bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cryogenic electron microscopy reveals morphologically distinct subtypes of extracellular vesicles among porcine ejaculate fractions
Authors: Parra Ana , Barranco Isabel , Martínez-Díaz Pablo , González Esperanza , Albóniga Oihane E. , Cabrera Diana , Falcón-Pérez Juan M. , Roca Jordi
Published: July 2024

Seminal plasma (SP) is rich in extracellular vesicles (EVs), which are still poorly studied, especially in livestock species. To better understand their functional role in both spermatozoa and endometrial epithelial cells, proper characterization of EVs is an essential step. The objective was to phenotypically characterize porcine seminal EVs (sEVs) using cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM), which allows visualization of EVs in their native state. Porcine ejaculates are released in fractions, each containing SP from different source. This allows characterization sEVs released from various male reproductive tissues. Two experiments were performed, the first with SP from the entire ejaculate (n:6) and the second with SP from three ejaculate fractions (n:15): the first 10 mL of the sperm-rich ejaculate fraction (SRF-P1) with SP mainly from the epididymis, the remainder of the SRF (SRF-P2) with SP mainly from the prostate, and the post-SRF with SP mainly from the seminal vesicles. The sEVs were isolated by size exclusion chromatography and 1840 cryo-EM sEV images were acquired using a Jeol-JEM-2200FS/CR-EM. The size, electron density, complexity, and peripheral corona layer were measured in each sEV using the ImageJ software. The first experiment showed that sEVs were structurally and morphologically heterogeneous, although most (83.1%) were small (less than 200 nm), rounded, and poorly electrodense, and some have a peripheral coronal layer. There were also larger sEVs (16.9%) that were irregularly shaped, more electrodense, and few with a peripheral coronal layer. The second experiment showed that small sEVs were more common in SRF-P1 and SRF-P2, indicating that they originated mainly from the epididymis and prostate. Large sEVs were more abundant in post-SRF, indicating that they originated mainly from seminal vesicles. Porcine sEVs are structurally and morphologically heterogeneous. This would be explained by the diversity of reproductive organs of origin.
Detecting localized damage in cantilevered structures under nonstationary ambient excitations via Gabor spectral mode transmissibility functions
Authors: Zhang HongJie , Sun Qigang , Li DanYu , Li Chen , He Chunhui , Liu Gang
Published: July 2024

A method based on Gabor spectral mode transmissibility functions (GSMTFs) is proposed to detect local damage in a cantilevered structure under nonstationary ambient excitations. Gabor transformation and singular value decomposition are used to reduce the influences of other vibration modes on Gabor spectral mode transmissibility functions and process nonstationary structural responses, respectively. A new state characteristic based on the fundamental structure frequency is formulated on the basis of the GSMTFs, eventually leading to the development of a new damage indicator. The probability density functions of the damage indicator for healthy and damaged states can be estimated from the measured data, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve derived from these probability distributions and the corresponding area under the ROC curve (AUC) are used to determine the damage location. A six-degree-of-freedom system and a typical transmission tower are numerically studied, and the results show that the proposed method can estimate the structural damage location under nonstationary random loads. The proposed method is further validated with a planar frame in the laboratory, which exhibits multiple damage elements via random force hammer excitations. The results show that the AUC values computed for certain parts of the structure containing the damaged elements are greater than those for other parts of the structure, indicating the effectiveness of the proposed method. Moreover, the proposed method is compared with the dot product difference (DPD) index, and the results from the laboratory planar frame demonstrate that the proposed method can better identify damage.
Relaxation effects in transition metal dichalcogenide bilayer heterostructures
Authors: Li Wei , Brumme Thomas , Heine Thomas
Published: July 2024

While moiré structures in twisted bilayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDCs) have been studied for over a decade, the importance of lattice relaxation effects was pointed out only in 2021 by DiAngelo and MacDonald1, who reported the emergence of a Dirac cone upon relaxation. TMDCs of group 6 transition metals MX2 (M = Mo, W, X = S, Se) share layered structures with pronounced interlayer interactions, exhibiting a direct band gap when exfoliated to a two-dimensional (2D) monolayer. As their heterolayers are incommensurable, moiré structures are present in the bilayers even if stacked without a twist angle. This study addresses the challenge of accurately modeling and understanding the structural relaxation in twisted TMDC heterobilayers. We show that the typical experimental situation of finite-size flakes stacked upon larger flakes can reliably be modeled by fully periodic commensurate models. Our findings reveal significant lattice reconstruction in TMDC heterobilayers, which strongly depend on the twist angle. We can categorize the results in two principal cases: at or near the untwisted configurations of 0° and 60°, domains with matching lattice constants form and the two constituting layers exhibit significant in-phase corrugation—their out-of-plane displacements are oriented towards the same direction in all local stackings—while at large twist angles—deviating from the 0° and 60°—the two layers show an out-of-phase corrugation. In particular, we reveal that the lattice reconstruction results from the competition between the strain energy cost and the van der Waals energy gain. Additionally, our systematical study highlights structural disparities between heterostructures composed of different or identical chalcogen atoms. Our research not only confirms the reliability of using periodic commensurate models to predict heterostructure behavior but also enriches the understanding of TMDC bilayer heterostructures.
Multicenter proteome-wide Mendelian randomization study identifies causal plasma proteins in melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers
Authors: Li Yajia , Li Qiangxiang , Cao Ziqin , Wu Jianhuang
Published: July 2024

