bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Access and Cost Trends for Same-Day Plastic Surgery among Propensity-Matched Patients by Site-of-Service
Authors: Fahmy Joseph N. , Benítez Trista M. , Ouyang Zhongzhe , Wang Lu , Chung Kevin C.
Published: September 2024

Background:

Same-day surgery is common in plastic surgery. Sites-of-service are associated with cost differences. Freestanding (F-ASCs) and hospital-owned ambulatory surgery centers (HO-ASCs) are less costly than hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs), though access disparities are reported. Trends in cost, access, and outcomes between same-day surgery facilities for common plastic surgeries have not been evaluated.

Methods:

Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project State Ambulatory Surgery and Inpatient databases (2016-2019) were queried for patients who underwent laceration repair, local tissue rearrangement, skin grafting, panniculectomy, reduction mammaplasty, breast reconstruction, and revision breast reconstruction. Patients were 1:1:1 propensity-matched by facility type and outcomes were analyzed with a mixed-effects log-linear regression with repeated measures.

Results:

This study included 120,240 patients. Compared with HOPDs, no change in HO-ASC charges and an 8% quarterly decrease in F-ASC charges (95% CI: 0.89 to 0.96, p<0.001) was found. Relative to White patients, F-ASC use increased among Black (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.06, p<0.001) and Hispanic (OR: 1.05, 95% CI: 1.03 to 1.06, p<0.001) patients. F-ASCs had the lowest rates of unexpected postoperative visits (F-ASC OR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.25-0.32, p<0.001; HO-ASC OR: 0.52, 95% CI: 0.46-0.58, p<0.001).

Conclusion:

Incentives encouraging ASC use are maligned with same-day surgery payment policy in the US. Policy that narrows differences in ASC reimbursement relative to HOPDs will improve access to same-day plastic surgery and constrain costs. Narrowing F-ASC access disparities and lower rates of unexpected postoperative visits suggest F-ASCs improve access to same-day plastic surgery.
Academic Influence and Industry Funding in Nerve Allograft Research: A Coauthorship Network Analysis
Authors: Reese McKay , Mehta Yash A. , Haupt Michael R. , Dennis Daniella , Becker Miriam , Clark Robert Craig , Reid Chris M.
Published: September 2024

Background:

Clinical use of acellular nerve allografts is rapidly increasing despite limited high-quality, comparative evidence of superiority. Simultaneously, nonresearch payments to clinicians by the nerve allograft industry exceed $14 million over the past decade. In this study, the authors hypothesized that nerve allograft–related academic influence would correlate with industry funding.

Methods:

PubMed studies on nerve allografts in plastic and reconstructive surgery journals were reviewed. Using author lists from extracted studies, a coauthorship network was generated and degree centralities—quantitative measurements of influence within a network—were calculated. Open Payments data from the nerve allograft industry was summated for each author. Finally, Pearson correlation and linear regression were used to analyze the relationship between centrality and payments received.

Results:

A total of 185 studies were included, with 581 unique authors (nodes) and 2406 coauthorships (ties) between them. Among authors with exceptional network influence (centrality >10, 75th percentile; n = 113), 56 were clinicians with valid National Provider Identifiers and therefore eligible for inclusion in the Open Payments database. Forty-four (79%) of these authors received at least 1 payment from the industry. Pearson correlation revealed a moderate (0.4 < r < 0.6) positive correlation between centrality and payments received (r = 0.51; P < 0.001). Linear regression demonstrated an estimated 16% increase in total pay per additional unit of centrality (P < 0.001; 95% CI, 8% to 25%).

Conclusions:

There is a significant connection between academic influence and financial support from the nerve allograft industry. Such results warrant discussion concerning conflicts of interest in clinical research and best practices for mitigating potential bias related to commercially backed treatments.
Assessment of the Effects of Subclinical Hypothyroidism on Male Reproductive Parameters: A Meta-Analysis Approach
Authors: Bahreiny Seyed Sobhan , Ahangarpour Akram , Aghaei Mojtaba
Published: September 2024

Subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) is a common endocrine disorder that potentially affects reproductive health. Despite its prevalence, the precise relationship between SCH and sperm quality remains unclear. A comprehensive search was conducted across electronic databases to identify relevant studies exploring the association between SCH and sperm quality parameters, covering literature published from January 2000 to January 2024. The standard mean difference (SMD) was used to compute pooled effect estimates with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Additionally, meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to investigate the potential sources of heterogeneity. The meta-analysis included a thorough examination of ten studies comprising 2239 participants. According to the findings of this meta-analysis, SCH significantly affects sperm quality. Specifically, the study suggests a decrease in the volume of seminal fluids (SMD = -0.186; 95% CI: -0.385 to 0.013; P = 0.067), total sperm count (SMD = -0.604; 95% CI: -1.178 to -0.030; P = 0.039), sperm morphology (SMD = -0.784; 95% CI: -1.405 to -0.162; P = 0.013), and progressive motility (SMD = -1.437; 95% CI: -2.147 to -0.727; P < 0.001). However, SCH was also associated with an increase in sperm concentration (SMD = 0.112; 95% CI: -0.058 to 0.281; P = 0.017). Our meta-analysis provides compelling evidence of the adverse effects of SCH on sperm quality parameters. These findings underscore the importance of considering the thyroid function in the assessment and management of male infertility.
Goldenhar Syndrome Complicated by Hemifacial Microsomia and Unilateral Cleft Palate Absence
Authors: Chen Hao , Shen Weimin
Published: September 2024

