bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gastro-esophageal diagnostic workup before bariatric surgery or endoscopic treatment for obesity: position statement of the International Society of Diseases of the Esophagus
Authors: Visaggi Pierfrancesco , Ghisa Matteo , Barberio Brigida , Chiu Philip W , Ishihara Ryu , Kohn Geoffrey P , Morozov Sergey , Thompson Sarah K , Wong Ian , Hassan Cesare , Savarino Edoardo Vincenzo
Published: January 2024

Obesity is a chronic and multifactorial condition characterized by abnormal weight gain due to excessive adipose tissue accumulation that represents a growing worldwide challenge for public health. In addition, obese patients have an increased risk of hiatal hernia, esophageal, and gastric dysfunction, as well as gastroesophageal reflux disease, which has a prevalence over 40% in those seeking endoscopic or surgical intervention. Surgery has been demonstrated to be the most effective treatment for severe obesity in terms of long-term weight loss, comorbidities, and quality of life improvements and overall mortality decrease. The recent emergence of bariatric endoscopic techniques promises less invasive, more cost-effective, and reproducible approaches to the treatment of obesity. With the endorsement of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus, we started a Delphi process to develop consensus statements on the most appropriate diagnostic workup to preoperatively assess gastroesophageal function before bariatric surgical or endoscopic interventions. The Consensus Working Group comprised 11 international experts from five countries. The group consisted of gastroenterologists and surgeons with a large expertise with regard to gastroesophageal reflux disease, bariatric surgery and endoscopy, and physiology. Ten statements were selected, on the basis of the agreement level and clinical relevance, which represent an evidence and experience-based consensus of the International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.
Spectral sensitivity of click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae) and their responses to light stimuli in laboratory and field experiments
Authors: Singleton Kendal , van Herk Willem G , Pickett Calla , Blake Adam James , Asad Syed , Furtado Kathleen , Saguez Julien , Gries Gerhard
Published: January 2024

With increasingly fewer insecticides registered to control the larvae of pest click beetles (Coleoptera: Elateridae), integrative beetle management, including pheromone- and light-based trapping of adult beetles, must be explored as an alternative strategy. Here, we analyzed the spectral sensitivity and color preference of 9 elaterids across 6 genera in electrophysiological recordings and in behavioral bioassays. In electroretinogram recordings (ERGs), dark-adapted beetles were exposed to narrow wavebands of light in 10-nm increments from 330 to 650 nm. All beetles proved most sensitive to green (515–538 nm) and ultraviolet (UV) light (~360 nm). In 4-choice bioassay arenas with 3 light emitting diodes (LEDs; green [525 nm], blue [470 nm], red [655 nm]) and a dark control as test stimuli, beetles discriminated between test stimuli, being preferentially attracted to green and blue LEDs. In field experiments, Vernon pitfall traps fitted with a green, blue or white LED captured significantly more male and female Agriotes lineatus and A. obscurus than dark control traps. When traps were baited with green or blue LEDs at light intensities that differed by 10-fold, the traps baited with higher light intensity lures captured numerically more beetles but trap catch data in accordance with light intensity did not differ statistically. Light-based trapping may be a viable tool for monitoring elaterid species known not to have pheromones.
Social, intellectual, psychological, and attractiveness judgements of lay people about patients before and after combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgical treatment
Authors: Conville Robert M , Benson Philip E , Flett Andrew M C
Published: January 2024

Background

Facial appearance plays a significant role in the success of social interactions. There is a limited amount of evidence investigating the influence of combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgical treatment on the social judgments of lay people.

Objective

The aim of this study was to investigate whether changes in facial appearance following orthognathic surgery alter the social judgements made by lay people.

Ethical approval

Ethical approval was granted from the University of Sheffield School of Clinical Dentistry Research Ethics Committee on 17th August 2020 (Reference: 033775).

Materials and methods

This cross-sectional, web-based survey involved clinical photographs of six Caucasian female patients pre- and post-combined orthodontic-orthognathic treatment. Three patients had a pre-treatment class 2 skeletal pattern, and three patients had a pre-treatment class 3 skeletal pattern. Staff and students at the University of Sheffield, UK were invited to evaluate five personality traits: (i) friendliness, (ii) intelligence, (iii) attractiveness, (iv) self-confidence, and (5) trustworthiness using a 5-point Likert scale. The trait scores were summed to obtain a total social judgement score, and a paired t-test was used to compare the total scores from pre- and post-treatment images.

Results

There were 261 responses to the survey of which 181 (75%) were completed fully. The total social judgement scores from after treatment images were higher compared with the pre-treatment images (mean diff 1.6; P < .001) indicating more positive social judgements. The improvements in perceived social judgments were more notable for class 3 patients (mean diff 2.7) compared to class 2 patients (mean diff 0.7).

