bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The social life of Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Billeter J- C. , Bailly T. P. M. , Kohlmeier P.
Published: September 2024

In this review, we explore the social behavior of the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, integrating mechanistic, ecological and evolutionary perspectives. Despite its status as a major laboratory model organism, D. melanogaster’s social life remains generally underappreciated by biologists. Adult flies attract others to food sources through pheromone deposition, leading to group formation. Within these groups, males engage in competitive reproductive behaviors while females adopt complex mating patterns and lay eggs communally. Both sexes adapt their reproductive behaviors to early as well as current social experience. Communal egg-laying by females promotes larval group formation, with larvae cooperating to dig tunnels for protection and breathing while feeding. Aggregation is also visible at the pupal stage, suggesting a social dimension to the entire life cycle of this species. We examine the competitive and cooperative behaviors of D. melanogaster, considering the ecological context (resource distribution, predation, parasitism pressures, and reproductive strategies) that influences these social interactions. We also discuss how individual behavior and physiology varies with group size and diversity, potentially as an adaptation to the costs and benefits of being in a group. This review underscores the potential of fruit flies in advancing research on social interactions and dynamics, demonstrating their usefulness for the fields of sociality, evolution and social neurosciences.
An inherited genetic variant of the CEP72 gene is associated with the development of vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy in female patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma
Authors: Christofyllakis Konstantinos , Kaddu-Mulindwa Dominic , Lesan Vadim , Rixecker Torben , Kos Igor Age , Held Gerhard , Regitz Evi , Pfreundschuh Michael , Bittenbring Joerg Thomas , Thurner Lorenz , Poeschel Viola , Ziepert Marita , Altmann Bettina , Bewarder Moritz
Published: September 2024

Vincristine-induced peripheral neuropathy (VIPN) is an adverse effect of regimens used for the treatment of aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL). A single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the promotor region of the CEP72 gene has been identified as risk factor for the development of VIPN in children. To validate these results in adults we aimed to determine the association of the high-risk CEP72 (rs924607 TT genotype) with the occurrence and severity of VIPN. Analysis of SNP rs924607 (TT, CC or CT) was performed in all enrolled patients with available blood samples with a TaqMan genotyping assay. Rates and grades of VIPN were assessed prospectively as part of the RICOVER-60 trial. CEP72 genotype could be assessed in 519 patients. VIPN data was available for 499/519 patients who were included in the final analysis. 286 (57%) patients developed VIPN of any grade during treatment. Grade 2–4 VIPN occurred in 33% (166/499) of patients. The high-risk CEP72 TT genotype at rs924607 was identified in 97/499 (19%) patients. The TT genotype was not correlated with VIPN in the overall study population compared to patients with either CC or CT genotypes (p = 0.748). However, in the subgroup of female patients, the TT genotype was associated with increased occurrence of any-grade VIPN as well as grade 2–4 VIPN as compared to patients with either CC or CT genotypes (p = 0.016 and p = 0.020, respectively). Thus, the SNP rs924607 in the CEP72 gene is associated with increased VIPN incidence in female patients with aggressive B-NHL treated with CHOP chemotherapy. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00052936, submission date: 2005-06-23, EudraCT Number: 2010-019587-36.
Multivariate bias correction and downscaling of climate models with trend-preserving deep learning
Authors: Wang Fang , Tian Di
Published: September 2024

Global climate models (GCMs) and Earth system models (ESMs) exhibit biases, with resolutions too coarse to capture local variability for fine-scale, reliable drought and climate impact assessment. However, conventional bias correction approaches may cause implausible climate change signals due to unrealistic representations of spatial and intervariable dependences. While purely data-driven deep learning has achieved significant progress in improving climate and earth system simulations and predictions, they cannot reliably learn the circumstances (e.g., extremes) that are largely unseen in historical climate but likely becoming more frequent in the future climate (i.e., climate non-stationarity). This study shows an integrated trend-preserving deep learning approach that can address the spatial and intervariable dependences and climate non-stationarity issues for downscaling and bias correcting GCMs/ESMs. Here we combine the super-resolution deep residual network (SRDRN) with the trend-preserving quantile delta mapping (QDM) to downscale and bias correct six primary climate variables at once (including daily precipitation, maximum temperature, minimum temperature, relative humidity, solar radiation, and wind speed) from five state-of-the-art GCMs/ESMs in the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 6 (CMIP6). We found that the SRDRN-QDM approach greatly reduced GCMs/ESMs biases in spatial and intervariable dependences while significantly better-reducing biases in extremes compared to deep learning. The estimated drought based on the six bias-corrected and downscaled variables captured the observed drought intensity and frequency, which outperformed state-of-the-art multivariate bias correction approaches, demonstrating its capability for correcting GCMs/ESMs biases in spatial and multivariable dependences and extremes.
Are there interindividual differences in the reactive hypoglycaemia response to breakfast? A replicate crossover trial
Authors: Gonzalez Javier T. , Lolli Lorenzo , Veasey Rachel C. , Rumbold Penny L. S. , Betts James A. , Atkinson Greg , Stevenson Emma J.
Published: September 2024

Background

Following consumption of a meal, circulating glucose concentrations can rise and then fall briefly below the basal/fasting concentrations. This phenomenon is known as reactive hypoglycaemia but to date no researcher has explored potential inter-individual differences in response to meal consumption.