Goldenhar syndrome, also known as oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) or hemifacial microsomia (HFM), is characterized by developmental anomalies in structures such as the eyes, ears, upper jaw, lower jaw, upper palate, and spine. The facial abnormalities, stemming predominantly from branchial arch malformation, are sometimes categorized as the first and second branchial arch syndromes. Its incidence is estimated to be ∼1 in 3500. Here, the authors present a case of Goldenhar syndrome in a male infant at the age of 10 months, showcasing a particularly unique manifestation of cleft palate, for which we employed myomucosal flap reconstruction of the soft palate.
A Subunit-Based Concept for Preoperative Design of the Cauliflower Ear
Authors: Ma Xu , Dai Xinyue , Zhang Dapeng , Xiong Zenghui , Wang Bingyu , Li Jiajun , Liu Guofeng
Published: September 2024

Purpose:

Cauliflower ear is an ear deformity caused by a closed ear injury with varying severity. Several studies on the systematic reconstruction of cauliflower ear have been reported. Here, the authors aim to introduce a simplified subunit-based reconstruction concept for the cauliflower ear.

Methods:

The authors retrospectively analyzed all patients who underwent surgery to repair cauliflower ear in our department from April 2021 to April 2023. Patients’ demographic information, clinical characteristics, and outcomes were recorded. All patients were followed up for 1 year.

Technique:

The authors assessed each subunit of the cauliflower ear in sequence in terms of the change in size and shape and decided whether tissue removal or grafting is needed. The surgical design was obtained by a combination of all subunits.

Results:

The authors included a total of 5 patients with mild and moderate cauliflower ear repaired by the subunit-based method. The shape of all the involved ear subunits of our patients was almost restored. No patient needed the use of cartilage grafts and flaps. The authors summarized 5 common subunits with deformity: helix, scaphoid fossa, antihelix crura and triangular fossa, antihelix body, and concha. The pathology results reported a keloid in 1 case. All patients reported no recurrence and were satisfied with the surgery after 1 year.

Conclusions:

The authors reported a simplified subunit-based method of preoperative evaluation and design of cauliflower ear, as a new alternative option to complement the current clinical strategies. The authors also reported the first case of a keloid in cauliflower ear.
Platelet-Rich Plasma in the Prevention and Treatment of Medication-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Aljohani Marwan H.
Published: September 2024

Objectives:

Medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ) is a significant complication associated with bisphosphonates, impacting jaw osteoclasts, and causing altered bone remodelling. Prevention involves stabilizing systemic pathology, considering antiresorptive therapies, and exploring platelet-rich fibrin (PRF) for wound healing and tissue regeneration. The study aims to assess the efficacy of PRF in MRONJ treatment and highlight research gaps for more robust investigations.

Methods:

Following PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines, this systematic review and meta-analysis included English publications from 2013 to 2023, employing a systematic search in databases such as MEDLINE, Scopus, and Web of Science. Quality assessment used the Cochrane Collaboration’s tool and the NOS, with the main meta-analysis concentrating on PRF-treated MRONJ cases, assessing resolution rates, and prioritizing healing outcomes and infection absence as primary endpoints.

Results:

The study, encompassing 11 articles and 480 participants with MRONJ, demonstrated that in stage 1 procedures, PRF significantly outperformed conventional medical treatments (OR: 2.93, 95% CI: 1.54–5.59, P=0.001), particularly at the mandible site (OR: 1.65, 95% CI: 0.86–3.17, P=0.13). PRF also exhibited significantly superior healing outcomes compared with conventional medical treatments (OR: 4.45, 95% CI: 1.58–12.53, P=0.005), supporting its consideration as a valuable alternative in specific MRONJ management scenarios.

Conclusion:

This study highlights PRF’s effectiveness in early MRONJ interventions and specific anatomic sites, despite acknowledged limitations, emphasizing the need for further research, and supporting its consideration in MRONJ surgical management.
Big Data Analysis of Facial Fracture Epidemiology in South Korea From 2015 to 2020: Impacts of Aging and Personal Mobility
Authors: Jun Daiwon , Lee Jun Hyeok , Kim Shin Hyun , Choi Jong Yun , Choi Jangyoun , Lee Jung Ho
Published: September 2024