Conclusion

Social judgement scores were higher (more positive) from post-treatment images of patient faces than their pre-treatment images. The findings highlight the possible indirect benefits combined orthodontic-orthognathic surgical treatment may have on an individual in a social setting.
Many roads to success: alternative routes to building an economic shell in land snails
Authors: Páll-Gergely Barna , Sipos András Á , Harzhauser Mathias , Örstan Aydın , Winkler Viola , Neubauer Thomas A
Published: January 2024

Land snails exhibit an extraordinary variety of shell shapes. The way shells are constructed underlies biological and mechanical constraints that vary across gastropod clades. Here, we quantify shell geometry of the two largest groups, Stylommatophora and Cyclophoroidea, to assess the potential causes for variation in shell shape and its relative frequency. Based on micro-computed tomography scans, we estimate material efficiency through 2D and 3D generalizations of the isoperimetric ratio, quantifying the ratios between area and perimeter of whorl cross-sections (2D) and shell volume and surface (3D), respectively. We find that stylommatophorans optimize material usage through whorl overlap, which may have promoted the diversification of flat-shelled species. Cyclophoroids are bound to a circular cross-section because of their operculum; flat shells are comparatively rare. Both groups show similar solutions for tall shells, where local geometry has a smaller effect because of the double overlap between previous and current whorls. Our results suggest that material efficiency is a driving factor in the selection of shell geometry. Essentially, the evolutionary success of Stylommatophora likely roots in their higher flexibility to produce an economic shell.
Is primary care ready for a potential new public health emergency in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, now subsided?
Authors: Etz Rebecca S , Solid Craig A , Gonzalez Martha M , Reves Sarah R , Britton Erin , Green Larry A , Bitton Asaf , Bechtel Christine , Stange Kurt C
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The lingering burden of the COVID-19 pandemic on primary care clinicians and practices poses a public health emergency for the United States. This study uses clinician-reported data to examine changes in primary care demand and capacity.

Methods

From March 2020 to March 2022, 36 electronic surveys were fielded among primary care clinicians responding to survey invitations as posted on listservs and identified through social media and crowd sourcing. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were performed on both closed- and open-ended survey questions.

Results

An average of 937 respondents per survey represented family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, geriatrics, and other specialties. Responses reported increases in patient health burden, including worsening chronic care management and increasing volume and complexity. A higher frequency of dental- and eyesight-related issues was noted by respondents, as was a substantial increase in mental or emotional health needs. Respondents also noted increased demand, “record high” wait times, and struggles to keep up with patient needs and the higher volume of patient questions. Frequent qualitative statements highlighted the mismatch of patient needs with practice capacity. Staffing shortages and the inability to fill open clinical positions impaired clinicians’ ability to meet patient needs and a substantial proportion of respondents indicated an intention to leave the profession or knew someone who had.

Conclusion

These data signal an urgent need to take action to support the ability of primary care to meet ongoing patient and population health care needs.
Dynamic comprehensive quality assessment of post-harvest grape in different transportation chains using SAHP–CatBoost machine learning
Authors: Chen Qian , Li Jiali , Feng Jianying , Qian Jianping
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Food quality assessment is critical for indicating the shelf-life and ensuring food safety or value. Due to high environmental sensitivity, the post-harvest quality of fresh fruit will undergo complex changes in the supply chain, with various dynamic quality-related features. It is difficult to efficiently and accurately extract comprehensive quality feature of post-harvest fruits from high-dimensional monitoring data with heterogeneous characteristics (numerical and categorical). Therefore, we proposed a dynamic comprehensive quality assessment method based on self-adaptive analytic hierarchy process (SAHP) integrated with the CatBoost model.

Materials and Methods

By adaptive weight optimization, the SAHP was utilized to analyze the multi-source quality information and obtain the quantized fusion value, as an output sample of CatBoost machine learning. Then, using heterogeneous monitoring data as input, the CatBoost model was directly trained through unbiased boosting with categorical features for dynamic assessment of overall quality status.

Results

Three quality index monitoring data sets for ‘Jufeng’ grape in different transportation chains (normal temperature, cold insulation, and cold chain) were individually constructed as the research samples. Furthermore, compared to other machine learning methods, the SAHP–CatBoost had more accurate results in comprehensive quality feature extraction. In actual transportation chains, the mean absolute error, mean absolute percentage error, and root mean squared error of dynamic comprehensive assessment were limited to 0.0044, 1.012%, and 0.0078, respectively.

Conclusions

The proposed method is efficient in handling heterogeneous monitoring data and extracting comprehensive quality information of post-harvest grape as a robust shelf-life indicator. It can reasonably guide post-harvest quality management to reduce food loss and improve economic benefits.
Educational Attainment and Later-Life Cognitive Function in High- and Middle-Income Countries: Evidence From the Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol
Authors: Zhang Yuan S , O’Shea Brendan , Yu Xuexin , Cho Tsai-Chin , Zhang Kelvin Pengyuan , Kler Jasdeep , Langa Kenneth M , Weir David R , Gross Alden L , Kobayashi Lindsay C
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Identifying social policies that can promote cognitive health is crucial for reducing the global burden of dementia. We evaluated the importance of educational attainment for later-life cognitive function in various social and geographic settings.

