bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genomic architecture and sex chromosome systems of commercially important fish species in Asia – Current status, knowledge gaps and future prospects
Authors: Taslima Khanam , Kikuchi Kiyoshi , Hosoya Sho
Published: June 2024

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing agro‐food industries in the world and Asia dominates the world's fish production (70% of total) with a high potential to ensure global food security. The leading aquaculture fish species in Asia show sexual dimorphism for traits such as growth, age at sexual maturity etc. in which one sex outperforms the other, increasing the need for controlling sex‐ratio in the farming system. Despite the huge contribution of Asian aquaculture to global fish production, the Asian aquaculture is facing a lot of challenges, for example, maintaining the genetic purity of the fish species and balancing the sex‐ratio in the culture system. Many of these difficulties arise due to a lack of deep understanding of fish genetics, or to the duplicated genome of cultured species, or to the unavailability of high‐quality reference genomes and information on sex determination mechanisms (crucial for monosex production and establishing appropriate breeding programme). This review has described the existing knowledge of the sex determination mechanisms in fish and genome architecture of four commercially important fish groups in Asia (carps, tilapias, catfishes and snakeheads). We also have outlined possible strategies for identifying sex‐determining gene/s using modern genome sequencing and computational technologies. Finally, we have highlighted the existing challenges and future prospects of Asian aquaculture. We anticipate that developments in genome sequencing technologies will help to address the biological complexities and challenges that exist in commercial aquaculture and will be of value for the future growth of the aquaculture industry in Asia.
The portfolio approach: a way forward for restoration of native Olympia oysters in a dynamic urban estuary
Authors: Zabin Chela J. , Ayala Geana , Kiriakopolos Stephanie , Blumenthal Jeffrey , Grosholz Edwin D.
Published: June 2024

Native Olympia oysters (Ostrea lurida) occur in remnant natural populations throughout San Francisco Bay (SFB), California, United States, where managers have been working to restore oysters since 2002. Environmental conditions vary substantially along the estuarine gradient in the bay, such that oysters are exposed to different stressors in different locations and years. We monitored oysters that naturally recruited to experimental restoration substrates over 10 years at two sites on this gradient. We found that recruitment rates and adult densities varied over time and had different trajectories at the study locations. We found gradients in predation, space competition, and physical stressors between sites and along a tidal elevation span that corresponded with differences in adult densities. We documented mass mortality resulting from an extreme low‐salinity event at one site and subsequent recovery later that year. Our results, combined with data from natural populations at multiple sites, suggest that restoration outcomes within SFB could be improved by building and strengthening a connected portfolio of sites that are not simultaneously exposed to the same stressors. We recommend siting restoration projects across locations that represent a range of environmental conditions but that are sufficiently close for larval exchange. Unlike typical restoration approaches that use site selection to identify the best locations, the portfolio approach, just like the economic investment principle, would employ a diversity of environmental conditions. Because these environmental conditions can change over time, this approach can reap the greatest rewards over the long run precisely because of that diversity.
A bed allocation model for pandemic situation considering general demand: A case study of Iran
Authors: Korzebor Mohammadreza , Nahavandi Nasim
Published: June 2024

Pandemics place a new type of demand from patients affected by the pandemic, imposing significant strain on hospital departments, particularly the intensive care unit. A crucial challenge during pandemics is the imbalance in addressing the needs of both pandemic patients and general patients. Often, the community's focus shifts toward the pandemic patients, causing an imbalance that can result in severe issues. Simultaneously considering both demands, pandemic‐related and general healthcare needs, has been largely overlooked. In this article, we propose a bi‐objective mathematical model for locating temporary hospitals and allocating patients to existing and temporary hospitals, considering both demand types during pandemics. Hospital departments, such as emergency beds, serve both demand types, but due to infection risks, accommodating a pandemic patient and a general patient in the same department is not feasible. The first objective function is to minimize the bed shortages considering both types of demands, whereas the second objective is cost minimization, which includes the fixed and variable costs of temporary facilities, the penalty cost of changing the allocation of existing facilities (between general and pandemic demand), the cost of adding expandable beds to existing facilities, and the service cost for different services and beds. To show the applicability of the model, a real case study has been conducted on the COVID‐19 pandemic in the city of Qom, Iran. Comparing the model results with real data reveals that using the proposed model can increase demand coverage by 16%.
“We Know What War Is”: Veterans, Soldiers, and Military Masculinity in the Soviet “Fight for Peace,” c. 1955–65
Authors: McCallum Claire E.
Published: June 2024

The aim of this article is to bring the issue of peace more definitively into the increasingly complex vision we have of the postwar era and to give particular thought to the place of the military man within a society that was now supposedly orientated toward peace. To do so, the discussion will range across both lived experience and cultural representations—predominantly of a visual nature—that broached the issue of peace, paying close attention to the ways in which the legacies of the Great Patriotic War shaped how serving soldiers and demobilized veterans articulated the need for peace and their role in ensuring its preservation. What will be repeatedly demonstrated in what follows is that the shadow of the Great Patriotic War loomed large over both cultural representations and personal conceptualizations of the ideal of peace, and as such the military man—both real and imagined, serving and demobilized—was integral to the discourse surrounding this most pressing social concern.
Ground state solutions of fractional equations with Coulomb potential and critical exponent
Authors: Feng Zhaosheng , Su Yu
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we are concerned with ground state solutions to fractional equations with Coulomb potential and critical exponent. The existence of ground state solutions is established under certain conditions by proposing a new analytical method.
Revealing the impact of individual income inequality on different types of charitable giving in China through social interactions
Authors: Li Senlin , Zhang Le , Sun Yiying , Li Fulin
Published: June 2024