The epidemiology of facial fractures is continuously evolving due to various influencing factors, including social, economic, and technological advancements. Thus, an updated analysis of facial bone fractures is necessary. This study aimed to provide an updated epidemiological analysis of facial bone fractures and assess severity using multiple factors. We retrospectively reviewed patients who underwent facial bone fracture surgery at 3 teaching hospitals in South Korea between January 2015 and December 2020. Data collected included patient demographics (sex and age), trauma mechanism, alcohol intoxication status, and fracture types. Trauma mechanisms were categorized into 7 groups: assault, fall, sports, occupational injury, motor vehicle crash, bicycle, and personal mobility. Severity was assessed using the modified facial injury severity scale. A total of 5953 patients (4437 males and 1516 females) were included, with ages ranging from 1 to 92 years (mean age: 36.37±18.61 y). A steady decline in the number of patients was observed from 2015 to 2020. Falls were the most common cause of facial fractures (2300 cases, 39%), and nasal bone fractures were the most frequent type (3683 cases, 46%). The number of elderly patients (> 60 y) and injuries caused by personal mobility devices increased steadily. Male sex and alcohol intoxication were associated with higher severity scores. Motor vehicle crashes had the highest severity scores (2.246). While the incidence of facial bone fractures has decreased in recent years, the proportion of elderly patients and injuries caused by personal mobility devices is increasing, posing a significant burden on the health care system.
Maternal, Fetal and Infant outcomes Associated with Bariatric Surgery
Authors: Doumouras Aristithes G. , Muraca Giulia M. , Darling Elizabeth K. , O’Callaghan Emma K. , Nguyen Francis , Boudreau Vanessa , Anvari Mehran
Published: September 2024

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to determine the association between bariatric surgery and maternal, fetal and infant outcomes.

Summary Background Data:

Obesity during pregnancy is a risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. Bariatric surgery is the most effective weight loss treatment but the impact of bariatric surgery on pregnancy outcomes remains poorly characterised.

Methods:

This was a population-based, matched cohort study of prospective databases in Ontario, Canada. Patients with obesity who received bariatric surgery from 2010 to 2016 and subsequently became pregnant matched on multiple factors to non-surgical pregnant patients with obesity. The primary outcomes of interest were the incidence included of gestational diabetes, preeclampsia/HELLP syndrome, small for gestational age (SGA), large for gestational age (LGA), and a composite of severe fetal/infant morbidity/mortality. Multivariable regression evaluated outcomes.

Results:

680 patients who underwent bariatric surgery and later became pregnant were matched to 2002 pregnant patients with obesity. Gestational diabetes occurred in 8.7% of the surgery group and 18.8% of the non-surgical group (adjusted OR (aOR) 0.29, 95%CI 0.21-0.40, P<0.001). A lower incidence of preeclampsia/HELLP was observed post-surgery (aOR 0.20, 95%CI 0.13-0.31, P<0.001). Bariatric surgery impacted SGA (aOR 2.74, 95%CI 2.04–3.70, P<0.001) and LGA (aOR 0.25, 95%CI 0.18-0.36, P<0.001). There were no observed associations between bariatric surgery and any adverse fetal or infant outcomes. A lower composite severe fetal/infant morbidity/mortality was observed post-surgery (aOR 0.73, 95%CI 0.54-0.97, P<0.05).

Conclusions:

Pregnancy after bariatric surgery appears safe and was associated with a reduced risk of several obesity related adverse pregnancy outcomes.
Epidemiology and Regional Variation in Additional Surgical Interventions for Children with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia
Authors: Cimbak Nicole , Perez Jennifer M , Akhondi-Asl Alireza , Vitali Sally H , Mehta Nilesh M , Demehri Farokh R , Dickie Belinda Hsi , Zalieckas Jill M
Published: September 2024

Objective:

To determine practice variation in surgical management of co-morbidities in pediatric patients with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia (CDH).

Background:

A higher percentage of CDH patients are surviving to discharge, accompanied by an increase in morbidity requiring surgical interventions such as tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube insertion. The frequency, trends, and regional variations in operative management of these co-morbidities in this population are unclear.

Methods:

Neonates who underwent CDH repair between 2012-2022 in the United States Pediatric Health Information System database were identified. Multivariable regression identified predictive factors for additional surgical morbidity after CDH repair, defined by an additional surgical intervention during index hospitalization or within one year after discharge. To narrow the spectrum of severity of disease, only patients with an intensive care unit admission on index hospitalization were included. Secondary analysis compared frequency of operations and hospital resource utilization by region.

Results:

4003 patients underwent CDH repair and were discharged from their index hospitalization. 1939 (48%) underwent at least one additional surgical procedure after the index CDH repair. Most performed surgeries were gastrostomy tube (28%), fundoplication (13%), and tracheostomy (5%). Covariates associated with additional surgical morbidity included: prematurity (OR 1.38; 95% CI: 1.20-1.59), cardiac co-morbidity (OR 1.31; 95% CI: 1.14-1.49), and chromosomal anomalies (OR 1.76, 95% CI: 1.30-2.40). Northeast (OR: 2.43; CI 1.42-3.52), Midwest (OR 2.11; 95% CI: 1.45-3.07), and South (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.02-2.12) regions were associated with additional surgical morbidity. Patients who required additional surgical procedures had longer initial inpatient length of stays (71 versus 31 d) and higher associated costs ($357,000 versus $161,000).

Conclusions:

Surgical morbidity exists in CDH patients after initial CDH repair. Counseling families on these outcomes is important in establishing expectations for management. Establishing guidelines for optimal surgical management will require continued reporting from multi-institutional studies.
Factors that influence vaccination communication during pregnancy: provider and patient perspectives using the theoretical domains framework
Authors: Patey Andrea M. , Amarbayan Mungunzul M. , Lee Kate , Bruce Marcia , Bettinger Julie A. , Pringle Wendy , Donald Maoliosa , Castillo Eliana
Published: September 2024

Introduction:

Vaccination during pregnancy is recommended but uptake is low and evidence on the topic is limited.

Aims:

This study aimed to identify the drivers of current behavior and barriers to change for health care practitioners (HCPs) and pregnant patients in Canada.

Methods:

This study is an in-depth qualitative investigation of the factors influencing HCPs’ vaccination communication during pregnancy, as well as factors influencing pregnant patients’ vaccination uptake in Canada using the Theoretical Domains Framework. Three data sources were used: (1) perinatal HCP interviews before COVID-19; (2) perinatal HCP interviews regarding vaccine communication after COVID-19; and (3) survey of pregnant or lactating women after COVID-19.

Results:

Forty-seven interviews and 169 participant responses were included. Perinatal HCPs reported limited information on vaccine communication or difficulty keeping up-to-date (Environmental context and resources; Knowledge; Beliefs about capabilities). HCPs lacked confidence and struggled with lack of training to address vaccine hesitancy without alienating patients (Beliefs about capabilities; Skills). Pregnant or lactating women struggled with the amount of information they felt was imposed on them, had concerns about the perceived negative consequences of vaccination, and felt pressure to understand what was best for them and their babies (Knowledge; Beliefs about consequences; Social influences).

Conclusions:

Our study provides a theory-based approach to identify influencing factors that can be mapped to theory-based intervention components, improving the likelihood of intervention effectiveness. The study is the first step in adapting an existing intervention to improve vaccine communication during pregnancy, ultimately, increasing vaccination uptake.

Spanish abstract:

http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A260
A new sponge from the Marjum Formation of Utah documents the Cambrian origin of the hexactinellid body plan
Authors: Del Mouro Lucas , Lerosey-Aubril Rudy , Botting Joseph , Coleman Robert , Gaines Robert R. , Skabelund Jacob , Weaver James C. , Ortega-Hernández Javier
Published: September 2024

Modern poriferans are classified into four classes—Calcarea, Demospongiae, Hexactinellida and Homoscleromorpha—the recognition of which in fossil specimens almost exclusively relies on spicule morphology and arrangement. Early fossil representatives of the phylum Porifera are morphologically diverse, and many of them problematically display characteristics that are incompatible with the classification scheme developed for modern taxa. Critically, hexactine spicules—a diagnostic feature of hexactinellids among modern taxa—are found in various Cambrian and Ordovician taxa that cannot be accommodated within the hexactinellid body plan. Here we describe a new poriferan from the Drumian Marjum Formation of Utah,
Polygoniella turrelli
gen. et sp. nov., which exhibits a unique combination of complex anatomical features for a Cambrian form, including a syconoid-like organization, a thick body wall, and a multi-layered hexactin-based skeleton. The hexactinellid-like body wall architecture of this new species supports a Cambrian origin of the hexactinellid body plan and provides valuable insights into character evolution in early glass sponges.
Microalgal biofilm induces larval settlement in the model marine worm
Platynereis dumerilii
Authors: Hird Cameron , Jékely Gáspár , Williams Elizabeth A.
Published: September 2024

A free-swimming larval stage features in many marine invertebrate life cycles. To transition to a seafloor-dwelling juvenile stage, larvae need to settle out of the plankton, guided by specific environmental cues that lead them to an ideal habitat for their future life on the seafloor. Although the marine annelid
Platynereis dumerilii
has been cultured in research laboratories since the 1950s and has a free-swimming larval stage, specific environmental cues that induce settlement in this nereid worm are yet to be identified. Here, we demonstrate that microalgal biofilm is a key settlement cue for
P. dumerilii
larvae, inducing earlier onset of settlement and enhancing subsequent juvenile growth as a primary food source. We tested the settlement response of
P. dumerilii
to 40 different strains of microalgae, predominantly diatom species, finding that
P. dumerilii
have species-specific preferences in their choice of settlement substrate. The most effective diatom species for inducing
P. dumerilii
larval settlement were benthic pennate species including
Grammatophora marina
,
Achnanthes brevipes
and
Nitzschia ovalis
. The identification of specific environmental cues for
P. dumerilii
settlement enables a link between its ecology and the sensory and nervous system signalling that regulates larval behaviour and development. Incorporation of diatoms into
P. dumerilii
culture practices will improve the husbandry of this marine invertebrate model.
How norms shape the evolution of prosocial behaviour–compassion, universalizability, reciprocity and equity: a C.U.R.E for social dilemmas
Authors: Mintz Brian , Fu Feng
Published: September 2024