Objective

We conducted a secondary analysis of existing data to examine inter-individual variability of reactive hypoglycaemia in response to breakfast consumption.

Methods

Using a replicate crossover design, 12 healthy, physically active men (age: 18–30 y, body mass index: 22.1 to 28.0 kg⋅m− 2) completed two identical control (continued overnight fasting) and two breakfast (444 kcal; 60% carbohydrate, 17% protein, 23% fat) conditions in randomised sequences. Blood glucose and lactate concentrations, serum insulin and non-esterified fatty acid concentrations, whole-body energy expenditure, carbohydrate and fat oxidation rates, and appetite ratings were determined before and 2 h after the interventions. Inter-individual differences were explored using Pearson’s product-moment correlations between the first and second replicates of the fasting-adjusted breakfast response. Within-participant covariate-adjusted linear mixed models and a random-effects meta-analytical approach were used to quantify participant-by-condition interactions.

Results

Breakfast consumption lowered 2-h blood glucose by 0.44 mmol/L (95%CI: 0.76 to 0.12 mmol/L) and serum NEFA concentrations, whilst increasing blood lactate and serum insulin concentrations (allp < 0.01). Large, positive correlations were observed between the first and second replicates of the fasting-adjusted insulin, lactate, hunger, and satisfaction responses to breakfast consumption (allr > 0.5, 90%CI ranged from 0.03 to 0.91). The participant-by-condition interaction response variability (SD) for serum insulin concentration was 11 pmol/L (95%CI: 5 to 16 pmol/L), which was consistent with the τ-statistic from the random-effects meta-analysis (11.7 pmol/L, 95%CI 7.0 to 22.2 pmol/L) whereas effects were unclear for other outcome variables (e.g., τ-statistic value for glucose: 0 mmol/L, 95%CI 0.0 to 0.5 mmol/L).

Conclusions

Despite observing reactive hypoglycaemia at the group level, we were unable to detect any meaningful inter-individual variability of the reactive hypoglycaemia response to breakfast. There was, however, evidence that 2-h insulin responses to breakfast display meaningful inter-individual variability, which may be explained by relative carbohydrate dose ingested and variation in insulin sensitivity of participants.
Role of midline raphe in compartmental surgery for squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue
Authors: Alberto Grammatica , Marco Ravanelli , Michele Tomasoni , Carlo Conti , Aurora Pinacoli , Anna Bozzola , Davide Farina , Davide Mattavelli , Cesare Piazza
Published: September 2024

Purpose

In the present study, we investigated how tumor distance from midline (TDFM) and depth of invasion (DOI) may affect survival outcomes after compartmental tongue surgery (CTS) for oral tongue squamous cell carcinoma (OTSCC).

Methods

A retrospective series of cT2-T3 OTSCC treated with upfront CTS at our Department from 2010 to 2021 was evaluated. Radiological and pathological DOI and TDFM were correlated. The main outcomes were overall (OS) and loco-regional recurrence free survival (LRRFS). The linear relationship between DOI and TDFM with 2-year OS and LRRFS was tested. Survival estimates were obtained by the Kaplan-Meier method. Univariate analysis was performed for variables of interest, and results expressed in terms of hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals.

Results

A total of 64 patients underwent CTS and neck dissection. No significant difference was found between pathological (pDOI) and radiological DOI (rDOI) (p = 0.321) or between pathological (pTDFM) and radiological TDFM (p = 0.435). Two- and 5-year OS and LRRFS were 85.7% and 70.4%, 84.3% and 76.1%, respectively. A linear and significant relationship with OS (p = 0.020) and LRRFS (p = 0.013) was found for pDOI; although linear, the relationship between pTDFM was not statistically significant for either survival outcomes. Once categorized, the ideal cut-off for pDOI according to OS was set at 10 mm (p = 0.023).

Conclusion

In patients undergoing CTS for primary OTSCC, magnetic resonance-derived rDOI represents an accurate estimate of pDOI, In contrast, TDFM was not associated with OS suggesting that the median raphe is a safe deep margin for CTS.

protocol n.

BS/231,009 retrospectively registered.
Apolipoproteins, lipids, lipid-lowering drugs and risk of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia: a meta-analysis and Mendelian randomisation study
Authors: Chalitsios Christos V. , Ley Harriet , Gao Jiali , Turner Martin R. , Thompson Alexander G.
Published: September 2024

Background

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) have clinical, pathological and genetic overlapping. Lipid pathways are implicated in ALS. This study examined the effect of blood lipid levels on ALS, FTD risk, and survival in ALS.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis of high and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c and LDL-c), total cholesterol, triglycerides, apolipoproteins B and A1 levels with ALS was performed. Two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis sought the causal effects of these exposures on ALS, FTD, and survival in ALS. The effect of lipid-lowering drugs was also examined using genetic proxies for targets of lipid-lowering medications.