This study addresses the diagnostic and therapeutic challenges in malignant melanoma (MM) and non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSC). We aim to identify circulating proteins causally linked to MM and NMSC traits using a multicenter Mendelian randomization (MR) framework. We utilized large-scale cis-MR to estimate the impact of numerous plasma proteins on MM, NMSC, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). To ensure robustness, additional analyses like MR Steiger and Bayesian colocalization are conducted, followed by replication through meta-analytical methods. The associations between identified proteins and outcomes are also validated at the tissue level using Transcriptome-Wide Association Study methods. Furthermore, a protein-protein interaction analysis is conducted to explore the relationship between identified proteins and existing cancer medication targets. The MR analysis has identified associations of 13 plasma proteins with BCC, 2 with SCC, and 1 with MM. Specifically, ASIP and KRT5 are associated with BCC, with ASIP also potentially targeting MM. CTSS and TNFSF8 are identified as promising druggability candidates for BCC. This multidimensional approach nominates ASIP, KRT5, CTSS, and TNFSF8 as potential diagnostic and therapeutic targets for skin cancers.
Message passing variational autoregressive network for solving intractable Ising models
Authors: Ma Qunlong , Ma Zhi , Xu Jinlong , Zhang Hairui , Gao Ming
Published: July 2024

Deep neural networks have been used to solve Ising models, including autoregressive neural networks, convolutional neural networks, recurrent neural networks, and graph neural networks. Learning probability distributions of energy configuration or finding ground states of disordered, fully connected Ising models is essential for statistical mechanics and NP-hard problems. Despite tremendous efforts, neural network architectures with abilities to high-accurately solve these intractable problems on larger systems remain a challenge. Here we propose a variational autoregressive architecture with a message passing mechanism, which effectively utilizes the interactions between spin variables. The architecture trained under an annealing framework outperforms existing neural network-based methods in solving several prototypical Ising spin Hamiltonians, especially for larger systems at low temperatures. The advantages also come from the great mitigation of mode collapse during training process. Considering these difficult problems to be solved, our method extends computational limits of unsupervised neural networks to solve combinatorial optimization problems.
Moisture availability and groundwater recharge paced by orbital forcing over the past 750,000 years in the southwestern USA
Authors: Steidle Simon D. , Wendt Kathleen A. , Dublyansky Yuri , Edwards R. Lawrence , Li Xianglei , McClure Gracelyn , Moseley Gina E. , Spötl Christoph
Published: July 2024

Quaternary climate changes are driven in part by variations in the distribution and strength of insolation due to orbital parameters. Continental climate variability is well documented for the most recent glacial-interglacial cycles, yet few records extend further back in time. Such records are critically needed to comprehensively assess the entire spectrum of natural climate variability against the backdrop of anthropogenic warming. Here, we apply uranium isotope geochronology to calcite deposits to date groundwater-table changes in Devils Hole cave, Nevada. The deposits record multi-meter groundwater-table fluctuations over the last 750,000 years, reflecting the long-term evolution of hydroclimate in this presently arid region. During periods between glacial or interglacial extremes, the water table responded sensitively to variations in 65°N summer insolation, likely caused by the increasing extent of North American ice sheets during cold period, which steered moisture-laden trajectories towards the southwestern USA. These orbitally-driven hydroclimatic changes are superimposed on a tectonically-driven long-term decline in the regional groundwater table observed prior to 438,000 ± 14,000 years ago.
A phosphorus-doped carbon material derived from a sodium alginate/phosphoric acid hydrogel as an efficient catalyst for catalytic oxidation of furfural to maleic acid
Authors: Jiao Lutong , Wang Chenyu , Wu Yuhui , Meng Han , Ji Peijun
Published: July 2024

A phosphorus-doped carbon material (PC-700) with high content of P was derived through the calcination of the alginate-H3PO4 xerogel. PC-700 exhibited excellent catalytic activity for the production of maleic acid from furfural in aqueous solution.
Cadmium isotopes analysis of environmental samples with high organic matter by dry ashing method under wet plasma conditions
Authors: Wu Xian , Wang Zeyu , Sun Guangyi , Lin Yu , Fu Xuewu , Tang Yang , Feng Xinbin
Published: July 2024

The acquisition of accurate Cd isotopic compositions and high tolerance of interfering elements during measurements were achieved by means of quartz microfiber filter membrane-wrapped samples for dry ashing and wet plasma conditions.
Enhancing DNA-based nanodevices activation through cationic peptide acceleration of strand displacement
Authors: Zhang Xianxue , Du Ruikai , Xu Shichao , Wang Xinyue , Wang Zhen-Gang
Published: July 2024

Cationic peptides, specifically oligoarginine, self-assemble with DNA to accelerate toehold-mediated DNA strand displacement reactions, enhancing the activation of DNA nanodevices such as tweezers and logic circuits, particularly under conditions of low ionic strength.
Guest editorial: Deep learning‐based point cloud processing, compression and analysis
Authors: Zhang Yun , Hamzaoui Raouf , Wang Xu , Hou Junhui , Valenzise Giuseppe
Published: July 2024