Methods

Using harmonized data for individuals aged ≥65 years from the United States Health and Retirement Study (HRS) and its international partner studies in England, Mexico, China, and India, and each study’s respective Harmonized Cognitive Assessment Protocol (HCAP), we conducted a cross-national comparative study to examine the role of educational attainment in later-life cognitive function across countries (n = 14,980, 2016–2019). We used multivariable-adjusted regression to estimate associations between educational attainment and harmonized global cognitive function scores.

Results

In Mexico, China, and India, the general cognitive function scores on average are approximately one standard deviation of the HRS-HCAP cognitive function score distribution lower compared to the United States and England, paralleling patterns of educational attainment across countries. In all countries, higher educational attainment was associated with progressively higher later-life cognitive function scores. Population-level differences in educational attainment explained about 50%–90% of the observed differences in cognitive function scores across countries.

Discussion

The relationship between education and later-life cognitive function across social and geographic contexts underscores the crucial role of education to promote cognitive health and reduce dementia risk. Continual improvement of educational attainment in low- and middle-income settings may yield a significant pay-off in later-life cognitive health.
Nonkin Carers’ Roles and Contributions to the Support of Older People Living Alone: An Analysis of Qualitative Data
Authors: Wosko Paulina , Pfabigan Johanna , Trukeschitz Birgit , Reitinger Elisabeth , Pichler Barbara , Pleschberger Sabine
Published: January 2024

Objectives

In the Global North, the number of older people living alone who have little or no support from family members is increasing. However, little is known about older people living alone who have basic needs for support but do not have kin living nearby or a sustainable relationship to a relative they can rely on. Thus, this paper focuses on the role of nonkin carers and their contribution to the support arrangements of older people living alone.

Methods

We conducted semistructured interviews with 32 older people living alone aged between 67 and 99 (Ø 84.2 years) in Austria, 23 women, and 9 men. The interviews were analyzed by applying a coding strategy based on grounded theory. In addition, sociograms were created to illustrate relevant relations in each support arrangement.

Results

We identified and characterized 3 groups of nonkins involved in the support arrangements of older people living alone based on the origins of the relationships: (1) friends, (2) neighbors, and (3) acquaintances like members of various communities. The arrangements were classified according to the amount and quality of involvement of nonkin carers, namely manifold, scattered, and little nonkin involvement.

Discussion

Our study highlights the diversity of nonkin support in the support arrangements of older people living alone. This heterogeneity should be considered by policy-makers when promoting informal care and designing policy measures.
Using artificial intelligence to improve administrative process in Medicaid
Authors: Cho Ted , Miller Brian J
Published: January 2024

Administrative burden across state–federal benefits programs is unsustainable, and artificial intelligence (AI) and associated technologies have emerged and resulted in significant interest as possible solutions. While early in development, AI has significant potential to reduce administrative waste and increase efficiency, with many government agencies and state legislators eager to adopt the new technology. Turning to existing frameworks defining what functions are considered “inherently governmental” can help determine where more autonomous implementation could be not only appropriate but also provide unique advantages. Such areas could include eligibility and redetermination of Medicaid eligibility as well as preventing improper Medicaid payments. However, while AI is promising, this technology may not be ready for fully autonomous implementation and instead could be deployed to augment human capabilities with robust safeguards until it has proven to be more reliable. In the meantime, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services should release clear guidance around the use of AI by state Medicaid programs, and policymakers must work together to harness AI technologies in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the Medicaid program.
Measuring the macroeconomic responses to public investment in innovation: evidence from OECD countries
Authors: Ciaffi Giovanna , Deleidi Matteo , Mazzucato Mariana
Published: January 2024

The paper aims to assess the macroeconomic impacts of government investment in Research and Development (R&D) and more generic fiscal policies by quantifying the Gross domestic product (GDP) and business R&D investment multipliers. Following the recent literature on fiscal policy, we combine the Local Projection approach with fiscal shocks estimated using Structural Vector Autoregressive modeling by focusing on a panel of 15 Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries for the 1981–2017 period. Our findings support the idea that expansionary fiscal policies can positively and persistently affect the GDP level and crowd in business R&D investment. Additionally, our results show that public investment in R&D generates the largest multiplicative effect both on GDP and business R&D than the one associated with more generic public expenditures, even when fiscal expectations are considered.
Experimental study on the transition modes of falling film between horizontal 3D finned tubes and their transitional Reynolds number prediction model
Authors: Chen Jingdong , Gao Zheming , Liu Xia , Shen Lulu
Published: January 2024

To investigate the effect of different falling film modes on the heat transfer performance of three-dimensional (3D) finned tubes in a falling film heat exchanger, the falling film transition modes are experimentally investigated by observing the flow modes on 3D finned tubes and determining the Reynolds numbers of flow transition modes. A test facility, which contains an array of three horizontal test tubes, is constructed to study the effect of tube spacing and fin structure on the falling film Reynolds number (Re). The results show that tube spacing and fin structure significantly affect the Re and observed mode. With the increase in tube spacing, the Re overall shows an increasing trend for the four transition modes, especially for the transition between the column and the column–sheet mode. With the increase in the ratio for fin structure parameters, the Re overall shows a downward trend, and this phenomenon is more evident with the increase in the tube spacing. Machine learning methods are utilized to predict the Re, considering the effects of tube spacing and fin structure. Both this method and the linear regression method are used to predict the Re of the literature and this experiment, and the results indicate that machine learning has a lower prediction deviation.
Goal-oriented error estimation based on equilibrated flux reconstruction for the approximation of the harmonic formulations in eddy current problems
Authors: Creusé Emmanuel , Nicaise Serge , Tang Zuqi
Published: January 2024