How cooperation evolves and persists widely remains an open problem for improving humanity across domains ranging from climate change to pandemic response. To shed light on how behavioural norms can resolve social dilemmas around cooperation, we present a formal mathematical model of individuals’ decision making under general social norms, encompassing a variety of concerns and motivations an individual may have beyond simply maximizing their own payoff. Using the canonical Prisoner’s dilemma, we compare four norms: compassion, universalizability, reciprocity and equity, to determine which, if any, social forces can facilitate the evolution of cooperation. We analyse our model through a variety of limiting cases, including weak selection, low mutation and large population sizes. This is complemented by computer simulations of population dynamics via a Fisher process, which confirm our theoretical results. We find that the first two norms lead to the emergence of cooperation in a wide range of games, but the latter two cannot. Owing to our framework’s generality, it can be used to investigate many other norms, and how norms themselves evolve. Our work complements recent work on fair-minded learning dynamics and provides a useful bottom-up perspective into understanding the impact of top-down social norms on collective cooperative intelligence.
Six personas to adopt when framing theoretical research questions in biology
Authors: Shaw Allison K. , Bisesi Ave T. , Wojan Chris , Kim Dongmin , Torstenson Martha , Naven Narayanan  , Lutz Peter , Ales Ruby , Shao Cynthia
Published: September 2024

Theory is a critical component of the biological research process, and complements observational and experimental approaches. However, most biologists receive little training on how to frame a theoretical question and, thus, how to evaluate when theory has successfully answered the research question. Here, we develop a guide with six verbal framings for theoretical models in biology. These correspond to different personas one might adopt as a theorist: ‘Advocate’, ‘Explainer’, ‘Instigator’, ‘Mediator’, ‘Semantician' and ‘Tinkerer’. These personas are drawn from combinations of two starting points (pattern or mechanism) and three foci (novelty, robustness or conflict). We illustrate each of these framings with examples of specific theoretical questions, by drawing on recent theoretical papers in the fields of ecology and evolutionary biology. We show how the same research topic can be approached from slightly different perspectives, using different framings. We show how clarifying a model’s framing can debunk common misconceptions of theory: that simplifying assumptions are bad, more detail is always better, models show anything you want and modelling requires substantial maths knowledge. Finally, we provide a roadmap that researchers new to theoretical research can use to identify a framing to serve as a blueprint for their own theoretical research projects.
Lifetime trajectories of male mating effort under reproductive conflict in a cooperatively breeding mammal
Authors: Birch Graham , Nichols Hazel J. , Mwanguhya Francis , Thompson Faye J. , Cant Michael A. , Blount Jonathan D.
Published: September 2024

The costs of reproductive conflict can shape the evolution of life-histories in animal societies. These costs may change as individuals age and grow, and with within-group competition. Social costs of reproductive conflict have been invoked to explain why females might gain from delaying maturity or ceasing reproduction midway through life, but not in males. Here, we analyse more than 20 years of data to understand how individual male banded mongooses adjust their reproductive activity in response to the costs of reproductive conflict. In banded mongoose groups, multiple female breeders enter oestrus synchronously that are each guarded by a single male that aggressively wards-off rivals. The heaviest males in the group gained the greatest share of paternity. Those lighter males that are reproductively active paid disproportionate survival costs, and by engaging in reproductive activity early had lower lifetime reproductive success. Our results suggest that reproductive inactivity early in life is adaptive, as males recoup any lost fitness by first growing before engaging in less costly and more profitable reproductive activity later in life. These results suggest that resource holding potential of males and the intensity of reproductive conflict interact to shape lifetime schedules of reproductive behaviour.
De novo evolution of transmissible tumours in hydra
Authors: Tissot Sophie , Meliani Jordan , Boutry Justine , Brazier Lionel , Tökölyi Jácint , Roche Benjamin , Ujvari Beata , Nedelcu Aurora M. , Thomas Frédéric , Dujon Antoine M.
Published: September 2024

While most cancers are not transmissible, there are rare cases where cancer cells can spread between individuals and even across species, leading to epidemics. Despite their significance, the origins of such cancers remain elusive due to late detection in host populations. Using
Hydra oligactis
, which exhibits spontaneous tumour development that in some strains became vertically transmitted, this study presents the first experimental observation of the evolution of a transmissible tumour. Specifically, we assessed the initial vertical transmission rate of spontaneous tumours and explored the potential for optimizing this rate through artificial selection. One of the hydra strains, which evolved transmissible tumours over five generations, was characterized by analysis of cell type and bacteriome, and assessment of life-history traits. Our findings indicate that tumour transmission can be immediate for some strains and can be enhanced by selection. The resulting tumours are characterized by overproliferation of large interstitial stem cells and are not associated with a specific bacteriome. Furthermore, despite only five generations of transmission, these tumours induced notable alterations in host life-history traits, hinting at a compensatory response. This work, therefore, makes the first contribution to understanding the conditions of transmissible cancer emergence and their short-term consequences for the host.
A unified Bayesian approach to transcriptome-wide association study
Authors: Khan Arnab Kumar , Haldar Tanushree , Majumdar Arunabha
Published: September 2024

The transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) has discovered novel gene-trait associations that offer essential biological interpretations. TWAS integrates reference panel transcriptome data and genome-wide association study (GWAS) data. In standard TWAS methods, a prediction model for gene expression is built utilizing the transcriptome data, which is employed to impute the gene expression in the GWAS data. The complex trait in GWAS is regressed on the predicted expression to identify gene-trait associations. Such a two-step approach ignores the uncertainty of the imputed expression and can lead to reduced inference accuracy. We develop a unified Bayesian method for TWAS to avoid a two-step approach, modeling the two datasets simultaneously. We consider the horseshoe prior, an established choice of global-local shrinkage prior, to model the relationship between gene expression and local SNPs and the spike and slab prior while testing for an association between the genetic component of expression and the trait. We extend our approach to conducting a multi-ancestry TWAS, focusing on discovering genes that affect the trait in all ancestries. Using extensive simulations, we show that our approach performs better than existing methods concerning the accuracy of effect size estimation and classifying non-null genes. We perform a single-ancestry and multi-ancestry TWAS for body mass index (BMI), integrating the Geuvadis transcriptome and UK Biobank GWAS data. Our approach identified 111 genes associated with BMI for the single ancestry TWAS of Europeans, which were enriched in the Interferon gamma signaling pathway at a nominal level. For a multi-ancestry TWAS of Africans and Europeans, the method discovered 19 genes that affect BMI in both ancestries, which were nominally enriched in the Molybdenum cofactor biosynthesis pathway.
Daphnids Can Safeguard the Use of Alternative Bioassays to the Acute Fish Toxicity Test: A Focus on Neurotoxicity
Authors: Schuer Christoph , Paparella Martin , Fassbender Christopher , Stoddart Gilly , Baity-Jesi Marco , Schirmer Kristin
Published: September 2024

Assessment of potential impacts of chemicals on the environment traditionally involves regulatory standard data requirements for acute aquatic toxicity testing using algae, daphnids and fish (e.g., OECD test guidelines (TG) 201, 202, and 203, respectively), representing different trophic levels. In line with the societal goal to replace or reduce vertebrate animal testing, alternative bioassays were developed to replace testing with fish: the fish cell line RTgill-W1 acute toxicity assay (OECD TG249) and the zebrafish embryo acute toxicity test (zFET, OECD TG236). However, previous studies revealed the lower sensitivity of the RTgill-W1 cell line assay and zFET for some neurotoxic chemicals and allyl alcohol, which is presumably biotransformed in fish to the more toxic acrolein (which is predicted well through the cell line assay). To provide an additional alternative to acute fish toxicity, in this study, we analyzed historic ecotoxicity data for fish and daphnids from the EnviroTox Database. We found a considerable variability in acute fish LC50 and acute daphnids EC50 values, particularly for neurotoxic chemicals. Comparing sensitivity of these taxonomic groups according to different neurotoxicity classification schemes indicates that fish rarely represent the most sensitive trophic level of the two. Exceptions here most prominently include a few cyclodiene compounds, which are no longer marketed, and a chemical group that could be identified through structural alerts. Moreover, daphnids are more sensitive than fish to acrolein. This analysis highlights the potential of the Daphnia acute toxicity test, which is usually a standard regulatory data requirement, in safeguarding the environmental protection level provided by the RTgill-W1 cell line assay and the zFET. This research, rooted in decades of efforts to replace the fish acute toxicity test, shifts the focus from predicting fish toxicity 1-to-1 to emphasizing the protectiveness of alternative methods, paving the way for further eliminating vertebrate tests in environmental toxicology.
Climate variation and serotype competition drive dengue outbreak dynamics in Singapore
Authors: Finch Emilie , Kucharski Adam , Sim Shuzhen , Ng Lee-Ching , Lowe Rachel
Published: September 2024

Dengue poses a rapidly increasing threat to global health, with Southeast Asia as one of the worst affected regions. Climate-informed early warning systems can help to mitigate the impact of outbreaks; however, prediction of large outbreaks with sufficient lead time to guide interventions remains a challenge. In this work, we quantify the role of climatic variation and serotype competition in shaping dengue risk in Singapore using over 20 years of weekly case data. We integrated these findings into an early warning system framework able to predict dengue outbreaks up to 2 months ahead. While a climate-informed model improved predictive power by 54% compared to a seasonal baseline, including additional serotype information increased predictive performance to 60%, helping to explain interannual variation. By incorporating serotype competition as a proxy for population immunity, this work advances the field of dengue prediction and demonstrates the value of long-term virus surveillance.
Truncated cones from indenting a clamped disk
Authors: Seffen Keith A.
Published: September 2024

When a simply supported thin disk is indented by a centrally applied point force, it buckles out-of-plane to form a shape dominated by two conical portions: a uniform region indenting against the support, interrupted by a smaller elevated portion detached from the support, altogether known as a “developable cone” or d-Cone. If a central circular region of the disk is clamped instead, then the buckling complexion changes markedly: The indenting region is interspersed with several detached and elevated cones, now “truncated,” where their number depends on the clamping extent as well as the radius of the circular simple support. Studies of d-Cone kinematics often consider its shape as an analogous vertex, which forms by folding along hinge lines separating triangular facets. We extend this methodology by, first, showing that each truncated cone, or “t-Cone,” operates as a pair of connected d-Cone vertices that fold synchronously and that their number, distribution, around the indented disk stems from optimal “packaging” of the folded shape in the annular space between the clamping edge and support; furthermore, because our analysis presumes a geometrically dominant character, it captures the “saturated,” i.e., final number of t-Cones, in experiments from a recent study. Our predictions agree rather well.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
New Universality Class Describes Vicsek’s Flocking Phase in Physical Dimensions
Authors: Jentsch Patrick , Lee Chiu Fan
Published: September 2024

The Vicsek simulation model of flocking together with its theoretical treatment by Toner and Tu in 1995 were two foundational cornerstones of active matter physics. However, despite the field’s tremendous progress, the actual universality class (UC) governing the scaling behavior of Viscek’s “flocking” phase remains elusive. Here, we use nonperturbative, functional renormalization group methods to analyze, numerically and analytically, a simplified version of the Toner-Tu model, and uncover a novel UC with scaling exponents that agree remarkably well with the values obtained in a recent simulation study by Mahault [], in two and three spatial dimensions. We therefore believe that there is strong evidence that the UC uncovered here describes Vicsek’s flocking phase.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Trotter error bounds and dynamic multi-product formulas for Hamiltonian simulation
Authors: Zhuk Sergiy , Robertson Niall F. , Bravyi Sergey
Published: September 2024

Multi-product formulas (MPFs) are linear combinations of Trotter circuits offering high-quality simulation of Hamiltonian time evolution with fewer Trotter steps. Here we report two contributions aimed at making multi-product formulas more viable for near-term quantum simulations. First, we extend the theory of Trotter error with commutator scaling developed by Childs [A. M. Childs , ] to multi-product formulas. Our result implies that multi-product formulas can achieve a quadratic reduction of Trotter error in 1-norm (nuclear norm) on arbitrary time intervals compared with the regular product formulas without increasing the required circuit depth or qubit connectivity. The number of circuit repetitions grows only by a constant factor. Second, we introduce dynamic multi-product formulas with time-dependent coefficients chosen to minimize a certain efficiently computable proxy for the Trotter error. We use a minimax estimation method to make dynamic multi-product formulas robust to uncertainty from algorithmic errors, sampling, and hardware noise. We call this method the minimax MPF and we provide a rigorous bound on its error.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Statistics of Matrix Elements of Local Operators in Integrable Models
Authors: Essler F. H. L. , de Klerk A. J. J. M.
Published: September 2024

We study the statistics of matrix elements of local operators in the basis of energy eigenstates in a paradigmatic, integrable, many-particle quantum theory, the Lieb-Liniger model of bosons with repulsive delta-function interactions. Using methods of quantum integrability, we determine the scaling of matrix elements with system size. As a consequence of the extensive number of conservation laws, the structure of matrix elements is fundamentally different from, and much more intricate than, the predictions of the eigenstate thermalization hypothesis for generic models. We uncover an interesting connection between this structure for local operators in interacting integrable models and the one for local operators that are not local with respect to the elementary excitations in free theories. We find that typical off-diagonal matrix elements ⟨μ|O|λ⟩ in the same macrostate scale as exp(−cOLln(L)−LMμ,λO), where the probability distribution function for Mμ,λO is well described by Fréchet distributions and cO depends only on macrostate information. In contrast, typical off-diagonal matrix elements between two different macrostates scale as exp(−dOL2), where dO depends only on macrostate information. Diagonal matrix elements depend only on macrostate information up to finite-size corrections.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Improving Threshold for Fault-Tolerant Color-Code Quantum Computing by Flagged Weight Optimization
Authors: Takada Yugo , Fujii Keisuke
Published: September 2024

Color codes are promising quantum error-correction (QEC) codes because they have an advantage over surface codes in that all Clifford gates can be implemented transversally. However, the thresholds of color codes under circuit-level noise are relatively low, mainly because measurements of their high-weight stabilizer generators cause an increase in the circuit depth and, thus, substantial errors are introduced. This makes color codes not the best candidate for fault-tolerant quantum computing. Here, we propose a method to suppress the impact of such errors by optimizing weights of decoders using conditional error probabilities conditioned on the measurement outcomes of flag qubits. In numerical simulations, we improve the threshold of the (4.8.8) color code under circuit-level noise from 0.14% to around 0.27%, which is calculated by using an integer programming decoder. Furthermore, in the (6.6.6) color code, we achieve a circuit-level threshold of around 0.36%, which is almost the same value as the highest value in the previous studies employing the same noise model. In both cases, the effective code distance is also improved compared to a conventional method that uses a single ancilla qubit for each stabilizer measurement. Thereby, the achieved logical error rates at low physical error rates are almost one order of magnitude lower than those of the conventional method with the same code distance. Even when compared to the single-ancilla method with a higher code distance, considering the increased number of qubits used in our method, we achieve lower logical error rates in most cases. This method can also be applied to other weight-based decoders, making the color codes more promising as candidates for the experimental implementation of QEC. Furthermore, one can utilize this approach to improve a threshold of wider classes of QEC codes, such as high-rate quantum low-density parity-check codes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Accurate identification of salt domes using deep learning techniques: Transformers, generative artificial intelligence and liquid state machines
Authors: Souadih Kamal , Mohammedi Anis , Chergui Sofia
Published: September 2024