Point cloud data is a large collection of high dimensional 3D points with 3D coordinates and attributes, which has been one of the mainstream representations for emerging 3D applications, such as virtual reality, autonomous vehicles, and robotics. Due to the large‐scale unstructured high‐dimensional nature of point clouds, point cloud processing, transmitting and analysing has been challenging issues in multimedia signal processing and communication. Deep learning is a powerful tool to learn statistical knowledge from massive data. Advances in artificial intelligence, especially deep learning models are offering new opportunities for point cloud processing, compression and analysis. This special issue aims at promoting cutting‐edge research on deep learning‐based point cloud processing, including object detection, segmentation, registration, compression, and visual quality assessment.
A novel enlarging fractional bandwidth technique for acoustic‐wave‐lumped‐element resonator‐based bandpass filters
Authors: Tang Xianli , Jia Yonghao
Published: July 2024

A novel enlarging fractional bandwidth (FBW) technique for acoustic‐wave‐lumped‐element resonator (AWLR)‐based bandpass filters is presented. The new technique is based on a series of matching inductors that replace the parallel or series acoustic wave (AW) resonators of AW filters to beak the bandwidth constraint of the ladder‐type structure. In addition, the transmission response analysis of the proposed AWLR‐based filter is provided. A prototype of the AWLR‐based filter is fabricated and tested to validate the proposed FBW widening technique. The measured insertion loss, FBW, and out‐of‐band rejection are 1.5 dB, 1.63kt2 (kt2 is the electromechanical coupling coefficient of the AWR), and 38 dB, respectively.
A 20‐Gb/s 4‐tap time‐domain DFE with pulse width modulation for a DQ‐DQS matched parallel receiver
Authors: Na Daehoon , Choi Woo‐Seok , Lee Seon‐Kyoo
Published: July 2024

A 4‐tap time‐domain decision feedback equalizer (TD‐DFE) is presented to implement a multi‐tap DFE in a matched DQ (data)‐DQS (strobe) tree architecture. Traditionally, matched architecture holds an advantage in terms of power noise immunity, but it suffers from low‐speed performance due to the unavailability of decision feedback equalizer (DFE) applications. By adopting the proposed TD‐DFE, both high‐speed operation and power noise immunity can be achieved within the matched architecture. An 8‐DQ parallel receiver with the proposed 4‐tap TD‐DFE, designed in 28 nm CMOS, achieves a data rate of 20 Gb/s with 0.6 UI eye‐opening even with 215 mV power fluctuations.
Optimal harmonic resonance monitoring in electrical network considering area of harmonic pollution and system uncertainty
Authors: Shakeri Sina , Koochi Mohammad Hossein Rezaeian , Esmaeili Saeid
Published: July 2024

This paper proposes an optimization approach for allocating power quality monitors (PQMs) aiming to monitor all harmonic resonance conditions while taking power system uncertainties into account. The placement approach utilizes the frequency scan response for calculating impedances over a range of frequencies and consequently determining harmonic resonance conditions. Thereby, it is capable of building binary matrices, which include harmonic resonance conditions. Also, by utilizing the union operator at binary matrices, power system uncertainties such as photovoltaic generation and load level can be considered in the allocation method. The placement approach is expressed as a linear problem that determines the best locations of PQMs and their optimal number so that they monitor all harmonic resonance conditions. Besides, by considering the area of harmonic pollution of non‐linear loads in the proposed method, owners of electrical networks can find a solution with fewer PQMs to monitor harmonic resonance orders inside a particular area of the network. The performance of the presented approach is demonstrated using the 15‐node distribution network and a real electrical network, as well as a real large electrical network in Iran. Results show that the proposed method suggests fewer PQMs to monitor harmonic resonance conditions compared to previous methods.
A study on a target detection model for autonomous driving tasks
Authors: Chen Hao , Min Byung‐Won , Zhang Haifei
Published: July 2024

Target detection in autonomous driving tasks presents a complex and critical challenge due to the diversity of targets and the intricacy of the environment. To address this issue, this paper proposes an enhanced YOLOv8 model. Firstly, the original large target detection head is removed and replaced with a detection head tailored for small targets and high‐level semantic details. Secondly, an adaptive feature fusion method is proposed, where input feature maps are processed using dilated convolutions with different dilation rates, followed by adaptive feature fusion to generate adaptive weights. Finally, an improved attention mechanism is incorporated to enhance the model's focus on target regions. Additionally, the impact of Group Shuffle Convolution (GSConv) on the model's detection speed is investigated. Validated on two public datasets, the model achieves a mean Average Precision (mAP) of 53.7% and 53.5%. Although introducing GSConv results in a slight decrease in mAP, it significantly improves frames per second. These findings underscore the effectiveness of the proposed model in autonomous driving tasks.
Finite difference delay modelling for analysis of shielding effectiveness of perforated conductive enclosure
Authors: Kalantarnia Ali , Rajabi Siavash , Mirzabeigi Abdollah
Published: July 2024