In this work, we propose an a posteriori goal-oriented error estimator for the harmonic $\textbf{A}$-$\varphi $ formulation arising in the modeling of eddy current problems, approximated by nonconforming finite element methods. It is based on the resolution of an adjoint problem associated with the initial one. For each of these two problems, a guaranteed equilibrated estimator is developed using some flux reconstructions. These fluxes also allow to obtain a goal-oriented error estimator that is fully computable and can be split in a principal part and a remainder one. Our theoretical results are illustrated by numerical experiments.
Positive Mass Theorems for Spin Initial Data Sets With Arbitrary Ends and Dominant Energy Shields
Authors: Cecchini Simone , Lesourd Martin , Zeidler Rudolf
Published: January 2024

We prove a positive mass theorem for spin initial data sets $(M,g,k)$ that contain an asymptotically flat end and a shield of dominant energy (a subset of $M$ on which the dominant energy scalar $\mu -|J|$ has a positive lower bound). In a similar vein, we show that for an asymptotically flat end $\mathcal{E}$ that violates the positive mass theorem (i.e., $\textrm{E} < |\textrm{P}|$), there exists a constant $R>0$, depending only on $\mathcal{E}$, such that any initial data set containing $\mathcal{E}$ must violate the hypotheses of Witten’s proof of the positive mass theorem in an $R$-neighborhood of $\mathcal{E}$. This implies the positive mass theorem for spin initial data sets with arbitrary ends, and we also prove a rigidity statement. Our proofs are based on a modification of Witten’s approach to the positive mass theorem involving an additional independent timelike direction in the spinor bundle.
Interlacing Polynomial Method for the Column Subset Selection Problem
Authors: Cai Jian-Feng , Xu Zhiqiang , Xu Zili
Published: January 2024

This paper investigates the spectral norm version of the column subset selection problem. Given a matrix $\textbf{A}\in \mathbb{R}^{n\times d}$ and a positive integer $k\leq \textrm{rank}(\textbf{A})$, the objective is to select exactly $k$ columns of $\textbf{A}$ that minimize the spectral norm of the residual matrix after projecting $\textbf{A}$ onto the space spanned by the selected columns. We use the method of interlacing polynomials introduced by Marcus–Spielman–Srivastava to derive a new upper bound on the minimal approximation error. This new bound is asymptotically sharp when the matrix $\textbf{A}\in \mathbb{R}^{n\times d}$ obeys a spectral power-law decay. The relevant expected characteristic polynomial is a variation of the expected polynomial for the restricted invertibility problem, incorporating two extra variable substitution operators. Finally, we propose a deterministic polynomial-time algorithm that achieves this error bound up to a computational error.
Interspecific interactions facilitate keystone species in a multispecies biofilm that promotes plant growth
Authors: Yang Nan , Røder Henriette L , Wicaksono Wisnu Adi , Wassermann Birgit , Russel Jakob , Li Xuanji , Nesme Joseph , Berg Gabriele , Sørensen Søren J , Burmølle Mette
Published: January 2024

Microorganisms colonizing plant roots co-exist in complex, spatially structured multispecies biofilm communities. However, little is known about microbial interactions and the underlying spatial organization within biofilm communities established on plant roots. Here, a well-established four-species biofilm model (Stenotrophomonas rhizophila, Paenibacillus amylolyticus, Microbacterium oxydans, and Xanthomonas retroflexus, termed as SPMX) was applied to Arabidopsis roots to study the impact of multispecies biofilm on plant growth and the community spatial dynamics on the roots. SPMX co-culture notably promoted root development and plant biomass. Co-cultured SPMX increased root colonization and formed multispecies biofilms, structurally different from those formed by monocultures. By combining 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing and fluorescence in situ hybridization with confocal laser scanning microscopy, we found that the composition and spatial organization of the four-species biofilm significantly changed over time. Monoculture P. amylolyticus colonized plant roots poorly, but its population and root colonization were highly enhanced when residing in the four-species biofilm. Exclusion of P. amylolyticus from the community reduced overall biofilm production and root colonization of the three species, resulting in the loss of the plant growth-promoting effects. Combined with spatial analysis, this led to identification of P. amylolyticus as a keystone species. Our findings highlight that weak root colonizers may benefit from mutualistic interactions in complex communities and hereby become important keystone species impacting community spatial organization and function. This work expands the knowledge on spatial organization uncovering interspecific interactions in multispecies biofilm communities on plant roots, beneficial for harnessing microbial mutualism promoting plant growth.
Development of an indirect ELISA system for diagnosis of porcine edema disease using recombinant modified Stx2e antigen
Authors: Hur Jin , Jung Ho-Kyoung , Park Seung-Won
Published: January 2024

Aim

This study aimed to develop a sensitive and specific recombinant antigen protein indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit to detect the Shiga toxin (Stx)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) antibodies against porcine edema disease (ED).

