bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Spatial variation in delayed diagnosis of visceral leishmaniasis in Bihar, India
Authors: Nightingale Emily S , Bindroo Joy , Dubey Pushkar , Priyamvada Khushbu , Das Aritra , Bern Caryn , Srikantiah Sridhar , Cameron Mary M , Lucas Tim C D , Medley Graham F , Brady Oliver J
Published: March 2024

Background

Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is a debilitating disease and without treatment, a fatal disease which burdens the most impoverished communities in northeastern India. Control and ultimately, elimination of VL depends heavily on prompt case detection. However, a proportion of VL cases remain undiagnosed many months after symptom onset. Delay to diagnosis increases the chance of onward transmission, and poses a risk of resurgence in populations with waning immunity. We checked the spatial variation of delayed diagnosis of VL in Bihar, India and aimed to understand the potential driving factors of delayed diagnosis.

Methods

The spatial distribution of diagnostic delays was explored using a Bayesian model fit to geo-located cases using the Integrated Nested Laplace Approximation (INLA) approach, assuming days of delay as Poisson-distributed and adjusting for individual-(age, sex, HIV) and local-level (recent incidence, vector control, health facility access) characteristics. Residual variance was modelled with an explicit spatial structure. Cumulative delays were estimated under different scenarios of active case detection coverage.

Findings

The 4,270 cases analysed were prone to excessive delays outside existing endemic “hot spots”, beyond the focus of interventions. Cases diagnosed within recently-affected blocks and villages experienced shorter delays on average (by 13% 95% Credible Interval [2.9% - 21.7%] and 7% [1.3% - 13.1%], respectively) than those in non-recently-affected areas.

Interpretation

Delays to VL diagnosis when incidence is low could influence whether transmission of the disease could be interrupted or resurges. Prioritising and narrowing surveillance to high-burden areas may increase the likelihood of excessive delays in diagnosis in peripheral areas. Active surveillance driven by observed incidence may lead to missing the risk posed by as-yet-undiagnosed cases in low-endemic areas, and such surveillance could be insufficient for achieving and sustaining elimination.

Funding

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
Mortality of adults with chronic noncancer pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Webb Stephanie , Roberts Antonia-Olivia , Scullion Lauren , Richards Georgia C.
Published: March 2024

It is recognised that chronic pain is one of the leading causes of disabilities worldwide. However, statistics on mortality and causes of death in people with chronic noncancer pain (CNCP) have been difficult to determine. This systematic review aimed to determine the mortality rate in people with all types of CNCP and the associated causes and risk factors of death. MEDLINE (Ovid) and EMBASE (Ovid) were searched on 23 March 2023 to identify epidemiological studies reporting mortality in people with CNCP. Nineteen observational studies were included. There were 28,740 deaths (7%) reported in a population of 438,593 people with CNCP (n=16 studies), giving a mortality rate of 6,553 deaths per 100,000 people. An exploratory meta-analysis found that the relationship between mortality and CNCP was statistically significant (mortality risk ratio: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.22-1.77; n=11 studies) when comparing people with CNCP to those without pain. People with CNCP were more likely to die from cardiovascular disease whereas those without pain were more likely to die from malignancy, respiratory and gastrointestinal diseases. Smoking, lower physical activity levels, and opioid use were risk factors for death in people with CNCP. This systematic review found that people with CNCP have a higher risk of mortality than people without chronic pain. To reduce mortality rates in people with CNCP, cardiovascular diseases and risk factors for death should be considered when managing people with CNCP.
Detection and Prevalence of Syphilis, Hepatitis C Virus andHelicobacter pyloriCo-Infection among Pregnant Women attending Primary Health Centre, Mbodo-Aluu, Rivers State, Nigeria
Authors: Adim C. C. , Nnamdi F. H. , Ugboma C. D. , Cookey T. I. , Innocent-Adiele H. C. , Onu E.N. , Igwe M. U. , Awanye A. M. , Okonko B. J. , Enemchukwu C. M. , Nwankwo G. A. , Okonko I. O.
Published: March 2024

Due to the possible negative effects on both the mother and the foetus, co-infection with syphilis, hepatitis C virus (HCV), andHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori) in pregnant women is a serious public health problem. In this study, pregnant patients at the Mbodo Health Centre in Aluu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, were asked to rate their prevalence of co-infection and related risk factors. 96 willing pregnant women gave consent for blood samples to be drawn, and ELISA and fast diagnostic kits were used to test the sera forHelicobacter pylori, hepatitis C, and syphilis. Results showed that 31.0% of the pregnant women hadHelicobacter pylori, but none had positive results for syphilis or the hepatitis C virus. The highest prevalence ofH. pyloriinfection, as determined by ELISA, was observed in the age group 30-39 years (37.5%), married groups (32.7%), secondary school education (44.0%), students (40.0%), and Christian religion (31.3%). This finding demonstrated thatH. pyloriwas more common in the study area than the other two pathogens. Pregnant women visiting the Primary Health Centre, Mbodo-Aluu, Rivers State had significant rates ofH. pyloriinfection with no coinfection with HCV and syphilis. This study emphasises the necessity of integrated screening and treatment initiatives during antenatal care. However, preventing unfavourable pregnancy outcomes and lowering the risk of vertical transmission to the baby need the early detection and treatment of these pathogens. Therefore, it is important to emphasise good knowledge and education about the infection in this area.
PM2.5components mixture and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease mortality: a national analysis of Medicare enrollees
Authors: Ma Tszshan , Knobel Pablo , Hadley Michael , Colicino Elena , Amini Heresh , Federman Alex , Schwartz Joel , Steenland Kyle , Sade Maayan Yitshak
Published: March 2024