This paper introduces finite difference delay modelling (FDDM) for computing the shielding effectiveness (SE) of a conductive enclosure with an aperture against electromagnetic pulses. FDDM offers optimal accuracy and stability for analysing complex structures. The time domain electric field integral equation (TD‐EFIE) for the conductive enclosure is derived by imposing boundary conditions on the perfect electrical conductor (PEC) surface in the Laplace domain. Time discretization is based on finite differences, and the Laplace‐to‐Z transform mapping is utilized. Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) is employed to expedite the FDDM solution process. Both frequency domain shielding effectiveness (FD‐SE) and time domain shielding effectiveness (TD‐SE) are evaluated using this approach. Finally, to validate the accuracy of the proposed method, results are compared with simulations using CST‐MWS software and the frequency domain moment method.
Conflictual language ideologies and mismatched language practices of Thai international students at a Chinese-medium instruction university
Authors: Wang Jun , Xu Wen
Published: July 2024

This study is situated against the backdrop of China’s emergence as a new player in the international higher education market and its initiative to promote the Chinese language through academic programmes. We interrupt the entrenched ‘Englishisation’ of higher education in non-Anglophone contexts and investigate Thai international students’ language ideologies and language practices in the Chinese-medium instruction (CMI) university context. The qualitative data reveals the dual functions of Chinese in Thai students’ day-to-day practices—a medium of instruction and a ‘default’ common language for communication both in and beyond formal settings. In spite of their native speakerism, we also found incongruence between language ideologies and practices in and beyond the classroom. This study carries important implications for teaching and learning in CMI universities and beyond, as we call for attention to multilingual awareness development, ‘respectability’ pedagogies and translanguaging practices in international universities with a linguistically diverse student population.
Tunable topological edge state in plasma photonic crystals
Authors: ZHOU 周 Mingjie 铭杰 , TAN 谭 Haiyun 海云 , ZHUGE 诸葛 Lanjian 兰剑 , WU 吴 Xuemei 雪梅
Published: July 2024

In this study, we found a kind of edge state located at the interface between plasma photonic crystals (PPCs) and traditional photonic crystals, which depends on the property of the photonic band gap rather than the surface defect. Simulation and theoretical analysis show that by adjusting the plasma density, we can change the topological characteristics of the photonic band gap of PPCs. This makes it different from the photonic band gap of traditional PCs, and thus excites or closes the topological edge states. We further discussed the influence of plasma parameters on edge state characteristics, and the results showed that as the plasma density increased, the first photonic band gap (PBG) of the PPCs closed and then reopened, resulting in band inversion and a change in the PBG properties of the PPCs. We can control the generation of edge states through plasma and adjust the frequency and strength of the edge states. After the appearance of edge states, as the plasma density further increases, the first PBG of the PPCs will shift towards high frequencies and deepen. The frequency of edge states will shift towards higher frequencies, and their strength will also increase. We increased the first PBG depth of the PPCs by increasing the number of arrays and found that when the number of the PPCs arrays increased, only the intensity of the edge states would increase while the frequency remained unchanged. Therefore, flexible adjustment of edge state frequency and intensity can be achieved through plasma density and array quantity parameters. Our study demonstrates the properties of topological edge states in plasma photonic crystals, which we believe can provide some guidance for applications based on edge states.
Neuroimaging meta regression for coordinate based meta analysis data with a spatial model
Authors: Yu Yifan , Lobo Rosario Pintos , Riedel Michael Cody , Bottenhorn Katherine , Laird Angela R , Nichols Thomas E
Published: July 2024

Coordinate-based meta-analysis combines evidence from a collection of neuroimaging studies to estimate brain activation. In such analyses, a key practical challenge is to find a computationally efficient approach with good statistical interpretability to model the locations of activation foci. In this article, we propose a generative coordinate-based meta-regression (CBMR) framework to approximate a smooth activation intensity function and investigate the effect of study-level covariates (e.g. year of publication, sample size). We employ a spline parameterization to model the spatial structure of brain activation and consider four stochastic models for modeling the random variation in foci. To examine the validity of CBMR, we estimate brain activation on 20 meta-analytic datasets, conduct spatial homogeneity tests at the voxel level, and compare the results to those generated by existing kernel-based and model-based approaches. Keywords: generalized linear models; meta-analysis; spatial statistics; statistical modeling.
Bony side-effects in acitretin treatment: is monitoring required?
Authors: Chung Jenny G , Hussain Khawar
Published: July 2024

Acitretin is an oral retinoid and the active metabolite of etidronate. While most commonly used for the treatment of inflammatory disorders, its indications extend to disorders of keratinization in the paediatric population. In the midst of a safety announcement on the side-effects of isotretinoin by the UK Commission on Human Medicines, a debate on whether acitretin monitoring should also be updated is encouraged.
Comparison of the 2015 and 2023 Duke–European Society of Cardiology Criteria Among Patients With Suspected Infective Endocarditis
Authors: Papadimitriou-Olivgeris Matthaios , Monney Pierre , Frank Michelle , Tzimas Georgios , Fourre Nicolas , Zimmermann Virgile , Tozzi Piergiorgio , Kirsch Matthias , Van Hemelrijck Mathias , Epprecht Jana , Guery Benoit , Hasse Barbara
Published: July 2024

Background

Diagnosing infective endocarditis (IE) poses a significant challenge. This study aimed to compare the diagnostic accuracy of the 2015 and 2023 Duke clinical criteria introduced by the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) in a cohort of patients suspected of having IE.