Results

Three cohort studies met the inclusion criteria for meta-analysis. Meta-analysis indicated an association between higher LDL-c (HRper mmol/L = 1.07, 95%CI:1.02–1.12; $${I}^{2}$$

I

2

=18%) and lower HDL-c (HRper mmol/L = 0.83, 95%CI:0.74–0.94; $${I}^{2}$$

I

2

=0%) with an increased risk of ALS. MR suggested causal effects of higher LDL-c (ORIVW = 1.085, 95%:CI 1.008–1.168, pFDR = 0.0406), total cholesterol (ORIVW = 1.081, 95%:CI 1.013–1.154, pFDR = 0.0458) and apolipoprotein B (ORIVW = 1.104, 95%:CI 1.041–1.171, pFDR = 0.0061) increasing ALS risk, and higher apolipoprotein B level increasing FTD risk (ORIVW = 1.424, 95%CI 1.072–1.829, pFDR = 0.0382). Reducing LDL-c through APOB inhibition was associated with lower ALS (ORIVW = 0.84, 95%CI 0.759–0.929, pFDR = 0.00275) and FTD risk (ORIVW = 0.581, 95%CI 0.387–0.874, pFDR = 0.0362).

Conclusion

These data support the influence of LDL-c and total cholesterol on ALS risk and apolipoprotein B on the risk of ALS and FTD. Potential APOB inhibition might decrease the risk of sporadic ALS and FTD. Further work in monogenic forms of ALS and FTD is necessary to determine whether blood lipids influence penetrance and phenotype.
Taylor Swift does not boost face recognition in reaction time-based Concealed Information Test: investigating target-familiarity effects
Authors: Kohn Lukic Laure Z. , Möck Nele , Verschuere Bruno , Sauerland Melanie
Published: September 2024

Eyewitness identifications from lineups are prone to error. More indirect identification procedures, such as the reaction-time based Concealed Information Test (RT-CIT) could be a viable alternative to lineups. The RT-CIT uses response times to assess facial familiarity. Theory and initial evidence with autobiographical stimuli suggests that the accuracy of RT-CIT can be augmented when participants’ reliance on familiarity-based responding increases. We tested this assumption in two pre-registered experiments with 173 participants. Participants witnessed a mock crime. In the subsequent RT-CIT protocol, participants reacted to probe faces from the mock crime video, to irrelevant faces, and to target faces that required a unique response. Targets were either unknown people or were well-known celebrities (e.g., Taylor Swift). As expected, reaction times were longer to probes than to irrelevants in all conditions, indicating a CIT effect. Contrasting our pre-registered predictions, the CIT effect was not larger in the familiar condition (Experiment 1: unfamiliar targets: d = 0.77 vs. celebrity targets: d = 0.24; Experiment 2: unfamiliar targets: d = 1.09 vs. celebrity targets: d = 0.79). This suggests that familiar targets did not increase the validity of the RT-CIT in diagnosing concealed face recognition. A potential lack of saliency of the familiar targets might explain these unexpected findings. Of note, we did find medium to large effect sizes overall, speaking to the potential of diagnosing face recognition with the RT-CIT.
Colonization of mudflat substrate by microarthropods: the role of distance, inundation frequency and body size
Authors: Haque Md Ekramul , Rinke Maria , Chen Ting-Wen , Maraun Mark , Scheu Stefan
Published: September 2024

Salt marshes represent a unique ecosystem at the marine-terrestrial boundary of shallow protected coastlines. Microarthropods form an essential component of soil food webs, but how they colonize new intertidal habitats is little understood. By establishing two experimental systems without animals, we investigated microarthropod colonization (1) at the seashore from the pioneer zone to the lower and upper salt marsh and (2) at the same tidal height on artificial islands 500 m from the seashore. Potential source populations of microarthropods in the respective zones were also investigated. Colonization of microarthropods after 5 years was consistently faster on the seashore than on the artificial islands. Collembola and Mesostigmata colonized all the zones both on the seashore and on the artificial islands, with colonization being faster in the upper salt marsh and in the pioneer zone than in the lower salt marsh. Oribatida colonized the new habitats on the seashore, but only little on the artificial islands. Variations in species composition were more pronounced between salt marsh zones than between experimental systems, indicating that local environmental conditions (i.e., inundation frequency) are more important for the assembly of microarthropod communities than the distance from source populations (i.e., dispersal processes). Variations in community body size of Oribatida and Mesostigmata indicated environmental filtering of traits, with smaller species suffering from frequent inundations. Notably, Mesostigmata most successfully colonized the new habitats across salt marsh zones on both systems. Overall, the results document major mechanisms of colonization of intertidal habitats by microarthropods with different life histories and feeding strategies.
Survival among patients cured from gastric adenocarcinoma compared to the background population
Authors: Leijonmarck Wilhelm , Mattsson Fredrik , Lagergren Jesper
Published: September 2024

Background

It is unknown if gastric adenocarcinoma survivors have longer, shorter, or similar survival compared to the background population. This knowledge could contribute to evidence-based monitoring strategies, healthcare recommendations, and information for patients and families.

Methods

This population-based cohort study included all patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric adenocarcinoma between 2006–2015 in Sweden and survived ≥ 5 years after surgery. They were followed up until death, postoperative year 10, or end of study period (31 December, 2020). Division of the observed by the expected survival yielded relative survival rates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using the life table method. The expected survival was derived from the entire Swedish population of the corresponding age, sex, and calendar year. Data came from medical records and nationwide registers.

