bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mathematical modeling and numerical simulation of arterial dissection based on a novel surgeon’s view
Authors: Soleimani Meisam , Deo Rohan , Hudobivnik Blaz , Poyanmehr Reza , Haverich Axel , Wriggers Peter
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a mathematical model for arterial dissection based on a novel hypothesis proposed by a surgeon, Axel Haverich, see Haverich (Circulation 135(3):205–207, 2017. https://doi.org/10.1161/circulationaha.116.025407). In an attempt and based on clinical observations, he explained how three different arterial diseases, namely atherosclerosis, aneurysm and dissection have the same root in malfunctioning Vasa Vasorums (VVs) which are micro capillaries responsible for artery wall nourishment. The authors already proposed a mathematical framework for the modeling of atherosclerosis which is the thickening of the artery walls due to an inflammatory response to VVs dysfunction. A multiphysics model based on a phase-field approach coupled with mechanical deformation was proposed for this purpose. The kinematics of mechanical deformation was described using finite strain theory. The entire model is three-dimensional and fully based on a macroscopic continuum description. The objective here is to extend that model by incorporating a damage mechanism in order to capture the tearing (rupture) in the artery wall as a result of micro-injuries in VV. Unlike the existing damage-based model of the dissection in the literature, here the damage is driven by the internal bleeding (hematoma) rather than purely mechanical external loading. The numerical implementation is carried out using finite element method (FEM).
The impact of habitat loss and population fragmentation on genomic erosion
Authors: Pinto Alessandro V. , Hansson Bengt , Patramanis Ioannis , Morales Hernán E. , van Oosterhout Cock
Published: August 2023

Habitat loss and population fragmentation pose severe threats to biodiversity and the survival of many species. Population isolation and the decline in effective population size lead to increased genetic drift and inbreeding. In turn, this reduces neutral diversity, and it also affects the genetic load of deleterious mutations. Here, we analyse the effect of such genomic erosion by designing a spatially explicit, individual based model in SLiM, simulating the effects of the recorded habitat loss in Mauritius over the past ~ 250 years. We show that the loss of neutral diversity (genome-wide heterozygosity) was barely noticeable during the first 100 years of habitat loss. Changes to the genetic load took even more time to register, and they only became apparent circa 200 years after the start of habitat decline. Although a considerable number of deleterious mutations were lost by drift, others increased in frequency. The masked load was thus converted into a realised load, which compromised individual fitness and population viability after much of the native habitat had been lost. Importantly, genomic erosion continued after the metapopulation had stabilised at low numbers. Our study shows that historic habitat loss can pose a sustained threat to populations also in future generations, even without further habitat loss. The UN’s Decade on Ecosystem Restoration needs to lead to transformative change to save species from future extinction, and this requires the urgent restoration of natural habitats.
Utilization of Synthesized Copper Ferrite/Calcium Alginate Nanocomposite for Adsorption and Photocatalytic Degradation of Malachite Green
Authors: Hassan Asaad F. , El-Naggar Gehan A. , Braish Amany G. , El-Latif Mona M. Abd , Shaltout Walaa A. , Elsayed Maha S.
Published: August 2023

In this article, the effectiveness of two different application methods (photocatalytic degradation and adsorption) onto the created solid nanomaterials for the removal of malachite green (MG) was investigated. Copper ferrite nanoparticles (CF) and copper ferrite/calcium alginate composite (CG) were synthesized as two studied solid samples. By using XRD, TGA, FTIR, DRS, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherm, pHPZC, SEM, and TEM, the physicochemical and morphological properties of the solid samples were tested. Sample dose, pH, initial MG concentration, shaking time, ionic strength, UV light power, and temperature were the key experimental parameters that were established. The obtained results demonstrated that at 40 °C, CG reached a greater adsorption capacity (297.62 mg/g). The spontaneous, endothermic, and advantageous adsorption process of MG was proved by the best fitting of pseudo-second order, Elovich, intra-particle diffusion, Langmuir, Dubinin-Radushkevich, and Temkin models onto all the produced materials. The maximum percentage of MG degradation by CG (89.9%) was accomplished by utilizing 1.0 g/L of catalyst mass, an initial MG concentration of 10 mg/L, and 33 W. Arrhenius and Eyring–Polanyi models well applied the MG photodegradation onto the catalyst surface.
Entrepreneurial growth in digital business ecosystems: an integrated framework blending the knowledge-based view of the firm and business ecosystems
Authors: Chen Anlan , Lin Yong , Mariani Marcello , Shou Yongyi , Zhang Yufeng
Published: August 2023

Digitalisation is shaping the contemporary technological context of entrepreneurial activities, where firms grow through interacting with digital ecosystem stakeholders. This study investigates how incumbent firms seek entrepreneurial growth by re-configurating their knowledge bases in digital business ecosystems. We propose and develop a conceptual framework that blends the digital business ecosystem perspective and the knowledge-based view of the firm. Through a longitudinal case study of a Chinese textile manufacturing firm, we identify three pathways for entrepreneurial growth. The results contribute to the entrepreneurship literature by demonstrating how digital technologies foster corporate entrepreneurship in incumbent firms. The proposed framework extends the analytical power of the knowledge-based view by incorporating ecosystem elements into the firm’s internal and external knowledge management. The findings also generate relevant and actionable managerial implications for entrepreneurs, managers, and policymakers that are applicable in the context of digital business ecosystems.
Optimal sufficient requirements on the embedded Ising problem in polynomial time
Authors: Lobe Elisabeth , Kaibel Volker
Published: August 2023

One of the central applications for quantum annealers is to find the solutions of Ising problems. Suitable Ising problems, however, need to be formulated such that they, on the one hand, respect the specific restrictions of the hardware and, on the other hand, represent the original problems which shall actually be solved. We evaluate sufficient requirements on such an embedded Ising problem analytically and transform them into a linear optimization problem. With an objective function aiming to minimize the maximal absolute problem parameter, the precision issues of the annealers are addressed. Due to the redundancy of several constraints, we can show that the formally exponentially large optimization problem can be reduced and finally solved in polynomial time for the standard embedding setting where the embedded vertices induce trees. This allows to formulate provably equivalent embedded Ising problems in a practical setup.
Pyramid Attention Network for Image Restoration
Authors: Mei Yiqun , Fan Yuchen , Zhang Yulun , Yu Jiahui , Zhou Yuqian , Liu Ding , Fu Yun , Huang Thomas S. , Shi Humphrey
Published: August 2023

Self-similarity refers to the image prior widely used in image restoration algorithms that small but similar patterns tend to occur at different locations and scales. However, recent advanced deep convolutional neural network-based methods for image restoration do not take full advantage of self-similarities by relying on self-attention neural modules that only process information at the same scale. To solve this problem, we present a novel Pyramid Attention module for image restoration, which captures long-range feature correspondences from a multi-scale feature pyramid. Inspired by the fact that corruptions, such as noise or compression artifacts, drop drastically at coarser image scales, our attention module is designed to be able to borrow clean signals from their “clean” correspondences at the coarser levels. The proposed pyramid attention module is a generic building block that can be flexibly integrated into various neural architectures. Its effectiveness is validated through extensive experiments on multiple image restoration tasks: image denoising, demosaicing, compression artifact reduction, and super resolution. Without any bells and whistles, our PANet (pyramid attention module with simple network backbones) can produce state-of-the-art results with superior accuracy and visual quality. Our code is available at https://github.com/SHI-Labs/Pyramid-Attention-Networks
Comparison of ordinary reverse transcription real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) with a newly developed one-step single-tube nested real-time RT-PCR (OSN-qRT-PCR) for sensitive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater
Authors: Rusková Magdaléna , Bučková Mária , Puškárová Andrea , Cíchová Marianna , Janská Veronika , Achs Adam , Šubr Zdeno , Kuchta Tomáš , Pangallo Domenico
Published: August 2023

Wastewater monitoring has proven to be an important approach to detecting and controlling the development of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Various tests based on reverse transcription real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) have been developed and used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples. In this study, we attempted to increase the sensitivity of qRT-PCR by developing a one-step single-tube nested qRT-PCR assay (OSN-qRT-PCR). Two variants were developed, oriented to nucleocapsid phosphoprotein gene (N) and to spike protein gene (S), respectively. The performance of conventional qRT-PCR assays oriented to these genes with two novel OSN-qRT-PCR assays were firstly optimized using wastewater artificially contaminated with two encapsidated RNA mimic systems harboring a portion either N or S gene (ENRM and ESRM, respectively). The assays were coupled to a polyethylene glycol–based RNA precipitation/extraction method and applied to detect SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples from four cities in Slovakia. Both novel OSN-qRT-PCR assays demonstrated higher detection rates than the ordinary qRT-PCR counterparts. The virus levels in the analyzed wastewater samples had a high or very high relation with the numbers of clinical cases in the monitored regions. In fact, correlation with a 3-, 4-, or 5-day temporal offset was revealed. The OSN-qRT-PCR assays demonstrated robustness, mainly in samples with low viral loads.
War, Reciprocity and the Moral Equality of Combatants
Authors: Miller Seumas
Published: August 2023

In this article I address differences between myself and Uwe Steinhoff in relation to the moral principle of reciprocity and its implications for the doctrine of the moral equality of combatants. Whereas I agree with Steinhoff that there is a principle of reciprocity in play in war, contra Steinhoff, I suggest that this principle and, indeed, moral principles of reciprocity more generally, are particularist principles, although if conventionalised or given legal status they can assume a generalised form. Moreover, I also hold that there is a moral difference between those fighting a just war and those fighting an unjust war and this difference, taken in conjunction with the moral equality of combatants doctrine, generates a degree of moral complexity that seems to have gone unrecognised by Steinhoff (and, for that matter, by the two dominant schools of thought in this area, revisionists and Walzerians).
The Greater Trochanteric Pain Syndrome: Clinical Presentation, Diagnosis, and Management
Authors: Guemara Romain , Nissen Michael John
Published: August 2023

Purpose of Review

This review describes the greater trochanteric pain syndrome in terms of its clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management.

Recent Findings

We emphasized recent studies including emerging therapies such as radiofrequency ablation of the trochanteric branches of the femoral nerve and new surgical therapies such as minimal invasive surgery and gluteal reconstruction.

We describe conservative therapies, such as lifestyle modifications and physical therapy and pharmacological approaches including local injections, as well as surgical procedures. Until recently, local injections involved the use of only local anesthetic and/or corticosteroid; however, recent studies have suggested a potential role for platelet-rich plasma or hyaluronic acid. In the absence of a gluteal tear or rupture, management is initially focused on the use of analgesics to control pain, lifestyle measures, and prolonged physical therapy to improve local muscle strength, followed by the addition of local extracorporeal shock wave therapy. If symptoms persist, a new approach involves an injection of local anesthetic, potentially followed by a corticosteroid or platelet-rich plasma injection, based on the response to the initial anesthetic injection. In the case of refractory pain or tendon rupture, surgical treatment may be indicated, depending on the age of the patient and the degree of local muscle atrophy and fatty infiltration.
Learning high-level robotic manipulation actions with visual predictive model
Authors: Ma Anji , Chi Guoyi , Ivaldi Serena , Chen Lipeng
Published: August 2023

Learning visual predictive models has great potential for real-world robot manipulations. Visual predictive models serve as a model of real-world dynamics to comprehend the interactions between the robot and objects. However, prior works in the literature have focused mainly on low-level elementary robot actions, which typically result in lengthy, inefficient, and highly complex robot manipulation. In contrast, humans usually employ top–down thinking of high-level actions rather than bottom–up stacking of low-level ones. To address this limitation, we present a novel formulation for robot manipulation that can be accomplished by pick-and-place, a commonly applied high-level robot action, through grasping. We propose a novel visual predictive model that combines an action decomposer and a video prediction network to learn the intrinsic semantic information of high-level actions. Experiments show that our model can accurately predict the object dynamics (i.e., the object movements under robot manipulation) while trained directly on observations of high-level pick-and-place actions. We also demonstrate that, together with a sampling-based planner, our model achieves a higher success rate using high-level actions on a variety of real robot manipulation tasks.
A Mixed Methods Study to Explore Relevant Metrics for a Results Framework Measuring the Public Health Impact of Reliance-Based Pathways
Authors: Adams Inez , Cuff Patricia A. , Liberti Lawrence
Published: August 2023

Reliance-based pathways for the marketing authorization of medical products have been identified as valuable regulatory tools for the timely provision of effective, safe, quality medicines for people worldwide; however, little research has been conducted on the best way to measure the public health impact of using reliance-based pathways. The current mixed methods study was designed to explore which characteristics or “metrics” could be used to measure the impact of reliance-based pathways. A quantitative survey (n = 70) and in-depth interviews (IDIs) (n = 10) were employed to query various stakeholders (e.g., industry, regulatory authorities, NGOs) about the metrics they believed would be important to include in a framework designed to measure the impact of reliance-based regulatory pathways on advancing public health. Based on survey results, (1) ability to meet targeted product assessment timeline, (2) increased access to expertise, which is limited or not available in the agency, (3) shortened median number of days (annually) to market for medical products, (4) lower morbidity and mortality rates due to greater access to medical products, and (5) movement toward technical standards harmonization were the Top Five most important metrics to be included in a framework. IDI results suggest that, while important, the relevance of the Top Five metrics may vary by region or regulatory authority. Interviewed stakeholders intuitively believe reliance-based regulatory pathways are a worthwhile endeavor; however, there must be “harmonization” within the reliance ecosystem that creates a strong understanding of the factors necessary for reliance-based pathways to be utilized in a successful manner.
Instructor-assisted question classification system using machine learning algorithms with N-gram and weighting schemes
Authors: Dake Delali Kwasi , Nwiah Edward , Klogo Griffith Selorm , Ativi Wisdom Xornam
Published: August 2023

One aspect of natural language processing, text classification, has become necessary in the educational domain due to the increasing number of students and the COVID-19 outbreak. The advent of the devastating pandemic and the need to remain safe have surged the discussions around online learning and integrated modules in teaching and learning. In this study, we employed machine learning to develop an automatic instructor-assisted question classification module for learning management systems. In selecting the best classifier, the conventional and the ensemble machine learning algorithms were compared using the tenfold and the fivefold cross-validation techniques. In addition, the N-gram feature selection mechanism and three weighting schemes were evaluated for performance enhancement. The detailed analysis indicates that the ensemble algorithms outperform the conventional ones with decreasing accuracy as the N-gram size increases. For all compared algorithms, the AdaBoost (SVM) ensemble algorithm has the highest accuracy of 78.55% for Unigram (TP, TF, TF-IDF). In addition, the AdaBoost (SVM) emerged with the highest F1-score of 0.782, whiles the ensemble Bagging (RF) algorithm had the highest ROC value of 0.955 for Unigram (TP).
Methodology of fabricating 3D printing modified plastic single-layer panels with UAV positioning technology in the era of mass customization
Authors: Yuan Philip F. , Gao Tianyi , Gu Sijia , Zhang Liming
Published: August 2023

Mass customization of prefabricated architecture is becoming increasingly crucial for developing the architectural industry. Advanced technologies such as 3D printing and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) has brought opportunities and challenges for traditional fabrication and construction methodology. Based on these emerging digital design tools and intelligent construction methods, this paper presents a novel methodology for fabricating single-layer 3D printing panels using UAV positioning technology, which has the potential to revolutionize the construction process and enhance the overall efficiency. This paper first provides a comprehensive review of the existing technologies in 3D printing and UAV positioning, highlighting their benefits and limitations in the context of construction applications. Next, a step-by-step process for fabricating single-layer 3D printing panels is introduced, detailing the optimal design parameters, material selection, and printing techniques. The utilization of UAV for precise positioning and alignment of the panels is then discussed, including the development of an on-site installation for accurate control. To validate the proposed method, a construction practice of the Chengdu Agricultural Expo Centre is produced o demonstrate the promising manufacturing and installation of single-layer 3D printed panels using UAV positioning technology. The results indicate that this method significantly reduces construction time, material waste, and labour costs, while also demonstrating significant customization and design flexibility.
The WHO African Region Initiative on Engaging Civil Society Organizations in Responding to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Best Practices and Lessons Learned for a More Effective Engagement of Communities in Responding to Public Health Emergencies
Authors: Baldé Thierno , Billaud Anthony , Beadling Charles W. , Kartoglu Nellie , Anoko Julienne Ngoundoung , Okeibunor Joseph Chukwudi
Published: August 2023

Engaging communities is a key factor in efficient response to public health emergencies (PHE). Previous and recent outbreaks have shown that civil society organizations (CSOs) can mobilize the communities to better prepare and respond to a PHE. Consequently, the World Health Organization (WHO) Regional Office for Africa (AFRO) implemented an initiative to partner with community leaders by engaging CSOs. The Civil Society Organization Initiative (CSO Initiative) aims to work directly with well-established community-based organizations to accelerate whole-of-society preparation and response. Twenty-three CSOs from 12 WHO African Region Member States have been supported financially and technically to implement effective community-based interventions to respond to the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. After 1 year of implementation (2021), the successes, challenges, and recommendations for maximizing future engagements with CSOs are outlined. As the COVID-19 outbreak is again underlining, partnering with established CSOs to engage diverse social groups from various communities can help provide a timely and efficient response to a PHE.
Static and dynamic stability of pendant drops
Authors: Zhang Fei , Zhou Xinping
Published: August 2023

Despite the widespread occurrence of pendant drops in nature, there is still a lack of combined studies on their dynamic and static stability. This study focuses on the dynamic and static stability of elongated drops with either a free or pinned contact line on a plane. We first examine static stability for both axisymmetric and non-axisymmetric perturbations subject to volume or pressure constraints. The stability limits for volume and pressure disturbances (axisymmetric) correspond to the maximum volume and pressure of the drops, respectively. Drops with free contact lines are marginally stable to non-axisymmetric perturbations because of their horizontal translational invariance, whereas pinned drops are stable. The linear dynamic stability is then investigated numerically through a boundary element model, restricted to volume disturbances. Results show that when the stability limit is reached, the first zonal mode has a zero frequency, suggesting that the thresholds for static and dynamic stability are essentially equivalent. Furthermore, natural frequencies experience sharp changes as the stability limit is approached. Another zero frequency mode associated with the horizontal motion of the centre of mass is also revealed by the numerical results, reflecting the horizontal translational invariance of drops with free contact lines. Finally, the frequency spectrum modified by gravity is explored, resulting in the identification of five gravity-induced frequency shift patterns. The frequency shifts break the spectral degeneracy for hemispherical drops with free contact lines, leading to various spectral orderings according to polar and azimuthal wavenumbers.
Ratings meet prices: The dynamic relationship of quality signals
Authors: Kaimann Daniel , Spiess Bru Clarissa Laura Maria , Frick Bernd
Published: August 2023

The impact of product ratings is significant in the experience goods market, whose intangible products are difficult to evaluate before consumption. Product ratings can reduce information asymmetries because they represent a credible signal of quality and thus positively affect product sales. In this study, we shed light on how professional critics behave by focusing on the influence of product characteristics and former reviews on rating behavior and market prices as additional quality signals in wine markets. Using 13,911 observations from professional wine tastings, we analyze 8,444 worldwide-produced wines and their ratings over 20 years. We find clear evidence to suggest that prices and product ratings are significantly related. Finally, the results suggest that review consistency evolves and determines current ratings.
Athanasius Pulled Apart: Heresiology and the (Dis)membered (Fe)male Body
Authors: Barry Jennifer
Published: August 2023

In this article, I engage Athanasius of Alexandria’s invocation of the infamous dismemberment of the unnamed woman found in Judg 19. By the fourth century, this story of gang rape—along with other preserved stories of sexual violence—found in Judges, were scattered throughout early Christian literature. Judges 19 holds a particularly troubling history in the late ancient context. The story of the rape and dismemberment of the unnamed woman in Judg 19 gave life to another story and typified a style of writing that I characterize in the article as a heresiology. The spectacle of Judges, along with other gruesome deaths of women, was one way in which heresiological discourse frames rhetorical arguments for writers like Athanasius of Alexandria. Here, I purposely draw our attention to how Athanasian orthodoxy became reliant on gender-based violence.
New records of the Endangered Helan Shan pika Ochotona argentata, with notes on its natural history and conservation
Authors: Lambert Joseph P. , Li Jingyao , Li Yibin , Hou Xuehan , Shi Kun
Published: August 2023

The Helan Shan pika Ochotona argentata is an Endangered pika endemic to Ningxia Helan Shan National Nature Reserve in China. Little is known about the species, including regarding its population status, distribution, habitat requirements and even basic natural history. We conducted camera trapping in the Reserve during 13 January 2020–25 January 2022 and obtained two new records for this species. These, combined with five other new records obtained during the monitoring programme in the Reserve, represent a significant increase in the known range of the species and more than double the species’ known extent of occurrence from 107 to 223 km2. These records also provide the first evidence that this species is active both nocturnally and diurnally. However, this range increase does not alter the Endangered status of the pika, and the pika was not observed within its previously known range; future research should involve intensive camera trapping in the Reserve to ascertain whether this is a result of local extirpation, habitat loss or fragmentation or under-sampling on our part. Studies should also incorporate techniques used for other alpine pika species to collect baseline data on habitat use, population size and behaviour to determine the potential response of the Helan Shan pika to present and future threats.
Translocation as a tool for the conservation of the jaguar Panthera onca: a case study in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest
Authors: Azevedo Fernando C.C. , Nobre Pedro H. , Ferreira Giovanne A. , Morato Ronaldo , de Paula Rogério C. , Amaral Paulo R. , Eizirik Eduardo , Sartor Caroline C. , Andriolo Artur
Published: August 2023

The success of translocation as a management tool is based on reversing the factors that led to a population becoming threatened or locally extinct. We assessed whether translocating a jaguar Panthera onca into the surroundings of a protected area in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest with a resident jaguar population was effective. We captured a male jaguar in an urban area where there were no substantiated previous records of jaguars. In the capture area only one predation event had been recorded, when the jaguar killed several chickens a few days before capture. After capture we translocated the jaguar to a forested area 240 km from the capture site, adjacent to the Rio Doce State Park. To investigate whether the potential geographical origin of the individual was any nearby fragment of the Atlantic Forest or nearby fragments of the Cerrado ecoregion, we genotyped it for 12 microsatellite loci and compared the results to a database developed previously. We fitted the jaguar with a GPS/VHF collar from which we recovered 2.5 months of data. Post-release monitoring with camera traps indicated the jaguar established residence within the region of the Park and we recorded no events of predation on livestock. The genetic analysis indicated that the jaguar resembled individuals from the Inner Atlantic Forest, Cerrado and Amazon. Translocation was an important tool for avoiding potentially negative interactions between the jaguar and local people, and may have benefitted the jaguar population at the release site.
Investigating risk of self-harm and suicide on anniversaries after bereavement by suicide and other causes: a Danish population-based self-controlled case series study
Authors: Pitman Alexandra , Logeswaran Yanakan , McDonald Keltie , Cerel Julie , Lewis Gemma , Erlangsen Annette
Published: August 2023

Aims

To investigate mechanisms of suicide risk in people bereaved by suicide, prompted by observations that bereaved people experience higher levels of distress around dates of emotional significance. We hypothesised that suicide-bereaved first-degree relatives and partners experience an increased risk of self-harm and suicide around dates of (i) anniversaries of the death and (ii) the deceased’s birthday, compared with intervening periods.

Methods

We conducted a self-controlled case series study using national register data on all individuals living in Denmark from 1 January 1980 to 31 December 2016 and who were bereaved by the suicide of a first-degree relative or partner (spouse or cohabitee) during that period, and who had the outcome (any episode of self-harm or suicide) within 5 years and 6 weeks of the bereavement. We compared relative incidence of suicidal behaviour in (i) the first 30 days after bereavement and (ii) in the aggregated exposed periods (6 weeks either side of death anniversaries; 6 weeks either side of the deceased’s birthdays) to the reference (aggregated unexposed intervening periods). As an indirect comparison, we repeated these models in people bereaved by other causes.

Results

We found no evidence of an elevated risk of suicidal behaviour during periods around anniversaries of a death or the deceased’s birthdays in people bereaved by suicide (adjusted incidence rate ratio [IRRadj] = 1.00; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.87–1.16) or other causes (IRRadj = 1.04; 95% CI = 1.00–1.08) compared with intervening periods. Rates were elevated in the 30 days immediately after bereavement by other causes (IRRadj: 1.95, 95% CI: 1.77–2.22).

Conclusions

Although people bereaved by suicide are at elevated risk of self-harm and suicide, our findings do not suggest that this risk is heightened around emotionally significant anniversaries. Bereavement care should be accessible at all points after a traumatic loss as needs will differ over the grief trajectory.
Planktic Foraminiferal Resilience to Environmental Change Associated With the PETM
Authors: Barrett Ruby , Adebowale Monsuru , Birch Heather , Wilson Jamie D. , Schmidt Daniela N.
Published: August 2023

Carbonate‐forming organisms play an integral role in the marine inorganic carbon cycle, yet the links between carbonate production and the environment are insufficiently understood. Carbonate production is driven by the abundance of calcifiers and the amount of calcite produced by each individual (their size and weight). Here we investigate how foraminiferal carbonate production changes in the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Ocean in response to a 4–5°C warming and a 0.3 surface ocean pH reduction during the Palaeocene‐Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM). To put these local data into a global context, we apply a trait‐based plankton model (ForamEcoGEnIE) to the geologic record for the first time. Our data illustrates negligible change in the assemblage test size and abundance of foraminifers. ForamEcoGEnIE resolves small reductions in size and biomass, but these are short‐lived. The response of foraminifers shows spatial variability linked to a warming‐induced poleward migration and suggested differences in nutrient availability between open‐ocean and shelf locations. Despite low calcite saturation at high latitudes, we reconstruct stable foraminiferal size‐normalized weight. Based on these findings, we postulate that sea surface warming had a greater impact on foraminiferal carbonate production during the PETM than ocean acidification. Changes in the composition of bulk carbonate suggest a higher sensitivity of coccolithophores to environmental change during the PETM than foraminifers.
The Role of Wildfires in the Interplay of Forest Carbon Stocks and Wood Harvest in the Contiguous United States During the 20th Century
Authors: Magerl Andreas , Gingrich Simone , Matej Sarah , Cunfer Geoff , Forrest Matthew , Lauk Christian , Schlaffer Stefan , Weidinger Florian , Yuskiw Cody , Erb Karl‐Heinz
Published: August 2023

Wildfires and land use play a central role in the long‐term carbon (C) dynamics of forested ecosystems of the United States. Understanding their linkages with changes in biomass, resource use, and consumption in the context of climate change mitigation is crucial. We reconstruct a long‐term C balance of forests in the contiguous U.S. using historical reports, satellite data, and other sources at multiple scales (national scale 1926–2017, regional level 1941–2017) to disentangle the drivers of biomass C stock change. The balance includes removals of forest biomass by fire, by extraction of woody biomass, by forest grazing, and by biomass stock change, their sum representing the net ecosystem productivity (NEP). Nationally, the total forest NEP increased for most of the 20th century, while fire, harvest and grazing reduced total forest stocks on average by 14%, 51%, and 6%, respectively, resulting in a net increase in C stock density of nearly 40%. Recovery from past land‐use, plus reductions in wildfires and forest grazing coincide with consistent forest regrowth in the eastern U.S. but associated C stock increases were offset by increased wood harvest. C stock changes across the western U.S. fluctuated, with fire, harvest, and other disturbances (e.g., insects, droughts) reducing stocks on average by 14%, 81%, and 7%, respectively, resulting in a net growth in C stock density of 14%. Although wildfire activities increased in recent decades, harvest was the key driver in the forest C balance in all regions for most of the observed timeframe.
A Shift From Temperature to Water as the Primary Driver for Interannual Variability of the Tropical Carbon Cycle
Authors: He Bin , Xie Xiaoming , Guo Lanlan
Published: August 2023

The relative importance of temperature and water constraints on the tropical carbon cycle is an ongoing debate. Here we combine multiple independent tropical ecosystem carbon exchange simulations with satellite observations and show that the primary control for the tropical carbon cycle has shifted recently from temperature to water. We examined the response of tropical ecosystem processes to climate change and suggest that the emerging role of water as the dominant driver for the tropical carbon cycle is attributable to increased precipitation variability, which is associated with intensified extreme drought and wet conditions. Extreme conditions strengthen water's regulation of ecosystem carbon exchange. The weakening influence of temperature is explained by the previously additive effects of temperature on ecosystem productivity and respiration now becoming opposing effects owing to amplified drought conditions, resulting in a reduction to the net effect of temperature on ecosystem carbon exchange.
TAFFNet: Time‐Aware Adaptive Feature Fusion Network for Very Short‐Term Precipitation Forecasts
Authors: Wang Jingnan , Wang Xiaodong , Guan Jiping , Zhang Lifeng , Zhou Jie
Published: August 2023

Deep learning models based on radar echo extrapolation have been widely used in precipitation nowcasting. However, they face the challenge of insufficient input information when extending the forecast lead time, requiring the incorporation of physics‐based numerical weather prediction (NWP). Given that the strengths of radar and NWP data vary depending on the forecast time, effectively fusing these two data sources in a unified deep learning model remains an open research problem. In this study, we propose a Time‐aware Adaptive Feature Fusion Network (TAFFNet) for very short‐term precipitation forecasts up to 12 hr. TAFFNet fuses features adaptively according to their relative contributions to forecast skill at different times. Experimental results demonstrate that TAFFNet performs the best for very short‐term precipitation forecasts. The case studies show that adaptively fusing NWP with radar can improve the accuracy of precipitation forecasts, especially for predicting the initiation and dissipation of storms at longer lead times.
Transgene-free direct conversion of murine fibroblasts into functional muscle stem cells
Authors: Qabrati Xhem , Kim Inseon , Ghosh Adhideb , Bundschuh Nicola , Noé Falko , Palmer Andrew S. , Bar-Nur Ori
Published: August 2023

Transcription factor-based cellular reprogramming provides an attractive approach to produce desired cell types for regenerative medicine purposes. Such cellular conversions are widely dependent on viral vectors to efficiently deliver and express defined factors in target cells. However, use of viral vectors is associated with unfavorable genomic integrations that can trigger deleterious molecular consequences, rendering this method a potential impediment to clinical applications. Here, we report on a highly efficient transgene-free approach to directly convert mouse fibroblasts into induced myogenic progenitor cells (iMPCs) by overexpression of synthetic MyoD-mRNA in concert with an enhanced small molecule cocktail. First, we performed a candidate compound screen and identified two molecules that enhance fibroblast reprogramming into iMPCs by suppression of the JNK and JAK/STAT pathways. Simultaneously, we developed an optimal transfection protocol to transiently overexpress synthetic MyoD-mRNA in fibroblasts. Combining these two techniques enabled robust and rapid reprogramming of fibroblasts into Pax7 positive iMPCs in as little as 10 days. Nascent transgene-free iMPCs proliferated extensively in vitro, expressed a suite of myogenic stem cell markers, and could differentiate into highly multinucleated and contractile myotubes. Furthermore, using global and single-cell transcriptome assays, we delineated gene expression changes associated with JNK and JAK/STAT pathway inhibition during reprogramming, and identified in iMPCs a Pax7+ stem cell subpopulation resembling satellite cells. Last, transgene-free iMPCs robustly engrafted skeletal muscles of a Duchenne muscular dystrophy mouse model, restoring dystrophin expression in hundreds of myofibers. In summary, this study reports on an improved and clinically safer approach to convert fibroblasts into myogenic stem cells that can efficiently contribute to muscle regeneration in vivo.
Clinical trial data sharing: a cross-sectional study of outcomes associated with two U.S. National Institutes of Health models
Authors: Rowhani-Farid Anisa , Grewal Mikas , Solar Steven , Eghrari Allen O. , Zhang Audrey D. , Gross Cary P. , Krumholz Harlan M. , Ross Joseph S.
Published: August 2023

The impact and effectiveness of clinical trial data sharing initiatives may differ depending on the data sharing model used. We characterized outcomes associated with models previously used by the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH): National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s (NHLBI) centralized model and National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) decentralized model. We identified trials completed in 2010–2013 that met NIH data sharing criteria and matched studies based on cost and/or size, determining whether trial data were shared, and for those that were, the frequency of secondary internal publications (authored by at least one author from the original research team) and shared data publications (authored by a team external to the original research team). We matched 77 NHLBI-funded trials to 77 NCI-funded trials; among these, 20 NHLBI-sponsored trials (26%) and 4 NCI-sponsored trials (5%) shared data (OR 6.4, 95% CI: 2.1, 19.8). From the 4 NCI-sponsored trials sharing data, we identified 65 secondary internal and 2 shared data publications. From the 20 NHLBI-sponsored trials sharing data, we identified 188 secondary internal and 53 shared data publications. The NHLBI’s centralized data sharing model was associated with more trials sharing data and more shared data publications when compared with the NCI’s decentralized model.
A novel quantitative targeted analysis of X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) using nanopore sequencing
Authors: Johansson Josefin , Lidéus Sarah , Höijer Ida , Ameur Adam , Gudmundsson Sanna , Annerén Göran , Bondeson Marie-Louise , Wilbe Maria
Published: August 2023

X-chromosome inactivation (XCI) analyses often assist in diagnostics of X-linked traits, however accurate assessment remains challenging with current methods. We developed a novel strategy using amplification-free Cas9 enrichment and Oxford nanopore technologies sequencing called XCI-ONT, to investigate and rigorously quantify XCI in human androgen receptor gene (AR) and human X-linked retinitis pigmentosa 2 gene (RP2). XCI-ONT measures methylation over 116 CpGs in AR and 58 CpGs in RP2, and separate parental X-chromosomes without PCR bias. We show the usefulness of the XCI-ONT strategy over the PCR-based golden standard XCI technique that only investigates one or two CpGs per gene. The results highlight the limitations of using the golden standard technique when the XCI pattern is partially skewed and the advantages of XCI-ONT to rigorously quantify XCI. This study provides a universal XCI-method on DNA, which is highly valuable in clinical and research framework of X-linked traits.
Characterizing the effects of structural fires on fine particulate matter with a dense sensing network
Authors: Anyachebelu Ayina , Cabral Alex , Abdin Marah I. , Choudhury Pallavi , Daepp Madeleine I. G.
Published: August 2023

Short-term increases in air pollution levels are linked to large adverse effects on health and productivity. However, existing regulatory monitoring systems lack the spatial or temporal resolution needed to capture localized events. This study uses a dense network of over 100 sensors, deployed across the city of Chicago, Illinois, to capture the spread of smoke from short-term structural fire events. Examining all large structural fires that occurred in the city over a year (N = 21), we characterize differences in PM$$_{2.5}$$

2.5

concentrations downwind versus upwind of the fires. On average, we observed increases of up to 10.7 $$\upmu$$
μ
g/m$$^{3}$$

3

(95% CI 5.7–15.7) for sensors within 2 km and up to 7.7 $$\upmu$$
μ
g/m$$^{3}$$

3

(95% CI 3.4–12.0) for sensors 2–5 km downwind of fires. Statistically significant elevated concentrations were evident as far as 5 km downwind of the location of the fire and persisted over approximately 2 h on average. This work shows how low-cost sensors can provide insight on local and short-term pollution events, enabling regulators to provide timely warnings to vulnerable populations.
Transitions of dialysis status and outcomes after the unplanned first dialysis: a nationwide population-based cohort study
Authors: Liao Chia-Te , Lai Jia-Hong , Chen Yu-Wei , Hsu Yung-Ho , Wu Mei-Yi , Zheng Cai-Mei , Hsu Chih-Cheng , Wu Mai-Szu , Chuang Shao-Yuan
Published: August 2023

In Taiwan, most first-time dialysis was started without the creation of an arteriovenous shunt. Here, we aimed to elucidate the transitions of dialysis status in the unplanned first dialysis patients and determine factors associated with their outcomes. A total of 50,315 unplanned first dialysis patients aged more than 18 years were identified from the National Health Insurance Dataset in Taiwan between 2001 and 2012. All patients were followed for 5 years for the transitions in dialysis status, including robust (dialysis-free), sporadic dialysis, continued dialysis, and death. Furthermore, factors associated with the development of continued dialysis and death were examined by the Cox proportional hazard models. After 5 years after the first dialysis occurrence, there were 5.39% with robust status, 1.67% with sporadic dialysis, 8.45% with continued dialysis, and 84.48% with death. Notably, we have identified common risk factors for developing maintenance dialysis and deaths, including male gender, older age, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, heart failure, sepsis, and surgery. There was an extremely high mortality rate among the first unplanned dialysis patients in Taiwan. Less than 10% of these patients underwent continued dialysis during the 5-year follow-up period. This study highlighted the urgent need for interventions to improve patient outcomes.
A two-step deep learning method for 3DCT-2DUS kidney registration during breathing
Authors: Chi Yanling , Xu Yuyu , Liu Huiying , Wu Xiaoxiang , Liu Zhiqiang , Mao Jiawei , Xu Guibin , Huang Weimin
Published: August 2023

This work proposed KidneyRegNet, a novel deep registration pipeline for 3D CT and 2D U/S kidney scans of free breathing, which comprises a feature network, and a 3D–2D CNN-based registration network. The feature network has handcrafted texture feature layers to reduce the semantic gap. The registration network is an encoder-decoder structure with loss of feature-image-motion (FIM), which enables hierarchical regression at decoder layers and avoids multiple network concatenation. It was first pretrained with a retrospective dataset cum training data generation strategy and then adapted to specific patient data under unsupervised one-cycle transfer learning in onsite applications. The experiment was performed on 132 U/S sequences, 39 multiple-phase CT and 210 public single-phase CT images, and 25 pairs of CT and U/S sequences. This resulted in a mean contour distance (MCD) of 0.94 mm between kidneys on CT and U/S images and MCD of 1.15 mm on CT and reference CT images. Datasets with small transformations resulted in MCDs of 0.82 and 1.02 mm, respectively. Large transformations resulted in MCDs of 1.10 and 1.28 mm, respectively. This work addressed difficulties in 3DCT-2DUS kidney registration during free breathing via novel network structures and training strategies.
ABC transporters are billion-year-old Maxwell Demons
Authors: Flatt Solange , Busiello Daniel Maria , Zamuner Stefano , De Los Rios Paolo
Published: August 2023

ATP-Binding Cassette (ABC) transporters are a broad family of biological machines, found in most prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, performing the crucial import or export of substrates through both plasma and organellar membranes, and maintaining a steady concentration gradient driven by ATP hydrolysis. Building upon the present biophysical and biochemical characterization of ABC transporters, we propose here a model whose solution reveals that these machines are an exact molecular realization of the autonomous Maxwell Demon, a century-old abstract device that uses an energy source to drive systems away from thermodynamic equilibrium. In particular, the Maxwell Demon does not perform any direct mechanical work on the system, but simply selects which spontaneous processes to allow and which ones to forbid based on information that it collects and processes. In its autonomous version, the measurement device is embedded in the system itself. In the molecular model introduced here, the different operations that characterize Maxwell Demons (measurement, feedback, resetting) are features that emerge from the biochemical and structural properties of ABC transporters, revealing the crucial role of allostery to process information. Our framework allows us to develop an explicit bridge between the molecular-level description and the higher-level language of information theory for ABC transporters.
Nitroaromatic explosives’ detection and quantification using an attention-based transformer on surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy maps
Authors: Li Bo , Zappalá Giulia , Dumont Elodie , Boisen Anja , Rindzevicius Tomas , Schmidt Mikkel N. , Alstrøm Tommy S.
Published: August 2023

Rapidly and accurately detecting and quantifying the concentrations of nitroaromatic explosives is critical for public health and security.