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is adversely linked to atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). However, most studies focused on PM2.5mass rather than its chemical composition. PM2.5’s individual chemical components can have distinct, cumulative, and potentially synergistic health impacts. We investigated the associations of PM2.5’s composition and sources with ASCVD mortality, considering the combined associations and regional variations in the US. We used data from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, (65,838,403 person-years) from 2000 to 2016. We estimated PM2.5exposure using machine-learning models and attributed components to five source categories. We used Poisson survival models to assess the associations with the source categories. Higher ASCVD mortality risk (RR [95% CI] per interquartile range increase) was associated with oil combustion (1.050[1.049;1.051]), industrial (1.054[1.052;1.056]), coal/biomass burning (1.064[1.062;1.067]), and traffic sources (1.044[1.042;1.046]). Comparing source-specific effects within each region, oil combustion effects were more pronounced in the East and Midwest, and coal/biomass burning effects were more pronounced in the West and Southwest. In conclusion, we found higher ASCVD mortality risk associated with PM2.5, with differential effects across sources and US regions. These associations persisted even after limiting our sample to ZIP code-years with PM2.5<9 μg/m3- the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). This highlights the importance of consideration of local population characteristics and exposure patterns when assessing health risks associated with PM2.5.
Alcohol use and the pre-exposure prophylaxis continuum of care among men in rural South Africa
Authors: Castle Alison C , Busang Jacob , Dreyer Jaco , Herbst Carina , Okesola Nonhlanhla , Chimbindi Natsayi , Zuma Thembelihle C , Jarolimova Jana , Hahn Judith A , Psaros Christina , Shenoi Sheela V , Shahmanesh Maryam , Siedner Mark J
Published: March 2024

Introduction Despite freely available HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), HIV incidence among young men in South Africa is high. There is conflicting evidence around the association between alcohol use behaviors and PrEP utilization. We explore the impact of alcohol use on PrEP initiation and continuation among South African men. Methods We performed a secondary analysis of data from a trial that included men aged 16-29 randomly selected from a demographic surveillance site in KwaZulu-Natal. All participants were referred to HIV and sexual health services, where those who were HIV negative and sexually active were offered oral PrEP. Alcohol consumption was assessed at monthly visits and categorized as: non-drinking (0), low/moderate risk drinking (1-5), and high/very high-risk drinking (6-12) based on AUDIT-C criteria. Primary outcomes were PrEP initiation and PrEP continuation defined as refilling prescriptions for >3 months. We fitted logistic regression models, adjusted for potential clinical and demographic confounders, to estimate relationships between PrEP initiation/continuation and reported alcohol use. Results Of the 325 men in the analytic cohort, the average age was 22.9 years (SD 3.6) and 131 (40%) had high/very high-risk alcohol consumption (AUDIT-C score ≥6). Men with the highest risk alcohol use also reported more frequent condomless sex (89%, vs 68% in no alcohol group). We found the greatest uptake of PrEP among the high/very high-risk alcohol group (46/131, 35%), followed by the low/moderate-risk group (17/53, 32%) and the no alcohol group (25/141, 18%). Those with high-risk alcohol use remained more likely to initiate PrEP compared to the no alcohol group in multivariable models adjusted for confounders (aOR 2.44 95% CI 1.29-4.60; p-value 0.006). Overall, only 30% (26/88) of men remained on PrEP at 3 months. Men with high/very high-risk drinking had similar PrEP continuation at 3 months compared to men who reported no alcohol use (aOR 1.02 95% CI: 0.28-3.86, p=0.98). Conclusions High-risk alcohol use is common among men in rural South Africa and associated with increased PrEP initiation. However, PrEP continuation was low overall, and similar across all levels of alcohol use. Hazardous alcohol use should not discourage PrEP implementation efforts to engage and retain young men.
Clinical activity of Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) inhibitors in patients with MAP2K1 (MEK1)-mutated metastatic cancers
Authors: Dankner Matthew , Rousselle Emmanuelle , Petrecca Sarah , Fabi François , Nowakowski Alexander , Lazaratos Anna-Maria , Rajadurai Charles Vincent , Stein Andrew J. B. , Bian David , Tai Peter , Belaiche Alicia , Li Meredith , Quaiattini Andrea , Normanno Nicola , Arcila Maria , Elkrief Arielle , Johnson Douglas B. , Ladanyi Marc , Rose April A. N.
Published: March 2024

PURPOSE

MAP2K1/MEK1 mutations are potentially actionable drivers in cancer. MAP2K1 mutations have been functionally classified into three groups according to their dependency on upstream RAS/RAF signaling. However, the clinical efficacy of MAPK pathway inhibitors (MAPKi) for MAP2K1 mutant tumors is not well defined. We sought to characterize the genomic and clinical landscape of MAP2K1 mutant tumors to evaluate the relationship between MAP2K1 mutation Class and clinical activity of MAPKi.

