bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cost effectiveness of spread mitigation strategies for polyphagous shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytinae)
Authors: Cook David C. , Gardiner Peter S. , Broughton Sonya
Published: December 2023

Polyphagous shot hole borer Euwallacea fornicatus Eichhoff was detected in Western Australia in September 2021, and an eradication campaign funded by the Commonwealth government is underway. As part of contingency planning, we examined the cost effectiveness of alternative control strategies that could be used to mitigate urban forest impacts and maintain the benefits of trees to the local communities if eradication was not feasible. At the time this work was undertaken, decision-makers were concerned about the potential need to replace all urban trees susceptible to attack. We considered this strategy alongside less destructive strategies and assessed their cost effectiveness in terms of material and labor costs and the loss of ecosystem services resulting from reduced tree foliage. Using a stochastic simulation model, we found that a strategy that involved pruning necrotic limbs and treating trees biennially with systemic insecticide was almost always more cost effective than removing infested trees and replanting to resistant varieties. We estimated this strategy would cost A$55-110 million over 50 years, while tree removal would cost $105-195 million. A third strategy using a mix of chemical suppression and tree removal was also considered in light of new information about the pest’s host preferences. With an estimated cost of $60-110 million, this strategy was only slightly more expensive than using chemical suppression alone and could actually lead to eradication if the host range is as narrow as recent survey data suggests.
Manipulation of GameXPeptide synthetase gene expression by a promoter exchange alters the virulence of an entomopathogenic bacterium, Photorhabdus temperata temperata, by modulating insect immune responses
Authors: Jin Gahyeon , Hrithik Md Tafim Hossain , Lee Dong-Hee , Kim Il-Hwan , Jung Ji-Seon , Bode Helge B. , Kim Yonggyun
Published: December 2023

An entomopathogenic bacterium, Photorhabdus temperata subsp. temperata, is mutualistic to its host nematode, Heterorhabditis megidis. The infective juvenile nematodes enter target insects through natural openings and release the symbiotic bacteria into the insect hemocoel. The released bacteria suppress the insect immune responses and cause septicemia through their secondary metabolites. GameXPeptide (GXP) is one of the common secondary metabolites of most Photorhabdus species and is produced by the catalytic activity of a specific non-ribosomal peptide synthetase called GxpS encoded by the gxpS gene. This study confirmed gxpS to be encoded in the P. temperata temperata genome and analyzed its expression during bacterial growth. LC-MS/MS analysis of the bacterial culture broth contained at least four different GXPs (GXP-A to GXP-D), in which GXP-A was the most abundant. To investigate GXP synthesis following gxpS expression, the gxpS promoter of P. temperata temperata was replaced with an inducible arabinose promoter by homologous recombination. The gxpS transcript levels in the mutant were altered by the addition of l-arabinose. Without the inducer, the gxpS transcript level was significantly lower compared to the wild type and produced significantly lower amounts of the four GXPs. The addition of the inducer to the mutant significantly increased gxpS expression and produced significantly higher levels of the four GXPs compared to the wild type. The metabolite extracts obtained from wild-type and mutant bacteria showed differential immunosuppressive activities according to their GXP contents against the cellular and humoral immune responses of a lepidopteran insect, Spodoptera exigua. Interestingly, the gxpS-mutant bacteria showed less insecticidal activity compared to the wild type, whereas the addition of GXP to the mutant significantly restored insecticidal activity. These results suggest that the gxpS gene encoded in P. temperata temperata is responsible for the production of at least four different GXPs, which play crucial roles in bacterial virulence.
Clinical characteristics and genetic analysis of pediatric patients with sodium channel gene mutation-related childhood epilepsy: a review of 94 patients
Authors: Fang Hongjun , Hu Wenjing , Kang Qingyun , Kuang Xiaojun , Wang Lijuan , Zhang Xiao , Liao Hongmei , Yang Liming , Yang Haiyan , Jiang Zhi , Wu Liwen
Published: December 2023

Objective

This study aimed to examine the clinical and gene-mutation characteristics of pediatric patients with sodium channel gene mutation-related childhood epilepsy and to provide a basis for precision treatment and genetic counseling.

Methods

The clinical data from 94 patients with sodium channel gene mutation-related childhood epilepsy who were treated at Hunan Children's Hospital from August 2012 to December 2022 were retrospectively evaluated, and the clinical characteristics, gene variants, treatment, and follow-up status were analyzed and summarized.