Across various global regions abundant in oil and natural gas reserves, the presence of substantial sub‐surface salt deposits holds significant relevance. Accurate identification of salt domes becomes crucial for enterprises engaged in oil and gas exploration. Our research introduces a precise method for the automatic detection of salt domes, leveraging advanced deep learning architectures such as U‐net, transformers, artificial intelligence generative models and liquid state machines. In comparison with state‐of‐the‐art techniques, our model demonstrates superior performance, achieving a stable and validated intersection over the union metric, indicating high accuracy and robustness. Furthermore, the Dice similarity coefficient attaining underscores the model's proficiency in closely aligning with ground truth across diverse scenarios. This evaluation, conducted on 1000 seismic images, reveals that our proposed architecture is not only comparable but often surpasses existing segmentation models in effectiveness and reliability.
Fear of falling and associated influencing factors in patients on maintenance hemodialysis
Authors: Lu Wenwen , Xu Na , Zhuo Qiyun , Wang Huixian , Huang Bihong , Cao Yanpei
Published: September 2024

Introduction

This cross‐sectional study analyzed the fear of falling (FOF) and associated influencing factors in patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (MHD).

Methods

Patients on MHD (n = 131) were assessed using the short Falls Efficacy Scale International, Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7, Patient Health Questionnaire‐9, Perceived Social Support Scale, and Barthel Index questionnaires.

Results

The total FOF score was positively correlated with total anxiety and depression scores but negatively correlated with the total score of activities of daily living. There were significant differences in FOF among different age groups, employment status, the use of walkers, living arrangements (living alone), and having a history of falling in the past year. Age, employment status, history of falls in the past year, and anxiety score were significant risk factors for FOF in MHD patients.

Conclusion

FOF in MHD patients is strongly associated with age, employment status, history of falls in the past year, and anxiety level.
From single to multi‐purpose reservoir: A framework for optimizing reservoir efficiency
Authors: Lu Mingda , Merwade Venkatesh
Published: September 2024

The prevailing challenge centers on the limited application of single‐purpose flood control reservoirs transitioning to multi‐purpose reservoirs, which, despite their potential, often fall short in addressing the escalating demands for diverse water resource management. These challenges are compounded by outdated operational rules and changing environmental conditions. This research develops a framework to enhance the dual functionality of reservoirs, initially designed for flood control, to also support water supply through the determination of maximum safe water levels (MSWLs). Utilizing historical inflow data and reservoir simulation models, the study identifies opportunities for optimizing United States Army Corps of Engineers Louisville District reservoirs. It highlights certain reservoirs as ideal for augmenting water supply capabilities without compromising flood control performance. Others remain critical for flood management due to limited water supply potential, underscoring the importance of maintaining a focus on flood control. The findings illuminate the intricate balance required between managing flood risks and enhancing water supply, indicating that precise operational adjustments can significantly improve reservoir sustainability and efficiency. This method offers a viable pathway to convert single purpose reservoirs into multi‐purpose reservoirs, meeting growing water demands while ensuring robust flood mitigation, and making a step toward better water utilization.
Statin‐associated muscle symptoms: A comprehensive exploration of epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and clinical management strategies
Authors: Shah Meera , Shrestha Karun , Tseng Chih‐Wei , Goyal Aman , Liewluck Teerin , Gupta Latika
Published: September 2024

Statins are the first line of treatment for both primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Despite the positive effects of statins on cardiovascular events, not all patients can use them at an optimized dose. The reason for this is the skeletal muscle side effects, termed statin‐associated muscle symptoms (SAMS). Despite extensive research, the precise pathophysiology of SAMS remains unclear and multiple mechanisms may contribute to this phenomenon. Various therapeutic options are available for the management of SAMS, ranging from rechallenging with the same or a different statin to utilizing non‐statin therapeutic alternatives in patients intolerant to statins. However, the lack of consensus on the definition of SAMS, the absence of a definitive diagnostic test, and lack of a universally accepted management algorithm pose a great challenge in dealing with this entity. This review aims to explore the various pathophysiological mechanisms involved in SAMS and understand the difference between self‐limited toxic myopathy and immune‐mediated myopathy requiring immunomodulatory therapy. The conundrum of statin withdrawal, tapering, and rechallenge in SAMS will also be explored in detail along with the newer non‐statin therapies that are available.