Methods and results

The recombinant antigen was co-expressed with the STEC-derived Stx2e A2-fragment and Stx2e B protein in E. coli BL21(DE3) pLysS cells and purified using maltose-binding protein open columns. We used a Shiga-like toxin 2 antibody to test the specificity of the recombinant antigen in an indirect ELISA, which was detected in antigen-coated wells but not in uncoated wells. We tested the indirect ELISA system using samples from the STEC-immunized pig group, the commercial swine farm group, and healthy aborted fetal pleural effusion group; five and twenty samples, respectively, were positive for STEC in the former, whereas all three samples were negative for STEC in the latter.

Conclusions

This newly developed indirect ELISA may be a specific method for diagnosing STEC infections in pigs.
Inpatient Complications and Outcomes for Burn Patients Admitted With Methamphetamine Intoxication
Authors: Stanton Eloise , Karanas Yvonne , Pham Tam , Gillenwater Justin , Sheckter Clifford C
Published: January 2024

Methamphetamine intoxication frequently complicates inpatient burn admissions. While single-institution studies describe adverse outcomes during resuscitation, little is known about the risks of amphetamine intoxication on inpatient complications and perioperative management. The US National Trauma Data Bank was queried for burn encounters between 2017 and 2021. Amphetamine intoxication was identified on admission. Primary outcomes included death, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI). Secondary outcomes included organ failure and surgical management. Multivariable regressions modeled outcomes adjusting for available covariates including demographics, TBSA burned, and inhalation injury. Bonferroni adjustments were applied. Our study identified a total of 73,968 primary burn encounters with toxicology screens. Among these, 800 cases (1.1%) were found to have positive methamphetamine drug screens upon admission. Methamphetamine users were significantly older (41.7 vs 34.9 years, P < .001), had a greater percentage of males (69.6 vs 65.4, P = .045), were more likely to have inhalation injury (P < .001), and had larger %TBSA burns (16% vs 13%, P < .001). Methamphetamine users were no more likely to die, experience MI, or experience stroke during admission. In contrast, methamphetamine users were significantly more likely to have alcohol withdrawal (P = .019), acute kidney injury (AKI) (P < .001), deep vein thrombosis (P = .001), pulmonary embolism (PE) (P = .039), sepsis (P = .026), and longer intensive care unit (ICU) stays (P < .001). Methamphetamine use was associated with a longer number of days to the first procedure (P = .005). Of all patients who required surgery (15.0%), methamphetamine users required significantly more total debridements and reconstructive procedures (P < .001). While not associated with mortality, methamphetamine intoxication was associated with an increased risk of many complications including PE, deep vein thrombosis, AKI, sepsis, and longer ICU stays. Methamphetamine intoxication was associated with delays in surgical care.
Individual trabecula segmentation validation in first- and second-generation high-resolution peripheral computed tomography compared to micro-computed tomography in the distal radius and tibia
Authors: Dinescu Andreea Teodora , Zhou Bin , Hu Yizhong Jenny , Agarwal Sanchita , Shane Elizabeth , Guo Xiang-Dong Edward
Published: January 2024

High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) has been used for in vivo 3D visualization of trabecular microstructure. Second-generation HR-pQCT (HR-pQCT II) has been shown to have good agreement with first generation HR-pQCT (HR-pQCT I). Advanced Individual Trabecula Segmentation (ITS) decomposes the trabecula network into individual plates and rods. ITS based on HR-pQCT I showed a strong correlation to ITS based on micro-computed tomography (μCT) and identified trabecular changes in metabolic bone diseases. ITS based on HR-pQCT II has new potential because of the enhanced resolution but has yet to be validated. The objective of this study was to assess the agreement between ITS based on HR-pQCT I, HR-pQCT II, and μCT to assess the capability of ITS on HR-pQCT images as a tool for studying bone structure. Freshly frozen tibia and radius bones were scanned in the distal region using HR-pQCT I at 82 μm, HR-pQCT II at 60.7 μm, and μCT at 37 μm. Images were registered, binarized, and ITS analysis was performed. Bone volume fraction (pBV/TV, rBV/TV), number density (pTb.N, rTb.N), thickness (pTb.Th, rTb.Th), and plate-to-rod (PR) ratio (pBV/rBV) of trabecular plates and rods were obtained. Paired Student’s t-tests with post hoc Bonferroni analysis were used to examine the differences. Linear regression was used to determine the correlation coefficient. The HR-pQCT I parameters were different from the μCT measurements. The HR-pQCT II parameters were different from the μCT measurements except for rTb.N, and the HR-pQCT I parameters were different from the HR-pQCT II measurements except for pTb.Th. The strong correlation between HR-pQCT II and μCT microstructural analysis (R2 = 0.55–0.94) suggests that HR-pQCT II can be used to assess changes in plate and rod microstructure and that values from HR-pQCT I can be corrected.
Field-evolved pyrethroid resistance in Tychius picirostris (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) populations in Oregon white clover seed crops
Authors: Tiwari Grace , Kaur Navneet , Anderson Nicole P , Tanner K Christy , Lightle Danielle M , Willette Alison R , Otani Jennifer K , Jorgensen Amanda M , Yoder Calvin , Dorman Seth J
Published: January 2024