Methods

Conducted retrospectively at 2 Swiss university hospitals between 2014 and 2023, the study involved patients with suspected IE. Each hospital’s endocarditis team categorized cases as either IE or not IE. The performance of each iteration of the Duke-ESC clinical criteria was assessed based on the agreement between definite IE and the diagnoses made by the endocarditis team.

Results

Among the 3127 episodes of suspected IE, 1177 (38%) were confirmed to have IE. Using the 2015 Duke-ESC criteria, 707 (23%) episodes were deemed definite IE, with 696 (98%) receiving a final IE diagnosis. With the 2023 Duke-ESC criteria, 855 (27%) episodes were classified as definite IE, of which 813 (95%) were confirmed as IE. The 2015 and 2023 Duke-ESC criteria categorized 1039 (33%) and 1034 (33%) episodes, respectively, as possible IE. Sensitivity for the 2015 Duke-ESC and the 2023 Duke-ESC criteria was calculated at 59% (95% confidence interval, 56%–62%), and 69% (66%–72%), respectively, with specificity at 99% (99%–100%), and 98% (97%–98%), respectively.

Conclusions

The 2023 Duke-ESC criteria demonstrated significant improvements in sensitivity compared to the 2015 version, although one-third of episodes were classified as possible IE by both versions.
Cardiac tamponade due to right coronary artery perforation following pacemaker implantation: a case report
Authors: Alaoui-Ismaili Zakaria , Klein Anika , Moeller Jacob Eifer , Bo Lindhardt Tommi , Hassager Christian
Published: July 2024

Background

Cardiac tamponade due to perforation of a cardiac chamber is a rare complication occurring in only 0.3% of patients undergoing permanent pacemaker (PM) implantation. Notably, perforation of the right coronary artery (RCA) following permanent PM implantation has only been reported twice in the literature. We report a rare case of RCA perforation leading to life-threatening cardiac tamponade with symptom onset 4 days after PM implantation

Case summary

A 75-year-old woman underwent permanent PM implantation without any difficulties in placing pacemaker leads and with good thresholds. Four days later, the patient was readmitted in a state of shock due to cardiac tamponade. A blood gas analysis on the bloody pericardial effusion raised suspicion of ongoing arterial bleeding. A CT scan ruled out aortic dissection; instead, the source of bleeding was identified as a perforation in the RCA, which was managed surgically.

Discussion

This case highlights the necessity of coronary artery perforation being among the differential diagnoses of cardiac tamponade after PM implantation, and it stresses the usefulness of performing a blood gas analysis on the bloody pericardial effusion.
The effect of pharmacist-led interventions on the appropriateness and clinical outcomes of anticoagulant therapy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Kefale Belayneh , Peterson Gregory M , Mirkazemi Corinne , Bezabhe Woldesellassie M
Published: July 2024

Aim

Although pharmacist-led interventions in anticoagulant (AC) therapy are widely accepted, there is a lack of evidence comparing their effectiveness with usual care in terms of AC therapy appropriateness and clinical outcomes. We aimed to estimate the comparative effectiveness of pharmacist-led interventions on the appropriateness and clinical outcomes of AC therapy.

Methods and results

Adhering to the PRISMA guidelines, we searched PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases to identify randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental and cohort studies published between 2010 and 2023. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled intervention effects. We assessed heterogeneity (using Higgins’ I2 and Cochran's Q) and publication bias (using Egger's test, the trim-and-fill method, and visualization of the funnel plot). In total, 35 studies involving 10 374 patients in the intervention groups and 11 840 in the control groups were included. The pharmacist-led interventions significantly improved the appropriateness of AC therapy [odds ratio (OR): 3.43, 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.33–5.06, P < 0.01]. They significantly decreased total bleeding [relative risk (RR): 0.75, 95% CI: 0.58–0.96, P = 0.03) and hospitalization or readmission (RR: 0.64, 95% CI: 0.41–0.99, P = 0.04). However, the impact of the pharmacist-led interventions on thromboembolic events (RR: 0.69, 95% CI: 0.46–1.02, P = 0.07) and mortality (RR: 0.76, 95% CI: 0.51–1.13, P = 0.17) was not significant.

Conclusion

Pharmacist-led interventions demonstrated superior outcomes in optimizing AC therapy compared with usual care. Further research is needed to evaluate pharmacist-led interventions’ cost-effectiveness and long-term sustainability.

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42023487362.
Participation in biodiversity schemes and environmental performance: overall farm-level impact and spillover effects on non-enrolled land
Authors: Zimmert Franziska , Jan Pierrick , Bonev Petyo
Published: July 2024

We evaluate how the share of farmland enrolled in agri-environmental schemes affects the biodiversity friendliness of management practices both on the overall farmland as well as on the enrolled and non-enrolled plots separately. To this end, we prepare a unique dataset for Switzerland that links farm-level accountancy data to plot-level data on management practices and their impact on organismal biodiversity. Our estimates allow us to calculate bounds for potential spillovers on non-enrolled farmland. We find that these are positive but small in magnitude. The effect on the overall farmland is also positive but again rather small.
Dissolved organic phosphorus bond-class utilization by Synechococcus
Authors: Waggoner Emily M , Djaoudi Kahina , Diaz Julia M , Duhamel Solange
Published: July 2024