Results

Our 94 pediatric patients with sodium channel gene variant-related childhood epilepsy comprised 37 girls and 57 boys. The age of disease onset ranged from 1 day to 3 years. We observed seven different sodium channel gene variants, and 55, 14, 9, 6, 6, 2, and 2 patients had SCNlA, SCN2A, SCN8A, SCN9A, SCN1B, SCN11A, and SCN3A variants, respectively. We noted that 52 were reported variants and 42 were novel variants. Among all gene types, SCN1A, SCN2A, and SCN8A variants were associated with an earlier disease onset age. With the exception of the SCN1B, the other six genes were associated with clustering seizures. Except for variants SCN3A and SCN11A, some patients with other variants had status epilepticus (SE). The main diagnosis of children with SCN1A variants was Dravet syndrome (DS) (72.7%), whereas patients with SCN2A and SCN8A variants were mainly diagnosed with various types of epileptic encephalopathy, accounting for 85.7% (12 of 14) and 88.9% (8 of 9) respectively. A total of five cases of sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP) occurred in patients with SCN1A, SCN2A, and SCN8A variants. The proportion of benign epilepsy in patients with SCN9A, SCN11A, and SCN1B variants was relatively high, and the epilepsy control rate was higher than the rate of other variant types.

Conclusion

Sodium channel gene variants involve different epileptic syndromes, and the treatment responses also vary. We herein reported 42 novel variants, and we are also the first ever to report two patients with SCN11A variants, thereby increasing the gene spectrum and phenotypic profile of sodium channel dysfunction. We provide a basis for precision treatment and prognostic assessment.
A neurophysiological signature of dynamic emotion recognition associated with social communication skills and cortical gamma-aminobutyric acid levels in children
Authors: Sousa Daniela , Ferreira Ana , Rodrigues Diana , Pereira Helena Catarina , Amaral Joana , Crisostomo Joana , Simoes Marco , Ribeiro Mário , Teixeira Marta , Castelo-Branco Miguel
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Emotion recognition is a core feature of social perception. In particular, perception of dynamic facial emotional expressions is a major feature of the third visual pathway. However, the classical N170 visual evoked signal does not provide a pure correlate of such processing. Indeed, independent component analysis has demonstrated that the N170 component is already active at the time of the P100, and is therefore distorted by early components. Here we implemented, a dynamic face emotional paradigm to isolate a more pure face expression selective N170. We searched for a neural correlate of perception of dynamic facial emotional expressions, by starting with a face baseline from which a facial expression evolved. This allowed for a specific facial expression contrast signal which we aimed to relate with social communication abilities and cortical gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) levels.

Methods

We recorded event-related potentials (ERPs) and Magnetic Resonance (MRS) measures in 35 typically developing (TD) children, (10–16 years) sex-matched, during emotion recognition of an avatar morphing/unmorphing from neutral to happy/sad expressions. This task allowed for the elimination of the contribution low-level visual components, in particular the P100, by morphing baseline isoluminant neutral faces into specific expressions, isolating dynamic emotion recognition. Therefore, it was possible to isolate a dynamic face sensitive N170 devoid of interactions with earlier components.

Results

We found delayed N170 and P300, with a hysteresis type of dependence on stimulus trajectory (morphing/unmorphing), with hemispheric lateralization. The delayed N170 is generated by an extrastriate source, which can be related to the third visual pathway specialized in biological motion processing. GABA levels in visual cortex were related with N170 amplitude and latency and predictive of worse social communication performance (SCQ scores). N170 latencies reflected delayed processing speed of emotional expressions and related to worse social communication scores.

Discussion

In sum, we found a specific N170 electrophysiological signature of dynamic face processing related to social communication abilities and cortical GABA levels. These findings have potential clinical significance supporting the hypothesis of a spectrum of social communication abilities and the identification of a specific face-expression sensitive N170 which can potentially be used in the development of diagnostic and intervention tools.
An examination of relationships between vitamin B12 status and functional measures of peripheral neuropathy in young adult vegetarians
Authors: Arnold Taylor , Johnston Carol S.
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Prevalence rates for vitamin B12 deficiency in U.S. adult vegetarians may exceed 30%, which is concerning given the role for this vitamin in numerous nervous system functions, including the synthesis of myelin sheaths. Defective myelin synthesis and repair are directly linked to peripheral neuropathy; yet, few investigations have examined how physical indicators of peripheral neuropathy (e.g., hand dexterity, vibration sensitivity and balance) are impacted in individuals adhering to vegetarian diets. This feasibility research explored the relationships between peripheral neuropathy and vitamin B12 status using a cross-sectional study design. In addition, a small pilot trial was conducted for limited-efficacy testing of vitamin B12 supplementation for reducing peripheral neuropathy.

Methods

Healthy, able-bodied adults (n = 38; 19–40 years of age) reported exclusive adherence to a vegetarian or vegan diet for 3 years. Peripheral neuropathy was measured using a force plate for assessing balance, and a vibration sensitivity tester and pegboard tests to assess hand dexterity. Serum vitamin B12 and folate were measured using standard radioimmunoassay techniques.

Results

Twenty-six percent of the sample displayed deficient or marginal vitamin B12 status (serum vitamin B12 <221 pmol/L). Participants with adequate vitamin B12 status scored 10% higher on the Purdue pegboard assembly test and 20% higher on the left hand adjusted functional dexterity test in comparison to participants with marginal-to-deficient vitamin B12 status (p < 0.05).