Results

The survival among all 767 gastric adenocarcinoma survivors was shorter than the expected. The reduction in relative survival increased for each follow-up year, from 97.3% (95% CI 95.4–99.1%) year 6 to 86.6% (95% CI 82.3–90.9%) year 10. The decline in relative survival was more pronounced among patients who had gastrectomy in earlier calendar years (82.9% [95% CI 77.4–88.4%] year 10 for years 2011–2015), shorter education (85.2% [95% CI 77.4–93.0%] year 10 for education ≤ 9 years), more comorbidities (78.0% [95% CI 63.9–92.0%] year 10 for Charlson comorbidity score ≥ 2), and no neoadjuvant therapy (83.2% [95% CI 77.4–89.0%] year 10).

Conclusion

Gastric adenocarcinoma survivors seem to have poorer survival than the corresponding background population, particularly in certain subgroups.
Stochastic assessment of special-rate life annuities
Authors: Olivieri Annamaria , Tabakova Daniela
Published: September 2024

Special-rate life annuities offer customized annuity rates, based on the lifestyle or health status of the individual. Their main purpose is to encourage the annuity demand, which is still underdeveloped in many markets; as better annuity rates are quoted for individuals showing a higher mortality profile, the number of individuals attracted by life annuities could increase. Providers should then gain larger pool sizes; however, this is possibly matched by a greater heterogeneity of the pool, due to several risk classes defined by the annuity design. Heterogeneity emerges not only in terms of different life expectancies, but also in respect of the dispersion of the lifetime distribution; indeed, situations resulting in a lower life expectancy also show greater variability of the lifetime. As it is well-known, pooling effects are reinforced by the pool size, while they are weakened by its heterogeneity, with a possibly unclear impact on the overall longevity risk to which the provider is exposed. In this paper we investigate the longevity risk profile of an annuity pool consisting of several risk classes. We consider both the idiosyncratic and aggregate components of the risk, by modelling the random number of deaths and assuming a stochastic mortality dynamics. The heterogeneity of risk classes is represented alternatively in a deterministic and stochastic setting. Our conclusions are in line with similar findings discussed in the literature, but obtained in a deterministic framework. Results suggest that the longevity risk profile of the provider is not significantly undermined by a greater pool heterogeneity, with a prevalence of the aggregate component whatever the pool composition.
Diagnostic accuracy of the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio in rheumatoid arthritis: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Mangoni Arduino A. , Zinellu Angelo
Published: September 2024

Existing challenges with the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and active disease, mainly by non-rheumatologists, have prompted the search for novel biomarkers. Elevations in indices derived from blood cell counts, e.g., the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), have been reported in RA patients. However, their diagnostic accuracy has not been comprehensively assessed. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies reporting the sensitivity and specificity of the NLR and PLR, obtained by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, for the presence of RA and active disease. We searched electronic databases from inception to 15 March 2024 and assessed the risk of bias using the JBI Critical Appraisal Checklist (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024533546). In 15 studies, the NLR exhibited acceptable accuracy for the presence of RA (area under the curve, AUC = 0.76, 95% CI 0.72 to 0.80) and active disease (AUC = 0.70, 95% CI 0.66 to 0.74). The PLR exhibited good accuracy for the presence of RA (AUC = 0.80, 95% CI 0.76 to 0.83). There were insufficient studies to assess the accuracy of the PLR for the presence of active disease. Our systematic review and meta-analysis suggests that the NLR and the PLR are promising biomarkers of RA (NLR and PLR) and active disease (NLR). Further research is required to investigate whether the NLR and PLR can significantly enhance the capacity to diagnose RA and active disease in clinical practice.
Ultrasound Probe Pressure Affects Aortic Wall Stiffness: A Patient-Specific Computational Study in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms
Authors: Bracco Marta Irene , Yousefi Ali Akbar Karkhaneh , Rouet Laurence , Avril Stéphane
Published: September 2024

Purpose:

Ultrasound imaging is key in the management of patients with an abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA). It was recently shown that the cyclic diameter variations between diastole and systole, which can be quantified with US imaging, increase significantly with the strength of the applied probe pressure on the patient’s abdomen. The goal of this study is to investigate this effect more thoroughly.

Methods:

With finite-element modeling, pulsatile blood pressure and probe pressure are simulated in three patient-specific geometries. Two distinct models for the aortic wall were simulated: a nonlinear hyperelastic and a linear elastic model. In addition, varying stiffness was considered for the surrounding tissues. The effect of light, moderate, and firm probe pressure was quantified on the stresses and strains in the aortic wall, and on two in vivo stiffness measures. In addition, the Elasticity Loss Index was proposed to quantify the change in stiffness due to probe pressure.

Results:

Firm probe pressure decreased the measured aortic stiffness, and material stiffness was affected only when the wall was modeled as nonlinear, suggesting a shift in the stress–strain curve. In addition, stiffer surrounding tissues and a more elongated aneurysm sac decreased the responsiveness to the probe pressure.