The clover seed weevil, Tychius picirostris Fabricius, a serious pest of white clover, Trifolium repens L., grown for seed in western Oregon, causing feeding damage to flowers and developing seeds. Since 2017, white clover seed producers have anecdotally reported T. picirostris control failures using foliar pyrethroid insecticide applications. This mode of action (MoA) is an important chemical control option for T. picirostris management. To evaluate insecticide resistance selection to pyrethroids (bifenthrin) and other MoAs labeled for T. picirostris management (malathion and chlorantraniliprole), adult populations were collected from 8 commercial white clover grown for seed fields in the Willamette Valley, OR, in 2022 and 2023. Among collected Oregon populations, very high resistance ratios (RR50 = 178.00–725.67) were observed to technical grade bifenthrin and low to high resistance ratios (RR50 = 7.80–32.80) to malathion in surface contact assays compared to a susceptible Canadian field population. Moreover, >2.73 times the labeled rate of formulated product containing bifenthrin as the sole MoA was required to kill >50% of T. picirostris in topical assays. Synergistic assays with a mixed-function oxidase inhibitor, an esterase inhibitor, and a glutathione-S-transferase inhibitor revealed phase I and II detoxification enzymes are present in Oregon T. picirostris populations and confer metabolic resistance to bifenthrin. This is the first report of T. picirostris insecticide resistance selection to pyrethroid and organophosphate insecticides. Results will inform continued monitoring and insecticide resistance management strategies to slow the evolution of T. picirostris insecticide resistance selection in Oregon’s white clover seed production.
Round-up of national decisions on copyright protection of works of applied art 2023
Authors:   The Bird & Bird Ip Team, Shehana Wijesena , Dang Katrina , Chloupek Vojtêch , Kalenský Petr , Martin Taimr , Lutzhőft Niels , Hendel Christoph , Hembt Simon , Milanesi Luisa Moavero , Ripa-monti Margherita , Boonen Edzard , Molle Clemens , Rieger-Jansen Manon , Lipski Paweł , Morawska-Zakroczymska Zuzanna , Balcer-Kopka Karina , Lahoz David Fuentes , Vilceanu Sorin
Published: January 2024

Following the judgments of the Court of Justice of the European Union (CJEU) in Cofemel, C-683/17 and Brompton, C-833/18, the treatment of works of applied art under copyright law has (re-)gained central attention. At the time of writing, the CJEU has just received two new referrals for a preliminary ruling (Mio, C-580/23 and USM Haller [case number pending; I ZR 96/22]), asking how the assessment of originality—including having regard to such works—is to be conducted. In 2023, national courts in the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain delivered a series of important rulings in connection with the copyright treatment of works of applied art. This contribution provides a round-up of the most significant judgments issued in the period 1 January—31 December 2023. The analysis is divided by area (subsistence of copyright; infringement and enforcement aspects; exceptions and limitations; interplay between copyright and other rights in works of applied art) and country (Czech Republic, Finland, France, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain).
Agreement of methods to assess antimicrobial susceptibility using Escherichia coli isolates as target models
Authors: Andretta Milimani , Tavares Rafaela de Melo , Fusieger Andressa , Yamatogi Ricardo Seiti , Nero Luís Augusto
Published: January 2024

Antimicrobial susceptibility tests (AST) conducted in vitro offer a range of methods to assess the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of microorganisms. Escherichia coli, a widely distributed bacterium, is closely linked to the issue of AMR. In this way, the present study aimed to assess the agreement among different in vitro AST methods, including disk diffusion in agar, broth dilution, and agar dilution method. A total of 100 E. coli isolates were analyzed for their resistance levels against six antibiotics: amoxicillin, ceftiofur, ciprofloxacin, chloramphenicol, tetracycline, and sulfamethoxazole + trimethoprim, using the aforementioned AST methods. Standard breakpoint values were employed to classify isolates as resistant, intermediate, or susceptible, and comparisons among the AST methods were conducted by McNemar’s test (P < .05). The obtained data demonstrated equivalence among the AST methods, highlighting the reliability of these standardized classical methodologies. This standardization aids in preventing the inappropriate use of antimicrobials and the dissemination of antimicrobial-resistant microorganisms.
Machine Learning Refinement of In Situ Images Acquired by Low Electron Dose LC-TEM
Authors: Katsuno Hiroyasu , Kimura Yuki , Yamazaki Tomoya , Takigawa Ichigaku
Published: January 2024