Dissolved organic phosphorus (DOP) contains compounds with phosphoester, phosphoanhydride, and phosphorus–carbon bonds. While DOP holds significant nutritional value for marine microorganisms, the bioavailability of each bond-class to the widespread cyanobacterium Synechococcus remains largely unknown. This study evaluates bond-class specific DOP utilization by Synechococcus strains from open and coastal oceans. Both strains exhibited comparable growth rates when provided phosphate, a phosphoanhydride [3-polyphosphate and 45-polyphosphate], or a DOP compound with both phosphoanhydride and phosphoester bonds (adenosine 5′-triphosphate). Growth rates on phosphoesters [glucose-6-phosphate, adenosine 5′-monophosphate, bis(4-methylumbelliferyl) phosphate] were variable, and neither strain grew on selected phosphorus–carbon compounds. Both strains hydrolyzed 3-polyphosphate, then adenosine 5′-triphosphate, and lastly adenosine 5′-monophosphate, exhibiting preferential enzymatic hydrolysis of phosphoanhydride bonds. The strains’ exoproteomes contained phosphorus hydrolases, which combined with enhanced cell-free hydrolysis of 3-polyphosphate and adenosine 5′-triphosphate under phosphate deficiency, suggests active mineralization of phosphoanhydride bonds by these exoproteins. Synechococcus alkaline phosphatases presented broad substrate specificities, including activity toward the phosphoanhydride 3-polyphosphate, with varying affinities between strains. Collectively, these findings underscore the potentially significant role of compounds with phosphoanhydride bonds in Synechococcus phosphorus nutrition and highlight varied growth and enzymatic responses to molecular diversity within DOP bond-classes, thereby expanding our understanding of microbially mediated DOP cycling in marine ecosystems.
Relational Epistemologies: Friendship and Reading in Shida Bazyar’s Drei Kameradinnen
Authors: Schwarz Miriam
Published: July 2024

This article demonstrates that friendship is a productive concept through which to analyse the narrative voice and structure in Shida Bazyar’s Drei Kameradinnen (2021). Drawing on Max Czollek’s ‘Theatre of Integration’, I argue that the friendship between the three protagonists allows us to describe marginalized experiences without recentring the dominant German discourse. Their friendship is the source of the epistemic advantage as theorized by José Medina: by listening carefully and repeatedly to their friends’ stories, the protagonists produce knowledge about structural injustices. I argue that the novel ultimately proposes friendship as a model for reading that renders the underlying structures of narrativized marginalized experience intelligible. As an example, this article provides a close reading of one of the anecdotes in the novel. Inspired by Susan S. Lanser and Shlomith Rimmon-Kenan’s ‘Narratology at the Checkpoint’, I show that Bayzar’s novel highlights how traditional narrative structures do not lend themselves to describing marginalized experiences.
A Pn magnitude scale mb(Pn) for earthquakes along the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Authors: Kim Won-Young , de Melo Guilherme W S , Assumpção Marcelo
Published: July 2024

We developed a short-period Pn magnitude scale mb(Pn) for earthquakes along the equatorial Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Due to low signal-to-noise ratios, teleseismic body wave magnitude and long-period surface wave magnitude cannot be confidently determined for small earthquakes of mb < 4. Local magnitude scales are also not useful for these events because the oceanic environment does not allow the propagation of crustal phases. However, regional high-frequency Pn waves from these small- to moderate-size (mb 3–6) earthquakes are well recorded in the equatorial Atlantic region and can be used to assign magnitudes. We measured over 2041 Pn peak amplitudes on vertical records from about 21 stations in northeastern Brazil and 11 stations in western Africa in the distance range of 700–3700 km. We analysed data from 189 events from the global centroid moment tensor catalogue to tie our mb(Pn) scale to Mw so that seismic moments can be readily estimated. Pn arrivals show apparent group velocity between 7.9 km s−1 at short ranges (∼1000 km) and up to 9.1 km s−1 at 3500 km. The measured peak amplitudes have a frequency between 0.8 and 3 Hz at 1000–1800 km, but at greater distances, 1800–3700 km, they show a remarkably consistent frequency of about 0.8 Hz. The peak amplitude attenuates at a higher rate at short distances (∼0.65 magnitude units between 700 and 2000 km) but attenuates at a lower rate at long distances (∼0.35 magnitude units between 2000 and 3700 km). The low rate of amplitude decay with distance and nearly constant frequency content of the peak amplitudes suggest that Pn waves propagate efficiently in the lower part of the upper mantle in the equatorial Atlantic Ocean basins. These are important attributes of oceanic Pn waves that can be used to assign magnitude for small- to moderate-size earthquakes in the equatorial mid-Atlantic region. The estimated station corrections correlate well with upper mantle low-velocity anomalies, especially in Brazil.
International Legal Framework Governing Assessment of Damages Caused to Foreign Investors in Armed Conflict
Authors: Sabahi Borzu , Rahimi Dizgovin Farshad
Published: July 2024

Disputes arising from armed conflicts are on the rise, raising various complex legal issues. This article examines standards applicable to assessing damages arising from armed conflicts. The existing treaties, cases and commentaries show a complex and tangled landscape of rules and principles governing damages in the context of armed conflicts. While the vast majority of investment treaties contain war clauses that appear to prescribe special rules for the assessment of damages, most tribunals have refused to apply the lex specialis principle and have instead used the Chorzow Factory principle. Hence, more consistency and predictability would be needed in this connection which can be achieved in the form a dedicated working group.
Inhibition of Fusarium graminearum growth and spore germination by a Streptomyces amritsarensis strain capable of killing and growing on Microcystis scum
Authors: Hou Kaiyu , Wang Jiayu , Li Xu , Feng Junzhou , Yang Caiyun , Zhang Xiaohui , Guo Jianlin , Dai Xianzhu
Published: July 2024

Aims

Developing energy-saving and ecofriendly strategies for treating harvested Microcystis biomass.