Conclusion:

The effect of probe pressure on the AAA wall stiffness was clarified. In particular, the AAA wall nonlinear behavior was found to be of primary importance in determining the probe pressure response. Thus, further work will intend to make use of this novel finding in a clinical context.
Anthropogenic and climatic impacts on historic sediment, carbon, and phosphorus accumulation rates using 210Pbex and 137Cs in a sub-watershed linked to Zarivar Lake, Iran
Authors: Khodadadi Maral , Gibbs Max , Swales Andrew , Toloza Arsenio , Blake William H.
Published: September 2024

To estimate a watershed’s response to climate change, it is crucial to understand how human activities and climatic extremes have interacted over time. Over the last century, the Zarivar Lake watershed, Iran, has been subjected to various anthropogenic activates, including deforestation and inappropriate land-management practices alongside the implementation of conservation measures like check dams. To understand the effects of these changes on the magnitude of sediment, organic carbon (OC), and phosphorus supplies in a small sub-watershed connected to the lake over the last century, a lake sediment core was dated using 210Pbex and 137Cs as geochronometers. The average mass accumulation rate (MAR), organic carbon accumulation rates (OCAR), and particulate phosphorus accumulation rates (PPAR) of the sediment core were determined to be 6498 ± 2475, 205 ± 85, and 8.9 ± 3.3 g m−2 year−1, respectively. Between the late 1970s and early 1980s, accumulation rates were significantly higher than their averages at 7940 ± 3120, 220 ± 60, and 12.0 ± 2.8 g m−2 year−1 respectively. During this period, the watershed underwent extensive deforestation (12%) on steep slopes, coinciding with higher mean annual precipitations (more than double). Conversely, after 2009, when check dams were installed in the sub-watershed, the sediment load to the lake became negligible. The results of this research indicate that anthropogenic activities had a pronounced effect on MAR, OCAR, and PPAR, causing them to fluctuate from negligible amounts to values twice the averages over the last century, amplified by climatic factors. These results imply that implementing climate-smart watershed management strategies, such as constructing additional check dams and terraces, reinforcing restrictions on deforestation, and minimum tillage practices, can facilitate protection of lacustrine ecosystems under accelerating climate change conditions.

Graphical Abstract
Assessing Scientific Inquiry: A Systematic Literature Review of Tasks, Tools and Techniques
Authors: Vo De Van , Simmie Geraldine Mooney
Published: September 2024

While national curricula in science education highlight the importance of inquiry-based learning, assessing students’ capabilities in scientific inquiry remains a subject of debate. Our study explored the construction, developmental trends and validation techniques in relation to assessing scientific inquiry using a systematic literature review from 2000 to 2024. We used PRISMA guidelines in combination with bibliometric and Epistemic Network Analyses. Sixty-three studies were selected, across all education sectors and with a majority of studies in secondary education. Results showed that assessing scientific inquiry has been considered around the world, with a growing number (37.0%) involving global researcher networks focusing on novel modelling approaches and simulation performance in digital-based environments. Although there was modest variation between the frameworks, studies were mainly concerned with cognitive processes and psychological characteristics and were reified from wider ethical, affective, intersectional and socio-cultural considerations. Four core categories (formulating questions/hypotheses, designing experiments, analysing data, and drawing conclusions) were most often used with nine specific components (formulate questions formulate prediction/hypotheses, set experiment, vary independent variable, measure dependent variable, control confounding variables, describe data, interpret data, reach reasonable conclusion). There was evidence of transitioning from traditional to online modes, facilitated by interactive simulations, but the independent tests and performance assessments, in both multiple-choice and open-ended formats remained the most frequently used approach with a greater emphasis on context than heretofore. The findings will be especially useful for science teachers, researchers and policy decision makers with an active interest in assessing capabilities in scientific inquiry.
Towards compressed and efficient CNN architectures via pruning
Authors: Narkhede Meenal , Mahajan Shrinivas , Bartakke Prashant , Sutaone Mukul
Published: September 2024

Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) use convolutional kernels to extract important low-level to high-level features from data. The performance of CNNs improves as they grow deep thereby learning better representations of the data. However, such deep CNNs are compute and memory-intensive, making deployment on resource-constrained devices challenging. To address this, the CNNs are compressed by adopting pruning strategies that remove redundant convolutional kernels from each layer while maintaining accuracy. Existing pruning methods that are based on feature map importance, only prune the convolutional layers uniformly and do not consider fully connected layers. Also, current techniques do not take into account class labels while pruning the less important feature maps and do not explore the need for retraining after pruning. This paper presents pruning techniques to prune convolutional and fully connected layers. This paper proposes a novel class-specific pruning strategy based on finding feature map importance in terms of entropy for convolutional layers and the number of incoming zeros to neurons for fully connected layers. The class-specific approach helps to have a different pruning threshold for every convolutional layer and ensures that the pruning threshold is not influenced by any particular class. A study on the need for retraining the entire network or a part of the network after pruning is also carried out. For Intel image, CIFAR10 and CIFAR100 datasets the proposed pruning method has compressed AlexNet by 83.2%, 87.19%, and 79.7%, VGG-16 by 83.7%, 85.11%, and 84.06% and ResNet-50 by 62.99%, 62.3% and 58.34% respectively.
Gap in Sexual Dysfunction Management Between Male and Female Patients Seen in Primary Care: An Observational Study
Authors: Stanley Elizabeth E. , Pfoh Elizabeth , Lipold Laura , Martinez Kathryn
Published: September 2024

Background

Female sexual dysfunction (FSD), defined as clinically distressing problems with desire, arousal, orgasm, or pain, affects 12% of US women. Despite availability of medications for FSD, primary care physicians (PCPs) report feeling underprepared to manage it. In contrast, erectile dysfunction (ED) is frequently treated in primary care.

Objective

To describe differences in patterns of FSD and ED diagnosis and management in primary care patients.

Design

Retrospective observational study.

Subjects

Primary care patients with an incident diagnosis of FSD or ED seen at a large, integrated health system between 2016 and 2022.

Main Measures

Sexual dysfunction management (referral or prescription of a guideline-concordant medication within 3 days of diagnosis), patient characteristics (age, race, insurance type, marital status), and specialty of physician who diagnosed sexual dysfunction. We estimated the odds of FSD and ED management using mixed effects logistic regression in separate models.

Key Results

The sample included 6540 female patients newly diagnosed with FSD and 16,591 male patients newly diagnosed with ED. Twenty-two percent of FSD diagnoses were made by PCPs, and 38% by OB/GYNs. Forty percent of ED diagnoses were made by PCPs and 20% by urologists. Patients with FSD were managed less frequently (33%) than ED patients (41%). The majority of FSD and ED patients who were managed received a medication (96% and 97%, respectively). In the multivariable models, compared to diagnosis by a specialist, diagnosis by a PCP was associated with lower odds of management for FSD patients (aOR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.51–0.69) and higher odds of management (aOR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.36–1.64) for ED patients.

Conclusions

Primary care patients with FSD are less likely to receive management if they are diagnosed by a PCP than by an OB/GYN. The opposite was true of ED patients, exposing a gap in the quality of care female patients receive.

Graphical abstract
Management of patients with adrenal myelolipoma: experience from a tertiary referral centre
Authors: Paul Anant , Toale Conor , Egan Marie , Whelan Maria , Feeney John , Crowther Stephen , Gibney James , Conlon Kevin
Published: September 2024

Background

Adrenal myelolipomas are rare, benign, tumours of the adrenal cortex.

Aims

This study reports the experience of a tertiary adrenal surgery referral centre’s approach to the management of patients with adrenal myelolipoma.

Methods

A retrospective observational cohort study was conducted on all adult patients (> 18 years age) diagnosed with adrenal myelolipoma from January 1, 2014, to December 30, 2022. Demographics, imaging characteristics, histological diagnosis (where applicable) and follow-up data were compared between patients undergoing surgery and those referred to surveillance. Indications for operative intervention were recorded at the time of multidisciplinary team discussion, consisting of surgeons, endocrinology physicians, radiologists, pathologists and specialist nursing representatives.

Results

Of the 522 patients with an adrenal lesion discussed in adrenal tumour meeting between 2014 and 2022, n = 15 (2.8%) were diagnosed with adrenal myelolipoma. Of the 15 patients, 4 underwent adrenalectomy at first presentation (27%), while 1 patient underwent adrenalectomy after interval follow-up. Indications for operative intervention were as follows: ‘indeterminate lesion’ (n = 3), ‘abdominal pain and size (> 4 cm)’ (n = 1) and ‘mass effect on adjacent organs’ (n = 1). The mean rate of lesion growth in patients referred for surveillance (n = 10) was 0.13 cm/year. Histology confirmed adrenal myelolipoma as the diagnosis in all resected tumours.

Conclusions

For patients with adrenal myelolipoma, the presence of symptoms and/or indeterminate features on imaging may be more clinically useful indications for operative intervention over size alone. The surveillance of adrenal myelolipomas, even in patients with adrenal lesions > 4 cm, is a safe clinical strategy, provided the imaging characteristics are benign and patients remain asymptomatic.
HERO in action (crisis): the role of psychological capital in experiencing an action crisis
Authors: Kačmár Pavol , Versolker Noa Rachel , Falah Hadyeh
Published: September 2024

In some situations, goal striving does not go without problems, leading to intrapsychic decisional conflict between giving up and persisting in problematic goal striving, known as an action crisis. However, only limited attention has been devoted to cultivable positive psychological resources that can shield individuals from an action crisis development. In the six studies, we examined the role of psychological capital (PsyCap), the higher-order construct based on similarities between hope, self-efficacy, resilience, and optimism and their unique characteristics in an action crisis experience. A pilot study (N = 295) established a link between variables, indicating that the more PsyCap participants had, the fewer action crises they experienced (and vice versa). In a preregistered follow-up study (N = 210), this finding was replicated. Furthermore, it was shown that the relationship was indirect, potentially mediated by the appraisals of goal attainment. In the third study (N = 411), some essential aspects were varied. The main findings were conceptually replicated, showing that PsyCap was associated with action crisis and predicted it above and beyond selected personality traits (negative emotionality and conscientiousness). In the fourth and fifth study (N = 272 and N = 268), the indirect role of goal-related negative emotions, controlled motivation, and effort was supported. Also, results were partially extended to goal progress. However, in a longitudinal study (N = 254) with the random intercept cross-lagged panel model, it was shown that although the average level of PsyCap across time points is negatively associated with the average level of action crisis (i.e., the between-person effect was supported), the cross-lagged within-subject effect of PsyCap on action crisis was not supported.
Splice-altering variant of PJVK gene in a Mauritanian family with non-syndromic hearing impairment
Authors: Salame Malak , Bonnet Crystel , Singh-Estivalet Amrit , Brahim Selma Mohamed , Roux Solene , Boussaty Ely Cheikh , Hadrami Mouna , Hamed Cheikh Tijani , Sidi Abdellahi M’hamed , Veten Fatimetou , Petit Christine , Houmeida Ahmed
Published: September 2024