We have studied a machine learning (ML) technique for refining images acquired during in situ observation using liquid-cell transmission electron microscopy. Our model is constructed using a U-Net architecture and a ResNet encoder. For training our ML model, we prepared an original image dataset that contained pairs of images of samples acquired with and without a solution present. The former images were used as noisy images, and the latter images were used as corresponding ground truth images. The number of pairs of image sets was 1,204, and the image sets included images acquired at several different magnifications and electron doses. The trained model converted a noisy image into a clear image. The time necessary for the conversion was on the order of 10 ms, and we applied the model to in situ observations using the software Gatan DigitalMicrograph (DM). Even if a nanoparticle was not visible in a view window in the DM software because of the low electron dose, it was visible in a successive refined image generated by our ML model.
An Assessment of Clinical Accuracy of Vital Sign–based Triage Tools Among U.S. and Coalition Forces
Authors: Vernon Tate E , April Michael D , Fisher Andrew D , Rizzo Julie A , Long Brit J , Schauer Steven G
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Early appropriate allocation of resources for critically injured combat casualties is essential. This is especially important when inundated with an overwhelming number of casualties where limited resources must be efficiently allocated, such as during mass casualty events. There are multiple scoring systems utilized in the prehospital combat setting, including the shock index (SI), modified shock index (MSI), simple triage and rapid treatment (START), revised trauma score (RTS), new trauma score (NTS), Glasgow Coma Scale + age + pressure (GAP), and the mechanism + GAP (MGAP) score. The optimal score for application to the combat trauma population remains unclear.

Materials and Methods

This is a secondary analysis of a previously described dataset from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry from January 1, 2007 through March 17, 2020. We constructed univariable analyses to determine the area under the receiving operator characteristic (AUROC) for the scoring systems of interest. Our primary outcomes were early death (within 24 hours) or early massive transfusion, as defined by ≥3 units.

Results

There were 12,268 casualties that met inclusion criteria. There were 168 (1%) who died within the first 24 hours and 2082 (17%) that underwent significant transfusion within the first 24 hours. When assessing the predictive capabilities for death within 24 hours, the AUROCs were 0.72 (SI), 0.69 (MSI), 0.89 (START), 0.90 (RTS), 0.83 (NTS), 0.90 (GAP), and 0.91 (MGAP). The AUROCs for massive transfusion were 0.89 (SI), 0.89 (MSI), 0.82 (START), 0.81 (RTS), 0.83 (NTS), 0.85 (MGAP), and 0.86 (GAP).

Conclusions

This study retrospectively applied seven triage tools to a database of 12,268 cases from the Department of Defense Trauma Registry to evaluate their performance in predicting early death or massive transfusion in combat. All scoring systems performed well with an AUROC >0.8 for both outcomes. Although the SI and MSI performed best for predicting massive transfusion (both had an AUROC of 0.89), they ranked last for assessment of mortality within 24 hours, with the other tools performing well. START, RTS, NTS, MGAP and GAP reliably identified early death and need for massive transfusion, with MGAP and GAP performing the best overall. These findings highlight the importance of assessing triage tools to best manage resources and ultimately preserve lives of traumatically wounded warfighters. Further studies are needed to explain the surprising performance discrepancy of the SI and MSI in predicting early death and massive transfusion.
Performance of Mucorales spp. qPCR in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis
Authors: Brousse Xavier , Imbert Sébastien , Issa Nahéma , Forcade Edouard , Faure Maxime , Chambord Jeremy , Ramaroson Hanta , Kaminski Hannah , Dumas Pierre-Yves , Blanchard Elodie
Published: January 2024

To estimate the diagnostic performance of Mucorales polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) in routine practice. This was a single-center retrospective study including all consecutive patients >18 years who underwent Mucorales PCR assay in BALF between January 2021 and May 2022. Index testing was prospectively performed using the MycoGENIE Aspergillus spp.–Mucorales spp. PCR. The reference was the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis by the Adjudication Committee. Mucorales PCR in BALF was performed for 938 patients and was positive for 21 of 938 (2.2%). Eleven pulmonary mucormycosis (including one disseminated) were diagnosed. Among them, one (9.1%) was classified as proven mucormycosis, three (27.3%) as probable, and seven (63.6%) as possible according to the EORTC/MSGERC 2019 criteria. The main host factor was hematological malignancy (10 of 11, 90.9%). Mucorales PCR was positive in serum for eight patients (72.7%). Three patients had positive PCR in BALF, but negative in serum. The mean cycle threshold value was significantly lower in mucormycosis than false-positive cases. Sensitivity was 72.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 43.4–90.3%), and specificity was 98.6% (95% CI, 97.6–99.2%). The positive and negative predictive values were 38.1% (95% CI, 20.8–59.1%) and 99.7% (95% CI, 99.1–99.9%), respectively. Mucorales PCR in BALF showed good diagnostic performance for mucormycosis, particularly in combination with serum PCR. A positive result should be interpreted with caution, given the possibility of carriage in the airway. However, its high negative predictive value and specificity suggest the utility of Mucorales PCR in BALF in the diagnosis of pulmonary mucormycosis.
Mapping dust in the giant molecular cloud Orion A
Authors: Gration Amery , Magorrian John
Published: January 2024