METHODS

We interrogated AACR GENIE (v13) to analyze solid tumors with MAP2K1 mutations. We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis of published reports of patients with MAP2K1 mutant cancers treated with MAPKi according to PRISMA guidelines. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), and secondary endpoints were overall response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR), and overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

In the AACR GENIE dataset, Class 2 MAP2K1 mutations (63%) were more prevalent than Class 1 (24%) and Class 3 (13%) mutations (P<0.0001). Co-occurring MAPK pathway activating mutations were more likely to occur in Class 1 versus Class 2 or 3 MAP2K1 mutant tumors (P<0.0001). Our systematic meta-analysis of the literature identified 46 patients with MAP2K1 mutant tumors who received MAPKi. In these patients, ORR was 28% and median PFS was 3.9 months. ORR did not differ according to MAP2K1 mutation class or cancer type. However, patients with Class 2 mutations experienced longer PFS (5.0 months) and DOR (23.8 months) compared to patients with Class 1, 3 or unclassified MAP2K1 mutations (PFS 3.5 months, P=0.04; DOR 4.2 months, P=0.02).

CONCLUSION

Patients with Class 2 MAP2K1 mutations represent a novel subgroup that may derive benefit from MAPKi. Prospective clinical studies with novel MAPKi regimens are warranted in these patients.

Highlights

- A meta-analysis describing clinical outcomes with MAPK targeted therapy in MAP2K1 mutant tumors.

- Clinical validation of MAP2K1 mutation Class as a predictive biomarker.

- Class 2 MAP2K1 mutations are sensitive to MEK-inhibitor containing regimens.

Graphical Abstract
Structural insights into the agonist selectivity and structure-based engineering of the adenosine A3 receptor
Authors: Oshima Hidetaka S. , Ogawa Akiko , Sano Fumiya K. , Akasaka Hiroaki , Kawakami Tomoyoshi , Okaomto Hiroyuki H. , Iwama Aika , Nagiri Chisae , Wei Fan-Yan , Shihoya Wataru , Nureki Osamu
Published: March 2024

Adenosine receptors, expressed across various tissues, play pivotal roles in physiological processes and are implicated in diverse diseases, including neurological disorders and inflammation, highlighting the therapeutic potential of receptor-selective agents. The Adenosine A3 receptor (A3R), the last identified adenosine receptor, is also activated by breakdown products of post-transcriptionally modified tRNA and exhibits dual roles in neuron, heart, and immune cells, and is often overexpressed in tumors, making it a target for anticancer therapy. Despite extensive studies on the other adenosine receptors, the structure and activation mechanism of A3R, especially by selective agonists likeN6-methyladenosine (m6A) and namodenoson, remained elusive. Here, we identifiedN6-isopentenyl adenosine (i6A), a novel A3R-selective ligand, via comprehensive modified adenosine library screening. Cryo-EM analyses of A3R-Gisignaling complexes with two nonselective and three selective agonists revealed the structural basis for A3R activation. We further conducted structure-guided engineering of m6A-insensitive A3R, which would greatly facilitate future discoveries of the physiological functions of the selective activation of A3R by modified adenosines. Our results clarify the selective activation of adenosine receptors, providing the basis for future drug discovery.
Conversion of natural cytokine receptors into orthogonal synthetic biosensors
Authors: Edelstein Hailey I. , Cosio Amparo , Ezekiel Max L. , Corcoran William K. , Morris Aaron H. , Leonard Joshua N.
Published: March 2024

Synthetic receptors enable bioengineers to build cell-based therapies that perform therapeutic functions in a targeted or conditional fashion to enhance specificity and efficacy. Although many synthetic receptors exist, it remains challenging to generate new receptors that sense soluble cues and relay that detection through orthogonal mechanisms independent of native pathways. Towards this goal, we investigated co-opting natural cytokine receptor ectodomains into Modular Extracellular Sensor Architecture receptors (yielding natural ectodomain, NatE MESA receptors). We generated multiple high-performing, orthogonal synthetic cytokine receptors, identified design principles and constraints, and propose guidance for extending this approach to other natural receptors. We demonstrate utility of NatE MESA by engineering T cells to sense an immunosuppressive cue and respond with customized transcriptional output to support CAR T-cell activity. Finally, we multiplex NatE MESA to logically evaluate multiple cues associated with the tumor microenvironment. These technologies and learnings will enable engineering cellular functions for new applications.
Transcription Factor HNF4A is Involved in Breast Cancer Recurrence
Authors: Valiya Veettil Rahul , Eyal Altman Noah , Hashkes Ruth , Rubin Eitan
Published: March 2024

Recurrence is a major challenge for breast cancer (BC) management, yet its mechanism is poorly understood. Although computational analysis of expression compendia has proved useful for studying BC recurrence, some recently developed methods have not been used for this purpose. Here we present a bioinformatics reanalysis of a compendium containing 1519 cases with documentation of expression and information about recurrence with >5y follow-up. A compendium of expression profiles were divided into sub-cohorts by time to recurrence, and genes were ranked by the relative significance of expression differences. The top 1% of the genes (131 genes) were used in enrichment and induced network module analyses. The findings were validated in two independent cohorts, E-MTAB-365 and GSE20685. HNF4A was found to be the major hub in the genes whose expression differs most strikingly between short and long/no recurrence patients: it is highly connected to differentially expressed genes, and high expression of HNF4A is associated with longer recurrence-free survival in the compendium, even when it was split by ER status. These results were further validated in two independent cohorts of ER+ + endocrine + chemotherapy-treated patients and found to be concordant. Here we re-analyze a previously published compendium and find that HNF4A is pivotal to expression differences between early and late/non-recurring BC patients. HNF4A has been reported to be associated with cancer risk in several cancers and is speculated to be recurrence-associated in BC. However, we establish for the first time an association between BC time-to-recurrence and HNF4A expression. Further research is required to check if HNF4A expression is causative or just correlative to recurrence. Yet since linoleic acid is a ligand of HNF4A, our finding may explain why consumption of linoleic acid was proposed to affect recurrence risk in BC.
Relevance of Mediterranean diet as a nutritional strategy in diminishing COVID-19 risk: A systematic review
Authors: Halim Ceria , Howen Miranda , Fitrisubroto Athirah Amirah Nabilah binti , Pratama Timotius , Harahap Indah Ramadhani , Ganesh Lacman Jaya , Siahaan Andre Marolop Pangihutan
Published: March 2024

Background

Mediterranean Diet has been reported to possess immunomodulatory and anti-inflammatory properties. These properties are closely associated with the immunopathogenesis of COVID-19.

Objective

The present systematic review aimed to determine the association between Mediterranean Diet and COVID-19, COVID-19 symptoms, and COVID-19 severity.

Methods

The protocol for this systematic review was registered in International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) with identification number CRD42023451794. The literature search was conducted through Pubmed, Proquest, and Google Scholar on August 2023. The inclusion criteria were studies with a population of human subjects, reported the association between Mediterranean diet adherence with risk of COVID-19 infection, COVID-19 symptoms, or COVID-19 severity, and full text must be available in English. The exclusion criteria were reviews, editorials, letters, replies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, studies on animals, and duplicates. Risk of bias in included studies was assessed using Newcastle Ottawa Scale (NOS). Data was synthesized narratively. Each study was compared and a structured summary was developed.

Results

After selection process, 6 articles were included, with a sample size of 55,489 patients. All studies were observational studies and assessed Mediterranean diet adherence using food frequency questionnaires (FFQ), with scoring system varied between each study. Four studies found a significant correlation between increased adherence to Mediterranean Diet and reduced COVID-19 risk, while one study indicated non-significant association. One study reported a significant association between higher adherence to Mediterranean Diet and COVID-19 symptoms, but three studies reported non-significant association. One study found that individuals with higher adherence to Mediterranean Diet had reduced likelihood of developing severe COVID-19, however, two studies yielded inconclusive findings.

Limitations

All studies used self-administrated food frequency questionnaires (FFQs), which were prone to biased responses, such as recall and estimation bias.

Discussion

Lower trends of odds ratios (ORs) were consistently observed in higher Mediterranean diet adherence. In every outcome of the included studies, ORs ranged between 0.06-0.992, however, differing levels of significance were reported in each outcome.

Conclusion

Overall analyses suggest that high adherence to Mediterranean Diet is a protective factor against COVID-19, with unclear benefits against COVID-19 symptoms and severity.

Primary Funding Source

The author(s) received no specific funding for this work.
Mathematical models of COVID-19 vaccination in high-income countries: A systematic review
Authors: Burch Eleanor , Khan Saher Aijaz , Stone Jack , Asgharzadeh Asra , Dawe Joshua , Ward Zoe , Brooks-Pollock Ellen , Christensen Hannah
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Since COVID-19 first emerged in 2019, mathematical models have been developed to predict transmission and provide insight into disease control strategies. A key research need now is for models to inform long-term vaccination policy. We aimed to review the variety of existing modelling methods, in order to identify gaps in the literature and highlight areas for future model development.

Study design

This study was a systematic review.

Methods

We searched PubMed, Embase and Scopus from 1 January 2019 to 6 February 2023 for peer-reviewed, English-language articles describing age-structured, dynamic, mathematical models of COVID-19 transmission and vaccination in high-income countries that include waning immunity or reinfection. We extracted details of the structure, features and approach of each model and combined them in a narrative synthesis.

Results

Of the 1109 articles screened, 47 were included. Most studies used deterministic, compartmental models set in Europe or North America that simulated a time horizon of 3.5 years or less. Common outcomes included cases, hospital utilisation and deaths. Only nine models included long COVID, costs, life-years or quality of life-related measures. Two studies explored the potential impact of new variants beyond Omicron.

Conclusions

This review demonstrates a need for long-term models that focus on outcome measures such as quality-adjusted life years, the population-level effects of long COVID and the cost-effectiveness of future policies – all of which are essential considerations in the planning of long-term vaccination strategies.
Bacterial defenses and their trade-off with growth are not ubiquitous but depend on ecological contexts
Authors: Liu Zhi-Ling , Liu Jia , Niu Deng-Ke
Published: March 2024

Bacteriophages, also known as bacterial viruses, significantly influence microbial ecosystems, driving bacteria to evolve diverse antiviral defense mechanisms. This study explores the intricate relationship between bacterial defenses and growth rates across diverse ecological contexts. Our investigation reveals that bacteria lacking defenses exhibit prolonged doubling times. Integrating phylogenetic eigenvectors into the ecological feature matrix, we employed a phylogenetic random forest model to identify key ecological features influencing defense presence and abundance. Further phylogenetic regressions unveil nuanced dependencies of bacterial defenses on specific environmental factors, challenging assumptions of a universal defense system distribution and underscoring reliance on subtle ecological cues. Notably, symbiotic and endosymbiotic bacteria often exhibit reduced defense systems and negative correlations between defense system abundance and the minimal doubling time. Conversely, free-living and motile bacteria show significant positive correlations between minimal doubling time and defense system abundance. Moreover, we highlight the pivotal role of ecological variables like habitat specificity and nutrient availability in shaping bacterial growth rates and defense mechanisms. Our findings underscore the complexity of microbial interactions and stress the need to consider ecological context in understanding defense strategies. We propose that trade-offs between growth and defense are ubiquitous due to sporadically inefficient optimization of limited resources, particularly in populations with small effective sizes, where both mechanisms may weaken concurrently due to genetic drift. This challenges traditional notions of trade-offs and underscores the impact of ecological context on microbial strategies.
Search for nonextensivity in electron-proton interactions at
s=300  GeV
Authors: Sarkar Soumya , Aggarwal R. , Kaur M.
Published: March 2024

Study of canonical entropy in electron-proton interactions at s=300  GeV is presented. The precision data collected by the H1 experiment at the HERA in different ranges of invariant hadronic mass W and the squared four-momentum exchange Q2 in electron-proton (ep) interactions have been analyzed in the ensemble theory approach. The canonical partition function relates to the multiplicity distribution which is often studied in collider experiments. We use the canonical ensemble partition function to explore the dynamics of hadron production in ep interactions by devising different methods to find the entropic parameter and the collision temperature. The inverse slope of the transverse momentum spectrum of produced hadrons also relates to the temperature. In the recent past, the CMS, ATLAS, and ALICE experiments at the LHC have studied the charged hadron transverse momentum and particle distributions in proton-proton and proton-nucleus interactions by using the Tsallis function within this approach. A detailed investigation into the role of the system volume and relation amongst different dynamical parameters reveals interesting results.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone dark matter in
SU(7)
grand unification
Authors: Chiang Cheng-Wei , Tsumura Koji , Uchida Yoshiki , Yamatsu Naoki
Published: March 2024

We propose a grand unified theory (GUT) pseudo-Nambu-Goldstone boson (pNGB) dark matter (DM) model based on SU(7) gauge symmetry. In the GUT model, the Standard Model (SM) gauge symmetry GSM≔SU(3)C×SU(2)L×U(1)Y and the “dark” gauge symmetry SU(2)D are unified, where the SU(2)D symmetry plays an important role in the stability of DM. The unification of SM fermions and dark sector fermions is partially realized. The gauge symmetry SU(7) is spontaneously broken to SU(5)×SU(2)×U(1) gauge symmetry at the GUT scale by the nonvanishing vacuum expectation values of an SU(7) adjoint scalar field, where the SU(5) gauge symmetry is not usual SU(5) GUT gauge symmetry. The symmetry is further broken to GSM×SU(2)D at an intermediate scale. Furthermore, the SU(2)D symmetry is broken by the SU(2)D doublet and triplet scalar fields at the TeV scale. In the pNGB DM model based on GSM×SU(2)D, the residual global U(1)V dark custodial symmetry guarantees DM stability. On the other hand, in the SU(7) pNGB DM model, this global symmetry is explicitly broken by the Yukawa interaction and the effective Majorana mass terms. In the scalar sector, the cubic coupling constants of the SU(2)D doublet and triplet scalar fields are the order parameters of the U(1)V symmetry breaking. To maintain U(1)V symmetry and thus the DM stability, we need to tune Yukawa coupling constants and cubic scalar couplings at high accuracy. We find that the allowed DM mass region is quite restricted as the gauge coupling constant of SU(2)D is determined by the condition of the gauge coupling unification. To satisfy gauge coupling unification and the current experimental constraint on proton lifetime, we find that three generations of SU(3)C adjoint fermions and another three generations of SU(2)L adjoint fermions with the intermediate mass scale are required. We also find that there is no other solution to satisfy simultaneously the gauge coupling unification and the proton decay constraint if one assumes the other symmetry breaking schemes.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
UV finite GUT with SUSY breaking
Authors: Bajc Borut , Del Piano Manuel , Sannino Francesco
Published: March 2024

We construct an example of a safe ultraviolet finite supersymmetric renormalizable SO(10) grand unified theory featuring a supersymmetric dynamical breaking mechanism. Our results constitute a step forward towards an ultraviolet safe extension of the Standard Model enjoying the benefits of grand unified theories.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Generalized Gaussian states in group field theory and
su(1,1)
quantum cosmology
Authors: Calcinari Andrea , Gielen Steffen
Published: March 2024

We define generalized Gaussian states for quantum cosmological models based on the su(1,1) algebra, with particular emphasis on its realization in group field theory for a single field mode, and study their semiclassical properties. These states are generalizations of coherent, squeezed, and thermal states considered previously. As two possible characterizations of semiclassicality, we contrast the requirement of small relative fluctuations in volume and energy with the saturation of the Robertson-Schrödinger uncertainty principle. We find that for the most general class of states, the appearance of small relative fluctuations, which we take as the main criterion relevant for the emergence of cosmology, is mostly determined by the amount of displacement used to define the state. We also observe that defining such generalized Gaussian states is less straightforward in the algebraic approach to canonical quantization of group field theory, and discuss special cases.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Machine learning holographic black hole from lattice QCD equation of state
Authors: Chen Xun , Huang Mei
Published: March 2024

Based on lattice QCD results of equation of state and baryon number susceptibility at zero baryon chemical potential, and supplemented by machine learning techniques, we construct the analytic form of the holographic black hole metric in the Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton framework for pure gluon, 2-flavor, and (2+1)-flavor systems, respectively. The dilaton potentials solved from Einstein equations are in good agreement with the extended nonconformal DeWolfe-Gubser-Rosen type dilaton potentials fixed by lattice QCD equation of state, which indicates the robustness of the Einstein-Maxwell-Dilaton framework. The predicted critical end point in the (2+1)-flavor system is located at (Tc=0.094  GeV, μBc=0.74  GeV), which is close to the results from the realistic Polyakov-Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model, the functional renormalization group, and the holographic model with extended DeWolfe-Gubser-Rosen dilaton potential.

Published by the American Physical Society
2024
Digital technology-enabled AEC project management: practical use cases, deployment patterns and emerging trends
Authors: Chen Xichen , Chang-Richards Alice Yan , Ling Florence Yean Yng , Yiu Tak Wing , Pelosi Antony , Yang Nan
Published: March 2024

Purpose

Despite extensive academic research related to digital technologies (DT), their integration into architecture, engineering and construction (AEC) projects lags in practice. This paper aims to discover DT deployment patterns and emerging trends in real-life AEC projects.

Design/methodology/approach

A case study methodology was adopted, including individual case analyses and comparative multiple-case analyses.

Findings

The results revealed the temporal distribution of DT in practical AEC projects, specific DT products/software, major project types integrated with digital solutions, DT application areas and project stages and associated project performance. Three distinct patterns in DT adoption have been observed, reflecting the evolution of DT applications, the progression from single to multiple DT integration and alignment with emerging industry requirements. The DT adoption behavior in the studied cases has been examined using the technology-organization-environment-human (TOE + H) framework. Further, eight emerging trend streams for future DT adoption were identified, with “leveraging the diverse features of certain mature DT” being a shared recognition of all studied companies.

Practical implications

This research offers actionable insights for AEC companies, facilitating the development of customized DT implementation roadmaps aligned with organizational needs. Policymakers, industry associations and DT suppliers may leverage these findings for informed decision-making, collaborative educational initiatives and product/service customization.

Originality/value

This research provides empirical evidence of applicable products/software, application areas and project performance. The examination of the TOE + H framework offers a holistic understanding of the collective influences on DT adoption. The identification of emerging trends addresses the evolving demands of the AEC industry in the digital era.
Promoting tourism business through digital marketing in the new normal era: a sustainable approach
Authors: Deb Santus Kumar , Nafi Shohel Md. , Valeri Marco
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This paper aims to measure the intention to use digital marketing strategies to enhance the performance of tourism business as well as the extent of digital renovation applications in tourism for sustainable business in a new normal era.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper is an insight from the existing relevant literature on the tourism business from time immemorial. The conceptual framework of this study is designed based on previous studies of digital marketing practices for tourism businesses. Furthermore, data were collected from 270 respondents, of which the valid response rate is 72.97%. Partial least square (PLS)-structural equation modeling (SEM) is used to validate the conceptual framework and hypotheses testing.