PJVK gene was recently shown to create hypervulnerability to sound in humans and was the first human gene implicated in non-syndromic hearing impairment due to neural defect. Targeted next-generation sequencing of over 150 known deafness genes was performed in the proband. Sanger sequencing was used to validate the PJVK variant and confirm familial segregation of the disease. A minigene-based assay has been performed to assess the impact of the variant on splicing. We identified a novel c.550-6A > G acceptor splice-site variant in the PJVK gene in the homozygous state in a Mauritanian child with severe to profound congenital deafness. The substitution was located in intron 4. The effect of the variation was demonstrated by a minigene assay which showed that the variation, an insertion of an additional 5 bp, created a new splice site resulting in the appearance of a premature stop codon (p.Phe184Tyrfs*26) and likely a truncated protein. This result constitutes a new splice-site variant report in the PJVK gene leading to DFNB59 type associated with autosomal recessive non-syndromic hearing impairment (ARNSHI).
Spatial Variability and Source Identification of Trace Elements in Aerosols From Northwest Pacific Marginal Sea, Indian Ocean and South Pacific to Antarctica
Authors: Ge Yuncong , Guan Wenkai , Wong Kuo Hong , Zhang Ruifeng
Published: September 2024

Aerosols continuously transport trace elements (TEs) across long distances to the ocean, fueling marine primary production and affecting global carbon cycles. Given the multiple sources and complex transport mechanisms, field investigations of aerosol TEs on a global scale are significant for understanding their role in marine biogeochemical cycles. Here, aerosol samples were collected along a 50,000‐km route covering subtropical Northwest Pacific (NWP) marginal seas, Indian Ocean, Southern Ocean, Drake Passage, and South Pacific. Samples were analyzed for the concentrations of Al, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Cd, Tl, and Pb. Aerosol TEs were distributed heterogeneously, with significantly lower concentrations over remote oceans compared to coastal seas. Meanwhile, TE concentrations were generally high in the Indian Ocean, moderate in the Southern Ocean, and low in the South Pacific. Cr, Ni, Cu, Zn, Cd, As, and Pb were widely enriched, primarily originating from anthropogenic sources, while Al, Ti, V, Mn, Fe, and Co were mainly from crustal sources in remote oceans. Moreover, specific sources of TEs were clarified, for example, Cr and Ni were mainly from vehicle emissions. The estimated bulk TE deposition fluxes also varied spatially. For instance, the greatest deposition of Fe occurs in the NWP marginal sea, followed by the Drake Passage, Indian Ocean Sector of Southern Ocean, Pacific Sector of Southern Ocean, and South Pacific. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the complex dynamics of aerosol TEs in the global ocean, providing valuable information for future studies and policy making regarding climate change.
Challenging Ring‐Current Models of the Carrington Storm
Authors: Love Jeffrey J. , Mursula Kalevi
Published: September 2024

A detailed analysis is made of horizontal‐component geomagnetic‐disturbance data acquired at the Colaba observatory in India recording the Carrington magnetic storm of September 1859. Prior to attaining its maximum absolute value, disturbance at Colaba increased with an e‐folding timescale of 0.46 hr (28 min). Following its maximum, absolute disturbance at Colaba decreased as a trend having an e‐folding timescale of 0.31 hr (19 min). Both of these timescales are much shorter than those characterizing the drift period of ring‐current ions. Furthermore, over one 28‐min interval when absolute disturbance was increasing, the data indicate an absolute rate of change of ≥2,436 nT/hr. If this is representative of disturbance generated by a symmetric magnetospheric ring current, then, assuming a standard and widely used parameterization, an interplanetary electric field of ≥451 mV/m is indicated. An idealized and extreme solar‐wind dynamic pressure could, conceivably, reduce this bound on the interplanetary electric field to ≥202 mV/m. If the parameterization for electric‐field extrapolation is accurate, but the field strengths obtained are deemed implausible, then it can be concluded that the Colaba disturbance data were significantly affected by partial‐ring, field‐aligned, or ionospheric currents. The same conclusion is supported by the shortness of the e‐folding timescales characterizing the Colaba data. Several prominent studies of the Carrington event need to be reconsidered.
The Dynamic Venusian Bow Shock Model With the Nonlinear Effect of Magnetosonic Mach Number Based on Venus Express Observations
Authors: Wang Ming , Xu Qi , Xie Lianghai , Li Lei , Zhang Yiteng , Lu Jianyong , Xu Xiaojun , Zuo Pingbing , Feng Yongyong , Ruan Mengsi , Zhang Tielong
Published: September 2024

Utilizing the 8.5‐year Venus Express observations, we investigate the effects of solar wind magnetosonic Mach number , solar extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation, solar wind dynamic pressure and interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) on the shape of the Venusian bow shock. Our statistical analysis yields several findings: (a) The spatial scale of the Venusian bow shock varies in a nonlinear manner with and shows a linear correlation with the EUV flux. (b) After the variance of the bow shock size caused by different and EUV are considered, the bow shock size shows no apparent correlation with the IMF intensity, IMF cone angle and solar wind dynamic pressure. (c) The angle between the IMF and the shock normal emerges as a significant factor shaping the bow shock's local distance. A two‐parameter ( and EUV) dynamic bow shock model is consequently constructed. This dynamic model not only elucidates the typical behavior of the bow shock under normal solar wind conditions but also unveils the anomalously distant bow shock location characterized by extremely low .
Biosolid as an alternative source of nutrients in chrysanthemum cultivation
Authors: Pereira Frederico Luiz , de Oliveira Ursuléia Aparecida , de Andrade Márcio Donizetti , Figueiredo Felipe Campos , Santos Breno Régis , Carvalho Marília , Barbosa Sandro
Published: September 2024

The objective was to evaluate the biosolids as an alternative source of nutrients in the production of chrysanthemums by adding increasing doses to the cultivation substrate. The experimental design was in blocks with 6 treatments and 5 replications. The treatments consisted of the mixture (commercial substrate + biosolid) at the concentrations: 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% of biosolid + two controls (100% of biosolid and 100% of substrate). The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse for 90 days. Physiological parameters, number of flower buds, dry biomass and nutrient accumulation were evaluated. Physiological parameters were evaluated using the Infrared Gas Analyzer. The number of flower buds was evaluated by counting. Biomass was determined after drying the structures and then calculated the accumulation of nutrients. A total of 90 plants were evaluated. Concentrations of up to 40% of biosolid promoted a greater number of flower buds, dry biomass and nutrient accumulation. Concentrations above 60% lower number of buds, biomass increment and nutrient accumulation. It is concluded that the biosolid has potential as an alternative source of nutrients in the cultivation of chrysanthemums, indicating concentrations of up to 40% and the nutrient content of each batch generated must be verified.
ƩS COVID-19 is a rapid high throughput and sensitive one-step quadruplex real-time RT-PCR assay
Authors: Kowitdamrong Ekasit , Anoma Sasiprapa , Loykaew Thitiya , Hansasuta Pokrath , Bhattarakosol Parvapan
Published: September 2024

Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), a standard method recommended for the diagnosis of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) requires 2–4 h to get the result. Although antigen test kit (ATK) is used for COVID-19 screening within 15–30 min, the drawback is its limited sensitivity. Hence, a rapid one-step quadruplex real-time RT-PCR assay: termed ƩS COVID-19 targeting ORF1ab, ORF3a, and N genes of SARS-CoV-2; and Avocado sunblotch viroid (ASBVd) as an internal control was developed. Based on strategies including designing high melting temperature primers with short amplicons, applying a fast ramp rate, minimizing hold time, and reducing the range between denaturation and annealing/extension temperatures; the assay could be accomplished within 25 min. The limit of detection of ORF1ab, ORF3a, and N genes were 1.835, 1.310, and 1 copy/reaction, respectively. Validation was performed in 205 combined nasopharyngeal and oropharyngeal swabs. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 92.8%, 100%, 100%, and 97.1%, respectively with 96.7% accuracy. Cohen’s Kappa was 0.93. The newly developed rapid real-time RT-PCR assay was highly sensitive, specific, and fast, making it suitable for use as an alternative method to support laboratory diagnosis of COVID-19 in outpatient and emergency departments.
Seasonal climate forecasts show skill in predicting winter chill for specialty crops in California
Authors: Jha Prakash Kumar , Pathak Tapan B.
Published: September 2024

Many fruits and nuts crops in California require sufficient winter chill to break dormancy, and insufficient chill can harm fruit quantity and quality. Early information on winter chill forecast can help growers prepare for a low chill year. Here we evaluate use of dynamic climate models for chill accumulation forecast in California. Using temperature forecasts from seasonal prediction systems, we found that the multimodel forecasts can predict chill. This is evident from the anomaly correlation coefficients exceeding 0.5 between the model-predicted and reference chill values for most California regions. The forecasts correctly identified chill categories in over 50% instances in more than 40% of the Central Valley and southern parts of California. The forecasts also demonstrated skill in capturing the interannual variability of chill, especially during years with substantial decrease in chill. Additionally, the seasonal forecast can provide potentially useful crop specific chill sufficiency prediction. However, forecasts beyond a one-month lead time showed reduced forecast skills.
Magnetocaloric effect in 1D-polymers bearing 15-metallacrown-5 {GdCu5}3+ units and anionic oxalate complexes
Authors: Pavlishchuk Anna V. , Kolotilov Sergey V. , Zeller Matthias , Pavlishchuk Vitaly V. , Pointillart Fabrice , Addison Anthony W.
Published: September 2024

Reactions between 15-metallacrown-5 {GdCu5}3+ and [Cr(C2O4)3]3− or [Cu(C2O4)2]2− resulted in the formation of two 1D coordination polymers, which are the first examples of 15-metallacrowns-5 possessing a magnetocaloric effect.
Role of nanomaterials in advanced membrane technologies for groundwater purification
Authors: Garg Manoj Chandra , Kumari Sheetal , Malik Neeraj
Published: September 2024

Access to clean and potable groundwater is paramount for sustaining human health and ecological balance.
Facile fabrication of binary copper–palladium alloy thin film catalysts for exceptional hydrogen evolution performance
Authors: Ehsan Muhammad Ali , Muthumariappan Akilarasan , Ali Muhammad , Hakeem Abbas Saeed , Farooq Wasif
Published: September 2024

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) plays a crucial role in realizing the ambitious objectives of renewable hydrogen (H2) production and CO2 neutrality.