Discussion

These data provide preliminary evidence that peripheral neuropathy can be detected in individuals with marginal-to-deficient vitamin B12 status.
A predictive model for early death in elderly colorectal cancer patients: a population-based study
Authors: Wang Qi , Shen Kexin , Fei Bingyuan , Luo Hai , Li Ruiqi , Wang Zeming , Wei Mengqiang , Xie Zhongshi
Published: December 2023

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to determine what variables contribute to the early death of elderly colorectal cancer patients (ECRC) and to generate predictive nomograms for this population.

Methods

This retrospective cohort analysis included elderly individuals (≥75 years old) diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) from 2010-2015 in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result databases (SEER) databases. The external validation was conducted using a sample of the Chinese population obtained from the China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University. Logistic regression analyses were used to ascertain variables associated with early death and to develop nomograms. The nomograms were internally and externally validated with the help of the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

The SEER cohort consisted of 28,111 individuals, while the Chinese cohort contained 315 cases. Logistic regression analyses shown that race, marital status, tumor size, Grade, T stage, N stage, M stage, brain metastasis, liver metastasis, bone metastasis, surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy were independent prognostic factors for all-cause and cancer-specific early death in ECRC patients; The variable of sex was only related to an increased risk of all-cause early death, whereas the factor of insurance status was solely associated with an increased risk of cancer-specific early death. Subsequently, two nomograms were devised to estimate the likelihood of all-cause and cancer-specific early death among individuals with ECRC. The nomograms exhibited robust predictive accuracy for predicting early death of ECRC patients, as evidenced by both internal and external validation.

Conclusion

We developed two easy-to-use nomograms to predicting the likelihood of early death in ECRC patients, which would contribute significantly to the improvement of clinical decision-making and the formulation of personalized treatment approaches for this particular population.
Future directions in ventilator-induced lung injury associated cognitive impairment: a new sight
Authors: Liu Yinuo , Cai Xintong , Fang Ruiying , Peng Shengliang , Luo Wei , Du Xiaohong
Published: December 2023

Mechanical ventilation is a widely used short-term life support technique, but an accompanying adverse consequence can be pulmonary damage which is called ventilator-induced lung injury (VILI). Mechanical ventilation can potentially affect the central nervous system and lead to long-term cognitive impairment. In recent years, many studies revealed that VILI, as a common lung injury, may be involved in the central pathogenesis of cognitive impairment by inducing hypoxia, inflammation, and changes in neural pathways. In addition, VILI has received attention in affecting the treatment of cognitive impairment and provides new insights into individualized therapy. The combination of lung protective ventilation and drug therapy can overcome the inevitable problems of poor prognosis from a new perspective. In this review, we summarized VILI and non-VILI factors as risk factors for cognitive impairment and concluded the latest mechanisms. Moreover, we retrospectively explored the role of improving VILI in cognitive impairment treatment. This work contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of VILI-induced cognitive impairment and may provide future direction for the treatment and prognosis of cognitive impairment.
A eudicot MIXTA family ancestor likely functioned in both conical cells and trichomes
Authors: Zahid Simra , Schulfer Anjelique F. , Di Stilio Verónica S.
Published: December 2023

The MIXTA family of MYB transcription factors modulate the development of diverse epidermal features in land plants. This study investigates the evolutionary history and function of the MIXTA gene family in the early-diverging eudicot model lineage Thalictrum (Ranunculaceae), with R2R3 SBG9-A MYB transcription factors representative of the pre-core eudicot duplication and thus hereby referred to as “paleoMIXTA” (PMX). Cloning and phylogenetic analysis of Thalictrum paleoMIXTA (ThPMX) orthologs across 23 species reveal a genus-wide duplication coincident with a whole-genome duplication. Expression analysis by qPCR confirmed that the highest expression is found in carpels, while newly revealing high expression in leaves and nuanced differences between paralogs in representative polyploid species. The single-copy ortholog from the diploid species T. thalictroides (TthPMX, previously TtMYBML2), which has petaloid sepals with conical–papillate cells and trichomes on leaves, was functionally characterized by virus-induced gene silencing (VIGS), and its role in leaves was also assessed from heterologous overexpression in tobacco. Another ortholog from a species with conical–papillate cells on stamen filaments, TclPMX, was also targeted for silencing. Overexpression assays in tobacco provide further evidence that the paleoMIXTA lineage has the potential for leaf trichome function in a core eudicot. Transcriptome analysis by RNA-Seq on leaves of VIGS-treated plants suggests that TthPMX modulates leaf trichome development and morphogenesis through microtubule-associated mechanisms and that this may be a conserved pathway for eudicots. These experiments provide evidence for a combined role for paleoMIXTA orthologs in (leaf) trichomes and (floral) conical–papillate cells that, together with data from other systems, makes the functional reconstruction of a eudicot ancestor most likely as also having a combined function.
How to reach people who do not want to be reached: psychosocial counseling for school-dropouts in vocational training
Authors: Möhring Julian Valentin , Wölfel Méline , Brosig Burkhard
Published: December 2023