Findings

Among the nine hypotheses path, seven were supported. This study result shows that perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use, social media marketing and tourism business performance are critical factors for adopting digital marketing in tourism. Thus, tourism service providers' intention has a positive impact to meet the expectation of tourists and adoption of digital marketing.

Research limitations/implications

The study's results will assist tourism researchers and service providers in understanding an authentic relationship between digital practices of tourism business and tourist satisfaction. In addition, the legacy of tourism business through digital marketing empowers the owner and community.

Originality/value

The study is the first to explore the relationship between tourism business performance and digital marketing during the new normal era for the empowerment of local community and expanded business in tourism sector.
The effects of a short information-giving intervention on householders’ beliefs and actions related to window opening as purge ventilation of water vapour: implications for surveyors
Authors: Boulton Richard John , Boulton Lia Louise , Boulton Michael John
Published: March 2024

Purpose

High levels of interior water vapour lead to condensation and black mould that in turn represent significant risks to residential properties and their occupants. Beliefs about window opening are good predictors of the degree to which householders will actually open windows to purge their homes of water vapour, including water vapour that they themselves generate. The present study tested if a short information-giving intervention could enhance householders’ beliefs that foster window opening as purge ventilation and, in turn, lead to greater window opening.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected from 242 UK householders with robust psychometrically sound measures embedded in an online self-report survey that also presented the intervention information.

Findings

The intervention led participants, and males in particular, to have significantly greater concerns about condensation and mould and significantly less concerns about heat loss costs arising from opening windows, and these altered beliefs in turn predicted a greater intention to open windows in the future.

Practical implications

By sharing simple information, surveyors and other building professionals can help householders take the simple step of opening their windows and so reduce the threats that condensation and mould present to themselves and their homes.

Originality/value

This is the first study to test (1) a time-based model that predicted the intervention would have a positive effect on specific window opening attitudes and that those new attitudes would in turn affect window opening intentions, and (2) if the intervention had different effects on men and women.
Effect of plant-based natural fibers on the mechanical properties and volume change of cement paste
Authors: Ramadan Rawan , Ghanem Hassan , Khatib Jamal M. , ElKordi Adel M.
Published: March 2024

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to check the feasibility of using biomaterial such as of Phragmites-Australis (PA) in cement paste to achieve sustainable building materials.

Design/methodology/approach

In this study, cement pastes were prepared by adding locally produced PA fibers in four different volumes: 0%, 0.5%, 1% and 2% for a duration of 180 days. Bottles and prisms were subjected to chemical shrinkage (CS), drying shrinkage (DS), autogenous shrinkage (AS) and expansion tests. Besides, prism specimens were tested for flexural strength and compressive strength. Furthermore, a mathematical model was proposed to determine the variation length change as function of time.

Findings

The experimental findings showed that the mechanical properties of cement paste were significantly improved by the addition of 1% PA fiber compared to other PA mixes. The effect of increasing the % of PA fibers reduces the CS, AS, DS and expansion of cement paste. For example, the addition of 2% PA fibers reduces the CS, expansion, AS and DS at 180 days by 36%, 20%, 13% and 10%, respectively compared to the control mix. The proposed nonlinear model fit to the experimental data is appropriate with R2 values above 0.92. There seems to be a strong positive linear correlation between CS and AS/DS with R2 above 0.95. However, there exists a negative linear correlation between CS and expansion.

Research limitations/implications

The PA used in this study was obtained from one specific location. This can exhibit a limitation as soil type may affect PA properties. Also, one method was used to treat the PA fibers.

Practical implications

The utilization of PA fibers in paste may well reduce the formation of cracks and limit its propagation, thus using a biomaterial such as PA in cementitious systems can be an environmentally friendly option as it will make good use of the waste generated and enhance local employment, thereby contributing toward sustainable development.

Originality/value

To the authors best knowledge, there is hardly any research on the effect of PA on the volume stability of cement paste. Therefore, the research outputs are considered to be original.
Evaluating the impact of COVID-19 mitigation measures on quality assurance of cross-border construction logistics and supply chain
Authors: Ghansah Frank Ato , Lu Weisheng
Published: March 2024

Purpose

While COVID-19 mitigation measures (CMMs) aided in steady recovery during the pandemic, they also impeded movement across economies/borders, affecting quality assurance (QA) of Cross-border Construction Logistics and Supply Chain (Cb-CLSC). However, prior studies on the pandemic in the construction project industry have not revealed how CMMs have impacted QA. Thus, this study aims to evaluate the impact of the CMMs on the QA of Cb-CLSC.

Design/methodology/approach

This is achieved by adopting an embedded mixed-method approach involving a desk literature review and engaging 150 experts from different economies across the globe using expert surveys, and results verified via semi-structured expert interviews. Structural equation modelling-based multiple regression analysis (SEM-MRA) was integrated to examine the impact of the CMMs on the QA, along with descriptive and content analysis.

