bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
COVID‐19 in organ donors: An organ procurement organization perspective
Authors: Mezochow Alyssa K. , Anesi Judith , West Sharon , Hasz Richard , Edwards John , Blumberg Emily A.
Published: January 2024

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic presented a significant challenge for Organ Procurement Organizations (OPOs) with the use of SARS‐CoV‐2 positive donors varying widely. This study used detailed single OPO data to determine the success of using SARS‐CoV‐2 positive donors.

Methods

We performed a retrospective cohort study including all SARS‐CoV‐2 positive donors referred to the Gift of Life OPO from January 1, 2021, to June 30, 2023. Descriptive analyses were performed to characterize referral and organ utilization.

Results

There were 861 organ referrals with 1 positive SARS‐Cov‐2 test: 282 were ruled out with telephone evaluation, 431 referrals were ruled out with onsite evaluation (“evaluated nondonors”) and 148 became donors. For donors who had both nasopharyngeal and lower respiratory testing completed, there was notable result discordance observed. Median cycle threshold (Ct) values were similar between donors and evaluated nondonors with no change in median donor Ct values over the study period. Transplanted organs from COVID‐positive donors included 27 hearts, 88 livers, 5 pancreata, and 107 kidneys; no lung donation occurred. The proportion of COVID‐positive donors significantly increased over the study period.

Conclusion

This large volume donor referral study demonstrates increasing COVID‐19 referrals progressing to donation over time, supporting the increased use of these donors for nonlung transplantation.

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La Monarquía Indiana de Carlos II en la encrujiada
Authors: Jiménez Castillo Juan Jiménez Castillo
Published: January 2024

A finales del siglo XVII, la América española no sufrió ninguna crisis destinada a la decadencia de su Imperio. El presente libro desentraña las causas y consecuencias de los cambios políticos que llevó a cabo Carlos II en uno de los reinos más poderosos de su patrimonio: el Perú. Este libro presenta, desde una perspectiva inédita, cómo la América hispánica fue precursora en las reformas sobre las cortes virreinales, las cuales fueron el prolegómeno de un punto de inflexión en el paradigma de gobierno y articulación de los reinos en la distancia. Desde entonces, la Monarquía hispánica basculó sus intereses hacia América bajo una rearticulación de sus territorios, lo que no solo le llevó a luchar por su resiliencia, sino a afianzar su protagonismo en la política internacional que heredó la dinastía borbónica.
Characterization of Flex-Fuel Prechamber Enabled Mixing-Controlled Combustion With Gasoline/Ethanol Blends at High Load
Authors: Zeman Jared , Dempsey Adam
Published: January 2024

This numerical study focuses on the characterization of prechamber-enabled mixing-controlled combustion (PC-MCC) at ∼18 bar brake mean effective pressure (BMEP) and 2200 rpm with 10% by volume ethanol-gasoline blend (E10) and pure ethanol (E100). Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations of a stock and prechamber retrofitted single-cylinder Caterpillar C9.3B are carried out using CONVERGE. Prechamber equivalence ratio at spark timing, prechamber spark timing advance, and main chamber injection strategy are assessed with respect to their impact on ignition assistance performance and emissions characteristics relative to a diesel baseline at the same boundary conditions. Simulation results indicate that PC-MCC is flex-fuel capable and operates well for both E10 and E100 at the operating conditions considered. The results demonstrate that the use of a pilot-main injection strategy enables spark timing in the prechamber to be advanced and thus reduces spark plug firing pressure while maintaining robust ignition assistance. Results also indicate that the rich prechamber operation is favored for improved ignition assistance capabilities. The findings of this work suggest that a heavy-duty vehicle using a PC-MCC engine can utilize any blend of gasoline and ethanol, up to including pure ethanol, with no major sacrifices in performance relative to the diesel engine.
Complete Kinematics/Dynamics Modeling and Performance Analysis of a Novel SCARA Parallel Manipulator Based on Screw Theory
Authors: Liang Dong , Mao Yi , Song Yimin , Chang Boyan , Sun Tao
Published: January 2024

In this paper, a novel Selective Compliance Assembly Robot Arm (SCARA) high-speed parallel manipulator that can realize three-translation and one-rotation motion is proposed, and an accurate dynamic modeling methodology is investigated. The mechanism is composed of four limbs with a double parallelogram structure and a single moving platform. The high bearing capacity and high dynamic response of the novel mechanism make it a viable alternative choice for this kind of automation equipment. The degree-of-freedom (DOF) of the mechanism is analyzed by the screw theory. At the same time, the velocity mapping model of the mechanism is established by the twist screw and the actuated Jacobian matrix. Then, the acceleration mapping model of the mechanism, including the generalized kinematic pairs, is established by reduced acceleration state, the modified Lie screw, and the acceleration Hessian matrix. On this basis, the complete dynamic model with a compact form of the mechanism is deduced by the combination of screw theory and virtual work principle, and the correctness of the developed model is verified by multibody simulation software. Finally, considering the inertial characteristics of the mechanism, the dynamic performance distribution in the reachable workspace of the mechanism is analyzed by the Joint-Reflected Inertia (JRI) index and Coefficient of Variation of joint-space Inertia (CVI) index, and some areas are selected as the task workspace using the above index to guarantee good dynamic performance.
Design, Modeling, and Control of a Compact and Reconfigurable Variable Stiffness Actuator Using Disc Spring
Authors: Ji Chen , Zhang Zhongqiang , Cheng Guanggui , Kong Minxiu , Li Ruifeng
Published: January 2024