Emerging adulthood without vocational training concerns young people from difficult social backgrounds who are often not adequately reached by therapeutic help. Difficult and traumatic experiences with therapeutic institutions are common to many of these young people in addition to a long lasting, unsatisfying patient-career. Without professional support from the therapeutic field, vocational qualification measures often cannot meet the needs of young people with inner conflicts. A counseling center for people with mental health problems was set up in 2010 as a link between professional support and a therapeutic setting. This article critically examines the importance of counseling for improving the personal situation of participants in vocational qualification measures on a descriptive level. We take a perspective on identity development and defense mechanisms in the thought of Vaillant and Erikson. Both theories focus on the social embeddedness of psychological processes. This theoretical background helps to understand young peoples’ situations and difficulties. The unique setting of the counseling center that aims to match the particular needs of these young people is presented. Thus a low-threshold, destigmatising and flexible setting should provide better access to psychosocial support for participants in vocational qualification measures. Opportunities and limits of the concept are discussed.
Service users’ perceptions of relevant and helpful components of an integrated care concept (ACCESS) for psychosis
Authors: Rohenkohl Anja Christine , Sowada Pia , Lambert Martin , Gallinat Jürgen , Karow Anne , Lüdecke Daniel , Rühl Friederike , Schöttle Daniel
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Psychotic disorders have a significant impact on patients’ lives and their families, and long-term treatment with individually tailored multimodal combinations of therapies is often required. Integrated care (IC) concepts such as the “Hamburg Model (ACCESS)” with a focus on psychotic disorders, includes different (therapeutic) components with pharmaco- and psychotherapy, family involvement, home treatment and the option of using a 24/7 crisis hotline. All components are offered by a therapeutically-oriented assertive community treatment (TACT) team in a need-adapted manner. So far, however, little is known about which specific components are regarded as especially relevant and helpful by the users of IC.

Methods

Patients currently participating in IC completed a questionnaire as part of the continuous quality assurance study (ACCESS II) in which they were asked to rate the different components of treatment according to their relevance and helpfulness, considering the individual’s unique experiences with IC and needs in mental health care. Furthermore, they were asked to make suggestions regarding additional helpful components of treatment.

Results

Fifty patients participated in this survey (23% of the patients currently participating in the IC concept). For participants, the most helpful and important factors were having the same therapist in the long-term and the 24/7 crisis telephone. Additional components suggested by patients included more addiction-specific therapies and increased focus on vocational rehabilitation and integration.

Conclusion

From the perspective of the users of IC, long-term care from a trusted therapist with whom there is a therapeutic relationship and the possibility to reach someone they already know from the TACT team 24/7 serves as the best basis for effective care, fostering trust, understanding, and open communication. In contrast, home treatment remains a relevant aspect of evidence-based care for people with severe mental illness, but perhaps surprisingly, is not viewed as the most important issue.
Can tourists become disciples? The formation and mechanism of place conversion in traditional Chinese villages
Authors: Xu Luyao , Shi Lei , Wang Xin , Wan Yuliang , Fan Zhuo
Published: December 2023

Place attachment has been extensively studied in the field of tourism. However, it is important to recognize that place attachment alone may not fully capture the emotional expression of tourists’ spiritual beliefs and their sense of belonging to a destination. Therefore, a more comprehensive attachment theory is needed to encompass higher dimensions. This article focuses on the ancient Chinese villages of Yantou, Cangpo, and Furong from a tourist perspective, and introduces genius loci in architectural phenomenology. We set out to expand the study of spiritual dimensions of place attachment on the basis of local attachment, redefining tourists’ place connection and putting forward the new concept of place conversion. A qualitative analysis of online text using Rooting theory was conducted to condense 22 categories into 6 main categories and establish a model. The study shows that the mechanism of place conversion is composed of situational perception (place perception and place identity), physical and mental immersion (spatio-temporal immersion and place conversion), and behavioral willingness (tourists intention and conversion behavior). The study has implications for the conservation and development of traditional villages and future research on the spiritual experiences of tourists.
Depressive symptoms among people under COVID-19 quarantine or self-isolation in Korea: a propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Chu Hyeon Sik , Lee Kounseok
Published: December 2023

Introduction

This study aims to determine the effect of COVID-19-related hospital isolation or self-isolation on depression using the propensity score matching method.

Methods

Data on 217,734 participants were divided into groups based on whether or not they underwent quarantine for their COVID-19 diagnosis. COVID-19-related anxiety, depressive symptoms, subjective health status, and perceived stress were evaluated.

Results

Based on the calculated propensity score, we matched the quarantined group and non-quarantined group using 1:2 matching with nearest neighbor matching and a caliper width of 0.1. Within the quarantined group, 16.4% of participants experienced significant depressive symptoms, which was significantly higher than that of the non-quarantined group. However, there was no significant difference between the two groups in COVID-19-related anxiety, self-rated health status, and perceived stress. In our multiple logistic regression analysis with related variables corrected, the quarantined group was 1.298 times more likely to have depressive symptoms than the non-quarantined group (95% CI = 1.030–1.634).