The Sun is located close to the Galactic mid-plane, meaning that we observe the Galaxy through significant quantities of dust. Moreover, the vast majority of the Galaxy’s stars also lie in the disc, meaning that dust has an enormous impact on the massive astrometric, photometric and spectroscopic surveys of the Galaxy that are currently underway. To exploit the data from these surveys we require good three-dimensional maps of the Galaxy’s dust. We present a new method for making such maps in which we form the best linear unbiased predictor of the extinction at an arbitrary point based on the extinctions for a set of observed stars. This method allows us to avoid the artificial inhomogeneities (so-called ‘fingers of God’) and resolution limits that are characteristic of many published dust maps. Moreover, it requires minimal assumptions about the statistical properties of the interstellar medium. In fact, we require only a model of the first and second moments of the dust density field. The method is suitable for use with directly measured extinctions, such as those provided by the Rayleigh–Jeans colour excess method, and inferred extinctions, such as those provided by hierarchical Bayesian models like StarHorse. We test our method by mapping dust in the region of the giant molecular cloud Orion A. Our results indicate a foreground dust cloud at a distance of 350 pc, which has been identified in work by another author.
Saturation of spiral instabilities in disc galaxies
Authors: Hamilton Chris
Published: January 2024

Spiral density waves can arise in galactic discs as linear instabilities of the underlying stellar distribution function. Such an instability grows exponentially in amplitude at some fixed growth rate β before saturating non-linearly. However, the mechanisms behind saturation, and the resulting saturated spiral amplitude, have received little attention. Here, we argue that one important saturation mechanism is the non-linear trapping of stars near the spiral’s corotation resonance. Under this mechanism, we show analytically that an m-armed spiral instability will saturate when the libration frequency of resonantly trapped orbits reaches $\omega _\mathrm{lib} \sim \mathrm{a\, \, few}\times m^{1/2} \beta$. For a galaxy with a flat rotation curve, this implies a maximum relative spiral surface density $\vert \delta \Sigma /\Sigma _0\vert \sim \mathrm{a\, \, few} \times (\beta /\Omega _\mathrm{p})^2 \cot \alpha$, where Ωp is the spiral pattern speed and α is its pitch angle. This result is in reasonable agreement with recent N-body simulations, and suggests that spirals driven by internally-generated instabilities reach relative amplitudes of at most a few tens of per cent; higher amplitude spirals, like in M51 and NGC 1300, are likely caused by very strong bars and/or tidal perturbations.
Why dust pressure matters in debris discs
Authors: Lynch Elliot M , Lovell Joshua B , Sefilian Antranik A
Published: January 2024

There is a common assumption in the particulate disc community that the pressure in particulate discs is essentially zero and that the disc streamlines follow Keplerian orbits, in the absence of self-gravity or external perturbations. It is also often assumed that the fluid description of particulate discs is not valid in the presence of crossing orbits (e.g. from non-zero free eccentricities). These stem from the misconception that fluid pressure arises due to the (typically rare) collisions between particles and that the velocity of particles in fluids are single-valued in space. In reality, pressure is a statistical property of the particle distribution function which arises precisely because there is a distribution of velocities at a given position. In this letter we demonstrate, with simple examples, that pressure in particulate discs is non-zero and is related to the inclination and free eccentricity distributions of the constituent particles in the discs. This means many common models of debris discs implicitly assume a non-zero, and potentially quite significant, dust pressure. We shall also demonstrate that the bulk motion of the dust is not the same as the particle motion and that the presence of pressure gradients can lead to strong departures from Keplerian motion.
A large-scale study of peptide features defining immunogenicity of cancer neo-epitopes
Authors: Wan Yat-tsai Richie , Koşaloğlu-Yalçın Zeynep , Peters Bjoern , Nielsen Morten
Published: January 2024

Accurate prediction of immunogenicity for neo-epitopes arising from a cancer associated mutation is a crucial step in many bioinformatics pipelines that predict outcome of checkpoint blockade treatments or that aim to design personalised cancer immunotherapies and vaccines. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of peptide features relevant for prediction of immunogenicity using the Cancer Epitope Database and Analysis Resource (CEDAR), a curated database of cancer epitopes with experimentally validated immunogenicity annotations from peer-reviewed publications. The developed model, ICERFIRE (ICore-based Ensemble Random Forest for neo-epitope Immunogenicity pREdiction), extracts the predicted ICORE from the full neo-epitope as input, i.e. the nested peptide with the highest predicted major histocompatibility complex (MHC) binding potential combined with its predicted likelihood of antigen presentation (%Rank). Key additional features integrated into the model include assessment of the BLOSUM mutation score of the neo-epitope, and antigen expression levels of the wild-type counterpart which is often reflecting a neo-epitope's abundance. We demonstrate improved and robust performance of ICERFIRE over existing immunogenicity and epitope prediction models, both in cross-validation and on external validation datasets.