This paper proposes a compact and reconfigurable variable stiffness actuator (VSA) using disc spring which is named as SDS-VSA (symmetrical disc spring variable stiffness actuator). To enhance the actuator’s torque density, symmetric compression springs are integrated into the cam-roller-spring mechanism, and a disc spring combination design is employed instead of conventional springs. The disc spring configuration is tailored to achieve a broader stiffness range within a limited size, aligned with stiffness and dimensional requirements. Subsequently, the dynamics of the cam-roller-spring mechanism are derived. To tackle the challenge of strong coupling dynamics, a decoupled modeling method by introducing mismatched and matched disturbances is proposed. A back-stepping tracking controller and proportional-derivative (PD) controller with feedforward are proposed to track the link-side and stiffness motor-side trajectories, respectively. Tracking experiments under significant stiffness alteration are conduced to verify the performance of the prototype SDS-VSA.
Guided-wave Sagnac atom interferometer with large area and multiple orbits
Authors: Beydler M. M. , Moan E. R. , Luo Z. , Chu Z. , Sackett C. A.
Published: January 2024

We describe a matter-wave Sagnac interferometer using Bose condensed atoms confined in a time-orbiting potential trap. Compared to our previous implementation [Moan et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 124, 120403 (2020)], our new apparatus provides better thermal stability, improved optical access, and reduced trap anharmonicity. The trapping field can be adjusted to compensate for small tilts of the apparatus in gravity. These features enable operation with an effective Sagnac area of 4 mm2 per orbit, and we observe interference with 25% visibility after two orbits at a total interrogation time of 0.6 s. Long-term measurements indicate a phase stability of 0.2 rad or better.
Mind over asthma
Authors: Wong Wei
Published: January 2024

JAK1 in the vagal sensory nerves that innervate lungs suppresses allergic inflammation and asthma.
Identification of a novel growth-associated promoter for biphasic expression of heterogenous proteins in
Pichia pastoris
Authors: Shen Qi , Cui Jie , Wang Yang , Hu Zhong-Ce , Xue Ya-Ping , Zheng Yu-Guo
Published: January 2024

Pichia pastoris
(
P. pastoris
) is one of the most popular cell factories for expressing exogenous proteins and producing useful chemicals. The alcohol oxidase 1 promoter (P
AOX1
) is the most commonly used strong promoter in
P. pastoris
and has the characteristic of biphasic expression. However, the inducer for P
AOX1
, methanol, has toxicity and poses risks in industrial settings. In the present study, analyzing transcriptomic data of cells collected at different stages of growth found that the formate dehydrogenase (FDH) gene ranked 4960th in relative expression among 5032 genes during the early logarithmic growth phase but rose to the 10th and 1st during the middle and late logarithmic growth phases, respectively, displaying a strict biphasic expression characteristic. The unique transcriptional regulatory profile of the FDH gene prompted us to investigate the properties of its promoter (P
FDH800
). Under single-copy conditions, when a green fluorescent protein variant was used as the expression target, the P
FDH800
achieved 119% and 69% of the activity of the glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase promoter and P
AOX1
, respectively. After increasing the copy number of the expression cassette in the strain to approximately four copies, the expression level of GFPuv driven by P
FDH800
increased to approximately 2.5 times that of the strain containing GFPuv driven by a single copy of P
AOX1
. Our P
FDH800
-based expression system exhibited precise biphasic expression, ease of construction, minimal impact on normal cellular metabolism, and high strength. Therefore, it has the potential to serve as a new expression system to replace the P
AOX1
promoter.

IMPORTANCE

The alcohol oxidase 1 promoter (PAOX1) expression system has the characteristics of biphasic expression and high expression levels, making it the most widely used promoter in the yeast
Pichia pastoris
. However, PAOX1 requires methanol induction, which can be toxic and poses a fire hazard in large quantities. Our research has found that the activity of PFDH800 is closely related to the growth state of cells and can achieve biphasic expression without the need for an inducer. Compared to other reported non-methanol-induced biphasic expression systems, the system based on the PFDH800 offers several advantages, including high expression levels, simple construction, minimal impact on cellular metabolism, no need for an inducer, and the ability to fine-tune expression.
Individual herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) particles exit by exocytosis and accumulate at preferential egress sites
Authors: Bergeman Melissa H. , Hernandez Michaella Q. , Diefenderfer Jenna , Drewes Jake A. , Velarde Kimberly , Tierney Wesley M. , Enow Junior A. , Glenn Honor L. , Rahman Masmudur M. , Hogue Ian B.
Published: January 2024

Alpha herpesviruses produce lifelong infections in their human and animal hosts. The majority of people in the world are infected with herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1), which typically causes recurrent oral or genital lesions. However, HSV-1 can also spread to the central nervous system, causing severe encephalitis, and might also contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Many of the steps of how these viruses infect and replicate inside host cells are known in depth, but the final step, exiting from the infected cell, is not fully understood. In this study, we engineered a novel variant of HSV-1 that allows us to visualize how individual virus particles exit from infected cells. With this imaging assay, we investigated preferential egress site formation in certain cell types and their contribution to the cell-cell spread of HSV-1.
Microsporidia dressing up: the spore polaroplast transport through the polar tube and transformation into the sporoplasm membrane
Authors: Lv Qing , Hong Liuyi , Qi Lei , Chen Yuqing , Xie Zhengkai , Liao Hongjie , Li Chunfeng , Li Tian , Meng Xianzhi , Chen Jie , Bao Jialing , Wei Junhong , Han Bing , Shen Qingtao , Weiss Louis M. , Zhou Zeyang , Long Mengxian , Pan Guoqing
Published: January 2024

Microsporidia, which are obligate intracellular pathogenic organisms, cause huge economic losses in agriculture and even threaten human health. The key to successful infection by the microsporidia is their unique invasion apparatus which includes the polar filament, polaroplast, and posterior vacuole. When the mature spore is activated to geminate, the polar filament uncoils and undergoes a rapid transition into the hollow polar tube that transports the sporoplasm components including the microsporidian nucleus into host cells. Details of the structural difference between the polar filament and polar tube, the process of cargo transport in extruded polar tube, and the formation of the sporoplasm membrane are still poorly understood. Herein, we verify that the polar filament evaginates to form the polar tube, which serves as a conduit for transporting the nucleus and other sporoplasm components. Furthermore, our results indicate that the transported polaroplast transforms into the sporoplasm membrane during spore germination. Our study provides new insights into the cargo transportation process of the polar tube and origin of the sporoplasm membrane, which provide important clarification of the microsporidian infection mechanism.
Interaction with a phage gene underlie costs of a β-lactamase
Authors: Lai Huei-Yi , Cooper Tim F.
Published: January 2024

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) play a major role in the increasing problem of antibiotic resistance in clinically relevant bacteria. Selection of these genes occurs in the presence of antibiotics, but their eventual success also depends on the sometimes substantial costs they impose on host bacteria in antibiotic-free environments. We evolved an ARG that confers resistance to penicillin-type antibiotics in one host in which it did confer a cost and in one host in which it did not. We found that costs were rapidly and consistently reduced through parallel genetic changes in a gene encoded by a phage that was infecting the costly host. The unmutated version of this gene was sufficient to cause the ARG to confer a cost in a host in which it was originally neutral, demonstrating an antagonism between the two genetic elements and underlining the range and complexity of pressures determining ARG dynamics in natural populations.
Streptococcus pneumoniae
favors tolerance via metabolic adaptation over resistance to circumvent fluoroquinolones
Authors: Dao Tina H. , Echlin Haley , McKnight Abigail , Marr Enolia S. , Junker Julia , Jia Qidong , Hayden Randall , van Opijnen Tim , Isberg Ralph R. , Cooper Vaughn S. , Rosch Jason W.
Published: January 2024

The increasing prevalence of antibiotic resistant bacteria is a major global health concern. While many species have the potential to develop antibiotic resistance, understanding the barriers to resistance emergence in the clinic remains poorly understood. A prime example of this is fluroquinolone resistance in
Streptococcus pneumoniae
, whereby, despite continued utilization, resistance to this class of antibiotic remains rare. In this study, we found that the predominant pathways for developing resistance to this antibiotic class severely compromised the infectious capacity of the pneumococcus, providing a key impediment for the emergence of resistance. Using
in vivo
models of experimental evolution, we found that
S. pneumoniae
responds to repeated fluoroquinolone exposure by modulating key metabolic pathways involved in the generation of redox molecules, which leads to antibiotic treatment failure in the absence of appreciable shifts in resistance levels. These data underscore the complex pathways available to pathogens to evade antibiotic mediating killing via antibiotic tolerance.
Virus–prokaryote infection pairs associated with prokaryotic production in a freshwater lake
Authors: Shen Shang , Tominaga Kento , Tsuchiya Kenji , Matsuda Tomonari , Yoshida Takashi , Shimizu Yoshihisa
Published: January 2024

Viral infection associated with prokaryotic production occurs in a density- or frequency-dependent manner and regulates the prokaryotic community. Stratification transition and annual vertical mixing in freshwater lakes are known to affect the prokaryotic community and the interaction between prokaryotes and viruses. By pairing measurements of virome analysis and prokaryotic production of a 1-year survey of the depths of surface and deep layers, we revealed (i) the prokaryotic infection pairs associated with prokaryotic production and (ii) the reset in prokaryotic and viral communities through annual vertical mixing in a freshwater lake. Our results provide a basis for future work into changes in stratification that may impact the biogeochemical cycling in freshwater lakes.
Two sirtuin proteins, Hst3 and Hst4, modulate asexual development, stress tolerance, and virulence by affecting global gene expression in
Beauveria bassiana
Authors: Cai Qing , Tian Li , Xie Jia-Tao , Jiang Dao-Hong
Published: January 2024

Beauveria bassiana
is a widely used entomopathogenic fungus in insect biological control applications. In this study, we investigated the role of two sirtuin homologs, BbHst3 and BbHst4, in the biological activities and pathogenicity of
B. bassiana
. Our results showed that deletion of
BbHst3
and/or
BbHst4
led to impaired sporulation, reduced (~50%) conidial production, and decreased tolerance to various stresses, including osmotic, oxidative, and cell wall-disturbing agents. Moreover, BbHst4 plays dominant roles in histone H3-K56 acetylation and DNA damage response, while BbHst3 is more responsible for maintaining cell wall integrity. Transcriptomic analyses revealed significant changes (>1,500 differentially expressed genes) in gene expression patterns in the mutant strains, particularly in genes related to secondary metabolism, detoxification, and transporters. Furthermore, the Δ
BbHst3
, Δ
BbHst4
, and Δ
BbHst3
Δ
BbHst4
strains exhibited reduced virulence in insect bioassays, with decreased (~20%) abilities to kill insect hosts through topical application and intra-hemocoel injection. These findings highlight the crucial role of BbHst3 and BbHst4 in sporulation, DNA damage repair, cell wall integrity, and fungal infection in
B. bassiana
. Our study provides new insights into the regulatory mechanisms underlying the biological activities and pathogenicity of
B. bassiana
and emphasizes the potential of targeting sirtuins for improving the efficacy of fungal biocontrol agents.