Objective

This study delves into the correlation between individual income inequality as measured by the relative deprivation index and charitable giving, while also examining urban–rural heterogeneity. Additionally, it further explores the mechanisms by which online and offline forms of social interaction operate in this context.

Methods

Utilizing data from the 2014–2020 China Family Panel Studies, we employed several methodologies including Probit regression models, cross‐model average marginal effects difference testing based on bootstrap method, instrumental variable method, and the Karlson–Holm–Breen (KHB) effect decomposition method.

Results

The findings reveal that individual income inequality measured by the relative deprivation index significantly reduces charitable giving among Chinese households. The inhibitory effect of individual income inequality on social charitable giving is higher than that on charitable giving directed toward friends or colleagues. Furthermore, this impact exhibits some heterogeneity between urban and rural areas. Mechanism analysis indicates that the adverse effect of income inequality on charitable giving operates through reducing social interaction, including both online and offline forms.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrate that income inequality has distinct adverse effects on two types of charitable giving and explain the mechanisms underlying these effects through social interaction. A pattern of the differential mode of association similar to “ripples” in Chinese society is beneficial for understanding these differentiated impacts. We believe it is necessary to improve economic inequality conditions and enhance the enthusiasm of the Chinese public for participating in charitable donations by promoting various forms of social interaction.
Deep learning approaches for delineating wetlands on historical topographic maps
Authors: Vynikal Jakub , Müllerová Jana , Pacina Jan
Published: June 2024

Historical topographic maps are an important source of a visual record of the landscape, showing geographical elements such as terrain, elevation, rivers and water bodies, roads, buildings, and land use and land cover (LULC). Historical maps are scanned to their digital representation, a raster image. To quantify different classes of LULC, it is necessary to transform scanned maps to their vector equivalent. Traditionally, this has been done either manually, or by using (semi)automatic methods of clustering/segmentation. With the advent of deep neural networks, new horizons opened for more effective and accurate processing. This article attempts to use different deep‐learning approaches to detect and segment wetlands on historical Topographic Maps 1: 10000 (TM10), created during the 50s and 60s. Due to the specific symbology of wetlands, their processing can be challenging. It deals with two distinct approaches in the deep learning world, semantic segmentation and object detection, represented by the U‐Net and Single‐Shot Detector (SSD) neural networks, respectively. The suitability, speed, and accuracy of the two approaches in neural networks are analyzed. The results are satisfactory, with the U‐Net F1 score reaching 75.7% and the SSD object detection approach presenting an unconventional alternative.
Molecular and spatial evaluation of small rodents and Didelphimorphis infected with Mycobacterium leprae in the southern Amazon, Brazil
Authors: de Souza Valois Elderson Mariano , de Oliveira Nathan Guilherme , de Lázari Patrick Ricardo , da Silva David José Ferreira , Rotelli Raissa Campos , Batista Lavínia Cássia Ferreira , Sobral Marcos Henrique , Bortolomai Bruna Eduarda , Finardi Amanda Juliane , Levi Taal , Peres Carlos Augusto , de Morais Bronzoni Roberta Vieira , Baptista Ida Maria Foschiani Dias
Published: June 2024

Background

The high levels of recent transmission of leprosy worldwide demonstrate the necessity of epidemiologic surveillance to understand and control its dissemination. Brazil remains the second in number of cases around the world, indicating active transmission of Mycobacterium leprae (M. leprae) in the population. At this moment, there is a consensus that the bacillus is transmitted by inter‐human contact, however, different serologic, molecular, and histopathological approaches indicate the existence of non‐human transmission sources.

Methods and Results

The qPCR assay was used to amplify the molecular targets 16S RNAr and RLEP, in samples of liver, spleen, and ear of wild animals belonging to Didelphimorphia and Rodentia orders, in highly endemic areas of Mato Grosso, Brazil. The RLEP repetitive sequence was positive in 202 (89.0%) samples, with 96 (42.3%) of these also being positive for the 16S gene. Regarding the collection sites, it was observed that the animals were found in areas profoundly deforested, close to urban areas.

