bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Molecular surveillance of influenza A virus in Saudi Arabia: whole-genome sequencing and metagenomic approaches
Authors: Dandachi Iman , Alrezaihi Abdulrahman , Amin Dashty , AlRagi Nurah , Alhatlani Bader , Binjomah Abdulwahab , Aleisa Kholoud , Dong Xiaofeng , Hiscox Julian A. , Aljabr Waleed
Published: June 2024

Outbreaks of influenza A viruses are generally seasonal and cause annual epidemics worldwide. Due to their frequent reassortment and evolution, annual surveillance is of paramount importance to guide vaccine strategies. The aim of this study was to explore the molecular epidemiology of influenza A virus and nasopharyngeal microbiota composition in infected patients in Saudi Arabia. A total of 103 nasopharyngeal samples from 2015 and 12 samples from 2022 were collected from patients positive for influenza A. Sequencing of influenza A as well as metatranscriptomic analysis of the nasopharyngeal microbiota was conducted using Oxford Nanopore sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of hemagglutinin, neuraminidase segments, and concatenated influenza A genomes was performed using MEGA7. Whole-genome sequencing analysis revealed changing clades of influenza A virus: from 6B.1 in 2015 to 5a.2a in 2022. One sample containing the antiviral resistance-mediating mutation S247N toward oseltamivir and zanamivir was found. Phylogenetic analysis showed the clustering of influenza A strains with the corresponding vaccine strains in each period, thus suggesting vaccine effectiveness. Principal component analysis and alpha diversity revealed the absence of a relationship between hospital admission status, age, or gender of infected patients and the nasopharyngeal microbial composition, except for the infecting clade 5a.2a. The opportunistic pathogens
Staphylococcus aureus
,
Streptococcus pneumoniae
,
Haemophilus influenzae,
and
Moraxella catarrhalis
were the most common species detected. The molecular epidemiology appears to be changing in Saudi Arabia after the COVID-19 pandemic. Antiviral resistance should be carefully monitored in future studies. In addition, the disease severity of patients as well as the composition of the nasopharyngeal microbiota in patients infected with different clades should also be assessed.

IMPORTANCE

In this work, we have found that the clade of influenza A virus circulating in Riyadh, KSA, has changed over the last few years from 6B.1 to 5a.2a. Influenza strains clustered with the corresponding vaccine strains in our population, thus emphasizing vaccine effectiveness. Metatranscriptomic analysis showed no correlation between the nasopharyngeal microbiome and the clinical and/or demographic characteristics of infected patients. This is except for the 5a.2a strains isolated post-COVID-19 pandemic. The influenza virus is among the continuously evolving viruses that can cause severe respiratory infections. Continuous surveillance of its molecular diversity and the monitoring of anti-viral-resistant strains are thus of vital importance. Furthermore, exploring potential microbial markers and/or dysbiosis of the nasopharyngeal microbiota during infection could assist in the better management of patients in severe cases.
Evaluation of WHO catalog of mutations and five WGS analysis tools for drug resistance prediction of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
isolates from China
Authors: He Guiqing , Zheng Qingyong , Shi Jichan , Wu Lianpeng , Huang Bei , Yang Yang
Published: June 2024

The continuous advancement of molecular diagnostic techniques, particularly whole-genome sequencing (WGS), has greatly facilitated the early diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis patients. Nonetheless, the interpretation of results from various types of mutations in drug-resistant-associated genes has become the primary challenge in the field of molecular drug-resistance diagnostics. In this study, our primary objective is to evaluate the diagnosis accuracy of the World Health Organization (WHO) catalog of mutations and five WGS analysis tools (PhyResSE, Mykrobe, TB Profiler, Gen-TB, and SAM-TB) in drug resistance to 10 anti-
Mycobacterium tuberculosis
(MTB) drugs. We utilized the data of WGS collected between 2014 and 2017 in Zhejiang Province, consisting of 110 MTB isolates as detailed in our previous study. Based on phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST) results using the proportion method on Löwenstein-Jensen medium with antibiotics, we evaluated the predictive accuracy of genotypic DST obtained by these tools. The results revealed that the WHO catalog of mutations and five WGS analysis tools exhibit robust predictive capabilities concerning resistance to isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol, streptomycin, amikacin, kanamycin, and capreomycin. Notably, Mykrobe, SAM-TB, and TB Profiler demonstrate the most accurate predictions for resistance to pyrazinamide, prothionamide, and para-aminosalicylic acid, respectively. These findings are poised to significantly guide and influence future clinical treatment strategies and resistance monitoring protocols.

IMPORTANCE

Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) has the potential for the early diagnosis of drug-resistant tuberculosis. However, the interpretation of mutations of drug-resistant-associated genes represents a significant challenge as the amount and complexity of WGS data. We evaluated the accuracy of the World Health Organization catalog of mutations and five WGS analysis tools in predicting drug resistance to first-line and second-line anti-TB drugs. Our results offer clinicians guidance on selecting appropriate WGS analysis tools for predicting resistance to specific anti-TB drugs.
Comparative genomic sequencing to characterize
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
genome, typing, and drug resistance
Authors: Jiang Yue , Kang Hailong , Dou Haiwei , Guo Dongxing , Yuan Qing , Dong Lili , Du Zhenglin , Zhao Wenming , Xin Deli
Published: June 2024

To analyze the characteristics of
Mycoplasma pneumoniae
as well as macrolide antibiotic resistance through whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics. Thirteen clinical strains isolated from 2003 to 2019 were selected, 10 of which were resistant to erythromycin (MIC >64 µg/mL), including 8 P1-type I and 2 P1-type II. Three were sensitive (<1 µg/mL) and P1-type II. One resistant strain had an A→G point mutation at position 2064 in region V of the 23S rRNA, the others had it at position 2063, while the three sensitive strains had no mutation here. Genome assembly and comparative genome analysis revealed a high level of genome consistency within the P1 type, and the primary differences in genome sequences concentrated in the region encoding the P1 protein. In P1-type II strains, three specific gene mutations were identified: C162A and A430G in L4 gene and T1112G mutation in the CARDS gene. Clinical information showed seven cases were diagnosed with severe pneumonia, all of which were infected with drug-resistant strains. Notably, BS610A4 and CYM219A1 exhibited a gene multi-copy phenomenon and shared a conserved functional domain with the DUF31 protein family. Clinically, the patients had severe refractory pneumonia, with pleural effusion, necessitating treatment with glucocorticoids and bronchoalveolar lavage. The primary variations between strains occur among different P1-types, while there is a high level of genomic consistency within P1-types. Three mutation loci associated with specific types were identified, and no specific genetic alterations directly related to clinical presentation were observed.

IMPORTANCE

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
is an important pathogen of community-acquired pneumonia, and macrolide resistance brings difficulties to clinical treatment. We analyzed the characteristics of
M. pneumoniae
as well as macrolide antibiotic resistance through whole-genome sequencing and comparative genomics. The work addressed primary variations between strains that occur among different P1-types, while there is a high level of genomic consistency within P1-types. In P1-type II strains, three specific gene mutations were identified: C162A and A430G in L4 gene and T1112G mutation in the CARDS gene. All the strains isolated from severe pneumonia cases were drug-resistant, two of which exhibited a gene multi-copy phenomenon, sharing a conserved functional domain with the DUF31 protein family. Three mutation loci associated with specific types were identified, and no specific genetic alterations directly related to clinical presentation were observed.
Assessing a respiratory toxic infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strain: isolation, identification, pathogenicity, and immunological failure insights
Authors: Liu Huixin , Wang Chenchen , He Yang , Wei Xiaofang , Cheng Junze , Yang Wenwen , Shi Kaichuang , Si Hongbin
Published: June 2024

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is caused by avian coronavirus and poses a global economic threat to the poultry industry. In 2023, a highly pathogenic IBV strain, IBV/CN/GD20230501, was isolated and identified from chickens vaccinated with IBV-M41 in Guangdong, China. This study comprehensively investigated the biological characteristics of the isolated IBV strain, including its genotype, whole genome sequence analysis of its S1 gene, pathogenicity, host immune response, and serum non-targeted metabolomics. Through the analysis of the S1 gene sequence, serum neutralization tests, and comparative genomics, it was proven that IBV/CN/GD20230501 belongs to the GI-I type of strain and is serotype II. One alanine residue in the S1 subunit of the isolated strain was mutated into serine, and some mutations were observed in the ORF1ab gene and the terminal region of the genome. Animal challenge experiments using the EID
50
and TCID
50
calculations showed that IBV/CN/GD20230501 possesses strong respiratory pathogenicity, with early and long-term shedding of viruses and rapid viral spread. Antibody detection indicated that chickens infected with IBV/CN/GD20230501 exhibited delayed expression of early innate immune genes, while those infected with M41 showed rapid gene induction and effective viral control. Metabolomics analysis demonstrated that this virus infection led to differential expression of 291 ions in chicken serum, mainly affecting the citric acid cycle (tricarboxylic acid cycle).

IMPORTANCE

This study identified an infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) strain isolated from vaccinated chickens in an immunized population that had certain sequence differences compared to IBV-M41, resulting in significantly enhanced pathogenicity and host defense. This strain has the potential to replace M41 as a more suitable challenge model for drug research. The non-targeted metabolomics analysis highlighting the citric acid cycle provides a new avenue for studying this highly virulent strain.
Use of an embolic protection device during carotid artery stenting is associated with lower periprocedural risk
Authors: Knappich Christoph , Bohmann Bianca , Kirchhoff Felix , Lohe Vanessa , Naher Shamsun , Kallmayer Michael , Eckstein Hans-Henning , Kuehnl Andreas
Published: June 2024

Objective

To investigate associations between individual embolic protection device (EPD) use and respective center policy with periprocedural outcomes after carotid artery stenting (CAS).

Methods

This analysis is based on the nationwide German statutory quality assurance database and was funded by Germany’s Federal Joint Committee Innovation Fund (G-BA Innovationsfonds, 01VSF19016 ISAR-IQ). According to their policy towards EPD use, hospitals were categorized asroutine EPD(>90%),selective EPD(10–90%), orsporadic EPD(<10%)centers. Primary study outcome was in-hospital stroke or death. Univariate and multivariate regression analyses were performed.

Results

Overall, 19 302 patients who had undergone CAS between 2013 and 2016 were included. The highest in-hospital stroke or death rate was found insporadic EPDcenters, followed byselectiveandroutine EPDcenters (3.1% vs 2.9% vs 1.8%; P<0.001). Across the whole cohort, EPD use was associated with a lower in-hospital stroke or death rate (OR=0.60; 95% CI 0.50 to 0.72). In the multivariate regression analysis, EPD use was independently associated with a lower in-hospital stroke rate (aOR=0.66; 95% CI 0.46 to 0.94). Regarding center policy,routine EPDcenters showed a significantly lower in-hospital mortality compared withsporadic EPDcenters (aOR=0.44; 95% CI 0.22 to 0.88).

Conclusions

In a contemporary real-world cohort with low risk of selection bias, EPD use was associated with a lower in-hospital risk of stroke. A center policy of routine EPD use was associated with lower mortality. These data support routine use of EPD during CAS to enhance patient safety.
Stent retriever versus aspiration based thrombectomy: impact on first pass reperfusion, procedure time, and clinical outcomes in large vessel occlusion. Nationwide registry based cohort study
Authors: Karlsson Adrian , Jood Katarina , Björkman-Burtscher Isabella , Rentzos Alexandros
Published: June 2024

Background

First pass reperfusion (FPR), defined as near complete reperfusion (extended Treatment in Cerebral Ischemia (eTICI) score 2c/3) in a single attempt without rescue therapy has been proposed as a quality metric. However, it remains unclear if the thrombectomy method influences clinical outcome and FPR rate. This study evaluates whether stent retriever and aspiration based thrombectomy differ in FPR rate, technical and clinical outcomes in FPR, and multiple pass reperfusion (MPR).

Methods

This retrospective, nationwide, multicenter registry study included consecutive patients with proximal anterior or posterior circulation stroke, treated between 2018 and 2021 in Sweden. Outcome measures were FPR rate, procedure time, early neurological improvement (≥4 points on National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) or a score of 0–1 at 24 hours), favorable functional outcome (modified Rankin Scale score of 0–2 or no decline at 90 days), and mortality at 90 days.

Results

Of 3309 patients (median age 75, median NIHSS 16), 1990 underwent stent retriever and 1319 aspiration based thrombectomy as the firstline method. No difference in FPR rate was observed. Aspiration based thrombectomy showed a shorter procedure time in the FPR group (crude OR (cOR) 6.4 min (95% CI 3.4 to 9.3), adjusted OR (aOR) 8.7 min (95% CI 1.8 to 15.6)) and MPR group (cOR 9.7 min (95% CI 4.0 to 15.4), aOR 17.4 min (95% CI 9.6 to 25.2)), and association with early neurological improvement (cOR 1.21 (95% CI 1.03 to 1.42), aOR 1.40 (95% CI 1.18 to 1.67)) and favorable functional outcome (aOR 1.22 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.47)).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that aspiration based thrombectomy was associated with a shorter procedure time and better clinical outcomes than treatment with a stent retriever. No difference was found in FPR rate.
Tirofiban versus aspirin to prevent in-stent thrombosis after emergent carotid artery stenting in acute ischemic stroke
Authors: Medina-Rodriguez Manuel , Villagran Diego , Luque-Ambrosiani Antonio Cristobal , Cabezas-Rodríguez Juan Antonio , Ainz-Gómez Leire , Baena Palomino Pablo , Pardo-Galiana Blanca , Zamora Aynara , de Albóniga-Chindurza Asier , Aguilar-Perez Marta , González Alejandro , Moniche Francisco , Zapata-Arriaza Elena
Published: June 2024

Background

Several antithrombotic treatments during emergent carotid artery stenting (eCAS) have been proposed, but an appropriate protocol to balance risk–benefit is not well known.

Objective

To investigate the efficacy and safety of tirofiban compared with aspirin in patients with acute ischemic stroke undergoing eCAS.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective single-center study of the prospective ARTISTA Registry, including patients with atherosclerotic internal carotid artery occlusion treated with eCAS. Two groups, according to antiplatelet drug, were studied: aspirin (250–500 mg single-dose) versus tirofiban (500 μg bolus+200 μg/h). Primary outcomes were the rate of in-stent thrombosis and symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage (sICH) within the first 24 hours.

Results

During the period 2019–2023, 181 patients were included, 103 received aspirin, 78 tirofiban; 149 (82.3%) had tandem lesions. The primary efficacy outcome occurred in 9 (9.4%) in the aspirin group, as compared with 1 (1.3%) in the tirofiban group (adjusted odds ratio (aOR)=0.11, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.98; P=0.048). The primary safety outcome was detected in 12 (11.7%) in the aspirin group, as compared with 2 (2.6%) in the tirofiban group (aOR=0.16, 95% CI 0.03 to 0.87; P=0.034). The tirofiban group presented a lower risk of parenchymal hemorrhage (18 (17.4%) vs 4 (5.2%), aOR=0.27, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.88; P=0.029) and an increased rate of excellent recanalization (expanded Treatment in Cerebral Infarction (eTICI) 2c–3) (50 (48.5%) vs 54 (69.2%); aOR=2.15, 95% CI 1.12 to 4.13; P=0.02). There were no differences in functional outcomes or mortality at 3 months.

Conclusions

Periprocedural antithrombotic therapy with tirofiban was associated with a lower risk of in-stent thrombosis and sICH at 24 hours from eCAS compared with aspirin. Prospective randomized clinical trials are needed to confirm our results.
Association between heavy alcohol consumption and cryptogenic ischaemic stroke in young adults: a case–control study
Authors: Martinez-Majander Nicolas , Kutal Shakar , Ylikotila Pauli , Yesilot Nilufer , Tulkki Lauri , Zedde Marialuisa , Sarkanen Tomi , Junttola Ulla , Nordanstig Annika , Fromm Annette , Ryliskiene Kristina , Licenik Radim , Ferdinand Phillip , Jatuzis Dalius , Kõrv Liisa , Kõrv Janika , Pezzini Alessandro , Tuohinen Suvi , Sinisalo Juha , Lehto Mika , Gerdts Eva , Ryödi Essi , Autere Jaana , Hedman Marja , Fonseca Ana Catarina , Waje-Andreassen Ulrike , von Sarnowski Bettina , Redfors Petra , Sairanen Tiina , Tatlisumak Turgut , Roine Risto O , Huhtakangas Juha , Numminen Heikki , Jäkälä Pekka , Putaala Jukka
Published: June 2024

Background

The underlying risk factors for young-onset cryptogenic ischaemic stroke (CIS) remain unclear. This multicentre study aimed to explore the association between heavy alcohol consumption and CIS with subgroup analyses stratified by sex and age.

Methods

Altogether, 540 patients aged 18–49 years (median age 41; 47.2% women) with a recent CIS and 540 sex-matched and age-matched stroke-free controls were included. Heavy alcohol consumption was defined as >7 (women) and >14 (men) units per week or at least an average of two times per month ≥5 (women) and ≥7 (men) units per instance (binge drinking). A conditional logistic regression adjusting for age, sex, education, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, hypercholesterolaemia, current smoking, obesity, diet and physical inactivity was used to assess the independent association between alcohol consumption and CIS.

Results

Patients were twice as more often heavy alcohol users compared with controls (13.7% vs 6.7%, p<0.001), were more likely to have hypertension and they were more often current smokers, overweight and physically inactive. In the entire study population, heavy alcohol consumption was independently associated with CIS (adjusted OR 2.11; 95% CI 1.22 to 3.63). In sex-specific analysis, heavy alcohol consumption was associated with CIS in men (2.72; 95% CI 1.25 to 5.92), but not in women (1.56; 95% CI 0.71 to 3.41). When exploring the association with binge drinking alone, a significant association was shown in the entire cohort (2.43; 95% CI 1.31 to 4.53) and in men (3.36; 95% CI 1.44 to 7.84), but not in women.

Conclusions

Heavy alcohol consumption, particularly binge drinking, appears to be an independent risk factor in young men with CIS.
Surface primary producer phenology in Dease Strait, NU, Canada, examined using submersed oceanographic sensors and satellite remote sensing
Authors: Yendamuri Kiran , Stroeve Julienne , Ehn Jens K. , Williams William J. , Nandan Vishnu , Else Brent G.T. , Komarov Alexander S. , Braybrook Christina A. , Dempsey Mike , Mundy C.J.
Published: June 2024

Thinning sea ice cover and earlier melt in the Arctic impact primary producer (PP) phenology, causing earlier ice algal bloom termination and phytoplankton bloom commencement. However, logistic constraints limit capturing the complete seasonal evolution of PPs and their physical drivers. Here, we combine spectral irradiance data from subsurface oceanographic moorings with synthetic aperture radar backscatter and meteorological variables to study light in Dease Strait, investigating its relation to timing and magnitude of surface PPs for 2017 and 2019. Ice algal blooms in 2017 and 2019 lasted 66 and 84 days, respectively, peaking within 2 days of snow melt onset. In 2019, lower temperatures and a deeper snowpack before snow melt extended the ice algal bloom. Melt pond formation increased light transmission, enabling a short, 6–7-day under-ice phytoplankton bloom in both years that was likely nutrient-limited. The 2019 phytoplankton bloom was less productive, possibly due to the longer ice algal bloom depleting surface nutrients. After ice break-up in 2019, a 31-day late-summer bloom occurred via wind-driven mixing. Our findings suggest that the combined remote sensing technique has novel applicability in other settings, providing insights into the changing state of PP phenology, and the need for long-term Arctic observations to discern regional climate change effects.
Terrestrial site fidelity of maternal polar bears in western Hudson Bay
Authors: Klappstein Natasha J. , McGeachy David , Pilfold Nicholas W. , Lunn Nicholas J. , Derocher Andrew E.
Published: June 2024

Seasonal migrations allow access to temporally varying resources and individuals may show fidelity to specific locations, particularly for important life processes such as reproduction. Polar bears ( Ursus maritimus) are a sea ice-dependent species that migrate between marine and terrestrial habitats, the latter being important for parturition and early cub rearing. However, fidelity to maternity dens is poorly understood. Using capture and telemetry data collected between 1979 and 2018, we assessed site fidelity of female polar bears in the Western Hudson Bay subpopulation in Manitoba, Canada. We compared within-individual inter-year distances between dens to between-individual distances via non-parametric bootstrapping, and used generalized additive models to assess how maternal age, years between denning events, and sea ice conditions affected fidelity. Within-individual distances were smaller than between-individual distances by approximately 18.7 km, indicating some evidence of fidelity. Inter-den distances increased with time between denning events, but no other variables significantly affected fidelity. Our findings suggest that western Hudson Bay polar bears may exhibit fidelity to areas within the larger denning region, but not to specific dens. Understanding the site fidelity of maternal polar bears has important implications for population dynamics, on-land spatial distributions, and conservation efforts aimed at preserving important habitat for reproduction.
Flavor asymmetry of light sea quarks in proton: a light-front spectator model
Authors: Choudhary Poonam , Chakrabarti Dipankar , Mondal Chandan
Published: June 2024

We formulate a light-front spectator model for the proton that incorporates the presence of light sea quarks. In this particular model, the sea quarks are seen as active partons, whereas the remaining components of the proton are treated as spectators. The proposed model relies on the formulation of the light-front wave function constructed by the soft wall AdS/QCD. The model wave functions are parameterized by fitting the unpolarized parton distribution functions of light sea quarks from the CTEQ18 global analysis. We then employ the light-front wave functions to obtain the sea quarks generalized parton distribution functions, transverse momentum dependent parton distributions, and their asymmetries, which are accessible in the upcoming Electron-Ion-Colliders. We investigate sea quarks’ spin and orbital angular momentum contributions to the proton spin.
Motion Artifact Detection for T1-Weighted Brain MR Images Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Roecher Erik , Mösch Lucas , Zweerings Jana , Thiele Frank O. , Caspers Svenja , Gaebler Arnim Johannes , Eisner Patrick , Sarkheil Pegah , Mathiak Klaus
Published: June 2024

Quality assessment (QA) of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) encompasses several factors such as noise, contrast, homogeneity, and imaging artifacts. Quality evaluation is often not standardized and relies on the expertise, and vigilance of the personnel, posing limitations especially with large datasets. Machine learning based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) is a promising approach to address these challenges by performing automated inspection of MR images. In this study, a CNN for the detection of random head motion artifacts (RHM) in T1-weighted MRI as one aspect of image quality is proposed. A two-step approach aimed to first identify images exhibiting pronounced motion artifacts, and second to evaluate the feasibility of a more detailed three-class classification. The utilized dataset consisted of 420 T1-weighted whole-brain image volumes with isotropic resolution. Human experts assigned each volume to one of three classes of artifact prominence. Results demonstrate an accuracy of 95% for the identification of images with pronounced artifact load. The addition of an intermediate class retained an accuracy of 76%. The findings highlight the potential of CNN-based approaches to increase the efficiency of post-hoc QAs in large datasets by flagging images with potentially relevant artifact loads for closer inspection.
Automated Quality Assessment of Medical Images in Echocardiography Using Neural Networks with Adaptive Ranking and Structure-Aware Learning
Authors: Luosang Gadeng , Wang Zhihua , Liu Jian , Zeng Fanxin , Yi Zhang , Wang Jianyong
Published: June 2024

The quality of medical images is crucial for accurately diagnosing and treating various diseases. However, current automated methods for assessing image quality are based on neural networks, which often focus solely on pixel distortion and overlook the significance of complex structures within the images. This study introduces a novel neural network model designed explicitly for automated image quality assessment that addresses pixel and semantic distortion. The model introduces an adaptive ranking mechanism enhanced with contrast sensitivity weighting to refine the detection of minor variances in similar images for pixel distortion assessment. More significantly, the model integrates a structure-aware learning module employing graph neural networks. This module is adept at deciphering the intricate relationships between an image’s semantic structure and quality. When evaluated on two ultrasound imaging datasets, the proposed method outshines existing leading models in performance. Additionally, it boasts seamless integration into clinical workflows, enabling real-time image quality assessment, crucial for precise disease diagnosis and treatment.
Mass variation effect in CR3B problem with nanoscale
Authors: Abdullah
Published: June 2024

The aim of this paper is to investigate the dynamical behavior of a Carbon atom under the forces of the two fullerenes in the circular restricted three-body (CR3B) configuration with nanoscale. Here, we assume that the mass of a Carbon atom varies according to the Jeans law, and then with the use of Meshcherskii transformation, we determine the equations of motion and quasi-Jacobian integral. Then by the use of numerical values of the parameters, we investigate the potential surfaces, equilibrium points, regions of motion, Poincaré surfaces of sections, periodic orbits, basins of attraction and stability of the equilibrium points.
An oscillating Chern-Simons universe crossing the phantom divide line and alleviating the Hubble tension
Authors: Anukool Waranont , El-Nabulsi Rami Ahmad
Published: June 2024

In order to alleviate the Hubble tension, we propose a new law for the Hubble parameter that varies periodically with time and we study the validity of the dynamics of a flat Friedmann–Robertson–Walker Universe in the context of a generalized Chern–Simons modified gravity (CSMG). We prove that for specific numerical values of the free parameters in the theory, the phantom divide line is crossed and the universe undergoes decelerating expansion and accelerating expansion alternately without singularity. The deceleration and the jerk parameters oscillate also around numerical values in agreement with astronomical BAO+Pantheon SNeIa+Cosmic Chronometers observations.
Study of heavy quarkonia in the presence of magnetic field by Nikiforov Uvarov method
Authors: Sharma Rishabh , Solanki Siddhartha , Lal Manohar , Agotiya Vineet Kumar
Published: June 2024

The N-dimensional radial Schrödinger equation has been solved using the Nikiforov Uvarov (NU) method, in which we used the medium modified form of Cornell potential and quasi-particle Debye mass with strong magnetic field background. The binding energies and the mass spectra of heavy quarkonium have been studied in the N-dimensional space for different values of magnetic field, the binding energy decreases with increasing magnetic field, which shows early dissociation of heavy quarkonium system. The influence of dimensionality number has also been discussed on binding energies of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for fixed value of magnetic field. It is found that with an increase in dimensionality, the binding energy starts decreasing from a higher initial value. The results obtained are quite consistent with recent studies.
Solving Fuzzy Non-homogeneous Wave Equations via Laplace Residual Power Series Approach
Authors: Ghazouani Aziz El , Elomari M’hamed
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we have applied a new method called Laplace Residual Power Series Method (LRPSM) introduced by Eriqate et al. for solving the fuzzy non-homogeneous wave equation. The algorithm gains powerful results for this kind of problem. Initially, we analyze in general the Laplace residual power series technique, and then we expand it and use it to solve the fuzzy non-homogeneous wave equation with the extended Hukuhara differentiability.
Evaluating Impact of User-Cluster Targeted Attacks in Matrix Factorisation Recommenders
Authors: Shams Sulthana , Leith Douglas
Published: June 2024

In practice, users of a Recommender System (RS) fall into a few clusters based on their preferences. In this work, we conduct a systematic study on user-cluster targeted data poisoning attacks on Matrix Factorisation (MF)-based RS, where an adversary injects fake users with falsely crafted user-item feedback to promote an item to a specific user cluster. We analyze how user and item feature matrices change after data poisoning attacks and identify the factors that influence the effectiveness of the attack on these feature matrices. We demonstrate that the adversary can easily target specific user clusters with minimal effort and that some items are more susceptible to attacks than others. Our theoretical analysis has been validated by the experimental results obtained from two real-world datasets. Our observations from the study could serve as a motivating point to design a more robust RS.
Object-centric Learning with Capsule Networks: A Survey
Authors: De Sousa Ribeiro Fabio , Duarte Kevin , Everett Miles , Leontidis Georgios , Shah Mubarak
Published: June 2024

Capsule networks emerged as a promising alternative to convolutional neural networks for learning object-centric representations. The idea is to explicitly model part-whole hierarchies by using groups of neurons called
capsules
to encode visual entities, then learn the relationships between these entities dynamically from data. However, a major hurdle for capsule network research has been the lack of a reliable point of reference for understanding their foundational ideas and motivations. This survey provides a comprehensive and critical overview of capsule networks, which aims to serve as a main point of reference going forward. To that end, we introduce the fundamental concepts and motivations behind capsule networks, such as
equivariant inference
. We then cover various technical advances in capsule routing algorithms as well as alternative geometric and generative formulations. We provide a detailed explanation of how capsule networks relate to the attention mechanism in Transformers and uncover non-trivial conceptual similarities between them in the context of object-centric representation learning. We also review the extensive applications of capsule networks in computer vision, video and motion, graph representation learning, natural language processing, medical imaging, and many others. To conclude, we provide an in-depth discussion highlighting promising directions for future work.
Characterization and Pathogenicity of a Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus Strain with Strong Homology to a HP‐PRRSV Vaccine Strain in the Field
Authors: Wei Chunhua , Lan Xin , Huang Wenlin , Yang Yuan , Yu Hui , Liu Chen , Huang Cuiqin , Luo Manlin , Liu Jiankui
Published: June 2024

A PRRSV strain, PRRSV2/CN/FJLX06/2021, with strong homology to an MLV‐like strain HeN1201 that evolved from the highly pathogenic PRRSV vaccine virus HuN4‐F112, was isolated from a dying piglet in China. BLAST and phylogenetic analyses showed that PRRSV2/CN/FJLX06‐2021 was most closely related to HeN1201 and HuN4 (the parental strain of MLV HuN4‐F112) and clustered with Chinese HP‐PRRSV strains in PRRSV‐2 lineage 8.7. Importantly, 29 of the 39 characteristic amino acid mutations in the HuN4‐F112 genome were found at the corresponding sites of PRRSV2/CN/FJLX06‐2021. Animal studies showed that piglets infected with PRRSV2/CN/FJLX06‐2021 had a persistent high fever, higher viremia, presence of interstitial pneumonia, and a higher mortality rate (40%) within 2 weeks than those vaccine‐inoculated with HuN4‐F112. Taken together, these data suggest that PRRSV2/CN/FJLX06‐2021 is an MLV‐like strain that has evolved from MLV HuN4‐F112 and is highly pathogenic to piglets.
Tracking Scientific Gaps in the Conservation of Endangered Sturgeon: A Bibliometric Approach and Content Analyses
Authors: Pourhosein-Sarameh Sara , Falahatkar Bahram
Published: June 2024

The declining sturgeon population has prompted increased efforts for protection and recovery, resulting in its listing on the IUCN Red List of Endangered Species. Conservation and restoration efforts for sturgeon populations are vital within the context of aquaculture. The substantial growth of knowledge in this field between 1970 and 2022 underscores the need for a comprehensive bibliographic review. This review aims to categorize and optimize existing research to advance the sustainable development of sturgeon populations. Using bibliometric indicators and tools such as VOSviewer, R, Maxqda, and Publish or Perish, this study examined 1,118 peer‐reviewed articles collected from the Scopus database. The review provides an overview of studies on sturgeon conservation and sustainable development. Our analysis suggests that future research should focus on six key factors: environmental impacts, management practices, genetic data, nutritional status, sturgeon characteristics, and the capabilities of sturgeon sperm. The results emphasize that the conservation of sturgeon is a multifaceted concept associated with changes in environmental conditions and human activities as well as sturgeon morphology, physiology, and genetics. This review aims to guide future research toward enhanced sturgeon protection by presenting the results of various analyses, identifying scientific and research gaps, and specifying research priorities.
Taurine Alleviated the Negative Effects of an Oxidized Lipid Diet on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Properties, and Muscle Quality of the Common Carp (Cyprinus carpio L.)
Authors: Liu Dan , Mi Jiali , Yan Xiao , Qin Chaobin , Wang Junli , Nie Guoxing
Published: June 2024

In the present study, we conducted a 10‐week culture experiment to investigate the effects of taurine on the growth performance, antioxidant properties, and muscle quality of the common carp fed an oxidized lipid diet. There were five experimental groups with three replicates each. Based on the fresh fish oil group (FO), equal amounts of oxidized fish oil (with a thiobarbituric acid‐reactive substances value of 49.57 ± 2.34 mg/kg) and 0 g/kg (OFO), 4 g/kg (OT4), 8 g/kg (OT8), and 12 g/kg (OT12) taurine were added to the diet, while the same composition ratio was maintained by changing the microcrystalline cellulose content. Compared to the FO group, the feed conversion ratio, weight gain rate, muscle crude lipid, and n‐3/n‐6 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) ratio were significantly lower in the group OFO (P < 0.05). In addition, compared to the FO group, OFO fish showed an increased content of malondialdehyde and protein carbonylation and decreased hardness, brightness, pH, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels in the muscle (P < 0.05). Notably, the growth index significantly improved in the OT4 group compared to that in the OFO group (P < 0.05). In addition, dietary taurine increased the crude lipid content, n‐3/n‐6 PUFA, antioxidant capacity, hardness, springiness, brightness, pH, and collagen content in the muscle compared with OFO fish (P < 0.05). Moreover, taurine supplementation significantly reduced myofiber diameter and increased myofiber density (P < 0.05) and enhanced the expression levels of paired box 7 (pax7), myogenic factor 5 (myf5), myogenic differentiation antigen (myod), and myogenic regulatory factor 4 (mrf4) compared with that of the OFO group (P < 0.05). Considering growth performance and muscle quality, the optimal supplemental levels of taurine in the oxidized lipid diet were 4 g/kg and 6.84–7.70 g/kg, respectively.
Investigation of Frequency Split Phenomenon of Rolling Tire Vibration Property Using a New Naming Convention
Authors: Yu Xudong , Zhu Chendi , Zeng Yan , Huang Haibo
Published: June 2024

Tire as the only contact part between automobiles and road surface plays an important role in noise, vibration, and harshness (NVH) performance of automobiles. Free vibration characteristics of a nonrotating tire have been extensively studied, but the vibration behaviour of a rolling tire still needs further investigation, especially the high‐order vibration higher than 300 Hz. Since the modal characteristics are highly dependent on the stresses induced from external loading and rolling speed, a finite element (FE) model was established for investigating rolling tire natural frequencies and mode shapes including high‐order vibration. The effects of the vertical load and rolling speed are incorporated in the analysis through an explicit dynamic simulation to determine the stress state throughout the tire at instants when the modal characteristics are desired. The contact features between the tire and road obtained from the numerical FE method are verified by a vertical loading test experimentally, and then the FE model of a free tire in a frequency range of 0–500 Hz is validated by the hammering test. A great agreement between the FE model and experimental results of tire is found. A new naming convention combining wave numbers and travelling wave direction is developed to identify and categorize modes of the static and rolling tires, respectively, based on travelling wave vibration theory. The influences of vertical load and rolling speed on tire natural frequencies are examined by the FE model, and the results show that the mode frequencies of rolling tire diverged to two different frequencies with one being lower and the other being higher than the corresponding frequency of static tire alone. This study provides deeper understanding of complex dynamic properties, which are beneficial to designing and optimizing of tire‐vehicle systems and identification of the critical rolling speeds.
Translation and Initial Validation of the Chinese (Cantonese) Version of Cognitive Flexibility Inventory Using People with Mental Illness
Authors: Wong Sui Lung , Liu Tai Wa , Lee Chi Chiu , Wong Pui
Published: June 2024

Introduction. The Cognitive Flexibility Inventory (CFI) is a self‐administered instrument comprising 20 items on a 7‐point Likert scale, designed to measure an individual’s level of cognitive flexibility (CF). Low CF levels have been associated with mental health issues including impulsive personality traits, anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Assessing CF can help mental health professionals with evaluating the outcomes of psychological interventions and conducting comprehensive assessments. However, there is a scarcity of tools specifically designed for Cantonese‐speaking individuals. This study examined the psychometric properties of a Cantonese version of the CFI (CFI‐CAN) using a sample of Cantonese‐speaking psychiatric outpatients receiving community psychiatric services. Method. The CFI‐CAN was developed using the standard translation‐back‐translation process. The study recruited a sample of 104 participants from a group of Cantonese‐speaking psychiatric outpatients receiving psychiatric service in Hong Kong. All of them were aged 18 years or older, with a mean age of 39.43 (SD = 11.04), and 75.96% was employed either full time or part time. The psychometric validation of the CFI‐CAN included assessing content validity through item and scale level, internal consistency using Cronbach’s alpha, test‐retest reliability through the intraclass correlation coefficient, minimal detectable change (MDC) using the MDC95 equation, examining floor and ceiling effects, and establishing convergent validity through the Spearman correlation coefficient. Results. Content validity was excellent (I‐CVI and S‐CVI/UA = 1). Internal consistency was excellent (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.91, mean = 64.07, SD = 12.36). Test‐retest reliability over 4 weeks was excellent (ICC3,1 = 0.905, 95% CI = 0.839‐0.945). MDC was calculated as 14.94. No observed floor and ceiling effect. Convergent validity was established with negative correlation with Chinese version of Perceived Stress Scale (r = −0.610, p < 0.001). Conclusions. The CFI‐CAN is the first validated instrument for measuring cognitive flexibility specifically in Cantonese‐speaking psychiatric outpatients. Its psychometric properties are comparable to the original version. Implementing the CFI‐CAN can benefit mental health professionals in assessing cognitive flexibility and understanding changes in cognitive flexibility for cognitive‐based interventions in Cantonese‐speaking psychiatric outpatients.
Circulating Inflammatory Markers in COVID‐19‐Related Ischemic Stroke: A Multicenter Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Li Yudi , Ling Li , Li Jie , He Xiongjun , Li Kaifeng , Wang Yifan , Li Fangming , Huang Rucheng , Yang Li , Ye Yuxuan , Liu Yajie
Published: June 2024

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) causes severe respiratory illness and is involved in ischemic stroke. Aimed to investigate the inflammatory markers and possible prognosis of COVID‐19‐related ischemic stroke in a special outbreak period after lifting of COVID‐19 control measures in China, we conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis in southern China at three centers in Shenzhen. We included patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack after infection with COVID‐19 as the COVID‐19‐related ischemic stroke group and those only diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke or transient ischemic attack as the control group. In this study, the proportion of female patients, admission heart rate, and comorbid coronary heart disease and the proportion of cryptogenic stroke were higher, while the history of prior stroke was lower in the COVID‐19‐related ischemic stroke group. The COVID‐19‐related ischemic stroke group also exhibited elevated levels of monocytes, fibrinogen, alanine aminotransferase, direct bilirubin, monocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio (MLR), and fibrinogen‐to‐albumin ratio (FAR) but decreased levels of lymphocytes, albumin, and high‐density lipoprotein. However, there were no statistically significant differences in the modified Rankin scale (mRS), National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), and mortality rate between the two groups at discharge. Our study is the first to show the alteration in inflammatory markers but no difference in discharge prognosis between the non‐COVID‐19 and the COVID‐19‐related ischemic stroke patients, during China’s COVID‐19 relaxation period.
Immunosuppression of the Nasal Cavity by a Novel Pathogenic Pseudorabies Virus Isolation from Cattle in China
Authors: Zheng Jian , Fu Mei , Yin Zhiyi , Dou Zhi , Lin Jian , Chang Guangjun , Yang Qian
Published: June 2024

The respiratory mucosa serves as a primary entry point for numerous pathogenic microbes, and the respiratory mucosa secretes type I and III interferons (IFNs), the first generation of antiviral cytokines, in response to viral infection. The pseudorabies virus (PRV) causes serious illnesses in many domestic and wild animal species, particularly in pigs and cattle. However, more information is needed about the immunosuppressive properties and evolutionary history of emerging PRV field strains in China’s respiratory system. The PRV field strain JS2022, which was obtained from a cow farm for this investigation, is a spontaneous recombination of early PRV variant strains in the Jiangsu region and is similar to the PRV variations recovered in China in terms of its entire genome sequence. According to sequence analysis, JS2022 has a spontaneous deletion of 1,212 bp in the gE gene, 502 bp in the gI gene, and 192 bp in the glycoprotein (g) C gene. Pathogenicity analysis revealed that intranasal JS2022 causes severe neurological symptoms in calves, but this effect is different from that of ZJ01. In addition, a considerable number of viral antigens in the nasal mucosa were detected by immunohistochemical staining. Therefore, we constructed a bovine nasal mucosal explant model that maintained good cell morphology and activity even after 5 days. In bovine nasal mucosal explants, JS2022 and ZJ01 can cause infection, and the viral load increases dramatically over time. Quantitative research revealed that 24 hr after infection, JS2022 dramatically reduced the expression of downstream interferon‐stimulated genes and the innate immune factors IFN‐β and IFN‐λ3 and bovine nasal mucosal explants. Overall, our results highlight the significance of PRV surveillance in cattle and offer a resource for learning more about the clinical traits and development of PRV.
PTP4A2 Promotes Glioblastoma Progression and Macrophage Polarization under Microenvironmental Pressure
Authors: Chouleur Tiffanie , Emanuelli Andrea , Souleyreau Wilfried , Derieppe Marie-Alix , Leboucq Téo , Hardy Serge , Mathivet Thomas , Tremblay Michel L. , Bikfalvi Andreas
Published: June 2024

Phosphatase of regenerating liver 2 (also known as PTP4A2) has been linked to cancer progression. Still, its exact role in glioblastoma (GBM), the most aggressive type of primary brain tumor, remains elusive. In this study, we report that pharmacologic treatment using JMS-053, a pan–phosphatase of regenerating liver inhibitor, inhibits GBM cell viability and spheroid growth. We also show that PTP4A2 is associated with a poor prognosis in gliomas, and its expression correlates with GBM aggressiveness. Using a GBM orthotopic xenograft model, we show that PTP4A2 overexpression promotes tumor growth and reduces mouse survival. Furthermore, PTP4A2 deletion leads to increased apoptosis and proinflammatory signals. Using a syngeneic GBM model, we show that depletion of PTP4A2 reduces tumor growth and induces a shift in the tumor microenvironment (TME) toward an immunosuppressive state. In vitro assays show that cell proliferation is not affected in PTP4A2-deficient or -overexpressing cells, highlighting the importance of the microenvironment in PTP4A2 functions. Collectively, our results indicate that PTP4A2 promotes GBM growth in response to microenvironmental pressure and support the rationale for targeting PTP4A2 as a therapeutic strategy against GBM.

Significance:

High levels of PTP4A2 are associated with poor outcomes in patients with glioma and in mouse models. PTP4A2 depletion increases apoptosis and proinflammatory signals in GBM xenograft models, significantly impacts tumor growth, and rewires the TME in an immunocompetent host. PTP4A2 effects in GBM are dependent on the presence of the TME.