IMPORTANCE

Sirtuins, as a class of histone deacetylases, have been shown to play important roles in various cellular processes in fungi, including asexual development, stress response, and pathogenicity. By investigating the functions of BbHst3 and BbHst4, we have uncovered their critical contributions to important phenotypes in
Beauveria bassiana
. Deletion of these sirtuin homologs led to reduced conidial yield, increased sensitivity to osmotic and oxidative stresses, impaired DNA damage repair processes, and decreased fungal virulence. Transcriptomic analyses showed differential expression of numerous genes involved in secondary metabolism, detoxification, transporters, and virulence-related factors, potentially uncovering new targets for manipulation and optimization of fungal biocontrol agents. Our study also emphasizes the significance of sirtuins as key regulators in fungal biology and highlights their potential as promising targets for the development of novel antifungal strategies.
Optimization of the STARlet workflow for semi-automatic SARS-CoV-2 screening of swabs and deep respiratory materials using the RealAccurate Quadruplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR kit and Allplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR kit
Authors: Flipse Jacky , Tromp Angelino T. , Thijssen Danique , van Xanten-Jans-Beken Nicole , Pauwelsen Roy , van der Veer Harmen J. , Schlaghecke Juliëtte M. , Swanink Caroline M. A.
Published: January 2024

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic triggered the implementation of large-scale screenings in the health care and in the general population. Consequently, medical laboratories have to apply lean laboratory management to design workflows that are able to process large batches within short turnaround times while maintaining flexibility to use different SARS-CoV-2 reverse transcription polymerase chain reactions (RT-PCRs) and to be able to process a variety of clinical samples. We validated two SARS-CoV-2 PCR assays on the STARlet workflow: Allplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR kit and RealAccurate Quadruplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR kit. Furthermore, we optimized and validated the STARlet workflow for semi-automatic screening for SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory swabs and deep respiratory materials (sputa, bronchoalveolar lavage, and aspirate). Strikingly, guanidine-containing lysis buffers allow for easy processing and can enhance sensitivity of SARS-COV-2 screening since sampling in these buffers may preserve viral transcripts as evident by the higher copy numbers of the SARS-CoV-2 N gene. Moreover, using the principles of lean laboratory management, several bottlenecks that are typical for medical laboratories were addressed. We show that lean laboratory management resulted in significant reduction of the turnaround times of the SARS-CoV-2 PCR in our laboratory. This report thus describes a useful framework for laboratories to implement similar semi-automated workflows.

IMPORTANCE

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic triggered the implementation of large-scale screenings in the health care and in the general population. Consequently, medical laboratories had to adapt and evolve workflows that are able to process large batches within short turnaround times while maintaining flexibility to use different assays and to be able to process a variety of clinical samples. We describe how the need for increased outputs and greater flexibility was addressed with respect to clinical samples and assays (Allplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR and RealAccurate Quadruplex SARS-CoV-2 PCR). Strikingly, we found that upper respiratory swabs collected in guanidine-containing lysis buffers both improved the ease of processing as well as enhanced the sensitivity of the SARS-CoV-2 screening. This report thus describes a useful framework for laboratories to implement and optimize similar semi-automated workflows.
Interaction of the Exoplanet Hat–P–11b with Stellar Wind
Authors: Belenkaya E. S.
Published: January 2024

We discuss possible existence of a magnetodisk around the exoplanet HAT–P–11b. We used available observations to determine properties of the exoplanet and the stellar wind passing by it and obtained a rough estimate of the size of the planet’s magnetosphere. Comparing our estimate to published results of computations in a 3D electromagnetic relativistic and collisionless particle-in-cell model of the magnetosphere, we found a discrepancy in the magnetosphere size estimated using these two techniques. A possible interpretation of the discrepancy is suggested.
Scale-Invariant Mode in Collisionless Spherical Stellar Systems
Authors: Polyachenko E. V. , Shukhman I. G.
Published: January 2024

An analytical solution for the perturbed equations, applicable to all ergodic models of collisionless spherical stellar systems with a single length parameter, has been derived. This solution corresponds to variations in this parameter, i.e., the expansion or contraction of the sphere while conserving total mass. During this process, the system maintains an equilibrium state. The simplicity of the solution allows for the explicit expression of the distribution function, potential, and density across all orders of perturbation theory. This, in turn, aids in clarifying the concept of perturbation energy, which, being of second order in amplitude, cannot be calculated using linear theory. It is demonstrated that the correct expression for perturbation energy, accounting for second-order perturbations, does not align with the well-known expression for perturbation energy via a quadratic form, derived from first-order perturbations within linear theory. However, both these energies are integrals of motion and differ only by a constant. The derived solution can be utilized to verify the correctness of codes and the precision of calculations in the numerical study of collisionless stellar models.
Are menstrual disturbances associated with an energy availability threshold? A critical review of the evidence
Authors: Salamunes Ana Carla C. , Williams Nancy I. , De Souza Mary Jane
Published: January 2024

Exercising women have a high prevalence of menstrual disturbances. In 2003, it was suggested that disruption in luteinizing hormone (LH) pulsatility occurs below a threshold of energy availability (EA) of 30 kcal/kg lean body mass (LBM)/day. This paper is a critical review of the evidence regarding the theory that disruptions to the reproductive axis and menstrual disturbances occur below the proposed threshold. Short-term laboratory studies demonstrated that 4–5 days of an EA below 30 kcal/kg LBM/day, induced with or without exercise, decreased serum triiodothyronine and LH pulse frequency, and increased LH pulse amplitude in sedentary, regularly menstruating women. Fewer studies have investigated downstream ovarian effects after long-term exposure to low EA. The Sargent Camp Study was the first randomized trial that induced luteal phase defects, delayed menses, and anovulation by causing weight loss (−4 ± 0.3 kg) with an abrupt increase in exercise volume for two menstrual cycles. The BioEnergetics Study was a randomized controlled trial that induced varying levels of energy deficits by manipulating energy intake and expenditure for three menstrual cycles. LH pulse frequency and triiodothyronine decreased, and 57% of women developed luteal phase defects, anovulation, and/or oligomenorrhea. An EA below 30 kcal/kg fat free mass/day increased the chance of experiencing a menstrual disturbance by 50%. However, menstrual disturbances were observed above and below that EA threshold, and changes in LH pulse frequency predicted only luteal phase defects, not oligomenorrhea or anovulation. The proposed EA threshold is not a cut-off below which menstrual disturbances occur, but represents an increased risk of experiencing menstrual disturbances.
The influence of viscous behavior and static shear stress on the cyclic strengths of plastic soil: a numerical study
Authors: Oathes Tyler J. , Carey Trevor J.
Published: January 2024

An accurate understanding of the cyclic behavior of clays and plastic silts is important for system performance predictions during earthquake loading. This paper presents the results of a numerical investigation into the individual and combined influences of static shear stress and viscous strength gain on the cyclic resistance of clays and plastic silts. Using the viscoplastic constitutive model PM4SiltR implemented in the finite difference program FLAC 8.1, the cyclic behaviors of the plastic soils were simulated using single-element cyclic direct simple shear simulations. A parametric analysis was performed with different combinations of viscous strength gains and static shear stresses. The effects of static shear stress and viscous strength gain varied under monotonic and cyclic loading conditions. Numerical findings suggest empirical correlations developed using scant laboratory data may not accurately predict the reduction of cyclic strengths with increasing static shear stress. Furthermore, sizable magnitudes of monotonic viscous strength gains only produced a marginal increase in cyclic strengths. The findings from this study highlight the need for future experimental laboratory testing to validate the numerical findings, to improve the accuracy of performance predictions of geosystems constructed with clays and plastic silts during and following earthquake loading.
Averaging generalized scalar field cosmologies IV: locally rotationally symmetric Bianchi V model
Authors: Millano Alfredo D. , Leon Genly
Published: January 2024

This research focuses on scalar field cosmologies with a generalized harmonic potential. Our attention is centred on the anisotropic LRS Bianchi I and III metrics, Bianchi V metrics, and their isotropic limits. We provide a comprehensive overview of the first two metrics classes and offer new findings for Bianchi V metrics. We show that the Hubble parameter is a time-dependent perturbation parameter that controls the magnitude of the error between full-system and time-averaged solutions as it decreases, such that those complete and time-averaged systems have the same asymptotic behaviour. Therefore, oscillations entering the system can be controlled and smoothed out, simplifying the problem.
Virtual Reconstruction of the Deconstructed Heritage: The Former Building of the Belo Horizonte School of Medicine
Authors: Cuperschmid Ana Regina Mizrahy , Costa Aline Prado , Neves Igor , Fonseca Flávio Raffaelli , Cuperschmid Ethel Mizrahy
Published: January 2024

Built between 1911 and 1914 by architect Francisco Izidoro Monteiro, the former neoclassical building of the Belo Horizonte School of Medicine (BHSM) was located in a central area of the city. Its design, inspired by the European precepts at the time, was embedded in the same architectural language that characterized the cityscape of the capital of Minas Gerais, Brazil. The original building was gradually dismantled and completely demolished in 1960 to make way for the present headquarters. Few records of its existence remain. In order to contribute to the construction of the digital heritage of the old BHSM building, this article presents its virtual reconstruction, and demonstrates and analyzes the application of Heritage Building Information Modeling (HBIM) for this purpose. Based on data collection and the organization of numerous references (historical photographs, former students’ recollections, magazine articles, books, minutes, and photogrammetry of the remains), a hypothetical model of the building was developed to represent its condition as built and prior to demolition. Despite the difficulties in modeling, it was possible to perform a virtual historical reconstruction of the building, providing a better understanding of the building that does not currently exist. The preservation of the digital heritage of the demolished building aims to raise public awareness of its memory, which is consistent with the collection of the Memory Center of the UFMG School of Medicine (CEMEMOR).
Omniscatte: Extreme Sensitivity MMWave Backscattering Using Commodity FMCW Radar
Authors: Min Bae Kang , Ahn Namjo , Chae Yoon , Pathak Parth , Sohn Sung-Min , Min Kim Song
Published: January 2024