Conclusions

Our results suggest that wild animals can play an important role in the maintenance of M. leprae in endemic regions with major anthropic action in Brazil. Therefore, integrating human, animal, and environmental health care with the One Health initiative is highly efficient for the development of effective strategies to contain and control leprosy in Brazil.
Phylogeny and evolutionary timescales of the tribes Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini (Hesperiidae, Pyrginae) inferred from mitochondrial genome and nuclear genes
Authors: Zhang Xuan , Liu Jiaqi , Chiba Hideyuki , Li Yiping , Yuan Xiangqun
Published: June 2024

Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini, two closely related groups of skippers in the subfamily Pyrginae, are mainly distributed across the Oriental, Palaearctic and African regions. While some efforts have been made to explore the phylogenetic relationships within Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini, several unresolved issues still persist. In this study, we sequenced 13 complete mitochondrial genomes from Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini. Additionally, we extracted nuclear genes CAD, EF‐1α, IDH, MDH, RPS5 and Wingless from the public database. Through comparative analysis, we gained insights into the structure of these newly sequenced mitogenomes. Furthermore, we constructed a comprehensive phylogenetic tree for Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini, integrating the newly obtained mitochondrial genomes and nuclear genes with previously published mitogenomes and data from the sequence read archive (SRA). The total length of the mitochondrial genomes of the 13 skipper species ranged from 15,228 bp (Seseria sambara indosinica) to 15,431 bp (Pseudocoladenia festa). The newly sequenced genomes featured the standard set of 13 protein‐coding genes (PCGs), 22 transfer RNA genes (tRNAs), 2 ribosomal RNA genes (rRNAs) and a non‐coding A + T‐rich region implicated in replication initiation. The phylogenetic analysis encompassing all mitochondrial and nuclear gene data consistently upheld the monophyly of genera within the tribes Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini. Most of the intergeneric relationships identified in our study agreed with recent genomic discoveries, showing enhanced nodal support values in some cases. Lastly, we estimated the divergence of the Tagiadini + Celaenorrhinini branch at approximately 44.06 million years ago (Ma) during the middle Eocene epoch. The crown ages of Tagiadini and Celaenorrhinini were estimated at approximately 41.69 Ma and 38.49 Ma, respectively.
Renal handling of albumin in rats with early stage diabetes: A theoretical analysis
Authors: Edwards Aurélie
Published: June 2024

In early diabetic nephropathy (DN), recent studies have shown that albuminuria stems mostly from alterations in tubular function rather than from glomerular damage. Several factors in DN, including hyperfiltration, hypertrophy and reduced abundance of the albumin receptors megalin and cubilin, affect albumin endocytosis in the proximal tubule (PT). To assess their respective contribution, we developed a model of albumin handling in the rat PT that couples the transport of albumin to that of water and solutes. Our simulations suggest that, under basal conditions, ∼75% of albumin is retrieved in the S1 segment. The model predicts negligible uptake in S3, as observed experimentally. It also accurately predicts the impact of acute hyperglycaemia on urinary albumin excretion. Simulations reproduce observed increases in albumin excretion in early DN by considering the combined effects of increased glomerular filtration rate (GFR), osmotic diuresis, hypertrophy, and megalin and cubilin downregulation, without stipulating changes in glomerular permselectivity. The results indicate that in isolation, glucose‐elicited osmotic diuresis and glucose transporter upregulation raise albumin excretion only slightly. Enlargement of PT diameter not only augments uptake via surface area expansion, but also reduces fluid velocity and thus shear stress‐induced stimulation of endocytosis. Overall, our model predicts that downregulation of megalin and cubilin and hyperfiltration both contribute significantly to increasing albumin excretion in rats with early‐stage diabetes. The results also suggest that acute sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 inhibition lowers albumin excretion only if GFR decreases sufficiently, and that angiotensin II receptor blockers mitigate urinary albumin loss in early DN in large part by upregulating albumin receptor abundance.

image

Key points

The urinary excretion of albumin is increased in early diabetic nephropathy (DN). It is difficult to experimentally disentangle the multiple factors that affect the renal handling of albumin in DN.

We developed a mathematical model of albumin transport in the rat proximal tubule (PT) to examine the impact of elevated plasma glucose, hyperfiltration, PT hypertrophy and reduced abundance of albumin receptors on albumin uptake and excretion in DN.

Our model predicts that glucose‐elicited osmotic diuresis per se raises albumin excretion only slightly. Conversely, increases in PT diameter and length favour reduced albumin excretion.

Our results suggest that downregulation of the receptors megalin and cubilin in PT cells and hyperfiltration both contribute significantly to increasing albumin excretion in DN.

The model helps to better understand the mechanisms underlying urinary loss of albumin in early‐stage diabetes, and the impact of specific treatments thereupon.
Ambiviricota
, a novel ribovirian phylum for viruses with viroid-like properties
Authors: Kuhn Jens H. , Botella Leticia , de la Peña Marcos , Vainio Eeva J. , Krupovic Mart , Lee Benjamin D. , Navarro Beatriz , Sabanadzovic Sead , Simmonds Peter , Turina Massimo
Published: June 2024

