracellular growth and intracellular invasion of bacteria associated with periodontal disease. Maintenance of periodontal health may be due in part to the anti-inflammatory activities of vitamin D. Furthermore, this hormone can induce the expression of an antimicrobial peptide in cultured oral epithelial cells. We have shown that oral epithelial cells are capable of converting inactive vitamin D to the active form, suggesting that topical treatment of the oral epithelium with inactive vitamin D could prevent the development of periodontitis. We subjected mice to ligature-induced periodontitis (LIP), followed by daily treatment with inactive vitamin D or 1,25(OH)2D3. Treatment with both forms led to a reduction in ligature-induced bone loss and inflammation. Gingival tissues obtained from vitamin D–treated LIP showed production of specialized proresolving mediators (SPM) of inflammation. To examine the mechanism, we demonstrated that apical treatment of 3-dimensional cultures of primary gingival epithelial cells with vitamin D prevented lipopolysaccharide-induced secretion of proinflammatory cytokines and led to a similar production of SPM. Analysis of the oral microbiome of the mice treated with vitamin D showed significant changes in resident bacteria, which reflects a shift toward health-associated species. Together, our results show that topical treatment of oral tissues with inactive vitamin D can lead to the maintenance of periodontal health through the regulation of a healthy microbiome and the stimulation of resolution of inflammation. This strongly supports the development of a safe and effective vitamin D–based topical treatment or preventive agent for periodontal inflammation and disease.
Patient-Centered Care in Action: How Clinicians Respond to Patient Dissatisfaction with Contraceptive Side Effects
Authors: Johnsen Sara
Published: August 2024

Patient-centered care is widely cited as a component of quality contraceptive health care, but its operationalization in clinical interaction is contested. This article examines patient-centered care as an interactional phenomenon using the case of patient dissatisfaction with side effects of hormonal contraceptive medications. Drawing on transcript data from 109 tape-recorded reproductive health visits, I find that provider responses to treatment dissatisfaction range from patient-centered to relatively authoritarian. Providers typically offer patient-centered responses that validate patient experiences and integrate them into contraceptive counseling and method selection. At the same time, explicit communication about patients’ contraceptive priorities is rare. In its absence, providers use patient-centered communication to smooth the interactional path toward uptake of highly effective hormonal methods, mostly ignoring the possibility that some patients may prefer less effective methods. Patient-centered contraceptive care was circumscribed by the clinical goal of pregnancy prevention.
Psychometric Properties of the Revised Version of the Prolonged Grief Disorder Scale (PG-13-R): A Methodological Study in the Iranian Population
Authors: Mirhosseini Seyedmohammad , Khajeh Mahboobeh , Sharif-Nia Hamid , Hosseini Fatemeh Sadat , Ebrahimi Hossein
Published: August 2024

Prolonged grief disorder has recently been officially introduced as a new mental disorder. This study aimed to validate the Persian version of the revised Prolonged Grief Scale (PG-13-R). This study was conducted among the general population in Shahroud, Iran, during 2023. Employing face and content validity, along with exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (EFA), the study validates the PG-13-R. Average variance extracted value showed an acceptable convergent validity. The EFA reveals a singular factor structure explaining 60.541% of the variance in prolonged grief disorder, and the confirmatory factor analysis demonstrates an excellent model fit. Internal consistency, evaluated through Cronbach’s alpha and MacDonald’s omega, highlights the scale’s reliability. The Persian version of PG-13-R had acceptable composite reliability. Stability is confirmed by an intra-class correlation coefficient. In conclusion, the Persian PG-13-R displays satisfactory validity and reliability to assessing prolonged grief symptoms in the Iranian population.