Methods and Results

Streptomyces amritsarensis HG-16 was first reported to effectively kill various morphotypes of natural Microcystis colonies at very high cell densities. Concurrently, HG-16 grown on lysed Microcystis maintained its antagonistic activity against plant pathogenic fungus Fusarium graminearum. It could completely inhibit spore germination and destroy mycelial structure of F. graminearum. Transcriptomic analysis revealed that HG-16 attacked F. graminearum in a comprehensive way: interfering with replication, transcription, and translation processes, inhibiting primary metabolisms, hindering energy production and simultaneously destroying stress-resistant systems of F. graminearum.

Conclusions

The findings of this study provide a sustainable and economical option for resource reclamation from Microcystis biomass: utilizing Microcystis slurry to propagate HG-16, which can subsequently be employed as a biocontrol agent for managing F. graminearum.
Augmenting clinicians’ analytical workflow through task-based integration of data visualizations and algorithmic insights: a user-centered design study
Authors: Scholich Till , Raj Shriti , Lee Joyce , Newman Mark W
Published: July 2024

Objectives

To understand healthcare providers’ experiences of using GlucoGuide, a mockup tool that integrates visual data analysis with algorithmic insights to support clinicians’ use of patientgenerated data from Type 1 diabetes devices.

Materials and Methods

This qualitative study was conducted in three phases. In Phase 1, 11 clinicians reviewed data using commercial diabetes platforms in a think-aloud data walkthrough activity followed by semistructured interviews. In Phase 2, GlucoGuide was developed. In Phase 3, the same clinicians reviewed data using GlucoGuide in a think-aloud activity followed by semistructured interviews. Inductive thematic analysis was used to analyze transcripts of Phase 1 and Phase 3 think-aloud activity and interview.

Results

3 high level tasks, 8 sub-tasks, and 4 challenges were identified in Phase 1. In Phase 2, 3 requirements for GlucoGuide were identified. Phase 3 results suggested that clinicians found GlucoGuide easier to use and experienced a lower cognitive burden as compared to the commercial diabetes data reports that were used in Phase 1. Additionally, GlucoGuide addressed the challenges experienced in Phase 1.

Discussion

The study suggests that the knowledge of analytical tasks and task-specific visualization strategies in implementing features of data interfaces can result in tools that lower the perceived burden of engaging with data. Additionally, supporting clinicians in contextualizing algorithmic insights by visual analysis of relevant data can positively influence clinicians’ willingness to leverage algorithmic support.

Conclusion

Task-aligned tools that combine multiple data-driven approaches, such as visualization strategies and algorithmic insights, can improve clinicians’ experience in reviewing device data.
Automated design and optimization of distributed filter circuits using reinforcement learning
Authors: Gao Peng , Yu Tao , Wang Fei , Yuan Ru-Yue
Published: July 2024

Designing distributed filter circuits (DFCs) is complex and time-consuming, involving setting and optimizing multiple hyperparameters. Traditional optimization methods, such as using the commercial finite element solver High-Frequency Structure Simulator to enumerate all parameter combinations with fixed steps and then simulate each combination, are not only time-consuming and labor-intensive but also rely heavily on the expertise and experience of electronics engineers, making it difficult to adapt to rapidly changing design requirements. Additionally, these commercial tools struggle with precise adjustments when parameters are sensitive to numerical changes, resulting in limited optimization effectiveness. This study proposes a novel end-to-end automated method for DFC design. The proposed method harnesses reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms, eliminating the dependence on the design experience of engineers. Thus, it significantly reduces the subjectivity and constraints associated with circuit design. The experimental findings demonstrate clear improvements in design efficiency and quality when comparing the proposed method with traditional engineer-driven methods. Furthermore, the proposed method achieves superior performance when designing complex or rapidly evolving DFCs, highlighting the substantial potential of RL in circuit design automation. In particular, compared with the existing DFC automation design method CircuitGNN, our method achieves an average performance improvement of 8.72%. Additionally, the execution efficiency of our method is 2000 times higher than CircuitGNN on the CPU and 241 times higher on the GPU.
The Visual Complexity = Higher Production Cost Lay Belief
Authors: Min Lauren , Liu Peggy J , Anderson Cary L
Published: July 2024