Fungi harbor a vast diversity of mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Recently, novel fungal MGEs, tentatively referred to as ‘ambiviruses,’ were described. ‘Ambiviruses’ have single-stranded RNA genomes of about 4–5 kb in length that contain at least two open reading frames (ORFs) in non-overlapping ambisense orientation. Both ORFs are conserved among all currently known ‘ambiviruses,’ and one of them encodes a distinct viral RNA-directed RNA polymerase (RdRP), the hallmark gene of ribovirian kingdom
Orthornavirae
. However, ‘ambivirus’ genomes are circular and predicted to replicate via a rolling-circle mechanism. Their genomes are also predicted to form rod-like structures and contain ribozymes in various combinations in both sense and antisense orientations—features reminiscent of viroids, virusoids, ribozyvirian kolmiovirids, and yet-unclassified MGEs (such as ‘epsilonviruses,’ ‘zetaviruses,’ and some ‘obelisks’). As a first step toward the formal classification of ‘ambiviruses,’ the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) recently approved the establishment of a novel ribovirian phylum,
Ambiviricota
, to accommodate an initial set of 20 members with well-annotated genome sequences.
Giant coronary artery aneurysm in the atrial septum
Authors: Tsujimoto Kotone , Osawa Kazuhiro , Yoshida Hideo , Kuinose Masahiko
Published: June 2024

A man in his 60s with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation was scheduled for a catheter ablation but was admitted to our department after contrast-enhanced CT showed a large homogeneous right atrial mass (52×52 mm) as well as a dilated right coronary artery (RCA). Coronary artery angiography showed a large fistula from the RCA to the mass in the right atrium. A giant coronary artery aneurysm was suspected and a surgical resection was performed. The mass was attached to the atrial septal wall and was palpated in the right atrium with a feeding artery from the RCA. The final diagnosis was an extremely rare case of giant coronary artery aneurysm originating from the RCA. The surgery was successful, and the patient was discharged 30 days later.
Oncocytic adrenal cortical adenoma: a benign lesion mimicking malignancy
Authors: Meher Dayanidhi , Agarwal Vishal , Prusty Binod , Das Bijay Ketan
Published: June 2024

Adrenocortical tumours are rare in children and account for only 0.3%–0.4% of all neoplasms in childhood. They present with variable signs and symptoms, depending on the type of hormonal hypersecretion. The majority of the adrenocortical tumours in children are functional (90%) and malignant (88%). Here, we describe a functional plurihormonal oncocytic adrenal cortical adenoma in a young girl, that mimicked a malignant adrenal lesion, clinically as well as on imaging and biochemical features. This report bears the objective of being aware of the atypical biochemical as well as imaging characteristics of oncocytic adrenal tumours.
Application of the ESMO Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale to assess the clinical benefit of antibody drug conjugates in solid cancer: a systematic descriptive analysis of phase III and pivotal phase II trials
Authors: Ding Lieming , Yuan Xiaobin , Wang Yang , Shen Zhilin , Wu Pengxiang
Published: June 2024

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess the clinical benefit value of approved antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) for solid tumours using the European Society for Medical Oncology Magnitude of Clinical Benefit Scale (ESMO-MCBS) V.1.1.

Design

Systematic descriptive analysis.

Data sources

PubMed was searched for publications from 1 January 2000 to 18 October 2023.

Eligibility criteria

We included the phase III randomised controlled trials or phase II pivotal trials leading to approval of ADCs in solid tumours.

Data extraction and synthesis

Two independent reviewers extracted data and discrepancies were resolved by consensus in the presence of a third investigator.

Results

ESMO-MCBS Scores were calculated for 16 positive clinical trials of eight ADCs, which were first approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the China National Medical Products Administration and the Japanese Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency for solid cancers. Among 16 trials, 4 (25%) met the ESMO-MCBS benefit threshold grade, while 12 (75%) of the regimens did not meet the ESMO-MCBS benefit threshold grade. 5 (31%) of the 16 trials had no published scorecard on the ESMO website due to the approval by other jurisdictions but not by the FDA or EMA. Discrepancies between our results and the ESMO scorecard were observed in 4 (36%) of 11 trials, mostly owing to integration of more recent data.

Conclusions

ESMO-MCBS is an important tool for assessing the clinical benefit of cancer drugs, but not all drugs met the meaningful benefit threshold.
Supporting young women’s health through girl-friendly drug vendors in Lake Zone, Tanzania: protocol for the AmbassADDOrs for Health cluster-randomised controlled trial
Authors: Mnyippembe Agatha , Sheira Lila A , McCoy Sandra I , Njau Prosper F , Packel Laura J , Hassan Kassim , Solorzano-Barrera Camila , Maokola Werner , Kang Dufour Mi-Suk , Sabasaba Amon , Liu Jenny
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Adverse sexual and reproductive health (SRH) outcomes, such as unplanned pregnancies and HIV infection, disproportionately affect adolescent girls and young women (AGYW; aged 15–24 years) in east Africa. Increasing uptake of preventive SRH services via innovative, youth-centred interventions is imperative to addressing disparities in SRH outcomes.

Methods and analysis

From 2018 to 2019, we used human-centred design to co-develop a theoretically driven HIV and pregnancy prevention intervention for AGYW at private drug shops called Accredited Drug Dispensing Outlets (ADDOs) in Tanzania. The result, Malkia Klabu (Queen Club), was a customer loyalty programme designed to strengthen ADDOs’ role as SRH providers while encouraging uptake of critical SRH prevention products among AGYW. Malkia Klabu members had access to free contraceptives and oral HIV self-test (HIVST) kits and earned punches on a loyalty card for other shop purchases; punches were redeemable for small prizes. Our pilot among 40 shops showed that intervention ADDOs had higher AGYW patronage and distributed more HIVST kits and contraceptives to AGYW relative to business-as-usual (ie, client purchasing) comparison shops. We will conduct a cluster-randomised controlled trial (c-RCT) among 120–140 ADDOs in 40 health catchment areas in Shinyanga and Mwanza Regions (Lake Zone), Tanzania. ADDO shop recruitment includes a 1-month run-in with a tablet-based electronic inventory management system for tracking shop transactions, followed by enrolment, randomisation and a 24-month trial period. Our c-RCT evaluating the human-centred design-derived intervention will assess population impact on the primary outcomes of HIV diagnoses and antenatal care registrations, measured with routine health facility data. We will also assess secondary outcomes focusing on mechanisms of action, evaluate programme exposure and AGYW behaviour change in interviews with AGYW, and assess shop-level implementation strategies and fidelity.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval was granted from both the University of California, San Francisco and the Tanzanian National Institute for Medical Research. Study progress and final outcomes will be posted annually to the National Clinical Trials website; study dissemination will occur at conferences, peer-reviewed manuscripts and local convenings of stakeholders.

Trial registration number

NCT05357144.
Design, rationale and protocol for Glycemic Observation and Metabolic Outcomes in Mothers and Offspring (GO MOMs): an observational cohort study
Authors:   The GO MOMs Study Group
Published: June 2024

Introduction

Given the increasing prevalence of both obesity and pre-diabetes in pregnant adults, there is growing interest in identifying hyperglycaemia in early pregnancy to optimise maternal and perinatal outcomes. Multiple organisations recommend first-trimester diabetes screening for individuals with risk factors; however, the benefits and drawbacks of detecting glucose abnormalities more mild than overt diabetes in early gestation and the best screening method to detect such abnormalities remain unclear.

Methods and analysis

The goal of the Glycemic Observation and Metabolic Outcomes in Mothers and Offspring study (GO MOMs) is to evaluate how early pregnancy glycaemia, measured using continuous glucose monitoring and oral glucose tolerance testing, relates to the diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM) at 24–28 weeks’ gestation (maternal primary outcome) and large-for-gestational-age birth weight (newborn primary outcome). Secondary objectives include relating early pregnancy glycaemia to other adverse pregnancy outcomes and comprehensively detailing longitudinal changes in glucose over the course of pregnancy. GO MOMs enrolment began in April 2021 and will continue for 3.5 years with a target sample size of 2150 participants.

Ethics and dissemination

GO MOMs is centrally overseen by Vanderbilt University’s Institutional Review Board and an Observational Study Monitoring Board appointed by National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases. GO MOMs has potential to yield data that will improve understanding of hyperglycaemia in pregnancy, elucidate better approaches for early pregnancy GDM screening, and inform future clinical trials of early GDM treatment.

Trial registration number

NCT04860336.
Evaluation of pre-exposure vaccine effectiveness against mpox during the 2022–2023 mpox outbreak in the Madrid region (Spain): a test-negative design
Authors: Barbas del Buey José Francisco , Íñigo Martínez Jesús , Alonso García Marcos , Aragón Peña Andrés , Montero Morales Laura , Arce Arnáez Araceli
Published: June 2024

Introduction

An appropriate vaccination approach is critical to control the current outbreak of mpox but there is little research providing information on its effectiveness, particularly under circumstances of limited vaccine availability.

Methods

Pre-exposure vaccination campaign in the Madrid region, with the modified vaccinia Ankara-Bavarian Nordic was indicated in the risk groups from 18 July 2022.

To evaluate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) of a dose of third-generation smallpox vaccine against mpox in the context of pre-exposure prophylaxis, a population-based indirect cohort study (Broome method) also known as test-negative design (TND) was conducted in the Madrid region (6 751 251 inhabitants). Logistic regression was used to obtain the adjusted VE in the TND with its time–response relationship and for the sensitivity analysis the conditional logistic regression for matched case–control groups.

Results

By epidemiological surveillance, 1690 suspected episodes of mpox were detected of which 799 were cases and 891 controls.

The overall adjusted effectiveness of the pre-exposure vaccination against mpox considering an induction period of 14 days, was 86.4% (95% CI 62.2% to 95.1%). VE increases, with a statistically significant time–response effect, being greater than 77.4% with a 95% confidence level from week 7. The VE at eighth week of vaccination was 99% (95% CI 81.7% to 99.9%).

Conclusions

The effectiveness of single-dose pre-exposure vaccination against mpox seems very high. Therefore, it appears as a reliable measure to minimise the spread of mpox.

The progressive increase in the effectiveness could justify the delay in the administration of the second dose in situations of shortage of vaccines or prioritisation in the vaccination of the maximum number of subjects at risk.

Further studies evaluating the long-term effectiveness of the full vaccination would be appropriate.
Patterns of use of primary and first-line chemotherapy for recurrence among patients with cervical cancer
Authors: Diggs Alexandra , Huang Yongmei , Melamed Alexander , Szamreta Elizabeh , Monberg Matthew Joseph , Hershman Dawn , Wright Jason D
Published: June 2024

Background

Little is known about real-world patterns of chemotherapy use in patients with cervical cancer.

Objective

To examine the patterns of chemotherapy use in patients with cervical cancer

Methods

We identified patients with cervical cancer in the IBM MarketScan Database who underwent primary hysterectomy or radiation therapy between 2011 and 2020 and described their treatment in the primary setting and at first recurrence.

Results

We identified 5390 patients: 2667 (49.5%) underwent primary hysterectomy and 2723 (50.5%) primary radiotherapy. Among patients who underwent primary hysterectomy, 979 (36.7%) received adjuvant radiation, and 617 (23.1%) received primary chemotherapy. The most common chemotherapy regimens were single-agent platinum (51.7%), platinum combination therapy (42.9%), and non-platinum (3.4%). Among patients treated with primary radiation, 73.6% received primary/concurrent chemotherapy, either platinum alone (66.4% of those who received chemotherapy), platinum combinations (32.2%), or non-platinum (1.4%). The median duration of primary chemotherapy was 1.2 months. Therapy for recurrent cervical cancer was initiated in 959 patients. The most common regimens were platinum combination (63.9%), non-platinum cytotoxic agents (16.5%), single-agent platinum (14.9%), targeted therapy with bevacizumab (6.0%), and immunotherapy with pembrolizumab (3.2%). Overall, the proportion of patients treated with single-agent platinum therapy increased from 17.4% in 2011 to 32.1% in 2019, while platinum combinations decreased from 64.1% to 41.5% over the same years. Use of non-platinum agents increased from 18.5% in 2011 to 32.9% in 2018 and 26.4% in 2019.

Conclusions

Platinum-based chemotherapy is the most commonly used therapy in patients with cervical cancer in the primary setting and at the time of recurrence. The rate of use of non-platinum agents at first recurrence has increased over time.
Inflammation in the posterior elements, in particular the facet joint and facet joint ankylosis over 2-year follow-up in radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: de Hooge Manouk , Stal Roos , Sepriano Alexandre , Baraliakos Xenofon , Reijnierse Monique , Braun Jürgen , van der Heijde Désirée , van Gaalen Floris A , Ramiro Sofia
Published: June 2024

Objectives

To assess the association of posterior element (PE) and facet joint (FJ) inflammation with subsequent new FJ ankylosis (FJA) on MRI, in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA).

Methods

Patients from the Sensitive Imaging in Ankylosing Spondylitis cohort, inclusion criteria r-axSpA and ≥1 radiographic spinal syndesmophyte, were studied. MRI of the full spinal was performed at baseline, 1 and 2 years. PE/FJ inflammatory lesions and FJA were assessed per vertebral unit (VU) level by three readers. With multilevel time-lagged autoregressive generalised estimated equations, the association between PE/FJ inflammation and the subsequent development of FJA was investigated, taking the reader and VU levels into account.

Results

Out of the 58 patients with at least 2 reader scores available, mean age 49 (SD 10) years, 84% men, 59% had baseline PE inflammation, 24% had FJ inflammation and 26% had FJA. PE inflammation was more prevalent in the lower thoracic spine and FJ inflammation in the upper thoracic spine. VU with PE or FJ inflammation showed subsequent new FJA in two and one VU levels, respectively. The probability of developing FJA doubled with prior FJ inflammation. In multilevel analysis, FJ inflammation was associated with subsequent FJA (OR=3.8, 95% CI: 1.5 to 9.8), while no association was found between PE inflammation and new FJA (OR=1.2 (0.6–2.4)).

Conclusions

FJ inflammation is rare in severe r-axSpA, but when present, the likelihood of developing subsequent FJA is over three times higher compared with FJ without inflammation. This finding contributes to the understanding of the relationship between inflammation and ankylosis at the same anatomical location in patients with axSpA.
Charge superradiance on charged BTZ black holes
Authors: Konewko Sebastian , Winstanley Elizabeth
Published: June 2024

We study superradiant scattering for a charged scalar field subject to Robin (mixed) boundary conditions on a charged BTZ black hole background. Scalar field modes having a real frequency do not exhibit superradiant scattering, independent of the boundary conditions applied. For scalar field modes with a complex frequency, no superradiant scattering occurs if the black hole is static. After exploring some regions of the parameter space, we provide evidence for the existence of superradiantly scattered modes with complex frequencies for a charged and rotating BTZ black hole. Most of the superradiantly scattered modes we find satisfy Robin (mixed) boundary conditions, but there are also superradiantly scattered modes with complex frequencies satisfying Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. We explore the effect of the black hole and scalar field charge on the outgoing energy flux of these superradiantly scattered modes, and also investigate their stability.
Massless spin-2 field solutions with spherical symmetry: Eliminating gauge degrees of freedom
Authors: Ivashkevich A. V. , Chichurin A. V. , Ishkhanyan A. M. , Red’kov V. M.
Published: June 2024