Conclusion

Our study confirmed that COVID-19 quarantine is associated with depressive symptoms. These results indicate that healthcare policymakers and healthcare professionals must consider the negative mental and physical effects of quarantine when determining quarantine measures during an infectious disease disaster such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Drug prescription patterns and their association with mortality and hospitalization duration in COVID-19 patients: insights from big data
Authors: Mehrizi Reza , Golestani Ali , Malekpour Mohammad-Reza , Karami Hossein , Nasehi Mohammad Mahdi , Effatpanah Mohammad , Ranjbaran Hossein , Shahali Zahra , Sari Ali Akbari , Daroudi Rajabali
Published: December 2023

Background

Different medication prescription patterns have been associated with varying course of disease and outcomes in COVID-19. Health claims data is a rich source of information on disease treatment and outcomes. We aimed to investigate drug prescription patterns and their association with mortality and hospitalization via insurance data for a relatively long period of the pandemic in Iran.

Methods

We retrieved hospitalized patients’ data from Iran Health Insurance Organization (IHIO) spanning 26 months (2020–2022) nationwide. Included were patients with ICD-10 codes U07.1/U07.2 for confirmed/suspected COVID-19. A case was defined as a single hospitalization event for an individual patient. Multiple hospitalizations of a patient within a 30-day interval were aggregated into a single case, while hospitalizations with intervals exceeding 30 days were treated as independent cases. The Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) was used for medications classification. The two main study outcomes were general and intensive care unit (ICU) hospitalization periods and mortality. Besides, various demographic and clinical associate factors were analyzed to derive the associations with medication prescription patterns and study outcomes using accelerated failure time (AFT) and logistic regression models.

Results

During the 26 months of the study period, 1,113,678 admissions with COVID-19 diagnosis at hospitals working in company with IHIO were recorded. 917,198 cases were detected from the database, among which 51.91% were females and 48.09% were males. Among the main groups of medications, antithrombotics (55.84% [95% CI: 55.74–55.94]), corticosteroids (54.14% [54.04–54.24]), and antibiotics (42.22% [42.12–42.32]) were the top used medications among cases with COVID-19. Investigation of the duration of hospitalization based on main medication groups showed antithrombotics (adjusted median ratio = 0.94 [0.94–0.95]) were significantly associated with shorter periods of overall hospitalization. Also, antithrombotics (adjusted odds ratio = 0.74 [95%CI, 0.73–0.76]), corticosteroids (0.97 [0.95–0.99]), antivirals (0.82 [0.80–0.83]), and ACE inhibitor/ARB (0.79 [0.77–0.80]) were significantly associated with lower mortality.

Conclusion

Over 2 years of investigation, antithrombotics, corticosteroids, and antibiotics were the top medications for hospitalized patients with COVID-19. Trends in medication prescription varied based on various factors across the country. Medication prescriptions could potentially significantly impact the trends of mortality and hospitalization during epidemics, thereby affecting both health and economic burdens.
Adherence to a healthy lifestyle and its association with cognitive impairment in community-dwelling older adults in Shanghai
Authors: Qi Yiqiong , Zhang Ziwei , Fu Xiya , Han Peipei , Xu Weixin , Cao Liou , Guo Qi
Published: December 2023

Introduction

There is a growing body of recent literature linking the association of specific or multiple lifestyles with cognitive impairment, but most of these studies have been conducted in Western populations, and it is necessary to study multiple lifestyles and cognitive abilities in different populations, with the primary population of this study being a select group of community-dwelling older adults in Shanghai, China.

Methods

The sample included 2,390 community-dwelling Chinese participants. Their cognitive function was assessed using the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We defined a healthy lifestyle score on the basis of being non-smoking, performing ≥210 min/wk moderate/vigorous-intensity physical activity, having light to moderate alcohol consumption, eating vegetables and fruits daily, having a body mass index (BMI) of 18.5–23.9 kg/m2, and having a waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) <0.90 for men and <0.85 for women, for an overall score ranging from 0 to 6.

Results

Compared with participants with ≤2 healthy lifestyle factors, the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for participants with 4, 5, and 6 healthy lifestyle factors were 0.53 (95% CI, 0.29–0.98), 0.40 (95% CI, 0.21–0.75), and 0.36 (95% CI, 0.16–0.79), respectively. Only WHR (OR = 0.54, 95% CI = 0.37–0.78) and physical activity (OR = 0.69, 95% CI = 0.51–0.92) were associated with cognitive impairment. A healthy lifestyle correlated with overall cognition (β = 0.066, orientation (β = 0.049), language ability (β = 0.060), delayed recall (β = 0.045) and executive function (β = 0.044) (P all < 0.05).

Conclusion

The study provides evidence on an inverse association between healthy lifestyles and cognitive impairment. We investigated whether healthy lifestyle was related to specific cognitive functions to provide a theoretical basis for accurate clinical prescription.
Developing technology-based interventions for infectious diseases: ethical considerations for young sexual and gender minority people
Authors: Cascalheira Cory J. , Pugh Tyler H. , Hong Chenglin , Birkett Michelle , Macapagal Kathryn , Holloway Ian W.
Published: December 2023

Compared to their heterosexual and cisgender peers, young sexual and gender minority (YSGM) people are more likely to contract sexually transmitted infections (STIs; e.g., HIV) and to face adverse consequences of emerging infections, such as COVID-19 and mpox. To reduce these sexual health disparities, technology-based interventions (TBIs) for STIs and emerging infections among YSGM adolescents and young adults have been developed. In this Perspective, we discuss ethical issues, ethical principles, and recommendations in the development and implementation of TBIs to address STIs and emerging infections among YSGM. Our discussion covers: (1) confidentiality, privacy, and data security (e.g., if TBI use is revealed, YSGM are at increased risk of discrimination and family rejection); (2) empowerment and autonomy (e.g., designing TBIs that can still function if YSGM users opt-out of multiple features and data collection requests); (3) evidence-based and quality controlled (e.g., going above and beyond minimum FDA effectiveness standards to protect vulnerable YSGM people); (4) cultural sensitivity and tailoring (e.g., using YSGM-specific models of prevention and intervention); (5) balancing inclusivity vs. group specificity (e.g., honoring YSGM heterogeneity); (6) duty to care (e.g., providing avenues to contact affirming healthcare professionals); (7) equitable access (e.g., prioritizing YSGM people living in low-resource, high-stigma areas); and (8) digital temperance (e.g., being careful with gamification because YSGM experience substantial screen time compared to their peers). We conclude that a community-engaged, YSGM-centered approach to TBI development and implementation is paramount to ethically preventing and treating STIs and emerging infections with innovative technology.
Short-term effects and long-term changes of FUEL—a digital sports nutrition intervention on REDs related symptoms in female athletes
Authors: Fahrenholtz Ida Lysdahl , Melin Anna Katarina , Garthe Ina , Wasserfurth Paulina , Ivarsson Andreas , Hollekim-Strand Siri Marte , Koehler Karsten , Logue Danielle , Madigan Sharon , Gräfnings Maria , Torstveit Monica K.
Published: December 2023

Female endurance athletes are at high risk for developing Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), resulting in symptoms such as menstrual dysfunction and gastrointestinal (GI) problems. The primary aim of this study was to investigate effects of the FUEL (Food and nUtrition for Endurance athletes—a Learning program) intervention consisting of weekly online lectures combined with individual athlete-centered nutrition counseling every other week for sixteen weeks on REDs related symptoms in female endurance athletes at risk of low energy availability [Low Energy Availability in Females Questionnaire (LEAF-Q) score ≥8]. Female endurance athletes from Norway (n = 60), Sweden (n = 84), Ireland (n = 17), and Germany (n = 47) were recruited. Fifty athletes with risk of REDs (LEAF-Q score ≥8) and with low risk of eating disorders [Eating Disorder Examination Questionnaire (EDE-Q) global score <2.5], with no use of hormonal contraceptives and no chronic diseases, were allocated to either the FUEL intervention (n = 32) (FUEL) or a sixteen-week control period (n = 18) (CON). All but one completed FUEL and n = 15 completed CON. While no evidence for difference in change in LEAF-Q total or subscale scores between groups was detected post-intervention (BFincl < 1), the 6- and 12-months follow-up revealed strong evidence for improved LEAF-Q total (BFincl = 123) and menstrual score (BFincl = 840) and weak evidence for improved GI-score (BFincl = 2.3) among FUEL athletes. In addition, differences in change between groups was found for EDE-Q global score post-intervention (BFincl = 1.9). The reduction in EDE-Q score remained at 6- and 12- months follow-up among FUEL athletes. Therefore, the FUEL intervention may improve REDs related symptoms in female endurance athletes.

Clinical Trial Registration

www.clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04959565).
Environmental impact of green house gas emissions from the tea industries of northeastern states of India
Authors: Aditya Kaustav , Kumar Raju , Bharti  , Sanyal S.
Published: December 2023

Motivation

Tea, derived from the Camellia sinensis plant, holds the position of being the most widely consumed manufactured beverage globally. Its cultivation necessitates specific agro-climatic conditions, leading to its production being confined to select regions, notably including India. India contributes about 20.81% to the world’s tea output. The production and processing of tea leaves to final product consume energy in terms of machinery, fertilizer, irrigation etc. The energy consumption involved in tea production is a pressing concern, given the associated high costs and CO2 emissions resulting from fossil fuel usage. To achieve a net-zero carbon balance, there is need to pay attention towards promoting renewable energy technologies as a means to mitigate the CO2 emissions stemming from fossil fuels in India’s tea sector.

Objectives

Aligned with the objective of sustainability through the integration of renewable energy sources, a pilot study was conducted in the primary tea-growing regions of northeastern India during 2021–22. The primary aims of this study were twofold: to gauge the quantity of CO2 emissions originating from conventional energy sources and to explore the feasibility of incorporating renewable energy sources as viable substitutes.