Findings

The study confirmed that CMMs have not only impacted the QA negatively but also influenced the positioning of the QA for the post-pandemic era and probably to survive the risks of future pandemics. Among all the identified CMMs, the top three critical measures include “lockdown (CMM2)”, “use of personal protective equipment, such as nose masks, disinfects, etc. (CMM5)”, and “electronic/virtual meetings (CMM7)”. However, CMM5 possesses the highest contributory power to form CMM in impacting the QA, and this can be regarded as largely positive by strengthening health and safety management systems. Its negative impact lies with the project cost increment and the inconveniences of using nose and face masks.

Practical implications

This study provides a better understanding to construction practitioners and policy makers on how the pandemic policies, i.e. CMMs, have impacted QA and can aid in formulating planning and operational decisions to adequately position the QA for the post-pandemic era and to endure the risks of future pandemics.

Originality/value

The study contributes to knowledge in that it provides a better understanding of how the pandemic policies, such as CMMs, have impacted QA and can aid in formulating planning and operational decisions to adequately position the QA for the post-pandemic era and to endure the risks of future pandemics. This area of study has been given limited attention among prior studies during the pandemic.
Access and success in higher education: fostering resilience in historically disadvantaged students in South Africa
Authors: Woldegiorgis Emnet Tadesse , Chiramba Otilia
Published: March 2024

Purpose

This qualitative study interrogates the barriers that historically disadvantaged higher education students in South Africa face when it comes to access and success. It specifically explores the challenges black students encounter in gaining epistemic access within the South African higher education system.

Design/methodology/approach

This research draws upon empirical data collected from a mixed-methods research project conducted at six higher education institutions. It focuses on issues of epistemic access and success within humanities and sciences faculties. The dataset comprises interview transcripts involving 34 student and ten staff cases. Thematic analysis, aided by MaxQDA software, was meticulously conducted to extract and synthesise meaningful themes, crafting comprehensive narratives.

Findings

The study uncovers multifaceted challenges, including difficulties in understanding the admission process, financial barriers and language proficiency issues, faced by disadvantaged students when accessing universities and transitioning from basic to higher education. The research emphasises universities taking proactive measures, such as providing comprehensive early support, identifying at-risk students and collaborating with schools to prepare prospective students better. It advocates for the potential of resilience theory in addressing social justice issues related to access and success for these students. Furthermore, the study recommends developing inclusive curricula and underscores the need for universities to actively support disadvantaged students academically and socially.

Originality/value

This research departs from the conventional focus on physical access to universities, introducing a more comprehensive perspective that emphasises epistemic access as a pivotal aspect of higher education. Drawing on empirical data, it sheds light on the obstacles faced by disadvantaged students during the transition from high school to higher education while also exploring their resilience strategies.
Post-earthquake fire performance of the gusset plate moment connection
Authors: Ketabdari Hesam , Saedi Daryan Amir , Hassani Nemat , Safi Mohammad
Published: March 2024

Purpose

In this paper, the seismic behavior of the gusset plate moment connection (GPMC) exposed to the post-earthquake fire (PEF) is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

For this purpose, for the sake of verification, first, a numerical model is built using ABAQUS software and then exposed to earthquakes and high temperatures. Afterward, the effects of a series of parameters, such as gusset plate thickness, gap width, steel grade, vertical load value and presence of the stiffeners, are evaluated on the behavior of the connection in the PEF conditions.

Findings

Based on the results obtained from the parametric study, all parameters effectively played a role against the seismic loads, although, when exposed to fire, it was found that the vertical load value and presence of the stiffener revealed a great contribution and the other parameters could not significantly affect the connection performance. Finally, to develop the modeling and further study the performance of the connection, the 4 and 8-story frames are subjected to 11 accelerograms and 3 different fire scenarios. The findings demonstrate that high temperatures impose rotations on the structure, such that the story drifts were changed compared to the post-earthquake drift values.

Originality/value

The obtained results can be used by engineers to design the GPMC for the combined action of earthquake and fire.
Using tax records to correct for under‐representation of top income sources in surveys
Authors: Ledić Marko , Rubil Ivica , Urban Ivica
Published: March 2024

Top incomes tend to be under‐represented in survey data, making survey income distributions unrepresentative of the true ones in terms of the amount of total income and, if some of its components (sources) are missing relatively more than others, in terms of the structure of total income by components. Since the correct structure is important for some analyses, correction is warranted. Using Croatian survey and tax records data, we show that the survey correction method of Blanchet, Flores and Morgan (2022), based on reweighting and replacement of top incomes using tax records data – which corrects total income – can fail to correct its structure by components. This happens when some income components – in our case, primarily capital income – are missing much more than others, making the structure substantially different from the correct one and difficult to correct through reweighting and replacement of total income. As a solution, we propose a pre‐correction and a post‐correction, each involving income replacement based on tax records data, as supplements to the Blanchet et al. method. Either supplement substantially improves the correction of both total income and its structure by source.