We examine the basic matrix equation for a spin-2 field in spherical coordinates and a tetrad of Minkowski spacetime. The technique of Wigner D-functions is used to separate the variables. The operators of energy, the square and the third projection of the total angular momentum, and the space reflection operators are then diagonalized on the solutions. The separation of the variables is done, the problem reduces to 11 radial second-order differential equations for 11 variables related to the scalar and symmetric tensors. We then consider the case of a massless field. The four gauge solutions for the massless spin-2 field have been found in explicit form. These gauge solutions do not contribute to physically observable quantities such as the energy–momentum tensor. They are derived according to Pauli–Fierz theory from four independent spherical solutions for a spin-1 massless particle. We have also constructed two types of solutions, related to opposite parities, which are not the gauge solutions. These solutions describe physically observable states with spherical symmetry for the spin-2 massless field.
Effects of charge on the complexity of dynamical sphere in energy–momentum squared gravity
Authors: Sharif M. , Naz Saba
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we investigate how the electromagnetic field influences the idea of complexity within the framework of squared gravity. The physical traits, including heat dissipation, charge, anisotropic pressure, energy density variations and correction components are found to be significant contributors of complexity in celestial objects. By employing Herrera’s orthogonal splitting approach, scalar functions are obtained yielding a complexity factor that incorporates the crucial attributes of the self-gravitating system. Furthermore, we examine the dynamics of charged spherical configuration by considering homologous mode as the simplest evolutionary pattern. Our investigation includes complexity-free scenarios (dissipative/non-dissipative) with homologous constraints. Moreover, we explore the components that contribute toward complexity during the evolutionary process. We conclude that self-gravitating structures get more complex with the inclusion of extra curvature terms of squared gravity and charge.
Optimized Deep LSTM-Based Multi-Object Tracking with Occlusion Handling Mechanism
Authors: Sokashe-Ghorpade Shital V. , Pardeshi Sanjay Arjunsing
Published: June 2024

The multi-object tracking is a basic computer vision process having a huge class of real-life tools that range from monitoring of medical video to surveillance. The goal of tracking numerous items is to place numerous objects in a scene, handle their identities throughout time, and construct trajectories for analysis. However, this is a complex task, because of certain issues like occlusions, complicated object dynamics, and variations in the appearance of objects. In this research, a new technique named TPRO-based Deep LSTM is developed for tracking multi-object with occlusion handling. Here, the videos are considered as input wherein the extraction of frames is done from each video. Each frame undergoes pre-processing with filtering to eliminate noise from frames. By using a sparse Fuzzy c-Means (FCM) and Local Optimal-Oriented Pattern (LOOP) features, the localization of objects is done. Moreover, the visual and spatial trackings are considered for hybrid tracking. The second derivative model and neighborhood search model are used to perform visual tracking. Then the occlusion handling is performed. Concurrently, with the use of Deep Long Short-Term Memory (Deep LSTM) the spatial tracking is performed and the Taylor Poor Rich Optimization (TPRO) algorithm assigns the weight and bias of the Deep LSTM. The TPRO is obtained by the unification of the Taylor series along with the Poor and Rich Optimization algorithm. By combining visual and spatial tracking, the final tracked output is generated. The devised method achieves a performance with the highest value of 88.9% for Multiple Object Tracking Precision (MOTP), smallest tracking distance (TD) of 4.185, average MOTP of 0.889, average TD of 4.201, and highest tracking number (TN) of 14.
Pattern Mining-Based Warning Prioritization by Refining Abstract Syntax Tree
Authors: Ge Xiuting , Li Xuanye , Sun Yuanyuan , Qing Mingshuang , Zheng Haitao , Zhang Huibin , Wu Xianyu
Published: June 2024

Static code analysis tools (SATs) are widely used to detect potential defects in software projects. However, the usability of SATs is seriously hindered by a large number of unactionable warnings. Currently, many warning prioritization approaches are proposed to improve the usability of SATs. These approaches mainly extract different warning features to capture the statistical or historical information of warnings, thereby ranking actionable warnings in front of unactionable warnings. Such features are extracted by extremely relying on domain knowledge. However, the precise domain knowledge is difficult to be acquired. Also, the domain knowledge obtained in a project cannot be directly applied to other projects due to different application scenarios among different projects. To address the above problem, we propose a pattern mining-based warning prioritization approach based on the warning-related Abstract Syntax Tree (AST). To automatically mine actionable warning patterns, our approach leverages an advanced technique to collect actionable warnings, designs an algorithm to extract the warning-related AST, and mines patterns from ASTs of all actionable warnings. To prioritize the newly reported warnings, our approach combines exact and fuzzing matching techniques to calculate the similarity score between patterns of the newly reported warnings and the mined actionable warning patterns. We compare our approach with four typical baselines on five open-source and large-scale Java projects. The results show that our approach outperforms four baselines and achieves the maximum MAP (0.76) and MRR (2.19). Besides, a case study on Defect4J dataset demonstrates that our approach can discover 83% of true defects in the top 10 warnings.
A Systematic Translation Validation Framework for MLIR-Based Compilers
Authors: Wang Yanzhao , Xie Fei , Yang Zhenkun , Cocchini Pasquale , Yang Jin
Published: June 2024

This paper introduces an innovative translation validation framework designed for MLIR-based compilers, which has garnered considerable prominence in fields such as machine learning, high-performance computing and hardware design. Despite rigorous testing, compilers based on MLIR might still induce incorrect results and undefined behaviors, necessitating verification work. Our framework first takes a pair of MLIR programs as inputs and check their function signature’s compatibility before encoding them into SMT expressions. Then it uses the Z3 SMT solver to check whether the target program refines the source program. Our framework transcends the dialect limitations of past solutions, thereby providing validation support to a wider range of MLIR-based compilers. We demonstrate its effectiveness through evaluations on prominent open-source MLIR-based compilers, where we identified bugs and undefined behaviors. We further demonstrate the capability of this framework by validating two practical deep-learning accelerator designs.
Theoretical and observational implications of Planck’s constant as a running fine structure constant
Authors: Ali Ahmed Farag , Mureika Jonas , Vagenas Elias C. , Elmashad Ibrahim
Published: June 2024

This paper explores how a reinterpretation of the generalized uncertainty principle as an effective variation of Planck’s constant provides a physical explanation for a number of fundamental quantities and couplings. In this context, a running fine structure constant is naturally emergent and the cosmological constant problem is solved, yielding a novel connection between gravitation and quantum field theories. The model could potentially clarify the recent experimental observations by the DESI Collaboration that could imply a fading of dark energy over time. When applied to quantum systems and their characteristic length scales, a simple geometric relationship between energy and entropy is disclosed. Lastly, a mass–radius relation for both quantum and classical systems reveals a phase transition-like behavior similar to thermodynamical systems, which we speculate to be a consequence of topological defects in the universe.
Reliability Estimation of Weibull Distribution with Zero-Failure Data
Authors: Guo Jin , Kong Xiangwei , Wu Ningxiang , Xie Liyang
Published: June 2024

This paper focuses on the reliability estimation of Weibull distributions with zero-failure data. Since no product failure occurred in the tests, the conventional maximum likelihood method was not applicable. Recent methods ignore the estimation of location parameter and tend to be conservative. This study developed a new estimation technique to address these problems. A prior model between the life dispersion boundary and shape parameter is constructed by considering the historical failure data of similar high-reliability products. The failure probabilities for all samples were inferred using the E-Bayesian method, after which the reliability was estimated. Afterward, a confidence interval for reliability was obtained based on the bootstrap confidence interval and modified maximum likelihood method. A Monte Carlo simulation study demonstrated that the proposed method is satisfactory in terms of point estimates, confidence intervals, coverage probabilities, and computational efficiency. Finally, a real engineering example is introduced to illustrate the application of this method.
Noether symmetries of some non-static Bianchi type-III spacetimes in f(R,Lm) gravity
Authors: Dalal Preeti , Singh Karanjeet , Kumar Sachin
Published: June 2024

[Formula: see text] gravity provides an alternative explanation for the late-time acceleration of the universe without introducing the concept of dark energy. In this paper, the non-static Bianchi type-III spacetimes have been derived by considering [Formula: see text]. The solutions of field equations of [Formula: see text] theory of gravity and Bianchi type-III metric have been obtained for some special cases by taking particular metric components. Noether symmetries have been discussed for the derived spacetimes and it was observed that all of the discussed spacetimes must have at least five Noether symmetries.
Enzyme-Assisted Colorimetric Salivary miR-21 Detection by Functional Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Zhang Shiyu , Guan Shan , Hu Cuixia , Liu Yumin , Zhang Zhikun , Han Jilong
Published: June 2024

miRNA-21 (miR-21) is a potential biomarker for the monitoring of diseases through its expression levels. Simple, portable and sensitive miR-21 detection of is advantageous for health monitoring in Point of Care Testing (POCT). Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) as excellent colorimetric sensors are widely used in the POCT. However, their low sensitivity is a limitation of their clinical use. Herein, we developed an AuNPs-based miR-21 assay with enzyme-assisted amplification reaction to construct the colorimetric platform capable of detecting as low as 0.1[Formula: see text]nM. In this platform, template ssDNA as a signal molecule could hybridize with ssDNA-modified AuNPs to generate the color reaction. The target miR-21 specifically hybridized to the template ssDNA, which was then cleaved by exonuclease III (Exo III) to release the target miR-21. As a trigger, miR-21 catalyzed the degradation of the template ssDNA to amplify the signal by Exo III. By hybridizing miR-21 and template ssDNA in the presence of Exo III, R-21 induced a significant decrease in the level of template ssDNA to reduce the aggregation of AuNPs. There is a clear color difference in the presence/absence of miR-21 in the assay. In this assay, the optimal concentration of templated ssDNA and Exo III were 100[Formula: see text]nM and 0.06[Formula: see text]U/[Formula: see text]L in a 100[Formula: see text][Formula: see text]L detection system. The LoD for UV–Vis spectrum and colorimetric reaction were 0.1[Formula: see text]nM and 0.5[Formula: see text]nM, respectively. The detection system has good selectivity and can be used to detect miR-21 in the simulated saliva. It has great potential for application in biomedical research as well as in clinical diagnostics.