With the Internet of Things (IoT) anticipated to grow up to a trillion devices by 2035 [1] and 6G aiming at 10/m2 Massive Machine Type Communications [2], massive connectivity has long been considered a key to the success of IoT and diverse emerging services. Backscatter is an attractive option for scalability, operating at tens of µW [3] by reflecting the wireless signal without generating the power-hungry passband signal itself. The ultra-low power operation of backscatter offers long-term sustainability. In particular, recent advances in mmWave backscatters [4,5,6] present a great potential for scalability by exploiting the abundant spectrum resource in the mmWave ranging up to 14 GHz (60 GHz band); a bandwidth over two orders of magnitude greater than 26 MHz and 100 MHz in the popular 900 MHz and 2.4 GHz bands, respectively.
Comprehensive Structural Analysis Identifies the Relationships Between the Electrical Characteristics of Environmentally Friendly NBTMn-BAl-NaNb Ceramics
Authors: Bhaskara Rao Gadiraju Venkata Vijaya , Sobhanachalam P. , Sani Vijaya Dasaradha , Avula Balakrishna , Babu N. Giridhar , Kandula Kumara Raja , Goutham Cilaveni , Ashok A. , Ansari Anees A. , Rao T. Sambasiva , Gangadhara S. , Chittibabu A.
Published: January 2024

We give an in-depth examination of the structural and electrical features of NBTMn–BAl–NaNb ceramics in the paper. The comprehensive structural investigation indicated an important connection among the phase and polarization mechanisms of the compounds/samples by Nb substitution. The quantitative study of phase contribution shown by Raman spectroscopy is confirmed by structural refinement inquiries. The significant polarization difference in NBTMn–BAl–NaNb was found to be in excellent show with the structural presence of a dual phase contribution, which was confirmed through structural refinement. The substitution of

NaNb

in NBTMn–BAl led to a significant shift in average grain size (∼1 μm). It was additionally found that the dielectric constant of NBTMn–BAl–NaNb was greater than NBTMn–BAl lowering the depolarization temperature ∼30 °C. This modification resulted in reduced dielectric loss as well as shifts in coordination and structural features. The ferroelectric examines demonstrated that the synthesized compounds exhibited a strong ferroelectric character,

P

r

slightly increases

Δ

P

r

= 4 μC cm−2 and coercive field changes

Δ

E

C

=
1
0

kV
/
cm

in presence of NaNb. The room temperature bipolar and unipolar strain S(%) ∼1.5, and the fact that the substitution of

NaNb

leads to an increase in both (bipolar and unipolar), represents structural symmetry modulation. As a result of this, these were discovered to be feasible prospects for current generation applications.
An inulin-type fructan CP-A from Codonopsis pilosula alleviates TNBS-induced ulcerative colitis based on serum-untargeted metabolomics
Authors: Zhou Jiangtao , Wang Jiajing , Li Deyun , Zhang Zhijia , Wang Changjian , Zhang Xuepeng , Xu Xiexin , Gao Jianping
Published: January 2024

We report that an inulin-type fructan from Codonopsis pilosula CP-A exhibits a therapeutic effect on experimental colitis. Its mechanism may be to alleviate intestinal inflammation by preventing the activation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)/p70S6K signaling pathway. These findings offer a fresh approach to treating ulcerative colitis (UC) and a theoretical foundation for the future advancement of CP-A.
Computer Vision‐Based Pier Settlement Displacement Measurement of a Multispan Continuous Concrete Highway Bridge under Complex Construction Environments
Authors: Zhan Yulin , Huang Yuanyuan , Fan Zihao , Li Binghui , An Jiawei , Shao Junhu , Tian Yongding
Published: January 2024

Various concrete bridges have been built across oceans, valleys, and mountains; however, the settlement displacement of bridge piers caused by environmental changes or self‐weight during construction phases often leads to uneven stresses, cracking, and eventual collapse. To address the labor‐intensive and high‐cost issues of pier displacement monitoring using contact‐type sensors, this paper proposes an automatic vision‐based method for measuring pier settlement displacement under complex construction environments, such as complex image backgrounds, varying ambient light, and camera movement. In the proposed method, a deep learning network was first employed to eliminate the adverse effect of complex image backgrounds and varying ambient light on the accuracy of target detection; then, an adaptive displacement extraction algorithm without a human‐computer interaction process was developed to automatically extract the center coordinates of targets attaching to the bridge piers and reference platform; finally, the pier settlement displacement was calculated by using the relative displacements obtained by a dual camera system to eliminate the measurement error caused by camera translation and rotation movements. Laboratory tests of a cantilever beam and field tests of a continuous multispan concrete girder highway bridge under construction have successfully validated the effectiveness and robustness of the developed methodology. The results obtained in this paper can provide some insights for engineers in applying computer vision technology for the real‐time monitoring of bridge displacements.
Solitary Fibrous Tumor of the Central Nervous System: A Report of Two Cases with Emphasis on Diagnostic Pitfalls
Authors: Mwazha Absalom , Moyeni Nondabula , Zikalala Zuzile , Nhlonzi Gamalenkosi Bonginkosi
Published: January 2024

Solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) is a rare primary central nervous system neoplasm that usually presents as a dural-based mass. Awareness of the entity is limited by the rarity of the tumor which renders it prone to misdiagnosis. We present two cases of SFT located in the right parafalx and intraventricular region. The cases were classified as WHO grade 1 and grade 2, respectively. The present study discusses the radiological, histomorphological, and immunohistochemical features of SFT, with emphasis on potential diagnostic pitfalls that may lead to erroneous diagnosis.
Identifying the Moisture Sources in Different Seasons for Abaya-Chamo Basin of Southern Ethiopia Using Lagrangian Particle Dispersion Model
Authors: Kimo Israel Gebresilasie , Cholo Bisrat Elias , Lohani Tarun Kumar
Published: January 2024

Understanding the sources of precipitation and their impacts is crucial for basin-wide water balance research. Previous research concentrated on the sources of moisture in Ethiopia. The southern part’s moisture sources, however, were not investigated. The primary objective of this study is to trace the source of atmospheric moisture in the Abaya-Chamo sub-basin of southern Ethiopia using numerical water vapor tracers like Hybrid Single Particle Lagrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. Exploring the possible regions of atmospheric vapor roots and the path of moist air initiating rainfall that reaches the basin was feasible for the year 2018–2020. The anticyclone from the Arabian High, which is positioned in the Arabian and Mediterranean seas, was the primary source of moisture supply in the study area during the Belg (March to May) season, according to the back trajectory cluster analysis results. Additionally, the Indian Ocean adds moisture resulting from Mascarene highs brought by equatorial easterlies. Furthermore, during Kiremt (June to September), air masses from the Congo basin were the potential moisture source region for the study areas in combination with air masses originating from the Mascarene highs, located in the South Indian Ocean, and the St. Helena high, centered in the subtropical southern Atlantic Ocean. This study primarily focuses on the complex dynamics of atmospheric moisture sources around Abaya-Chamo sub-basin of southern Ethiopia, offering insight into seasonal fluctuations and contributing various components. These findings contribute to basin-specific water balance research by filling gaps in the previous studies.
Alkaloidal Extracts from Avicennia africana P. Beauv. (Avicenniaceae) Leaf: An Antiplasmodial, Antioxidant, and Erythrocyte Viable
Authors: Ahmed Mustapha A. , Ameyaw Elvis O. , Armah Francis A. , Fynn Patrick M. , Asiamah Isaac , Ghartey-Kwansah George , Zoiku Felix K. , Ofori-Attah Ebenezer , Adokoh Christian K.
Published: January 2024

Background. The emergence of drug-resistant parasites impedes disease management and eradication efforts. Hence, a reinvigorated attempt to search for potent lead compounds in the mangroves is imperative. Aim. This study evaluates in vitro antiplasmodial activity, antioxidant properties, and cytotoxicity of A. africana leaf alkaloidal extracts. Methods. The A. africana leaves were macerated with 70% ethanol to obtain a total crude extract. Dichloromethane and chloroform-isopropanol (3 : 1, v/v) were used to extract the crude alkaloids and quaternary alkaloids from the total crude. The antiplasmodial activities of the alkaloidal extracts were performed against 3D7 P. falciparum chloroquine-sensitive clone via the SYBR Green I fluorescence assay with artesunate serving as the reference drug. The alkaloidal extracts were further evaluated for antioxidant properties via the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), the total glutathione concentration (GSH), the DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) assay, and the ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) methods. The cytotoxic activity of the alkaloidal extracts was tested on erythrocytes using a 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide-MTT assay with little modification. The phytocompounds in the alkaloidal extracts were identified via gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques. Results. The total crude extract showed good antiplasmodial activity (IC50 = 11.890 µg/mL). The crude and quaternary alkaloidal extracts demonstrated promising antiplasmodial effects with IC50 values of 6.217 and 6.285 µg/mL, respectively. The total crude and alkaloidal extracts showed good antioxidant properties with negligible cytotoxicity on erythrocytes with good selectivity indices. The GC-MS spectral analysis of crude alkaloidal extracts gave indole and isoquinoline alkaloids and several other compounds. Dexrazoxane was found to be the main compound predicted, with an 86% peak area in the quaternary alkaloidal extract. Conclusion. The crude and quaternary alkaloidal extracts exhibited antiplasmodial activities and ability to inhibit oxidative stress with negligible toxicity on erythrocytes. This may be good characteristics to avoid oxidative stress related to Plasmodium infection in the treatment of malaria.
Experimental Infection of Bundibugyo Virus in Domestic Swine Leads to Viral Shedding with Evidence of Intraspecies Transmission
Authors: Lewis Charles E. , Pinette Mathieu M. , Lakin Steven M. , Smith Greg , Fisher Mathew , Moffat Estella , Embury-Hyatt Carissa , Pickering Brad S.
Published: January 2024

The Ebolavirus genus contains several of the deadliest zoonotic viruses known. One of these, Bundibugyo virus (BDBV), has been the causative agent of two outbreaks of human disease that have resulted in 211 known cases with a case fatality rate of 33.6%. Although bats are routinely implicated as the possible reservoir species for the ebolaviruses, the source of infection for index cases in almost all outbreaks is unknown with only limited epidemiological evidence directly linking human cases to bats. This lack of evidence leaves open the possibility that maintenance of one or more of these viruses could involve multiple host species or more complex spillover dynamics. Domestic pigs have been found naturally infected with Reston virus (RESTV) and are experimentally susceptible to infection with Ebola virus (EBOV), two other members of the Ebolavirus genus. Infection of pigs resulted in shedding of infectious virus with subsequent transmission to naïve animals being documented, including transmission to humans for RESTV and to nonhuman primates for EBOV. The susceptibility and subsequent viral shedding and pathogenesis of domestic pigs to other ebolaviruses and the potential role this species may play in virus ecology, spillover dynamics, and human public health risk is unknown. For these reasons, we conducted a series of studies aimed at determining the susceptibility of domestic pigs to BDBV thereby demonstrating that pigs are not only susceptible to experimental infection but that the development of productive infection, tissue dissemination, and shedding of infectious virus can also occur while animals remain clinically normal. The role of pigs as a possible interim or amplifying host for ebolaviruses is a concern for both human public health and food security.
The Identification Distinct Antiviral Factors Regulated Influenza Pandemic H1N1 Infection
Authors: Wang Baoxin , Zheng Hao , Dong Xia , Zhang Wenhua , Wu Junjing , Chen Hongbo , Zhang Jing , Zhou Ao
Published: January 2024

Influenza pandemic with H1N1 (H1N1pdms) causes severe lung damage and “cytokine storm,” leading to higher mortality and global health emergencies in humans and animals. Explaining host antiviral molecular mechanisms in response to H1N1pdms is important for the development of novel therapies. In this study, we organised and analysed multimicroarray data for mouse lungs infected with different H1N1pdm and nonpandemic H1N1 strains. We found that H1N1pdms infection resulted in a large proportion of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in the infected lungs compared with normal lungs, and the number of DEGs increased markedly with the time of infection. In addition, we found that different H1N1pdm strains induced similarly innate immune responses and the identified DEGs during H1N1pdms infection were functionally concentrated in defence response to virus, cytokine‐mediated signalling pathway, regulation of innate immune response, and response to interferon. Moreover, comparing with nonpandemic H1N1, we identified ten distinct DEGs (AREG, CXCL13, GATM, GPR171, IFI35, IFI47, IFIT3, ORM1, RETNLA, and UBD), which were enriched in immune response and cell surface receptor signalling pathway as well as interacted with immune response‐related dysregulated genes during H1N1pdms. Our discoveries will provide comprehensive insights into host responding to pandemic with influenza H1N1 and find broad‐spectrum effective treatment.
A Systematic Review of Health Management Mobile Applications in COVID-19 Pandemic: Features, Advantages, and Disadvantages
Authors: Garavand Ali , Ameri Fatemeh , Salehi Fatemeh , Talebi Ali Hajipour , Karbasi Zahra , Sabahi Azam
Published: January 2024

Introduction. With the increasing accessibility of smartphones, their use has been considered in healthcare services. Mobile applications have played a pivotal role in providing health services during COVID-19. This study is aimed at identifying the features, advantages, and disadvantages of health management mobile applications during COVID-19. Methods. This systematic review was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science using the related keywords up to November 2021. The original articles in English about the health management mobile applications in COVID-19 were selected. The study selection was done by two researchers independently according to inclusion and exclusion criteria. Data extraction was done using a data extraction form, and the results were summarized and reported in related tables and figures. Results. Finally, 12 articles were included based on the criteria. The benefits of mobile health applications for health management during COVID-19 were in four themes and 19 subthemes, and the most advantages of the application were in disease management and the possibility of recording information by users, digital tracking of calls, and data confidentiality. Furthermore, the disadvantages of them have been presented in two themes and 14 subthemes. The most common disadvantages are reduced adherence to daily symptom reports, personal interpretation of questions, and result bias. Conclusion. The study results showed that mobile applications have been effective in controlling the prevalence of COVID-19 by identifying virus-infested environments, identifying and monitoring infected people, controlling social distancing, and maintaining quarantine. It is suggested that usability, ethical and security considerations, protection of personal information, and privacy of users be considered in application design and development.
Supplementary Table 2 from Incident Cardiovascular Disease Risk among Older Asian, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander Breast Cancer Survivors
Authors: Hashibe Mia , Wei Mei , Lee Catherine J. , Tao Randa , Koric Alzina , Wang Jing , Daud Anees , Tay Djin , Shen Jincheng , Lee Yuan-chin A. , Chang Chun-Pin E.
Published: January 2024

This table shows the characteristics of the breast cancer patients for ANHPI subgroups and NHW.
Supplementary Table 2 from Male-Pattern Vertex Baldness Trajectories, Chest Hair Patterns, and Odds of Overall and Aggressive Prostate Cancer
Authors: Salmon Charlotte , Mesidor Miceline , Rousseau Marie-Claude , Richard Hugues , Weiss Deborah , Spence Andrea R. , Parent Marie-Elise
Published: January 2024

Supplementary Table 2. Selection criteria for the number of trajectories, using controls only
Table S9 from Investigating Causal Effects of Hematologic Traits on Lung Cancer: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Yang Zhanghuan , He Hao , He Guangxu , Zeng Chudai , Hu Qian
Published: January 2024

Heterogeneity Test and Pleiotropy Test for the Association of Identified Traits and Lung Cancer in Ever/Never Smokers