Brands and retailers often offer different aesthetic versions of the same base product, which vary from visually simple to visually complex. How should managers price these different aesthetic versions of the same base product? This research provides insights for such decisions through uncovering a novel consumer lay belief about the relationship between visual complexity and production costs. Consumers associate simple (vs. complex) visual aesthetics with lower production costs when evaluating different aesthetic versions of a product. This lay belief occurs in joint evaluation mode but is mitigated in separate evaluation mode. An important downstream implication of this lay belief is that consumers’ willingness to pay is lower for visually simple (vs. complex) versions. This gap in willingness to pay occurs even when consumers like both product versions or aesthetics equally, and it is only eliminated when consumers like the visually simple version substantially more than the complex version. Finally, reducing the diagnosticity of the lay belief by disclosing information that the two versions took similar amounts of production time and effort reduces the gap in willingness to pay between visually simple (vs. complex) versions.
Ferritin is closely associated with microglia in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
Authors: Gao Ju , Okolo Ogoegbunam , Siedlak Sandra L , Friedland Robert P , Wang Xinglong
Published: July 2024

Iron deposition is a hallmark of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and has been strongly implicated in its pathogenesis. As a byproduct of cellular oxidative stress, iron dysregulation modifies basal levels of the regulatory iron-binding protein ferritin. Examination of thoracic and lumbar spinal cord tissues found increased ferritin immunostaining in white matter axons that corresponded to areas of increased microgliosis in 8 ALS patients versus 8 normal subjects. Gray matter areas containing the motor neurons also demonstrated increased ferritin and microglia in ALS compared to controls but at lower levels than in the white matter. Motor neurons with or without TDP-43 inclusions did not demonstrate either increased ferritin or associated microglial activation. We also observed an association of ferritin with microglia in cerebral cortical tissue samples of ALS cases and in the spinal cord tissues of transgenic mice expressing the SOD1G93A mutation. Elevated ferritin levels were detected in the insoluble fraction from spinal cord tissues of individuals with ALS. These findings suggest that activated microglia and increased ferritin may play significant roles in ALS progression since they are found closely associated in areas of axonal and cortical degeneration.
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in situs inversus totalis—surgical technique and procedure safety using anatomical checkpoints
Authors: Cunningham Brian , Blades Daryl , McArdle Gerarde
Published: July 2024

Situs inversus totalis (SIT) is a rare congenital condition in which there is complete transposition of both the thoracic and abdominal viscera. Given how infrequently this abnormality is encountered, operating on patients with SIT can be technically difficult and challenging for the surgeon. This case report outlines the steps used to successfully carry out a laparoscopic cholecystectomy on a patient with SIT. The aim of this report is to highlight the technical difficulties encountered during this common surgical procedure. By sharing our operative experience, we hope to assist operating surgeons in their perioperative planning when faced with a similar case. Our approach to port placement, dissection of Calot’s triangle, and achieving adequate tissue tension is discussed. Ultimately, we believe that advanced planning, anticipation of likely challenges, and knowledge of strategies to overcome these can only be beneficial to the safety of performing laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a patient with SIT.
Mesorectal thromboembolism with increased 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose uptake during positron emission tomography/computed tomography in a patient with non-small cell lung cancer
Authors: Sato Yoshihiro , Tsujinaka Shingo , Miura Tomoya , Kitamura Yoh , Sawada Kentaro , Mitamura Atsushi , Yamamoto Kuniharu , Nakano Toru , Katayose Yu , Shibata Chikashi
Published: July 2024

This study presents a case of a 72-year-old man diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer (cT4N0M0) referred to our hospital for possible surgical treatment of a solitary nodule detected in the mesorectum. The patient had received combined chemoradiotherapy and achieved a complete response 13 months before the presentation. On examination, the mesorectal nodule was incidentally detected during surveillance computed tomography, and the maximum standardized uptake value of the nodule was 10.3. Because of the potential malignancy and need for en-bloc resection of the nodule, we performed laparoscopically assisted high anterior resection of the rectum. The postoperative course was uneventful. Notably, while pathological examination revealed that the mesorectal nodule comprised an intravenous organized thromboembolism, malignancy was not observed. These findings suggest that although positron emission tomography/computed tomography with 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose is useful for the diagnosis of malignant diseases, surgical resection might be the most reliable option for complex cases such as ours.
Duplication cyst in adult cases: a journey from diagnosis to treatment
Authors: Van Pham Nang , Van Mai Doi , Duong Phu Diep Thien , Lam Huan Hoang , Ly Hung Huynh Vinh , Van Nguyen Luan
Published: July 2024

Duplication cysts are rare congenital abnormalities of the alimentary tract, typically manifesting symptoms in the first 2 years but uncommon in adults. Medical data on duplication cysts is scarce in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region. These two adult cases aim to provide fundamental knowledge, clinical characteristics, diagnosis, risks, complications, surgical and observational treatment methods, and future bilateral tumor research. Case 1: A 21-year-old male with intestinal obstruction symptoms. Computed tomography (CT)-scan revealed a strangulated small bowel obstruction with ischemia. Laparotomy discovered a twisted ileal duplication cyst causing necrosis in ~30 cm of the small intestine. Case 2: A 34-year-old woman hospitalized for right lower quadrant pain. CT-scan showed a cystic structure protruding into the ascending colon lumen. She underwent a laparoscopic right hemicolectomy, and an ascending colonic cyst was found in the specimen. Conclusions: Duplication cysts are rare anomalies, especially in adults. Comprehending and acquiring knowledge ensures prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment.