bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chronic subdural haematoma mimicking extrapyramidal symptoms
Authors: Cheng Po Wen , Tsai Ruei An , Lee Chien-Hui , Chen Wen-Ching
Published: December 2023

A male patient in his 70s with chronic schizophrenia, who could previously walk independently, developed a gait disturbance without any significant neurological deficit. Initially, his short step length and unstable gait were thought to be related to extrapyramidal symptoms caused by medication side effects. We tapered his antipsychotic medication, but the unstable gait persisted. After 2 weeks of observation, we noted general weakness with left-side dominance, leading us to consider a focal brain lesion despite there being no recent history of falling or trauma. A CT scan of the brain showed chronic subdural haematoma and the patient underwent emergency surgery. After 14 days of treatment, he was discharged back to the chronic ward.
Prurigo of pregnancy
Authors: Yaliwal Rajasri Gurulingappa , Biradar Aruna , Konin Ashwini , Tejaswi Reddy Sona
Published: December 2023

A primigravida in her 20s, with 38 weeks period of gestation, came to the emergency ward of obstetrics wing with complaints of extensive itching over the extremities. On local examination, there were multiple, discrete, hyperpigmented papules topped with depigmentation and excoriations on upper and lower extremities. These are of 0.5–1 cm in size and some have central crusts . On clinical findings and exclusion of other pathologies, it was diagnosed as prurigo of pregnancy. The patient had an uneventful follow-up period.
Iatrogenic Descemet membrane detachment in the donor lenticule during Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty
Authors: Bevara Akhil , Murthy Somasheila I
Published: December 2023

A female patient in her 60s presented with an 8-month history of decreased vision in her right eye. She was diagnosed with pseudophakic bullous keratopathy (PBK), and Descemet stripping automated endothelial keratoplasty (DSAEK) surgery was planned. Intraoperative Descemet membrane detachment (DMD) occurred while inserting the lenticule using the Sheets glide technique. The detachment of the Descemet membrane was detected immediately, and air descemetopexy was performed intraoperatively. Postoperatively, the donor lenticule was attached properly to the stromal bed, except for a focal DMD approximately 3 mm in the inferior part of the lenticule. A second descemetopexy was performed 5 days later, resulting in a complete attachment. A DMD in DSAEK lenticule is an extremely rare complication. Early detection and timely intervention with descemetopexy helped achieve a good anatomical and functional outcome.
Sikh and Muslim perspectives on kidney transplantation: phase 1 of the DiGiT project – a qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Brand Sarah , Daga Sunil , Mistry Kirit , Morsy Mohamed , Bagul Atul , Hamer Rizwan , Malik Shafi
Published: December 2023

Objectives

Kidney transplantation offers patients better quality of life and survival compared with dialysis. The risk of end stage renal disease is higher among ethnic minorities and they experience longer wait times on transplant lists. This inequality stems from a high need for kidney transplantation combined with a low rate of deceased donation among ethnic minority groups. This study aimed to explore the perspectives around living donor kidney transplantation of members of the Sikh and Muslim communities with an aim to develop a digital intervention to overcome any barriers.

Design

A qualitative descriptive study using in person focus groups.

Setting

University Teaching Hospital and Transplant Centre.

Participants

Convenience sampling of participants from the transplant population. Three focus groups were held with 20 participants, all were of South Asian ethnicity belonging to the Sikh and Muslim communities.

Methods

Interviews were digitally audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim; transcripts were analysed thematically.

Results

Four themes were identified: (a) religious issues; (b) lack of knowledge within the community; (c) time; (d) cultural identification with transplantation.

Conclusions

Not only is the information given and when it is delivered important, but also the person giving the information is crucial to enhance consideration of live donor kidney transplantation. Information should be in a first language where possible and overtly align to religious considerations. A more integrated approach to transplantation counselling should be adopted which includes healthcare professionals and credible members of the target cultural group.

Trial registration number

NCT04327167.
Placebo effects in mental health disorders: protocol for an umbrella review
Authors: Huneke Nathan TM , Amin Jay , Baldwin David S , Chamberlain Samuel R , Correll Christoph U , Garner Matthew , Hill Catherine M , Hou Ruihua , Howes Oliver D , Sinclair Julia MA , Solmi Marco , Cortese Samuele
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Given the high prevalence of mental health disorders and their significant socioeconomic burden, there is a need to develop improved treatments, and to evaluate them through placebo-controlled trials. However, the magnitude of the placebo response in randomised controlled trials to test medications may be substantial, affecting their interpretation. Therefore, improved understanding of the patient, trial and mental disorder factors that influence placebo responses would inform clinical trial design to better detect active treatment effects. There is a growing literature exploring the placebo response within specific mental health disorders, but no overarching synthesis of this research has been produced to date. We present a protocol for an umbrella review of systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses in which we aim to understand the effect size and potential predictors of placebo response within, and across, mental health disorders.

Methods and analysis

We will systematically search databases (Medline, PsycINFO, EMBASE+EMBASE Classic, Web of Knowledge) for systematic reviews and/or meta-analyses that report placebo effect size in clinical trials in patients with mental health disorders (initial search date 23 October 2022). Screening of abstracts and full texts will be done in pairs. We will extract data to qualitatively examine how placebo effect size varies across mental health disorders. We also plan to qualitatively summarise predictors of increased placebo response identified either quantitatively (eg, through meta-regression) or qualitatively. Risk of bias will be assessed using the AMSTAR-2 tool. We aim to not only summarise the current literature but also to identify gaps in knowledge and generate further hypotheses.

Ethics and dissemination

We do not believe there are any specific ethical considerations relevant to this study. We will publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal.
Sleep quality and associated factors among patients with chronic kidney disease in Nigeria: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Adejumo Oluseyi Ademola , Edeki Imuetinyan Rashida , Mamven Manmak , Oguntola Olawale Stephen , Okoye Ogochukwu Chinedum , Akinbodewa Akinwumi Ayodeji , Okaka Enajite Ibiene , Ahmed Sulaiman Dazumi , Egbi Oghenekaro Gódwin , Falade Joshua , Dada Samuel Ayokunle , Ogiator Monday Ogiagah , Okoh Barbara
Published: December 2023

Objective

Poor sleep quality adversely affects the overall well-being and outcomes of patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). However, it has not been well studied in Africans with CKD. We determined the prevalence of poor sleep quality and associated factors among patients with CKD.

Design

This was a cross-sectional study that involved patients with CKD .

Settings

The study was carried out in the outpatient clinic of nine hospitals in Nigeria.

Methods

Sleep quality, depressive and anxiety symptoms and quality of life (QoL) were assessed among 307 patients with CKD using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index Questionnaire, Hospital Anxiety Depression Scale Questionnaire and 12-item Short Form Health Survey Quality of Life Questionnaire, respectively. The prevalence of poor sleep quality and associated factors were determined. A p<0.05 was considered as statistically significant.

Results

The mean age of the study participants was 51.40±15.17 years. The male:female ratio was 1.5:1 One hundred and twenty-one (39.4%) of the patients were on maintenance haemodialysis (MHD). The prevalence of poor sleep quality, anxiety symptoms and depressive symptoms among the patients was 50.2%, 37.8% and 17.6%, respectively. The prevalence of poor sleep quality in the CKD stages 3, 4, 5 and 5D was 38.1%, 42.6%, 52.2% and 58.7%, respectively. The prevalence of poor sleep quality was significantly higher in MHD patients compared with predialysis CKD (59.5% vs 43.6%; p=0.008). Factors associated with poor sleep quality were CKD stage (p=0.035), anaemia (p=0.003), pruritus (p=0.045), anxiety symptoms (p≤0.001), depressive symptoms (p≤0.001) and reduced QoL (p≤0.001). On multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor sleep were anxiety (AOR 2.19; 95% CI 1.27 to 3.79; p=0.005), anaemia (AOR 5.49; 95% CI 1.43 to 21.00;p=0.013) and reduced physical component of QoL (AOR 4.11; 95% CI 1.61 to 10.47; p=0.003).

Conclusion

Poor sleep quality is common among patients with CKD especially in the advanced stage. The significant factors associated with poor sleep quality were QoL, anaemia and anxiety symptoms. These factors should be adequately managed to improve the overall outcomes of patients with CKD.
Socioeconomic inequality and contributors in accepting attitudes toward people living with HIV among adults in Ethiopia from 2005 to 2016: a population-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Endalamaw Aklilu , Gilks Charles F , Ambaw Fentie , Assefa Yibeltal
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The public’s accepting attitude toward people living with HIV is crucial in reducing HIV-related stigma and discrimination, increasing people’s access to HIV service. This study examines the inequalities in accepting attitudes toward people living with HIV in Ethiopia from 2005 to 2016.

Methods

This cross-sectional study was based on the 2005, 2011 and 2016 Ethiopian Demographic Health Surveys. A total of 17 075, 28 478 and 25 542 adults were included in the 2005, 2011 and 2016 surveys, respectively. Socioeconomic inequality was investigated using the concentration curve and Erreygers’ concentration index (ECI), which is scaled from −1 (pro-poor) to +1 (pro-rich). The ECI was decomposed to identify the contributors to socioeconomic inequality using generalised linear regression with the logit link function.

Results

Accepting attitude toward people living with HIV was 17.9% (95% CI: 16.6%, 19.3%) in 2005, which increased to 33.5% (95% CI: 31.8%, 35.3%) in 2011 and 39.6% (95% CI: 37.6%, 41.9%) in 2016. ECI was 0.342 (p<0.001), 0.436 (p<0.001) and 0.388 (p<0.001), respectively, for 2005, 2011 and 2016. The trend line illustrates socioeconomic inequality seems diverging over time, with an increasing ECI of 0.005 every year (r=0.53; p=0.642; slope=0.005).

Conclusions

The current study found that there was pro-rich inequality from 2005 to 2016. People with higher socioeconomic status had a better attitude toward people living with HIV. Comprehensive knowledge about HIV/AIDS, education status, residence, and access to electronic and paper-based media, as well as HIV testing, contribute to a better accepting attitude toward people living with HIV. It is of utmost importance for the country to enhance accepting attitude toward people living with HIV to reduce stigma and discrimination. This requires whole-system response according to the primary healthcare approach toward ending the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in the country.
Inhibition of bradykinin in SARS-CoV-2 infection: a randomised, double-blind trial of icatibant compared with placebo (ICASARS)
Authors: Bailey Melanie , Linden Dermot , Earley Olivia , Guo Parke Hong , McAuley Daniel Francis , Peto Tunde , Taggart Cliff , Kidney Joe
Published: December 2023

SARS-CoV-2 binds to ACE2 receptors and enters cells. The symptoms are cough, breathlessness, loss of taste/smell and X-ray evidence of infiltrates on chest imaging initially caused by oedema, and subsequently by a lymphocytic pneumonitis. Coagulopathy, thrombosis and hypotension occur. Worse disease occurs with age, obesity, ischaemic heart disease, hypertension and diabetes.

These features may be due to abnormal activation of the contact system. This triggers coagulation and the kallikrein-kinin system, leading to accumulation of bradykinin and its derivatives, which act on receptors B1R and B2R. Receptor activation causes cough, hypotension, oedema and release of the cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) which recruits lymphocytes. These effects are core features seen in early SARS CoV-2 infection.

Methods and analysis

In this study, hypoxic patients with COVID-19 with symptom onset ≤7 days will be randomised to either a bradykinin inhibitor (icatibant) or placebo. Patients and investigators will be blinded. The primary outcome will be blood oxygenation, measured by arterial blood sampling. The secondary outcome will be cardiovascular status. Retinal imaging will be performed to assess vessel size. Blood samples will be taken for measurement of inflammatory analyses including IL-6. As a separate substudy, we will also take comparator blood inflammatory samples from a COVID-19-negative cohort.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received the following approvals: West Midlands–Edgbaston Research Ethics Committee. Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has issued a clinical trial authorisation. Belfast Health and Social Care Trust is the study sponsor. Results will be made available to participants upon request and findings will be presented and published.

Trial registration number

NCT05407597
Validating a framework to guide the implementation of high-quality virtual primary care: an international eDelphi study protocol
Authors: Carvalho Joana Miguel , Li Edmond , Hayhoe Benedict , Beaney Thomas , Majeed Azeem , Greenfield Geva , Neves Ana Luísa
Published: December 2023

Background

There is an urgent need to support primary care organisations in implementing safe and high-quality virtual consultations. We have previously performed qualitative research to capture the views of 1600 primary care physicians across 20 countries on the main benefits and challenges of using virtual consultations. Subsequently, a prototype of a framework to guide the implementation of high-quality virtual primary care was developed.

Aim

To explore general practitioners’ perspectives on the appropriateness and relevance of each component of the framework’s prototype, to further refine it and optimise its practical use in primary care facilities.

Methods and analysis

Participants will be primary care physicians with active experience providing virtual care, recruited through convenience and snowball sampling. This study will use a systematic and iterative online Delphi research approach (eDelphi), with a minimum of three rounds. A pre-round will be used to circulate items for initial feedback and adjustment. In subsequent rounds, participants will be asked to rate the relevance of the framework’s components. Consensus will be defined as >70% of participants agreeing/strongly agreeing or disagreeing/strongly disagreeing with a component. Data will be collected using structured online questionnaires. The primary outcome of the study will be a list of the essential components to be incorporated in the final version of the framework.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has received ethical approval conceded by the Imperial College London Science, Engineering and Technology Research Ethics Committee (SETREC) (reference no .6559176/2023). Anonymous results will be made available to the public, academic organisations and policymakers.
Preconceptual administration of doxycycline in women with recurrent miscarriage and chronic endometritis: protocol for the Chronic Endometritis and Recurrent Miscarriage (CERM) trial, a multicentre, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive randomised trial with an embedded translational substudy
Authors: Odendaal Joshua , Black Naomi , Bouliotis Georgios , Guck Jonathan , Underwood Martin , Fisher Joanne , Quenby Siobhan
Published: December 2023

Introduction

Recurrent miscarriage is a common condition with a substantial associated morbidity. A hypothesised cause of recurrent miscarriage is chronic endometritis (CE). The aetiology of CE remains uncertain. An association between CE and recurrent miscarriage has been shown. This study will aim to determine if preconceptual administration of doxycycline, in women with recurrent miscarriages, and CE, reduces first trimester miscarriages, increasing live births.

Methods and analysis

Chronic Endometritis and Recurrent Miscarriage is a multicentre, double-blind adaptive trial with an embedded translational substudy. Women with a history of two or more consecutive first trimester losses with evidence of CE on endometrial biopsy (defined as ≥5 CD138 positive cells per 10 mm2) will be randomised to oral doxycycline or placebo for 14 days. A subset will be recruited to a mechanistic substudy in which microbial swabs and preintervention/postintervention endometrial samples will be collected. Up to 3062 women recruited from 29 National Health Service (NHS) hospital sites across the UK are expected to be screened with up to 1500 women randomised in a 1:1 ratio. Women with a negative endometrial biopsy (defined as <5 CD138 positive cells per 10 mm2) will also be followed up to test validity of the tool. The primary outcome is live births plus pregnancies ≥24 + 0 weeks gestation at the end of the trial, in the first or subsequent pregnancy. Secondary clinical outcomes will also be assessed. Exploratory outcomes will assess the effect of doxycycline treatment on the endometrial microbiota, the differentiation capacity of the endometrium and the senescent profile of the endometrium with CE.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval has been obtained from the NHS Research Ethics Committee Northwest-Haydock (19/NW/0462). Written informed consent will be gained from all participants. The results will be published in an open-access peer-reviewed journal and reported in the National Institute for Health and Care Research journals library.

Trial registration number

ISRCTN23947730.
Enhanced CD1d phosphatidylserine presentation using a single-domain antibody promotes immunomodulatory CD1d-TIM-3 interactions
Authors: Lameris Roeland , Shahine Adam , Veth Myrthe , Westerman Bart , Godfrey Dale I , Lutje Hulsik David , Brouwer Patricia , Rossjohn Jamie , de Gruijl Tanja D , van der Vliet Hans J
Published: December 2023

Background

CD1d is a monomorphic major histocompatibility complex class I-like molecule that presents lipid antigens to distinct T-cell subsets and can be expressed by various malignancies. Antibody-mediated targeting of CD1d on multiple myeloma cells was reported to induce apoptosis and could therefore constitute a novel therapeutic approach.

Methods

To determine how a CD1d-specific single-domain antibody (VHH) enhances binding of the early apoptosis marker annexin V to CD1d+tumor cells we use in vitro cell-based assays and CRISPR-Cas9-mediated gene editing, and to determine the structure of the VHH1D17-CD1d(endogenous lipid) complex we use X-ray crystallography.

Results

Anti-CD1d VHH1D17 strongly enhances annexin V binding to CD1d+tumor cells but this does not reflect induction of apoptosis. Instead, we show that VHH1D17 enhances presentation of phosphatidylserine (PS) in CD1d and that this is saposin dependent. The crystal structure of the VHH1D17-CD1d(endogenous lipid) complex demonstrates that VHH1D17 binds the A′-pocket of CD1d, leaving the lipid headgroup solvent exposed, and has an electro-negatively charged patch which could be involved in the enhanced PS presentation by CD1d. Presentation of PS in CD1d does not trigger phagocytosis but leads to greatly enhanced binding of T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain containing molecules (TIM)-1 to TIM-3, TIM-4 and induces TIM-3 signaling.

Conclusion

Our findings reveal the existence of an immune modulatory CD1d(PS)-TIM axis with potentially unexpected implications for immune regulation in both physiological and pathological conditions.
Electroencephalography in encephalopathy and encephalitis
Authors: Morris Hollie , Kaplan Peter W , Kane Nick
Published: December 2023

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a useful adjunct to clinical neurological examination, particularly as it may detect subtle or subclinical disturbance of cerebral function and it allows monitoring of cerebral activity over time. Continuous EEG combined with quantitative analysis and machine learning may help identify changes in real time, before the emergence of clinical signs and response to interventions. EEG is rarely pathognomonic in encephalopathy/encephalitis but when interpreted correctly and within the clinical context, certain phenotypes may indicate a specific pathophysiology (eg, lateralised periodic discharges in HSV-1, generalised periodic discharges in sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, and extreme delta brushes in anti-n-methyl-D-aspartate receptor autoimmune encephalitis). EEG is included in some specialist guidelines for disease assessment, monitoring and prognostication (ie, hepatic, cancer immunotherapy, viral, prion, autoimmune encephalitis and hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy). EEG is invaluable for confirming or excluding non-convulsive seizures or status epilepticus, particularly in critically ill patients, and in understanding new concepts such as epileptic encephalopathy and the ictal–interictal continuum.
Early axial spondyloarthritis according to the ASAS consensus definition: characterisation of patients and effectiveness of a first TNF inhibitor in a large observational registry
Authors: Ciurea Adrian , Götschi Andrea , Bräm René , Bürki Kristina , Exer Pascale , Andor Michael , Nissen Michael J , Möller Burkhard , Hügle Thomas , Rubbert-Roth Andrea , Kyburz Diego , Distler Oliver , Scherer Almut , Micheroli Raphael
Published: December 2023

Objective

To characterise the population fulfilling the Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) consensus definition of early axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and to determine the effectiveness of a first tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) in early versus established axSpA in a large observational registry.

Methods

A total of 3064 patients with axSpA in the Swiss Clinical Quality Management registry with data on duration of axial symptoms were included (≤2 years=early axSpA, N=658; >2 years=established axSpA, N=2406). Drug retention was analysed in patients starting a first TNFi in early axSpA (N=250) versus established axSpA (N=874) with multiple-adjusted Cox proportional hazards models. Adjusted logistic regression analyses were used to determine the achievement of the ASAS criteria for 40% improvement (ASAS40) at 1 year.

Results

Sex distribution, disease activity, impairments of function and health-related quality of life were comparable between patients with early and established axSpA. Patients with established disease were older, had more prevalent axial radiographical damage and had a higher impairment of mobility. A comparable TNFi retention was found in early versus established disease after adjustment for age, sex, human leucocyte antigen-B27 status, education, body mass index, smoking, elevated C reactive protein and sacroiliac inflammation on MRI (HR 1.05, 95% CI 0.78 to 1.42). The adjusted ASAS40 response was similar in the two groups (OR 1.09, 95% CI 0.67 to 1.78). Results were confirmed in the population fulfilling the ASAS classification criteria.

Conclusion

Considering the recent ASAS definition of early axSpA, TNFi effectiveness seems comparable in early versus established disease.
Association between hyperuricaemia and hand osteoarthritis: data from the Xiangya Osteoarthritis Study
Authors: Zhu Yanqiu , Li Jiatian , Zhang Yuqing , Zhang Weiya , Doherty Michael , Yang Zidan , Cui Yang , Zeng Chao , Lei Guanghua , Yang Tuo , Wei Jie
Published: December 2023

Objective

The pathogenesis of hand osteoarthritis (OA) remains unknown. Hyperuricaemia, which is related to inflammation, may play a role in hand OA, but evidence is lacking. In a large population-based study, we examined the association between hyperuricaemia and hand OA.

Methods

Participants were from the Xiangya OA Study, a community-based observational study. Hyperuricaemia was defined as serum urate >416 µmol/L in men and >357 µmol/L in women. Radiographic hand OA (RHOA) was defined as presence of the modified Kellgren-Lawrence grade ≥2 in any hand joint. Symptomatic hand OA (SHOA) was defined as presence of both self-reported symptoms and RHOA in the same hand. The associations of hyperuricaemia with RHOA or SHOA were examined using generalised estimating equations.

Results

Among 3628 participants, the prevalence of RHOA was higher in participants with hyperuricaemia than those with normouricaemia (26.9% vs 20.9%), with an adjusted OR (aOR) of 1.34 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.61). The associations were consistent in men (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.74) and women (aOR 1.35, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.74). Hyperuricaemia was mainly associated with bilateral RHOA (aOR 1.54, 95% CI 1.18 to 2.01) but not unilateral RHOA (aOR 1.13, 95% CI 0.89 to 1.45). Prevalence of SHOA was higher, although statistically insignificant, in participants with hyperuricaemia (aOR 1.39, 95% CI 0.94 to 2.07).

Conclusion

In this population-based study, hyperuricaemia was associated with a higher prevalence of hand OA. Future prospective studies are required to investigate the temporal relationship.

Trial registration number

NCT04033757.
Black holes and non-perturbative gravitational waves in f(R) gravity
Authors: Liu Chunmei , Zhang Hongsheng
Published: December 2023

Exact solutions of spherically symmetric black hole and gravitational wave are explored inf(R) gravity in arbitrary dimension. We find two exact solutions for the radiation and absorption of null dust. In the framework of general relativity, the Birkhoff theorem strictly forbids the existence of spherical gravitational waves in vacuum space. We find spherical non-perturbative gravitational waves, which are shear-free, twist-free, but expanding.
Thermodynamics of accelerating AdS$$_4$$ black holes from the covariant phase space
Authors: Kim Hyojoong , Kim Nakwoo , Lee Yein , Poole Aaron
Published: December 2023

We study the charges and first law of thermodynamics for accelerating, non-rotating black holes with dyonic charges in AdS$$_4$$

4

using the covariant phase space formalism. In order to apply the formalism to these solutions (which are asymptotically locally AdS and admit a non-smooth conformal boundary $${\mathscr {I}}$$
I
) we make two key improvements: (1) We relax the requirement to impose Dirichlet boundary conditions and demand merely a well-posed variational problem. (2) We keep careful track of the codimension-2 corner term induced by the holographic counterterms, a necessary requirement due to the presence of “cosmic strings” piercing $${\mathscr {I}}$$
I
. Using these improvements we are able to match the holographic Noether charges to the Wald Hamiltonians of the covariant phase space and derive the first law of black hole thermodynamics with the correct “thermodynamic length” terms arising from the strings. We investigate the relationship between the charges imposed by supersymmetry and show that our first law can be consistently applied to various classes of non-supersymmetric solutions for which the cross-sections of the horizon are spindles.
SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESEARCH STUDIES ON TEMPERATURE FIELD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF DIAMOND-COATED MILLING TOOLS BY HFCVD DEVICE WITH SEPARATED WORKTABLES
Authors: ZHANG CHUAN , LU MING , LIU DONGDONG , SUN FANGHONG
Published: December 2023

Diamond-coated tools have extremely extraordinary physical and chemical properties and have become ideal tools for machining the emerging materials that are hard to machine. In mass production of diamond-coated milling tools, the homogeneity of diamond coatings has always been sought for and is highly influenced by the uniformity of temperature field near the tool substrate. In order to further improve the uniformity of the temperature field and deposit diamond coatings with uniform thickness, a novel hot filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) device with separated worktables and plates for mass production of diamond-coated milling tools is proposed. First, the simulation models of previous device with integrated worktable versus new device with separated worktables are established using finite volume method. The simulation results shows that the temperature distribution is more uniform in the device with separated worktables. Second, temperature measurement experiments are conducted, which prove the correctness of simulation model. Subsequently, experiments involving the deposition of diamond coatings on milling tools are conducted using two kinds of worktables, utilizing the same parameters as in the simulation. Finally, high-speed milling experiments are conducted to test the diamond-coated milling tools. According to the results of SEM, Raman and high-speed milling experiments, it can be concluded that the homogeneity of coating thickness and cutting performance of the milling tools produced by HFCVD device with separated worktables and plates are better.
On Flexural Wave Dispersion of a Higher-Order Metamaterial Sandwich Composite Plate Based on a Visco-Pasternak Foundation
Authors: Mahinzare Mohammad , Ebrahimi Farzad , Rastgoo Abbas
Published: December 2023

This paper elaborates on the wave propagation characteristics of a smart sandwich plate consisting of smart piezo composite layers on a plate’s upper and lower borders via an auxetic core. This study’s equation of motion was derived using a refined version of the Shear-deformation theory at a higher order, or HSDT. Additionally, detecting the properties of the auxetic core and piezoelectric composite layers employs a micromechanical model. The fundamental equations of the smart sandwich plates were formulated utilizing the Hamiltonian principle and Maxwell’s law. Then, the governing equations of a sandwich plate are solved using an exponential form and an analytical method. Furthermore, the phase velocity of the intelligent sandwich plate is provided based on the layer thicknesses of the auxetic core and thicknesses of intelligent piezoelectric composite layers. In addition, each figure calculates and presents the weight of the Winkler–Pasternak coefficient, the viscoelastic substances factor, the source of the outside electricity, and the volume percent of reinforcement in the matrix on the phase velocity.
STICAP
: Spatio-temporal Interactive Attention for Citywide Crowd Activity Prediction
Authors: Huang Huiqun , He Suining , Yang Xi , Tabatabaie Mahan
Published: December 2023

Accurate citywide crowd activity prediction (CAP) can enable proactive crowd mobility management and timely responses to urban events, which has become increasingly important for a myriad of smart city planning and management purposes. However, complex correlations across the crowd activities, spatial and temporal urban environment features and their
interactive
dependencies, and relevant external factors (e.g., weather conditions) make it highly challenging to predict crowd activities accurately in terms of different venue categories (for instance, venues related to dining, services, and residence) and varying degrees (e.g., daytime and nighttime).

To address the above concerns, we propose
STICAP
, a citywide spatio-temporal interactive crowd activity prediction approach. In particular,
STICAP
takes in the location-based social network check-in data (e.g., from Foursquare/Gowalla) as the model inputs and forecasts the crowd activity within each time step for each venue category. Furthermore, we have integrated multiple levels of temporal discretization to interactively capture the relations with historical data. Then, three parallel
Residual Spatial Attention Networks
(
RSAN
) in the
Spatial Attention Component
exploit the hourly, daily, and weekly spatial features of crowd activities, which are further fused and processed by the
Temporal Attention Component
for
interactive CAP
. Along with other external factors such as weather conditions and holidays,
STICAP
adaptively and accurately forecasts the final crowd activities per venue category, enabling potential activity recommendation and other smart city applications. Extensive experimental studies based on three different real-world crowd activity datasets have demonstrated that our proposed
STICAP
outperforms the baseline and state-of-the-art algorithms in CAP accuracy, with an average error reduction of 35.02%.
An Analysis of Various Design Pathways Towards Multi-Terabit Photonic On-Interposer Interconnects
Authors: Karempudi Venkata Sai Praneeth , Bashir Janibul , Thakkar Ishan G.
Published: December 2023

In the wake of dwindling Moore’s Law, to address the rapidly increasing complexity and cost of fabricating large-scale, monolithic systems-on-chip (SoCs), the industry has adopted dis-aggregation as a solution, wherein a large monolithic SoC is partitioned into multiple smaller chiplets that are then assembled into a large system-in-package (SiP) using advanced packaging substrates such as silicon interposer. For such interposer-based SiPs, there is a push to realize on-interposer inter-chiplet communication bandwidth of multi-Tb/s and end-to-end communication latency of no more than 10 ns. This push comes as the natural progression from some recent prior works on SiP design, and is driven by the proliferating bandwidth demand of modern data-intensive workloads. To meet this bandwidth and latency goal, prior works have focused on a potential solution of using the silicon photonic interposer (SiPhI) for integrating and interconnecting a large number of chiplets into an SiP. Despite the early promise, the existing designs of on-SiPhI interconnects still have to evolve by leaps and bounds to meet the goal of multi-Tb/s bandwidth. However, the possible design pathways, upon which such an evolution can be achieved, have not been explored in any prior works yet. In this paper, we have identified several design pathways that can help evolve on-SiPhI interconnects to achieve multi-Tb/s aggregate bandwidth. We perform an extensive link-level and system-level analysis in which we explore these design pathways in isolation and in different combinations of each other. From our link-level analysis, we have observed that the design pathways that simultaneously enhance the spectral range and optical power budget available for wavelength multiplexing can render aggregate bandwidth of up to 4 Tb/s per on-SiPhI link. We also show that such high-bandwidth on-SiPhI links can substantially improve the performance and energy-efficiency of the state-of-the-art CPU and GPU chiplets based SiPs.
Explainable Product Classification for Customs
Authors: Lee Eunji , Kim Sihyeon , Kim Sundong , Jung Soyeon , Kim Heeja , Cha Meeyoung
Published: December 2023

The task of assigning internationally accepted commodity codes (aka HS codes) to traded goods is a critical function of customs offices. Like court decisions made by judges, this task follows the doctrine of precedent and can be nontrivial even for experienced officers. Together with the Korea Customs Service (KCS), we propose a first-ever explainable decision supporting model that suggests the most likely subheadings (i.e., the first six digits) of the HS code. The model also provides reasoning for its suggestion in the form of a document that is interpretable by customs officers. We evaluated the model using 5,000 cases that recently received a classification request. The results showed that the top-3 suggestions made by our model had an accuracy of 93.9% when classifying 925 challenging subheadings. A user study with 32 customs experts further confirmed that our algorithmic suggestions accompanied by explainable reasonings, can substantially reduce the time and effort taken by customs officers for classification reviews.
State Policy and Immigrant Integration
Authors: Fouka Vasiliki
Published: December 2023

The proliferation of government policies to manage immigration has led to the emergence of an interdisciplinary literature that evaluates policy effects on immigrant integration. This review synthesizes findings from evaluations of policies regulating legal status and citizenship, the labor market, welfare, settlement, education, and cultural rights. It concludes that policies lowering immigrants’ costs of adjustment to the host country are consistently more effective in promoting integration than policies incentivizing immigrant effort through withholding resources and regulating access to rights. Policy changes the behavior of both immigrants and native-born citizens through material and psychological pathways, and considering the decision making of each side and their interdependence is crucial for understanding why estimated effects of the same policy differ across contexts and for anticipating unintended consequences. For external validity and useful counterfactuals, a closer connection is needed between empirical research and theoretical models that explicitly account for the equilibrium nature of integration.
Incidence of Hyperlipidemia among Adults Initiating Antiretroviral Therapy in the HIV Outpatient Study (HOPS), USA, 2007–2021
Authors: Li Jun , Agbobli-Nuwoaty Selom , Palella Frank J. , Novak Richard M. , Tedaldi Ellen , Mayer Cynthia , Mahnken Jonathan D. , Hou Qingjiang , Carlson Kimberly , Thompson-Paul Angela M. , Durham Marcus D. , Buchacz Kate
Published: December 2023

Current U.S. guidelines recommend integrase strand transfer inhibitor (INSTI)-based antiretroviral therapy (ART) as initial treatment for people with HIV (PWH). We assessed long-term effects of INSTI use on lipid profiles in routine HIV care. We analyzed medical record data from the HIV Outpatient Study’s participants in care from 2007 to 2021. Hyperlipidemia was defined based on clinical diagnoses, treatments, and laboratory results. We calculated hyperlipidemia incidence rates and rate ratios (RRs) during initial ART and assessed predictors of incident hyperlipidemia by using Poisson regression. Among 349 eligible ART-naïve PWH, 168 were prescribed INSTI-based ART (36 raltegravir (RAL), 51 dolutegravir (DTG), and 81 INSTI-others (elvitegravir and bictegravir)) and 181 non-INSTI-based ART, including 68 protease inhibitor (PI)-based ART. During a median follow-up of 1.4 years, hyperlipidemia rates were 12.8, 22.3, 22.7, 17.4, and 12.6 per 100 person years for RAL-, DTG-, INSTI-others-, non-INSTI-PI-, and non-INSTI-non-PI-based ART, respectively. In multivariable analysis, compared with the RAL group, hyperlipidemia rates were higher in INSTI-others (RR = 2.25; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.29–3.93) and non-INSTI-PI groups (RR = 1.89; CI: 1.12–3.19) but not statistically higher for the DTG (RR = 1.73; CI: 0.95–3.17) and non-INSTI-non-PI groups (RR = 1.55; CI: 0.92–2.62). Other factors independently associated with hyperlipidemia included older age, non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity, and ART without tenofovir disoproxil fumarate. PWH using RAL-based regimens had lower rates of incident hyperlipidemia than PWH receiving non-INSTI-PI-based ART but had similar rates as those receiving DTG-based ART, supporting federal recommendations for using DTG-based regimens as the initial therapy for ART-naïve PWH.
Pan-Cancer Analysis of the Cuproptosis-Related Gene DLD
Authors: Lin Jiahui , Wang Guowei , Cheng Sha , Hu Yanan , Li Huan , Feng Wanjiang , Liu Xiaoming , Xu Canxia
Published: December 2023

Background. Cancer affects millions of people each year and imposes a huge economic and social burden worldwide. Cuproptosis is a recently discovered novel mode of cell death. The exact function of the cuproptosis-related gene dihydrolipoamide dehydrogenase (DLD) and its role in pan-cancer is unknown. Methods. Data were retrieved from the GTEx, TCGA, and multiple online websites. These data were used to assess the expression, prognosis, and diagnostic value of DLD in various tumors. The relationship of DLD with immune microenvironment immunomodulators, immune checkpoints, tumor mutational load (TMB), microsatellite instability (MSI), and oncology drug sensitivity was explored by correlation analysis. Results. The mRNA and protein expression of DLD differs in most cancers. Survival analysis showed that DLD was associated with prognosis with KIRC, KIRP, KICH, and UCS. DLD had a strong diagnostic value in KIRC, GBM, PAAD, and LGG (AUC > 0.9). DLD promoter methylation affects the aberrant expression of LIHC, LUSC, PAAD, READ, and THCA. DLD was negatively correlated with stromal score, immune score, and ESTIMATE score in UCEC, TGCT, LUSC, and SARC. In UCS, resting memory CD4 T cells and activated NK cells were significantly correlated with DLD expression. Significant correlations were also observed between DLD expression and immunomodulators, immune checkpoints, TMB, and MSI in various cancers. Importantly, we also identified a number of potential drugs that may target DLD. Conclusion. DLD expression is associated with a variety of tumor prognoses and plays an integral role in tumorigenesis, tumor metabolism, and immunity.
MLLT11 siRNA Inhibits the Migration and Promotes the Apoptosis of MDA-MB-231 Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Liu Xiangrong , Bai Wenqi , Li Jianrong , Ma Jinfeng , Liu Yan , Wang Zhixiang , Hu Linjie , Li Zheng , Papukashvili Dimitri , Rcheulishvili Nino , Wang Fusheng , Lu Xiaoqing
Published: December 2023

Breast cancer is considered the most prevalent malignancy due to its high incidence rate, recurrence, and metastasis in women that makes it one of the deadliest cancers. The current study aimed to predict the genes associated with the recurrence and metastasis of breast cancer and to validate their effect on MDA-MB-231 cells. Through the bioinformatics analysis, the transcription factor 7 cofactor (MLLT11) as the target gene was obtained. MLLT11-specific siRNA was synthesized and transfected into MDA-MB-231 cells. The results demonstrated that the siRNA significantly reduced the MLLT11 mRNA levels. Moreover, cell migration and invasion, as well as the protein levels of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), AKT, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) 2, and MMP9, were significantly lower in the groups treated with siRNA while the apoptosis was augmented. Collectively, MLLT11 siRNA elicited ameliorative properties on breast cancer cells, possibly via the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway.
Numerical Simulation of Artificial Recharge Groundwater Effect on Overlying Soft Clay Compression Control
Authors: Xu Chenghua , Yu Dandan , Liu Gang , Luo Zujiang , Li Zhao
Published: December 2023

Soil deformation is prone to occur in the process of the foundation pit dewatering. A large number of metro existing tunnels are located in soft soil layers. The compression of soft soil poses a threat to metro existing tunnels. Previously, plenty of research on foundation pit dewatering is focused on the hydraulic head and deformation characteristics of the aquifer. However, the law of water releasing and compression deformation of overlying soft soil has not been taken seriously. In order to study the artificial recharge groundwater effect on overlying soft clay, a three-dimensional seepage–soil deformation coupling numerical model was established. The theoretical basis of the model is Darcy’s law and the principle of effective stress. A foundation pit located in Nanjing, China was selected as an example. The numerical model was used to simulate the hydraulic head and soil deformation caused by foundation pit dewatering and artificial recharge groundwater outside. The result shows that, due to the difference of hydraulic head between the aquifer and the aquitard reducing, it also has a good control effect on the deformation of the soft soil by recharging water into the aquifer. The location of recharge wells around the metro existing tunnel can control the soil deformation effectively, which could help to reduce the impact on the metro existing tunnel.
Extraction Algorithm of HOM–LIE Algebras Based on Solvable and Nilpotent Groups
Authors: Shaqaqha Shadi , Kdaisat Nadeen
Published: December 2023

Hom–Lie algebras are generalizations of Lie algebras that arise naturally in the study of nonassociative algebraic structures. In this paper, the concepts of solvable and nilpotent Hom–Lie algebras are studied further. In the theory of groups, investigations of the properties of the solvable and nilpotent groups are well‐developed. We establish a theory of the solvable and nilpotent Hom–Lie algebras analogous to that of the solvable and nilpotent groups. We also provide examples to illustrate our results and discuss possible directions for further research.

Dedicated to Al Farouk School & Kinder garten-Irbid-Jordan
Progress in Prevention and Treatment of Acute Bone Loss in Orthopedics
Authors: Wang Haoran , Wu Ji , Wang Boyao , Qin Hu , Fan Lei , Wang Yunhua , He Bin
Published: December 2023

Orthopedic patients need to perform limb immobilization for several days to several weeks due to fracture or other special circumstances. When the function of a certain part or the whole body is restricted, the activity of osteoclasts will be enhanced and its life activity will surpass that of osteoblasts, so local or even whole body bone loss will occur. Acute bone loss usually occurs within a few weeks after the immobilization of limbs. At this stage, the patient’s bone mass will decrease sharply, and the patient is prone to osteoporotic refracture. After that, the bone mass will gradually recover, but the speed of bone formation and bone absorption is difficult to reach a balanced state, and the bone mass of patients will continue to decline after it has recovered to a certain degree. After acute progressive bone loss, a large number of bones were lost and the strength of bones decreased. It is often difficult to recover to the level before fracture for a long time, which undoubtedly increases the risk of osteoporosis and related refractures. According to this common phenomenon of bone loss, clinical treatment varies greatly. After a series of research and practice, clinicians summed up some rules and put forward some feasible suggestions, thus strengthening clinicians’ understanding of the treatment of acute bone loss, effectively improving the treatment effect of acute bone loss, having far-reaching significance for preventing and treating osteoporosis, reducing the risk of fracture, and improving the long-term prognosis of patients.
Supplementary Table S14 from The BRD4–NUT Fusion Alone Drives Malignant Transformation of NUT Carcinoma
Authors: Durall R. Taylor , Huang Julianna , Wojenski Luke , Huang Yeying , Gokhale Prafulla C. , Leeper Brittaney A. , Nash Joshua O. , Ballester Pedro L. , Davidson Scott , Shlien Adam , Sotirakis Emmanuel , Bertaux Fabien , Dubus Vincent , Luo Jia , Wu Catherine J. , Keskin Derin B. , Eagen Kyle P. , Shapiro Geoffrey I. , French Christopher A.
Published: December 2023

Supplementary Table S14. Genes associated with megadomains that overlap between 311E and 317E mNC cell lines, and 342 tumor tissue.