Data and methods

Data on various inputs used in tea production were collected from Assam and West Bengal states of India by using a stratified random sampling method with equal probability and without replacement.

Results

The findings of this investigation underscore a noteworthy potential for the adoption of renewable energy, particularly solar energy, within the tea estates situated in the north eastern region of India. Such a transition would yield benefits for both the tea estates themselves and the overall environment.
Genetic evaluation for production and body size traits using different animal models in purebred-Duroc pigs
Authors: Zhou Fuchen , Lin Danyang , Dong Linsong , Hong Yifeng , Zeng Haiyu , Cai Gengyuan , Ye Jian , Wu Zhenfang
Published: December 2023

Duroc pigs are popular crossbred terminal sires, and accurate assessment of genetic parameters in the population can help to rationalize breeding programmes. The principle aim of this study were to evaluate the genetic parameters of production (birth weight, BW; age at 115 kg, AGE; feed conversion ratio, FCR) and body size (body length, BL; body height, BH; front cannon circumference, FCC) traits of Duroc pigs. The second objective was to analyze the fit of different genetic assessment models. The variance components and correlations of BW (28,348 records), AGE (28,335 records), FCR (11,135 records), BL (31,544 records), BH (21,862 records), and FCC (14,684 records) traits were calculated by using DMU and AIREMLF90 from BLUPF90 package. In the common environment model, the heritability of BW, AGE, FCR, BL, BH, and FCC traits were 0.17 ± 0.014, 0.30 ± 0.019, 0.28 ± 0.024, 0.16 ± 0.013, 0.14 ± 0.017, and 0.081 ± 0.016, with common litter effect values of 0.25, 0.20, 0.18, 0.23, 0.19, and 0.16, respectively. According to the results of the Akaike information criterion (AIC) calculations, models with smaller AIC values have a better fit. We found that the common environment model with litter effects as random effects for estimating genetic parameters had a better fit. In this Model, the estimated genetic correlations between AGE with BW, FCR, BL, BH, and FCC traits were −0.28 (0.040), 0.76 (0.038), −0.71 (0.036), −0.44 (0.060), and −0.60 (0.073), respectively, with phenotypic correlations of −0.17, 0.52, −0.22, −0.13 and −0.24, respectively. In our analysis of genetic trends for six traits in the Duroc population from 2012 to 2021, we observed significant genetic trends for AGE, BL, and BH. Particularly noteworthy is the rapid decline in the genetic trend for AGE, indicating an enhancement in the pig's growth rate through selective breeding. Therefore, we believe that some challenging-to-select traits can benefit from the genetic correlations between traits. By selecting easily measurable traits, they can gain from synergistic selection effects, leading to genetic progress. Conducting population genetic parameter analysis can assist us in devising breeding strategies.
Solving NP-Hard Challenges in Logistics and Transportation under General Uncertainty Scenarios Using Fuzzy Simheuristics
Authors: Juan Angel A. , Rabe Markus , Ammouriova Majsa , Panadero Javier , Peidro David , Riera Daniel
Published: December 2023

In the field of logistics and transportation (L&T), this paper reviews the utilization of simheuristic algorithms to address NP-hard optimization problems under stochastic uncertainty. Then, the paper explores an extension of the simheuristics concept by introducing a fuzzy layer to tackle complex optimization problems involving both stochastic and fuzzy uncertainties. The hybrid approach combines simulation, metaheuristics, and fuzzy logic, offering a feasible methodology to solve large-scale NP-hard problems under general uncertainty scenarios. These scenarios are commonly encountered in L&T optimization challenges, such as the vehicle routing problem or the team orienteering problem, among many others. The proposed methodology allows for modeling various problem components—including travel times, service times, customers’ demands, or the duration of electric batteries—as deterministic, stochastic, or fuzzy items. A cross-problem analysis of several computational experiments is conducted to validate the effectiveness of the fuzzy simheuristic methodology. Being a flexible methodology that allows us to tackle NP-hard challenges under general uncertainty scenarios, fuzzy simheuristics can also be applied in fields other than L&T.
On the Development of Descriptor-Based Machine Learning Models for Thermodynamic Properties: Part 2—Applicability Domain and Outliers
Authors: Trinh Cindy , Lasala Silvia , Herbinet Olivier , Meimaroglou Dimitrios
Published: December 2023

This article investigates the applicability domain (AD) of machine learning (ML) models trained on high-dimensional data, for the prediction of the ideal gas enthalpy of formation and entropy of molecules via descriptors. The AD is crucial as it describes the space of chemical characteristics in which the model can make predictions with a given reliability. This work studies the AD definition of a ML model throughout its development procedure: during data preprocessing, model construction and model deployment. Three AD definition methods, commonly used for outlier detection in high-dimensional problems, are compared: isolation forest (iForest), random forest prediction confidence (RF confidence) and k-nearest neighbors in the 2D projection of descriptor space obtained via t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (tSNE2D/kNN). These methods compute an anomaly score that can be used instead of the distance metrics of classical low-dimension AD definition methods, the latter being generally unsuitable for high-dimensional problems. Typically, in low- (high-) dimensional problems, a molecule is considered to lie within the AD if its distance from the training domain (anomaly score) is below a given threshold. During data preprocessing, the three AD definition methods are used to identify outlier molecules and the effect of their removal is investigated. A more significant improvement of model performance is observed when outliers identified with RF confidence are removed (e.g., for a removal of 30% of outliers, the MAE (Mean Absolute Error) of the test dataset is divided by 2.5, 1.6 and 1.1 for RF confidence, iForest and tSNE2D/kNN, respectively). While these three methods identify X-outliers, the effect of other types of outliers, namely Model-outliers and y-outliers, is also investigated. In particular, the elimination of X-outliers followed by that of Model-outliers enables us to divide MAE and RMSE (Root Mean Square Error) by 2 and 3, respectively, while reducing overfitting. The elimination of y-outliers does not display a significant effect on the model performance. During model construction and deployment, the AD serves to verify the position of the test data and of different categories of molecules with respect to the training data and associate this position with their prediction accuracy. For the data that are found to be close to the training data, according to RF confidence, and display high prediction errors, tSNE 2D representations are deployed to identify the possible sources of these errors (e.g., representation of the chemical information in the training data).
Image Deblurring Based on Convex Non-Convex Sparse Regularization and Plug-and-Play Algorithm
Authors: Wang Yi , Xu Yating , Li Tianjian , Zhang Tao , Zou Jian
Published: December 2023

Image deblurring based on sparse regularization has garnered significant attention, but there are still certain limitations that need to be addressed. For instance, convex sparse regularization tends to exhibit biased estimation, which can adversely impact the deblurring performance, while non-convex sparse regularization poses challenges in terms of solving techniques. Furthermore, the performance of the traditional iterative algorithm also needs to be improved. In this paper, we propose an image deblurring method based on convex non-convex (CNC) sparse regularization and a plug-and-play (PnP) algorithm. The utilization of CNC sparse regularization not only mitigates estimation bias but also guarantees the overall convexity of the image deblurring model. The PnP algorithm is an advanced learning-based optimization algorithm that surpasses traditional optimization algorithms in terms of efficiency and performance by utilizing the state-of-the-art denoiser to replace the proximal operator. Numerical experiments verify the performance of our proposed algorithm in image deblurring.
Fault Diagnosis of Mine Truck Hub Drive System Based on LMD Multi-Component Sample Entropy Fusion and LS-SVM
Authors: Xu Le , Li Wei , Zhang Bo , Zhu Yubin , Lang Chaonan
Published: December 2023

As the main transportation equipment in ore mining, the wheel drive system of mining trucks plays a crucial role in the transportation capacity of mining trucks. The internal components of the hub drive system are mainly composed of bearings, gears, etc. The vibration signals caused during operation are nonlinear and nonstationary complex signals, and there may be more than one factor that causes faults, which causes certain difficulties for the fault diagnosis of the hub drive system. A fault diagnosis method based on local mean decomposition (LMD) multi-component sample entropy fusion and LS-SVM is proposed to address this issue. Firstly, the LMD method is used to decompose the vibration signals in different states to obtain a finite number of PF components. Then, based on the typical correlation analysis method, the distribution characteristics and correlation coefficients of vibration signals in the frequency domain under different states are calculated, and effective PF multi-component sample entropy features are constructed. Finally, the LS-SVM multi-fault classifier is used to train and test the extracted multi-component sample entropy features to verify the effectiveness of the method. The experimental results show that, even in small-sample data, the LMD multi-component sample entropy fusion and LS-SVM method can accurately extract fault features of vibration signals and complete classification, achieving fault diagnosis of wheel drive systems.
An Adaptive Magnetorheological Fluid-Based Robotic Claw with an Electro-Permanent Magnet Array
Authors: Choi Young , Drake Keith , Jesik Mark , Hartzell Christine , Wereley Norman
Published: December 2023

The increasing demand for the adept handling of a diverse range of objects in various grasp scenarios has spurred the development of more efficient and adaptable robotic claws. This study specifically focuses on the creation of an adaptive magnetorheological fluid (MRF)-based robotic claw, driven by electro-permanent magnet (EPM) arrays to enhance gripping capabilities across different task requirements. In pursuit of this goal, a two-finger MRF-based robotic claw was introduced, featuring two magnetorheological (MR) grippers equipped with MR elastomer (MRE) bladders and EPM arrays at the fingertips. The operational principle involved placing a target object between these MR grippers and adjusting the normal force applied to the object for effective grasping. During this process, the contact stiffness of the MR grippers was altered by activating the EPM arrays in three distinct operation modes: passive, short-range (SR), and long-range (LR). Through experimentation on a benchtop material testing machine, the holding performance of the MRF-based robotic claw with the integrated EPM arrays was systematically evaluated. This study empirically validates the feasibility and effectiveness of the MRF-based robotic claw when equipped with EPM arrays.